Principal's weekly Letter 1/16/26
Principal's weekly letter 1/16/26
January 16, 2026
Dear IS 230 Families, 👋
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the start of the new year! 🎉 We are excited to share important updates, celebrations, and upcoming events happening in our school community.
📧 Staff Email Access
At our most recent S.L.T. meeting on January 9th, parent members requested that staff email addresses be posted on our website. I shared with the S.L.T. that while we have done this in the past, we experienced a cybersecurity concern and are unable to post them publicly at this time.
As a compromise, we have included a link in this letter to a PDF containing all staff email addresses for your reference:
emailsallschool2025-226.pdf
💻 Caring for School Technology
We have recently noticed an increase in damage to school laptops, including missing keyboard keys, cracked screens, and damage to our laptop carts. These devices play an important role in daily learning.
We kindly ask for your support in speaking with your child(ren) about caring for and respecting school property. With rising costs and ongoing budget challenges, it is essential that we work together to keep these resources in good condition so all students can continue to benefit. Thank you for being such supportive partners in your child’s learning! 🙏
❄️🎶 Winter Wonder Holiday Concerts
A heartfelt thank you to all students, families, and staff who joined us for our Winter Wonder Holiday Concerts! It was wonderful to see our auditorium filled for two joyful evenings celebrating our students’ talents, creativity, and hard work. Your support truly made these events special! 💙
🗣️ IS 230 Debate Team Update
On Saturday, January 10th, our IS 230 Debate Team participated in their first online tournament of the year! The topic focused on educational reform.
🎉 Congratulations to our students who earned top team awards:
- Shahreen R.
- Sodey T.
- Aliya T.
We are proud of their hard work and thoughtful discussions!
📝 Mid-Year I-Ready Testing
Beginning the week of January 19th, students will participate in Mid-Year I-Ready ELA, Math, and Science testing. These assessments are part of your child’s 2nd Marking Period grade and help us measure academic growth.
🕒 Testing will occur during regularly scheduled class periods and may take 2–4 periods to complete.
📅 Testing Schedule:
- Math: January 20–23, 2026
- ELA: January 26–30, 2026
- Science: February 3–6, 2026
Once testing is complete, families will receive two documents:
- I-Ready Growth Report
- I-Ready Growth Diagnostic for Families
These reports will help you understand your child’s progress. A QR code on the back provides translations in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, and Spanish. Please review and sign these documents with your child. ✍️
Families are encouraged to support their child by ensuring completion of assigned I-Ready or IXL homework. 📚
💻 Home Devices & College Savings
🔔 Reminder: Mr. Salazar is contacting families who requested electronic devices for home use. Please return his call to schedule your pickup appointment.
🎓 Mr. Salazar has also reached out regarding the NYC Kids RISE 529 College Savings Program. Please be sure to enroll so your child does not miss this valuable opportunity.
Learn more here:
https://nyckidsrise.org/save-for-college-program/
🏀 IS 230 Basketball Update
Our Boys and Girls Basketball teams are off to a strong start this season!
- 🏀 Boys Team: Record 2–1 (Next game vs. MS 705 this Friday)
- 🏀 Girls Team: Record 3–2
- Fought hard against IS 227 lost (49-28)
- Big win against IS 145 (37–22!) 🎉
Please note: Due to league rules, only parents of team members may attend games.
🍎 Family Income Inquiry Form
Even though lunch is free for NYC students, completing the Family Income Inquiry Form helps ensure IS 230 receives important federal Title I funding.
🖥️ Please complete the form online at:
www.myschoolapps.com
🧠 Teen Mental Health Support
NYC Teenspace offers free, confidential online therapy for NYC teens ages 13–17. This program is funded by the NYC Health Department and powered by Talkspace. Teens can connect with licensed therapists through messaging, video sessions, and live chats.
For more information, please refer to the parent letter sent home on December 16, 2025, visit our website, or go to:
www.talkspace.com/nyc
🚨 Emergency Preparedness
All required Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills for the fall semester have been successfully completed.
💛 Restorative Practices / CRSE Corner
This month we are celebrating Self-Care Awareness. Self-care is essential and not selfish—it allows us to show up fully for others. Whether it’s recognizing your emotions, setting boundaries, or simply taking a moment to breathe, self-care looks different for everyone. 🌱
More resources can be found here:
https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/resources/publications/
📅 Important Upcoming Dates
- January 19, 2026: No School – MLK Day
- January 20, 2026: I-Ready Math MOY
- January 21, 2026: PTA Meeting @ 5:30 PM
- January 22, 2026: Boys Basketball Home Game
We look forward to continuing to strengthen communication and relationships here at IS 230. 🤝
Please visit our website for updates and to sign up for E-Chalk notifications:
https://is-230.echalksites.com/home_page
Have a wonderful weekend! 🌟
Warm regards,
Mr. Ajith Satyanarayana
Principal, IS 230