Upcoming Events

  • Midwinter Recess - No School

    PS 255 The Barbara Reing School

  • Class 1-202 Superhero Trip

    PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
  • Auditorium

    Parent Association Meeting/Special Education Workshop

    Ellen McHugh from Parent to Parent will be presenting.

    PS 255 The Barbara Reing School

  • 5th Grade - Elevate Education

    PS 255 The Barbara Reing School

  • Grade 4 - N.D.I.

    PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
View Monthly Calendar

RESPECT FOR ALL WEEK!

HERE AT P.S. 255 - WE ALL SHINE!

Monday, February 11th - we wear RED to show we are Supportive!

Tuesday, February 12th - we wear BLUE to show we are Honest!

Wednesday, February 13th - we wear YELLOW to show we are Inspiring!

Thursday, February 14th - we wear GREEN to show we are Nonjudgmental!

Friday, February 15th - we wear BROWN to show we are Efficient!

Monthly Message From Principal, Mrs. McCann

Monthly Message From Our Principal, 

Mrs. McCann
 
February 2019
 

Dear Parents,

It’s hard to believe it is February already. The month may be short, but we have a lot going on as usual. 

On Friday, February 5th, school will be closed for Lunar New Year. February 18th – 22nd school will be closed for a Midwinter Recess.  Please do not extend this vacation because airfares are cheaper before or after this week.  Children need to be in school, on time, every day unless they are too ill to attend.  We stress attendance and punctuality because we want your children to learn each and every opportunity they are in school. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss over 30 hours of instruction during the year - a week of school. A student who is absent just twice a month will miss 20 school days - 4 weeks of school!

With such a wonderful response to have the students eyes checked for “Eye on Education”, the program has scheduled a second date to complete the eye exams. Eye exams will take part on Wednesday, February 6th and Thursday, February 7th. 

On Thursday, February 11, 2019, Student Council will be hosting Respect for All Assembly. Respect for All week will be the week of February 11th. We are asking all students to wear the following colors:

            On Monday, February 11th students should wear red to show they are supportive.

             On Tuesday, February 12th students should wear blue to show they are honest.

            On Wednesday, February 13th students should wear yellow to show they are inspiring.

            On Thursday, February 14th students should wear green to show they are nonjudgmental

On Friday, February 15th students should wear brown to show they are efficient

On Thursday, February 14th, P.S. 255 will be hosting a Valentine’s Day Dance for children in grades 1-5 during school hours from 8:30am- 2:00pm.  All the children will dance the time away to music played by a fabulous D.J.  Pizza will be provided to students in the classroom. Children may dress in their favorite party attire. We are asking each student in grades 1-5 to bring in $2.00 to help off-set the cost of the dance.

Parents whose children are in danger of not meeting the Standards will be notified by February 15th. If you receive a letter, please meet with your child’s teacher immediately so that we can all work together to help your child be successful and be ready to be promoted to the next grade in June.

We also have some fun, as well as educational things scheduled for our students this month.  February is generally a cold, dreary, snowy month, but with these activities, no one will even be aware of the weather. 

  • Thursday, February 7th - Student of the Month
  • Thursday, February 7th – Wacky Wednesday….On a Thursday
  • Friday, February 8th – Grade 2-Movie Trip “ The Lego Movie 2”
  • Thursday, February 14th  – 100th Day of School
  • Friday, February 15th- Jump 4 Heart

State Exams- This year, New York State has shortened the number of days students in grades 3 through 5 will be tested. Students will now be tested over two day periods in ELA and Math. The NYS ELA test will be administered to our third, fourth and fifth grade students on April 2nd & April 3rd. The NYS Math test will be administered to our third, fourth and fifth grade students on May 1st & 2nd. These are very important tests. Please make sure that your child gets to bed early those nights, has a good breakfast before coming to school, and arrives at school on time. Latecomers will have to take the exam at a later date. Our teachers have been working very hard to prepare all of the students, and I’m sure that they will be very successful.

Our ELA and Math Afterschool program is currently in session. Please make sure your children are not picked up before dismissal as they are taking part in instructional lessons. When students are picked up early, it disrupts the teacher and the entire class. It is imperative that the students get the most out of each session while in the program.

During any vacation time, it is important that the children continue to read.  They all will have schoolwork to complete; however they should also be reading books they have selected for enjoyment.  You should encourage them to discuss what they are reading about with you, as well. In all of our classrooms we ask the students to provide reasons to support their ideas. You can practice this at home by asking some follow-up questions such as, “Why do you think that?”

