Paper Towel Rolls

Dear Parents and Guardians,

P.S. 120’s Green Team is excited to announce that we will be assisting with the upcoming Dad’s Day event this November. To help make this event a success, we are asking for your support in collecting an essential material: empty paper towel rolls.
Please send in your empty paper towel rolls with your child. Collection bins will be available in the gymnasium and outside the main office. All donations will go directly toward preparing materials for Dad’s Day activities.We appreciate your contributions and support in helping us bring this special event to life for our school community.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Best,

PS120Q

Principal's Memo 10/27

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

This week, P.S. 120 hosted District 25 Superintendent Dr. Dantona for a school visit. He visited classrooms, discussed literacy goals with our Instructional Leadership and Equity Team (ILET), and met with a small group of parents for a Parent Advisory Committee session. Parent feedback around our academic initiatives and welcoming school culture was very positive. I want to continue working together with parents to ensure that every P.S. 120 family feels safe, included, and informed of their child’s progress throughout the school year.

Thursday’s Hispanic Heritage Night was another successful event! It was amazing to come together as a school community to celebrate the rich traditions of Central and South America. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family!

Sincerely,

Robert Marino

Principal


P.S. 120’s Mission

At P.S. 120, we are committed to preparing our different types of learners to compete in the ever-changing 21st Century workforce by guiding them to recognize the importance of finding the balance between doing what they love, and what the world will need them to do. The faculty at PS 120 will:

  • Commit to the use of data-driven instruction and decision-making to provide equity-based instruction in all classrooms. 

  • Provide opportunities for students to take responsibility for their own learning by participating in classroom discussion and be able to predict how they can use what they are learning in their everyday lives and goals

  • Engage students in problem-solving and critical thinking activities

  • Foster leadership opportunities for students in and out of the classroom

  • Expose and engage students in the cultural arts

  • Enable digital literacy by teaching students to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills

  • Empower students to apply their talents to the service of others

As a result, students at P.S. 120: 

  • Hispanic Heritage Night: Our school community enjoyed a night of music, food, and celebration as we honored the Hispanic culture! Thank you to all our food donors and performers who made this night possible!

  • Dragon Press: Check out this month’s issue of Dragon Press!

  • Field Trips: 

    • Some of our first grade students explored creativity and collaboration during a hands-on visit to Little Pulp, where they learned the art of printmaking and saw how passion and innovation can grow into purpose.

    • Some of our second graders enjoyed a day at the Museum of Moving Image, where they learned about filmmaking and cinematography!



Announcements

  • P.S. 120Q Parent Handbook: Our school’s Parent Handbook has been updated for the 2025-2026 school year! Please bookmark the P.S. 120Q Parent Handbook to read school policies and procedures for parents.

    • Birthday Policy: Please note that we have updated our birthday policy for parents. We appreciate your cooperation: Every student’s special day is honored in the classroom with a song, movement break or craft. Please do not send treats to share in class or at lunch/recess/dismissal. PLEASE NOTE: Elaborate food, soft drinks, party favors, party hats, goody bags, balloons, decorations, or entertainment are not permitted and will be returned directly to the family.

  • October 2025 New York City Public Schools Family Update: Please see Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos’ family update for October 2025 here (Translations linked within). 

  • Free Family Events in the Community:

    • ESOL classes - Free English Class 

      • Registration is on-going. For more information, please call us at 718-939-6137 or email us at education@kcsny.org. Our office hours are from 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Korean Art Competition 

      • The deadline is approaching (October 31st).

      •  For more information, please click here

  • KEEPING YOU INFORMED ON CITY & STATE UPDATES

  • 🎓Adult Education. SUNY Reconnect is a program offering free tuition, books, and supplies for New Yorkers ages 25-55 without a college degree who are pursuing an associate degree at a SUNY community college. Designed to help adult learners gain skills for high-demand jobs, SUNY Reconnect covers fields like nursing and health professions, technology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and pathways to teaching. Eligible learners can enroll part-time or full-time. Learn more at suny.edu/communitycollege/free-cc.

  • 📞Community Health. Need healthcare assistance or an advocate on your side when dealing with a medical bill, insurance denial, or a confusing notice? Call the Community Health Advocates hotline at 1-888-614-5400 and receive help today!

  • ♻️Composting. NYC residents are required to separate food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper from regular trash and recycling. Curbside composting will be collected on your regular recycling day. For more information, visit nyc.gov/CurbsideComposting or call 311.

  • 🎓Education Helpline. Advocates for Children of New York has a multilingual education helpline to answer your questions about the NYC school system. Their phone number is 866-427-6033 (toll free), and it is open from Monday to Thursday, 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Click here for more information.

  • 🗽Empire State Child Credit. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is issuing supplemental Empire State Child Credit payments to over 1.5 million low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. Eligible taxpayers who received at least $100 in the 2023 Empire State Child Credit and filed their 2023 tax returns by April 15, 2024, will receive these payments automatically. For more details, visit the Additional Empire State Child Credit Payments.

  • 🔋Energy Affordability Program. The NYS Energy Affordability Program provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric and/or gas bills. You may be enrolled automatically if you receive benefits from a government assistance program; for more information visit this ConEd webpage and click the “download form” button in the Energy Affordability Program box (or click this link directly to download the pdf). Or call 800-752-6633; the seniors-only direct line is 800-404-9097, M-F, 8:30 am – 5 pm.

  • 💰Financial Aid. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and New York State TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) applications are now open! Completing the FAFSA can be challenging for students, but it’s the important for accessing essential federal and state financial aid. The easiest way to apply for TAP is through the FAFSA — students can link directly to the TAP application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page. Learn more about TAP here. 

  • 🥕Farmers Market. The Cunningham Park Farmers Market is open every Sunday through the end of the year from 9AM to 2PM, right off Union Turnpike in the parking lot near the tennis courts. Fresh produce, local goods, and a great way to support neighborhood vendors—it doesn’t get more Queens than that. Sign up for their newsletter to get weekly updates and the vendor schedule.

  • 🔊Fresh Meadows Vision Project. A major proposal called “Fresh Meadow Vision” could lots of change to our neighborhood. While I’m not directly involved in the zoning and planning decisions (that’s up to your Community Board, Council Member, and Borough President), I want to hear from you! If you live nearby, it’s really important that you provide feedback on this website. There is a rally scheduled for October 19th at noon at 64 Ave and 188th Street, hosted by local civic and tenant associations, make your voice heard!

  • 💭Mental Health Hotline. There’s a three digit phone hotline, 988, the 911 for mental health emergencies.

  • 🆔Mobile ID. Ever forget your wallet and wish you had your ID on you? Now you can with New York Mobile ID! Just download the app, and a highly secure digital version of a state-issued driver license, learner permit or ID will be on your smartphone whenever you need it. More info here.

  • 📚Queens Public Library. On Monday, October 13th, in honor of Italian Heritage Day & Indigenous People's Day, all Queens Public Libraries will be closed. Their digital resources will still be available.

  • 🚏Reduced Fare Riders. The MTA announced that Reduced-Fare customers—including Seniors and people with disabilities—can now put their Reduced-Fare benefit on any personal payment device (okay, smartphones) compatible with OMNY. The MTA is enabling customers to make this switch online, at omny.info. Reduced-Fare customers can also benefit from the MTA’s ongoing “Lucky 13” program, where customers ride free after 12 paid OMNY taps in a 7-day week, from Monday to Sunday. The MTA will also be phasing out all MetroCards, with sales ending on December 31, 2025.

