Happy New Year!
~ See below for special announcements from the OCS Central Team ~
Dear OCS Community -
We are excited to kick off 2024 with you! 2023 has been a challenging year for our community and I believe we are setting the foundation to thrive in 2024. In 2023, we spent time rebuilding and reimagining our team and reflecting on how we approach our work to improve our support to schools, students, families, and communities. I believe the seeds planted will have fruits in 2024 for what’s to come and what we will accomplish.
For 2024, I am leaning into our OCS value of hope: “We believe that all students can succeed and that we can transform our educational system. We have confidence that the people in Community Schools have the power to bring positive change.” The beginning of this calendar year is a wonderful opportunity to reset and set goals.
We continue to hope for a brighter future. We get that hope from the work we see when visiting Community Schools, from attending PLCs with CSDs and CBO leadership, from working with the OCS team, our schools, our district points, and from seeing how parents, students, and community members believe in and advocate for Community Schools. We will continue to do all we can to support you in this work and share the tools and resources that help you make a difference in the lives of children. As we enter into this new year, join me in choosing hope, and join me in taking agency to make 2024 a positive and impactful year.
In partnership –
David Dianora, Senior Administrator, OCS
|
|
|
Community Dinner Celebrates Diverse School Culture
Families at PS 503/506K celebrate diverse cultures at their school community dinner.
PS 503/506K held their first community dinner of the school year on December 14th, where they broke bread with approximately 200 students and family members to celebrate the upcoming new year.
The potluck celebrated their school community’s diverse cultural and family traditions. Many families shared a favorite dish, dessert, or beverage that they enjoy eating during the holidays. The evening was also an opportunity to showcase art from the various after-school groups and pop-up performances from the Neighborhood Center Dance group throughout the evening. PS 503/506K community partner, NYU, provided backpacks with school supplies as a giveaway for each student who attended.
PS 503/506K’s Community School Director, Colleen MacDonald, helped start their community dinners last year as a chance to strengthen the bonds between families and other neighborhood members, form new relationships, learn from each other, and discuss how to best support each other. Students and families have cooked fusion dishes inspired by the food from Palestine, Mexico, China, the Dominican Republic, and other countries!
Engaging Parents Through Wellness Activities
CS 206M partnered with the school PTA to offer Tiger Fitness, a series of Zumba and wellness classes for parents.
CS 206M Community School Director Lenore Estrada partnered with the school PTA to offer Tiger Fitness, a series of Zumba and wellness classes for parents this fall. The collaboration was a result of last year’s Community School Forum table talks where parents expressed an interest in health and wellness for the whole community, not just students. CBO partner Center for Educational Innovation supplied parents with a healthy breakfast, T-shirt, a water bottle, and a yoga mat. They look forward to continuing to work closely with parents and families throughout the school year.
|
|
 Walking School Bus Guidance
Students who are in grades K-8 often cannot control whether or not they are brought to school every day. Some parents cannot walk their children to school due to illness, childcare issues, work schedules, young children at home, and various other circumstances. In these instances, school staff have found that if students can be picked up and brought to school by another adult, then the child will attend school and not miss out on valuable instruction. A “walking school bus” is one option for schools that have students who are unable to come to school due to these circumstances. In a walking school bus model, school staff members meet students at a designated location near their home and walk with them to school on days that families need extra support.
Guidance for Implementing a Walking School Bus Model
Leadership, Coordination, and Staffing
- School leadership should partner with their Borough Safety Director, NYPD and school safety to discuss program logistics and request support, when needed, in the community while the walking school bus program is running. Together, they should create a safety plan for the walking school bus that is approved by all partners.
- The safety plan should include boundaries within which students will be eligible for participating in the walking school bus. The route should not take more than 15 minutes walking and schools should avoid any large highways,where possible, and work with crossing guards to ensure safety.
