PA Minutes 11/17

Parents' Association of P.S.144Q

93-02 69th Ave.

Forest Hills, NY 11375

MINUTES FROM MEETINGS

PA of PS144
General Meeting
11/17/08
Minutes

• Gifted and Talented Update – the point of entry for G/T is going to be Kindergarten. Pre-K parents who want their children to be eligible for the test should apply by November 19th. Children in 3rd and 4th grade may get an invitation to a G/T program in the spring, based on their ELL test scores. Seats in upper grades are very limited.

• Community affairs – JR Nocerino shared the following news

o On Thanksgiving, KidzCare will serve a holiday dinner to Senior Citizens who would otherwise be alone. Last year they served 39 people; this year there are already 33 reservations. If you know someone who might want a meal, or if you would like your child to be involved in helping out, please contact KidzCare.
o 12/5 and 12/6 is registration for Girls Softball. Friday from 7-9, Saturday from 9-12.
o 12/14 at the American Legion Hall on Metropolitan Ave, the FH Civic Association will have a holiday party for kids at 1:00pm.
o 12/9 at the American Legion Hall on Metropolitan Ave, the FH Civic Association will have a holiday party for adults at 7:45pm.
o 12/17 the 112th Precint will have their holiday party at Russell Sage at 7pm.

• Kathryn Thome shared the following information about the Community Education Council –
o There will be a meeting on 12/6 at 90-27 Sutphin Blvd. Jamaica, at 7:30. The School Construction Authority will present a 5 year Capital Improvement Plan and will also take input on how the plan should be amended.
o The Metro Campus schools are being built and are on-target for 9/2010 opening. There will be one 6-12 district-wide school and one 9-12 locally zoned HS. Zoning for the 6-12 has not been finalized.

• Marilyn Grant, Principal of Russell Sage, spoke to the group about a proposed 6th grade pilot at RS for Fall 2009. This is a change in plan from what was previously thought (by both Ms. Grant and Ms Schneider). Ms. Grant reassured parents that this small group of 6th graders (about 60-90 kids) would have their own floor in one wing of the building, would arrive and depart at a different schedule than the older kids, and would eat in their wing. The Core Curriculum would include ELA, Social Studies, Science, Math, and an opportunity for Latin as a foreign language. Students would have access to the Science Lab, and to all of the Talents (Arts) at the school. The focus would be on making kids comfortable in the building.
o The specifics of how children would be recruited or would apply for the program have not been worked out yet
o Ms. Grant anticipates many other meetings with parents and administrators from “feeder schools”.
o The timeline for transition is still not firm. For 2009-2010, there would be 6th grades both at the feeder schools and at RS. It is anticipated that this would be the last year for a 9th grade at Sage, but is not clear what the timeline would be for 6th grade.
o Sage will have many opportunities for parents and students to visit prior to the next school year, including Open Houses and night-time programs.
o Sage has Guidance Counselors and Assistant Principals for each grade. These administrators “loop”, staying with one class until they graduate. This increases comfort for kids, and helps administrators be familiar with students.
o An accelerated program in 6th grade would help kids who might be eligible for Honors programs in 7th and 8th.
o The arts programs at Sage and 144 are collaborative and share many resources and contacts in the city.
o A question was raised about whether parents can push OPD into making final decisions. It’s hard for schools and parents to make decisions without clear information. Kathryn Thome said that she would contact CEC members about pushing OPD to work with parents and principals.