Parent Handbook

A Community with P.O.W.E.R.

Perseverance Optimism Wisdom Excellence Responsibility

Message from the Principal

Dear PS 194 Community,

Welcome to the start of another wonderful school year! Thank you for choosing our school community as your partners to educate your child. We are excited to kick off this school year with you.

The 2023-2024 school year will be a very exciting year for our community. This year, we will continue using restorative justice practices to, holistically, support every child so that they feel safe, valued and have a sense of belonging to a larger community. With the support of Partnerships with Children (PWC), who has been supporting our school community for several years, we can provide a multi-tiered system of supports that include mental health services, trauma-informed counseling, and social-emotional learning programs, along with enrichment programs, wraparound services, and referrals to community resources. In addition, we will be working with new organizations to give our children the quality educational experience they deserve.

We also look forward to working with you, our most essential partners, as you are our children’s first educators. We will create more opportunities so that you can meaningfully engage in your children’s education and have a voice in our school improvement efforts. Your continued support during this upcoming school year is essential for our children. We strongly believe that with excellent communication and a strong partnership, all the children will achieve academic success. We look forward to your participation in school events, celebrations and family meetings.

This 2023-2024 Family-Scholar Handbook is meant to be a tool to help you be a full, equitable and equal partner in your child’s educational experience. Please review it carefully with your child as it will be your guide to pertinent policies, schedules, routines and procedures. The education of every child places a great responsibility on parents, teachers and the children, alike. Therefore, it is critical that we enter this school year with clear expectations, explicit roles and responsibilities to ensure each scholar's success. We value your partnership in the education of our children.

It is a privilege to serve you and your children, so please feel free to call me at (212) 690-5954 or email me at wacevedo@schools.nyc.gov to discuss any concerns, suggestions or ideas to help make this a great year.

Respectfully yours,

Wanda Acevedo

Principal

Mission Statement

At P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy, scholars’ will be empowered to have choice in how they learn and voice in what they learn. We will provide innovative, individualized instruction that addresses scholars’ unique learning styles, cultivate independent thought, promote the building of character and enable students to contribute their ideas locally and globally. The P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy experience will guide our scholars as they develop their sense of identity and purpose in this world. We will comprehensively develop citizens who will be decision makers in tomorrow’s society. The P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy scholars will inspire greatness in others, allow their voices to be heard worldwide and create change through their actions and endeavors. By giving our scholars a choice in how they learn and a voice in what they learn, we are building the foundation for critical thinkers that is needed in the best colleges and in the 21^st century workplace.

Credo

“We believe we can do all things and become anything we dream. We are responsible for ourselves and our actions. We have compassion for others and we will create a better world. If we believe and work hard, we will achieve.”

Perseverance- We work hard; we learn from our mistakes; we win big; we are tough

Optimism- We see promise and possibility in all that we do; we see into the future

Wisdom- We learn from experience; we are clever; we are innovative

Excellence-We do everything to the best of our ability; we take pride in our work & actions

Responsibility- We own our successes and our mistakes; we are respectful of ourselves and others; we take care of one another and our space

Staff, Scholar & Family Commitments to Excellence

Commitment to Excellence

School Staff Commitments

● High Quality Education – We will do whatever it takes to nurture and strengthen our students’ creativity, knowledge, and character as we prepare them to excel academically, physically, and socially in secondary schools, colleges, and life.

● Support and Respect – We promise to respect, appreciate, and support every student. We will work together with you for the benefit of your child and all the children attending P.S. 194 Countee Cullen.

● Communication – We promise to communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress and make ourselves available in person and by phone. We will return parents’ phone calls.

● Civility Code – We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with you and your child. We believe that we are on the same team and that we will conduct ourselves respectfully and professionally.

● Fairness – We will address the values of P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy consistently and fairly. We promise to keep you informed of how your child is progressing both socially and academically. When students are disciplined or when students deserve recognition for their accomplishments, we will inform parents promptly.

