April Parent Participation

Dear P.S. 120 Families,


We are excited to continue our monthly Parent Participation Days through 2026. 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. We also offer a follow-up workshops 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.  


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 on Wednesday, April 22.

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 on Wednesday, April 22. We look forward to seeing you then! Please remember to bring photo identification to enter the building.

April's Schedule/Workshop Topic - PreK parents

  • For PreK parents with older siblings:

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

    • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Parents visit classrooms of older sibling(s)

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

  •  For PreK parents with only PreK students:

    • 9:00-9:10 AM: Parent sign-in and welcome in the Auditorium

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

April's Schedule/Workshop Topic - Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents

  • 8:10-8:25 AM: Parent sign-in and welcome in the auditorium

  • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents visit classrooms

  • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: 

    • Kindergarten through 5th Grade parent workshop: Supporting your child with homework/study skills (Workshop provided by Title I PAC)

We look forward to seeing all families on Wednesday, April 22!

Principal's Memo

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

Our expectations for parent partnership are outlined in the 2025-2026 P.S. 120Q Parent Handbook, a helpful reference document which is shared each week in this bulletin. Please follow these procedures and ensure that you have routines in place at home to help your child succeed at school. 

In particular, I would like to discuss my expectation that all students arrive at school on time for the beginning of our instructional day, which starts at 8:00 AM sharp. When children arrive late to school, they miss valuable minutes of instruction, including social-emotional activities and homeroom routines designed to prepare them for a successful day of learning.

Additionally, here is some general guidance for students given the changing weather this time of year. Please help your child dress in layers, so that they are comfortable for chilly mornings, warmer afternoons, outdoor recess/PE and air conditioned classrooms. Send your child with a full, reusable water bottle. Lastly, all students should wear sneakers/athletic shoes daily to be prepared to exercise safely in PE, gross motor, and outdoor recess.

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: 

  • Pep Rally: On Tuesday, we hosted our second annual State Exam Pep Rally, and the building was buzzing. Students jumped into fast‑paced academic games and friendly competitions to gear up for this week’s ELA and Math State Exams. Even Principal Marino and AP Momoh joined the action!

  • ELA State Exams: Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Dragons tackled the ELA State Exams this week with focus and determination. We’re proud of the effort they put in and the way they drew on everything their teachers have poured into them all year. Way to go, Dragons!

  • Field Trip: Classes 208, 308, 408, and 508 spent the day unleashing their creativity at Little Pulp Art Studio. Students stepped into the role of true artists as they experimented with new techniques, explored different mediums, and brought their ideas to life.

  • Inside Broadway Residencies: Inside Broadway residencies are in full swing with Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades! A musical theater teaching artist will visit each K/1/2 class 10 times during the spring and help them prepare for a final musical performance for parents to enjoy in June!


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.

  • April 2026 New York City Public Schools Family Updates: Please see New York City Public Schools family updates for April 2026 here (Translations linked within).

  • 2025-2026 Parent Participation Days: We will continue to have monthly Parent Participation Days from December to May. Please save these dates:

    • Wednesday, April 22

    • Friday, May 29

    • Prior to each Parent Participation Day, homeroom teachers will message parents specifying the content area of the lesson parents will view, so that parents know in advance and can decide whether they wish to attend.

    • We will continue to offer Parent Academy workshops before/after classroom visits. If you have a workshop topic you would like to suggest, please contact Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

  • Reminder - iReady Expectations: As a reminder, P.S. 120 purchases schoolwide iReady licenses to support students in achieving grade level standards. iReady is an online tool for K-5th grade students in Reading and Math. Three times a year at school, we take the iReady diagnostic screeners to assess students' skill levels. In between assessments, we ask for parents' assistance in encouraging students to complete assigned iReady minutes. It is a schoolwide expectation that all Kindergarten - 5th grade students engage for 30-49 minutes per week, per subject, with a 70% or greater pass rate. Students can engage in the iReady myPath lessons, which provides personalized, adaptive instruction based on students' performance on previous lessons. Students can also be assigned specific content area lessons by their teachers directly. 

  • 📢 Schoolwide Vision Screening – at P.S. 120Q - Rescheduled for Monday, April 20! 

