Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

Good, True & Beautiful: Brooklyn Free School

I discovered this video after looking at an interview with Peter Loffredo. This one is about the Brooklyn Free School, an experimental school founded by Alan Berger. You can find other Good, True & Beautiful videos directed by  Scott Colthorp at Vimeo.

Swine Flu Vaccinations in 125 Small Public Elementary Schools

From the NY Times:

School nurses will begin giving free vaccinations on Wednesday at 125 small public elementary schools, all with fewer than 400 students, said the commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley.  “We have 40,000 doses set aside for the first wave of schools, which we feel should be adequate,” Dr. Farley said.

He said nurses would probably vaccinate 15 to 25 children a day until the supply was exhausted. The order in which schools will receive the vaccine can be found on the city’s flu Web site.

Can't Afford Summer Camp: Do It Yourself!

Here's an excerpt from my latest story for the Associated Press: Can't Afford Pricey Summer Camp? Go DIY. Parents with tight summer budgets get creative—and so do their kids.

 Alma Schneider's 8-year-old daughter loves fashion. Her neighbor owns a wedding couture business. It was a match made in DIY heaven and an answer to a problem faced by other cash-strapped families trying to make it through summer without pricey kid classes and camps. "It costs too much money to send all my kids to camp. It's just not possible," said the Montclair, N.J., mother of four. Charging $150 per child, Christine Sapienza led a week of "fashion camp" for Schneider's oldest, Ilah, and five pals. She showed the girls how to make fancy T-shirts, wrap skirts and button bracelets while Schneider entertained her three other kids.

The group put on a fashion show for parents the last day, and Sapienza surprised each girl with an inexpensive portable sewing machine. "The kids had such a great time we're doing another week of it in August," said Schneider, a food blogger who plans to charge $60 per family for her own healthy cooking camp next month. "I'm a community minded person," she said. "If we all shared our skills and talents we wouldn't have to outsource everything. It's a great model to learn from each other's expertise." Other parents facing hard financial times are joining the DIY camp movement as they try to survive the muggy months. Stephanie Reyes in Brooklyn, N.Y., charges $60 a day per family for a playground romp, an art or science activity and a theater performance put on by her campers. She throws in a snack and a nap back at her place for eight to 12 kids, including her 6-year-old son Milo. "They even get to design the props and costumes," she said. One planned outing a day.

Elizabeth Laura Palmer and her cartoonist husband, Tom Palmer, haven't taken on the children of others, but they took on a camp mentality for their two girls due to tight finances that precluded far more expensive programs. They created a schedule: Up at 8 a.m., breakfast and out the door for one major outing each day. Without a plan, Palmer said, she had been afraid Molly, 7, and Violet, 4, wouldn't make it out of the house this summer. "The kids would be content to stay at home, read, play Barbies and imaginary games," she said. "But by 3 or 4 they'd get restless and start fighting."

Read more at: MSNBC, one of the over 900 news outlets that picked up the story

Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn: RIP Legendary Bed-Stuy Principal

Here's an excerpt from DITHOB's obit on the legendary principal at Bed Stuy's Boys and Girls High School.

The Daily Challenge, NYC's only Black Daily, in today's edition reports the passing of Frank N. Mickens, long time Principal of Boys and Girls High School, the Pride of Bed Stuy, author, activist and fighter for equal opportunity in education. Mr. Mickens reportedly passed away in his sleep Thursday morning. Mr. Mickens began teaching in 1968, becoming principal of Boys and Girls HS in 1985. He retired from the NYC Department of Education in 2004.

Mr. Mickens was known as a no-nonsense disciplinarian, as witnessed in the photo above as he patrolled the halls, here with a walkie talkie, often with a bullhorn. He showed that by getting kids to respect him, themselves, and each other, it was possible to turn a problem-plagued school around. He fought for school improvement and school funds, and many scholarships and incentives were made available to his students. Under Mr. Micken's tenure, the school had 85%+ college bround graduates.

Read more at DITHOB

Mayhem in Albany Means Department of Ed is Now the Board of Ed, Again

Due to the mess in the Assembly Albany, at midnight on July 1 mayoral control of schools ended, which means that the Board of Education is back in business. At some point during the day the newly reconstituted BOE voted to keep Chancellor Klein in command. They elected Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott as president, and called on state senators in Albany to pass the Assembly’s mayoral control bill. 

Here's the story from Inside Schools: 

The newly reconstituted seven-member board will be made up of five members , one appointed by each borough president, and two members appointed by Mayor Bloomberg. Yesterday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., formally announced the appointment of Dr. Delores Fernandez as the Bronx representative. According to The New York Times, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will appoint  his chief of staff, Carlo Scissura, to the board while Manhattan’s  Scott Stringer will appoint his legal counsel (and former Advocates for Children staff lawyer), Jimmy Yan, on an interim basis. There is no word yet on the appointees from Queens, Staten Island, or the mayor.

Check out GothamSchools’ step-by-step  guide to the post-mayoral control school system for more information about what’s next for the city’s schools.

UPDATE (11:07 a.m.): We have just learned the rest of the appointees to the BOE: for Queens, Deputy Mayor of Education and Community Development Dennis Walcott; for Staten Island, Deputy Borough President Edward Burke; and for Mayor Bloomberg, First Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris and Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler.

Change in Public School Calendar: School Starts September 9th

I just heard from a member of the United Federation of Teachers that an important change to next year's calendar was made late last night. Next year public school starts on Wednesday September 9th not September 8th as originally planned. Here's why

Okay, you may have heard this already, but I just got an email about this less than an hour ago.

 

The NYC Dept. of Education has just changed the school calendar for next year - tonight!

I'm a UFT member, and we signed an agreement a few days ago to change our starting day to the day after Labor day, as opposed to before Labor Day. This would put it in line with the way it used to be before our last contract.

But the principal's union objected, because that meant we were coming back the same day as the kids. So tonight, they signed a NEW agreement changing the day the KIDS start to the Wednesday after Labor Day. That's one day later than they originally planned on.

 

Here's a link to the official calendar. You'll notice it says "Revised as of June 25, 2009".

 

http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F5C4C865-B4FF-45BE-A396-536C0695EEDB/64220/20092010SchoolYearCalendarRev.pdf

Free Talks in June with Joyce Szuflita: Navigating High School and Middle School Choice

Joyce Szuflita, of NYC School Help, is presenting a free talk called "Navigating HS Choice". In her talk, she will focus on how to manage the process calmly and understand the procedures from a parent's point of view so that you can focus on what is most important, finding a good fit school for your child.

She won't be discussing individual schools at this venue. Students are welcome.

This Wed., June 3, 6:30 to 7:30 at the Carroll Gardens Library (396 Clinton St, Brooklyn (718) 596-6972/Union St.) near the Carroll St. stop on the F train, and

Tues., June 16, 6:30 to 7:30 at the Park Slope Library (431 6th Ave., Brooklyn (718) 832-1853/9th St.) near the 7th Ave. stop on the F train.

RSVP to joyce@nycschoolhelp.com with the date that you will be attending.

She is also speaking on "Navigating Middle School Choice" on
Tuesday, June 9, 6:30 to 7:30 at the Park Slope Library (431 6th Ave., Brooklyn (718) 832-1853/9th St.) near the 7th Ave. stop on the F train.

It's May 29th: Do You Know Your Child's Public School Placement?

Public middle school and kindergarten parents are still waiting to hear where their kids will be going to school next year.

Stressful?

You bet.

Schools have been told that the letters are going out this week. Why does this remind me of last year? They kept saying, the letters went out, the letters went out. And we waited and waited.

One theory: the DOE is trying to send out the special needs and general ed placements at the same time. Last year special needs letters didn't arrive until mid-June aggravating parents of special needs kids who said they felt like second class citizens in the school system.

Advice from Joyce Szuflita of New York School Help:

As long as we are all waiting on pins and needles, I suggest that parents present a calm and confident attitude to their children that the placements will come and when things settle down it will all be fine. Away from their children they can express their outrage to any DOE and public official who will listen, that this process is too extended, too opaque and too stressful on children and their families.

President Obama Likes Charter Schools

I found this map of NYC Charter school on this website. Seems to me the Bronx and Brooklyn top out the list of charter schools in NYC.

SCHOOLS BY BOROUGH

Bronx

2. Bronx Charter for Better Learning
3. The Bronx CS for Children
4. Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls
8. Family Life Academy Charter School
10. Grand Concourse Academy Charter
16. South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts
17. South Bronx Classical Charter School
18. The Bronx Charter for the Arts
21. Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School
22. Bronx Charter School for Excellence
23. Bronx Community Charter
25. Icahn Charter School 1
26. Icahn Charter School 2
27. Icahn Charter School 3
38. Harriet Tubman Charter School
52. Bronx Lighthouse Charter
58. Hyde Leadership Charter
59. KIPP Academy Charter School
68. Bronx Preparatory Charter School
79. Green Dot New York Charter School
80. International Leadership Charter School
82. New York City Charter HS for Architecture, Engineering, & Construction Industries

Brooklyn

5. Brooklyn Charter School
6. Community Partnership Charter School
7. Community Roots Charter School
12. La Cima Elementary Charter School
20. Beginning with Children Charter
24. Brooklyn Excelsior Charter
29. East New York Prep Charter
30. Excellence Charter School of Bedford Stuyvesant
31. Explore Charter School
39. Hellenic Classical Charter School
40. Leadership Prep Charter School
43. PAVE Academy Charter School
45. Achievement First Brownsville Charter School
46. Achievement First Bushwick CS (Elementary)
47. Achievement First Bushwick CS (Middle)
48. Achievement First Crown Heights CS (Elem.)
49. Achievement First Crown Heights CS (Middle)
50. Achievement First East New York Charter School
51. Achievement First Endeavor Charter School
53. Brooklyn Ascend Charter
60. KIPP AMP Charter School
67. United Federation of Teachers CS (Elementary)
69. Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter
71. Kings Collegiate Charter
74. Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School
77. United Federation of Teachers CS (Middle)
83. Williamsburg Charter HS

Manhattan

1. Amber Charter School
9. Girls Preparatory Charter School
11. Harlem Day Charter School
13. Manhattan Charter School
15. Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem
19. Harbor Science & Arts Charter School
28. DREAM Charter School
32. Future Leaders Institute Charter
33. Harlem Link Charter School
34. Harlem Success Academy
35. Harlem Success Academy 2
36. Harlem Success Academy 3
37. Harlem Success Academy 4
41. Mott Haven Academy Charter
55. Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy I Charter Upper Elementary, Middle
56. Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Acad I High
57. Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy II Charter Elementary School
59. KIPP Academy Charter School
61. KIPP Infinity Charter School
62. KIPP STAR College Prep Charter School
65. Ross Global Academy Charter
66. St. HOPE Leadership Academy
70. Harlem Village Academy
72. Leadership Village Academy
73. New Heights Academy Charter School
75. Democracy Prep Charter School
78. New York Center for Autism Charter School
81. John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School

Queens

14. Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter
42. Our World Neighborhood Charter School
44. VOICE Charter School
63. Merrick Academy Queens Public Charter School
64. The Renaissance Charter School

Obama Supports Charter Schools in First Education Speech

As reported in the Associated Press, President Barack Obama, in a speech on Tuesday to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, called for expanding innovative charter schools and suggested longer school days and school years.

School in the summer? I don't know how that's going to fly but it's worth a try.

Yesterday's speech was Obama's first major speech on education. Understandably he has been very busy since mid January. But still.

Here's a quote from our prez:

"The future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens," he said. "We have everything we need to be that nation ... and yet, despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we have let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short and other nations outpace us."

Solutions, which include teacher pay tied to student achievement and charter school proposals, have met opposition among members of teachers unions, an important segment of the Democratic Party.

President Obama openly acknowledged this group of naysayers:

"Too many supporters of my party have resisted the idea of rewarding excellence in teaching with extra pay, even though we know it can make a difference in the classroom.

Rummage Collection At PS 321: March 9-12

Rummage Collection will be Mon. 3/9 -- Thurs. 3/12
in the school lobby

YES: baby & kids clothing, coats, kids winter & rain boots, bikes, scooters, cleats, skates, dolls, action figures, NEW stuffed animals, toys, games, complete puzzles, all kids books, adult fiction (please NO outdated non-fiction), CDs, DVDs, videos.

NO: adult clothing or shoes, used kids shoes, baby gear or equipment, jewelry, household items, music cassette tapes.

Park Slope Schoolhouse: Saving Something Worth Saving Like A School And Jobs

I just heard from Alison, one of the organizers of the new Park Slope Schoolhouse with more news about the school formerly known as the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center

The organizing group consists of past and present parents who wanted to save a program that has been operating in the neighborhood for two decades; some of the teachers have even been there since the program's inception.

The group had a lot of help from so many people and organizations. In that way, it was the best kind of community effort, Alison said.

And look who helped: Fund for the City of New York, Methodist Hospital, the Berkeley Carroll School and Helen Halverson, the former director of the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Cente.

"it's really been a privilege to save something worth saving and create something that services such a huge need in our community.  We are delighted to say that all of the teachers and staff have been invited to stay on in their current roles, so we have saved 18 jobs in the process in addition to the 48 childcare spots."'

Park Slope Schoolhouse, formerly the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center, is now scheduling tours for 2009-2010 1's, 2's and 3's program. Here's the announcement they sent to Park Slope Parents.

Dear Park Slope Community:

A few months ago, many of you heard of the decision by the Berkeley
Carroll School to close its Child Care Center , which was discussed
extensively on this list. Since then, a group of current and former Child
Care Center parents have been working to secure the future of this
wonderful program, which has operated in our neighborhood for over 30
years.

Today, we are thrilled to announce the formation of The Park Slope
Schoolhouse, a child development program for 1 - 4 year olds. We will
operate the program formerly known as 밫he Berkeley Carroll Child Care
Center?through a newly formed non-profit entity and we have been accepted
to the Fund for the City of New York 뭩 incubator program for start-up
non-profits.

The program will continue to operate in its current format, running
annually from September ?August. Parents can select from two-, three- or
five days a week options, and the program will continue to operate from
7:30 AM - 6:30 PM.

Returning families and siblings will be given priority, but spots will be
available for all ages served. Students must be aged one, two or three by
September 1, 2009 for inclusion in the applicable class.

Given the late stage of the pre-school admissions process, the timeline
for acceptance into the program has been accelerated. Tours will be
conducted Feb. 17 ?25. To schedule a tour, please contact Natasha
Corlette at (718) 768-4873.

With the exception of siblings of current and former program students, acceptance
to the program is on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will
be distributed on Feb. 26 to families who have completed tours. Notice of
acceptance will be given on March 3 and contracts/deposits are due March
11, 2009.

We are incredibly grateful to the many people who supported this endeavor
and made this happen and have a special thank-you for the Fund for the
City of New York, who believed in our mission and accepted us into its
incubator program; Methodist Hospital, who generously has allowed us to
stay in our current space until our new location anticipated to be at 5th
Ave. in the South Slope is renovated; the Berkeley Carroll School for its
assistance in transitioning the program to new leadership; and to Helen
Halverson, the former director of the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center
for her guidance and support. Every day we hear more and more bad news
about our economy, jobs, etc., but these organizations and individuals
plus many others have contributed to saving 48 childcare spots and 18 jobs
in our community and we are so happy to be sharing this great news in this
tough economic environment!

