Parent Coordinator

To prepare children to read, Kickoff to Kindergarten (K2K) develops knowledge of early literacy skills with guided activities and storytimes for families, while promoting at-home literacy and conflict analysis strategies for adults. Families with children can participate in K2K when the child is between ages three and five. K2K is offered virtually and runs for seven consecutive sessions. Enrolled caregivers and students will participate in weekly group sessions and will also have opportunities to talk privately with the teacher to ask questions and for guidance and feedback. Preregister for K2K here and we’ll reach out with information about our next season of K2K. Email K2K@queenslibrary.org with other questions.

The DOE’s Parent University invites NYC families to a series of virtual courses on social-emotional learning (SEL). In these courses, families will learn strategies and have access to tools that promote a successful learning environment for their children. Courses will be conducted in English, Spanish, and Chinese, and taught by DOE partners at Ramapo For Children. Please share these courses with your families, using the course flyers in English; Spanish; and Chinese. 

As shared in the November 20 edition of Principals Digest, the DOE’s Parent University seeks to educate and empower all families from early childhood through adulthood, with free courses, resources, events, and activities. Parents can register for free trainings on a wide range of topics, including adult education, student social-emotional learning, and special education. Please continue to share this resource with your school community by emailing these flyers to families (translated versions of the flyer are available in all DOE-supported languages on the Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) family-facing webpage).

The Wide Open School website provides learning activities for students to complete independently at home, or with their families. Activities are available in all subjects and grades, and in all languages via Google Translate. Families can use the information to do the following:

• Access an overview of the units their children are studying throughout the year, in grades K-8; high school units will be added soon. 

• Engage with their child on what is taught at school;  
• Find support for learning at home, like tips for keeping children focused, as well as information about using online learning tools;   
• Assist with conversations at parent-teacher conferences; 
• Locate afterschool activities.

May 24, 2021
Dear Families,
First, thank you. I know the past year has required resiliency, determination, flexibility, and sacrifices from all of
us, and from you in particular. You have taken on new roles that many of you never imagined you’d have to take
on, and have balanced so much while coping with losses and the many life challenges that COVID-19 brought
to us over the past year.
As we close out this school year, I am looking forward to the opportunity that lies before us to reimagine what
school is and means for your children. We know that we have to welcome our students back to a warm,
welcoming, and affirming learning environment that challenges them academically while lifting them up when
they need support.
As our schools work hard on re-imagining how we educate our children, I am excited to share with you our reopening plans for fall 2021. Based on available health indicators, we will return to full-time, in-person learning
this September. This means that all students in grades 3-K through 12 will be learning in-person this fall.
All teachers and staff will also be returning to in-person instruction this fall. We are very grateful for the
dedication of all our principals, teachers and school staff and recognize the hard work they have done during this
challenging year, and we’re excited for your children to re-connect with their beloved teachers and school staff, in
addition to their peers, this fall.
As we prepare for your children, as well as teachers and staff, to return to schools, we will continue our
commitment to prioritize health and safety first. With a current rolling 7-day COVID positivity rate of 0.16% and
a consistently low transmission rate, our schools have a proven track record of being safe. We will meet whatever
the CDC social distancing requirements are in September, and we expect that the city’s continuously improving
health metrics may allow for more flexibility by the fall. Finally, in our commitment to keep health and safety a
top priority, we plan to adhere to the many health and safety measures we had in place this past school year,
including the following:
 Masks will continue to be a requirement in all of our school buildings
 Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms will continue to be required to stay at home
 Students, teachers and staff will continue to complete the daily health screener at home
 Every school building will continue to have a nurse
 Every classroom will have working ventilation systems
 On-site COVID-19 testing will continue in school buildings as recommended by the latest health
guidance
 The Situation Room will continue to support schools with next steps if there are positive cases
We know that many of our students have not attended school in-person since March of 2020, and that returning
to school in-person this fall will be an adjustment. We promise to do everything we can to welcome your children
back and provide the supports needed to ensure a positive homecoming. We’ve already made investments to hire
more teachers and social workers, and will have academic and social-emotional learning programs available to
support our students. Here are some ways that we are supporting with the transition now, and we encourage you
and your children to participate:
Chancellor’s Borough-Wide Family Forums: I am hosting borough-wide family town halls to hear more from
you about this fall, and how we can use our resources to ensure a positive homecoming for your children and
provide an enriching and challenging academic experience that integrates social-emotional learning. To learn
more and register, please visit us here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/get-involved/families/familyempowerment/chancellor-porter-s-family-forums
School Open Houses: Starting in June and throughout the summer, every school will host open houses for
families to visit, take a tour, and learn about the health and safety precautions in place that have kept our schools
safe over the last year. Your child’s school will be in touch with you about when these will be scheduled, and we
encourage you to participate to learn more.
Summer Rising: In partnership with the Department of Youth and Community Development, we are so excited
to provide an enriching, fun and joyful summer camp experience for any interested student. We encourage your
child to join us - to be welcomed back into their school communities, re-connect with teachers and staff, and get
ready for fall while having fun! Families can sign up here: https://discoverdycd.dycdconnect.nyc/home
Thank you for your partnership, your engagement, and your dedication to your children’s education over the last
year. I am in awe of how our communities came together to lift each other up to ensure our children had the best
experience possible despite enormous challenges. I am looking forward to partnering with you, learning from
you, and leveraging all we‘ve done together over the last year to create a new normal starting in September - one
that is warm and welcoming, affirming and enriching, and exciting and challenging - for each one of your
children.
In partnership,
Meisha Porter
New York City Schools Chancellor