● Safety – We will always protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals.

Parent/Guardian Commitment

● Attendance and Punctuality – We will make sure that our child comes to school every day. We understand that there will be consequences for multiple absences but most importantly we understand that if our children are not in school they are missing valuable instruction. We will make sure that our child arrives at school every day on time by 8:20 am. We will make sure to promptly pick up our child at the end of the school day.

● Support and Homework – We will provide a quiet place for our child to study. We will check our child’s homework every night and ensure that our child reads and/or is read to every night. We will do whatever it takes for our child to learn and perform to his/her optimal ability. We will reinforce social and academic values at home.

● Communication – We will make ourselves available to our children, the school, and address any concerns they might have. If we are asked to attend a meeting regarding our child’s education or behavior, we will attend. If we have any concerns we will raise them with someone at the school. We will promptly inform the school if our home address, email, and/or phone number changes.

● Civility Code – We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with the school. We know that we are all on the same team and we will conduct ourselves in a respectful manner.

● Dress Code – We will make sure that our child follows the P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy dress code and comes to school dressed in full uniform every day.

Student Commitment

● I will be Kind every day and I will Work Hard every day.

● I will demonstrate my P.O.W.E.R. in everything I say and do.

● I will complete my homework every night and ask my parents/guardian if I need help.

● I will follow the directions of my parents and all the adults at school.

A Typical School Day at PS 194 Countee Cullen Academy

Arrival Procedures

Students begin to enter the building at 8:15 AM so that they are standing outside their doors and ready to begin the school day promptly at 8:20 AM. A team of school staff will be eagerly waiting to greet scholars as they arrive. We believe it's important for scholars to know that every day we are glad to see them, and we are excited for what they will accomplish.

Literacy

From PreK through 5th grade, we place a huge emphasis on literacy. As our young scholars move from "learning to read" to "reading to learn", and as our older scholars transition from comprehension into deep textual analysis, we keep our eye on college as the goal. School wide scholars will be expected to carry the “book baggies” with their independent reading books. Scholars will use RACE (Restate, Answer, Cite evidence, Explain) to respond to literature.

Math

Math procedures and problem-solving skills are vital to the overall development of critical thinking skills, and they unlock access to compelling future subject area pursuits like Physics and engineering. School wide we will focus on problem solving and precision.

Social-Emotional Learning

Throughout the day, we will foster social-emotional competencies among our scholars. We will also promote our core values, which are:

● PERSEVERANCE

● OPTIMISM

● WISDOM

● EXCELLENCE

● RESPONSIBILITY

Lunch and Recess

Students receive a 50 minute lunch period every day, which includes 25 minutes of recess time. Unless it is raining, snowing, there is ice on the playground, or the wind-chill factor is below zero degrees fahrenheit (-18 degrees celsius), students will be taken outside for recess. It is important that students are dressed appropriately for the weather.

P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy is a junk food free school! It is critically important to us that our scholars have a healthy mind and body. Please make certain that your child comes to school with a healthy lunch or snack. Items such as soda, candy, etc. should not be brought to school and will be taken from children to be returned at the end of the school day.

Physical Education

Our school provides physical education, ranging from once a week to daily. We believe it's important for scholars to have the opportunity to move, to collaborate, to compete, and to recharge.

Field Trips

Everyone looks forward to field trips! Field trips are a fun and essential part of your child’s education. Teachers will send home permission slips before the scheduled trip date. A parent/guardian MUST sign all permission slips in order for their child to attend field trips. Teachers may ask for chaperones to ensure the safety of all scholars during the trip. Please make every effort to attend if you are asked. This will be a great opportunity to engage in the learning process with your child.

