Our annual Peace Walk advocating for a future free from gun violence
Dear PS 107 Families,
What a week! Our Rainbow Takeover began last Thursday, with students enthusiastically taking up the charge to fill our sidewalks with messages of kindness, inclusion, and allyship. I love the statement All are Welcome Here that graces the sidewalk directly in front our main entrance. Pride Month, with its messages of belonging and hope for a better future, is such a wonderful way for us to close out the school year at PS 107. I am deeply grateful to our art teacher, Julie Brunner Cross, for showing our students how powerful their art can be.
On Friday, we held our now annual Peace Walk to demonstrate our community’s wish to end gun violence. Thank you to Joanna Lumbang (and her daughter Mika for asking me if we could hold this event again), Jenny May-Reddy, Brittany Manley, and Sarah Foster, for making this happen for the second year in a row. The date of our Peace Walk, June 2nd, is an important one, as it was the kickoff to Wear Orange weekend, advocating for a future free from gun violence.
Last week, two of our incredible custodial staff members, Marc Hendricks (Custodian Engineer) and Fremiot “Santi” Santiago (Fireman) were honored at a districtwide event, recognizing school-based staff who are critical to the functioning of our buildings, from school safety to food services to crossing guards to custodial. It was a truly joyful celebration, honoring the often unsung heroes of our school communities!
It is with mixed emotions that I also share that Santi will be moving on from PS 107 on Monday, June 12th. Santi has been with the 107 community for the last 8 years, and has been one of the best custodial staff members that I’ve encountered in my nearly 20 years in the system. Santi is becoming a Custodian Engineer, which is a well-deserved promotion for him, but it means that he will be leaving PS 107 for another school. While we are thrilled for Santi, it is a big loss for our school. Fortunately, Frankie Colonna, another member of our talented custodial team, will be stepping into Santi’s role.
Parents Mika Kleban and Amy Weintraub are organizing a farewell breakfast for Santi on Thursday, June 8th. We’d also like to give Santi a gift to remember from the PS 107 community. If you would like to contribute to the gift, you can send a Venmo to Mika Kleban @Mika-Kleban (the last 4 digits of her phone number are 0093). Thank you!
Finally, I am thrilled to share the great news that Agent Sharon will be returning to PS 107 in the fall! I am so grateful to all of you for advocating for her return — this would not have been possible without your many messages of support to NYPD Commanding Officer Tyema Hill. If you’d like to send CO Hill a thank you note, you can do so by emailing her at tyema.hill@nypd.org.
I hope to see many of you at our annual Spring Fling on Wednesday, June 7th at 6:30 pm. Spring Fling is one of the many joyful ways in which we close out the year, in community with one another.
Warmly,
Ms Joanna