Park Slope School House: The Nabe Needs It

Once again, I am the last to know. Full disclosure: I was in New Jersey over the weekend swimming in a Biosphere pool.

The Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center which is in the process of closing dn is becoming Park Slope School House. I guess someone did the numbers and figured out a way to do it.

I didn't find a web site but I found this:

Leading Neighborhood Program with 20+ Year History Now Offering Tours for 2009-2010 Academic Year–Parents who need child care in Brooklyn now have the option to send their children to Park Slope Schoolhouse (PSS), a child development program with courses for children who are one, two or three years old by September 1, 2009. PSS is a newly formed non-profit early childhood education program that formerly operated as the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center and previously, as the MHB Child Care Center (operated by New York Methodist Hospital). The program has a rich history in the neighborhood, having been in operation since 1986.

Readings on the Fourth Floor: Broadway Unbound

PS 107 presents the 5th Annual Readings on the Fourth Floor, a series of Wednesday night author and artists events, which is also a fund-raiser for the school's library:

Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, creators and stars in the Obie-award winning musical Title of Show, will be joined by their female lead, Susan Blackwell. Jeff Whitty, Tony Award- winning playwright (Best Musical 2004) of Avenue Q and Tales of the City will be joined by Bobby Lopez, Tony-award winning composer and lyricist for Avenue Q. Doug Aibel, artistic director of the Vineyard Theater, which took both of these shows to Broadway, will round out the panel.

Anecdotes, spontaneous song and the trials and tribulations of creating musical theater that goes beyond the norm will be center stage in this evening of theatrical insight.

The Where and When

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
PS 107
1301 8th Avenue
7:30 - 9 p.m.

The Clearwater Will Be Docked in Red Hook To Serve Brooklyn Schools!

I just got a tip about a groovy event at the Brooklyn Brewery this Thursday (Feb. 26). It's a benefit for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a nonprofit environmental organization that conducts environmental science lessons for elementary school kids aboard a big wooden boat. 

They're throwing this party in Brooklyn to celebrate the fact that they recently gained access to a dock in Red Hook- which will make it much easier for them to serve Brooklyn schools (previously, their only NYC dock was in Manhattan at 79th Street, which prevented most Brooklyn schools from taking advantage of their programs).

So come one come all to the fundraiser for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Benefit at the Brooklyn BreweryBrooklyn Brewery, a great way to support this terrific program, described below:

"During the 1960s, the Hudson River was incredibly polluted.  Folk singer / activist Pete Seeger decided to solve the problem by building a large wooden boat.  The idea: the Hudson is everyone’s river; if people have access, they’ll care about the river, and will work to prevent industry from filling it with crap.  So Pete founded Clearwater and built the boat, which has sailed up and down the Hudson for 30 years, conducting on-board environmental education for children and adults.  The organization also promotes sound environmental policy in the watershed, and fights polluters like GE, Entergy, ARCO, etc.  Thanks in large part to Clearwater’s efforts, the Hudson is now clean enough for swimming, fishing, and emergency airplane landings.

"We've always offered educational sails not only for schools in wealthy suburbs, but also for those in underserved and/or urban communities; this year, we finally gained access to a dock in Brooklyn, which dramatically increases our ability to serve students in NYC.  To celebrate (and raise much-needed funds to support our programs), we’re having a party at the Brooklyn Brewery.  There’ll be food, live music by Chris Cubeta and the Liars Club & Medicine Woman, and various salty crew members from the boat. We’re asking for a $20 donation, which includes (limited) free beer courtesy of the Brooklyn Brewery."

The Where and When

Brooklyn Brewery
79 North 11th Street (between Wythe and Berry), Brooklyn, NY (map)
7-9:30 pm
cost: $20
www.clearwater.orgEvent info on facebook

Creative Writing Classes for Kids?

An OTBKB reader is wondering if there are any creative writing classes for kids age 10. I suggested the workshops at the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company also known as 826NYC. It's the turtoring and writing center started by Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genuis.

Are there others?

Private or group lessons?

Film Screening: Fast-Paced, High-Stress Lives of Many Kids

Sara Bennett, co-author with Nancy Kalish of The Case Against Homework, wrote in yesterday with this film recommendation. It's playing on March 5th and 6th. I'm not sure of the location. Try one of the links below.

Dear Friends,

I am really excited to tell you about a new short documentary film, Slipping Behind, which looks  at the fast-paced, high-stress lives, of many of today's students.

If you live in the New York City area, there will be two free screenings of the film, on March 5 and March 6. I hope you can attend and please tell your friends, your teachers, your principals, and anyone else you think might be interested. (How about posting a copy of the flyer at your school, on your facebook....) There will be a lively discussion following the film and you will be able to give feedback to the filmmaker, Vicki Abeles. I will be helping to facilitate the discussion.

The attached flyer explains all the details. Seating is limited so be sure to RSVP as soon as you can to: <julie@reellinkfilms.com>

If you don't live in the NYC area take a look at the film web site, <www.reellinkfilms.com>, to see where else the film will be showing and/or to make arrangements to show the film at your school, in your home, at your PTA meeting, at your film festival, etc.

The film is a great way to start a discussion at your school.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you at the screening.


Sara Bennett

This Sunday, Dec. 7: Winter Fair at Brooklyn Waldorf School

Just heard from some at the Brooklyn Waldorf School about their winter fair which is this Sunday.

All families are invited to the Brooklyn Waldorf School's 3rd annual Winter Fair. Come celebrate with us in our winter wonderland of crafts, delicious food, games, face painting, and a handmade toy and silk sale. We're also holding a silent auction, which includes Tina Fey's glasses, donated by Tina herself. Lots to see and do, for sure.

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008
Location: The Brooklyn Waldorf School
126 St. Felix Place
(Between Hanson + Lafayette in Fort Greene)

Offering classes from Early Childhood to Third Grade, the Brooklyn Waldorf School is an arts-based, grass-roots branch of the Waldorf education movement. Learn more about the school at www.thebrooklynschool.com or see our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/brooklynwaldorf.

Plans to Close the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center Stirs Controversy

There's an unusually interesting conversation going on over at Park Slope Parents about Berkeley Carroll's decision to close its child care center. This decision has caused some controversy around the Slope.

Understandably, parents with children at the child care center are fighting mad that the school is closing as it is one of the only program of its kind in the neighborhood for full day, year around, early childhood education in Park Slope. Of course the closure has consequences beyond the parents and children at the school as one PSP parent writes:

This closure puts twenty-two exceptionally dedicated, creative, and hard working early childhood educators out of work in the worst economy seen in decades.  All of the jobs eliminated are held by women - and roughly half of these are women of color.  Most of the teachers are also mothers (and grandmothers).  This is a significant issue of racial, gender, and economic justice.

An article in the New York Times on Sunday, November 9, 2008 angered some parents because a spokesperson from Berkeley Carroll School called the child care center a "luxury,"

Boy, was that a dumb thing to say. Everyone knows that affordable and good early childhood education is not a luxury but a necessity for working families.

Yes, the price of child care is exorbitant, tuition at the child care center comes to something like $11 dollars an hour, which is actually less than what most people spend on an in-home care giver. More from a PSP parent:

It is expensive to care for children - primarily because you (or your agent in the form of a school) must employ other people to do the job.  We can talk all we want about "affordable" child care, but that conversation isn't realistic until we factor in what it costs to employ people - to pay market salaries, health insurance, retirement benefits, paid sick and vacation time, professional development, and so on.  Someone has to pay for this.  Personally, I believe that we should have publilcly funded daycare (hey, lets all move to Sweden!) that offers teachers this sort of package of fair compensation. 

