From The Principal
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Dear I.S. 131 School Community,
Welcome to May! We would like to thank all of our parents and guardians for assisting us in ensuring that our students are Polite, Prepared, and Punctual! Our students sat for the NYS ELA Exam in April and the NYS Math Exam during the first week in May and we were proud of their commitment to do their best. We have you, the parents and guardians, to thank for working with us in preparing your children for the rigors of these exams.
Even though these State Exams are completed, the school year is not. We need to work together to remind our students that there is still “learning going on” as well as assessments. Soon, our students will be taking their 3rd round of the DRP exam which will measure your child’s reading level growth from September. During the month of May, all our students will be assessed in Mathematics through NTE. Our 8th Grade students are preparing for their NYS Science Exam and our ELL students will be participating in the NYSESLAT Exam.
We will be holding year-end assessments in all subject areas during the month of June.
Remember to contact your child’s teacher via Pupilpath.com or set up an appointment during our Tuesday Engagement session if you have any questions or concerns.
Our job at I.S. 131 is to work with our parents and guardians for the benefit of our children. We hope at this time that you have been able to review your child’s third-quarter report card and have contacted your child’s teachers if you have any concerns. Remember, open communication is key in assisting your child academically. We would like to remind you that our teachers are available through Pupilpath.com, is131.org, as well as during our Family Engagement time on Tuesday afternoons from 3:10 pm – 3:45 pm. If you are experiencing any difficulties with logging into the various websites or would like assistance with scheduling an appointment, please contact the Grade Assistant Principal for assistance.
Grade 7 & 8 – Mr. C. Acevedo - ext. 116
Grade 6 – Ms. E. Moro-Sullivan – ext. 236
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm. School is in session for students and their dismissal will be at 2:30 pm. Remember, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet with your child and their teacher to discuss their academic progress as well as to voice any concerns.
Remember, all students should be reading for 30 minutes each night. So, if your child states that they do not have any homework, please ask them about their reading. Please check Pupilpath.com weekly to see the progress of your child and to contact any teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
At IS 131, our focus is to ensure that our students are College & Career Ready. Our students will be participating in Career Day on May 16th. We are asking our students to dress in the attire of the career that they would like to pursue.
We always enjoy celebrating the achievements of our students!
Remember this is a partnership between you, your child, and the school. When we work together, there is nothing that your child can’t accomplish!
Dates to Remember!
Date Day Event
May 9, 2018--> Wednesday Honor Roll Assembly - 9 am
May 9, 2018--> Wednesday Parent-Teacher Conferences – 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
May 16, 2018--> Wednesday Career Day
May 28, 2018--> Monday Memorial Day – No School
Remember to check our websites weekly for other events such as our “Breakfast with the Principal and Parent Coordinator” and our weekly workshops offered by our Parent Association as well as our Parent Coordinator, Ms. B. Rivera. Please contact Ms. B. Rivera, at extension 110, if you would like additional information.
Thank you for being a positive part of our I.S. 131 school community. We look forward to seeing you on May 9th for our Parent-Teacher Conferences!
School Play
iReady
We are committed to improving the skills of all the members of our learning community. Every student at I.S. 131 has access to iReady which is specifically designed to improve ELA and Math skills for every grade level. Click the iReady link below to visit the web site to learn more. Students can use any device to connect to their account. Visit the Play Store for Android or the App Store for iPhone/iPad users and search for iReady. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mr. Fischetto at rfisch55@is131.org.
Wellness in the Schools
We have been very fortunate to work with Wellness in the Schools. Teaching our scholars how to effectively balance a healthy diet and exercise.
Young Chefs
Cell Phones
If you have any questions regarding our cell phone policy feel free to reach out to the parent coordinator for assistance.
I.S. 131 Cell Phone Policy
Use of Cell Phone and Other Electronic Devices
I.S. 131 Policies
IS 131’s policy on cell phones and other electronic device policy remains unchanged. The new Regulation A-413 continues to stress that for all regular communication between parents, guardians and students, the Onsite School’s phone system must be used. Our school phone number is (718) 991-7490 and it must be used for all emergency communication. Additionally, there will be no tolerance for unauthorized cell phone use during the school day, and disciplinary interventions will apply as per Chancellor’s Disciplinary Code. While we recognize the reality of handheld devices in today’s society, we also affirm the need for our school to maintain safety for our students.
In short, students may have their cellphones on their person as long as they are turned off and out of sight. No use of such devices is permitted during school hours, including after school and Saturdays. Violation of this policy will result in confiscation and disciplinary consequences in accordance with the guidance interventions and disciplinary responses set forth in the Chancellor’s Discipline Code.
Regulation A-413 does allow students to bring electronic and digital devices to school for educational purposes. However, given the quantity of devices we have on site we highly recommend our students leave their devices at home. Our school will not secure nor provide protection for such devices, nor be held responsible for lost or misplaced items.