  • 👨‍🍳Restaurant Accelerator Grant. National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ACE) and Grubhub are accepting applications for the 2025 Restaurant Accelerator and $5,000 Community Fund Grant! Small, U.S.-based restaurants can apply by October 24 for a chance to join expert-led virtual sessions in November and receive funding to grow their business. AAPNHI restaurateurs are especially encouraged to apply. Full details at nationalace.org.

  • 🚮SAFE Waste Disposal. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the NYC Dept. of Sanitation is hosting their Queens' fall SAFE (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) Disposal Event at the Resorts World Casino, Parking Lot C. Rain or shine! From 10 am - 4 pm, feel free to bring any used items marked DANGER, WARNING, POISON, or CAUTION. For more information, click here.

  • 🤳School Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy. NYC Public Schools require students to store all internet-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, in a school-sponsored rack or closet during the school day. Exceptions may apply for IEPs or medical plans. You can read the full policy at schools.nyc.gov/DevicePolicy.

  • 🥗SNAP. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are a lifeline for New York families. If you’ve lost Cash Assistance benefits as a result of skimming (when thieves scan a copy of your EBT card at a store), file a claim online.

  • 🗑️Special Waste Drop Off. NYC Sanitation is expanding opportunities to responsibly dispose of unwanted items. Special Waste Drop-Off sites now operate Thursday–Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM, accepting electronics, batteries, paint, and more. Textile collection bins are also available at five Sanitation garages for clothing, shoes, and fabric-based items. Learn more here.

  • ⭐STAR Credit. School Tax Relief (STAR) credit recipients now have the option to receive their STAR credits by direct deposit. Homeowners with existing Tax Department Individual Online Services accounts will find the Homeowner Benefit Portal under Real Property Tax after they log in to OLS. Homeowners who do not yet have an OLS account will be prompted to create one to get started. For instructions to log in or create an individual account, visit the Homeowner Benefit Portal.

  • 💰Student Debt Assistance. The Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) offers one-on-one assistance with federal and state financial aid applications and student loans. Call their helpline at (888) 614-5004 or schedule an appointment online at this link.

  • Recycled Materials Collection: Our Science team has planned an exciting activity for Dad’s Take Your Child to School Day that requires recycled items. We are in need of empty, dry paper towel rolls. Please save these cardboard items and send them to school with your child.

  • SMILE Dental On-Site Visits – Fall 2025 🦷

    • The mobile dentist is returning to PS120 to provide FREE dental check-ups for all students! SMILE Dental will be onsite on the following dates:

📅 October 21–24
  📅 October 27–31
 📅 November 3, 5 & 7

Consent Forms

  • Preferred Method – Online: Complete your child’s consent form at www.myschooldentist.com by October 20, 2025.

  • Paper Forms: For families not completing the online form, paper copies will be sent home the week of October 6. Please return by October 15, 2025.

Important Information

  • Once signed, a dental consent form remains valid for as long as your child is a student at PS120. A new form is NOT required each year.

  • If you have already provided consent in a previous year, your child will automatically be seen again.

  • If you no longer want your child to receive dental services at school, you must call (855) 481-8638 to rescind consent.

  Required Identification Process

  • Please know that for the safety of your child, the dental team follows a policy that requires all children to independently identify themselves. This means giving the team 2 ways to positively identify themselves. Your child can tell the team any of these two choices below-

• Name

• Date of birth

• Phone number

• Address (street only is fine)

• Parent or guardian name

If you have concerns that your child will not be able to independently identify themselves, you can help to ensure that they are seen for dental care in a few ways:

BEST OPTIONS-

  • Make sure your child knows their name and parent or guardian name in advance of the clinic (or any of the two identifiers listed above).

  • Send a picture to school of your child labeled with their name, in addition to address and parent/guardian name or date of birth. On the picture page there should be 2 other identifiers in addition to your student’s name.

We are excited to welcome back SMILE Dental and continue supporting our    students’ health and well-being!

  • 🎓 JHS 194 Open House 🎉
     📍 In-Person Event

Come explore what makes JHS 194 a vibrant and welcoming school community! Meet our dedicated staff, tour the facilities, and learn about academic programs and student life.

  🗓 Date: Monday, October 28th
 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
 📍 Location: JHS 194, Queens, NY

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Should Attend: 5th Grade

  • PS120 Character Parade

    •             📅Friday 10/31/2025 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM

  • Save the Date - Dad’s Take Your Child to School Day 2025: Calling all father figures, including stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, foster fathers, and other significant role models! Save the date and join us for Dad's Take Your Child to School Day 2025!

    • November 18, 2025 - 8:10 AM-10:00 AM - Students in PreK, Kindergarten and 1st Grade Only

    • November 19, 2025 - 8:10-10:00 AM - Students in 2nd and 3rd Grade Only + siblings from all other grades

    • November 20, 2025 - 8:10-10:00 AM - Students in 4th and 5th Grade Only  + siblings from all other grades

    • **If you have multiple children, please select ONE date to attend with both of your children (11/19 or 11/20)**

    • REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Please click here to register for the event.

  • School Meals/Menus: Click the links below to access daily/monthly cafeteria menus:



SEL Corner

  • Announcements

    • It is getting chilly! October marks the National Anti-bullying month. We also have Halloween that falls on the last day of October, but that is not the only holiday! Catch the end of summer and go to nature! NYC Parks have awesome events and talks. 

      • Do you hear the crunch when you step on dry leaves on the ground? Foliage season is here! Click here to track New York City’s foliage, and here for the entire state of New York!

  • SEL Resources

  • MindUp/Brain Power Wellness - How to promote SEL at home?

    • Our students practice SEL skills that understand and control emotions, solve problems effectively, and get along well with others in all parts of their school life. We would like to offer some tips for you and your child to continue to practice these essential skills. This week we will go over an activity for self-regulation and stress management:

      • It is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations

      • Freeze Feelings: This game is not only good for self-regulation, but also for self-awareness. Children are required to listen to music, remember designated emotions, and freeze in a pose of the emotion when the music stops. Hence, it helps children to wait patiently, to resist temptations, and to think carefully before making important decisions. Children also use the Stop and Think Moment of reflection to self-monitor before the music is played.

      • Steps:

        • Get ready with a collection of cheerful music. 

        • Tell your children that in this game, they have to stop themselves from moving or dancing when the music stops. At the same time, they need to demonstrate a given feeling when the music stops.

        • Stop and Think Moment: Tell your children that before each round, you will designate a feeling like “happy” (or sad, angry, scared, embarrassed, and so on). They are also allowed to think about how they would show that emotion with facial expressions and body posture without talking or moving.

        • Designate a feeling – for example: “happy.” Wait a few seconds for your children to think about showing the emotion. For children who may struggle to demonstrate emotions with body language or with reading social cues, model each feeling that you call out.

        • Play music, and tell your child to dance when the music starts.

        • Stop the music. Your children should freeze in a pose that shows “happy” (or other emotion for that round).

        • If a player does not stop immediately, he or she will do five to ten jumping jacks/ hopping before the next round.