The fact of the matter is: we have no such thing in NYC.  I have many students who are from the most economically impoverished communities in the city - the "public" daycare that their children are often forced to attend (because there are no other choices, and people now have to work in order to continue receiving public assistance) would - I assume - be thoroughly unacceptable to all of us in terms of the standard of care.  These daycares are thoroughly unacceptable to the young parents I know who are forced to use them - but they have no other options.  Given this context, I do not think it is a fair criticism to argue that the CCC does not deserve our support because it is not "affordable" or "publicly funded.

So what are the child care center parents doing?

Some have banded together to try to keep the school open. This effort has met with much difficulty as well. Another PSP poster had this to say about the effort to take over the Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center. Note: New York Methodist Hospital owns the space  where the child care center is located. 

New York Methodist Hospital and Berkeley Carroll have created a circular argument where NYMH insists that they have not evicted Berkeley Carroll Child Care Center in '09 and that they would offer a final lease extension to Berkeley Carroll but to no one else (not to a parents collective, not to another neighborhood institution willing to make a permanent home for the Center or anyone else).

And then Berkeley Carroll states that NYMH really does want them out and that they have a bad relationship with Methodist and thus refuse to ask for OR accept an extension.

What is intriguing is that both institutions stand firm to their talking points, both refuse to move position, yet each maintains that neither wants to label the other - 'the bad guy'.

The families have pursued possible take-over partners and have been generally met with enthusiasm and follow-up efforts.  However, it would take a near miracle to secure the partner, the site, renovate to meet new Dept. of Health Child Care Ctr. codes, get through the permitting and licensing process - let alone make contracts with teachers and parents by the spring / summer '09 (either by a collective or a take-over). 

The families who signed on for daycare this year had no idea that they would be spending their fall, just 4 weeks after the start of the school year, looking for new daycare and single-handedly running the entire effort of finding a permanent home for this program within four months [mid-Feb. when generally is asked to make financial commitments for the fall of '09].

BC Child Care Center families have asked that both institutions sit together in a room with parent reps. and negotiate to grant a final year lease extension for '09-'10 so that a take-over plan can be implemented.  They have decisively refused this.

It is apparent that the Child Care Center is a thorn in the side of both institutions and they simply want to be done with it.  Fair enough - but to definitively turn-down a reasonable request which would allow for the Center to be transferred to new leadership and permanent location, allow for the existing daycare slots to survive, and keep teaching staff employed in rough economy: this does not compute - and this is why all the fuss persists.  Berkeley Carroll has said that the Center is profitable enough, allowing for a final transition year from either institution is not going to upend either one.  The negative PR is bound to continue for both institutions until one of them actually takes some proactive position.

And yes, even though it has the Berkeley Carroll name on it, it is still a daycare that costs me $10-$11 / hr. depending on hours used (far less than my former babysitter), has a fantastically warm and capable family of teachers, a legendarily low rate of staff turnover (most have been there over 10+ years, a few for 20 yrs.), a real preschool curriculum, and lots of fun and action.  Most importantly, the kids love it and the parents do not worry for a moment about what is happening during the days that they have to go to work.

Our goal: keep as many of the teachers together and continuously employed for the same terms or better.  Keep as many of the families, who have become like family or at least good friends, together for the period they had expected to be together.  We are reaching out to whoever can help us accomplish this.  Neither institution is actively participating or willing to compromise.  As a Berkeley Carroll spokesperson told the NYT City section reporter this past Sunday - "the daycare center is a luxury to parents and not a community service leaving the neighborhood."  They clearly don't get that their own Center is actually comprised of a pretty diverse group of people, including many who can't afford to go to private schools, let alone pay $10-$11/hr. without some serious sacrifice.

It is deeply confusing and distressing to see two of the largest institutions in Park Slope fall so vastly short of what one would hope is part of the mission of an educational non-profit and a neighborhood hospital, with goals for a positive relationship with the community.

New Barrier-Free Playground at PS 10

P.S. 10, a Magnet School for Math, Science and Technology, located at 511 7th Avenue (between Prospect Avenue and 17th Street), is opening its new barrier-free playground, which will be open to the public each school day until dusk.

Barrier-free?

That means the playground gives access to the school's  children with physical challenges as well as to families in the community at-large. Their old playground equipment was inaccessible to many of its students until now.

P.S. 10's playground was funded by a lead grant of $250,000 from the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the New York City School Construction Authority and funds provided by P.S. 10 students, families and alumni.

"New York City's Best Public Elementary Schools: A Parents' Guide" by Clara Hemphill calls PS 10 a notable school. The  school received an "A" on the 2008 New York City Department of Education school progress reports. Interestingly, the school has educational partnerships with The Metropolitan Opera, Education Française à New York, New York University and others.

Marty Markowitz will be on the scene today at 12:45 pm.

Nov 16: Return to Learning at Long Island University

Long Island University is launching a new program called Return to Learning (R2L). R2L's emphasis on a diverse learning community and flexible class schedules targets Brooklyn residents from all walks of life.

LIU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in competitive fields including social work, psychology, media arts, business, and health sciences.

We are having an Open House event for R2L on Sunday, November 16th, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm, at 1 University Plaza, at the corner of DeKalb and Flatbush Avenues, Luntey Commons (cafeteria).

The Where and When

Sunday November 16
12 p.m. until 2 p.m.
One University Plaza
Corner of Dekalb and Flatbush Avenue
in the Luntey Commons (Cafeteria)

Town Hall Meeting on School Governance

Just got this note from someone at Council Member Bill de Blasio's office.

Join Bill de Blasio and elected officials and education advocates for an informational town hall session on Mayoral Control. Come share your opinions and learn how to continue to have your voice heard as the City Council prepares to discuss the reauthorization of Mayoral Control.

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Brooklyn Borough Hall Community Room
209 Joralemon Street
(Between Court and Adams Streets)
Brooklyn, NY

-Parents, teachers, students and others in attendance will be asked to share their experiences and ideas, ask questions, and voice concerns about the current system of school governance.

-Elected Officials and Education Advocates will be on hand to answer questions and present information on Mayoral Control, Parental Involvement, and other crucial issues.

-Questionnaires will be available so that every voice can be presented to all city and state elected officials.

For additional information or to RSVP please call Evan Stone at 212-788-6969 or email
educationtownhall@gmail.com

Hero Parent Coordinator at The Children's School

Roxanna Velandria, the parent coordinator at The Children's School, is a hero.

She spearheaded an email campaign so that parents of special education students at the Children's School would KNOW, before the fifth grade graduation on Wednesday, where they would be going to school next year.

That letter was posted anonymously on OTBKB by me because I thought Velandria and the other letter writers expressed the issues so well. Here's an excerpt from that now-famous letter:

CTT (Collaborative Team Teaching) helps bright children who have different learning styles be successful. This can be seen in report cards, test scores and other school activities. Two teachers, working together, teach and instill in their general education students and special education students that everyone can achieve and contribute as much as the brightest students to the whole. This is what is happening at the Children’s School (PS372).

Unfortunately, everything we’ve worked for is in jeopardy because our CTT students do not have their middle school placements. We’re seeing the consequences right now. These students are missing the transitional steps, such as orientations and auditions, that make the move to middle school successful. Their peers on the general education track are participating and making plans for activities in September. But we can’t plan the next academic year because we don’t know where our kids will attend middle school.

Thankfully for the kids at PS 372, Velandria was able to get results: the CTT kids over there did find out where they'd be going to school before graduation. Other parents at other schools weren't so lucky. Many, including parents at Park Slope's PS 321, got the much delayed information on Friday morning (PS 321's fifth grade graduation is next Tuesday).

