For those of you returning, welcome back! To our new families, we are happy to have you as part of the PS 144 community! We are excited to announce that the Juno wing of the school is open! We want to share a few start-of-the year details.
School hours are from 8:00 to 2:20 pm Monday through Friday. Arrival procedures will remain the same as last year. Using the doors on Kessel Street and the doors by the ramp for entry in the morning. However, for safety reasons, dismissal times are staggered in this way:
2:00 Pre-K – Juno Street exit by Pre-K playground gate
2:05 Kindergarten – 122, 221, and 222 - 69th Ave close to Kessel Street (former main entrance)
Kindergarten - 223, 224, 225, 226 - 69th Ave close to Juno Street (former Breakfast Door)
2:10 1st Grade & 325 - Back door by ramp
2:15 2nd Grade - 69th Ave close to Juno Street (former Breakfast Door)
2:20 3rd Grade - Auditorium Door in back of building (near ramp door)
2:20 4th Grade - 69th Ave close to Kessel Street (former main entrance)
2:20 5th Grade & 425 - Main entrance on Juno Street
**On the first day of school, 9/5/19, Pre-K and Kindergarten families will drop off and pick up students from the classroom.
It is very important that the students arrive well ahead of the 8am start time. We need the students to come in, unpack and have the routines of the day together. In this way everyone is prepared to begin their studies in a timely way each morning. We have more than 900 students. When students come in late, the disruption for them and their classmates is real.
Students wishing to participate in the free breakfast program will enter through the main entrance. Breakfast students will remain in the cafeteria and assisted to class by staff when class begins. Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30am each day. Only children eating will have access to the building before 7:50 am.
You will receive 3 copies of the emergency card. When you receive your emergency cards, please make sure to fill them out completely and clearly. We know this is time consuming. There is a link on the PA website to a digital version of the emergency card if you prefer to type. If you choose to complete the digital form please print out 3 copies and attach to the emergency cards. It is vital that the main office, the teacher and the nurse all have a card. If there are any changes in this information over the year please notify us in writing right away. We need cell phone numbers, home numbers and the best email to reach you quickly in case of an emergency. We need at least 3 emergency contacts other than you. We can’t stress how important it is that we have people and working numbers on these cards.
On Tuesday, September 10, 2019 we will be holding a back to school evening from 4:30-7:30 pm. This is a family night that offers the teachers the opportunity to explain the curriculum and routines for the school year. This evening is for general questions, and not for specific questions regarding specific students. You may arrange to email, or meet on any given Tuesday afternoon to discuss your particular question. We ask that you do not bring your children this evening as this is a time for gathering information for you.
Upon arrival you will notice additional scaffolding around our building. This scaffolding will be here for a while as they are working on repointing the bricks in the original portion of the building. Additionally, we were informed that we will not have access to the playground for up to 3 months. We are already working on plans to ensure students will have opportunities for movement during recess in the auditorium, and are exploring other areas of the building that we may be able to use during recess as well. We are looking forward to working with you to make this a successful and rewarding school year for all.
Sincerely,
Reva Gluck-Schneider, Principal
Jennifer Lucadamo, Assistant Principal
Jason Westerlund, Assistant Principal