Key additional provisions of this policy include:
● Cell phones/electronic devices must be turned off before entering the school building.
● Once inside the school building, cell phones and electronic devices must not be visible under any circumstances.
● If a cell phone or electronic device rings, vibrates, or makes any noticeable sound, it will be confiscated.
● If a cell phone or electronic device is noticeably visible, it will be confiscated.
● Refusal to surrender a cell phone or electronic device is considered insubordination and will be addressed according to the Chancellor’s Discipline Code.
● In the event that parents/guardians contact their children via cell phone during school hours, a mandatory meeting with administration will be required; as such communication is highly disruptive to the educational process.
IS 131 requires your full co-operation with this policy.
I.S. 131 Core Values
-Responsibility-
Accountable for ones actions
Supporting members of the community to be the best they can be
Holding high expectations for oneself as well as all members of the community
-Respect-
To regard the feelings, wishes and rights of others before responding.
-Trust-
Assist in creating a risk free environment that leads to open discussions and dialogue
Building relationships to support personal and academic growth
-Perseverance-
When faced with challenges you don't give up! Seek support from a member of the school community in order to achieve mastery.
-Positivity-
Focus on what can be and not what can't be in order to achieve your goals.
Skedula- Pupil Path
The link for pupil path is below. We encourage you to log on to monitor your child's academic progress throughout the year. If you encounter any issues, please contact the school.
https://pupilpath.skedula.com/
6th Grade Newsletter
Photo by Marisa Morton on Unsplash
It’s May!
Welcome to our 4th Marking Period! We would like to thank you for assisting us in ensuring that all of our students sat for the NYS ELA & NYS Math Exams. We believe that all of our students were committed to doing their best and “Slam the Exam!” Our Parent-Teacher Conferences will run from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm on Wednesday, May 9th. Remember, our teachers are always available Tuesday afternoons from 2:40 pm – 3:40 pm. Just contact us and we’ll set up a time that is convenient for you.
Please remember that as the weather gets warmer, it is our expectation that our students dress appropriately for school. The following is a reminder, outlining our expectations for our 3 P’s – Polite, Prepared, and Punctual.
Our first concern is our dress code:
Dress code
I.S. 131 seeks to prepare students for a future in the workforce and to "Dress for Success". Therefore, the dress code requires all students to use:
Tops: Royal Blue or Yellow Collared School Shirts
Bottoms: Pants in Khaki or Black
Gym Attire: Sneakers, Sweatpants, T-Shirt in Royal Blue or Black.
The following are NOT acceptable at any time:
* Jeans – especially ripped ones
* T-shirts with photographs, emblems or inappropriate words.
* Sleeveless shirts (Tank tops, tube tops, halters, spaghetti straps, etc.)
* Pants worn below the waist which show underwear or shorts underneath
* Skirts or shorts with hems higher than 4 inches above the knee.
* Do-Rags/Scarves [unless for medical or religious reasons]
* Hats
* Hoodies
We are still expecting our students to adhere to our dress code and not dress in attire suitable for weekend or beach attire. We will contact you if we believe that your child is not Dressed for Success in school.
Our second concern is Punctuality:
School begins at 8:10 am. Class instruction begins at 8:15 am. Students are expected to be in their class prepared to work at that time. Students are given three minutes to transition from class to class during the school day. The schedule was designed to accommodate the movement of five hundred students on the second floor. Each grade has a primary hallway and staircase to use to ease any possible congestion. Unfortunately, some students believe that they should “visit” sections of the building that they are not assigned. This causes a number of problems such as disrupting classes as well as being late to their own class. Students, who have been identified as being consistently late to class, without a pass, will be placed on a “No Pass” list to monitor their lateness. Letters will be sent home to the parents/guardians of students who still are having difficulties with following a schedule in May.
The letter will state:
Your child has been taking advantage of the Pass System here at IS 131 and has been placed on a list to monitor their time out of the classroom. Your child is either constantly late to class, leaves the classroom without permission, or when given a pass will socialize in the hallways, wander into other sections in the building, or remain out of the classroom for extended periods of time. In order to ensure the safety of your child and to make sure that all academic needs are met, we are implementing the following procedures beginning Monday, May 14, 2018:
1. Each student is allowed to request one pass from a subject class per day.
2. An Administrator or Dean will be informed that the student has requested to leave the room.
3. The following information will be documented on the section sheet:
a. Pass issued
b. Time student left room and time student returned
4. If a student does not return within five (5) minutes, a follow-up call will be made and the student will serve lunch detention.
5. Parents will be contacted if there is no change in behavior.
6. If the student displays the proper responsibility regarding punctuality, they will earn back their privileges.
Remember, we are here to assist your child to achieve and grow educationally, emotionally, and socially. Our goal at IS 131 is for all of our students to be College and Career ready and when we work together this goal can be achieved.