Dismissal Procedures

It's important to end the day on the right foot, because we'll all be together again tomorrow, working towards the same goals: success and excellence. Our school has a very structured dismissal procedure that allows for smooth transitions from classrooms to the school yard. Adults are ever-present, saying goodbye to scholars, providing positive reinforcement for the work they've accomplished throughout the day, and encouraging them. Students are dismissed promptly at 2:40 in the backyard. We will use the auditorium for dismissal during inclement weather.

Scholars Leaving Early

Students are permitted to leave school early only if a parent/guardian, or a designated person listed on the blue emergency card, comes to the school in person and signs the student out of the building in the main office before 2:20 PM. This is done for safety and security reasons. Anyone picking up a student during school hours must have proper identification and be over 18 years of age and listed on our school’s escort sheet. There will be no exceptions made to this policy!

Homework

Homework and projects are an integral part of our school life and are a major consideration when a teacher evaluates a student’s overall performance. Generally, students who do their homework assignments regularly have a greater understanding and appreciation of the subject. Homework will be considered as part of each lesson, whether as an introduction to a new topic or as a review of the previous day’s work. An important part of homework is independent reading. Reading at home or in school is done for a purpose. Family members who read to or who read with their children will ensure an appreciation for literature, a well-rounded vocabulary and eventually higher grades. All students should obtain public library cards. We provide libraries in each +classroom with different reading levels and genres. To make homework time productive, you can do any of the following:

● Assign a definite time each day for study at home.

● Utilize library facilities in your neighborhood

● Have a place at home to study, with all necessary books, and materials available.

● Look over your work every night.

● Be proud of the work your child has done!

Dial-A-Teacher (https://dialateacher.org/) is a free service for all students who need help with their homework. Call (212) 777-3380 Mondays-Thursdays from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM when school is in session.

If you have concerns about the work or the grades, make an appointment to speak with the teacher or to our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Peña.

Attendance, Absences and Latenesses

Regular attendance is necessary for success in school. One hundred percent (100%) attendance is the goal of every scholar at P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy. If your child is sick, please send in a doctor’s note or a written note the day your child returns to school.

If you know that your child will be absent in advance, please inform the main office, your child’s teacher or mentor. After one unexcused absence, your child’s teacher or mentor will call home. If absences continue, a meeting will be scheduled with administration or a home visit will be conducted. Please be sure to schedule family vacations during the school holidays to avoid interrupting your child’s education. Any student that has an attendance rate less than 90%, which means they have missed more than 10 days of school, may be retained.

Communication

When parents and teachers regularly share information about a child and what’s happening in the classroom, it supports the learning process from all sides, setting up students for success.

We will communicate in the following ways:

● Homework Folder

● Monthly Class newsletters and Calendar

● Email, Phone and Text messages

● Notifications on PS 194 App

● Class Dojo

Families can communicate with the school in the following ways:

● Email. The emails of support staff members can be found in the Staff Contact Information section of this handbook.

● Appointment. You can call the main office at (212) 690-5954 during school hours to schedule an appointment with any staff member.

● Write a note and put it in your child’s homework folder.

Please understand that teachers are unable to receive calls, respond to emails or meet with families during instructional times, arrival or dismissal.

NYC Schools Account

The NYC Schools account, also known as NYCSA, provides families access to key information about your child’s progress in school, including attendance, report card grades, state test scores and more. To set up an account, visit https://mystudent.nyc. Please note, in order to apply for Kindergarten and middle school and to vote in Community and Citywide Education Council Elections, you must have an active NYC Schools Account. If you need assistance, please contact Ms. Peña.

Behavior Expectations/Code of Conduct

All of our scholars have a right to attend a school that is safe, inclusive and conducive to learning. School staff will explicitly review behavioral expectations with all children on the first day of school. Your child will also receive a copy of the NYC Department of Education Discipline Code and Bill of Student Rights and Responsibilities so you can review those expectations at home.

In-School Behavior Expectations

Students are expected to be in class on time, and to demonstrate courteous behavior so that each individual’s rights are respected and everyone can learn in an orderly environment. Teachers will discuss and review classroom rules at the beginning of the school year, and will continue to implement them throughout the year.