    • This program partners with schools to provide vision services to students in targeted grades. Please note that this screening does not replace a full comprehensive eye exam.

      • 📎 Attachments Available:

Please review the attached information (choose your preferred language)You will  find optional opt‑out forms.

If you do not want your child to participate, please sign and return the opt‑out form to the school. A paper copy is also available in the main office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

📎 English                                                   📎 Spanish                           

📎 Arabic                                                    📎 Chinese

📎 Haitian                                                   📎 Urdu  

  • 👁 After the Screening:

Families will be notified if their child receives eyeglasses and/or needs to visit a local doctor for a full eye exam. We encourage all families to stay informed about their child’s eye health and vision.Thank you for your partnership!

  • 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

  • Workshop - Support with Homework & Study Skills-[RSVP Here]

During this interactive, in‑person session, families will learn practical and effective strategies to support their children’s academic success at home, including:

  • Establishing positive and consistent homework routines

  • Improving study habits and organization

  • Supporting time management skills

  • Reducing homework‑related stress for both children and families

    • 🗓 Date: April 22, 2026

    • ⏰ Time: 9:15 AM

    • 📍 Location: P.S. 120Q (In‑person)

We encourage all families to attend and take advantage of this valuable opportunity to support your child’s learning. We look forward to seeing you there! 

  • PTA / SLT Elections for 2026-2027

In preparation for the 2026-2027 school year, we are accepting nominations for positions on the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Executive Board and the School Leadership Team (SLT). When families are involved in their children's education, schools and students benefit. Students are more likely to succeed in school when their parents promote their learning inside and outside the classroom. Joining the PTA and SLT are one of the many ways for parents to get involved in their children's school. We need your commitment, time and energy to maintain P.S. 120's level of excellence!

- President, or Co-Presidents (Must run together as a team)

- Treasurer, or Co-Treasurers (Must run together as a team)

- Secretary, or Co-Secretaries (Must run together as a team)

  • SLT - We will elect:

- Up to 2 voting Parent Members for 2026-2027

- 1 Alternate Parent Member

Join us via Zoom to learn how to support your child's Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at home. Families are encouraged to attend all sessions. ALL are welcome!

  • Session #4: Helping your Child Develop Friendships

  • 🎟️ Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Helping your Child Develop Friendships (RSVP Here)

  • Friendships play a crucial role in a child’s growth and well-being. In this workshop, caregivers will learn about the social and emotional skills children need to build strong, healthy relationships — and how these skills evolve as kids get older. Together, we’ll explore the internal and external factors that shape a child’s sense of belonging and practice strategies to help children form lasting friendships while navigating challenges and painful experiences. Presented by Child Mind Institute. 

  • Session #1: Balancing the Books and the Bonds: Stress Management Strategies for Academic-Focused Parenting. 

  • 📺 Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Balancing the Books and the Bonds (Replay)

  • This workshop helps families support strong academic growth while also protecting connection and emotional wellbeing at home. Caregivers will learn practical stress management strategies that balance high expectations with warmth, communication, and healthy relationships. Presented by Child Center of New York.

  • Session #2: Thriving Together: Improving Family Communication

  • 📺 Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Thriving Together: Improving Family Communication (Replay)

  • Build stronger family connections in this workshop focused on helping caregivers and children communicate with empathy, manage stress, and repair after conflict. Families will learn simple, practical tools to listen better, speak clearly, and grow closer through everyday moments. Presented by Marble Health.

  • Session #3: Promoting Positive Behavior at Home

  • 📺 Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Promoting Positive Behavior at Home (Replay)

  • Caregivers often have questions about how to effectively manage challenging behaviors such as tantrums, not listening, and fighting with siblings. This workshop will provide caregivers with concrete strategies to promote positive behavior at home and improve their relationships with their children. These strategies are geared toward parents of children in elementary school. Presented by Child Mind Institute. 

  • 🌟 District 25’s 2nd Annual Wellness Day 🌟

All District 25 families are invited to attend a fun-filled day focused on health, fitness, and family wellness! Join us for interactive activities, community resources, special guests, raffles, and more.

  • 👉 Registration is required—we can't wait to celebrate with you.

    • Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 10:00 AM–12:30 PM at CommonPoint Queens Bay Terrace (212-00 23rd Ave, Bay Terrace, NY 11360)[RSVP Here]

  • FEATURING:

    • Drone Cadets, Conquer Pickleball, & NYC Football Club

    • Interactive Activities: Yoga, mindfulness, and movement for all ages.

    • Healthy Living: Healthy eating demonstrations and wellness resources.

    • Community Support: Information on local programs, services, and supports.

    • Plus: Special Guests, Raffles, and More!

  • 🚌 Need a ride? Get a ticket for our FREE round-trip shuttle bus from Downtown Flushing. Space is limited!

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


SEL Corner



  • MindUp/Brain Power Wellness - 5 tips for parenting a child with anxiety

    • 1. Don’t try to eliminate anxiety.

      • Do try to help a child manage it. The best way to help kids overcome anxiety is to help them learn to tolerate it as well as they can. Over time the anxiety will diminish.  

      • Anxiety can be a useful emotion, notes Grace Berman, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker. For example, when we’re crossing the street and a car comes speeding toward us, anxiety is what gets us out of the way. For kids with anxiety disorders, it can be important to realize the difference between helpful and unhelpful anxiety. “I’ll often use the metaphor of an overactive fire alarm — sometimes they go off when there actually isn’t a fire,” she explains. “Treatment is about recalibrating our anxiety alarms so that we’re listening to our anxiety in dangerous situations, and also learning when anxiety isn’t helpful and ways to manage this.” 

    • 2. Don’t avoid things just because they make a child anxious.

      • Helping children avoid the things they are afraid of will make them feel better in the short term, but it reinforces the anxiety over the long run. 

      • A lot of caring parents can think that helping children to avoid their fears is helpful, because we see the reduction in anxiety in the short term. But what this does is send the message to kids that they can’t handle this situation, that they need to continue to avoid it. “The message we want to send is that this is something we know they’re brave enough to handle, even if it feels scary,” Berman says.  

    • 3. Express positive — but realistic — expectations.

      • Don’t promise a child that what they fear won’t happen — that you know they won’t fail the test — but do express confidence that they’ll be able to manage whatever happens. 

      • Anxiety is at its core about a difficulty tolerating uncertainty. “When we promise kids that their fear won’t happen, we’re giving them a false sense of certainty, which is not only potentially untrue, it also feeds the anxiety,” Berman adds. “Instead, we want to send the message that they can handle the situation, no matter what happens.” 

    • 4. Respect their feelings but don’t empower them.

      • Validating feelings doesn’t mean agreeing with them. So if a child is terrified about going to the doctor, do listen and be empathetic, but encourage them to feel that they can face their fears. 

      • Berman suggests saying: “I know you feel scared to go to the doctor, AND I know that you can handle this.” This validates their feeling of fear, but also inspires a sense of confidence in their ability to be brave.  

    • 5. Don’t ask leading questions.

      • Encourage your child to talk about their feelings, but try not to ask leading questions — “Are you anxious about the big test?” Instead, ask open-ended questions: “How are you feeling about the science fair?” 

      • Open-ended questions help kids to reflect on their own emotional experience, which is an important part of managing anxiety. Anxiety often shows up in some specific situations but not others, so it’s important to not make assumptions about a child’s emotions, but instead let them tap into that understanding and share information about how they feel. 


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, May 7: Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (Parent meetings/Teacher office hours) for Elementary schools

      • Monday, May 25: Memorial Day, schools CLOSED

        • School resumes Tuesday, May 26 at 8:00 AM. Be sure your child attends to enjoy a day full of FUN sponsored by P.S. 120 & PTA.

      • Wednesday, May 27: Eid al-Adha, schools CLOSED

        • School resumes Thursday, May 28 at 8:00 AM

      • Thursday, June 4: Anniversary Day/Chancellor's Conference Day for staff development; students do not attend

      • Friday, June 5: Clerical Day; students do not attend

        • School resumes Monday, June 8 at 8:00 AM

March Parent Participation

Dear P.S. 120 Families,


We are excited to continue our monthly Parent Participation Days through 2026. 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. We also offer a follow-up workshops 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.  