Clearly, it wasn't fair to leave the kids in the dark about where they are going to middle school next year.  Especially if all the general education kids were informed two weeks ago.

As reported in Inside Schools: parents and special-ed committee members met with DOE officials on Wednesday night at PS 721, a District  75 school to ask about two-week delays in middle-school admissions for students with special needs.

Parents, including Velandria, spoke about the frustrating delays. Sandy Ferguson, who has the dubious distinction of being the Education Department's executive director of middle-school enrollment, had this to say (as reported by Inside Schools) at Wednesday night's meeting.

"To be frank, we never expected this [process] would run as long as it did," he said. "We did not communicate with parents. This was a mistake and we will look to correct this for next year." According to Ellen Newman, executive director for special ed enrollment, letters went out to parents and to school guidance counselors today, Wednesday -- except for one set that were hand-delivered to The Children's School, which held graduation today.

Sidewalk Chalk: Fighting Mad at School Chancellor Klein

My Sidewalk Chalk read Brownstoner's interview with School's Chancellor Joel Klein and now she's fighting mad and grinding her teeth. Here's an excerpt from her blog:

"Read the interview with a #2 pencil in your teeth to prevent dental abrasion.

Joel says, "The current Five-Year Capital Plan, which allocates funding for school construction projects, does not currently include new building construction in district 13 because district 13 overall is enrolled below the total district-wide capacity, even taking into account additional planned residential units. That said, there are some individual district 13 schools whose enrollment is over capacity. In the next Five-Year Plan, which we will put out in November and which begins in July 2009, we plan to look at the potential need for school construction based on demographic patterns within districts and the accessibility of existing schools. This will be a first: we haven’t previously drilled down below the district level."

More teeth references! Drill Joel, DRILL. The whole story is in the demographic patterns not within the weirdly shaped District numbers as a whole. Being in a school where the DOE determined "capacity" was like watching an exercise in Alice in Wonderland logic. They go by the "Blue Book" instead of by the reality."

pencil photo by jmhanna

Letters Mailed Beginning on May 30th: How Long Does It Take?

Below is what Inside Schools had to say yesterday about the middle school letters we've been waiting for. Notice it says that the letters were mailed to families beginning, operative word: beginning, on Friday, May 30th.

Question: how many days does it take to mail the letters? IS als has information about how to appeal if you're not happy with the school your child has been accepted to. That is, if you ever find out what school accepted your child.

Apparently Sandy Ferguson, director of middle school enrollment at the Education Department would like to see it all happen earlier next year. So would we. But it'll be too late. Our kids will already be in middle school. Hopefully.

Long-awaited letters to 5th graders applying to middle school were mailed to families beginning on Friday, May 30 notifying students of where they had been accepted. Students have until Thursday, June 12 either to accept or reject the offer and return the letter to their elementary school guidance counselor.

The admissions timeline was standardized citywide this year to make the calendar uniform around the city and notification comes far later than usual. Speaking at the May 22 meeting of the District 15 Community Education Council, Sandy Ferguson, director of middle school enrollment at the Department of Education, vowed that the timetable would be earlier next year.

"I know people would like earlier notification," Ferguson said. "I'd like to bring it [notification] at least one month earlier next year."

How to appeal
      

Although the timeline was standardized this year, admissions requirements still vary from district to district. In districts where there has historically been an appeals process —districts 1-4 in Manhattan and districts 13-16 in Brooklyn, according to Ferguson —families unhappy with the middle school match may appeal. However there is no guarantee of success.

Appeals will be granted primarily for "legitimate" reasons of health or travel issues, according to Ferguson, who noted that there will likely be "no other seats [available] in the most desirable schools."

The appeals process varies from district to district, Ferguson said. If you wish to appeal, ask your elementary school guidance counselor for a form.

--     Pamela Wheaton

Latest Rumor/Gossip About Middle School Letters

A friend, worried that she did not receive the middle school admissions letter on Monday, called a parent coordinator at one of the local public schools. "The letters have NOT been mailed," she was told.

I was shocked. Hey, I'm the one who spread the rumor that the letters were mailed on Friday. I was told by a reliable source that the Education Department sent an email telling school officials that the letters would be sent out last Friday.

So much for waiting impatiently for the mail to arrive on Saturday and Monday.

Yesterday, Inside Schools reported that some letters went out and some will go out this week. Now they're saying that if you don't receive by June 9th to called the Department of Education.

Somebody's playing with my head.

Pre-K Admissions Problems With Sibling Verification

Reading Park Slope Parents, I see that many local sibs did not get into pre-K programs at public schools that their older siblings attend;  parents are, understandably, upset. Apparently the DOE's computers compared data for the older sibling on the application with pre-submitted data about the older sibling in their records. f these addesses didn't match the child applying for pre-K was treated as a non-sibling. Looks like the computer screwed up. Big time. What if the family has moved since the original pre-K application? Here's an excerpt from the Inside Schools blog:  

Currently, OSEPO staff are finishing up looking at every single one of the applications of families who indicated they had a sibling already enrolled, Jacob said. He told me he anticipates that the number of families affected will be a "small minority" of the 9,000 families who indicated that they had a sibling in their school of choice, though the number will be "more than 4 or 5." After the scope of the problem is clear, the DOE will decide how to handle the cases, he said, and families will be notified then if there was a mistake in the way their application was treated. "There are some cases where the problem was on our end. ... When we hear about problems, we solve them," he told me.

Jacob said there may also be families who believe they were erroneously denied a seat who actually completed the application incorrectly, perhaps by listing the school in which the sibling is already enrolled as something other than their first choice. (Sibling priority only works for your first-choice school.)

Jacob advised me that the very best thing parents who believe the address-matching issue may be the root of their rejection should hold tight while the DOE decides how to solve the problem. I know that will be hard to do, but I have faith that the DOE is committed to addressing the issues, even though it might not know yet exactly how to. If you just can't wait, Jacob said the best number to call at OSEPO is 212-374-4948. That's also the number you should call if you have other issues or if you still haven't received a letter -- though we have heard from one father who just received a letter this morning.

Pre-K Rejection Letters Causing Brouhaha

I got the word from Joyce at My Sidewalk Chalk that the public school Pre-K rejection letters started arriving on Saturday.

Pre-K is not mandated by the state and public pre-school programs tend to be small. Hence parents must apply for coveted spots. Apparently there were a lot of unexpected rejections this year and parents are up in arms. At some schools, siblings are automatically accepted. Not this year. Here's what Joyce had to say:

The Pre-K rejection letters started arriving on Saturday and according to the anecdotal evidence on the yahoo groups, there are some funky  rejections. Families of sibs were supposed to be given priority.

In- zone sibs would seem to have been guaranteed spots especially in schools with several pre-K's like PS 282, but reports say that they  have gotten rejections. A parent has written me that the refused are starting to organize to get accountability. I have a couple numbers to call on my blog, including the Public Advocate.

Joyce Szuflita
www.mysidewalkchalk.blogspot.com

What is a Charter School?

For the answer to this and other frequently asked questions, the Brooklyn Prospect School website has all the answers. But not all of them, like:

Where will this school be located?

What is the curriculum? Specifics, please.

While we don't know the answer to the above questions yet, here's a definition of a charter school and how it's funded. 

1. What is a charter school? A charter school is a public school that is freed from some of the bureaucratic regulations of the public school system in exchange for accepting higher degrees of accountability. Catering specifically to its student body, a charter school has greater flexibility in scheduling, curriculum design, teacher development and retention, and administrative procedures. Students are selected from Community School District 15 by a lottery. Brooklyn Prospect is in the approval process for a charter through the State University of New York Charter School Institute.