Out-of-School Behavior Expectations

When scholars are on field trips and special events outside of the school building, they are expected to represent the core values of PS 194, which are perseverance, optimism, wisdom, excellence, and responsibility. This includes behavior when using social media. We all have the responsibility of teaching our children about digital citizenship. Please visit for more information and resources to help you speak with your child about appropriate use of social media. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/digital-citizenship/social-media-guidelines-for-students-12-and-younger

Dress Code

P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy is a uniform school. All scholars are required to wear the school, which includes:

● Royal Blue uniform shirt (one shirt is provided to every scholar)

● Black bottom (pants, skirts, jumpers)

● All black sneakers - no flip flops, toes out, high heels, slippery bottoms

This year, families have the option of purchasing PS 194 uniforms at https://www.idealuniform.com/PS194

In addition, to the above uniform regulations, the following rules apply:

a) Expensive jewelry or large sums of money should not be brought to school.

b) Cell phones may be brought to school but can and will be taken away if used inappropriately and/or at the wrong time.

c) Candy, gum, glass bottled soda and other unhealthy snacks should not be brought to school.

Cellphone and Electronics Policy

● Students are permitted to bring the following electronic items to school: 1) cell phones; 2) laptops, tablets, iPads and other similar computing devices; and 3) portable music and entertainment systems (such as iPods, MP3 players, PSP and Nintendo DS and keep them safely stored.

● Cell phones and portable music and entertainment systems may not be turned on during instructional time or used during the administration of any school quiz, test or examination.

● Cell phones, computing devices and portable music and entertainment systems may not be turned on or used during school fire drills or other emergency preparedness exercises.

● Cell phones, computing devices, and portable music and entertainment systems may not be used during school hours unless being used for instructional purposes.

Toys and Other Personal Possessions

Scholars who bring any of the following, or similar items to school will have these taken and it will be returned only when the parent/ guardian comes to school.

● Electronic games

● Toys

● Sports equipment (including basketballs)

● Jewelry and expensive items

If any of the above items come to school and are damaged, misplaced or lost, the school will not be held responsible.

POWER Points

POWER Points are provided to students who demonstrate the attribute during the month. The Power Points will be redeemable at the school store or as entrance into our monthly POWER Party.

Health and Safety

Emergency Contact Cards

In order to ensure the safety and security of all our scholars, it is necessary that the Blue Cards and Dismissal Plan forms are fully complete and returned to school immediately. If there are any changes to your address or phone number, it is imperative that you update these documents in the main office as soon as possible. We need a minimum of three (3) individuals with the following information; names, addresses, working telephone numbers, and their relationship to the student listed on both forms so we can make contact with you in case of an emergency.

Immunizations

New York State law requires that all children entering elementary school be immunized against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, 2 Hepatitis A, 3 Hepatitis B and Varicella.

Before a child can be permitted to enter and attend school (subject to the 14-day initial waiver requirement), parents or guardians must present documentation that their child has received all required doses of vaccines or that their child has received at least one does of each of the required vaccines and is waiting to receive the subsequent doses at the appropriate time intervals. P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy must receive a certificate of immunization no later than September 29, 2022. These requirements can be waived only if a properly signed health or religious exemption is filed with the school.

Illness During School Day

If a scholar becomes ill or injured during the school day and is not well enough to stay in class, the parent/guardian will be called to pick the child up. It is necessary to have updated emergency contact numbers on file in the school office in case no one can be contacted at home. If the person picking up the child is not the parent/legal guardian of the child, they must: a) be given explicit written permission to pick up the child and, b) be 18 years or older.

Medication

Scholars may not bring medication to school. If your child must take medication during the school day, you must speak with the staff in the medical clinic in room 113. We must have a Medication Authorization Form, signed by a doctor, that details specific information regarding dosage and times the medication needs to be administered. Please contact the main office for the correct forms for the doctor to fill out. If there are any concerns about medicine, allergies and overall health, please let the school secretary know.