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 on Monday, March 16.

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 on Monday, March 16. We look forward to seeing you then! Please remember to bring photo identification to enter the building.

March's Schedule/Workshop Topic - PreK parents

  • For PreK parents with older siblings:

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

    • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Parents visit classrooms of older sibling(s)

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

  •  For PreK parents with only PreK students:

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

    • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Parent preview/shopping at Scholastic Book Fair in the Library

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

March's Schedule/Workshop Topic - Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents

  • 8:10-8:25 AM: Parent sign-in and welcome in the auditorium

  • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents visit classrooms

  • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: 

    • 3rd through 5th Grade parent workshop - New York State ELA/Math Exams, Auditorium

    • Kindergarten through 2nd Grade: Parent preview/shopping at Scholastic Book Fair in the Library

​
We look forward to seeing all families on Monday, March 13!

Scholastic Book Fair


The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to P.S. 120 from March 16 - March 23! The Scholastic Book Fair is PTA’s largest fundraiser aside from membership donations. Please help us make this event a success by volunteering at the Scholastic Book Fair and preparing your child for the event:


If you have any questions about your child's visit to the Scholastic Book Fair, please message your child's teacher on ParentSquare. If you have any questions about book fair sales, or volunteering at the Scholastic Book Fair, please message Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang on ParentSquare.

February - Parent Participation

Dear P.S. 120 Families,


Welcome back from Mid-Winter Recess! We are excited to continue our monthly Parent Participation Days through 2026. 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. We also offer a follow-up workshops 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.  


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 on Thursday, February 26.

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 on Thursday, February 26. We look forward to seeing you then! Please remember to bring photo identification to enter the building.

February's Schedule/Workshop Topic - PreK parents

  • For PreK parents with older siblings:

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

    • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Parents visit classrooms of older sibling(s)

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

  •  For PreK parents with only PreK students:

    • 9:00-9:10 AM: Parent sign-in, parents then wait outside main office

    • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: PreK parents visit PreK classrooms

February's Schedule/Workshop Topic - Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents

  • 8:10-8:25 AM: Parent sign-in and welcome in the auditorium

  • Period 1, 8:25-9:10 AM: Kindergarten through 5th Grade parents visit classrooms

  • Period 2, 9:10-10:00 AM: Kindergarten through 5th Grade parent workshop - Supporting your child with iReady, Auditorium

​
We look forward to seeing all families on Thursday, February 26!

Parent Weekly Bulletin

Dear P.S. 120 Families,

I would like to send a HUGE thank you to our fantastic PTA board members and volunteers for all of their hard work in preparing for our schoolwide Lunar New Year celebrations. On Thursday night, we hosted over 300 P.S. 120 students and family members, as well as 7 different community dance/martial arts studios, for our annual World Food Expo and Lunar New Year performance! On Friday, we had daytime assemblies featuring class and individual student performances, and the PTA surprised all of the students with a red envelope gift. 

Cultural celebrations like these are such an important part of our P.S. 120 community, and we appreciate the talents of all the students, staff, and parent volunteers who come together to make these events happen!

Stay warm and 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: 

  • World Read Aloud Day: On Wednesday, P.S. 120 celebrated the joy of books! Teachers read aloud favorite children’s stories to their classes and students also visited their Reading Buddies for continued reading enjoyment!

  • Lunar New Year Celebration: Our school’s Lunar New Year celebration highlighted the rich traditions of the holiday with colorful performances, festive decorations, and a World Food Expo on Thursday night! The event brought our community together to honor heritage, share delicious food, and welcome the new year with joy and unity. On Friday, we had daytime assemblies featuring class and individual student performances.

  • Field Trips: Classes 208, 308, 408, and 508 enjoyed a day out at Bee’s Arts and Crafts Studio. Students tapped into their creative minds and engaged in fun artmaking!

  • Dragon Press Student Newspaper: Our student journalists have completed the January edition of Dragon Press - read it here!


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.

  • February 2026 New York City Public Schools Family Updates: Please see New York City Public Schools family updates for February 2026 here (Translations linked within).

