Dear PS 107 Families,
As I wrote to the community last night, my heart is heavy with grief about what is going on in the Middle East. Two generations ago, my own family was driven out of Eastern Europe with similar violence, perpetrated by groups of people who hated us simply because we were Jewish. Because this history of violence has become part of my DNA, the horror of what is currently taking place has shaken me to my core. The current situation is incredibly complex, and I cannot pretend to know the solution. But what I do know is that now, more than ever, we must meet one another with compassion and community, two of our core values here at PS 107.
Yesterday, I walked into the school building, as if in a fog. The graphic images of death and destruction from the weekend were seared in my mind. Just before children started to arrive at school, the mariachi band that our parent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team had brought to celebrate Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, began to play. My mood shifted and the fog lifted, if only temporarily. I watched our students enjoying the music, enthusiastic to hear more. I watched our families donating generously to Mixteca, to support migrant families who are in the midst of their own escape from violence and persecution. It can feel strange to experience joy in moments like these, but I was reminded how very critical that is, to sustain the human spirit, to keep us moving towards peace, justice, and equity.
I’d like to express my deep gratitude to Christine Canedo-Pullan, parent lead for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, for making Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month such a beautiful celebration for our entire community. Christine had an incredible team working with her, including our Assistant Principal Rinah Fernandez Vasquez, and parents Caroline Reginelli, Magda Rangel-Hendrick, Brenda Loya, Angelica Cesario, Carolyn Vadino, Tre Johnson, Raul Vilchis, Rebecca Cetta, and Jaume Miralpeix. Thank you for helping our entire community learn about Latinx cultures, as well as allowing our Latinx students and families to feel seen and represented.
Halloween is fast approaching, and for the first time in many years, we have decided to allow students to wear costumes to school! There are a few important guidelines to keep in mind:
No masks or heavy make-up
No weapons or anything that can be used as a weapon; no wands or items that can poke other children
No costumes that are overly gory, bloody, or frightening
Costumes must be comfortable enough for children to wear all day (we cannot manage children changing in and out of costumes during the day)
If children do not want to wear a costume, we also encourage them to wear orange/black or Halloween-themed clothing instead of costumes
Classrooms are permitted to have Halloween celebrations in the afternoon, and your children’s teacher will reach out to you if they are doing so and need anything for the celebration.
Lastly, New York is currently in a state of a blood emergency, and a local teen has organized a blood drive at the Park Slope Jewish Center, this Sunday, 10/15, from 2:30-6 pm. Click here to reserve a spot (there are only a few left!). Anyone 16+ is eligible to donate.
If I have learned anything in the past few days, it is that in dark times we must continue to turn towards the light, as difficult as that may be. My thoughts are with all of you who have been impacted by the ongoing tragedy in the Middle East.
In community,
Ms Joanna