CALLING ALL PARENTS!

Would you like to be part of the decision-making process at our school? If so, become a parent leader! We are now taking nominations for a parent position on the School Leadership Team (SLT). Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Friday, October 5, 2018 and elections will be held at the following PTA meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.”

In order to run for the SLT please provide the following information to the PTA. You can send it to the Parent Coordinator – Mike Zevon at MZevon@schools.nyc.gov, email the PTA at HalseyPTA@gmail.com, or print it out and return it to the PTA Mailbox located in the main office.

Child’s Name & Class                      

Parent/Guardian Name                    

Best Contact Phone Number          

Email                                                 

What is a School Leadership Team?

The School Leadership Team (SLT) is a group of people who develop educational policies for their school. They also make sure there are resources to support those policies.

SLTs:

• Provide ongoing evaluations of a school’s educational programs and their impact on student achievement.
• Play an important role in school-based decision-making
• Help to make school cultures more collaborative.

Who are the SLT members?

There are three members of the school community who must be members of the SLT:

1. Principal
2. Parent Association/Parent-Teacher Association President
3. United Federation of Teachers Chapter Leader

The other members are elected parents and staff members. The SLT must have an equal number of parents and staff.

What is the role of an SLT?

• An SLT is responsible for developing a school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP).
• An SLT makes a yearly evaluation of the principal’s record of developing an effective, shared decision-making relationship with the SLT members during the year. This evaluation is given to the community district or high school superintendent.
• The SLT is not responsible for the hiring or firing of school staff. However, according to Chancellor’s Regulation C-30, the SLT must be consulted prior to the appointment of a principal or assistant principal.

Good Morning Halsey Family
Good afternoon,

As you are aware, JHS 157 is hosting our “Welcome Back to School Evening” on Thursday, September 20, 2018.  Our “Welcome Back Evening” will begin at 5:20PM.  Your child will bring home an individualized schedule on Tuesday afternoon for you to follow this Thursday, beginning at 5:20PM.

However, we are also hosting the following workshops for  parents/guardians from 4:30PM-5:15PM, prior to the official start of our event.  If you are interested in attending ONE of the workshops of your choice, be sure to register via the survey monkey link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PBFGC7V.  If you are interested in more than one we will be providing these workshops throughout the year so keep an eye out for them.

We hope to see you all Thursday!

Parent Workshops being held from 4:30 PM-5:15 PM:

• Fun STEM activities for Parents and Children to enjoy together: Mr. Lober Room 333
• Response to Intervention (RTI/AIS): Collaborating with Parents/guardians to support struggling students: Ms. Amber, room 219 (sci lab)
• Historians and Critical Thinking Skills in Social Studies: Mr. Monaco, room B6
• Internet and Cyber Safety and Anti-bullying: What Parents/guardians need to know to keep children safe: Mr. Angelastro/Mr. Plummer, room LIBRARY
• Succeeding in The Middle School – Foundations for 6th grade success: Ms. Sussman/Ms. Quinones, room 215
• Algebraic Concepts and our New Grade 6 Curriculum: Ms. Beinstock/Ms. Soberman, room 315
• Increasing Parent Engagement and Enhancing Home School Communication via the PupilPath system: Ms. Cole/Ms. Lok, room 306
• Independent Reading: Helping your child select engaging books to read to increase comprehension, reading stamina and vocabulary skills: Ms. Gordon, room 221
• Preparing for The Specialized HS Program Audition in Musica/Art/Dance/Drama: Ms. Shikowitz/Ms. Lamere/Ms. Gruet/ Ms. Schwarz/Ms. Wolff, room 112

7:30PM: 8/9^th Grade Parents: The High School Application Process: Ms. Shriki: AUD

Week 2 in the books!

Good Day Halsey Family! We hope you have had a Halsey-riffic week. The first 2 weeks of school have now passed and soon we will be thinking about hurricanes, snow storms, Spring, the end of school and Summer! Yes it goes that fast…sometimes. We have some exciting things coming up so lets get this party started…..

