Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
Every year between September 15th and October 15th, Americans across the United States celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in honor of the histories, cultures, and contributions.
Please visit the DOE’s Morning Bell Blog to see a list of books, events, and resources for families and students in grades 3-K through 12. We hope you enjoy and learn from these outstanding books and resources.
New York Public Library
Join the Library in honoring the cultures and contributions of people with ancestors from across the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico, and Spain. From September 15 to October 15, explore book lists for kids, featuring bilingual and monolingual titles in español and English. Celebrate Latinx literature, experience, and storytelling with multilingual programs, resources, storytimes for kids, and more. From writing workshops to online trivia and panels for entrepreneurs, NYPL has something for everyone all month long!
NYCDOE EVENT: "COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know" WEBINAR
The DOE’s Parent University invites NYC families to a virtual course called COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know. In this course, families will learn about the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as participate in a live question and answer session. This course will be taught by our partners and experts at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Time: 10am OR 6pm
Register on Parent University
AM Session: COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know (10am Session)
PM Session: COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know (6pm Session)
NYCDOE UPDATE: SUBMITTING COVID TESTING FORMS
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:
NYCDOE UPDATE: Family and Community Wellness Collective
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to build our community and build bridges among our families. This has been so helpful personally to me and I hope it will help others as well.”
-Family Healing Ambassador
On behalf of the Office of Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) and the Division of School Climate and Wellness (DSCW), we congratulate over 850 Family Healing Ambassadors spread throughout the five boroughs who have gone through the professional learning series. To support the parents attending the workshops, we also want to highlight the over 400 parent coordinators and central staff who attended the series. In these sessions, Family Healing Ambassadors learned:
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How to identify families strengths and resiliency during this time, understand community and intergenerational trauma, as well as healing centered practices.
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Defining what trauma is and what trauma isn’t, recognize signs and symptoms of trauma, help to highlight families strengths within a traumatic time.
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Proactive wellness and calming strategies as well as, when and how to seek additional support.
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Discussing practical implementation tools for the school’s parent workshop.
The Family and Community Wellness Collective focused on the mayor’s list of the 33 communities “hardest hit” by COVID-19. Be on the lookout for Ambassador facilitated workshops throughout communities in participating schools. Together we will build on areas of strength and will continue to work collaboratively providing supports towards healing.
NYCDOE UPDATE: Civics for All: New York Goes First!
NYCDOE and Educating for American Democracy
Monday, 9/27/21
3:00 - 4:30 PM
One of the foundational principles of public schooling is to prepare young people to be active, effective members of our democracy. The New York City Department of Education has embraced this mission through its investment in Civics for All, the city’s civics education initiative. Beginning this school year, the NYCDOE, the largest district in the United States, will further its commitment to civic education by being the first school system in the nation to champion Educating for American Democracy (EAD), a viewpoint diverse national effort to invest in strengthening history and civic learning, and to ensure that civic learning opportunities are delivered equitably throughout the country.
Join NYCDOE and EAD for a virtual event launching their partnership and detailing how their collaboration will mold civic education for New York City’s 1.1 million students.
Panel Speakers will include NYCDOE teachers and students as well as:
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Meisha Porter, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education
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Dr. Linda Chen, Chief Academic Officer of the New York City Department of Education
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Laura Wood, Chief Democracy Officer, New York City
Register for this online event here.
NYCDOE UPDATE: New Classes on Parent University!
Did you know you can now access Parent University in the new NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) Portal. Parent University offers training, coaching, and other resources for families to help you advocate for the educational success of your children. Take courses and even gain certificates of completion.
Need help? Visit YouTube for user tutorials. Download this flyer for instructions on how to enable captions in multiple languages.
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NYCDOE UPDATE: Specialized High School Admissions Test
العربية / বাংলা / 中文 / Français / Kreyòl ayisyen / 한국어 / Русский / Español / اردو
All current 8th and first-time 9th grade students who live in New York City can apply to high school and test and/or audition to apply to the Specialized High Schools during the 2021-2022 school year. In mid-October, you’ll get your child’s welcome letter with details on how to access your MySchools account and participate.
SHSAT UPDATE
Today, we have updates for students interested in applying to any/all of the eight testing Specialized High Schools. You apply to these schools by registering for and then taking the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT); offers are made based on each student’s SHSAT score, their school preferences, and seat availability. Here’s what to do, when:
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Prepare. Detailed test information, sample tests, and information about testing accommodations are available on our website.