Here are Some Future Dates to Remember:

  • Open School Evening – March 13th – 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
  • Open School Afternoon (11:30 Dismissal) – March 14th – 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
  • NDI Performance- March 28th -Grade 4- 5:00pm
  • Spring Recess – April 19th – April 26th.  Return to school on Monday, April 29th.

This year seems to be flying by!  I hope you all stay warm, happy and healthy throughout the month of February.

Very truly yours,

Kelly McCann

Principal

Achieve NYC: A Complete Guide to New York City Public Schools

Acheive NYC: A Complete Guide to New York City Public Schools, has the most current information regarding the City’s public schools. 

The guide contains:

  • Important dates
  • Details about enrolling in City schools
  • Who to speak to in schools when you have concerns
  • Grade-specific learning expectations
  • Transportation options for students
  • How to obtain financial aid for college
  • ...and more!
 Arabic

STEM SPRING BREAK PROGRAM

NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

STEM Enrichment Programs for Spring Break

Apply for Exciting STEM Enrichment Programs for Spring Break!
Do you know a student in kindergarten through grade 12 who is interested in having fun, unique, STEM experiences during spring break? Tell them about NYC DOE’s upcoming STEM Matters NYC enrichment programs! Explore, tinker, discover, and design. Don’t miss out, spots are limited and the application is only open between Tuesday, January 29, and Friday, February 15, 2019. Preference is given to students who attend Title I schools. Download the flyer to share with families and sign up for the DOE’s mailing list to receive a reminder that the application has opened! For questions, contactCamps@schools.nyc.gov.

Apply to Pre-K for September 2019

Apply to Pre-K!

Apply to Pre-K by Friday, March 15!

The Pre-K application for children born in 2015 is open now, and the deadline to apply is March 15, 2019.

Explore Pre-K for All programs and learn about pre-K admissions with:

MySchools

  • Use MySchools to explore Pre-K programs, choose programs for your child's application, and apply—all in one place. Search for Pre-K programs from your computer or phone.
  • Check back often! We'll be adding new programs throughout the application period.

2019 Pre-K Admissions Guide

Learn about the pre-K admissions process and pre-K programs across the city:

Español

  • NYC Pre-K Admissions Guide

 Available in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community District Education Council Elections 2019

Community Education Council Elections: Run 2019

2019 is an election year for New York City’s Education Councils. Parents across the city have an opportunity to run for a council and help shape policies and priorities for NYC schools. There is one council for each of NYC’s 32 community school districts, plus four citywide councils.

Watch Chancellor Carranza explain why you should consider running for an Education Council seat this year.

Applications will open on February 14, 2019. 

Learn more about Education Councils on our Education Councils page:

Why Should You Run?

  1. Make a difference in your community
  2. Advise the NYC Schools Chancellor on education policy
  3. Build your knowledge of education issues 
  4. Engage with your community and vote on school zoning lines
  5. Work closely with your district’s superintendent 
  6. Support schools in your district
  7. Receive leadership training
  8. Host a Town Hall with the NYC Schools Chancellor
  9. Partner with community leaders 
  10. Build relationships with other parents

How to Run for a Seat on an Education Council

  • Apply online beginning February 14, 2019 at nycparentleaders.org
  • It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the application. If you do not have a computer, ask your parent coordinator for access to a computer in your school or at a district office, or call 311 for information on computer access at local public libraries.
  • You can apply until 11:59 PM on March 6, 2019.
  • You can run for as many councils as you are eligible for, but can serve on only one. On the application, you will be asked to rank each council in order of preference; if you are elected to more than one, you will be assigned to serve on the council you ranked highest.
  • Attend the Candidate Conference on March 19, 2019 to find out more about what it’s like to serve on a council.
  • Make sure to attend the candidate forums for the councils to which you have applied.

For all latest information please check out District 22's Weekly Email Blast, Newsletter and Website

Check out all the latest information about the Community District 22 Website!

Also check out District 22's Weekly Email Blast!

As well as the District 22 Monthly Newsletter!

Check out or new P.S. 255 Photo Gallery!

Please click below to access our P.S. 255 Photo Gallery!

http://www.ps255.org/ps_255_photo_gallery

 

2018-2019 School Year Calendar

Please click below to see the full NYC DOE 2018-2019 School Year Calendar:

 201819SchoolYearCalendar.pdf 

School Calendar 2018-2019 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conference dates are citywide however, some schools may hold their conferences on alternative dates. In addition to the dates below, most schools will hold an evening conference for families in September and May. Please check with your school for specific schedules.

