Supporting Our Families While SNAP Funding is Disrupted
Nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers, including 540,000 children, depend on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to help put food on their table. Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits are experiencing disruptions, leaving many of our families unsure of where their next meal will come from. The City has announced an additional $15 million in emergency funding that will help feed families in need. During these challenging times, it's important that we know how we can best come together to support one another.
Students receive free, healthy breakfast and lunch every school day–no application needed. Learn more at Food Service for Parents and Students. Together, we can make sure no child goes hungry.
Cleaning Up Our Act: Climate Action Days Are Back!
The first Climate Action Day of the school year is coming up on Wednesday, November 19! Plus, National Plastic Free Lunch Day is also taking place this month. Find out how you can take action in your school community to protect our environment in ways related to this month's theme: reducing waste.
The Month Ahead (November 2025)
Out of seemingly nowhere, November's here! See what's happening in NYC Public Schools in November 2025, including Election Day, Veterans Day, Parent-Teacher Conferences, the SHSAT, and Thanksgiving!
Native American Heritage Month Spotlight: Maria Tallchief
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we are sharing our Hidden Voices profile of Maria Tallchief, an Osage woman who went on to become the first prima ballerina from the United States, which she did right here in our city, at the New York City Ballet. Over the course of her career, Tallchief was credited with transforming ballet from a "foreign" art form into an American one.
Tuesday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day! Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, the holiday marks the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. Each year, the day serves as a time to recognize our nation’s veterans and their contributions.
This year, we encourage you to check out these stories, which tell the stories of characters who have served and had their lives touched by military service throughout different eras in U.S. history, from the nation’s founding to the present. We hope you enjoy them and learn from them as much as we do!
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- At the Mountain’s Base, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre
- Boyogi, by David Barclay Moore; illustrated by Noa Denmon
- A Life of Service, by Christina Soontornvat; illustrated by Dow Phimuruk
- Tana Cooks for a Special Veterans Day, by Stacy Wells; illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama dos Santos
- The Poppy Lady, by Barbara E. Walsh; illustrated by Layne Johnson
- Soldier for Equality, by Duncan Tonatiuh
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call, by Claudia Fridell
- Infinite Hope, by Ashley Bryan
- Moving Forward, by Chris Barton; illustrated by Steffi Walthall
- Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero, by Marissa Moss and John Hendrix
- Twenty-One Steps, by Jeff Gottesfeld; illustrated by Matt Tavares
- Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code, by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, by Tanya Lee Stone
- Fly Girls, by P. O’Connell Pearson
- A Galaxy of Sea Stars, by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo
- The Things a Brother Knows, by Dana Reinhardt
- The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA, by Brenda Woods
- Wolf Hollow, by Lauren Wolk
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- 1776, by David McCullough
- Boots on the Ground, by Elizabeth Partridge
- Great Falls, by Steve Watkins
- The Impossible Knife of Memory, by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Mare’s War, by Tanita S. Davis
- Men of the 65th, by Talia Aikens-Nunez
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students!
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
On September 4, NYC public schools across the five boroughs opened their doors for the first day of the 2025–26 school year. Check out some of our favorite moments from the first week of the new academic year, and join us as we wish all of our returning students and staff members a wonderful start!
Make Your Own Upcycled Bird Feeder for Climate Action Day!
Celebrate Climate Action Day at home by recycling your milk carton into a beautiful, homemade birdhouse!
