What are program hours? School begins at 8:25am and ends at 2:45pm. Doors open at approx 8:22am, and students must be in their classrooms by 8:25am to avoid being marked late.
Is there snack time? Yes. Pack a healthy snack, including a reusable water bottle (no fruit juice or milk) for your child in addition to their lunch each day.
How much time do students have for lunch and recess? Students have one period of lunch and recess each day - so 25 minutes for each. Kindergarten and First Grade classes attend lunch and recess together.
Can students get cafeteria lunch? Lunch is provided free of charge by the DOE, but students are welcome to bring lunches from home. You can view School Food menus HERE. Are there accomodations for allergies and dietary restrictions? PS/IS 217 is a nut aware school. Students with allergies are able to invite a friend to accompany them at a separate table if allergies require. Pork and pork products are never served as part of DOE breakfasts and lunches.
Will there be breakfast offered at school? All students at 217 are welcome to enjoy a free breakfast in the school cafeteria between 7:45-8:10 am. Students are supervised by school staff during Breakfast Club.
What’s included in a day in the life of a Kindergarten student at 217? The school day is broken into 8 periods. A typical day begins with morning meeting and Brain Gym exercises, followed by Shared and Independent Reading, Math Rotations, Lunch & Recess, a special, Writing, Literacy Centers/Guided Reading/Snack and Center Time.
Do Kindergarten students go on field trips? Kindergarten students typically go on several Field Trips throughout the year to enhance material they have been learning in class. Previous trips have included visits to museums, zoos, botanical gardens and theater performances. Advance notice is given and permission slips sent home.
How will I know about my child’s progress?
Parent-Teacher Conferences are formally set 2 times per year to discuss expectations and progress.
Teachers are available every Tuesday morning between 7:45-8:25. You are welcome to make an appointment to see your teacher during this time or contact your teacher to make additional conference appointments if needed.
Parents may also contact teachers through email with questions.
How will I know what is happening around the school? Parents are frequently invited to participate in classroom activities and school events:
Teachers email weekly updates to parents with details about what students are focusing on in class along with news and general reminders.
The school e-newsletter, “Hawks Happenings”, is emailed weekly from the PTA. If you aren’t finding these in your inbox each week please email the PTA (psis217info@gmail.com) to confirm your email address.
Additional school communications include Grade Gabs with administration and quarterly LINKS newsletters.
In school activities include morning workshops for parents, in-class parent engagement activities, and residency Open Classroom experiences
All parents are encouraged to participate and volunteer in PTA events - email team217info@gmail.com if you would like to get involved.
Will there be homework? Kindergarten homework is designed to reinforce lessons, foster parental engagement, encourage individual responsibility and independence and acclimate them to the homework process. Students will receive a weekly packet with pages in math, spelling, reading and/or writing. Students are also expected to read (independently or with an adult) for 10 minutes each night.
What specials do Kindergarten students have? Kindergarten students attend art, music, physical education, science, library, integrated technology and PRIDE once per week. PS/IS 217 has dedicated classrooms and teachers for all of our specials.
Are there additional enrichments for Kindergarten students? In addition to the school-provided weekly specials, the PS/IS 217 PTA funds one enrichment residency per grade, per year. Current and previous enrichments have included: Musical Theater, African Dance, Hip Hop, Sing and Play Station (movement), Salvadori Center for Urban Design (architecture), Studio in a School (art), Ballroom Dance.
How is discipline handled at PS/IS 217? The PS/IS 217 school community is committed to working together to create a safe and cooperative learning environment that celebrates trust, respect, diversity, and academic achievement. As a school, we created a positive behavioral intervention and support system (PBIS) to directly teach all students expected behaviors within the school, the true meaning of respect, and to further build a school community. PBIS is folded into classroom lessons and school-wide activities, as well as specialized lessons if a need is determined by teachers, the administration or parent/guardian feedback.
When will I get my child’s class assignment? Class assignments will be mailed to the address on your Department of Education file during the week before school begins. Included will be procedures for the first day of school. If your address changes before this time, please notify the school immediately.
What do I do if my child is sick or will be absent? Please notify the teacher and the office by emailing the attendance secretary at absent@psis217.netand copying your teacher.
What supplies does my child need? UPDATE: Supply list for upcoming 2020-2021 school year will be released at later date. A school supply list will be available on the PTA website from May/June. You may order your supplies either:
By ordering a PreK supply kit from the PTA in June. Kits will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom in the first week of school, or
You can do the shopping yourself and bring in your bags of supplies during the first few days of school.