Updated: September 3, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians:
Thank you for being a partner in your child’s education this year. It was a challenging year but together we met every challenge with strength and kindness. Please take the summer to enjoy yourself and the company of your children. I can’t wait to hear all of the wonder summer stories.
When we return in September you will see that the older side of the building is under construction. Construction will only involve the older side of the school building. July 1st, construction begins with the building of scaffolding and overhead bridges. They will then continue on to phase 1 which involves masonry, phase 2 roofing, phase 3 the installing of new windows, and phase 4 the rebuilding of exterior stairs at exits 1, 2, 5, and 6.
Please know that the safety of all at PS13Q is of the utmost importance to me. Construction will begin the summer and is schedule to complete in three years. Summer construction will be during the day, however, when school is in session construction will be over night. Construction will not go on while children are in the building.
We will have to restructure our entry and dismissal procedures due to the scaffolding and construction materials. A major portion of our school yard will be off limits for the next three years. Outlined below is our entry and dismissal plan.

3K
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 12
Kindergarten
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 10
Grade 1
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 1
Grade 2
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 12
Grade 3
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 2
Grade 4
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 1
Grade 5
Entry & Dismissal - Exit 3

Entry doors will open at 7:45 and remain open until 8:10 (3K entry procedures will come in a separate letter over the summer once all of the spots have been confirmed). Dismissal procedures will begin at 2:20 (the teachers will inform you in September of the exact time they will be dismissing).
Will begin to take attendance at 8:10. It is important that your child is on time for school every day. It is equally as important that you are prompt in picking up your child at the end of the day.
We will have safe access to all exit doors at all times during construction.
Thank you,