        • Play multiple rounds. Give students a new feeling before each round.

    • Information summarized from research papers linked here



Celebrations

  • New York City Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026: Please bookmark this year’s school calendar, which includes information on school events and vacations throughout the year! Scroll down to view and/or print translations in your preferred language.

    • Please mark your calendar with upcoming events, holidays and school closures:

      • Friday, October 31: P.S. 120 Character Parade - 8:30-9:10 AM

        • Note: Parents must return a signed permission slip for students to march in the Character Parade!

      • Tuesday, November 4: Schools closed for Election Day 

      • Thursday, November 6: Parent-Teacher Conferences

        • Students have a half-day of instruction, in person at school from 8:00 AM - 11:20 AM

        • Student dismissal is at 11:20 AM

        • Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences take place by appointment from 12:40-2:40 PM and 4:30-7:30 PM

Free English Classes!

Dear PS 120Q Families,

We’re excited to share a wonderful opportunity for adult learners in our community! Whether you're just starting to learn English or looking to improve your skills, this FREE English class is designed to support learners of all ages and levels.

🗓️ Class Schedule: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 
                                   10AM-1PM; 1:30PM-4:30PM; 6:30PM-9:00PM
📍 Location: 38-24 149th St, Flushing, NY, 11345
                       203-05 32nd Ave, bayside, NY, 11361
💬 Focus: Conversational English, reading, writing, and practical vocabulary
👥 Who Can Join: Adults of all ages – parents, grandparents, caregivers, and community members!
This is a great chance to build confidence, connect with others, and grow your language skills in a welcoming environment.
📎 For register and more information please contact:education@kcsny.org and 718-939-6137   Feel free to share with friends and neighbors!

Warm regards,
Annabelle Tiantian Zhang
Parent Coordinator
PS 120Q – Home of the Flushing Dragons

Parent Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s Memo

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

I want to take this opportunity to introduce and thank our six Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Board Members for 2025-2026: 

  • Co-Presidents Ching Fang (Eva) Hung & Jin Qiu (Tracey) Xie

  • Co-Treasurers Dan Lin & Maggie Zhu

  • Co-Secretaries Huali Zeng & Jiangfang Liang

These volunteer parent leaders have already met with our Parent Coordinator and Assistant Principals to plan special events and fundraisers to benefit our students during the first half of the school year. I can’t wait to see everything our PTA will accomplish to support our students.


Our first PTA meeting of the year will be held Monday morning at 8:30 AM in P.S. 120’s Auditorium. You can see more information about the meeting and RSVP via ParentSquare here. During the meeting, there will also be an election for this year’s Title I Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) officers and a School Leadership Team parent alternate member. Please click here to nominate yourself or another P.S. 120 parent to serve in a leadership role! I encourage all P.S. 120 parents to join and participate actively in our PTA/PAC meetings this year.


Have a wonderful weekend with your family!


Sincerely,

Robert Marino

Principal

P.S. 120’s Mission

At P.S. 120, we are committed to preparing our different types of learners to compete in the ever-changing 21st Century workforce by guiding them to recognize the importance of finding the balance between doing what they love, and what the world will need them to do. The faculty at PS 120 will:

  • Commit to the use of data-driven instruction and decision-making to provide equity-based instruction in all classrooms. 

  • Provide opportunities for students to take responsibility for their own learning by participating in classroom discussion and be able to predict how they can use what they are learning in their everyday lives and goals

  • Engage students in problem-solving and critical thinking activities

  • Foster leadership opportunities for students in and out of the classroom

  • Expose and engage students in the cultural arts

  • Enable digital literacy by teaching students to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills

  • Empower students to apply their talents to the service of others

As a result, students at P.S. 120: 

  • SEL Assemblies: This week, our 3rd and 4th grade students joined our school counselors, Mr. Woodburn and Ms. Gao, for an SEL assembly. At P.S. 120, our students understand that, in order to be our best selves, we have to continuously work on our Mind, Body, and Heart!

  • Grade 3 Literacy Groups: Third grade students are receiving targeted instruction through strategically planned student groups. Teachers are engaging students in personalized instruction catering to individual needs. Some students are strengthening foundational literacy skills through Fundations phonics instruction, while others are working on their critical thinking skills through Book Clubs. Way to go, Dragons!

  • iReady Beginning of Year Diagnostic: This week, our school began administering the i-Ready Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Diagnostic across grades K-5. Once students complete the assessment, they will have access to personalized online lessons tailored to their specific areas of need. As part of our school-wide expectations, every child is expected to log in daily to i-Ready and complete their My Path lessons in both Reading and Math, or teacher-assigned lessons. Students should engage for 30–49 minutes per subject, over the course of the week. Teachers will share more about iReady usage expectations by grade in their communications with families. 


Announcements

  • P.S. 120Q Parent Handbook: Our school’s Parent Handbook has been updated for the 2025-2026 school year! Please bookmark the P.S. 120Q Parent Handbook to read school policies and procedures for parents.

    • Birthday Policy: Please note that we have updated our birthday policy for parents. We appreciate your cooperation: Every student’s special day is honored in the classroom with a song, movement break or craft. Please do not send treats to share in class or at lunch/recess/dismissal. PLEASE NOTE: Elaborate food, soft drinks, party favors, party hats, goody bags, balloons, decorations, or entertainment are not permitted and will be returned directly to the family.

  • September 2025 New York City Public Schools Family Update: Please see Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos’ family update for September 2025 here (Translations linked within). 

  • Free Family Events in the Community:

How to navigate how special education works, from referral and evaluation through IEP meetings and annual reviews

Support & Resources

 Language Access: Spanish and Mandarin interpreters will be available. Albanian, Arabic, Bangla, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Urdu, Uzbek, Ukrainian, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available upon request.

  •  For more Special Education resources, visit schools.nyc.gov/BeyondAccess

  • ESOL classes - Free english Class 

    • Flyer

    • Registration is on-going. For more information, please call us at 718-939-6137 or email us at education@kcsny.org. Our office hours are from 9 AM - 5 PM

  • Korean Art Competition 

    • The deadline is approaching (October 31st).

    •  For more information, please click here

  • Library Open House Week Starts Sept 15–21 | All Locations!
    Discover special events, activities, and resources in many languages at NYPL during Library Open House Week! Visit any of our 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island to enjoy special giveaways for kids, teens, and adults—including backpacks, notebooks, and pens and pencils while supplies last—when you sign up for or renew your free library card, check out books, or take part in our all-new scavenger hunts.

  • 3rd Annual Kindness Carnival™

    • 📅When: Saturday, October 4 · 1 - 5pm EDT

    • 💻 Where: Cambria Playground-Frederick Cabbell Park 

                      Francis Lewis Boulevard Queens, NY 11411

  • FREE inflatables, food, haircuts & more as we stand together against bullying.

  • 👉 The event is free. You can register for the event here.

  • Recycled Materials Collection: Our Science team has planned an exciting activity for Dad’s Take Your Child to School Day that requires recycled items. We are in need of paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. Please save these cardboard items and keep them clean and dry if you wish to donate them.

    • Students may drop these recycled materials off in the gym or in the collection bin outside of the main office beginning on Wednesday 9/17. Ms. Day and her Green Team will take care of the rest!