2. How are charter schools funded? Because they are public schools, charter schools are funded by the New York State Department of Education based on student enrollment. Funding from the state follows children as they choose their middle school. Brooklyn Prospect will receive approximately $12,000 per every student (more for low income students and students with special needs), yet additional funds must be raised because this per student stipend is less than that expended for a student enrolled in non-chartered public school. Additional fundraising will support Brooklyn Prospect’s facility needs and the expanded academic programs that will allow Brooklyn Prospect to best serve Community School District 15.

Keep checking the website and OTBKB for updates.

Take That J.K Rowling

Hepcat sent me this interesting tidbit of information about children's books this morning from the Washington Post:

Children have welcomed the Harry Potter books in recent years like free ice cream in the cafeteria, but the largest survey ever of youthful reading in the United States revealed today that none of J.K. Rowling's phenomenally popular books has been able to dislodge the works of longtime favorites Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton and Harper Lee as the most read.

So if you thought the Harry Potter books are the most popular children's books of all time you're WRONG.

The classics still hold sway. Yay for the perennial childhood faves: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, Green Eggs and Ham, The Outsiders, Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Red Hook Parents Upset: DOE to Put New Charter School In PS 15

The mother of a student at PS 15 in Red Hook wrote to say that the Department of Education has decided to place a new charter school in their building starting next fall.

Many of the parents connected with the school - and other members of the community - are quite upset by this.

PS 15 has received high grades, and excels in serving its existing student population - and has small classes and a "family" feel that really supports the students in many positive ways.

This mom is wondering if anyone out there has ideas about how to block having a second school placed arbitrarily on their premises:

As part of the effort to protest this decision, I've set up a blog that provides substantial background on the issue, and I'd like to ask you to take a look at  your convenience, and if you have any suggestions or feedback on how we can block having a second school arbitrarily placed on our premises, we'd be glad to hear from you.

 

And just for the sake of democratic argument, if you have an interesting argument pro-charter schools, feel free to speak up on that as well.

 

Here's the link to the blog: http://charter-free-ps15.blogspot.com/

Heads Up for Parents of Kids Applying to Public Middle School

The interview letters for New Voices, MS 51, and Math and Science went out this week to those students who put those schools as their first or second choices on the middle school applications.

I didn't find out until yesterday that OSFO didn't get any letters. In fact, I just found out yesterday that the letters went out at all.

Luckily I ran into another parent who's child didn't get any letters. That's when I realized that there was a problem. Immediately, I went to the guidance counselor at PS 321 and she said there was a computer glitch and that's why OSFO wasn't on the list at her first or second choice schools.

Apparently the DOE has a new database. Maybe that was part of the problem. The guidance counselor said she's sure there are other kids who might not be in the database. Hopefully their teachers or parents will figure out that they didn't get any letters.

If you are applying to a school that requires an interview and you didn't get a letter this week, talk to your child's teacher or the guidance counselor at your school!!!

PS 321's guidance counselor spent more than an hour trying to rectify the problem. Talk about red tape. She had to make so many phone calls and had to wait on so many calls on hold. I was amazed that both she and I kept our cool.

We did resolve the problem with MS 51. The problem with New Voices should be resolved soon.

It's Official: Khalil Gibran Internation Academy Going Into Ft. Green School

The New York Daily News and The Gowanus Lounge reports today that the Khalil Gibran International Academy will move into PS 287, a school building in Ft. Green next year after growing too large for its current Boerum Hill location at the Brooklyn High School for the Arts. Let the controversey begin. Who can forget the brouhaha when the school was set to move into PS 282 in Park Slope and later when it moved into the building that also houses Math and Science Eplorations, a middle school.

PS 287 is located at 50 Navy Street. It is described on Inside Schools as "a spacious building within sight -- and earshot -- of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the Manhattan Bridge, PS 287 is a small school that knows how to attract big supporters and resources. The school, which serves a high-poverty area, benefits from a stable leadership. The principal has been there for 17 years, supported by several longtime staff members (the librarian, art teacher, and parent coordinator among them), who are extremely committed to the school, as are a number of community organizations."

Here's what the Daily News had to say:

Some parents are concerned about older students from Khalil Gibran going to school alongside their elementary school kids. PS287 currently houses the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, a high school that is moving into an old courthouse next year.

"We told them the high school children and elementary children are not a good mix. So why ignore us?" PTA President Edgardo Rivera wrote to parents.
The parents also questioned why their pleas to keep the school out failed, while parents from PS 282 in Park Slope successfully lobbied to keep the school out last year.

A schools spokeswoman said the Education Department would work to answer all of the parents' questions.
In its first year, Khalil Gibran has suffered several setbacks, including having its founding principal step down last summer, only to see her later sue the city to get her job back. That matter is pending.

Public Pre-K Forms Available Soon

Public prekindergarten application forms will be available soon:

Prekindergarten applications for the 2008-09 school year will be available shortly. The following is the timetable for the 2008-09 school year.

March 24: Application packets will be available at schools,
community-based organizations, borough enrollment offices, and online
at http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/ and at this web page.
These packets will include a directory of public school and CBO
pre-Kindergarten sites for the 2008-09 school year.

April 11: All applications for public school pre-Kindergarten seats
must be postmarked by this date.

Week of May 19: Parents will receive notification about their child's
placement in a public school pre-Kindergarten program.

To apply to pre-Kindergarten programs offered by CBOs, parents should
submit applications directly to the appropriate CBOs between March 24
and April 11.

This is the same process as in previous years. CBOs will
notify parents directly about their child's application status

.

KAHLIL GIBRAN PROPOSED MOVE TO PS 287 IN FT GREENE MET WITH UNEASINESS

More controversy for the Kahlil Gibran International Academy. This time it's not about the principal. But the school is in search of a new home. Again.

A few months ago I heard on a school tour that the school was definitely moving out of the Dean Street building, which also houses the Math and Science Exploratory School, a middle school, and the Brooklyn High School for the Arts.

Now they are talking about PS 287 in Ft. Greene and parents there aren't happy about it. It's deja vu all over again: who can forget the uproar caused by parents when the school was set to move in PS 282 in Park Slope.

At a meeting with education officials Tuesday night, parents from PS287 were uneasy about older students moving into the building used by their younger kids. The following is an excerpt from the NY Daily News article:

"It's a bad idea altogether," said PTA President Edgardo Rivera. "We want the elementary school to stay an elementary school."

"I'm adamantly opposed to its being in this building," said Ed Brown, president of the Ingersoll Parents Association.

Less than a year old, the school has been mired in controversy since its inception, with its founding principal stepping down last summer, then suing the city to get her job back.

WHO RULES THE SCHOOLS?

That is the question at this free symposium about mayoral control after Bloomberg on Thursday, March 6, 2008 from 8:15 am to 10:30 am at the Tishman Auditorium at 66 West 12th Street (between 5th and 6th avenues)

The event will feature a presentation  by Joel Klein, Chancellor, New York City Department of Education. Here's the blurb from the invitation:

When Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office one of his top priorities was to repair the city’s ailing public schools. The state gave him control of the school system five years ago and must soon decide whether to extend that power to future administrations. Are the schools more accountable today? Students and teachers more successful? Parents more engaged? Principals more effective? What's the track record of mayoral control—and should it continue after 2009?

