Dear Families,

Budget update: I was bracing for the possibility that we would need to excess a teacher, but that does not appear to be the case. We will not have funding for an AP.  Programming, including dance, music, and art, may be at risk.  We have put in an appeal to adjust our registration numbers and should hear back by the end of July. I will be in touch over the summer with updates.

June is a month in which our moods vary from joyful to sad; while we anticipate the start of summer, we realize that we may not see each other until September.  

I want to take a moment to thank the incredible unifying work of our outgoing PTA Executive Board. Their efforts have been tireless this year.  

No words can adequately thank our staff, whose dedication to our children and families is unwavering.  I continue to be inspired by their work and the complex and profound ways they think about children, teaching, and learning.  

It is also time to say goodbye to three beloved members of our teaching community, our secretary, Carmen Myman, 4th/5th-grade teacher Sofia Perera, and Cesar ​​Hernandez, K/1 teaching assistant.  Carmen and Sofia have worked at TNS for a combined total of almost 60 years! Both are looking forward to spending more time with their families.  After six years at TNS, Cesar is moving to Texas for love.  We will miss them all, but we wish them the best.

Just a reminder that this year we are waiting to send home class lists and placements until after the last day of school.  We will still send them early in the summer so you can arrange playdates and gatherings with current and future classmates, but we want to ease the mixed emotions that this tradition always brought up for our children. So instead, we will focus on saying “goodbye” or “see you soon” to each other on the last day.

Please remember that next Monday, June 27, is a full day of school.  If I don’t see you next Monday (attendance will not be taken), I hope you have a wonderful summer with your children, full of adventure and play and have lots of stories to share when we see each other again in September.  I will miss you!

With Love,

Dyanthe

Dear Families,

I am sure you have read that the DoEreleased school budgets that cut school funding and rolled back the progress in creating small class sizes this school year as federal funding increased and enrollment dipped city-wide.  As a result, TNS’s projected budget is short $250,000.  

It is unclear at this point what these budget cuts will mean for TNS.  Will we need to excess a teacher?  Eliminate programming like Spanish, Science, Library or Physical Education?  Will our children still get to do art with Studio in a School or music and dance with Third Street and Notes and Motion?  What we do know is that our children and families deserve funding for smaller classes, mental health support, intervention specialists and support, and field trips and enrichment opportunities.  

Our voices matter!  Please reach out TODAY to your local council member and Mayor Adams to demand that they revise the budget to eliminate school cuts.

Warmly,

Dyanthe

Dear Families,

We still have Pre-K openings for next year! TNS can accept children and families from any borough and anywhere in District 1 because we are a district of choice. Let interested families know that they can reach Denise at (917) 426-1837 or denise@tnsny.org.  

Families have been asking me about the last day of school for students, Monday, June 27.  We understand that this may inconvenience many families and want to assure you that it’s OK if your child misses it.  

This year, we are waiting to send home class lists and placements after the last day of school.  We will still send it early in the summer so that you can arrange playdates and gatherings with current and future classmates, but we want to ease the mix of emotions that this tradition always brought up for our children. So instead, we will focus on saying “goodbye” or “see you soon” to each other on the last day.

Finally, please remember that there is no school for students tomorrow or Thursday.

Warmly,

Dyanthe

Dear Families,

At TNS, we celebrate Field Day, a tradition that involves having the entire school community gather together in Prospect Park for a day in June. That is during a usual year when children have many opportunities to take field trips around the city.  We haven’t been able to take trips for most of the year, so we felt that Field Day would be overwhelming for many children. This year, teachers, paras, children, and families will come together in grade bands to celebrate the end of the year together.  We hope that many of you will be able to join.  Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

We are beginning our class placement process for next year.  Each student’s placement will be carefully considered.  If there is anything you’d like us to consider as we’re making your child’s placement decision, please complete this form.  Please understand that we cannot honor requests for specific teachers.

Finally, mark your calendars!  We have several days off in June:

• Tuesday, June 7, is a clerical day.

• Thursday, June 9, is Anniversary Day.

• Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth.

And, hot off the press, here is the 2022–23 school year calendar for all 3K–12 NYCDOE public schools.

Warmly,

Dyanthe

Dear Families,

It is tragic and infuriating to write about another horrific mass shooting in less than two weeks.  Once again, we are left with feelings of grief, fear, and anger.  I remind you to monitor the information your child is exposed to and turn the news off when children are in earshot.  Teachers will support children if they bring it up in class.  Here are the guidelines we use, and I encourage you to as well. 

1. Listen.  Find out what children know, have heard, and have seen. 

2. Provide containing information. 

3. Find out what children are wondering. (Why? How? etc.)

4. Reassure children that they are safe in our school. Reference things in place, like Agent Jackson and Alleyne, rules about guns in New York City and New York State, and safety drills.

5. Make a blank book where children can write or draw about what happened if they are worried.

6. For older kids who bring up gun issues, let them research and write their opinions about gun ownership, gun control, etc. Give them the option to write letters to state and federal congresspeople.

Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Dyanthe