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PARENT ASSOCIATION OF P.S. 144
2009-2010
PA Minutes
General Meeting – 11/16/09
Minutes
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
Monique Nieves,
Magnet Recruiter and Program Analyst for the NYC DOE, talked to
the meeting about the process of Middle School Choice.
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In District 28,
parents can choose between their Zoned School, a Charter
School, a Magnet School, or an Application-based School.
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Information about
Middle School Choice can be found on the DOE website:
schools.nyc.gov.
http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Middle/Calendar/default.htm
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A Magnet school
has federal funding and is theme-based. They are mandated
to have at least 15 hours a week of instruction based on the
theme
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Magnet schools
have additional money for personnel development and meeting
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Magnet schools
are also zoned schools and allocate a certain number of
seats in each grade for “magnet” applications. The number
of seats varies with each school and is determined by the
principal. Selection of magnet students is based on a
lottery.
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Some things to
consider when looking at a Magnet School
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Transportation
– there is no free bussing to magnet middle schools.
Parent should consider how their student will get back and
forth to school and review public bus routes.
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Afterschool
programs – some schools have them, but they vary in terms
of how late they run.
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Be familiar
with the curriculum. 7th grade grades and test
scores will be important for High School applications in
the fall of 8th grade. Also, know what the
expectations are for students
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How welcoming
is the school? How easy is it for parents to talk to
teachers?
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What kind of
school, what size school, will be a good match for your
child? Just because someone else says “it’s a great
school” doesn’t mean it will be great for your child.
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Go to every
Open House and see the school for yourself.
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Magnet schools
do not have gifted/talented programs but do have SP or
Honors or Regents programs.
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There are four
magnet schools available to families in District 28
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Aspires JHS 185
(Josephine Sharkey, JHS Magnet Specialist) spoke to the
meeting about this school) – located in Whitestone - focus
in on applied science, with a different focus in each
grade – architecture, medical and health science, social
justice
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MS 217 – Green
Magnet School – located in Briarwood – high technology –
Smartboards in every class, all students have laptops, do
multimedia – teachers and students work in “small
communities” so that each grade is divided into thirds,
with the same teachers and administrators following them
for three years.
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MS 237 – focus
on the Arts – art infused throughout the curriculum
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MS 250 –
Community studies – school without walls, smallest of
these schools
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Applications for
Middle School choice will be sent out “in November,” but
have not been sent out yet. Applications will be due to the
DOE on December 15th.
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Monique’s email
address is
mnieves13@schools.nyc.gov
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Other Middle School
information was discussed by Ms. Amy Mizzi, the school’s
guidance counselor
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There will be a 6th
grade at PS144 in 2010
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If you are zoned
for 144, you are zoned for Russell Sage (JHS 190) and can
choose that
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We don’t have
information yet about the Middle school at the Metro
Campus. The school will pass that information along as soon
as it’s available
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Final Decisions
about middle school will be made in May
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Jeff Gottleib from
State Senator Joe Addabo’s office spoke to the group – Senator
Addabo is very involved in our community and wants to reach
out to all schools. He can be reached at his Howard Beach
office at 718-738-1111. He is interested in meeting with
school principals and in hearing from parents.
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J.R. Nocerino,
Community Liaison, shared the following important dates
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Thanksgiving
dinner – Kids Care partners with others in our community to
feed senior citizens and shut ins on Thanksgiving. So far
we have 38 reservations. Volunteers are needed for set up,
service (which starts at 12), and clean up.
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12/8 – FH Civic
Association Holiday party at the American Legion Hall at 7pm
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12/13 – Civic
Association Kids Party – American Legion Hall at 1pm
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12/18 – 112th
Precinct Holiday Party – 7pm - Russell Sage Cafeteria
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12/7 – Due date
for 112th Precinct Poster contest – open to
students in grades 4-12, posters should have a topic of
anti-drug or anti drunk driving
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Jeanne Kwok shared
the results of the parent survey that was conducted in June
2009. We had a lot of positive feedback on current PA
activities and some suggestions for new activities.
Additional information about Middle School
choice is at
http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Middle/default.htm
or by contacting the District 28 Office of Student Enrollment at
http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/NewStudents/Borough+Enrollment+Offices.htm
or
90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435
Phone: 718-557-2774
or
by “friending” the NYC Department of Education on Facebook
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