  • Coming Soon - NYC School Survey 2026: Share your opinion! Every year, NYC public schools ask families to complete a survey about your school experience. This year’s survey window opens Monday, February 9, and runs through Saturday, April 11. Keep an eye out for your child’s green survey envelope coming home soon! You will receive directions about how to complete the survey, which you can choose to complete on paper or online. Read more about the NYC School Survey here!

  • 2025-2026 Parent Participation Days: We will continue to have monthly Parent Participation Days from December to May. Please save these dates:

    • Thursday, February 26

    • Monday, March 16

    • Wednesday, April 22

    • Friday, May 29

    • Prior to each Parent Participation Day, homeroom teachers will message parents specifying the content area of the lesson parents will view, so that parents know in advance and can decide whether they wish to attend.

    • We will continue to offer Parent Academy workshops before/after classroom visits. If you have a workshop topic you would like to suggest, please contact Parent Coordinator Annabelle TianTian Zhang.

  • Clothing Bin Removed: Please note that we have discontinued our clothing donation bin in the schoolyard, as the company responsible for picking up the items was not responsive with making pickups in a timely manner. Please do not place clothing donations in the schoolyard any longer; they will not be collected and will present a health/safety hazard. We encourage families to seek other locations in the community to donate unneeded items.

  • P.S. 120Q Spiritwear Online Store is open once again! 🎉 

Thanks to our partnership with Smooth Sportswear, parents, students, and staff can easily order spiritwear to show your PS120 Flushing Dragon pride.

You can shop directly at: www.smoothusa.com/ps120q

Ordering Window & Delivery Date:

  • Ordering Window: January 12, 2026 – February 8, 2026

  • Expected delivery: Early March 2026

We encourage you to place your order during this window, because this will be the last opportunity to order spiritwear for the 2025-2026 school year - don't miss out! Thank you for helping us build school spirit together—Mind, Body, Heart… Go Dragons! 🐉

  • Reminder - iReady Expectations: As a reminder, P.S. 120 purchases schoolwide iReady licenses to support students in achieving grade level standards. iReady is an online tool for K-5th grade students in Reading and Math. Three times a year at school, we take the iReady diagnostic screeners to assess students' skill levels. In between assessments, we ask for parents' assistance in encouraging students to complete assigned iReady minutes. It is a schoolwide expectation that all Kindergarten - 5th grade students engage for 30-49 minutes per week, per subject, with a 70% or greater pass rate. Students can engage in the iReady myPath lessons, which provides personalized, adaptive instruction based on students' performance on previous lessons. Students can also be assigned specific content area lessons by their teachers directly. 

  • PreK Application is Open: All NYC children born in 2022 can apply by the February 27, 2026 deadline for a PreK seat in September. All families who apply by the deadline will receive an offer in May. Families can apply three ways (Translation is available for all application materials):

  • 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

  • i‑Ready Virtual Parent Workshop on Monday, February 9, 2026.

📘 Topic: Understanding the purpose of the Diagnostic and how it helps identify student strengths and areas for growth

  • 🕒 Workshop Schedule

    • 5:30–6:15 PM — English/Mandarin Session

    • 6:15–7:00 PM — English/Spanish Session

Each session includes a 30–35minute presentation followed by 10–15 minutes for parent questions.

  • Click here to register:

👉 https://cainc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WHSoFNZMQxav8s8cEKXWAw

Please sign in as soon as possible so we can ensure smooth communication and preparation for the session.

    Join Webinar    

  • VIRTUAL SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WORKSHOP SERIES

Join us via Zoom to learn how to support your child's Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at home. Families are encouraged to attend all sessions. ALL are welcome!

  • Session #1: Balancing the Books and the Bonds: Stress Management Strategies for Academic-Focused Parenting. 

    • 🎟️ Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Balancing the Books and the Bonds (RSVP Here)This workshop helps families support strong academic growth while also protecting connection and emotional wellbeing at home. Caregivers will learn practical stress management strategies that balance high expectations with warmth, communication, and healthy relationships. Presented by Child Center of New York.

  • Session #2: Thriving Together: Improving Family Communication

    • 🎟️ Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Balancing the Books and the Bonds (RSVP Here)Build stronger family connections in this workshop focused on helping caregivers and children communicate with empathy, manage stress, and repair after conflict. Families will learn simple, practical tools to listen better, speak clearly, and grow closer through everyday moments. Presented by Marble Health.