- School leadership should select an attendance team member to coordinate the walking school bus. This includes identifying students with the attendance team that would benefit from the program, conducting outreach to families, distributing consent forms and program information, maintaining records, and monitoring the program regularly.
- School staff can participate voluntarily in the walking school bus program. Staff cannot be mandated to participate in the walking school bus program.
Steps to Implement Walking School Bus Program
- The school attendance team should meet with the Borough Safety Director, NYPD, school safety agents, crossing guards, and CBO partners (where applicable) to discuss procedures and a safety plan. This group should also identify the boundaries for the program and map them out in the plan.
- The school attendance team should meet to identify students who would benefit from the walking school bus program, including students who are not attending school regularly and students who live within the boundaries identified.
- School leadership should meet with staff and identify staff that are interested in the program and create schedules for staff.
- The school attendance team should conduct outreach to families that would benefit from the program and explain the program. If the parent agrees to participate, schools should arrange for them to get a consent form and fill it out. Schools may use this sample consent form.
- Schools are required to send communication to families regarding the walking school bus including the start date, time frame, and contact information for staff before their first day of the program.
Guidance Provided to Principals with CBO Partners:
-
Lead CBOs were awarded contracts with schools through an RFP process or grant award.
-
Because these organizations have a contract to partner with your school as a lead CBO, you do not need to create an MOU for the walking school bus program.
-
All staff that participate in the program through the lead CBO should have appropriate clearances (PETS) to work with students.
Reach out to your school administration to discuss creating a Walking School Bus Program.
|
|
FY24 Stimulus & 21st Century Community Learning Centers Fiscal Manual Updated
OCS has updated the FY24 Fiscal Manual, which details Federal spending regulations, this includes American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funding and 21st Century grants, we updated our OCS Fiscal Manual to align with these rules and ensure compliance. Moving forward, all federally funded programs will be incorporated under one federal-funded fiscal manual. Please review the details below:
FY24 Federal Funded: 21CCLC and Stimulus Manual is live on the OCS website. You can find the updated manual here: https://nyccommunityschools.org/finance-operations
Subcontract Agreement Policy
[Only relevant for city tax levy and stimulus-funded schools]
Updated FY24 Subcontract Agreement Policy effective as of Nov 30, 2023.
-
School Principal and/or Principal Designee (i.e. Assistant Principal) should review, approve, and sign subcontract agreements to ensure alignment on deliverables and programming.
-
Subcontract agreements should be uploaded to HHS and/or Passport during budget submission for OCS review.
-
If your budget was approved in HHS, upload subcontract agreements during the modification window in HHS and/or Passport.
-
If your budget was submitted with a TBD subcontractor in HHS, update the subcontractor name and upload subcontract agreements during the modification window in HHS and/or Passport.
-
If you submitted your budget after Nov 30, the budget will be returned for revision. You will need to resubmit your budget with the signed subcontract agreements.
If you have any questions about this policy update/change, please reach out to your Operations point and copy your Program Manager. You can find your operations point on the OCS website by school: https://nyccommunityschools.org/schools
|
|
Assets and Needs Assessment—Call for Success Stories
The Assets & Needs (A&N) Assessment highlights strengths and unmet needs in the school and surrounding community. If your team used the A&N to deepen your partnership, identify a new need, or create a new program, we want to hear from you!
Please email us at OCSAssetsNeeds@gmail.com with your success story to be featured in future OCS materials.
|
|
|
CSD Professional Learning Series (PLC) #2
We ar e pleased to invite you to the CSD Professional Learning Series (PLC) #2. This Convening provides the space for participants to engage in professional learning to enhance their ability to support impact by leveraging the knowledge and skills gained from capacity-building experiences.
