PS 503

Equity in Education

Please read this June 25, 2020 Letter to Families about how PS 503 has been working to promote equity and enrich our culturally relevant curriculum.

Report Cards and Next Year’s Class

To learn more about your child’s class next year, our meet the teacher activity, and report cards please read the June 16 Letter to Families from Principal Demos.

Complete the Return to School Survey!

The Department of Education wants to here from you! Please share your voice by completing the DOE Return to School Survey. This survey is open through June 26 to families with students in grades PreK-12 and students in grades 6-12. Please complete one survey for each child that you have. You can read more about the survey in the June 15 Letter to Families from Principal Demos.

Complete Your 2020 Census!

Did you know that when you complete your 2020 Census you help our school get federal funding? Complete your census and help our school get the money that we need!

The Census Bureau is required by law to protect any personal information that is collected and keep it strictly confidential. Everyone is eligible to complete the census regardless of immigration status. Immigration status is private and separate.

The following videos made by the PTA and PS 503 staff members can support you in completing the census for your family. We are also available to help you complete the Census Form if you need support. You can call the school phone number (718-439-5962) and leave a message with your name and number and we will return your call. The deadline has been extended by October 31, 2020.

Food Benefits for NYC Students

Families of New York City public school students will receive payment per child of $420 to help pay for food while school buildings are shut down. For families who currently have an EBT card, you can expect additional funds to be added to the card in June and July. Families who do not currently have an EBT card can expect to receive a card in the mail sometime between July and August. The card can be used to buy food at supermarkets and grocery stores. Please review this flyer for more information.

Summer School: July – August 2020

The Department of Education has announced that there will be summer school offered for some third, fourth and fifth grade students who are required or are recommended to attend summer school. Summer school will take place virtually from July 6 – August 11. Summer school will take place Mondays-Thursdays for approximately 4-5 hours per day. Please see the Chancellor’s Letter about Summer School for more information. Students selected for summer school will receive information in June.

MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) Information

Here is the letter from the Chancellor about MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children). Please read this letter for guidance about keeping children safe and healthy.

Building Closed for the Remainder of the 2019-2020 School Year

As the NYC Mayor and DOE Chancellor have shared, school buildings will remain closed through June 2020. Distance learning will continue for PS 503 through June 2020.

However we will still celebrate student accomplishments by hosting virtual Kindergarten Stepping Up Ceremonies and Fifth Grade Graduation by class at the end of June. We will share more information with families soon.

April 15 UPDATE: Breakfast and Lunch for Students

Families can now go to PS 971 located at 6214 4th Avenue for “Grab-and-go” breakfast and lunch. PS 971 will be open Monday-Friday Friday from 7:30am-1:30pm. PS 503 is closed until further notice.

Here is a April 11 letter to families from the Chancellor to update you about the school calendar. Please read his letter for more information.

Please see this April 6 letter to families from Principal Demos for the most recent communication to families.

Please visit our Distance Learning page to understand how PS 503 teachers are partnering with families to teach students. Here you can find links to homework packets, student accounts, and Google Classrooms.

Requesting a Learning Device from the DOE

If you need a device and internet for your home, please complete this DOE Remote Learning Device Request form to request a device and access to internet, if needed. These devices will be prioritized for students most in need. You also have the option to call 718-935-5100 and select option 5 to request a device.

For more information visit: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus

PS 503: The School of Discovery and Exploration is safe place where all members of our diverse community learn side by side with one another. Habits of mind are taught, practiced, valued, and infused into our culture. It is our mission to welcome and celebrate all peoples and to nurture them to be more reflective, cooperative, and kindhearted.
It is our expectation that all P.S. 503 members: staff, families, and students, will grow academically and gain the skills to help solve social, environmental, economic, and political world problems.

Statement on Accessibility: We are working to make this website easier to access for people with disabilities, and will follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. If you need assistance with a particular page or document on our current site, please contact amartelli@ps503online.org to request assistance.

Respect for All (RFA) Liaison: Yesen Jimenez