December 2004 – 3/1

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS

PTA CRAFT FAIR

Friday December 3^rd 9:00-2:30 in the gym. Parents are welcome to shop with their children.

Parenting a Science Fair Project

Thursday December 9^th at 8:45. Mrs. Willie, our science teacher, will walk parents through the science fair project, discuss scientific method and share print and web resources.

First Grade Dance Performance

Thursday December 9^th at 5:15 p.m.

The HeartShare After School Program invites all PS 102 parents and students to come out and see the show!

A Season of Joy and Hope

Monday December 13^th at 6:30 p.m.

Join the Bay View Chorus for a winter celebration concert (following the PTA General Meeting at 5:30.) PS 102 Auditorium.

CEC MEETING

Tuesday December 14^th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Region 7’s December Community Education Council Meeting will be held at P.S. 176 (1225 69^th Street.) The topic this month will be Special Education. All concerned parents and staff members are encouraged to attend.

Vision Screening of Grade 5, 3, 2 and Special Ed. students will begin in late December and continue through January. The Department of Health will screen children in grades K & 1 at a later date.

P.S. 102 - BOOKS OF THE MONTH

Grades 2-5: Antarctic Antics, A Book of Penguin Poems, by Judy Sierra

Grades K-1: When it Starts to Snow, by Phillis Gershator

Volunteer of the Month

I was new on the job last year when Caesar “Jesse” Bernacchi showed up the second day of school, introduced himself and asked how he could help. I wasn’t sure what to tell him – so I invited him to attend training for Learning Leaders. It turns out there was not a lot that Jesse had to learn about working in a school and much he could teach us. Jesse has been a classroom teacher, a middle school guidance counselor and a business owner. He is Dad to three and Grandpa to seven (two of P.S. 102’s own students!) Since retiring, Jesse has given P.S. 102 most of his Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. He greets children at the front door in the mornings, does lunch and yard duty, assists the guidance counselor, tutors children and tirelessly worked on vision and hearing screening last year (and will do so again this year.) Jesse goes about his work here with a big smile and a kind and generous heart. When you see Jesse in the morning – please give him a big Thank You! -MS

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Benvenuti a l’Italia!

A dozen of PS 102’s 4^th and 5^th grade students are participating in the Aurora Italian Language and Culture Program for 10 weeks on Saturday mornings. The Italic Institute of America, Inc., generously sponsors this exciting free program.

PS 102 GIVES!

Thanks to all of our generous students, staff members and families for donating to the following:

Good Neighbors Coat Drive – through 12/3

Holiday Toy Drive – 12/6-12/13

Used Book Drive – 12/6-12/10

HeartShare Printer Cartridges - ongoing

G.O. Canned Food Drive – Ended 11/22 …but…

…Food Donations are accepted at BRCOA (Bay Ridge Center for Older Adults) at 411 Ovington Ave. off 4^th Ave. The BRCOA also operates a walk-in emergency food program (ID and proof of address is needed.) If you know a family in need, please refer them to the BRCOA at (718) 748-0873.

For donating and volunteering during the holidays or any time of the year, you can always contact New York Cares

www.nycares.org, or (212) 228-5000

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FYI:

Some free fun family holiday things to do:

v See the Lights in Dyker Heights

83rd and 84th Sts. between 11^th and 13^th Avenues – or walk around your neighborhood!

v Window shopping – animated store windows along 5^th Avenue in Manhattan.

v South Street Seaport Chorus Tree – through 12/26 - Fridays 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., Sat. and Sun. and 12/24 at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

v Visit Rockefeller Center Tree and Lights & St. Patrick’s Cathedral

v First Night – free admission and family programming at Brooklyn Museum of Art - 12/4/04 – call (718) 638-5000 or see: www.brooklynmuseum.org

v Holiday Shops at Bryant Park through 1/2/05 – 11-7 p.m. 40-42 St. 6^th Ave. in Manhattan.

v For more ideas try:

www.parentsknow.com/calendar/ongoing.html

www.nyc.gov (click on visitors button)

www.brooklynx.org

ESL CLASSES

Beginners: Monday 8:30-10:00

Wednesday 8:30-10:00

Intermediate/Conversation:

Wednesday 10:30-12:00 Friday 8:30-10:30

New students are always welcome. A listing of other classes offered in the area is available at the Parent Information table (blue sheet) in the main lobby or on the PS 102 web site.

Contact Information

School Office: 718-748-7404

Parent Coordinator: 347-563-4586, or email:

MElliotSheri@nycboe.net |

School Web Site: http://schools.nycenet.edu/region7/ps102

PTA email: ps102pta@yahoo.com

DECEMBER QUOTE:

“To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” – Edmund Burke

Scoop up a Good Book!

P.S. 102 students are dreaming of summer and ice cream cones while they read a good book! Students are asked to write reviews of books they have read on tutti-frutti colored ice cream cones that are brightening up hallways all over the school. Talk to your kids about what they read and what they write! The Reading Incentive Program encourages family involvement and increases critical thinking and reading comprehension. Thanks to Magda Mendez, Raymunda Louie, Priscilla Quintera and our Reading Recovery Teachers, Carmen Peters and Suzanne Stevenson, for their hard work on this valuable program. Thanks also to Theresa Ferraioli and Annie, Giuliana, Sofia and Sophie of Class 3-326 for the delicious book and ice cream cone display hanging up in the first floor hallway.

PS 102 SKATING PARTY !

Look for the flier in your child’s backpack (it went out 11/30.) PS 102 Parents, Staff, Family and Friends will take over the Kate Wollman Rink at Prospect Park on Tuesday night January 4^th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Pre-payment is necessary.

Wishing you all peace and happiness this holiday season and in the New Year!

- Margaret Sheri, Parent Coordinator