So grateful for the wonderful PS 107 staff
Dear PS 107 Families,
Last week was quite a busy one at PS 107! On Monday, we celebrated Halloween; on Wednesday, we hosted an evaluative visit with our Deputy Superintendent (it was very positive!); and on Thursday, we had Parent-Teacher Conferences. By Friday, our staff was worn out. I am incredibly grateful to all of them for their dedication to our students and to the time and energy they put into sharing children’s progress with you during conferences (and beyond!).
November is the month of gratitude, and we’ve been actively cultivating a practice of gratitude at PS 107. Our brains are wired to focus on the negative — this helped our ancestors recognize threats and get away from them as quickly as possible. So we have to actively recognize what’s positive in our lives and train our brains to see it. All month, during morning announcements, students are sharing what they are grateful for, and our staff will be doing the same with one another.
Generally speaking, our school community is fortunate to have our basic needs met. As someone who has worked in vastly different NYC public schools, PS 107 is not the norm. Across the system, 72% of students are considered “economically disadvantaged.” At PS 107, that figure is 8%. By comparison, 90% of students are considered economically disadvantaged at my previous school, PS 169 in Sunset Park.
I am incredibly grateful for the many ways in which our school community has rallied to support communities with significant needs, including a free children’s book giveaway for families in Sunset Park that was held this past weekend (big thanks to Brittany Manley and Sarah Foster for organizing this, and to Emily Hager — and 107 kids Oscar, Ella, Stella, and Charlotte – for volunteering at the event), as well as a coat drive, Halloween costume drive (thank you, Joanna Lumbang!), and fundraising drive to support families in need at our neighbor, PS 124, which has seen an influx of students in temporary housing and asylum-seeking families.
There are also families in our own community who have immediate needs. We have put together anonymous Amazon wishlists for each family, and would be grateful for any contributions you can make towards helping our families meet their basic needs.
Your generosity is having an impact on our students, too. Two weekends ago, several 107 students held a neighborhood lemonade stand, the proceeds of which are going directly to 107 families in need.
In this time of division and where the dominant political discourse contributes to the othering and marginalization of entire communities of Americans, I am grateful that, in our little corner of Brooklyn, we are coming together to support our neighbors. Related to that, please remember that this Tuesday is Election Day! Your individual votes matter more than ever this year. Take a look at the NYC Voters’ Guide and make a plan to vote!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna