Dear PS 107 Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at last Friday’s Family Morning! We’re so pleased to be able to bring this tradition back to 107 — and in a more manageable, less crowded way. We’re looking forward to welcoming the final third of parents at our next Family Morning on Friday, March 3rd.
We have also launched a series of parent workshops entitled Practical Parenting for the 21st Century: A Workshop Series for Parents, by Parents. This workshop series will run from February through May, with at least one workshop per month on a topic of interest to PS 107 families. This month, we are hosting two workshops related to supporting your children through two different kinds of challenges — friendship and executive functioning:
Helping Your Child Navigate Friendship Challenges with school counselor Sarah Green, Thursday, February 9, 2023, 8:30 am in the PS 107 Cafeteria. You can also register to attend via livestream here.
Strengthening Executive Functions at Home: Creating a Practical Toolbox for our Children with Dr. Anna Levy-Warren, founder of Organizational Tutors, Tuesday, February 14th, 8:30 am in the 4th Floor Art Space at PS 107 (location change!). You can also register to attend via livestream here.
If you are attending these workshops in person, please come in through the main entrance and be prepared to show your ID and proof of COVID vaccination. And coming in March, we’ll host two workshops on building healthy digital habits and protecting your children online.
Fitnessgram is back! For those of you with older children, you may remember that students took a series of physical fitness tests during PE classes in the pre-COVID era. These tests are returning this year, and I know that they are already creating some anxiety for children (and by association, for parents). I want to assure you that there are no stakes attached to these assessments and the data gained from them can help you determine your child’s level of physical fitness (in the same way that reading, writing, and math assessments help identify areas where children are excelling and where they may need more support).
You can read more about Fitnessgram on the DOE’s website. You can also learn about the specific tests that are administered to students here. In NYC, Fitnessgram tests are administered as follows:
Students in K-3: height and weight only (this is done in a private location, not in PE class)
Students in grades 4-5: height and weight (conducted in a private location), and 5 additional fitness tests, assessing strength, endurance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity, which are conducted during PE class
You will be able to see the results of your child’s Fitnessgram in your New York City Schools Account under the “Student Wellness” tab.
Ms Diane is well aware of the stress that some students experience when these tests are administered. She will be doing some trial tests in the coming weeks to get students used to these assessments and will also emphasize that there are no stakes attached to them. You can support your child by validating their concerns and emphasizing that this will be a challenge they are ready to take on. (As the mom of an anxious child, I have learned the hard way that it’s best in these situations to validate your child’s feelings and make clear that you know they can get through this, rather than trying to “fix” the situation, which ultimately has the unintended consequence of making their anxiety grow larger and more intense. For more on that, check out this article from The Child Mind Institute.)
Have a wonderful week!
Warmly,
Ms Joanna