  • Show Your Dragon Pride! Our PS120 Spiritwear Store is officially open!

    • Shop all the latest PS120 Dragon gear online at:
       👉 www.smoothusa.com/ps120q

    • Don’t miss out—this first ordering window closes on October 5th! Let’s fill our school with Dragon pride—Mind, Body, Heart… Go Dragons!

  • School Meals/Menus: Click the links below to access daily/monthly cafeteria menus:


SEL Corner

  • Announcements

    • In September, we are celebrating the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, please find events and exhibitions here

    • Catch the end of summer and go to nature! NYC Parks have awesome events and talks. 

      • Do you hear the crunch when you step on dry leaves on the ground? Foliage season is around the corner! Click here to track New York City’s foliage, and here for the entire state of New York!

    • Middle schools: Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year. The NYC schools website has an overview of the middle school application process. NYC schools have 3 virtual family admissions events listed here, the link will be posted shortly:

      • October 21, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Interpretation in: Bangla, Korean, Spanish, Albanian

      • October 22, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Interpretation in: Chinese (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Urdu, Ukrainian

      • October 23, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Interpretation in: Arabic, French, Russian, Uzbek

      • You can also sign up for middle school related emails and messages here.


  • SEL Resources

    • Want to learn more about special education in NYC public schools? We have a Special Education online event coming up on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025, from 7 pm to 9 pm. Topics include:

      • How to navigate how special education works, from referral and evaluation through IEP meetings and annual reviews

      • 🤝Support & Resources

      • Spanish and Mandarin interpreters will be available. Albanian, Arabic, Bangla, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Urdu, Uzbek, Ukrainian, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are available upon request.

      • Register here

    • Free mental health resources and tips at The Kids Mental Health Foundation

    • September is Library Card Sign-Up Month.  Click here to get a free library card.  

    • Back to School Resources

    •  Virtual Libraries


  • MindUp/Brain Power Wellness - Media screen time

    • Last week, we talked about establishing routines and how important routines are for us and our children. We know that screen time might be part of the routines at home, and here are some tips for healthy use of devices:

      • Limit the amount of total entertainment screen time to <1 to 2 hours per day.

      • Discourage screen media exposure for children <2 years of age.

      • Keep the TV set and Internet-connected electronic devices out of the child’s bedroom.

      • Monitor what media their children are using and accessing, including any Web sites they are visiting and social media sites they may be using.

      • Coview TV, movies, and videos with children and teenagers, and use this as a way of discussing important family values.

      • Model active parenting by establishing a family home use plan for all media. As part of the plan, enforce a mealtime and bedtime “curfew” for media devices, including cell phones. Establish reasonable but firm rules about cell phones, texting, Internet, and social media use.


Celebrations

  • New York City Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026: Please bookmark this year’s school calendar, which includes information on school events and vacations throughout the year! Scroll down to view and/or print translations in your preferred language.

    • Please mark your calendar with upcoming events, holidays and school closures:

      • Thursday, October 2: Schools closed for Yom Kippur

      • Monday, October 13: Schools closed for Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples' Day

      • Monday, October 20: Schools closed for Diwali

Family Income Inquiry Lunch Forms

Each year the NYC Department of Education asks that families confidentially verify their income so that we may identify student and school needs. P.S. 120 is a Title-1 school, which means that we qualify for a tremendous amount of funding from the Federal Government. This allows our school to have smaller class sizes, more technology, and more individual student services. If our families do not participate in this income verification we may be at risk to lose that funding.

If you haven't done so, please go to myschoolapps.com and complete an “Income Inquiry Form” (lunch form) today. There is no login required, but you will need your child's student ID number (OSIS) and must also select P.S. 120Q (District 25) as your child's school. (There is another P.S. 120 in Brooklyn. Please do not select them.)

If you would like to complete a paper version, please respond to this message and one will be sent home with your child in the language of your choice.

Regardless of income, all NYC students receive breakfast and lunch without cost.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Robert Marino

Principal

Student Enrollment Survey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At this point in the school year, school staff are preparing draft class placements for the 2025-2026 school year. We take many factors into account (academic progress, social-emotional wellness, language levels, special learning needs, etc.) when making draft class placements.

To help us make draft class placements, we would like to know if your family plans to return to P.S. 120 for the 2025-2026 school year. Please take this brief survey below to let us know your plans. (NOTE: All current students will be assigned a 2025-2026 class, unless you confirm with us that your child will not attend P.S. 120.)

Also, if you know that your family will not be returning to P.S. 120 in September, please also send an email to our pupil secretary (bmitarotonda@schools.nyc.gov) and parent coordinator (tzhang3@schools.nyc.gov) with the following specific information (not needed if your child is graduating from 5th grade):

-              Child’s full name and grade level (2025-2026 school year)

-              OSIS (Student ID) number, if known

-              Name of next school

-              Address of next school

-              Discharge date (Date child will begin class at the next school)

Thank you for your cooperation! We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your family's next steps. Feel free to email please Ms. Bernadette (bmitarotonda@schools.nyc.gov) and parent coordinator Ms. Annabelle (tzhang3@schools.nyc.gov) with any questions!

Parent Volunteers Needed! - Mother's Day Sale

P.S. 120's PTA will be hosting a Mother's Day plant sale for student shopping from Monday, May 5 - Friday, May 9. This fundraiser allows students to shop for small items and plants buy as Mother's Day gifts for family members. Each class will visit the PTA holiday sale during one 15-minute slot on their class sale date. 


We need many parent volunteers to help the holiday sale run smoothly! Please sign up to help based on your availability. The holiday sale will be open according to this schedule:
Monday, May 5: 8:25 AM - 11:00 AM
Tuesday, May 6:8:25 AM - 11:00 AM
Wednesday, May 7:8:25 AM - 11:00 AM
Thursday, May 8:8:25 AM - 11:00 AM
Friday, May 9: 8:25 AM - 11:00 AM

To facilitate with sale setup each day, PTA volunteers will be permitted to sign in at 8:15 AM immediately following student arrival.

Thank you in advance for signing up to participate as you are able!

[Thursday, May 1 at 6:45 PM]
Dear Parents,
We need many volunteers to help the PTA's upcoming Mother's Day Sale go smoothly!
Please use the sign-up feature on the original post to volunteer your time during sale shopping on May 5 - May 9.

[Saturday, May 3 at 2:35 PM]
Dear Parents,
We need many volunteers to help the PTA's upcoming Mother's Day Sale go smoothly!
Please use the sign-up feature on the original post to volunteer your time during sale shopping on May 5 - May 9.

5/5 Parent Bulletin

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

This week, all eligible students in Grades 3-5 took the New York State ELA exam. I’m very proud of our students for working their hardest on both testing days, to show what they have learned this year!

During Friday’s Parent-Teacher Association meeting, attendees voted in new PTA Executive Board officers for the 2025-2026 school year. You may review the meeting minutes here. Please join me in congratulating our new officer teams!

  • Co-Presidents: Ching Fang (Eva) Hung & Jin Qiu (Tracey) Xie

  • Co-Treasurers: Dan Lin & Maggie Zhu

  • Co-Secretaries: Jianfang Liang + Huali Zeng


Our current PTA Executive Board is assisting us this coming week as we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week, May 5-May 9. While other districts and schools celebrate “Teacher Appreciation Week,” at P.S. 120Q, we want to highlight ALL of the adults who serve our school community each and every day, working diligently to provide the best education and social-emotional experience for your child. Be sure to thank our employees when you see them next week!