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Register. Registration will open in mid-October 2021. Specific registration dates are coming soon!
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Test. All registered students will take the SHSAT in December 2021. When specific test dates and other information become available, we will send an update.
MORE UPDATES ARE COMING SOON, INCLUDING:
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When to submit your high school application, the way to apply to most of the city’s 700+ program options.
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When and how to register for programs at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, NYC’s audition Specialized High School, which uses a separate admissions process.
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How to audition for arts programs at high schools across the city, including LaGuardia.
WHAT TO DO NOW
Questions? Talk to your child’s current school counselor or email HSEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov.
UPDATE: Pandemic Electronic Benefits Card for Food
Every single NYC public school student is automatically eligible—regardless of income or immigration status. No application or registration is required. P-EBT does not affect any other benefits or public charge status. Students in parochial or charter schools may be eligible if their school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). For more information, please check out the links below.
For detailed instructions on how to replace your P-EBT card, see below:
UPDATE: Emergency Broadband Benefit Back to School Week of Action
Having internet access at home is not a luxury anymore; it’s a necessity just like electricity and clean water. Despite this critical need, access to the internet at home isn’t always affordable, particularly for marginalized communities.
In May 2021, the Federal Communications Commission launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program that offers a discount of up to $50 on eligible consumers’ monthly internet bills across the country. More than five million households have already enrolled in the program, which highlights its critical importance, as well as the positive impact discounted internet access can have on marginalized people recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many more households are eligible, and new enrollments have been slow following the initial influx when the program launched.
Join a webinar about the Emergency BroadbandBenefit, how to apply, how you can help get out the word and get your community connected, and answer any questions you may have.
UPDATE: Navigating the System for People with Developmental Disabilities
Find out about eligibility and access to services through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Information offered in this workshop is relevant only to New York State services. Workshops are open to people with I / DD, parents, family members, caregivers and professionals. To respect the privacy of our attendees, this online workshop will not be recorded.
Weds September 29, 2021
6:00 - 8:00 pm EDT
Registration and Details
One hour before the event begins, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register via Zoom. Once you complete the Zoom registration, you will receive the link to join the presentation. We have been informed that some emails coming from Eventbrite are being blocked by security features put in place by IT Departments. If you do not receive the email, please email link@yai.org for assistance.
UPDATE: Adolescent Mental Health Town Hall, Thursday, September 30
“Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Wellness: Adolescent Mental Health During COVID-19”
Register to attend a Virtual Town Hall sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Thursday, September 30th 7pm – 8:30pm.
It’s September and children are returning to school, some after learning remotely for more than a year and half. Many students are excited to return to school and to see their friends, and some are anxious and concerned about their return.
Research is showing that COVID often impacts our emotional wellness. Learn about the impact of COVID on adolescent mental health, how to identify signs and symptoms of emotional distress, and how to support your child and use available resources to build emotional resilience.
The Virtual Town Hall will feature:
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Eliot Goldman, Ph.D., Manager, Curriculum Development, and Susannah Sanchez-Agosto, Training specialist, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
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A representative from the New York City Department of Education
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Benjamin Morden, Community Education Council President, District 2
The event will feature a question and answer session with the representatives from the New York City Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Education, and Benjamin Morden. If you have questions about how COVID is impacting your child’s mental wellness, identifying signs and symptoms of emotional distress, and how best to support your child with available resources, you should attend the September 30th Town Hall. Attendees will be able to submit questions through Zoom and Facebook during the event but are strongly encouraged to submit them in advance.
Please let us know if you plan to attend the Thursday, September 30th Virtual Town Hall by registering at https://tinyurl.com/covid-adolescent-mental-health. Once you register for the event, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom and Facebook links, and the call-in information.
UPDATE: Free Parent and Caregiver Webinars from the Ackerman Institute
Join the Ackerman Institute for these free webinars, designed to help parents and caregivers to support their child’s mental health across a diverse range of subjects. Webinars are created by family therapy experts and will be held on Zoom:
Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse
Tuesday, October 19, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
This child sexual abuse prevention webinar will teach you how to keep your child safe from sexual abuse as well as how to respond if your child makes a disclosure. Due to more kids having access to the internet as a result of COVID-19 and remote learning, special focus will be given to online sexual abuse prevention.
