Press Release from Council Member Leticia James!!!!

Hello Parents,
Update report on our elected official's support!

Press Release

**For Immediate Release** February 1, 2012

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Supports PS 161 PTA ‘Children Day of Boycott’

Recognizing Civil Disobedience In Response to DOE School Closings and Truncations

(New York, NY)— On January 19, 2012, Council Member James joined many of her colleagues in the New York City Council— as well as many Crown Heights parents— in opposing the New York City Department of Education’s truncation of P.S. 161- The Crown from K-8 to K-5, a move which would gradually phase-out the middle school option.

She maintains her position that the DOE’s proposal to truncate P.S. 161 impedes their ongoing success. Indeed, the school’s principal, Mr. Michael Johnson, has adopted a more productive environment since his appointment in Fall 2011— achieving 95% student attendance— and implementing a competitive curriculum to better align the students with City and State education requirements.

P.S. 161 is comprised of dedicated administrators, teachers, and parents who seek to transform this school into a highly sought-after middle-school option. The DOE states that their decision to truncate this school is to “better serve the students in this community.” However, it is truly time that the DOE worked alongside parents and elected officials representing the community in a joint effort to increase resources, support services, and maintain middle-school options in areas of need.

In light of these actions, the PTA of P.S. 161 is asking all parents & guardians to join together and participate in aChildren Day of Boycott in protest of the DOE’s school closure policy and process. The boycott will take placeMonday, February 6th, 2012.

“I do not generally support students missing school,” saidCouncil Member Letitia James. “But I support this tremendous show of civil disobedience on behalf of PS 161’s parents. If the Department of Education will not listen to the objections of elected officials and community leaders, perhaps they will recognize these actions as a firm position against the closing and truncating of our schools.”

Questions regarding the boycott may be directed towards PS 161’s PTA President at (646) 470-4622 orps161pta@gmail.com.

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Aja Worthy-Davis

Office of Council Member Letitia James

Legislative Analyst

Website/Blog Administrator

(212) 788-7081 (p)

(212) 788-7712 (f)

aworthydavis@council.nyc.gov

www.teamtish.blogspot.com

S.E.S Fair

Hello Parents,

On Monday February 6th, there will be a S.E.S Meeting held at P.S. 161 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Information about the services were sent out to your child. Please check their bags. This meeting will discuss and address any questions you may have about school improvement interventions and programs decribed in the letter.  The S.E.S(Supplemental Educational Services) consist of tutoring or other remedial services offered to students who are eligible. 
On the letter the date of February 12th at 6pm is incorrect. Please refer to the time & date above.

BOYCOTT ON DOE!!!

Hello Parents,

On February 9th the Policy of Education Panel (PEP) will vote on the Truncation of our school.

We as concerned parents will take a stand and send a message to Mayor Bloomberg and the PEP panel that we will not sit back anymore and allow them to make decisions regarding our children without engaging us as parents first and allow us to make the decision for our children's education.

So I propose that on February 6th 2012 we boycott Mayor Bloomberg and the DOE by not allowing our children to attend school for the day.  We the PTA Executive board have been working on getting local Church's in the area to get to garner support in this effort.  We understand that most parent's have to work and are not able to sit home with their children on that day.  So I've reached out to Pastor Baccus of Full Gospel Assembly who has agreed to open the doors of the church to allow us to have our children sit in the church during regular school hours.  This will not be a free day for our children.  We have partnered with the SLT Chairman @ P.S. 161 Mr. Rivette and other teacher's who have agreed to provide the children with extended school work which they will complete during that day.

We will have several parent volunteer's who will assist us with monitoring the children, including myself and the rest of the PTA executive board. Any other parent volunteer's are welcome.  All we ask is for parents to provide lunch for your children on that day, and have them arrive in full P.S. 161 uniform.

There will be local media coverage regarding this boycott!!

Full Gospel Assembly is located on Sullivan Place between Bedford avenue and Stoddard Place.(right around the corner by the closed down KFC on Bedford )

Our original date for this boycott was February 1st.  We believe there was more planning involved and we wanted this event to be very effective, that's why we decided to push it out to February 6th.

If you are willing to participate in this organized boycott, please let us know asap so we can plan the proper amount of parent volunteer coverage for that day.

