Family Communication at PS 503 (Archive)

Middle School Application Workshop Resources

Thank you to families and staff who attended the  Middle School Application Workshop on Wednesday, November 2. Below are the resources that were shared with families at the meeting.

Middle School Application Workshop Slides (English)
Middle School Application Workshop Slides (Spanish)
Middle School Application Workshop Slides (Chinese)
Middle School Application Workshop Slides (Arabic)

Middle school applications are open from October 26 – December 1. You will use MySchools this year to explore school options, submit your child’s application, and get your middle school offer, and get waitlist information. Note: If you applied to Kindergarten or PreK using MySchools, then you already have a MySchools account. You will just need to add your 5th grade child.

If you are interested in learning more about District 20 Middle Schools, please see the information in the D20 Middle School Open Tours document. This document includes links to school websites as well as dates for in-person or virtual tours. 

You can schedule a Middle School Application Support appointment with Ms. Jimenez. Appointments are available Monday-Friday 7:10-8:00 and Tuesdays 2:25-3:35 beginning Monday, November 7. Please email info@ps503online.org to request an appointment.

As always, if you have any questions, please email info@ps503online.org and we will do out best to support you.

PS 503 Halloween Parade, Monday, October 31!

On Monday, October 31, 2022 PS 503 will be having a Halloween Parade!  All families are invited to stay in the schoolyard for the parade following morning arrival  Families will watch their children walk around the track in their costumes from outside of the track.  

The schedule for the parade is as follows:  K-5 (8:15 – 9:00a) in the schoolyard 

Please see Halloween Costume Guidelines.  Students who do not celebrate Halloween for cultural or religious reasons will be accommodated inside the school and will do a fun activity.  After the Halloween parade we will have a regular instructional day.  Please send your children to school! 

PS 503 Hispanic Heritage Month Family Celebration!

It is the time of year that we celebrate  Hispanic Heritage in our school community! Teachers and students ave been celebrating in classrooms. On Wednesday, October 26, 2022 from 2:30-4:00p we invite all staff, students & families to come together to celebrate! Please see the Hispanic Heritage Month flier for additional information. We are asking all families who attend to please donate a food item /drinks  to share. We will be celebrating in the Gym and on the outdoor Patio.

Please be reminded that all visitors to DOE buildings will need to show at least  one proof of vaccination.  Unvaccinated families, friends and loved ones of staff are welcome to attend the celebration on the patio.  Children under 18 are not required to be vaccinated.  

Looking forward to seeing you all at our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration! 

PS 503 Culture Day! Friday, October 14

On Friday, October 14, 2022  PS 503 will celebrate all cultures for Culture Day. Students and staff are  invited to celebrate their country/culture in their classrooms. Please see the Culture Day flier for further details. We look forward to welcoming students on October 14 dressed proudly in their Culture Day clothing as well as sharing their culture in whatever way they wish.

PS 503 September Virtual PTA Meeting – Election Updates!

Thank you to all of the families and staff who attended our first virtual PTA meeting of the year on September 28,  2022. We held expedited elections for PTA vice president and PTA secretary and we welcome the new members of our PTA Executive Board! Below are the members of our PTA Executive Board for 2022-2023.

  • PTA President – Michelle Martinez
  • PTA Vice President – Loubna Rhanmouni – NEW!
  • PTA Co-Secretaries – Larissa Gil & Adriana Lainez – NEW!
  • PTA Treasurer – Ana Alzugaray

Superintendent State of the District Listening Tour, Wed, 9/21, 6pm at PS 503 – Come and share your voice!

Please join District 20 Community Superintendent Dr. David Pretto’s State of the District Listening Tour at PS 503 on Wednesday, September 21st, 2022 at 6pm in the auditorium (enter on 60th St).

Come and share your voice regarding topics of concern for the community!

PS 503 Curriculum Conferences Update

Thank you to all of the families who joined our Virtual Curriculum Conferences on Thursday, September 15. Please see the link above for the slides that teachers shared with families about curriculum, your child’s daily schedule, and answer questions that you may have about school.

Day of Unity/Talking to Your Child Resources

In response to the recent attack in the Sunset Park community, our local elected officials have organized gatherings to help the community process what has happened, unite and support each other.  If interested, please see the attached flier for more information.

In addition, we have been supporting students in school with processing what happened and their feelings.  If you are interested in resources for talking with your child about recent events, some suggestions are linked.

We are grateful for the families of Sunset Park.  Please know that we are here to support your family and your child.  Have a safe and healthy break, and we will see you when we return to school on April 25th.

Grandma’s Love Food Giveaway at PS 503

Due to the generous donations from Grandma’s Love, PS 503 hosted a food giveaway on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Many PS 503 families were able to take home food. Thank you Grandma’s Love!

Council Member Alexa Aviles Visit to PS 503!

On Friday, April 8 Council member Alexa Aviles visited PS 503 to learn about our school community, to review the condition of the yard and to meet with students, staff and families. We thank her for listening to our concerns and for advocating on behalf of the PS 503 and Sunset Park communities.

If you would like to continue to advocate for the repair of the yard to Council member Aviles, you may email her office directly at District38@council.nyc.gov or call her office at 718-439-9012.

Spring Break & Health Updates

NYC DOE Mask Policy Update Monday, March 7, 2022

As you have likely heard, due to declining covid-19 positivity rates, the policy for indoor masks in NYC DOE schools has changed.  As of Monday, March 7th, masks will be optional for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade, and optional for staff as well indoors and outdoors. Please see the Chancellor’s Messages to Families for more details about when masks are required for students and staff. 