Other speakers will include:

Christopher D. Cerf, Deputy Chancellor for Organizational Strategy, Human Capital and External Relations

Carmen Colon, Executive Director, Association of NYC Education Councils

Ernest A. Logan, President, NYC Council of School Supervisors and Administrators

Hon. Alan Maisel, Member, New York State Assembly (D-Brooklyn)

Merryl Tisch, Vice Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents

MODERATOR: Samuel G. Freedman, Columnist, “On Education,” The New York Times, and Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Light breakfast will be available beginning at 8 a.m. You must reserve a spot at this event. Go to centernyc.org

LARGE GROUP FROM PS 321 JOINS PROTEST AGAINST SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS

A large group of PS 321 parents, teachers and administrators joined hundreds of others in protest against recent school budget cuts in front of the Department of Education in Manhattan Thursday afternoon.

The school's PTA leaders encouraged parents to make their voices heard at the protest or with letters and calls to their city council members. This from NY 1:

Hundreds of students, teachers, parents, and lawmakers gathered outside the Department of Education headquarters in Manhattan Thursday to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $100 million education cut.

They denounced the budget plan -- which is part of the mayor's plan to cut spending citywide.

High school students at the protest said the cuts will make it harder for them to finish school.

"I want to graduate," said one student. "I want to get an education. I don't want my money to be taken away for this. I need my education so I can go somewhere in this world."

"It affects the students, it affects the teaching skills," said another. "We need that money and they can't take it away from us because it's the only thing we have."

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein says he's redirected $230 million from the head office into city classrooms over the last two years, and he's looking to continue that trend.

BIG MARCH TO PROTEST SCHOOL CUTS TODAY

It's not just about our school. It's about all the schools in NYC. The president of the PS 321 is encouraing everyone to come to the march today in front of the DOE in Manhattan. Here are the details.

Join citywide students, parents, teachers, and principals for a march on the Department of Education to demand a restoration of the cuts. The march will take place on Thursday, February 14th at 4 p.m. at DOE Headquarters, 52 Chambers Street.

If you can't make it to the march, you can write letters of protest to Joe Klein, or council members Bill De Blasio, David Yassky, Robert Jackson or Christine Quinn.

jklein@school.nyc.gov

deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us

yassky@council.nyc.ny.us

jackson@council.nyc.ny.us

quinn@council.nyc.ny.us

INNER LIVES WRITING WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY

This Saturday, Novelist Regina McBride, author of "The Nature of Water and Air," "The Land of Women," and "The Marriage Bed," will offer a special one-day workshop in Park Slope. That's this Saturday February 16th from 10 am until 5 pm.

Register now to reserve a place in this workshop that is designed for writers of all levels. The cost is $125.

NOTE FRM OTBKB: "I have studied with Regina McBride since 1998 and I recommend her classes to all writers wherever you are in your process. Using relaxation and sense memory, her technique is wonderful whether you are just beginning to write, embarking on a novel or memoir, or very experienced and in the midst of a novel or short story.

For inspiration, character development and incredible writing exercises, Regina's course has been vital to my development as a writer as it always propels me to my best writing. Especially great when your work needs a little jump start.

If you are interested, please email nightsea21@nyc.rr.com

Inner Lives: Developing Characters

An Intensive Workshop with the Focus on the Fictional Character

With Regina McBride

Using relaxation, sense memory, and emotional memory (Stanislavski acting techniques transformed for the writer) a variety of exercises will be offered to enable the student to find a deeper, richer connection to the character he or she is creating.

Exercises will be followed by writing periods, and opportunities for people to read and share their work. The atmosphere will be safe, with the focus on exploration. The class is designed to help the student break into new territory with the character, and with the story itself.

LATE START

Late start today. And no, I didn't oversleep.

This morning I was a tour guide at a PS 321 tour for prospective parents. It's always an interesting thing to do.

Initially there were about 30 parents on my tour and they were most eager to see the pre-school and the kindergarten. A smaller group stuck it out as I took them to see the first through fifth grade.

The school is a pretty easy sell. As one person on the tour said, "The school really speaks for itself." As a parent there for 11 years, I know the school very well. I have to admit I feel very sentimental that this is our last year at the school.

I've seen more than one fifth grade parent break down and cry at the thought that their child is about to graduate.

Indeed, OSFO is off to middle school and I will lose my connection to this wonderful school community. I feel sad but I haven't cried yet. I cried a lot when Teen Spirit was in fifth grade.

I enjoyed showing my tour classroom of a teacher who has been teaching 3rd grade at PS 321 for 40 years. Teen Spirit had this teacher and she's a pretty tough cookie; very old school. But as I told the group, "Your kid will know the multiplication tables cold with her. She really knows how to teach."

It was fun to revisit the first grade. The kids looked so tiny sitting at their tables. The prospective parents didn't seem that interested in the older grades. From the vantage point of pre-school, it's hard to imagine that your kid will ever be THAT BIG. It's scary, I guess.

WILL SCHOOL CUTS THREATEN PS 321'S REPUTATION?

Today, Brownstoner ponders whether recent school budget cuts will threaten PS 321's style. More to the point, he wonders what will be the effect on local real estate.

So how does all this circle back to real estate? This is no doubt overly simplistic, but is it possible for the budget cuts to make some would-be Slope buyers (who often move to the neighborhood because of schools like P.S. 321) reconsider, or think about shelling out for private school instead? Or do the strong voices of parents at P.S. 321 affirm the lure of the school and neighborhood?

Put that way, the budget cuts could be a good thing for the neighborhood—and PS 321. The school is already crowded. This year there are ten kindergarten classes. On the tour I was leading this morning, one OTBKB reader asked me, what happens when those buildings open on Fourth Avenue.

Good question.

Can the school acomodate that influx of students? It seems to me that District 15 needs another public school. Otherwise PS 321 is going to have to add a fourth floor or a new quonset hut in the backyard.

Do the budget cuts really threaten PS 321's quality? Yes and no. That discretionary funding does add a great many bells and whistles to the school like literacy intervention, special teachers, paraprofessionals, school supplies, books, and furniture.

A school needs discretionary funding to run smoothly.

Of course, parents and teachers are upset. And they have good reason to be. But the thing that makes PS 321 great is the quality of its teaching staff, the administration and the curriculum that they've spent years developing.

Still, there is much to worry about. Budget cuts could affect one of the sacred proponents of the school: small class size. That's what it's all about. Small class size makes for better teaching and better learning, there's no way around it. The kids get more attention; the teacher has more time to work with and know each student.

Intervention services and help for struggling learners are other important elements in the success of a PS 321 education.

In her letter to parents Principal Elizabeth Phillips writes,

"I fear what this means for next year in terms of class size, intervention services and arts programming, which is where we put the largest amount of our discretionary funds."

Larger class size, less art, and intervention services. Say it isn't so. If the budget cuts affect these important things, there will be much consternation among parents, administration and staff.

It's hard to say what these cuts will mean in the long run. The school has been through budget cuts before and it has persevered. PS 321 is a strong, resilient and vital institution that will continue to prosper in spite of these DOE obstacles.

.

SUDDEN CITY SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS

Last week the city suddenly cut the budget of every school in New York City. They made the announcement without warning and the very next day the money was extracted from the school's bank accounts.

Gone. Poof.

PS 321's budget was cut by $125,000. For a school that does not receive Title I funding, this accounts for a large amount of the school's discretionary spending.

According to the school's principal: "because the cut comes mid year when we have already spent more than half of our budget, we have limited areas we can cut from."

This huge cut will have a serious impact on the school. Here is a list of where the cuts will come from:

--No new furniture

--Supply budget to be cut—no new math books

--Professional development costs will be cut

--When a fourth grade teacher goes on maternity leave in February, she will be replaced with a staff member who is currently providing academic intervention.

--Substitutes and paraprofessionals will be cut

--Literacy intervention teachers working 4 days will work 3; fewer periods for kids in need of intervention.

--Money set aside for "roll over" cushion will have to be used this year; negative impact on next year's budget.