            Sincerely,

            Robert Marino 

            Principal

P.S. 120’s Mission

At P.S. 120, we are committed to preparing our different types of learners to compete in the ever-changing 21st Century workforce by guiding them to recognize the importance of finding the balance between doing what they love, and what the world will need them to do. The faculty at PS 120 will:

  • Commit to the use of data-driven instruction and decision-making to provide equity-based instruction in all classrooms. 

  • Provide opportunities for students to take responsibility for their own learning by participating in classroom discussion and be able to predict how they can use what they are learning in their everyday lives and goals

  • Engage students in problem-solving and critical thinking activities

  • Foster leadership opportunities for students in and out of the classroom

  • Expose and engage students in the cultural arts

  • Enable digital literacy by teaching students to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills

  • Empower students to apply their talents to the service of others

            As a result, students at P.S. 120: 

  • State Exams: Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Dragons took the ELA State Exam this week. We are so proud of our students as they applied all their learning to their reading and writing on the exam.

  • Inside Broadway: This week we launched our in-school musical theater residency with Inside Broadway. Our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students are participating in this exciting program, in which professional teaching artists introduce them to the world of theater and performance. Through engaging, hands-on workshops, students explore storytelling, music, movement, and self-expression, building confidence and creativity along the way. Our Inside Broadway after school program also began this week with select 3rd and 4th grade students!


Announcements

  • Summer Rising: Families interested in participating in Summer Rising programming should check this page frequently for resources. Important Dates:

    • April 24, 2025: Offer releases were released in MySchools.

    • July 2, 2025: Summer Rising stars for K-8 students.

    • July 4, 2025: Summer Rising will be closed in observance of Independence Day.

    • August 15, 2025: Summer Rising ends for elementary school students.

  • Community Event Sharing - Cinco De Mayo celebration: The Kupferberg Center is hosting a Cinco de May celebration for interested families on Sunday, May 4 at 3 PM, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Mexico through live music, dance, and colorful traditions. Take advantage of special community pricing for *$5 TICKETS* (regularly $20) for the school community. Here is the special link: 🔗Ticket Link   ➡ Click *Community Limited Offer* and enter the passcode: CINCO5

  • National Teacher Appreciation Week: May 5-9, 2025

    • Thank you to the PTA for providing staff lunch on May 5 and staff dessert on May 9!

  • PTA Mother's Day Sale: May 5 - May 9, 2025 (Many parent volunteers are needed! Sign up)

  • Parent Workshop: Summer Rising offers/wait list + “Backup” Resources for Summer Childcare

    • Time: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    • Location: P.S.120Q Library

  • Multicultural Celebration: Thursday, May 15 *Be sure to return your request for tickets!*

    • Parent Volunteers Needed!

    • Daytime assemblies for students

    • Evening celebration begins at 4:30 PM for families

  • District 25 Workshop: Rich Math Tasks ALL ARE WELCOME! *REGISTRATION REQUIRED* Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM *VIRTUAL via Zoom*

  • School Meals/Menus: Click the links below to access daily/monthly cafeteria menus:

SEL Corner

  • Announcements

    • Middle school offers were released on 4/9, and summer rising results were out on 4/24. Please log onto My Schools to accept the offer or check your waitlist status. Parents have until May 8th to accept both offers.

    • May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. May 11th is also Mothers Day. Show your appreciation!

    • Summer Opportunity: Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offering Summer Reading skills programs for all kids from ages 4-18. If you are interested, please see Ms. Yuqi for a program flyer or call 1-800-499-8557 directly.

    • Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC

  • Reservations are strongly encouraged and sometimes required!

  • The Bronx Zoo – General admission is free on Wednesdays, but reservations are required. The Wednesday Ticket Store opens at 5pm on Mondays. Total Experience activities cost extra.

  • Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Winter weekdays (December through February) are pay-what-you-can. Children 11 and under are always free.

  • Brooklyn Children's Museum – Free hours are held on Thursday afternoons from 2-5pm. Reservations should be booked in advance.

  • The Jewish Museum – Saturday admission is free. Timed-entry reservations are recommended.

  • Museum of the Moving Image – Free admission is offered on Thursdays from 2pm-6pm. Timed-entry tickets are recommended.

  • New York Aquarium – Pay-what-you-wish Wednesday afternoons from 3pm to last entry, which varies by season. Reservations are required and the Wednesday Ticket Store opens at 3pm Monday.

  • New York Botanical Garden – Free grounds admission for NYC residents all day Wednesdays. Non-NYC residents can enter for free from 10-11am on Wednesdays.

  • New-York Historical Society – Pay-what-you-wish Fridays from 5-8pm. Admission to the on-site DiMenna Children's History Museum is included. Timed-entry tickets are recommended.

  • NYSCI – Free admission on Fridays from 2-5pm. Reserve tickets online in advance beginning Thursday mornings at 9am.

  • Queens Botanical Garden – Free admission daily from mid-December through March. Admission is free on Wednesdays from 3-6pm and Sundays from 9-11am the rest of the year. 

  • Respect For All (RFA) Student-to-Student Discrimination, Sexual and Other Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying FAQ:

  • Code of Conduct Letter: 

  • Local Events for this week:

    • NYC Parks Events Calendar click here

    • Summerstage Family Programs click here

    • Queens Public Library Events Calendar click here

  • NY Family Queens To Do Events Calendar click here 

  • If you would like to recommend students for Student Success counseling groups (formerly known as At Risk Counseling), please click here. This is not a special education evaluation form.


  • SEL Resources

    • This month, we are celebrating a lot of amazing cultures and events, here is a virtual library for your child to enjoy:

          • AAPI Heritage month, Jewish Heritage Month, Space Day, Memorial Day

          • Child Mind Institute Family Resource Search Tool, click here

          • Free virtual parent workshops by Marble Health, sign up here:

            • MON, MAY 5 | 5 PM ET | Helping Kids Succeed: Executive Function Strategies

            • WED, MAY 7 | 7 PM ET | Supporting Students with Academic & Test Anxiety

            • MON, MAY 12 | 8 PM ET | Managing Screen Time Over the Summer

            • MON, MAY 19 | 12 PM ET | Support Your Child with Stress

            • WED, MAY 28 | 7 PM ET | Supporting Children Through Grief and Transition


  • MindUp/Brain Power Wellness: Ten Tips for Your Child's Success in School

    • Enforce Healthy Habits: You can’t perform well when you don’t feel good. To help your child have the best chance at doing well in school, make sure she follows healthy habits at home. Choose a bedtime that will give your child plenty of sleep, and provide a healthy breakfast each morning. Encourage exercise, and limit the amount of time she spends watching TV, playing video games, listening to music, or using the computer.

    • Stick to a Routine: Most kids thrive on structure and will respond well to routines that help them organize their days. In our house, for example, my son gets dressed, makes his bed, and eats breakfast while I make his lunch and pack his school bag with completed homework and forms. When he gets home in the afternoon, I serve him a snack and he does his homework while I prepare dinner. Your routines may differ, but the key is to make it the same every day so your child knows what to expect.

