IN THE NEWS:

Thank you to all who made the 8th Annual 187 Film Festival a success!  It was a great night!

THE PTO SPIRIT WEAR SHOP IS NOW LIVE!
VISIT hudsoncliffs.threadless.com

DESTINATION DIVERSITY • APRIL, 2021

April is "Autism Acceptance month".  Autism can be portrayed as a disease or tragedy when it's a lifelong genetic developmental disability. Attached is a PDF with guides for promoting Autism acceptance.  It is through understanding that we learn accept.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/ 
https://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness-month/ 

Our April Newsletter focuses on an Open Letter to the 187 community.  We encourage you to read it and please remember that while we continue to fight for Black lives, there is another community that has been facing racist and xenophobic attacks at an alarming rate.  Below are some resources to help with your understanding of our Asian community.

Resources:
·         Responding to Anti-Asian Violence and Georgia Shootings
·         Violence against Asian Americans is part of a troubling pattern
·         The hidden stories that give rise to violence against Asian American women
 
May is just about here the May Newsletter will be made up of our “wishes”.  What do you wish for?  What wish do you dream about? 

My wish:  I wish for the day I can go for a walk with my daughters “maskless”  
Share your wish and know that you are not alone.


Abril es el "Mes de Aceptación del Autismo". El autismo puede describirse como una enfermedad o una tragedia cuando se trata de una discapacidad del desarrollo genético de por vida. Se adjunta un PDF con guías para promover la aceptación del autismo. Es a través de la comprensión que aprendemos a aceptar.
https://autisticadvocacy.org/ 
https://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness-month/ 

Nuestro boletín de Abril se centra en una carta abierta a la comunidad 187. Lo alentamos a que lo lea y recuerde que mientras continuamos luchando por las vidas de los negros, hay otra comunidad que se ha enfrentado a ataques racistas y xenófobos a un ritmo alarmante. A continuación, se muestran algunos recursos que le ayudarán a comprender mejor nuestra comunidad Asiática.

Recursos:
      Responding to Anti-Asian Violence and Georgia Shootings
·         Violence against Asian Americans is part of a troubling pattern
·         The hidden stories that give rise to violence against Asian American women

Mayo está a punto de llegar, el Boletín de Mayo estará compuesto por nuestros “deseos”. ¿Qué deseas? ¿Con qué deseo sueñas?
​
Mi deseo:  Ojalá el día en que pueda salir a caminar con mis hijas "sin máscara"
Comparta su deseo y sepa que no estamos solos.

PTO Statement on Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
PS/IS 187 PTO is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a collective undertaking that requires frequent assessment and consistent action. We owe it to each other - as a unified school community - to acknowledge, learn and understand how subtle, institutional, and overt racist actions, words, and behaviors perpetuate negative stereotypes that impact the lives of those in our school, neighboring community and beyond.
 
Therefore, the following principles guide our actions:

  • We owe it to our children to address and redress racism in our society.  
  • We owe it to our children to acknowledge that racism exists not only in our country but also in our school community.
  • We owe it to our children to speak honestly about racial bias and to show them that racial bias will not be condoned under any circumstances in our community.
  • We owe it to our children to provide Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning.
  • We owe it to our children to model positive behavior that values and honors Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT: CLICK HERE
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Declaración del PTO sobre racismo, diversidad, equidad e inclusión
PS / IS 187 PTO está comprometida con la Diversidad, Equidad e Inclusión (DEI) como una empresa colectiva que requiere una evaluación frecuente y una acción consistente. Nos debemos unos a otros, como comunidad escolar unificada, reconocer, aprender y comprender cómo las acciones, palabras y comportamientos racistas sutiles, institucionales y abiertos perpetúan los estereotipos negativos que afectan las vidas de aquellos en nuestra escuela, comunidad, vecindario y más allá.

Por lo tanto, los siguientes principios guían nuestras acciones:

  • Le debemos a nuestros hijos abordar y corregir el racismo en nuestra sociedad.
  • Le debemos a nuestros hijos el reconocer que el racismo existe no solo en nuestro país sino también en nuestra comunidad escolar.
  • Les debemos a nuestros hijos hablar honestamente sobre prejuicios raciales y mostrarles que los prejuicios raciales no serán tolerados bajo ninguna circunstancia en nuestra comunidad.
  • Le debemos a nuestros hijos proporcionar enseñanza y aprendizaje culturalmente receptivos.
  • Le debemos a nuestros hijos el modelar un comportamiento positivo que valore y honre la Diversidad, la Equidad y la Inclusión para todos.

LEA LA DECLARACIÓN COMPLETA: HAGA CLIC AQUÍ
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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PTO!

Each year, the PS/IS 187 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) holds a Dues Drive, which makes a tremendous difference to PS/IS 187. Last Year, over $20,000 was raised with your generous donations separately from our other fundraisers. These funds went towards educational enhancement grants, field trips, after-school programming, and the gardening program. 

Any amount you can donate to the PS/IS 187 PTO makes a difference, and every donation is now tax deductible. And remember, regardless of whether or how much you give, every parent or guardian of a PS/IS student is automatically a member of the PTO. Because together, we can do more!