Fall 2018
November 29-30 High school
November 19-20 District 75 school programs
November 14-15 Elementary school
November 27-28 Middle school

Spring 2019
March 26-27 Middle school
March 7-8 High school
March 4-5 District 75 school programs
March 13-14 Elementary school

Student Council Corner!

Student Council Corner!

Attendance

When your child is going to be absent from school, please call 1-718-376-8494 ext. 1 and leave a message with your child's name, class and reason for not attending.

You also have the option of emailing Beth Rocco, Parent Coordinator at: BRocco@schools.nyc.gov regarding your child's absence.

When your child returns to school, please send in a note to their teacher.

Attendance is important!

Attendance is extremely important. Our teachers work very hard with our students every minute of the day. You may not think attendance is important, but consider this - a student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss over 30 hours of instruction during the year - a week of school. A student who is absent just twice a month will miss 20 school days - 4 weeks of school! If your child misses a day of school, they can never have another chance at that day. They will miss important information and engaging lessons. We want our students to have every learning opportunity possible.
 
Student success in school is directly related to the importance parents stress on education. Regular attendance not only emphasizes the importance of school, but also promotes responsibility and self-discipline. We need your help to ensure our students set good habits of punctuality at a young age.

School Lunch continues to be free for all NYC students but we still need you to fill out a Family Income Inquiry Form

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that once again, lunch is now completely free for all students in every New York City public school. Breakfast is already provided for free and all meals will be served at no charge to families.

We need your help to continue to make this program a success. All parents, regardless of income, must still complete a Family Income Inquiry Form so that our schools get access to federal funding for this program and others. Please complete the form online at www.myschoolapps.com as soon as possible. A hard-copy of the form will also be sent home with your child. It is only necessary to complete one form per household.

If you need help or have any questions, please contact Beth Rocco, Parent Coordinator at 718-376-8494 ext. 1.

Please join us in spreading the word that breakfast and lunch are free for all students every day. I hope your child will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and come enjoy a healthy meal with us.

Message from our Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams

Our Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams is working  with schools to help create a  healthier environment.

Please see the attached letter regarding how he is building a healthier future for our children: Letter from our Borough President.pdf .

A Message from Elizabeth A. Rose, Chief Executive Officer School Operations of the NYC Department of Education

A message  providing an update of the ongoing measures at the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that the water in our schools is safe for students and staff.

Please see below:

Citywide Backpack Letter Lead Testing Fall 2018_FINAL.docx 

We are excited to partner with Playworks for the 2018-2019 school year!

We are SUPER proud to announce that we have been honored as a Mathletics SUPERhero school! Mathletics is an amazing website to enhance your child's math skills! If you need their login information, please contact your child's teacher!

PS 255 Junior Chorus! Thank you to our music director, Ms. DiPaola!

Getting to Know You! PS 255 Chorus from PS 255 on Vimeo.

2016 SHINE VIDEO...PS 255 is Awesome!

PS 255 is Awesome! from PS 255 on Vimeo.

2017 SHINE Video...Fireworks!

Music Video 2017 from PS 255 on Vimeo.

2018 SHINE Video...Try Everything!

Try Everything-P.S. 255 from PS 255 on Vimeo.

Physical exam requirement!

Calling all Parents! Did you know every child must a completed physical exam to stay in school?  Just like immunizations, a check-up is REQUIRED  and a copy of the form must go to the school nurse's office. If your child is missing this requirement, please make an appointment with your child's doctor and take care of this immediately. Thank you for your cooperation. 

NYC Schools Account

NYC Schools Account: With a NYC Schools account https://mystudent.nyc/ you will be able to access key information about your child's progress in school, including attendance, report card grades, general student information, and test scores (including test scores from your child's New York State math and English Language Arts (ELA)) in one of ten languages on a computer, phone or tablet. To register for an account in person or online, please contact Beth Rocco, Parent Coordinator

FREE Homework help!

SHINE Assembly 2018

Shine Assembly from PS 255 on Vimeo.

Mathletics Hall of Fame!

  • Congratulations to our September Mathletics winners!

  • Congratulations to our October Mathletics winners!

  • Congratulations to our November Mathletics winners!