Evelyn Velez
Principal

DATE	WEEKDAY	EVENT
September 13	Monday	First day of school for students
September 16	Thursday	Yom Kippur, schools closed
October 11	Monday	Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People’s Day, schools closed
November 2	Tuesday	Election Day, fully remote, asynchronous instructional day
November 3	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for elementary schools and K–8 schools.
November 4	Thursday	Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for elementary schools and K–8 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
November 10	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools.
November 11	Thursday	Veterans Day, schools closed
November 12	Friday	Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
November 17	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 school programs.
November 18	Thursday	Afternoon Conferences for middle schools and District 75 school programs; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
November 25–26	Thursday–Friday	Thanksgiving Recess, schools closed
December 24–31	Friday–Friday	Winter Recess, schools closed
January 17	Monday	Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools closed
January 25­–28	Tuesday–Friday	Regents Administration
January 31	Monday	Professional Development day for 9–12 and 6–12 schools, students in these schools do not attend
February 1	Tuesday	Lunar New Year, schools closed
February 2	Wednesday	Spring Term begins for semester-based schools
February 21–25	Monday–Friday	Midwinter Recess, schools closed
March 2	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for elementary schools and K–8 schools.
March 3	Thursday	Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for elementary schools and K–8 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
March 9	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and district 75 schools and programs.
March 10	Thursday	Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and district 75 schools and programs; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
March 16	Wednesday	Evening parent-teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools.
March 18	Friday	Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools; students in these schools dismissed three hours early.
March 29–31	Tuesday–Thursday	3–8 ELA Assessment administration
April 15­–22	Friday–Friday	Spring Recess (includes Good Friday and Passover), schools closed
April 26–28	Tuesday–Thursday	3–8 Math Assessment administration
May 2	Monday	Eid al-Fitr, schools closed
May 30	Monday	Memorial Day, schools closed
June 7	Tuesday	Clerical Day, K­–5, K–6, 6–8, and K–12 schools and D75 programs, students in these schools do not attend
June 9	Thursday	Anniversary Day, Chancellor’s Conference Day for staff development, students do not attend
June 15­–24	Wednesday–Friday	Regents Administration
June 20	Monday	Juneteenth (observed), schools closed
June 27	Monday	Last day of school for students

MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL:

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Chen Tao and Professor Gao Hong will perform on September 16

Join us for two special programs celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. We will present pipa music as well as dancers.

Culture Bridge: Mid-Autumn Festival Music Appreciation: "The Moonlight Is Hometown"

This is a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration program, presented by Melody of Dragon. Renowned traditional Chinese musician Chen Tao invites alumni of the Central Conservatory of Music and the famous pipa player and composer Professor Gao Hong to celebrate and share the wonderful feeling of friendship with you through the Internet. Please join here: https://queenslib.org/3jQlApH Meeting password: 0916

You can also join by phone audio: 408-418-9388 Access code: 179 356 0218

Thursday, September 16

6:30pm

Mid-Autumn Festival Dancers Coming Out of the Dark Presented by Meige Dancing Space/New Star Arts

The pandemic disaster swept the world in 2020 and upset the balance of life in an instant. The presenters seek to find a new balance in a chaotic world and continue forward with their dance path. Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain. This dancers’ night is to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in this difficult time. This program is in Chinese. Please join at https://queenslib.org/3BGeHOU

Meeting password: 0920

Join by phone 408-418-9388 Meeting (access code): 179 809 3455

Monday, September 20

7pm

September 20, 2021
Dear Families,
It was so exciting to welcome students back in our classrooms last week, seeing the joy on their faces as they all
could finally return to learn in-person with their teachers and classmates! This is a very special time, and we are
doing everything possible to make sure everyone in our schools remains safe and healthy.
I invite you to share the amazing experience of that first week of school with me through
this video (vimeo.com/609642752/70f8506d67) capturing our homecoming experience across the city. 
In addition to the extensive health and safety measures summarized on our school year 2021-22 webpage
(schools.nyc.gov/homecoming), we are making two important adjustments to COVID-19 protocols in our
schools:
 Weekly testing. Starting Monday, September 27, the DOE will increase random COVID-19 testing in
all elementary, middle, and high schools for students in grades 1-12 from biweekly to weekly. We can
only test students whose parents have provided an updated testing consent form to their school. You are
encouraged to provide this consent for your child if you have not done so. If you have already submitted
a testing consent form for the 2021-22 school year, that consent form remains in effect. If you have not
yet submitted your consent, you can do so one of two ways: 
o Fill out the form using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA): schoolsaccount.nyc or
o Download the form online at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting and bring the completed form to your
child’s school.
 Updated quarantine policy. Also starting Monday, September 27, in accordance with the latest
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we will no longer
close an entire classroom when there is a positive case in the classroom. Unvaccinated students who are
masked and at least three feet distanced from a student who tests positive are not considered close
contacts under CDC guidelines and will not have to quarantine. This new policy applies to all students in
any grade.
Vaccination is the most important step that we can take to protect our families and our communities against
COVID-19. To protect your children and school communities, we have mandated that all DOE school
staff be vaccinated against COVID-19—by September 27, all employees will have received at least one dose of
the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a vaccination appointment for yourself or your eligible student aged 12
and older, please visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
We will continue to share everything we are doing to keep your children safe. Our school year back together
again is already off to a fantastic start, and I look forward to seeing your students thrive and grow this year as
they learn alongside their peers.
In partnership,
Meisha Porter
New York City Schools Chancellor

