New York City Department of EducationPublic School 254 Queens-The Rosa Parks School

Magnet School for Leadership Development and the ArtsTitle I School of Distinction

Blue Ribbon School of ExcellenceReward School

(718) 520-7878Pamela Markham, Principal

Heather Sosnovsky, Assistant Principal Sharon Bherwani, Assistant Principal

P.S. 254’s vision is to create a

learning environment in

which all members of our

community are dedicated to

helping all students exceed

expectations.

Mission Statement:All members of the Rosa Parks Community are dedicated to the

establishment and maintenance of a learning environment that

pursues academic achievement, as well as, emotional and social

development. This safe and nurturing educational environment

will enable all students to learn and develop their unique talentsand individual attributes.

Parental involvement and community-based partnerships will

solidify our ability to develop students who are leaders, problem

solvers, critical and independent thinkers, life- long learners, and

productive citizens who are able to meet the challenges of the21st century.

Excellence in Teaching

Treating the entire Rosa Parks Community with Respect

Demonstrating enthusiasm for teaching, learning and improvement

Making certain that all students have accessto rigorous, innovative learning opportunities and experiences

Developing student leaders by empoweringthem with the skills and knowledge to manage their lives academically and emotionally

- Leader In Me

- Project Based Learning (theme based

instruction)

- Teachers College Reading and Writing

- Math Solutions – Professional Development

- Algebra for ALL

- Computer Science for All

- Saturday STEAM Program

The school day begins at 8:30 AM. Your child will be

marked late if he/she arrives to school after 8:30.

Excessive lateness and/or absences may result in a

report being filed with the DOE attendance office

In order for your child to benefit from all the school has

to offer, it is important that all appointments and

vacations be scheduled when school is not in session

The school day ends at 2:50 PM, every day. Do not

make appointments before the end of the school day.

Taking your child out of school early disrupts learning

Arrival Procedures• School begins at 8:30 AM

• The lobby doors open at 7:30 AM

• Breakfast begins at 7:45 AM for all students

• 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade go through the

cafeteria and up to the gym

• Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade go to the

auditorium

*New for Pre-K*

Starting Tuesday, September 18, 2018, morning line-up will be at the school entrance next to the condominiums.

Your child will be picked up at this entrance by their teacher at 8:30 am.

Dismissal Procedures• Dismissal is at 2:50 PM. To control the flow of

traffic inside and outside the school building:

You can start arriving at 2:30 PM to pick up

Pre-K and Kindergarten students, in the

Kindergarten suite

• You can start arriving at 2:40 PM to pick up

students in 1st – 5th grades

• 1st – 3rd grade are in the auditorium

• 4th & 5th grade are in the cafeteria

• Please make certain your child’s teacher

sees you when you pick up your child – it’s a

safety precaution

ALL children qualify for free school

meals. But you MUST fill out a lunch

form. It is easier than ever to

APPLY ONLINE.

All you have to do is go to

nyc.applyforlunch.com

Blue Emergency Contact Cards

must be completed and sent back

to school as soon as possible

Please include multiple contact

people in case of an emergency

If a phone number changes, it is

imperative that you call or come in

immediately to change it

A report card is a way to communicate a student’s

progress throughout the school year. P.S. 254 follows

the NYC Department of Education’s grading policy.

This is based on meaningful data about student

proficiency and performance trends in accordance

with grade level Common Core Learning Standards.

Grades are determined in many ways. Each marking

period we look at student assessments, portfolios,

participation, effort, homework, attendance, etc.

E = Excellent

G = Good

S = Satisfactory

N = Needs Improvement

U = Unsatisfactory

NS – Student has not attended school for enough days to determine a grade.

NL – Student recently transferred to the school and has not been present

enough days to determine a grade.

This is our 2nd year as a Leader in Me school. The Leader in Me philosophy provides our school with the structure and language to develop the school in a way that addresses all areas of leadership.

As each child discovers and develops his or her unique gifts and talents, they are given opportunities to lead.

As leaders, they become active, engaged partners in their own education, and their self-confidence, responsibility, and initiative grows.