  • MATHEMATICS VIRTUAL PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES: Join District 25 via Zoom as our Math Instructional Lead, Beth Eaton, leads us through supporting your child's Algebra Readiness at home. Families are encouraged to attend all sessions. ALL are welcome!

    • Event Flyers and Shared Documents

      • 🎟️ Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM: Fractions, proportions & ratios across grades K-8 [RSVP Here]

    • SPECIAL EDUCATION VIRTUAL PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES: Join District 25 via Zoom as our Administrator of Special Education, Nathan Yakubov, leads us through different Special Education topics including the IEP process, eligibility, and more. Families are encouraged to attend all sessions. ALL are welcome!

Event Flyers and Shared Documents


SEL Corner


  • SEL Resources

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

    • Back to School Resources

    •  Virtual Libraries

    • Parent workshops

      • Free workshops by Child Center of NY and Marble Health

        • Balancing the Books and the Bonds: Stress Management Strategies for Academic-Focused Parenting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Balancing the Books and the Bonds (RSVP Here)

        • Thriving Together: Improving Family Communication - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM: Balancing the Books and the Bonds (RSVP Here)

      • Free workshops by Community Change Inc., learn more and sign up here:

        • The Whole You: How Can a Father Become More Whole, Present, and Emotionally Steady for His Children? - Thursday, February 12th, 2026 6-7 pm

        • Supporting the Journey: Helping Your First-Generation College Student Thrive - Friday, February 13th, 2026 6-7 pm

    • Student activities

      • New York City Football Club's Youth Programs, learn more and sign up here


  • MindUp/Brain Power Wellness - Modeling coping skills

    • Painful feelings are unavoidable, but how we respond to them is a choice. And showing children how to cope effectively with uncomfortable emotions is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing and development.

    • Healthy coping skills take many forms, including mindfulness, exercise, deep breathing, and positive self-talk. They help us manage our most intense emotions, and they’re also linked to lower levels of impulsivity

    • Children pick up behavior patterns from adults, so one of the best ways to teach your kids good coping skills is to practice them yourself. This can mean taking space after a tense interaction, practicing paced breathing when the train is running late, or having a daily yoga practice. It can be helpful to narrate your behavior to your kids as you model (“Okay, that phone call made me feel anxious, so I’m going to do some belly breathing and walk around the block to help calm myself down”). Leading by example is also usually more effective than trying to tell kids what to do.

    • If you struggle with regulating your emotions (like most of us!), you may worry about your ability to model effectively. Remember that you’re only human, and that all parents make mistakes. Start with practicing one or two skills that feel manageable and add on from there. Taking it slow will help you build confidence and internalize the habits you are working on.

    • Many parents find it hard to prioritize working on their own coping skills. When you’re balancing competing responsibilities, it can feel like there’s just not enough time in the day. You might even feel like setting aside time for your personal development is selfish. But kids pick up on how we treat ourselves, and they are likely to copy our habits, positive or negative. Sometimes, the best way to care for your child is to show up for yourself, too.


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:

      • Monday, February 16 - Friday, February 20: Schools closed for Midwinter Recess

      • Thursday, March 5 - Half day dismissal for all P.S. 120 students; Virtual afternoon/evening Parent-Teacher Conferences

iREADY Workshop

Dear PS 120Q Families,

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming i‑Ready Parent Workshops! These sessions will help you better understand how i‑Ready supports your child’s learning and how you can partner with us to help them grow.

🖥️ Virtual Workshop

Date: February 9, 2026
Topic 1: Understanding the purpose of the Diagnostic and how it helps identify student strengths and areas for growth.

🏫 In‑Person Workshop

Date: February 26, 2026
Topic 2: The Growth Model and how to support students in reaching their growth goals.
Location: PS 120Q

More details and RSVP links will be shared soon.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lunar New Year Show

Featuring Our Lunar New Year and World Food Expo
📅 Thursday, February 5, 2026
⏰ Doors Open: 4:45 PM
🍽️ Food Expo: 4:45 PM
🎭 Show Begins: 5:45 PM

Dear P.S 120 Families,

We are excited to invite you to celebrate the Lunar New Year with us! P.S. 120 is excited to ring in the Year of the Fire Horse with an evening of cultural performances, delicious foods from around the world, and community celebration! Come enjoy student performances and a delicious World Food Expo showcasing dishes from our wonderfully diverse community.
✨ Please note: Due to limited seating, each P.S. 120 student may be accompanied by ONE parent/guardian.