    • Create a “Launch Pad”: Veteran parents know it’s important to have a single place to put backpacks, jackets, shoes, lunchboxes, and school projects each day. Some call it a “launch pad,” while others call it a “staging area.” Our area is a hook by the back door.

      • Whatever you call it, find a place where your child can keep the items he needs for school each day and keep him organized. Then you’ll know right where to find everything during the morning rush.

    • Designate a Space: At school your child has a desk or table where she works. There is plenty of light, lots of supplies, and enough room to work. Why not provide her with the same type of environment for homework? A designated homework space often makes it easier and more fun for children to complete assignments at home. A desk is great, but a basket of supplies and a stretch of kitchen counter work just as well.

    • Read, Again and Again: It is often said that children spend the first several years learning to read, and the rest of the lives reading to learn. The written word is a gateway to all kinds of learning, and the more you read to your child, the better chance he has of becoming a proficient and eager reader.

      • Try to sit down with your child to read a little bit every day, give him plenty of opportunities to read out loud to you, as well, and above all have fun. While the importance of reading with your child cannot be stressed enough, it should not be the cause of stress.

    • Learn Always: Your child may be past the preschool years, but home education is still a critical part of his overall learning experience. “Some of the attitude recently is that it’s up to the schools and teachers to figure it all out, to make sure children are learning and healthy and safe,” says Barbara Frankowski, M.D., MPH, FAAP, and member of the AAP Council on School Health. “There’s only so much teachers can do. Parents have to fill in with good support at home.”

      • Look for ways to teach your child throughout the day. For example, cooking combines elements of math and science. Use the time when you make dinner as an opportunity to read and follow directions, to discuss fractions, to make hypotheses (“What will happen when I beat the egg whites?”), and to examine results.

    • Take the Lead: Children learn by example. Let your kids “catch” you reading. Take time to learn a new skill and discuss the experience with them. Sit down and pay bills or do other “homework” while your kids do their schoolwork.

      • If you display a strong work ethic and continually seek out learning opportunities for yourself, your kids will begin to model that same behavior in their own lives.

    • Talk Often: Do you know how your child feels about her classroom, her teacher, and her classmates? If not, ask her. Talk with her about what she likes and doesn’t like at school. Give her a chance to express her anxieties, excitements, or disappointments about each day, and continue to support and encourage her by praising her achievements and efforts.

    • Show Interest: Don’t limit your support to your child; extend it to her teachers as well. Meet the teachers and stay in regular contact by phone or e-mail so that you can discuss any concerns as they arise. Not only will it pave the way for you to ask questions, but it will also make the teachers more comfortable with calling you if they have concerns about your child.

    • Expect Success: Perhaps the most important way you can support your child’s efforts at school is to expect him to succeed. That doesn’t mean that you demand he be the best student or the best athlete or the best artist. Rather, let him know that you expect him to do “his best” so that he’ll be proud of what he can accomplish.

      • If you make that expectation clear and provide a home environment that promotes learning, then your child will have a greater chance of becoming the best student he can be.


Celebrations

  • New York City Public Schools Calendar 2024-2025: Please bookmark this year’s school calendar, which includes information on school events and vacations throughout the year! Scroll down to view and/or print translations in your preferred language.

      • Upcoming event - Multicultural Celebration: Please be sure to return your ticket requests/optional donations if you would like to attend our evening Multicultural Celebration, Thursday, May 15, beginning at 4:30 PM

Parent Participation Day Tomorrow!

Dear P.S. 120 Families,


We are excited to continue our monthly Parent Participation Days for the 2024-2025 school year!


These monthly events allow parents the opportunity to visit your child’s classroom during a morning period of instruction, and to not only observe the lesson but to participate in the curriculum with your child.


As a new addition this year, we will also offer a follow-up workshop in the Auditorium, to help parents gain a deeper understanding of the activities they experienced in the classroom, and how they can reinforce their child’s learning at home. 


On each Parent Participation day, parents will be invited to sign in at the main desk after students arrive (8:10 AM) and gather in the auditorium for a brief opportunity to socialize and review the morning’s schedule.  Parents will then be invited to visit their child's class for Period 1 between 8:25 AM - 9:10 AM. Parents who are not attending the workshop will exit the school building using the main entrance at 9:10 AM.


For each month's scheduled Parent Participation Day, we will vary the day of the week so that parents can see their child in multiple instructional blocks/with different teachers. Your child's homeroom teacher will send a message on ParentSquare in advance, to let you know the class subject and room number for your visit tomorrow.


Please be mindful that you do NOT photograph or videotape classroom instruction during your visit, as we closely monitor student privacy and media consent. If you would like to review instructional materials after your visit, please contact your child’s teacher and ask for the resource to be shared.


Please RSVP to indicate whether you can join us tomorrow. We look forward to seeing you then! Please remember to bring photo identification to enter the building.


April’s Schedule/Workshop Topic

8:10-8:25 AM: K-5 Parent sign-in and welcome in the Auditorium

Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: K-5 Parents visit classrooms (PreK parents with siblings attend older child’s classrooms until 8:45 AM)

Period 2, 9:10 AM:

  • All Kindergarten - 5th grade parents are invited to the Auditorium for a workshop on Social Emotional Learning


PreK parents

  • PreK parents with an older sibling should sign-in at 8:10 AM and visit the classroom(s) of their older child/children during Period 1; transition to PreK family engagement event at 8:45 AM

  • Parents with only a PreK child, sign-in at 8:45 AM and transition to the Cafeteria for PreK's Paint and Sip activity!

Parent Volunteers Needed!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

For the month of April, the mobile dentist, SMILE Dental, will be onsite for students’ dental check-ups. 

WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THE DENTAL CHECK-UPS RUN SMOOTHLY! 

There are two volunteer shifts available on 4/21, 4/22, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25 and 4/28
Morning Shift: 8:15 AM- 11:15 AM 
Afternoon Shift: 11:15 AM - 2:00 PM

If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up for as many available time slots as you can.


If you have any questions in advance, please comment on this post or send a ParentSquare message to Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

Weekly Bulletin 4/21/2025

Principal’s Memo

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

As a reminder, all New York City public schools are closed next week for Spring Recess: Monday, April 14 - Friday, April 18. School resumes at 8:00 AM on Monday, April 21.


While school vacations are an important opportunity for students to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends, we have organized daily Spring Recess homework tasks for P.S. 120 families to keep your child engaged academically:

  • Kindergarten - 2nd grade students have been provided with a choice board including ELA and Math activities.

  • 3rd grade students have received a printed test sophistication packet for ELA, and Google Forms Math assignments in their Google Classroom.

  • 4th and 5th grade students have received Google Forms ELA and Math assignments in their Google Classroom.

  • We also encourage Kindergarten - 5th grade students to continue logging into iReady for daily MyPath lessons, as applicable.

Thank you for your support, and we wish you and your family a wonderful Spring Recess!

Sincerely,

Robert Marino

Principal

P.S. 120’s Mission

At P.S. 120, we are committed to preparing our different types of learners to compete in the ever-changing 21st Century workforce by guiding them to recognize the importance of finding the balance between doing what they love, and what the world will need them to do. The faculty at PS 120 will:

  • Commit to the use of data-driven instruction and decision-making to provide equity-based instruction in all classrooms. 