September 21, 2021

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

The Department of Education mandates that each public school conduct Lockdown drills each year, the first to be conducted by October 31st. P.S. 13 conducted our first Lockdown drill on Tuesday, September, 21st at 1:37 pm. During this time, the school was placed in a state of Lockdown. All students and staff observed Lockdown protocols. The drill lasted approximately 10 minutes. Please be advised that this was only a drill and the school day continued as usual after the completion of the Lockdown drill.

 

Sincerely,

 Evelyn Vélez

 Principal

                                                       

Queridos Padres y Guardianes,

Es mandatorio por el departamento de educación que todas la escuelas públicas hagan pruebas de confinamiento (cerrar de puertas) cada año, el primero tiene que ser hecho antes del 31 de Octubre.  P.S. 13 hizo la primera prueba de confinamiento (cerrar de puertas) hoy martes, septiembre 21, a las 1:37pm.  Durante este tiempo la escuela estuvo bajo confinamiento (cerrar de puertas). Todos los estudiantes y personas que trabajan en la escuela siguieron las reglas del confinamiento (cerrar de puertas). La prueba duro aproximadamente 10 minutos. Por favor considere que este solo es una prueba y el día escolar continuo normalmente después de la prueba de confinamiento (cerrar puertas).

Sinceramente,

Evelyn Vélez

Directora

Queens Museum / Commonpoint Queens
FREE COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine Clinic (12+)
No Appointment or Insurance Needed. Walk-ins are Welcome!
Walk-in clinic hrs: Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 1pm-5:00pm
Walk-in clinic location: New York City Building, Corona, NY 11368
Booking Link | Enlace de reserva | 預訂鏈接: https://crbn.app.link/e/covidvax-queens-museum-common-point-queens
Carbon Health is an equity-focused, tech-enabled healthcare provider that is on a mission to make
vaccines accessible to historically underserved and high-risk populations. We are partnering with the
Queens Museum, Commonpoint Queens, and Amazon to ensure the NYC/Queens community has
access to COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine information. This clinic will provide Pfizer vaccines to
patients ages 12+.
LIBRE Clínica sin cita previa para vacunas
contra el COVID-19 (12+)
No se necesita cita ni seguro. ¡Las visitas sin cita son bienvenidas!
Horario de la clínica: Miércoles, 22 de septiembre de 2021, de 1:00 p.m. M. A 5:00 p.m.
Locación de la clínica: New York City Building, Corona, NY 11368
Booking Link | Enlace de reserva | 預訂鏈接: https://crbn.app.link/e/covidvax-queens-museum-common-point-queens
Carbon Health es un proveedor de atención médica centrado en la equidad y habilitado por la
tecnología que tiene la misión de hacer que las vacunas sean accesibles para poblaciones
históricamente desatendidas y de alto riesgo. Nos estamos asociando con Queens Museum,
Commonpoint Queens y Amazon para garantizar que la comunidad de NYC / Queens tenga acceso a
las vacunas COVID-19 y a la información sobre vacunas. Esta clínica proporcionará vacunas Pfizer a
pacientes de 12 años o más.