IN THE NEWS:

Share your thoughts on PS/IS187 reopening
Please take a moment to share your thoughts by completing the PS/IS 187 Remote Learning Option and Feedback Form. The form will stay open until the end of July. 
Submit a reopening question(s) to the PS/IS187 administration
PS/IS187 administration has set up a general form for families and students to share questions regarding the return to school process. Answers will be provided via an FAQs document. You can submit your question(s) here: https://forms.gle/BVgq1yxz1PJUbxci6
PS/IS 187 Upcoming Virtual Town Hall Dates
Join Ms. Topbas-Mejia, Ms. Marrero, Ms. Daskaris and the School Leadership Team (SLT) for updates and conversations about our the return to school.

Each Town Hall will run on a Thursday evening and be broken up by middle school (6:15PM) and elementary school (7:00PM)
  • July 23rd (tomorrow)
  • July 30th 
  • August 6th 
  • August 20th 

The video conference link information was sent out by the school via PupilPath. Please contact the PS/IS187 administrative team if you did not receive it. 

Mantengase Conectado Este Verano
 
Unase a la Sra. Topbas-Mejia, Sra. Marrero, Sra. Daskaris y el Equipo de Liderazgo Escolar (SLT) para recibir actualizaciones y conversaciones sobre nuestro regreso a la escuela en septiembre de 2020.

Fecha: 23 de julio, 30 de julio, 6 de agosto, 20 de agosto
Hora: 6:15PM (Grados 5-8), 7:00PM (Grados PreK-4)
Morning Tea with the Principal and Assistant Principals
Join Ms. Topbas-Mejia, Ms. Marrero, and Ms. Daskaris for morning conversations and updates.

Dates: July 28, August 4, August 11, August 18, August 25
Time: 10:00AM

The video conference information was sent out by the school via Pupil Path. Please contact the PS/IS187 administrative team if you did not receive it. 
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
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

JULY SELECTION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS:
Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi is the selected adult title the current PTO executive board will read and discuss in July.
51 years ago, Stonewall Inn riots sparked a wordwide movement for the LGBTQ+ rights.

CLICK HERE for a helpful link to the LGBTQ + history timeline.​ 
 
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
Virtual TOWN HALL with Chancellor Carranza for District 6
In case you missed the CEC Town Hall Thursday, June 25th, here a few areas worthy of note contained within the recorded link below: 

Chancellor addressed budget, budget cuts, formative student assessments, the digital divide, social-emotional support, creative designs for returning to school, need for more teachers, and culturally responsive sustaining education. This last item he was most emphatic about, a mandate for anti-racist curriculum in our schools. The chancellor says we cannot just talk about culturally responsive sustaining education, we must be serious and take action.

Watch the full Town Hall here: 
NYC Department of Education/CEC Town Hall | Community Education Council
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. 
Census 2020
If you haven't already, please make sure to participate in the 2020 Census. Information gathered this year will guide budgetary decisions for the next 10 years (including funding for education). You can learn more and submit your information online at: https://2020census.gov/
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!
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
NEXT PTO MEETING IS:
​
September, 2020

​ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.  

STAY IN THE KNOW

Subscribe to our email list and stay on top of important announcements, updates, and hear about ways to get involved. 

DUES 

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

IS Newsletter
​from Ms. Daskaris

Check out the IS Newsletter to learn about the middle school happenings

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 2018-2019 School Budgets.