P.S. 242- The Young Diplomats Magnet Academy

As September is just around the corner, I’d like to welcome new families to Young Diplomats Magnet Academy and returning families to a new school year! It continues to be a privilege for me to be part of the Young Diplomats Magnet Academy learning community. The YDMA community members and I are looking forward to hearing about your summer adventures, catching up with returning families, and meeting the newest members of our YDMA family.  It is our goal to provide a rigorous curriculum and safe learning environment that engages each child. Of course, we need and welcome your support and collaboration. Together the home and school can bond to make a tremendous impact on our students’ academic performance. You play a key role in the academic success of our students; therefore, school/parent communication is crucial. Make sure to look out for our monthly newsletter, which includes information about the current units of study in each grade, parent workshops, and all upcoming events.

Together, teachers, students, and parents/guardians make a strong YDMA family. Let’s all commit to have a great school year, setting everyone, students, as well as teachers, and every member of our community up for success. Student success is the goal of every staff member at Young Diplomats Magnet Academy. We believe that with our dedication to high quality, research based best practices, every student will learn to their fullest potential.

First day of school for all students will be on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Students in Pre-Kindergarten will attend half-day of school on Thursday, September 7^th and Friday, September 8^th to help them transition to a full day of school. Pre-Kindergarten families will be contacted with the partial time schedule for your child at the end of August.

Arrival/Dismissal:

Breakfast will be served in the classrooms upon arrival every morning. Students in Kindergarten will enter the building from our smaller schoolyard located on 121^st  street. Students in grades 1-5 will enter through the large schoolyard also located on 121^st street. The schoolyard gate will open at 8:10 am and close at 8:30 am. All students that arrive after the gates are closed should be escorted to 122^nd street and enter school through our main lobby doors. Dismissal is at 2:30 and students will go out through the schoolyard as well.

Our free afterschool program, Catholic Charities will begin on September 11^th and will have registration tables setup on the first day of school both at arrival and dismissal. We are excited to announce that students will participate in dance, soccer, and other great programs that we have collaboratively planned in afterschool!

Uniform Policy:

Young Diplomats Magnet Academy is a uniform school. Therefore, students are required to be in full uniform Monday through Friday. School uniform consists of a purple polo, grey pants/skirt or gym uniforms, which are required on days that they have Physical Education. Students are allowed to wear shirts without our school logo.

Some upcoming important dates:

September 7^th: First day of school

September 11^th: First day of afterschool

September 14^th: Back to school night

September 21^st: Dad/father figure take your child to school day

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Principal: Denise Desjardin – dgomez5@schools.nyc.gov

Assistant Principal: Leslie Ellman – lellman2@schools.nyc.gov

School Secretary: Celeste Ortega – cortega2@schools.nyc.gov

We are also available on Class Dojo.

Enjoy your last days of summer! See you soon.

With much love,

Denise Desjardin

Principal