Upcoming Events

Jan 26

Last day to submit an application for Kindergarten September 2020

PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
Jan 27

Department of Health Vision Screening Grades K & 1

PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
Jan 27 01:10 PM 02:10 PM

Room 321

YOGA, Mindfulness & Well Being Parent Workshop Series

Class led by Sasha Arensen from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
Jan 29

N.D.I. - Grade 4

PS 255 The Barbara Reing School
Jan 29

Education in Dance

Classes: 1-233, 1-203, 1-206 & 1-204

PS 255 The Barbara Reing School

Message from Principal Kelly McCann

Message From Our Principal, Kelly McCann

January 2020

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone has a wonderful vacation filled with great memories and plenty of rest. It is hard to believe we will be celebrating 2020 already, and January will be an exciting month for our school.

Progress reports will be distributed on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Please check your child’s folder to receive an update on his/her performance. We will be having a Parent –Teacher conference on Thursday, January 16, 2020 in place of the May Parent- Teacher conferences. These conferences are not mandatory but appointments will be scheduled if requested.

Our 3^rd graders finished their residency with the National Dance Institute and our entire school community was impressed with how much our students were able to accomplish in ten short weeks. I am happy to inform you that

beginning on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 our 4^th graders will be taking part in a 10 week residency with the National Dance Institute.

If you registered to have your child tested for the NYC Gifted and Talented program, children in Kindergarten through 2^nd grade will be tested during the school day. The schedule will be as follows: Kindergarten will be tested on January 6^th & 7^th, 1^st grade will be tested on January 8^th & 9^th, and 2^nd grade will be tested on January 10^th & 13^th.

We will be celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday on Monday, January 20^th . There will be No School on this day. Dr. King fought for equal rights and still remained a man of peace. As we strive for peace throughout the world, it would be fitting to discuss with your children how fortunate we are to be living in the USA, as well as the responsibilities of being an American.

Providing your children with the best education possible is our top priority. We ask that you make sure your child is in school on time each and every day. Please make sure you are not taking vacations while school is in session.

This year, the NYS ELA Exams for Grades 3, 4 & 5 will be on March 25^th & 26^th. The NYS Math Exams for grades 3, 4 & 5 will be given on April 22^nd & 23^rd. Please do not make other plans on these dates. This is for the welfare of your child. ELA and Math tests have better results when children take them at the same time as their peers, and your child will feel less stressed as well.

Parking on East 17^th Street, in front of the school building, is not permitted at any time. Parking is not permitted during arrival or dismissal time, either. Due to the severity of this situation, and the danger it can inflict on our students, all cars parked here will be ticketed and towed! Please, do not let that happen to you. This is for our children’s protection and well being.

Now that the weather is turning colder, it is very important that your child comes to school dressed appropriately. We all know how our children love to wear their favorite article of clothing over and over, but please make certain your child does not wear his favorite short sleeve tee-shirt on a frigid day. Also, some of our young ladies are wearing skirts and dresses that are much too short and revealing. Please make sure to check your child’s attire before he/she leaves for school. If your child loses clothing or a lunchbox please be sure to visit the lost and found in the main lobby.

Please make sure to have your child in school no later than 8:10 AM daily. For the safety of our children, our teachers escort them to the classrooms. When your child arrives after 8:10 AM, he/she must wait in the main lobby until all classes get to their rooms, and then walk alone to class. This is not the most pleasant way for your child to start his/her day. This could be avoided if you would just wake your child up 5 or 10 minutes earlier. Then he/she would have time to socialize with classmates, eat breakfast and be ready to be escorted to class by the teacher, on time. School doors open at 7:40 AM. Please make every effort to get your child to school on time. Punctuality is a good habit to instill in every child.

Please be sure you are not blocking the entrance of our school when dropping your children off in the morning. Our students are having a difficult time entering the building and getting into the warmth. We have staff members waiting in the building to assist your children to ensure they get where they need to be. I appreciate your help and understanding.

Happy “2020” to our entire P.S. 255 family. May this year bring peace, happiness and health to you and your families.

Very truly yours,

Kelly McCann

Principal

NYC Public School Guidebook 2019 - 2020

NYC Public School Guidebook

The NYC Public School Guidebook is an annual publication containing current information about New York City’s public schools, including:

Important dates in this year’s school calendar
Details about enrolling in City schools
Who to speak to in schools when you have concerns
What students are learning in each grade
Programs available to support students in & out of the classroom
How New York City students get to school
Graduation requirements
How to obtain financial aid for college
...and more!

NYC Public School Guidebook

EQUITY FORUM HOSTED BY THE CECD22'S DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL INCLUSION COMMITTEE

Equity Forum hosted by CECD22

The STEM Matters NYC spring break application

Apply Now for Exciting Spring Break STEM Enrichment Programs!