The Emotions of Parenting
Wednesday, November 10, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Emotions are often misunderstood and seen as something to fear and avoid. In this workshop, you will gain strategies for understanding and working with your own and your child’s feelings. We will look at the purpose of emotions and how they underlie our effective, satisfying, and zesty living. We will discuss why they are so hard, at times, to allow in ourselves and in others: what is so difficult, scary, or overwhelming about emotion? And we will learn and practice some practical strategies for connecting to emotion so that they can be helpful guides for parenting and other relationships.
The Ackerman Institute for the Family is one of the premier institutions for family therapy and one of the best-known and most highly regarded training facilities for family therapists in the United States. The Institute serves families from all walks of life at all stages of family life.
UPDATE: Metropolitan Opera Opening Night
The Metropolitan Opera is thrilled to open our season with Fire Shut Up in My Bones. This thrilling new opera by jazz legend Terence Blanchard will be the first time a black composer’s work has been sung on the Met’s stage.
To celebrate this historic night, the Met will stream the opera’s premiere live from our stage at Lincoln Center to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Monday, September 27, 2021 beginning at 6:00pm. See the flyer for more details.
UPDATE: NYCLU's Teen Activist Project Application
NYCLU's Teen Activist Project (TAP) is a youth program that engages New York City teens as leaders and organizers on civil rights and civil liberties. TAP members work on a range of advocacy issues including the rights of pregnant and parenting teens, students' rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, immigrants' rights, and freedom of speech and religion. Please share with young people interested in law, health care, social justice issues, and community organizing. Programming is in-person this year with a virtual option. The application deadline is Sunday, October 3, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
UPDATE: The Office of Food & Nutrition Services is Hiring!
The Office of Food and Nutrition Services needs your assistance in letting the community know they are hiring. Below is the image and text that you can post on your Social Media Accounts:
Food and Nutrition Services is Hiring! Providing healthy food choices to NYC Public School Students. Looking for service-oriented employees to work year-round in school kitchens. Openings in 5 boroughs, part-time work, and full benefits. Learn how to apply at schools.nyc.gov/foodsrvicejobs.
UPDATE: NYC Civil Service 101
Career Opportunity. Job Security. Great Benefits. A Rewarding Mission. Are you interested in having a fulfilling career in City government? We offer more than 2000 titles in over 80 city agencies. Connect with the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services and see where your professional journey can take you!
Information sessions will be held Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Learn more and register for the 10 am session or 6 pm session.
Register on Parent University
Let’s Talk NYC Training for Mental Health
Any school staff member can be a mental health ally - including parent coordinators and parent leaders. This fall, if you work in an NYC school, we encourage you to take the Let’s Talk NYC training. This virtual training will give you the skills to listen actively, engage students in conversations on mental health, and help connect young people to appropriate mental health support. Hundreds of school staff have already completed the training and are ready to help when students arrive back in the classroom. Learn more and register here.
The Let’s Talk NYC campaign also has resources for students. We encourage you to share this microsite with the young people you serve – it includes a guide answering common questions about privacy and confidentiality related to mental health, and free mental health resources like hotlines, toolkits and campaigns you can join to fight stigma and advocate for open dialogue on mental health.
Support for Children of Incarcerated Parents
This October is the 7th annual See Us, Support Us month of awareness to increase support for children of incarcerated parents. This year, SUSU focuses on supporting children’s educational success and wellbeing from early childhood through college in educational and afterschool settings. Please see the SUSU Educator Invite to learn how you, families, and students can get involved, and encourage students to enter the SUSU art contest.
NYC Commission on Human Rights: Youth for Equity and Solidarity Council
The NYC Commission on Human Rights has launched the 2021-2022 Youth for Equity and Solidarity (YES) Council Application! The Youth for Equity and Solidarity Council is the NYC Commission on Human Rights’ council of young leaders who advise the Commission on how to expand engagement with young people. The youth council will help guide youth programming and events by providing feedback on workshops and trainings, informing us of issues and incidents related to bias and discrimination, and planning youth-related events. If you know youth ages 13-21 that would be interested in joining the YES Council, please share the application link and have them apply by Friday October 15th, 2021: Youth for Equity and Solidarity Council · Application.