  • Congratulations to our November Mathletics winners!

  • Congratulations to our December Mathletics winner!

  • Congratulations to our December Mathletics winner!

  • Congratulations to our January Mathletics winner!

  • Congratulations to our January Mathletics winner!

Colorful Cory...our school mascot!

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION ABOUT CONSENT TO RELEASE INFORMATION FOR MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT

Our schools can receive additional funding for some of the services that are provided to students, like your child, who have individualized education plans (IEPs). In order for our schools to receive this funding, you previously signed a consent to (1) access and provide to the state and federal Medicaid programs personally identifiable information from your child’s special education records about the special education evaluations, programs and services that are provided to your child and (2) access your child’s Medicaid benefits to pay for these services. This letter of annual notification is to remind you that by previously signing this consent, you understood and agreed that the New York City Department of Education may access your child’s public benefits or insurance to pay for special education services provided to or on behalf of your child. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring that our schools receive as much funding as possible for the critical supports that are provided to our students. Sincerely, Carmen Fariña Chancellor ---

What information about my child will be provided to state and federal Medicaid programs? The New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) will provide information about the special education evaluations and services provided to your child. This information may include the IEP, progress notes, attendance records, evaluations and other records and information about evaluations and services provided to your child. Is there any cost to me or to my family? There is no cost to you or your family. You will not be required to incur any expenses, premiums, costs or copayments for the provision of these services. The services that are provided to your child in and outside of school will not be affected in any way. If your family receives Medicaid benefits, your coverage will not be canceled, the lifetime coverage in place will not decrease and services that your family receives will not be affected in any way by the accessing of Medicaid benefits. You will not be required to sign up for or enroll in Medicaid for your child to receive the services on his/her IEP. You will not risk the loss of eligibility for home and community based waivers, if any, that are based on your total health-related expenditures. Can I change my mind about allowing the NYC DOE to access my child’s information and submit claims to the Medicaid program and revoke my consent? Yes - you may change your mind about this consent at any time. To change your decision, contact your child’s school and request to complete a new Medicaid consent form. The NYC DOE must still provide special education and services to your child at no cost to you even if you withdraw your consent at a later date.

THRIVE NYC

I am delighted to inform you that our school has been selected to participate in the School Mental Health Consultant Program and will receive services starting this academic year. The School Mental Health Consultant Program (SMHCP) is part of ThriveNYC, the City’s strategic plan to improve and promote the mental health of its residents and facilitated by the DOE Office of School Health.  Schools are the most common point of entry for children seeking help for mental health concerns and the adults on our staff are the most reliable sources of referrals for our students.  School staff members have a perfect vantage point to observe students, notice change over time, spot concerns, and work closely with our School Mental Health Consultant to link students to supports. Building capacity in the school building for early identification of mental health issues through training, consultation, and support will increase our student’s mental health and academic success.

The School Mental Health Consultant will support our school by:

  • Promoting mental health and informing our school community about the program.
  • Identifying our school’s internal resources, gaps and creating School Mental Health Plans to connect schools with community based providers and other resources.
  • Provide training and consultation to our staff in order to raise their awareness about mental health and help them to address mental health concerns of students. 

We want to create a culture where good mental health is an essential part of the academic environment! If you have any questions please contact me or visit the website at ThriveNYC. Thank you for helping make this program a great success! 

Check out how we include EVERYONE at PS 255!

P.S. 255 from Smoke & Apple Films on Vimeo.

Check out our amazing "stop-motion animation" with Puppetry in Practice!

 Please see below regarding water testing in the school.

03 15 2018_K255_K255 Remediation Letter.pdf 

Special Education Post-Review Announcement

Post-Review Announcement

 

The New York State Education Department: Office of Special Education completed a Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Special Education Programs and Services Focused Review P.S. 255 during the 2015-2016 school year. This review examined the district's compliance with selected federal and State laws and regulations governing the education of students with disabilities.

 

The review was conducted by the SEQA for the New York City Regional Office. The review process involved a review of school records of a representative sample of students with disabilities, classroom visitations, interviews of parents and staff surveys. Meetings of the committee on special education were also observed.

 

A copy of the report may be reviewed from the Superintendent's office, located at 5619 Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11234.

Statement on Accessibility

Statement on Accessibility: We are working to make this website easier to access for people with disabilities, and will follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. If you need assistance with a particular page or document on our current site, please contact amandelbaum@schools.nyc.gov to request assistance.