Dear Families,
I hope you are staying safe and healthy. As we finish up this school year, soon to close this chapter on an experience none of us could have ever imagined. But while we are thinking about closing one chapter, we need to focus on the beginning of another: what the future of our school may look like, and how we will come back in September for the 2020-21 school year. I am writing today with some important updates and urging you to take the opportunity to share your voice to the planning for this fall. You, your children, and all our staff at P.S. 161 have done an outstanding job adjusting to this transformation of education in the largest public-school system. We must continue to center health and safety and be prepared to follow guidance issued by health experts and other important authorities as Fall approaches. Since we do not know what the state of the coronavirus will be at that time, we must be ready for a few options for teaching and learning. In addition to the risks posed by COVID-19 directly, we are also aware of the of the emergence of the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition related to COVID-19 that has affected children in New York City as well as across the country and the world.
What Might Fall 2020 Look Like?
The DOE has not yet made any firm decisions for what this fall will look like as we start the 2020-2021 school year. However, they do believe that all options will need to be considered with social distancing. We know that for students, nothing can quite match full-time teaching and learning in a school building. Given the ongoing health risks related to COVID-19, we also need to prepare for a variety of educational models and approaches, including what the DOE calls blended learning. Blended learning means combining in-person and remote instruction to create a powerful educational experience where each mode of learning supports the other. Throughout it all, the goal remains to provide as much in-person learning as possible and give every child the academic support they need while keeping them safe.
Lend Your Voice Through the Return to School 2020 Survey
There are many ways blended learning can operate, and we know every student and family has experienced remote learning differently. We want to hear from you about your preferences and concerns as we head into the 2020-2021 school year. The DOE has created a short survey for both families and students—please take a moment to fill it out and share your thoughts by Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The survey is anonymous and should take about 7 minutes to complete. It is available in 9 languages, and those without the ability to complete it online can do so by calling 311. Please make sure to let your voices be heard, I Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback: it will help us to better serve you and our students. As we continue to work together, we must stand united in building a strong, just, safe, and successful future for our school community and our City. Have a wonderful and Safe Summer.
Respectfully,
Eliamarie Soto
Eliamarie Soto, Principal
P. S. 161- Juan Ponce de Leon School
628 Tinton Avenue
Bronx, NY 10455
Tel. # (718) 292-5478
Fax # (718) 292-5476
