PTA Elections, Wednesday, October 28

It is the time of year for PTA elections! We will be having elections for the position of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer at our next PTA meeting on Wednesday October 28th, 6pm via Zoom.

If you are interested in running for a position, please see the PTA Elections Letter and submit the PTA Election Candidate Form . We hope to see you there!

Families Meeting Update/COVID Testing In Schools Video

Thank you to all of the families and staff who attended our Families Meeting on Thursday, 10/8. It is very obvious that you are all working hard to support your children in both remote and blended learning! Here are the slides that we shared at the meeting.

As discussed last night at the meeting, in school COVID-19 testing will take place beginning next week for staff and students. The testing consent forms have been sent home with Cohort B and Cohort C. Cohort A will receive their consent form on Wednesday October 14th. Please watch this in-school COVID-19 testing video below if you would like to see exactly how the testing procedure will go. You will be notified in advance if your child has been selected for random testing. Your child will not be tested without parental consent. Testing is recommended but not required.

Please email info@ps503online.org if you have any questions or concerns and we will respond within 2 business days.

Blended Learning October 2020 Calendar

Wondering what day your child has in-person learning? Please refer to the October Calendar for your child’s cohort schedule for in person as well as remote blended learning.

If you have any questions or need support, you can also email us at info@ps503online.org or call the school at 718-439-5962.

PS 503 School Forms

If you have not yet completed school forms for your child, please complete the following forms below:

Emergency Contact Card
Emergency Pick up Form
Photo Consent Form
Walk Home Alone Permission Form (OPTIONAL – only if you want your child to have permission to walk home alone from school)

DOE Health Screening Form

As we discussed at the meeting, each family whose children are in Blended Learning must complete the DOE Health Screening for their children prior to coming into the school building EVERY TIME. Children will not be permitted to enter the building without a completed Health Screening.

To support families with this online tool, here are some videos that show how to complete the DOE Health Screening Form:

PS 503 Blended Learning Class & Cohort Information

The Blended Learning schedule for Cohorts A, B and C are as follows:

If you would like your child to learn 100% remotely but your child is NOT in Cohort D, you can complete the DOE Learning Preference Form at any time to sign up for 100% remote learning. If you did not receive this email, please email us at info@ps503online.org with your child’s name so that we can update our records.

iPad Update for Internet

Your child may be experiencing difficulty with the internet on their DOE iPad. In order to improve security on iPads, the DOE has installed a new App called Zscaler. You need to click on the App to install it. Students need to be signed in with their NYC DOE Student email when they do so. The internet will not work until you have done this.

In order to obtain your NYC DOE Student email you will need your child’s ID number (OSIS). This can be found on your child’s report card next to their name. Please go to the Student account self service to set up your child’s account using your child’s ID number (OSIS) and date of birth. You can go to Steps for Creating NYC Student Accounts for additional instructions.

Please see the DOE’s iPad Update August 13, 2020 Message to Families for more information about preparing your child’s iPad for learning in September. If you need additional support please email info@ps503online.org and someone will respond to you within 2 business days.

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.

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.

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