When: Wed, Jan 18 / 9a - 12:30p
Theme: Collective Effort for Accelerated Learning
|
|
Other PD Offerings:
| Change Up Learning Courses |
|
Activate your account with Change Up Learning using this custom link. Each NYC Community School may create two accounts. Learn more in the Resources section of this newsletter below, and sign up today.
| |
| New CSDs Training from Fordham CS-TAC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The New York State Community Schools Technical Assistance Center (CS-TAC) for New York City provides a wide range of professional development and technical assistance to all existing Community School Programs and aspiring schools.
- Next Training: January 26th, 9AM - 3PM
- Where: Fordham University - Manhattan Campus
- Note: This training is designed for New CSDs who have not yet participated in this training.
- Sign Up: Complete this form to register
If you have a School or CBO needing individualized support please email Peter at ptinguely@fordham.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Submit a Proposal Link |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OCS invites you to present at an upcoming Professional Learning Series. See upcoming convening dates and topics!
|
 Check out (and follow!) the Community Schools Instagram account!
 Recommend a Student Presenter for the May 2024 OCS Principal and CSD Convening
Click here to access the Student Participation Submission Form
|
|
School-Based Dental Care 🦷
Did you know last school year, 82,000 children across 820 schools received preventive treatments in NYC public schools and 40% of these children already had untreated cavities? All Community Schools are provided dental services during the school year. To support a greater participation in the school dental program, services can take place at fixed clinics located in buildings with school-based health centers and/or services can be provided by portable/mobile providers who bring services on-site to school buildings. If your school is interested in starting an oral health program, please review the following resources: Steps to Start an Oral Health Program; Picking a Dental Provider; Dental Visit Tips; and Available Programs.
All schools are encouraged to:
- Schedule on-site dental provider visits now if your school is participating in an oral health program and it has not been done already. Note that school-based dental programs rely on signed dental provider consent forms for all student participants that must be received prior to commencing services.
- Ensure only Office of School Health-approved providers enter the building; if you are approached by an outside if you are approached by an outside group for school-based dental care and are not sure if there are a School Health approved provider, please email NYCDOHMHDental@health.nyc.gov.
- Assist on the clinic day to retrieve the students from the classroom to ensure minimal time out of class.
- Identify a low-cost dental provider in your neighborhood and share this information with your families.
- Share oral health resources with your school community.
For questions, email NYCDOHMHDental@health.nyc.gov.
Vision Screening Update 👓
The Office of Community Schools is pleased to provide vision screening services at no cost to all 421 Community Schools. Services are provided by either Helen Keller International or Optical Academy. OCS has prioritized schools with elementary grades to be screened first in order to meet the March 31 deadline for mandated grades.
Our goal each year is to screen all schools by May 31, so that students receive their glasses before the summer break. As such, it is imperative that schools provide the vendors with at least one week's notice if needing to reschedule once a date is selected and confirmed. Late cancellations disrupt services for other schools and present a challenge to screen schools efficiently.
Additionally, be sure to distribute the passive consent forms in advance of the vendor's date of screening.
We thank you for your understanding of this important matter. Please reach out to Laurie Crutcher ( LCrutcher@schools.nyc.gov) with any questions.
$10 Broadway Tickets! 🎟
Broadway Bridges is accepting applications from high schools to access $10 Broadway tickets. Their goal is to give every New York City public high school student the chance to see a Broadway show before graduation. With over 15 shows to choose from like The Lion King, MJ the Musical, and Wicked, students are sure to find a show they like. Visit Broadway Bridges for more details!
Online Mental Health Program: NYC Teenspace 💜
NYC Public Schools Office of Student Pathways invites you to spread the word about this new program through NYC Teenspace, any 13- to 17-year-old living in NYC can receive free, online mental health support, provided by licensed therapists in over 30 languages. Once the student is paired with a therapist, students can connect with them via unlimited text messaging and monthly video calls, along with accessing other mental health resources.
Next Step Texts Program for High School Seniors 📲
Encourage high school seniors to join the Next Step Texts Program to receive affirming text messages and timely reminders about college and career applications, scholarships, and other important resources that can help them stay informed as they transition for life after high school. CSDs can sign up multiple students at once here: Next Steps Texting Program.