PTA Contact #: 1-646-470-4622

Picture Retake Day!!!

Hello Parents,

I wanted to inform you on the picture retake day that was scheduled for February 6th has been pushed back to Friday, February 17th.  The rescheduling  was due to our upcoming "BOYCOTT" ON DOE. 
We are sorry for the inconvenience; all those who have not taken pictures and would like to, please send in the money for a package. In order to choose an add-on you must pick a package first,then add-on.
Students who are taken a retake please bring in all packages intact. Please have your child in uniform attire.
Retake Day: Friday February 17th

PTA Meeting!!!

Hello Parents,

Our Next PTA Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 23rd at 6 pm.  We will be having our elections for PAC for the position of Vice- Chair.  It important to have a functioning PAC; this is where 1% of the Parents money is allocated for workshops, and parent involvement activities & incentives.

We would also like to thank all who attended last night public hearing on the truncation of the Crown School.  Thank you for your support & sacrifice for the care you put out for your child and all children here at 161 & Crown School.  We see you and hear you.

Emergency PTA/SLT General Meeting

Parents/Guardians,

          As you may know our Middle School grades are in jeopardy of Truncation (Phased Out) by the Department of Education!

          We the parent bodies have met with the new District 17 Superintendent back in December where she discussed the future plans the Dept of Education proposes for our Middle School children.

          This coming January 19^th, 2012 @ 6 pm, we’ll have the opportunity to let the Dept of Education hear our voices on why we are opposed to the Truncation of our Middle School. 

          On February 9, 2012 the PEP (Panel of Education Policy) will make a decision whether or not to Phase out the Middle School grades.

          I ask that we the parent bodies as well as P.S. 161 alumni’s make every effort to come out in large numbers on January 19^th to show unity & support for our children’s future.  

In preparation we have an Emergency PTA/SLT meeting scheduled on Tuesday January 17^th @ 6 pm. This meeting should be well attended by all parents/guardians and community residents to discuss and strategize our message for the Department of Education.  

COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL DISTRICT 17 Meeting

Hello Parents,

Happy New Years!!!!  We have just recieve confirmation of the CEC meeting coming up.  As you know, there is alot of work that needs to be invested in our children's education, and with that comes some road blocks that will get in the way to prevent our children from receiving all that they need.   We the parent body, needs to become stronger not only in numbers but with the right information so we have the tools we need to have a victory!!! We are asking every parent to attend these upcoming meetings as they are giving to us.  P.S. 161 has been look at as a powerful parent body and the talk of the town, please encourage others to come out and take a stand for all children!!!

COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL – DISTRICT 17

New York City Department of Education

760 Prospect Place - Room 103, Brooklyn NY 11216

Phone: (718) 467-3712 Ext. 1004/1030…Fax: (718) 221-1362...E-mail: cec17@schools.nyc.gov

Is your School in Jeopardy?

Urgent Special Meeting Notice

Monday, January 9, 2012

6:00pm – 9:30pm

Public School 138

(Between Nostand & Rogers Aves)

760 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, NY 11216

…Mass Transit: B44, B49, #3 train to Nostrand Ave.…

PHASE-OUT

TRUNCATION

CO-LOCATION

Are any of these proposals the right decision for your school??

……………………………………………………….

Is your school receiving the support it needs from the DOE?

Plan to attend - we need to hear your voice!!

The Department of Education (DOE) is required by law to hold joint public hearings with Community Education Councils for all proposals of significant change in school utilization. The final decision to approve proposals will be made by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) on February 9, 2011 at Brooklyn Technical High School

Upcoming Dates for Joint Public Hearings for the following District 17 schools identified by the DOE:

MS 587 – January 12, 2012 (Phase-out)…PS 161 – January 19, 2012 (Truncation)

PS 22 – January 24, 2012 (Phase-out)/PS 249 – January 23, 2012 (Expansion/Co-location @ K320 - PS 375/MS 352)

K544 (High School in Wingate Campus) – February 3, 2012 (Phase-out)

ALL MEETINGS BEGIN @ 6pm - SPEAKER SIGN UP BEGINS AT 5:30pm AND ENDS 15mins AFTER

All district 17 parents/guardians, pa/pta executive board members, school leadership team parent members, title 1 representatives, community board education chairs, elected officials,

and the community of District 17 are invited to attend