In a note to the parents in which she explained the budget cuts, Principal Elizabeth Phillips wrote, "I fear what this means for next year in terms of class size, intervention services and arts programming, which is where we put the largest amount of our discretionary funds.

There will be an information and strategy session about fighting back against the school budget cuts sponsored by Council Member Bill De Blasio on Wednesday. Here are the details:

Wednesday, February 13th, 2007
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Brooklyn Borough Hall Hearing Room
209 Joralemon Street
(Between Court and Adams Streets)
Brooklyn, NY

-Hear from teachers, students, parents, advocates, and
union leaders about how these sudden cuts will affect our schools
and our children's education.

-Learn about what you can do to reverse these cuts NOW and
prevent future budget reductions.

-Discuss your concerns with fellow parents, teachers and
community members, and share your ideas about how we can fight
to preserve our children's education and reverse the budget cuts
together.

For additional information or to RSVP please call
Phil Jones at 212-788-6969 or email
deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us

VALENTINE'S DAY MARCH AGAINST SCHOOL CUTS

Join citywide students, parents, teachers, and principals for a march on the Department of Education to demand a restoration of the cuts. The march will take place on Thursday, February 14th at 4 p.m. at DOE Headquarters, 52 Chambers Street.

If you can't make it to the march, you can write letters of protest to Joe Klein, or council members Bill De Blasio, David Yassky, Robert Jackson or Christine Quinn.

jklein@school.nyc.gov

deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us

yassky@council.nyc.ny.us

jackson@council.nyc.ny.us

quinn@council.nyc.ny.us

FIELD TESTING FOR KIDS

Last Friday, my daughter (OSFO) had to take what seemed a sudden standardized math test that her teacher told me had something to do with appraising teacher performance.

I am guessing that my daughter was randomly chosen to take one of these controversial tests.

On Thursday, her teacher pulled me aside at dismissal and told me that OSFO was noticibly distressed when told about the test. Luckily, her teacher clued me in on what was going on and told me to reassure OSFO that she shouldn't worry about the test at all. Her teacher felt bad about the whole thing. "This isn't really fair to them at all."

That night, OSFO told her dad that she had a BIG test the next day. Somehow this was a big deal for OSFO. He wasn't sure what it was. I told him what OSFO's teacher told me.

Tests are tests and they freak out some kids. This test is meaningless as far as OSFO is concerned. It will determine nothing about her future. But it put her into a state of worry for an afternoon and an evening.

I ask you this: Why put a kid through this kind of anxiety?

EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENTS: I AM SO SICK OF IT

This was in today's Times. It looks like the DOE is putting yet another quantitative spin on education.

I suppose the idea is: if you're going to test the students you might as well test the teachers.

But come on.

This makes me sick. How do you measure the art of teaching. How do you quantify a teacher's contribution to a student's life. Do you get points for being inspiring? For explaining things clearly? For being patient and illuminating? How about insight and encouragement?

How do you measure that stuff?

Sure, these tests will reveal something worth knowing. And it some cases they reveal inadequacies in a particular teacher's methods. But I am so sick on this reliance on tests, which is dehumanizing and gross.

It's also a waste of time and just one more bit of busy work that takes teachers and students away from what they should be doing: TEACHING and LEARNING.

New York City has embarked on an ambitious experiment, yet to be announced, in which some 2,500 teachers are being measured on how much their students improve on annual standardized tests.

The move is so contentious that principals in some of the 140 schools participating have not told their teachers that they are being scrutinized based on student performance and improvement.

While officials say it is too early to determine how they will use the data, which is already being collected, they say it could eventually be used to help make decisions on teacher tenure or as a significant element in performance evaluations and bonuses. And they hold out the possibility that the ratings for individual teachers could be made public.

“If the only thing we do is make this data available to every person in the city — every teacher, every parent, every principal, and say do with it what you will — that will have been a powerful step forward,” said Chris Cerf, the deputy schools chancellor who is overseeing the project. “If you know as a parent what’s the deal, I think that whole aspect will change behavior.”

INFO FOR PARENTS APPLYING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

I just got this email from Insideschools.com

The ELA's are over and it's time for 5th graders to get serious about middle school admissions. Applications are due Feb. 6 and last week schools started distributing middle school directories in the districts that offer a choice of middle schools.

If your child hasn't brought home a directory by now, contact your school's guidance counselor to find out when they'll be available. Parents with children who are not enrolled in a public school should be able to pick up a directory at the nearest enrollment office, but call ahead first.

As of this week, not all of the offices had the directories on hand. Also note that the actual application forms are not included in the directories. They should be distributed the week of Jan. 21. Be vigilant. Some schools are better than others in getting these forms out the parents on time, so if you don't have one in your hands by Friday, Jan. 25, contact your school's guidance counselor to get an application.

HANNAH SENESH MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

Are you looking for a middle school that combines strong academics, Judaic studies, excellent facilities, and a warm active community?

The Hannah Senesh Community Day School may be what you're looking for.

They are holding a Middle School Open House on Monday, January 14^th, from 6:00PM to 7:30PM in their beautiful new building at 342 Smith Street (between 1^st and 2^nd   Place ), right at the Carroll Street stop on the F line.  Meet Hannah Senesh students, parents, and teachers. 

To RSVP, contact Iris Klein, Admissions Director, at (718) 858-8663 or iklein@hannahsenesh.org


 

JUDGE RULES AGAINST ALMONTASER

This from NY 1:

A federal judge ruled Wednesday afternoon that the city can move forward with plans to appoint a permanent principal for the city's Arab-language school.

The Khalil Gibran International Academy's former principal, Debbie Almontaser, had asked for an injunction which would have blocked the city from moving forward with its plans.

"His honor took a very detailed analysis of all of the facts," said James Lemonedes of NYC Law Department. "He considered everything very, very well, and he gave a very detailed analysis of all the applicable law."

Almontaser claims the Department of Education violated her First Amendment rights by forcing her to resign after she came under fire for refusing to condemn a t-shirt with the word intifada on it.

The judge said that statements made by government employees during the course of their duties are not protected by the First Amendment. He also said that it was reasonable to assume that putting her in the position as principal of Khalil Gibran would make it hard for the school to fulfill its duties.

Her lawyers claim that Almontaser did and said nothing wrong.

"We have a woman who was told to speak to the press when she doesn't want to, she's essentially mandated to speak to the press, when she does, they don't like what she says and they fire her," said her attorney Arthur Levine. "No case stands for that proposition. I think [the judge's] interpretation of the Supreme Court decision is flat out wrong

ALMONTASER SUES THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, CHANCELLOR, AND MAYOR

Debbie Almontaser, the founder and principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy filed a federal lawsuit today against the city’s Education Department, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

She is charging that they violated her right to free speech and denied her the chance to return to her post as principal f the school, which is located in Boerum Hill.

HOW MEDIA SHAPES US AND OUR CHILDREN: A TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE Y

I got an email this morning about this event featuring the education diretior of the Learning About Multimedia Project, It Sounds VERY interesting and WORTHWHILE.

I'd like to tell you about an upcoming event a the Park Slope YMCA on 9th Street, that would probably be of interest to many of your readers. 

On Thursday, Nov. 29th at 7 pm, Dr. Katherine Fry, education director of LAMP (Learning about Multimedia Project) is giving a talk about media in our lives and how media shape us and our children. 

The discussion will be mostly a town hall format, with Katherine Fry
moderating. 

This media town hall is the culmination of a series of media workshops for adults, children and teens that the LAMP has run this fall at the Y.  P

Parents and educators are especially encouraged to attend.

Space is limited, so those who are interested should contact
Katherine Fry at katfry(at)thelampnyc(dot)org or Lisa Solomon at the Y at
(718) 768-7100 ext. 115.