College Scholarship 🎓
The Scholarship Plus program is a scholarship and community for New York City students who have demonstrated academic achievement in the face of obstacles. Scholarship Plus offers such students a competitive four-year scholarship PLUS individualized, wraparound support.
The scholarship may be used to pay tuition, room and board, fees, and other educational expenses. Each scholarship will be renewable annually for up to four years of study as long as the student maintains a good academic record and makes standard progress toward a degree.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must be current high school seniors who attend public, parochial, or private schools in New York City, and have demonstrated:
- GPA of 84.5% or higher
- Significant financial need (family income less than $52,000)
- Willingness to engage with the Scholarship Plus community in events, workshops, and semester check-ins
- *Preference will be given to students whose parents have not graduated from American four-year colleges or universities.
- *Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
HOW TO APPLY
Join the Brooklyn Nets to Discover the World of HBCUs 🏫
The Brooklyn Nets will celebrate the rich history and influence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Join the Brooklyn Nets to Discover the world of HBCUs. This will be an impactful day with college recruiters, student leaders, and alumni. Hear from HBCU industry leaders on their HBCU experience, career paths, and gain experience at HBCU Talks.
Run of Show for 1/25
- Doors Open: 11:30am
- HBCU Talks Panel Time: 12pm
- HBCU College Fair: 1:45pm
Registration link for the HBCU Panel and College Fair: https://bseglobal.formtitan.com/hbcu-talks-signup.
If you have any questions, please contact Imani Nicholas (inicholas@bseglobal.net) for more information.
|
|
21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER ▼
|
|
|
21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Updates
 All 21st Century Community School Directors should have a full understanding of their grant requirements and utilize the manual as a guide. The manual supports the management and implementation of 21st CCLC programs throughout New York State. The document features guidance and information curated by the Technical Assistance Resource Centers in conjunction with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Measurement Inc. The manual can be found here: 21st CCLC Manual for Program Directors (nysed.gov)
Any questions should be addressed to the New York City Technical Assistance Resource Center (NYC TARC). The purpose of the NYC TARC is to provide ongoing support to all grantees to improve the quality of their programs and, in turn, improve the academic, social and emotional outcomes of students and the literacy of participant’s families. If you would like to request any Technical Assistance from the NYC TARC team, please email them directly at TARCNYC@schools.nyc.gov.
|
|
EJK Bookmaking Competition
The Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition is a collaboration among the NYCPS, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, and Brooklyn Public Library. Through writing and illustrating their own fiction or nonfiction picture books students combine literacy with art skills to tell their own story. This activity gives students a chance to enjoy using the skills they learn in school and pride in having created a book that reflects their view of the world.
Submit student applications by January 23! Find more info here:
2024 NYC-EJK-Bookmaking-Guidelines_010824 (ejkf.org)
|
|
Worldreader Grant Opportunity
 Worldreader is launching the 2024 "Let’s Get Children Reading Grant" to support community-based nonprofit organizations, schools, and other learning institutions in engaging children ages 3-12 and their families in regular reading habits through their digital reading program, BookSmart.
Apply here no later than February 16, 2024.
|
|
FY 24 OCS Mid-Year Report in February (DUE DATE TBD)
Due to feedback from the field and lesson learned the report has been changed to provide impact data to continuously build the capacity of community schools to implement, evaluate, and measure strategies to support the whole child. Your input is crucial to us, so please feel free to share anything you are working on and any suggestions as we embark on this journey together, by writing to: communityschools@schools.nyc.gov
Thank you for being a part of our community. Here's to a new chapter filled with exciting content and meaningful connections!
-The OCS Central Team
|
|
Transition from HHS Accelerator to PASSPort
As more information becomes available, please review the following in the meantime:
PASSPort Release Update Webinar: Video Recording
|
|
|
|
|
