Principal's Weekly Letters 5/16/25
Principal's weekly letter 5/16/25
Dear Families,
I want to thank all the families who attended our 2nd Annual IS230 Mets Outing on May 13, 2025. It was a wonderful turnout and great to see our school community get together and enjoy an evening of Baseball. A huge shout out goes to Mr. Alvarez who spearheaded the initiative.
I want to inform families regarding a new Tik Tok trend that unfortunately has made its way to IS230. “Chromebook Trend” or “Chromebook Challenge” that encourages students to insert lead or metal items like paper clips, pushpins, aluminum foil and mechanical pencils into the USB port of their Chromebook forcing an electrical short circuit. This action can result in the failure of the lithium-ion battery in the device, posing a serious fire risk and the production of large quantities of toxic and flammable vapor. Please families have a conversation with your children about the importance of ensuring the safety of themselves, their peers and respecting school property.
We have seen an increase of students using the school yard prior to school. We have seen students scaling the fence when the gates are locked. We just want to inform families that your children’s safety and well being is our top priority and that if an incident or accident takes place before or after school hours in the yard, the school is not responsible. The yard is IS230 responsibility during regular school hours. The yard before and after school hours is a community park. Parents please have a discussion with your child(ren) about the importance of coming directly to the school and or going home directly after school.
Starting May 19th until June 2nd we will start our ELA/Math I-Ready and Amplify Science End of Year Assessment. All testing will take place during your child’s regularly scheduled class time. The purpose of the end-of-year test is to see how much progress your child has made and also help us develop our C.E.P goals for the 2025-26 school year. The tests should take roughly 2-4 periods to complete. It will be the responsibility of the classroom teachers to ensure students complete the End of the-year assessment and any make-ups.
On May 15th in the Main building and May 16th in the Annex, I.S. 230 students were able to share a piece of their stories on the gratitude wall. They also had access to a variety of mental health coping strategies worksheets to help them practice skills such as setting boundaries, practicing gratitude, building self-esteem, and managing anxiety. Students chose a sticker to advocate for mental health awareness, participate in the mindful coloring station while listening to peaceful music, and write words of encouragement on our affirmations wall in order to spread love and positivity to others.
On May 19th we are hosting a Health Fair in the Annex Building from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Come join us for a night of fun and wellness- enjoy delicious fruit parfaits, play sports and games, unwind with meditation, and discover new ways to care for your body.
On May 19th at 6:00 p.m Mr. Gellard, our 8th grade guidance counselor, will be holding a high school application workshop for families in the 7th grade who want to learn more about the process. The workshop will be presented in English and Spanish.
May 20th Mrs. Melo our school Social Worker will be hosting the next virtual workshop in her series in conjunction with The Family Miracle Morning. The workshop will be in English at 5:00 p.m and Spanish at 7:00 p.m.
On May 21st our Broadway Juniors present “Once on this Island Jr,” at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door. Please join us for a night of Broadway on 34th avenue.
On May 22nd we are hosting a 6th grade only Spring Fling Dance in the Annex building. The dance will be from 2:30-4:30 p.m. All tickets are sold during lunch time. No tickets will be sold at the door.
As the weather is getting warmer we are starting to see students wearing shorts, tank tops, sandals and Crocs. Please be reminded IS230 is a uniform school. All students and parents signed contracts to adhere to the uniform policy. Please visit our website or click on the link below regarding our uniform policy.
https://www.is230.org/uniforms
A PTA donation letter was sent home with the students. We are currently asking for your help in donating time and/or money. There is no monetary amount and parents are free to donate whatever they are able to do so. You can bring your donations to the main office located in the main/annex building and place them in the PTA donation box or you can make a deposit.
You can donate in 2 ways:
- Hand deliver a donation to the main office of both buildings, with the envelope addressed to the PTA.
- Or you can mail in a donation to the school @ IS 230Q, Attn: PTA, 73-10 34th Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
If submitting a check donation, please make it payable to: Magnet School for Civics in the Community. Thank you for your time, dedication and investment to I.S. 230Q.
Emergency Preparedness
No drills were completed this week.
Teen Mental Health
NYC Teenspace, an innovative online therapy platform tailored to provide accessible and confidential mental health support for NYC teenagers aged 13-17. This program is funded by the NYC Health Department, powered by Talkspace. NYC Teenspace offers a safe space for teens to connect with licensed therapists through convenient digital channels such as messaging, video sessions, and live chats. The platform aims to empower adolescents, providing them with a platform to discuss their concerns, navigate challenges, and strengthen their mental wellness. To learn more about the program please read the parent we sent home on November 6, 2024, our website and or www.talkspace.com/nyc
May CRSE Corner
In May, we are reminded of our power to take action, raise our voices, and help change the conversation around mental health! Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a driving force in addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Mental health journeys are unique, but the strength found within them is universal. This year’s theme is “In Every Story, There’s Strength, “highlighting the resilience and diverse experiences that shape mental health journeys within our community. By sharing your story, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, you can help break the stigma and build a more supportive world for all. CRSE Celebration on May 15th in the Main and May 16th in the Annex.
https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/mental-health-awareness-month/toolkit
Restorative Practices
One of our newest and biggest initiatives this year is rolling out Homeroom. Homeroom will take place from 8:00 to 8:20 a.m. every morning. Homeroom is mandatory and part of your child’s school day. The purpose of Homeroom is to provide a space for our staff and students to take attendance, conduct announcements and most importantly an opportunity to connect with their peers in a meaningful way before starting the day. We are utilizing the MorningSide Cultural Affirming Wheel as our framework. To learn more about Restorative Practices and Morningside, please visit the link below.
https://www.morningsidecenter.org/
Important Upcoming Dates
May 19, 2025- I-Ready ELA/Math and Science EOY test
May 19, 2025- Health and Wellness Fair at 6:00 p.m (annex)
May 19, 2025- High School Application Workshop for 7th grade families
May 20, 2025- Virtual Workshop- Miracle Morning at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m
May 21, 2025- Broadway Junior “Once on this Island Jr.” at 6:30 p.m
May 22, 2025- 6th grade Spring Fling Dance 2:30-4:30 p.m
We look forward to improving communication and relationships here at IS230.
Please visit our website www.is230.org and our Social Media Handles to get more information and sign up for E-Chalk Notification.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mr. Ajith Satyanarayana
