The team will demonstrate their robot project on February 29 at PS 9′s school-wide science fair. This is the second year in a row that a PS 9 team has gone to the citywide finals. Last year, an artificial kidney design earned some of our current fifth graders the judges’ praise in the research event. Three team members from that team participated this year as well.

PS 9 wins a fitness grant — and 2 others

PS 9 has received three different grants so far this year—one for fitness, one for science, and one for wellness. These will help create new programs that will be seen inside and outside classrooms at PS 9.

FITNESS: Do a dance! In October, the city’s Move-to-Improve program awarded PS 9 a grant to support fitness breaks in classrooms. The grant will provide up to $2500 for classroom teachers to train in the program and will supply classroom exercise equipment, music CDs, activity cards and other teaching aids.

The Move-to-Improve curriculum aims to increase physical activity among elementary students. It offers a series of 10-minute lessons that combine movement with academic learning. Click here to learn more and see the 32 different activities (scroll down to “Physical Activity Fitness Breaks”).

WELLNESS: PS 9 is getting a healthy makeover! In November, the Department of Education awarded PS 9 a School Wellness Council Grant, which means that our school “will receive resources, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and support, as well as $2,500 for materials and resources towards establishing or expanding a School Wellness Council.” This is a great step toward enhancing opportunities for health, nutrition and fitness at PS 9. The Wellness Council is still being organized. If you want to get involved, please contact parent Andrea Kaplan.

SCIENCE: Composting bins have sprouted at PS 9 this fall, thanks to a $2300 grant from The Citizens Committee for New York City. Ms. Codrington, the upper-grade science teacher, is training classroom teachers to compost and how to involve their students. The grant will also bring soil testing equipment and other gardening tools for students to use.

Planting bulbs

On Saturday, November 12, about 40 PS 9 parents and students gathered to plant bulbs, rake leaves, spread mulch and learn about tree care from Andrew Barrett of GreenThumb. Adult and child-size gardening tools were on hand, and home-baked treats kept everyone’s energy up. We can’t wait to see the flowers come up next spring!

The event was sponsored by PSH Street Trees, Green Thumb, Citizens Committee for New York City, and Blue in Green Gardens, LLC.

“Movement is so important for health, and even helps kids focus better in school. We’ve always been dedicated to providing opportunities for every one of our students to engage in exercise and active play, and this playground inspires our young ones to be active and have fun,” said PS 9 Principal Sandra D’Avilar. “We are also grateful to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for his continued support and the Department of Education and Barclays Nets Community Alliance for all of their efforts in funding this playground renovation.”

The stimulating play space came to life via a collaborative design process that was spearheaded by a Playground Committee, which included school leaders, parents, students, Out2Play and an architect.  The Committee then finalized a design plan based on three proposals and created a lively space to accommodate the needs of students from grades Pre-K to the 8^th Grade. In addition to the fully ramped, accessible play equipment, the expansive school yard also features a basketball court, tennis courts, a track, a handball court; multi-purpose field; drop shot; chess tables; benches; brightly painted hopscotch, 4-square, alphabet and number grid games; as well as new trees. “The future of this city lies in the hands of today’s youth and nurturing their health and development should be a top priority,” said Andrea Wenner, founder and executive director of Out2Play.  “Out2Play maintains its resolve to provide school children across the City with safe and stimulating playspaces and we are very excited to continue our work in Brooklyn in partnership with the Borough President and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance.”

Read more about the event at the New York Times SchoolBook and at Prospect Heights Patch.

All photos provided by PS 9 parent Stephanie Keith.

Every fall and spring, the NYC Parks Department sponsors It’s My Park Day where they support the community in beautifying and maintaining their local parks.

This year, Underhill Playground is getting special attention from the Parks Department. Come out on Saturday, October 15th, between 10 and 2 to lend a hand.

School Opens Thursday, September 8th. Our new daily arrival time is 8:20 AM.

New arrival and dismissal procedure: Download the memo here>>

Lunch Application Memo; very important: Download the parent memo here>>

LAVA After School Information: Download a copy here>>

September Monthly Acivity Calendar: Download a copy here>>

ClassParent Information Flyer: Download a copy here>>

Registration Information:  Download our registration information flyer here>>

First Day Celebration: Thursday, September 8, 2011, 8:20-10:00am. Download our First Day Celebration 2011 flyer>>

Parent Involvement Survey: Download our Title I parent survey here>>.

Please complete and return to our school’s main office during the first week of school.

General School Supply List*: *Teachers may require other supplies for individual classrooms. Download a copy of our General School Supply List 2011>>

Pre-Kindergarten Welcome Letter: Download here>>

Kindergarten Welcome Back Letter>> Download here>>

Grades 1-5 Welcome Back Letter>> Download here>>

After-School Information: Click here for more information>>

PS9 Annual School Calendar 2011-2012: Download a copy here>>

Parent Handbook: Download a copy here>>

Tentative Staff Reorganization: Download the list here>>

Coalition for the Homeless: Project Back to School: PS9 is partnering once again to provide much needed supplies to children in NYC’s neighborhoods. Download the information flyer here>>

Open House 2011-2012 Schedule: Download the flyer here>>

UFT Annual Parent Conference: Download the registration flyer here>>

NYC Department of Education School Calendar: Download a copy of 20112012SchoolYearCalendarRev>>.

For more information, visit http://schools.nyc.gov/Calendar/default.htm

Throughout the week of August 22, we will set up ARIS Parent Link access stations in select libraries in every borough. You can visit one of these sites to receive your username and password. (Note: For security purposes, only authorized parents will be given usernames and passwords. Please bring photo identification for verification purposes.) 

You can download a flyer with details or see the full schedule below:

• Arabic
• Bengali
• Chinese
• English
• French
• Haitian Creole
• Korean
• Russian
• Spanish
• Urdu
  
                         Summer 2011 ARIS Parent Link Access Station Schedule:

Interpretation services will be available at each location.

What is ARIS Parent Link? ARIS Parent Link is a secure, online location where you can find your child’s daily attendance, as well as periodic assessments and NY State test results, including Regents exams. Parents of students in middle school and high school can also view report card grades, unofficial transcripts, and important information about high school graduation requirements. ARIS Parent Link can also help you find activities you can do at home with your child to improve his or her achievement.

The DOE’s proposal must be approved by the Panel for Educational Policy before it is implemented. We anticipate that the Panel will vote on several proposals, including this one, on:

Date: May 18, 2011 at 6:00pm

Location: Long Island City high School

14-30 Broadway, Queens NY 11106