This spring break, STEM is taking over the city! Kindergarten through grade 12 students can apply now to attend exciting enrichment and experiential learning programs with STEM Matters NYC. A wide range of programs are offered at the NYC Department of Education’s Genovesi Environmental Study Center and NYC Center for Aerospace and Applied Mathematics; the Bronx Zoo; Central Park Zoo; Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum; Museum of the City of New York; New York Aquarium; New York Botanical Garden; New-York Historical Society; Prospect Park Zoo; Queens Botanical Garden; Queens County Farm Museum; Queens Zoo; Solar One; Staten Island MakerSpace; Staten Island Zoo; and Wave Hill. Students will meet and work with field experts in programs that feature real-world learning experiences.

Don’t miss out, spots are limited and the application deadline is Monday, February 10. Preference is given to students who attend Title I schools. Download our flyer, learn more, and apply now. For questions, contact STEMMattersNYC@schools.nyc.gov.

Town Hall Meeting with Chancellor Carranza

Town Hall Meeting Flyer

Town Hall Meeting with Chancellor Carranza at James Madison High School February 4, 2020 at 6:30 pm

Kindergarten September 2020

Starting on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, all children born in 2015 and currently a New York City resident can apply to kindergarten.

Admissions to kindergarten programs are open to all students of this age, including current pre-K students at DOE public schools, pre-K centers, NYC Early Education Centers, charter schools, and private or parochial schools.

Students currently attending pre-K at a public elementary school still need to apply to kindergarten.

For more information, please click on the link below:

Enrollment Guide

Free Admission to NYC Museums!

These New York City museums are either always free, free on specific days of the week or free for select hours. Find one near you, and take advantage of their generosity.

Note that this takes into account general admission only; certain events and special exhibitions may still require a fee.

Please click on this link: https://www.nycgo.com/articles/free-nyc-museums

Make time to enjoy all New York City has to offer with your family!

Keeping Students Safe

November 2019

Dear Families,

At the Department of Education, our top priority is keeping students safe and healthy so they can engage in learning, every day in every school. Today we write with an important update in relation to the Department of Education’s aggressive lead remediation work in school facilities across the city.
Custodians are an integral part of our school communities, and are in our schools every day. They have always conducted visual inspections to monitor for peeling paint, and this summer another round of inspections was conducted in order to formally log the findings. By the first day of school this year, we successfully inspected and addressed any peeling paint found in classrooms serving kids under six and this fall, any necessary remediation of peeling paint was completed.
We also began our work in cafeterias and libraries earlier this fall, and these spaces were stabilized as necessary. Stabilization is an EPA- and NYC Department of Health-approved process by which deteriorating paint is removed, sealed, and repainted. This keeps these spaces safe for young children, as the impacted area of the wall is covered and inaccessible. Remediation is successful when dust wipe samples confirm the longer term safety of the room.
Our focus has always been on classrooms where students spend the most time, but we’re committed to enhancing our protocols and have expanded our work to common spaces. Beginning next month, we’re expanding inspections to include bathrooms, gymnasiums and auditoriums.
Although lead-based paint was banned in New York City in 1960, we take additional precautions and include in our monitoring any building constructed 25 years after that ban. Children under three years old are the most susceptible and vulnerable to the health effects of lead, and children under age six are at higher risk than older children.
Our response protocol keeps kids safe, and over the course of the year the DOE has increased oversight and transparency of this work. A centralized database is available online, and staff or parents can report any deteriorate paint via an online tool accessible 24/7 at schools.nyc.gov/lead-based-paint.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to PaintTesting@schools.nyc.gov with any questions about our ongoing efforts with respect to lead remediation.

Sincerely,

Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Citywide School Calendar for 2019 - 2020

Please click below to find the citywide school calendar for 2019-2020.

School Calendar

After School Form

If your child is picked up by an after school program, learning center, day care, or any other outside agency, please fill out this form and send it back with your child when the school year begins in September 2019.

Thank you.

Afterschool Permission Slip.docx

Community Connections - Brooklyn Public Library-Kings Highway Branch

Check out all the great happenings at our Brooklyn Public Library's Kings Highway Branch:

Brooklyn Public Library Events Calendar

Kings Highway Branch

2115 Ocean Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11229

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!

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 Supply List for 2019 2020

School Supply List for Grades K - 5:

1st Grade list 19 20.docx

2nd Grade list 19 20.docx

3rd Grade list 19 20.docx

4th Grade supply list 19 20 1.docx

5th Grade Supply list 19 20.docx

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

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.

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 Eric Adams.docx

2016 SHINE VIDEO...PS 255 is Awesome!

2017 SHINE Video...Fireworks!

2018 SHINE Video...Try Everything!

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!

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

Mathletics Hall of Fame!

Congratulations to our September Mathletics Winner!
Congratulations to our September Mathletics Winner!
Congratulations to our October Mathletics Winner!
Congratulations to our October Mathletics Winner!
Congratulations to our November Mathletics Winners!
Congratulations to our December Mathletics Winners!
Congratulations to our December Mathletics Winners!

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 Thrive NYC 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!

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.

Student and Family Guide to 504 Accommodations

Please see below regarding 404 accommodations:

Letter about 504s.docx

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.