Other News:
We have been holding our Town Hall Meetings, where again we had 50 students with Perfect Attendance for the month of March and over 70 students with Perfect Attendance for the month of April.
At IS 131, we are building a community of readers! Your child is required to read 30 minutes each night. The only way that we can increase the readability level of anyone is by reading every day.
Remember, our staff is always available through our Pupilpath.com communication system or if you would like to set up an appointment to meet and discuss your child. Just contact me at emorosu@schools.nyc.gov to set up a date and time.
Dates to Remember!
Date Day Event
May 9, 2018--> Wednesday Honor Roll Assembly - 9 am
May 9, 2018--> Wednesday Parent-Teacher Conferences – 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
May 16, 2018--> Wednesday Career Day
May 28, 2018--> Monday Memorial Day – No School
Feel free to contact me anytime at emorosu@schools.nyc.gov if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your support!
7th Grade NewsLetter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
05-04-18
As we now enter May, I would like to thank you all for your support of our 7th-grade students. Our school year is moving rather quickly, and we want to ensure that all our 7th graders are Punctual, Prepared, and Polite.
We have been preparing your child to be College & Career Ready and the State Exams are another venue to assess your child’s progress. Remember we believe in your children and we will continue to emphasize to them to utilize the skills that they have been taught this year and to do their best.
On that note, I would like to remind all our parents of our involvement in our College Access for All programs. Ms. Melendez, our guidance counselor is our liaison for this program. We will be having our 2nd parent workshop for parents at some point this month. All parents are invited to attend this event. Our middle school provider, Pathways for Purpose, will be conducting a workshop on how parents can work on addressing their own credit score.
Please remember that as the weather gets warmer, it is our expectation that our students dress appropriately for school. The following is a reminder, outlining our expectations for our 3 P’s – Polite, Prepared, and Punctual.
Our first concern is our Dress code
I.S. 131 seeks to prepare students for a future in the workforce and to "Dress for Success". Therefore, the dress code requires all students to use:
Tops: Royal Blue or Yellow Collared School Shirts Bottoms: Pants in Khaki or Black Gym Attire: Sneakers, Sweatpants, T-Shirt in Royal Blue or Black.
Just a reminder that as the weather gets warmer…
The following attire is NOT acceptable at any time:
* Jeans
* T-shirts with photographs, emblems, or inappropriate words.
* Sleeveless shirts (Tank tops, tube tops, halters, spaghetti straps, etc.)
* Pants worn below the waist which show underwear or shorts underneath
* Skirts or shorts with hems higher than 4 inches above the knee.
* Do-Rags/Scarves [unless for medical or religious reasons]
* Hats
* Slides, slippers of any kind.
* Hoodies
* Emoticon “sweat suits”
Note: You will receive a call to bring in a change of clothes if we believe that a student is dressed inappropriately for school.
We are still expecting our students to adhere to our dress code and not dress in attire suitable to weekend or beach attire. We will contact you if we believe that your child is not Dressed for Success for school.
Our second concern is Punctuality:
School begins at 8:10 am. Class instruction begins at 8:15 am. Students are expected to be in their class prepared to work at that time. Students are given three minutes to transition from class to class during the school day. The schedule was designed to accommodate the movement of five hundred students on the second floor. Each grade has a primary hallway and staircase to use to ease any possible congestion. Please review this expectation with your child.
Other News:
We have been holding Town Hall Meetings each month with our students where we acknowledge our students with Perfect Attendance for each month as well as an outstanding student from each class. Remember, we are here to assist your child to achieve and grow educationally, emotionally, and socially. Our goal at IS 131 is for all our students to be College and Career ready and when we work together this goal can be achieved.
Our staff is always available through our Pupilpath communication system. If you would like to set up an appointment to meet and discuss your child, contact me at caceved5@schools.nyc.gov to set up a date and time.
Thank you for your support!
Dates to Remember!
Date Day Event
May 9, 2018- Wednesday Honor Roll Assembly - 9 am
May 9th Thursday- Parent-Teacher Conferences -Report card distribution 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
May 23rd Wednesday- Safety Town Hall 10:00 am
May 28th Monday- Memorial Day Observed (schools closed)
Grade 8 Newsletter
Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash
6/8/18
Dear Parents /Guardians,
I would first like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all of our eighth-grade parents and students who have worked so hard in this rapidly moving school year. Our eighth-grade staff is excited about the upcoming senior events that we have slated for our graduating class of 2018.
This is the time of the school year that can be the most exciting and for some the most disheartening. Many of our students will soon find out their status as it relates to meeting their own promotional standards. However, all students must understand that they must finish out the school year strong to avoid summer school and retain that seat that awaits them at the next level. If your child is on probation they are NOT ELIGIBLE to attend ANY eighth-grade event. This does not include graduation as students must be in good academic standing in order to attend. This will be determined later this month. However, if a student is MANDATED for summer school they will NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE GRADUATION CEREMONY. This is a DOE policy and our school cannot supersede this edict. Also, keep in mind there are no refunds issued if your child must attend Summer in The City.