Monday, September 17th 2018 Pupil Path will go online. Each student will receive an invitation letter that will include details on how to register. If you already have registered and are having problems logging in please contact Mr. Blanco at RBlanco@schools.nyc.gov

Come on down and meet your children’s teachers! The day will begin in the auditorium and you will hear from the most electrifying Principal in the Galaxy Mr. Suraci. You will then get to follow your children’s schedule and meet each of your teachers and hear about what they will be learning.

8th grade families are invited to attend a special workshop with Ms. Shriki on the new HS application process as well as the new SHSAT registration process.

Ms. Soberman will be holding the math team tryout test on Wednesday September 26 at 2:30 in room 315. Any student interested in joining the Math team please see Ms. Soberman and show up on time for the test that day!

HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS

Fall_2018_High_School_Fair_Flyer (Click here for the flyer about the HS application process)

The PTA will be at Halsey JHS 157 on Back to School Night – September 20th selling Halsey Spirit Wear! I have seen the new apparel and it really is looking great. The new logo with full color pops off the shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, and shorts. Spirit Wear will be available all year long as long as supplies last. They move really quickly so I would come on down during Back to School Night and get yours while you can!

DONT FORGET THE FIRST PTA MEETING TAKES PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th 2018 at 7:00 PM.
Please come down and make your voice heard. The PTA success is dependent on the participation of all the parents at Halsey.

Make these important PTA dates on your calendar:

Spirit wear sales during Open School Night – Thursday, September 20th at 4:30PM
Chipotle Fundraiser: Monday, September 24th 4PM – 8PM
First meeting: Wednesday, September 26 @ 7PMShake Shack Fundraiser – Monday, Oct 15th – Time to be announced

Select Chorus auditions are on Monday, September 17th from 2:30-3:45 PM. If your child takes the yellow school bus home, please make sure there is someone who can pick them up, as they will miss the bus that day. Select Chorus is an advanced chorus group that performs at various in school and community events throughout the year. It is a competitive group, with about 30 seats open, and over 100 students that audition each year. The group is comprised of about 60 students from all grades and every talent.

Students do not need to prepare anything for the audition. Students will be taught a piece of music from our upcoming concert, then will sing it back to Ms. Shikowitz in small groups. Aside from vocal quality, Ms. Shikowitz is looking for students who can learn the music quickly, sing in harmony with other students, blend well with other students while singing, follow along in the music, and are quiet and follow instructions during the audition. Select Chorus meets on Thursdays from September (first rehearsal 9/20) from 2:30-3:30, then on Fridays from 2:30-3:30 from February-May to accommodate for test prep. If you have questions, please email Ms. Shikowitz at sshikowitz@schools.nyc.gov.

Forest HIlls Youth Athletic Association

ATTENTION 8th GRADE FAMILIES

8^th Grade Senior Sweatshirt Design Competition

WHO:          ALL 8^th GRADE STUDENTS
WHAT:        DESIGN AN 8^TH GRADE SENIOR SWEATSHIRT (YOU CAN EITHER DRAW YOUR OWN OR CREATE A DESIGN USING GRAPHICS YOU FIND)
WHERE:       EMAIL YOUR DESIGN TO SSHRIKI@SCHOOLS.NYC.GOV
WHEN:        FINAL DESIGNS ARE DUE TO MS. SHRIKI VIA EMAIL BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5^TH

ONCE ALL DESIGNS ARE SUBMITTED, THE ENTIRE GRADE WILL VOTE ON THE WINNING DESIGN AND ORDER FORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
PLEASE SEE MS. SHRIKI OR MS. GONZALEZ IN ROOM 210.

CITY OF SCIENCE is back! Please join the World Science Festival and Con Edison to explore this FREE, open to the public metropolis of larger-than-life interactive installations and hands-on activities. The event includes mind-blowing demonstrations, awe-inspiring experiments, apprentice programs, and guided tours of the College of Staten Island Astrophysical Observatory.

Sunday, September 23 from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
College of Staten Island Sports and Recreation Center
2800 Victory Blvd, Building 1R

Check out the attached flyer.

General Supply List

Below is a general list of supplies that children will need. Included in this list are items that children should NOT buy and cannot bring to school.