CONTRIBUTE ELECTRONICALLY:
  1. To contribute through PayPal, click here.
  2. To contribute through your bank using Zelle, please use our name: PS-IS 187 HUDSON CLIFFS PARENTS and the email ps187pto@gmail.com 
Zelle is used by most major banks (Bank of American, Citi, Chase, and Wells Fargo). To see if your bank uses Zelle, visit zellepay.com.
Did you know your Amazon.com purchases can help PS187? 

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. You shop, Amazon gives. 

CLICK HERE TO CHOOSE PS187 AS YOUR AMAZON SMILE ORGANIZATION
Culturally Responsive
Reading List

Dear 187 Parents/Guardian Family,

The PTO has culled together several reading lists curated by the New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and other sources to provide you with several age-appropriate books to explore with your children the topics of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The links provided include books exploring LGBTQ and Black Liberation. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SUGGESTED READING RESOURCES

SELECTION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS:
Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.
afternoons with
Ms. Donetta
​
The PTO is pleased to offer afterschool art class for grades 3, 4, and 5, with the one and only Ms. Donetta. 

Classes will be held on Mondays (Grade 3), Tuesdays (Grade 4) and Wednesdays (Grade 5).  

Each class will be limited to 17-20 students, will require weekly registration, and will run for approximately 45 min each. 
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT): Food Benefits for all NYC Public School Students. 
• A program for families to buy food while students are learning from home.
• In NYC, every single public school student will receive $420.

For more information, CLICK HERE. 
Neighborhood Greenmarket Openings
Two neighborhood Greenmarkets are opening: the Fort Washington Greenmarket (Tuesdays, 8am to 4pm) and the 175th St Greenmarket (Thursdays, 8am-4pm). Farmers market is a great chance for families in Community School District 6 to access the freshest, most nutritious locally grown food the region has to offer.

Shoppers can use their SNAP/EBT benefits, including the new P-EBT program, at the market! For every $5 someone spends using an EBT card, they will receive an extra $2 Health Bucks coupon to spend on even more fruits and vegetables

Click here to learn more about the nutrition benefit programs by GrowNYC and see flyers below for more information: 

GREENMARKET INFORMATION:
Ft. Washington Greenmarket: English • Spanish
175th Street Greenmarket: English • Spanish
PS187 Student Government Virtual Food Drive
The PS187 students are partnering with the City Harvest for a virtual food drive. City Harvest is New York City’s largest food rescue organization, helping to feed the nearly 1.2 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. Their work is even more essential during the COVID019 pandemic. 

To learn more, and donate, please click here. 
COVID - 19 testing is now available in Washington Heights
For more information please visit: 
covid19screening.health.ny.gov  or  nyc.gov/covidtest
Uptown Stories: Zoom classes
This spring, Uptown Stories will offer young people a multitude of ways to keep expressing themselves,  connecting with peers, and writing their own stories while they traverse this brave new world. All workshops will be held online via Zoom and are taught by the mighty teaching force you already know at Uptown Stories. Visit UptownStories.org for more information.
Online Enrichment Resources Page
We are pleased to highlight an on-line enrichment resources page recently added to our website. Let us know your recommendations for any additional resources we should explore adding.

Visit: 187pto.org/resources.html
CORONA VIRUS UPDATES:
​​For most recent updates from the DOE, please visit: 
​https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update
SPRING SESSION 2020:
PS187 Tennis program: temporarily on hold

With the current public health concerns being everyone's top priority, the PS187 Tennis program - scheduled to start at the end of March - will begin later in the year. Tennis is a fantastic sport and teaches kids about athletics, teamwork, and focus, and we look forward to bringing the program to our students at a more appropriate time. Please check this space, or sign up for our newsletter, to be the first to hear when it's back on. 

LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM
WINTER SESSION 2020:
PS187 Soccer:
temporarily on hold

To keep our community safe, the Winter PS187 Soccer Session is suspended starting Monday, March 16th. The session will resume at a yet to be determined date. Please check this space, or sign up for our newsletter, to be the first to hear when it's back on. With any questions of concerns regarding the program, please reach out to New Era Soccer directly at: info@neweragirlssoccer.com
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Many thanks to all who baked, bought, delivered, organized, served, or otherwise contributed to one of the most delicious Faculty / Staff Luncheons to date.  In between parent/guardian meetings our beloved teachers and staff sampled more than 60 different appetizers, main dishes and desserts.   

The annual luncheon celebrates all the wonderful people at our school, but this year's theme Cherishing Honoring Observing Respecting You!  incorporated a special mnemonic nod to our own Principal Chory.  The lovely invitation was designed by parent Kristin Spix.

The afternoon would not have as great a success without everyone's help!
UPCOMING PTO MEETINGS
VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM
​
May 27, 2021
June 24, 2021

​ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. 
​DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

JOIN THE PTO EMAIL LIST

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DUES 

Have you sent in your annual dues yet?  Click here to find out how you can contribute.

PTO MINUTES

Want to find out about all that you missed?  Click below  to check out the PTO  Minutes.  ​

DOE School Budgets​

Click below to get in depth information about the 2020-2021 School Budgets.