Universal NYC Baby Bonds: Kids Rise Save for College Program
The Mayor and Chancellor have announced a citywide expansion of the community-driven NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program. This public-private-community partnership provides families, schools, and communities access to a universal scholarship and savings platform, regardless of a family’s income or immigration status. Starting this year, every kindergartener enrolled in a New York City public school will have access to an NYC Scholarship Account, with $100 invested toward their future education and up to $200 in rewards. Register for an info session to learn more.
DIIT Resources and Events
Learn with Common Sense Chat on Digital Citizenship Week (October 18 - 22): How Do You Plan to Celebrate Digital CItizenship Week? October 1 at 3:00pm: Register
Transform Your Pedagogy by Partnering with Parents! - Wednesday, October 6 at 1pm: Register
Toolkit for Social Emotional Learning: Support your students' social and emotional learning as they navigate the digital world, with Common Sense's free collection of Social and Emotional Learning in Digital Life resources. With the right support, students can learn how to integrate technology into their lives to promote their own well-being and to be a positive influence in their communities. These are 15 minutes lessons that can be easily integrated into all subject areas and include family engagement resources in English and Spanish.
Free Over-the-Phone Interpretation Services
Free Over-the-Phone Interpretation (OPI) service into over 350 languages is available for DOE staff, with instructions listed in the OPI Services for Schools Desk Aid on the InfoHub. Please share the Desk Aid with any other school staff that communicate with parents. This should not be shared with parents or any non-DOE staff. Early childhood sites, central offices, borough offices, and superintendents’ offices have separate phone numbers and codes to connect. As you and other school staff use the service, please share feedback via this short survey: www.tinyurl.com/OPIFeedback.
For On-Site Interpretation (OSI) with the interpreter at the school, or Online Remote Interpretation (ORI), with the interpreter joining a virtual meeting, requests may be submitted to the contracted vendor, Geneva Worldwide, at: www.tinyurl.com/SchoolIRF. Schools may use their Translation & Interpretation Funds (SAM52) as highlighted in the August 17 Principal Digest.
For more information visit the T&I Unit’s Infohub, and contact your Field Language Access Coordinator for any questions.
Free Family Engagement Curriculum – Ready4K
Everyday Learning Moments, Tuesday September 28 at 6 pm
Bring the whole family to join Rebecca, Popcorn, and the Family Fun crew. They’ll share simple activities any busy family can use to learn and play daily! See the flyer for details and register here.
Ready4K is an evidenced-based family engagement curriculum shown to increase student growth by two months. The curriculum empowers families by texting them simple, achievable ways to incorporate learning into everyday moments. Families can get messages in Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish, or Vietnamese. We have also incorporated messages linking families to NYC resources like food and health services. Ready4K comes at no cost to your families or your program.
Register here for a Fall 2021 Ready4K Onboarding Session!
Sessions take place between Sep 1 – Oct 12, 2021.
GetFoodNYC: Free Food Locations
NYC has a map of locations that offer free food (food pantries, soup kitchens), as well as farmers’ markets and grocery stores. Please visit a map of food resources across the city.
DOE Family Updates
Below is information shared previously in the Health and Safety Guide.
Vaccination Sites
Thanks to a partnership between the DOE and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), all New Yorkers aged 12 and up can get free COVID-19 vaccines at select schools across the City. You can simply walk in by yourself or with any student, friend, or family member who needs a vaccine (minors will need parental consent) and get vaccinated for free—no health insurance or proof of citizenship will be required. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the DOE strongly encourage you to make a vaccination appointment as soon as possible by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
School Building Visitors
All visitors aged 12 and older must show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter a school building. Visitors do not include students attending school in a DOE building. This proof may be provided in several ways, please see schools.nyc.gov/2021health for more information.
In order to enter the building, a visitor must:
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show identification,
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have proof of vaccination,
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complete the daily health screening form, and
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wear a face covering.
Staff, contractors, and volunteers remain required to provide proof of vaccination (1 dose) by September 27, 2021. Staff must upload proof to the DOE Vaccination Portal.
Department of Education (DOE) Vaccination Portal for Families and Staff
Regular COVID-19 testing provides school communities and public health experts with valuable information. Every school will randomly test biweekly unvaccinated students, who have submitted consent for testing, at a threshold of ten percent of unvaccinated students per school population.
If your child has been vaccinated, please upload an image of your child’s vaccination card or NYC Excelsior Pass to the DOE’s vaccine portal at vaccine.schools.nyc.