Students will receive separate information for each individual event as those dates draw closer. For the parents' convenience, we do have a senior advisor, Mr. R. Kessler, who can address any concerns you may have regarding senior activities. Feel free to contact him directly if you have any further questions. The dues remain $ 90.00 but we do advise all of our parents to please pay these funds as soon as possible. There are many plans and preparations that must be made in advance and these funds assist in securing these venues and time is running out. Some students did receive a probation letter earlier this year. Parents will be notified and updated on their child’s status prior to each senior event. If you ARE NOT called by Mr. Acevedo your child has not been removed from Probation. At the end of this letter, you will find two calendars. The first is upcoming dates in June as well as some updated senior events to keep in mind for our 8th-grade events later this school year.
Please be mindful that prior to any senior activity all dues ($90.00) must be paid in full. I look forward to a successful academic end of the year for all of our seniors.
Our school sent home a letter last month to all grades regarding the proper attire to be worn during the remainder of this school year. As the weather begins to warm up some of our students take the liberty of “dressing down” on certain days. Proper attire MUST be worn as well as proper footwear. Slippers for school are NOT permitted.
On behalf of myself, and the 8th-grade staff here at I.S. 131, we would like to like once again thank you for your support. It has been our pleasure working and supporting your children this school year and we wish you and them well and all the best as they continue to the next leg of their educational journey- High School!
Respectfully yours,
Mr. Carlos L. Acevedo
8th Grade Assistant Principal
June Dates to Remember!
|
Date |
Day |
Event |
|
June 7, 2018 |
Thursday |
Anniversary Day- No School for Students |
|
June 11, 2018 |
Monday |
No School for Students – Clerical day- |
|
June 12, 2018 |
Tuesday |
Senior Awards -5:00 pm – 6:30 pm, student café |
|
June 13, 2018 |
Wednesday |
8th Grade Honor Society- 1:30 pm |
|
June 15, 2018 |
Friday |
No school – Eid al-Fitr |
|
June 22, 2018 |
Friday |
All grades Barbecue |
|
June 26, 2018 |
Tuesday |
Last day of School- ½ day |
FUTURE SENIOR EVENTS
|
Trip |
Day |
Date |
Students |
Cost |
|
Senior Awards |
Tuesday |
June 12, 2018 |
Academically Eligible |
$0 |
|
Holiday Hill Camp |
Thursday |
June 14, 2018 |
Non- Probation Students |
$65.00 |
|
Graduation- Lehman HS 9:30 am - 12:00 PM |
Tuesday |
June 19, 2018 |
Academically Eligible |
Sr. Dues -NOW PAST DUE $90.00 |
|
Senior Dance- Maestro’s |
Thursday |
June 21, 2018 |
Non- Probation Students |
$ 55.00 |
|
All Grade Barbecue |
Friday |
June 22, 2018 |
ALL |
0 |
|
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL -Distribution of 8th records & –Diplomas ARCADE- 10:00 am *Summer in the City students do not receive their diplomas until the completion of a successful summer session. |
Tuesday |
June 26, 2018 1/2 DAY- |
ALL |
0 |
School Leadership Team Meeting Schedule
--The 2017-2018 School Leadership Team Schedule will be arriving shortly--
Stay Tuned...
DREAM- Specialized High School
WE ARE MOVING TO I.S. 174 CAMPUS FOR THE SUMMER - Click Here for Address - 456 White Plains Rd Bronx
IT WAS ALL A DREAM!
The DREAM program is designed to help students prepare for the Specialized High School exams. The links below indicate when the program is in session. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact Mr. Acevedo at caceved5@schools.nyc.gov
Summer 2018 DREAM-SHSI and Intensive Student Calendar 0308018.docx
Coach Eddie's Corner
College Access For All
We are very excited to have the College Access For All initiative in our school this year! Our students are learning all about college and what it takes to get there and be successful. From campus life to scholarships- They will learn it all. Listed below are the upcoming dates for the workshops as well as the trips we will be going on.
College Access Workshops
|
10/25/17 What Is college? |
|
11/1/17 Myth busting ex. College vs universities |
|
11/15/17 Resume Writing |
|
12/6/17 Sport Preparation |
|
1/10/17 College access week kick-off assembly |
Trips
|
November 8, 2017 Bronx Community College |
|
December 12, 2017 TBA |
ASPIRA After School Program
Check out our ASPIRA calendar so you are aware of our upcoming events.
Parent Coordinator
Please visit our amazing parent coordinator on her Facebook page in order to stay connected with the I.S. 131 community