The children quickly understand the benefits of different gifts and talents; they learn to listen to new ideas, work together to achieve results, and motivate one another to be their best.

The students of PS 254 will become model

citizens who are physically fit and healthy.

To this end, a rigorous health and physical

education curriculum will become a natural

part of the children’s lives and routines.

This will include exercise, food selection,

personal hygiene, etc.

Technology will be integrated across content

areas. Ms. Wimpfheimer will collaborate with

the classroom teachers in order to make certain

that computer technology is an essential

component of PS 254’s standards-based

curriculum. Our students must be equipped to

handle the ever-changing, technologically-

advanced society in which we live. Students’

computer generated work will be displayed in

the classroom and throughout the school.

Experiences in science will enable the students to

develop problem-solving skills that empower

them to participate in an increasingly scientific

world. Reading, writing, speaking, listening

activities and other interactive group processes

will also be the focus of science learning. All

classroom teachers teach science every week.

The science teacher reinforces the weekly

science lessons, by conducting hands-on

experiments in the lab. Our school-wide science

research fair will be held in March 2019.

Students will engage in foundational computer

science concepts through teacher-directed lessons

and the application of computer science, including

open-ended creative computing platforms such as

Scratch, robotics and maker education. Mr. Osman is

using the Software Engineering Program Junior

(SEPjr), which is a high-quality computer science

program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students

that balances rigorous and meaningful direct

instruction with open-ended creative computing.

Under the leadership of the music teacher,

Mr. Summerville, our students will continue to

be offered a valuable and standards-based

music education. Classes will be offered a

grade appropriate music program which will

include instruments and voice. Our students

will share what they have learned by

performing at our assemblies and special

programs throughout the school year.

Classes will be offered a standard-based art

program, built on the NYC Blueprint for the Arts,

by our art teacher, Mr. Popovic. Professional

development will also be offered so that the

classroom teacher and the artist can

collaborate and come up with themes that will

enhance and integrate into the curriculum.

Parents will also be offered art workshops that

will compliment the monthly read aloud.

Our Parent Coordinator is a bridge

between our parent community and

the school. Mrs. Arnold will answer

your questions and keep you

informed about school activities.

She is available in room 109.

Our Guidance Counselor works with general

and special education students and runs a

variety of guidance groups, such as groups for

children experiencing adjustment issues,

divorce or separation, bereavement groups,

etc. She also works with students and parents

who are in crisis. In addition to working with

students, she works with our Parent

Coordinator to help parents find low-cost, free

counseling and/or other services that our

families may be in need of.

At PS 254 we have several push-in/pull-out programs to help

children. Many of our students receive SETSS, PT, OT, Hearing

services, Speech/Language services, and/or APE. Push-in

services are a priority. Mandated services will be provided based

on the IEP recommendation. Service providers create a schedule

with classroom teachers to pull the mandated students out during

a time that will not interfere with the core curriculum.

Bilingual or non-English speaking children who score

below a cut-off on the New York State Identification

Test for English Language Learners (NYSITELL) are

required to receive ELL services. Ms. Feggins & Ms.

Lee will use the literacy program to ensure that all of

our ELL students learn the same skills and strategies

that are allotted to every student in the class. They

will primarily service the students in a push-in model.

There will be professional development sessions to

better equip educators of the strategies needed to

teach English language learners.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

Thursday, November 15 from 12:50 - 2:50 and

4:30 – 7:30 PM

Thursday, March 14 from 12:50 - 2:50 and

4:30 – 7:30 PM

*Your child will be dismissed at 11:50 AM on these days.

Family Night

Wednesday, May 15 from 4:30 – 7:30 PM.

New York State ELA Test (Grades 3-5): Tuesday, April 2 – Thursday, April 4

New York State Math Test (Grades 3-5): Wednesday, May 1 - Friday, May 3

NYS Science Performance Test: Wednesday, May 22 – Friday, May 31

NYS Science Written Test: Monday, June 3

NYSESLAT(Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing): April 8 – May 17

Diana Farquharson, President

Sherina Arguello, Co-President

Linda Lello & Carla Mendez, Co-Secretaries

Jessica Marrasquin, Treasurer