Consent Forms for Covid-19 Testing
Continuing the safety measures introduced in the previous school year, we will be conducting
regular COVID testing of unvaccinated students grades 1 through 12. That way, action can be
taken right away to protect the school community if there’s a positive case. Submit your updated testing consent form for your child using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) at schoolsaccount.nyc or by downloading the form online at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting and providing the completed printed form to your child’s school.
Testing consent forms submitted in the previous school year expire on September 30, 2021. If you previously provided consent, your child may be tested this month as part of the in-school testing program—however, for your child to participate in the testing program for the remainder of this school year, you must submit a new consent form.
Vaccine Requirements for Eligible Students Participating in High-Risk Extracurricular Activities
Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL)
As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccination will be required this year for DOE students and staff participating in Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) sports considered high-risk for potential COVID-19 transmission. High-risk sports include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, stunt, and rugby. Vaccination will also be required for participation in bowling because while the sport is not high risk, the locations where it occurs require vaccination.
Participants in fall high-risk sports must get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the first day of competitive play, which varies by sport. Winter and spring PSAL participants have until the beginning of their season to be fully vaccinated. For additional information about health and safety protocols for PSAL in the 2021-22 school year, please visit schools.nyc.gov/PSAL.
Extracurricular Activities
Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State guidance, COVID-19 vaccination will be required this year for students who are at least 12 years old and are participating in afterschool extracurricular activities considered high-risk for potential COVID-19 transmission. High risk afterschool activities include:
Please reach out to your school for additional information regarding participation in these activities.
Vaccination Proof for Indoor Activities - Key to NYC
People 12 and older are required to show proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA or WHO for:
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Indoor dining
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Includes restaurants, catering halls, event spaces, hotel banquet rooms, bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, grocery stores with indoor dining, coffee shops and fast food or quick service with indoor dining
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Indoor fitness
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Includes gyms, fitness centers, fitness classes, pools, indoor studios and dance studios
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Indoor entertainment
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Includes movie theaters, music and concert venues, museums and galleries, aquariums and zoos, professional sports arenas, indoor stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, performing arts theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, pool and billiard halls, recreational game centers, adult entertainment and indoor play areas
This new requirement — called the Key to NYC — includes bars, fitness gyms, movie and stage theatres, museums and other indoor venues. Staff at these locations are also required to be vaccinated. Check New York City’s website for more information about Vaccinations for Indoor Activities, Vaccination Facts or COVID-19
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
UPDATE: New NYC Schools Account (NYSCA)
Families can now access the new NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) portal, which consolidates several important parent-facing applications in one place. In addition to seeing information for MyStudent, such as grades, attendance, and transportation, families will also be able to access Parent University and the Bullying Reporting online form.
Parents can reset the passwords to their student’s DOE email accounts through the Manage Account page; please note the change in URL from http://mystudent.nyc to http://schoolsaccount.nyc. Families who currently have a NYCSA account will automatically have access to new features in the portal.
To support families in accessing the new NYCSA portal, you should ensure that your family access managers (i.e., school principals, parent coordinators, or other designees) create accounts for all students and backpack letters home using the FAM tool. Family access managers can use the Reports section in FAM to generate a list of student families without NYCSA accounts. Family access managers should print pre-populated Account Creation Code letters at the beginning of the school year and backpack them home with students. These letters can be batch-printed by official class or by class meeting time (for classes with more than one section). By default, the letters will batch print in the parent’s home language, if it is one of the DOE-supported languages. Generic translated letters will be available at the bottom of the NYC Schools Account website by September 13. Note that if you would like to provide FAM access to other designees, you may do so by assigning them the role of family access manager in myGalaxy.
For more information about creating NYCSA accounts, see the NYCSA wiki page on the Family Access Management (FAM) tool. For questions, suggestions, or support with the MyStudent application within NYCSA, email nycschoolsaccount@schools.nyc.gov or call the Help Desk (212-374-6646). Please note that you may not direct parents to contact the Help Desk number or inbox, as the Help Desk only supports DOE staff. Parents should be directed to the resources on the family-facing NYCSA page.
For questions about helping families reset passwords of student email addresses, refer to the Reset Student Password page on the Infohub.
UPDATE: Enhancing Communication Among Parents
In the most recent update to NYCSA, parents will be able to opt-in to sharing their contact information with their local parent leaders. Please see below for the new “Stay Connected” feature of NYCSA.