 General Education

• 5 Marble notebooks (purchase different colors)
• 7 Pocket folders (purchase different colors)
• Highlighters
• Pens
• Pencils
• Package of colored pencils
• 10 pack sheet protectors
• 1 one inch binder
• Scientific calculator (Recommended – TI-34)
• Glue stick
• Pencil sharpener
• Loose-leaf papers
• Graph paper
• Mini – stapler
• Pencil case

 Physical Education

Gym uniforms are mandatory. The following items can be purchased at the school store:

• Gym Uniform
• Gym lock

 DO NOT Buy & DO NOT Bring to School:

• Book bags on wheels
• Locks
• Whiteout
• Compass
• Liquid glue

FIRST DAY PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS 09/5/2018

 Dear Parents, Teachers and Staff:

Schools are scheduled to open on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 for students.  We are planning to have a full day of school.   Students are to arrive at school by 8am, bringing with them school supplies that are outlined on our school’s website.  At 8am parents should drop children off outside of the building at the appropriate grade entrance, and children should report to the following locations:

Grade 6                  School yard (walk up to AUD main entrance 102  street at 8AM)

Grade 7                  Cafeteria  (school yard)

Grade 8/9              Girls Gym (school yard)

Special Education Library (school yard)

Homeroom teachers should report to these locations to pick up your homeroom class prior to 8 am.

When you get to your homeroom, you will go over the following organizational rules with your homeroom teacher and class:

1. Attendance taking
2. Lateness, absences and absence notes
3. Morning exercise
4. Distribution of “School Rules” letter and sign-off sheets

On the first day of school, we will follow a SPECIAL BELL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, September 5  ONLY.

Students will have the opportunity to visit every class they would regularly have on Thursday.  The only difference is that each class time will be shortened by about ten minutes.  School hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 8 am to 2:20 pm.

8:00                                        Arrival of all students

8:05 – 9:20                           Students in Homeroom

9:20 – 9:50                           Period 1

9:50 – 10:20                         Period 2

10:20 – 10:50                       Period 3

10:50 – 11:30                        Period 4

11:30 – 12:15                         Period 5

12:15 – 1:00                          Period 6

1:00 – 1:30                            Period 7

1:30 – 2:00                           Period 8

2:00 – 2:20                           P.M. Homeroom Period,

2:20                                        Dismissal for all Grades 7, 8 & 9

2:20                                        Grade 6 – Teachers will escort 6^th grade classes to the first floor for dismissal from the school yard)

Parents picking up Grade 6 students on the first day can meet their children at the school yard entrance on Yellowstone Blvd.  All other days students will be dismissed from the exit closes to their homeroom.

**parents should designate a meeting place to pick up their child as dismissal becomes crowded on the first day of school, i.e., “meet me at 2:20PM at the park bench next to the school yard entrance on 63^rd drive, etc.,”

Grade 6 Yellow Bus students (General Education students only) will meet in the lobby promptly at 2:20pm.

 If you have any questions, please contact your child’s assistant principal or guidance counselor the last week in August.

Sincerely,

Vincent Suraci

Principal JHS 157

Dear Incoming 6th grade Family:

It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you to the 2018-2019 school-year at Stephen A. Halsey Junior High School 157Q. I would like to invite you to attend the 6th Grade Orientation on Wednesday, August 29th at 9:30 a.m. Please bring your child’s 5th grade report card indicating his or her 6th grade class assignment.

The introductory session will begin promptly in the auditorium. Following the introductory session, students will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the building layout and visit classrooms. In addition to participating in classroom tours, students will visit the gymnasium and will have the opportunity to purchase gym uniforms and locks. At the conclusion of the touring session, at approximately 11:30AM, parents are invited back to join their children in the school yard to enjoy light refreshments. This will give parents and 6th grade students an opportunity to meet and socialize.

The goal of our 6th Grade Orientation is to assist students in acclimating to the middle school environment. I look forward to building a partnership with you, so that together, with our dedicated faculty and staff, I can maximize your child’s middle school experience. As our students enter this next phase of their educational journey, our team will strive to provide opportunities that are memorable, academically rigorous, and that will prepare them to be lifelong learners.

I look forward to meeting your family on August 29th, 2018.

Sincerely,

Vincent Suraci
Principal