  • Provide opportunities for students to take responsibility for their own learning by participating in classroom discussion and be able to predict how they can use what they are learning in their everyday lives and goals

  • Engage students in problem-solving and critical thinking activities

  • Foster leadership opportunities for students in and out of the classroom

  • Expose and engage students in the cultural arts

  • Enable digital literacy by teaching students to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills

  • Empower students to apply their talents to the service of others

As a result, students at P.S. 120: 

  • Field Trip: Our second graders went on a field trip this week to the Cinemart Cinemas in Queens! They enjoyed a movie, Snow White and popcorn with their teachers and classmates. Second graders will create written responses comparing the original Snow White movie to the new version!

  • Girls Soccer Game: Our girls soccer team faced P.S. 24 earlier this week in an exciting match! Our Dragons demonstrated athleticism, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the entire game. We are so proud of you!

  • SEL Assemblies: Some of our Dragons engaged in SEL assemblies this week as we continuously strive to build our socioemotional intelligence at P.S. 120. 


Announcements

  1. SMILE Dental On-site Visits: The mobile dentist will return for their spring visit to PS120 on the following dates to provide all of our students with a dental check-up free of cost:

  • 4/21-4/25/25

  • 4/28/25

  • If you did not sign a consent form in the fall, you can complete consent forms in two ways:

    • Preferred Method - Online: Complete the consent form online by visiting www.myschooldentist.com. Please submit your online consent by 3/14/25

    • Paper Consent: Paper consent forms will be sent home in students backpacks during the week of 3/3 for any parent who does not wish to complete the consent online. Completed forms should be returned to school by 3/14/25.

    • NOTE: If you previously consented for your child to receive dental services (this school year or in a prior school year), that permission form is still valid. A new consent form is not required for your child to be seen.

    • If you consented for your child to receive dental services previously, and no longer wish for your child to receive dental services at school, please call # (855)481-8638 to opt out.

    • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you are able to help out on one of the Dental Visit days, please sign-up on Parent Square! CLICK ME FOR SIGN-UPhttps://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/48382172

  1. Summer Rising: Families interested in participating in Summer Rising programming should check this page frequently for resources. Important Dates:

    1. April 2025: Offer releases will be available in MySchools.

    2. July 2, 2025: Summer Rising starts for K-8 students.

    3. July 4, 2025: Summer Rising will be closed in observance of Independence Day.

    4. August 15, 2025: Summer Rising ends for elementary school students.

  2. PTA Updates (Sent on behalf of the PTA): 

    1. April 4/4/25 Meeting: View our meeting agenda here: P.S.120Q PTA & PAC Meeting Agenda: April (4-4-25) - Google Docs

    2. PTA Elections for 2025-2026 School Year - Spring Timeline:

      1. March to April: PTA creates PTA Nomination Committee. Any parent interested in assisting with PTA elections should complete this brief form before April 25, 2025.

      2. April to May: Nominations collected for the 2025-2026 PTA executive board elections. Interested candidates may indicate their interest in running as an officer, or selecting a running mate and running as co-officers, by Friday, April 25 .

      3. PTA elections will be conducted on Friday, May 2. 

    3. P.S. 120’s PTA is actively seeking a Treasurer for the 2025-2026 school year. The Treasurer is one of the 3 mandatory officers on the PTA’s executive board. Specifically, P.S. 120’s incoming treasurer will be tasked with the responsibility to create a new PTA checking account (must have a Social Security Number). Please see more resources about the Treasurer position here:

      1. New York City Public Schools: Parent Teacher Associations

      2. PTA Treasurer overview

      3. Sample Treasurer’s Checklist

      4. If you would like to know more about the Treasurer position, please email the PTA at PS120QPTA@gmail.com or send a ParentSquare message to Jacqueline Momoh or our Parent Coordinator, Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

  3. Panel General Elections

    1. The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) consists of 24 voting members. Each borough president will appoint one member, 5 members are elected by CEC presidents (one member from each borough), and 13 members appointed by the mayor - including 4 NYC public school parents, with at least one parent of a child with an individualized education program, at least one parent of a child who is in a bilingual or English as a second language program, and at least one parent of a child attending a District 75 school or program). These members are in addition to the Chancellor and the New York City Comptroller serving as ex-officio, and two high school students serve as non-voting members.  The parent representatives will serve a one-year term from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. 

    2. Parents: If you are interested in serving on the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) as one of the 5 parents elected by the CEC presidents, please complete the application (see below) and send to  PEPParentApplications@schools.nyc.gov by April 15, 2025. You must have at least one child currently attending a public, non-charter school in NYC and reside in the borough you seek to represent.

  4. School Meals/Menus: Click the links below to access daily/monthly cafeteria menus:

    1. April Breakfast

    2. April Lunch

    3. Download all April menus in PDF format here



SEL Corner

  1. Announcements

    1. Middle school offers were released on 4/9. Please log onto My Schools to accept the offer or check your waitlist status.

    2. For 5th grade parents: There are several virtual information sessions that you are strongly encouraged to attend. Please see below for the session times and flyers (English flyer here):

      1. Tuesday, April 22 5:00 pm-6:00 pm  -- Interpretation available in Chinese (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Urdu

      2. Wednesday, April 23 1:00 pm-2:00 pm  -- Interpretation available in French, Russian, Arabic

    3. April is National Stress Awareness Month. One way that can help our students and adults manage stress is by practicing mindfulness. Take 2 minutes out of your day and take a few deep breaths!

    4. Summer Opportunity: Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies is offering Summer Reading skills programs for all kids from ages 4-18. If you are interested, please see Ms. Yuqi for a program flyer or call 1-800-499-8557 directly.

    5. Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC

  • Reservations are strongly encouraged and sometimes required!

  • The Bronx Zoo – General admission is free on Wednesdays, but reservations are required. The Wednesday Ticket Store opens at 5pm on Mondays. Total Experience activities cost extra.

  • Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Winter weekdays (December through February) are pay-what-you-can. Children 11 and under are always free.

  • Brooklyn Children's Museum – Free hours are held on Thursday afternoons from 2-5pm. Reservations should be booked in advance.

  • The Jewish Museum – Saturday admission is free. Timed-entry reservations are recommended.

  • Museum of the Moving Image – Free admission is offered on Thursdays from 2pm-6pm. Timed-entry tickets are recommended.

  • New York Aquarium – Pay-what-you-wish Wednesday afternoons from 3pm to last entry, which varies by season. Reservations are required and the Wednesday Ticket Store opens at 3pm Monday.

  • New York Botanical Garden – Free grounds admission for NYC residents all day Wednesdays. Non-NYC residents can enter for free from 10-11am on Wednesdays.

  • New-York Historical Society – Pay-what-you-wish Fridays from 5-8pm. Admission to the on-site DiMenna Children's History Museum is included. Timed-entry tickets are recommended.

  • NYSCI – Free admission on Fridays from 2-5pm. Reserve tickets online in advance beginning Thursday mornings at 9am.

  • Queens Botanical Garden – Free admission daily from mid-December through March. Admission is free on Wednesdays from 3-6pm and Sundays from 9-11am the rest of the year. 

