PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to what I hope will be your child’s most successful and productive educational experience at I.S. 25.
There is a new energy in the building, both from students and staff. As always, we are focusing on becoming more reflective learners who examine why and how children achieve success.
Even our environment has changed. As you walk through the building, you will see very few classrooms set up in the traditional way. Rows of seats are now set in clusters so that students can participate in cooperative learning groups and workshop activities. The emphasis is on actively engaging students in “Accountable Talk” discussions and higher order thinking skills. Many classrooms are equipped with learning stations and classroom libraries. While still maintaining the standards of excellence afforded by traditional values, we have moved into the current trends of curriculum instruction utilized by schools of the 21century. I am truly excited and proud of who we are becoming as a community of life-long learners.
The Chancellor’s Initiative continues with 90-minute blocks of Literacy and Math for 7th and 8th grades. Homeroom takes place 2 times a day- in the A.M. for attendance and announcements and in the P.M. for distribution of materials to be sent home and attendance for those children who will be attending the 37.5 minutes of additional instruction.
On the community level, we will have monthly theme days to encourage school spirit and emphasize the Values of Responsibility, Respect, Honesty, Sharing, and Caring, and several Family Night events. Our first will be held on October 26 from 7-8:30p.m. It’s called “Pajama Jam”, and will be an evening for families to come and enjoy fun and games together. Our Parent Coordinator, Louise Anzini, will coordinate these events. If you would like to volunteer your help or services for these events, please contact her.
If you are reading this, you already know that our fantastic PTA has designed a website for you to find out important information about the school and from some of our teachers about projects, assignments and other school/ class events.
Don’t forget that The Child Center of New York (formerly Queens Child Guidance Center) sponsors an after-school center from 2:30 until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. This includes school holidays and vacations! The program offers tutoring, homework help, and a variety of sports and other recreational activities as well as counseling services. To get an application for your child top participate in this program, contact Rachel Eisenberg at 718-353-3690, or visit their office. It’s located at the handicapped entrance to the building on 35th Avenue, Room B20. By the way, that is the entrance the children who attend the program use to enter and leave the building.