🎟️ Ticket Request, Food Donation & Event Volunteer Form

The 2026 Ticket Request / Food Donation / Volunteer Form is attached to this post. if you didn't receive this form yet please contact homeroom teacher or PC Annabelle Tiantian Zhang, we will send you the form backpack home today! Latest you have to return the form by tomorrow which is 1/30/2026.
Ticket request deadline January 30, 2026.
Submitting early helps us plan seating, food tables, and volunteer assignments—thank you for your cooperation!
We look forward to celebrating the Year of the (Fire Horse) together!
Thank you for your continued support! 🏮

— P.S. 120 

Join Our NYC Kids RISE Workshops

🌟 You're Invited! Join Our NYC Kids RISE Virtual & In‑Person Workshops at P.S.120Q 🌟- FREE $125 for your child’s future

Annabelle TianTian Zhang • 2 days ago • Saturday, Jan 10 at 3:00 PM • Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade

Dear P.S120Q Families,

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program workshops! These workshops will help you learn how to activate your child’s NYC Scholarship Account and receive your FREE $125 for your child’s future college or career training. 🎓💰
We are offering three workshop options—please choose the one that works best for your family:

🟦 1️⃣ In‑Person Workshop (English & Mandarin) Spanish translator available-register here!

📅 January 14
⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 Room 309 – Library   
Join us at school to watch the live workshop together. Staff will be available to support families and provide OSIS numbers.

🟩 2️⃣ Virtual Workshop (English & Spanish)-register here!

📅 January 14
⏰ 6:00 PM
💻 Online Only
Perfect for families who prefer Spanish or want to join from home.

🟧 3️⃣ Additional Online Workshop (English & Spanish) -register here!

📅 January 21
⏰ 9:00 AM
💻 Online Only
Another opportunity for Spanish‑speaking families to participate.

💡 Why Join?

✔ Learn how to access your child’s NYC Scholarship Account
✔ Receive $125 FREE for your child’s future
✔ Set your child on the path to success—their dreams start in Kindergarten! 🌈

We can't wait to support you and your family.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Annabelle, Parent Coordinator. Let’s build our children’s future—together! 💙

Lunar New Year Talent Search

Does your child play an instrument? Are they a dancer? Do they have another special talent? Would they like to perform at our Lunar New Year celebration? If so, please fill out this Google Form and email a video of their talent to Ms. Hong at hhong@schools.nyc.gov

iREADY MINUTES

Dear Parents,

It is a schoolwide requirement that all Kindergarten - 5th grade students engage in the at-home computer program iReady for 30-49 minutes per week, per subject.  

Our school purchases schoolwide iReady licenses to help students meet grade-level standards. iReady is an online tool for K-5th grade students in Reading and Math. Three times a year at school, we take the iReady diagnostic screeners to assess students' skill levels. Between assessments, we ask parents to help students meet the assigned iReady minutes goal with a 70% pass rate in each lesson. Students must engage in the iReady myPath lessons, which provide personalized, adaptive instruction based on students' performance on previous lessons. Students can also be assigned specific content area lessons by their teachers directly. 

There is solid research showing that students who use i-Ready for the prescribed amount of time at home tend to make more substantial academic progress than students who do not. Extensive studies following hundreds of thousands of students found that children who consistently meet their weekly i-Ready minutes and actively complete lessons show greater growth in reading over the school year. The results are most noticeable when students use the program regularly and with focus, not just logging in briefly.

This video provides more information about the iReady program, and I have attached multiple family resources to help parents learn more. You can also visit iReady's Family Center for more resources.

Please ensure that your child is logging in to complete his/her weekly minutes outside of school hours, either at home or with his/her after-school provider.  If you have any technical or internet issues, please let us know. 

Sincerely-
R. Marino
Principal

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