  • Respect For All (RFA) Student-to-Student Discrimination, Sexual and Other Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying FAQ:

  • Code of Conduct Letter: 

  • Local Events for this week:

    • NYC Parks Events Calendar click here

    • Summerstage Family Programs click here

    • Queens Public Library Events Calendar click here

  • NY Family Queens To Do Events Calendar click here 

  • If you would like to recommend students for Student Success counseling groups (formerly known as At Risk Counseling), please click here. This is not a special education evaluation form.


  1. SEL Resources

    1. April 5th to 12th is National Robotics Week, here is a library for Robotics + STEM/STEAM.

    2. April 11th is National Pet Day, here is a library on our purrfect and adorable friends!

    3. April 23rd is Spanish Language Day, here is a collection of 100 books, all in Spanish!

    4. Child Mind Institute Family Resource Search Tool, click here

    5. Free virtual parent workshops by Marble Health, sign up here:

      1. 🌍 April 15: Finding Calm in Chaos: Helping Children Navigate Political Anxiety (NEW!)

        1. Practical approaches to help children feel secure during uncertain times


  1. MindUp/Brain Power Wellness

    1. Spring is around the corner, and reading is blooming too! Here are some tips to help your child fall in love with reading:

      1. Model good reading behavior. If kids see you reading, they will be more likely to pick up a book themselves.

      2. Read together before bedtime. Get quality time together at the end of the day. Reading out loud helps kids bring the words to life. Talk about the story together. Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" You can switch things up some nights and ask your school-age child to read a book to you!

      3. Get a library card. Most communities offer free library access. Some libraries have reading programs with games and prizes to keep kids busy when school is out. Many also offer contact-free ways to check out books or participate in

      4. Read what they read. Follow their interests by keeping up with what your kids read. It makes it more fun and gives you something enjoyable to talk about.

      5. Activities, such as e-book loans and virtual story times.

      6. All reading is good reading. Let kids know that reading is great no matter what they're interested in. Anything goes: fiction, biographies, kids magazines, comic books or even reading a cookbook in the kitchen!

      7. Create a reading nook. A cozy, snuggle-friendly area in your home can be turned into the family "reading zone." Just add blankets, pillows, a bean bag chair, and a window or lamp!

      8. Read with friends. A book club with friends can give kids a way to share and learn about different views. Kids can talk about a book, their favorite characters, or how they think the book could have ended differently.

      9. Keep books around. If there's always a book within reach, kids will be more likely to pick one up and read, even for a few minutes at a time.

      10. Travel with reading material. Bring books for car rides, for example, or waiting to see a doctor. Books are a great option instead of a tablet or a smartphone.

      11. A gift that keeps giving. Friends and family can give the gift of books for a birthday or a holiday. Make it personal by asking the gift-giver to write a message inside the book cover. Your child can cherish the book and message from a loved one for years to come.


Celebrations

  • New York City Public Schools Calendar 2024-2025: Please bookmark this year’s school calendar, which includes information on school events and vacations throughout the year! Scroll down to view and/or print translations in your preferred language.

    • Please mark your calendar with upcoming holidays and school closures:

      • Monday, April 14 - Friday, April 18: NO SCHOOL - Spring Recess

        • School resumes at 8:00 AM on Monday, April 21!

Parent Volunteers - PTA Election Nominating Committee

In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year PTA election which will be held on Friday, May 2 at 8:30 AM at P.S. 120Q, we are accepting 3-5 parent volunteers to form the nominating committee. Volunteers must be PS120 parents/guardians. Volunteers may not be currently serving PTA Executive board.  Volunteers may not be planning to run for the PTA election for 2025-2026 school year. 

Please complete this brief form if you would like to volunteer to help on the PTA Election Nominating Committee!

SMILE Dental Volunteers

Dear Parents,
SMILE Dental staff are returning for multiple dates in April for dental checkup. We need several parent volunteers to help the process run smoothly. Please check the available volunteer spots and sign up as you are able. 
Please feeling free to join us. This is also an opportunity get to know how to get prepare kids for a Dental visit. 
CLICK ME FOR A SPOT: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/48382172
If you have any questions in advance, please comment on this post or send a ParentSquare message to Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

Last Day to Apply for Summer Rising

Please note that today is the deadline to apply for Summer Rising! Please be sure to complete your application in MySchools TODAY if you have not already. If you require information (such as your child's Student ID number or MySchools account creation code), please contact the school before 3:00 PM so that we can assist you!

More information about Summer Rising can be found here:

  • We are excited to offer Summer Rising once again to NYC students in grades K-8 this summer. A video on application being open can be found HERE

  • All New York City resident students currently in kindergarten through eighth grade (in the 2024-2025 school year) are eligible for Summer Rising.

  • Summer Rising seats are limited; please apply to Summer Rising if your child is planning to attend most of the summer programming.

  • Summer Rising will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of Independence Day.

  • Important Dates:

    • March 4, 2025: Application opens in MySchools in the afternoon.

    • March 28, 2025: Application closes in MySchools.

    • April 24, 2025: Results and Waitlist will be available in MySchools.

    • May 8, 2025: Deadline to accept offers.

    • July 2, 2025: Summer Rising starts for K-8 students.

    • July 4, 2025: Summer Rising will be closed in observance of Independence Day.

    • August 8, 2025: Summer Rising ends for middle school students.

    • August 15, 2025: Summer Rising ends for elementary school students

NYC SCHOOL SURVEY DIRECTIONS

Parents and Guardians: We want to know what YOU think about your child’s school. Take your NYC School Survey now.

  • ●     Your survey responses, along with those of other parents/guardians, teachers and staff, and 6th-12th grade students will be used to provide information that will help your child’s school improve its learning environment.

  • ●     This survey is confidential. No one at your child’s school will ever see your individual responses.

  • ●     This survey is voluntary, but we hope you will answer as many questions as you can.

  • ●     You can choose to complete the survey online OR to mail in your paper survey.

To take the survey online:

  • Go to NYCSchoolSurvey.org

  • Click on “Take the 2025 NYC School Survey”.

  • Your access code is a lowercase f followed by your student’s OSIS number (ex. f123456789). The access code is also printed at the bottom of this page and on your paper survey.

  • You can also find a link to your online survey by logging into NYC Schools Account (NYCSA).

  • If you cannot locate your survey access code or have misplaced your survey form, please reach out to your child’s school for support.

To take the survey on paper:

  • Use the green-and-white return envelope provided with your paper survey to mail in your survey free of charge. Include ONLY your completed paper survey. Please do not return blank surveys. Please avoid tearing or stapling your survey form.

  • If you have misplaced your envelope, you can mail your completed survey in a stamped envelope to:

Survey Processing Center
PO Box 680490
Charlotte, NC 28216-9935

  • You may also return your survey in an envelope to your child’s school.

 
Be sure to complete your survey by Friday, April 4!
 
Keep in mind…

  • Your responses, combined with those of other parents/guardians at your child’s school, will be captured in the following reports:

  • Parents are encouraged to fill out one survey for each child, even if you have multiple children at the same school, in order to capture the different experiences of each child.

  • For more information about the NYC School Survey, visit NYCSchoolSurvey.org.

  • If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your school.

 
Be sure to complete your survey by Friday, April 4!

[Wednesday, Mar 26 at 2:30 PM]
Please note that school surveys have already been sent home, and the original message indicating that they will be sent home tomorrow has been revised. Please complete your survey if you have not already!