We want to assure you that we will continue to honor families’ decisions about whether students choose to wear masks.  Similarly, we will honor the decisions of staff and teachers.

We recognize that a mask-optional policy may be an uneasy transition to make for some in our community and that plenty of people, in school and in our lives, will continue wearing masks for a variety of reasons that are personal to them. Our expectation for everyone is simple: be respectful of each person’s choice and continue being kind toward one another. For nearly two years, we have all endured difficult times and we have helped one another adapt to new ways of learning and living. Through it all, we have also managed to strengthen the bonds that hold our school community together and this is another opportunity for us to support each other as we move toward more normalcy. 

We ask that you:

  • Preview the change in policy with your child and prepare your child for school on Monday, so that your child will know that there will be classmates and school staff both with and without masks.  Encourage your child to be respectful and sensitive to the choices of others.
  • Give your child clear instructions regarding wearing or not wearing their mask.
  • Communicate with the teacher through Remind if you would like your child to continue to wear their mask.  Please note that teachers will do their best to encourage your child in accordance with your preference, and will alert you if there are difficulties.

We thank families for your partnership and continued support.

Health Access for All Expo, Saturday, May 21, 10a-2pm

Fort Hamilton High School is hosting its First Annual Health Access for All Expo this Saturday, May 21 from 10am-2pm in the PS 503/506 school yard. There will be health & wellness workshops, food pantry, fitness demonstrations, games and other activities for kids. Bring your whole family!

Community Engagement: MS 936 Auditions May 24, 6pm

On Tuesday, May 24, there will be a virtual meeting to provide feedback regarding the middle school application process. See this flyer for more information. Please note: You must register in advance for this session as participants are being selected on a first come first served basis.

PS 503 Math Family Workshop, Tuesday, 3/22/2022, 2:30pm

We have received feedback from families that they would like to see us return to our informative and interactive family workshops. 

We are very excited to offer families a math strategies family  workshop on Tuesday, March 22nd during family engagement time at 2:30p. We welcome students and families! 

Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84079750686?pwd=NTJib1pEUDgwR3BweW8zTE9vL0x5dz09
Meeting ID: 840 7975 0686 
Meeting Password: 745402

Social Emotional Screener/DESSA Family Workshop, Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 6pm

PS 503 will be hosting a family workshop on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 6pm  to support families and answer any questions you may have about how the test was administered and how to interpret your child’s results on the social emotional screener. Bring all of your concerns and questions! 

Please join us! 

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89187767805?pwd=OVZFSU5tZW9XVCtCaDc3NCtYdk9rdz09 
Meeting ID: 891 8776 7805
Passcode: 474221

D20 CEC Monthly Meeting, Wednesday, February 9, 7pm

Our District 20 Community Education Council (CEC) will hold its February meeting on Wednesday. For all those interested in middle school admissions policies and their impact on the Sunset Park Community, this will be a very informative meeting. 

Date:      Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Time:  7:00 PM Calendar Meeting                 
Zoom:   https://nycdoe.zoom.us/j/84131031261?pwd=MVRtQmVSOHNlTWxLT09RRnpMUjFnQT09
Meeting ID: 841 3103 1261
Passcode: 262992
Dial by Your Location: +1 646 518 9805,  +1 929 205 6099
Sign-up Sheet: https://forms.gle/yKWsprNoWfCZwo4a7 
*Form will open at 6pm – If you would like to speak you have to sign up.
Topics: Principal Donna Nastasi will present on the new admissions policy at MS 936 Arts Off Third

 

Happy Holidays from PS 503!

Please see our Holiday Letter to families for our best wished to you!

 

Happy Father’s Day!

To all of the amazing dads in our PS 503 community support your children, we appreciate you! Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Video Message from Ms. Demos, Ms. Laro & Ms. Precil

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers in our PS 503 community doing the toughest and best job in the world.  You are appreciated!

CEC Elections are Open on May 1, 2021! Share Your Voice!

Voting for City and Community Education Councils begins on Saturday, May 1!

For the first time, every parent or guardian of a New York City public school student now has the
opportunity to vote for their Education Council representatives! City and Community Education Councils (CCECs) serve as the voice of our families, offering important advice to the Chancellor and the NYC Department of Education. Voting begins on Saturday, May 1 and ends on Tuesday, May 11.

To vote, you just need an NYC Schools Account (mystudent.nyc) that has all of your students registered. Visit schools.nyc.gov/NYCSA to learn more about the NYC Schools Account. If you do not have an NYC Schools Account, or need help registering your children to your existing account, visit our table at arrival or email info@ps503online.org.

Doodle Bot Workshop for Students, Friday, April 30, 2021

On Friday, April 30 at 6pm our Title 1 Parent Advisory Committee will be sponsoring a Doodle Bot Workshop where students can make a robot with their  families.

Families can  pick up the materials needed on April 28th (12- 3pm) & April 29th (2-3pm) in the school yard.

Please join the Zoom link below to make your robot! 

Topic: PS 503 Doodlebots Family Workshop

Time: Apr 30, 2021 06:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88620226739
Meeting ID: 886 2022 6739
Passcode: makerspace

PS 503 Families Meeting with the Principal, Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Thank you to all staff and families who attended the PS 503 Families meeting with the Principal on Tuesday, April 6. Below are the slides that we shared during the meeting, including the topics of opting in the blended learning, requesting to take the NY state tests for grades 3-5, food pantry at PS 503 and more.

If you would like to view the recording of this meeting (and play Name that Tune with us!) you can view the recording here.