Allergies

It is extremely important that you notify the school if your child has any allergies. If your child has an allergy that requires medication, such as Benadryl or an Epi-Pen, you must supply the medication to the school, along with the Medication Authorization Form described above, so we can administer it in case of an emergency.

Asthma

Scholars with asthma must have an inhaler prescribed by their doctor in the medical room along with the signed Medication Authorization Form described above. Asthmatic students should notify a P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy staff member immediately as soon as breathing becomes difficult.

Student Support Services

Section 504

Any general education scholar who is on long-term medication or needs treatment in school, may obtain an authorization form “Section 504 services” from the main office. The school is not authorized to give medication without this form.

Counseling Services

The School Guidance Counselor and School Social Worker, along with Partnership With Children’s (PWC) Social Workers at P.S. 194 Countee Cullen Academy are available to help any student or parent address social, emotional or academic issues they may be facing. In addition, our Guidance Counselor and Social Workers help scholars work through and cope with personal and school related stress. At P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy every scholar is entitled to counseling support and referral services. Counseling support is also extended to P.S. 194 COUNTEE CULLEN ACADEMY families in need.

There are several ways in which scholars may be referred for counseling services:

● If a parent is interested in having their child seen by our Guidance Counselor/PWC Social Workers, please contact the Guidance Counselor/Social Worker on staff and/or the Principal

● Scholars are able to ask directly to speak with the Guidance Counselor/PWC Social Workers on staff

● A scholar may also be referred at the recommendation of a Teacher, Social Worker or Principal

Please understand that we are required to respect the rights and privacy of our scholars and families and as a result all information and counseling services are confidential and cannot be shared, except in instances required by law.

Food Services

PS 194 Countee Cullen Academy has breakfast and lunch programs that are available to all students. All scholars can eat breakfast and lunch for free, every day. Both breakfast and lunch programs provide all of our scholars with a healthy, nutritious and balanced meal.

Assessment and Grading Policies

To monitor our scholar’s progress, all scholars in grades K-2 will take assessments throughout the year. All 3rd-5th grade scholars will take the simulation assessments and New York State ELA and Math tests in April and May. Parents will be notified about assessment results via the NYCSA.

Report Cards

Report cards are issued three times a year:

November 3, 2023

March 8, 2024

June 26, 2024

Daily attendance and completion of classwork and homework will increase your child’s chances of achieving academic excellence. The final grade is cumulative and based on all three marking periods, and attendance.

Promotion to the Next Grade

Our promotion process ensures that students receive the support they need to succeed in the next grade level. For all students, we review many pieces of student work to determine if students are ready for the next grade level. Special considerations are made for students with disabilities and students who are English Language Learners. In January, we identify students who are not on track to meeting promotion benchmarks at the end of the school year. In collaboration with families, we create plans to support students who are at risk of falling behind. In June, we review students work again and make final determinations. Students who do not meet promotional criteria, must attend summer programming.

Parent Engagement Opportunities

Research shows that high performing schools have high, active parent engagement. Our goal is to make P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy the number one school in Harlem and therefore, we need your support. Participation in any of the following activities is strongly encouraged in order to make our school community stronger and to provide the best for our scholars.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The PTA is made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and school support staff, who are devoted to the educational success of all scholars. Below are the tentative dates for this year’s PTA meetings:

October 6, 2023	February 2, 2024
November 3, 2023	March 1, 2024
December 1, 2023	April 5, 2024
January 5, 2024	May 3, 2024

School Leadership Team (SLT)

The purpose of the SLT is to make school-wide decisions. It is a place where parents, administrators, and staff members have an opportunity to communicate regularly and to share ideas. Below are the tentative dates for the 2023-24 school year:

September 13, 2023	February 14, 2024
October 11, 2023	March 13, 2024
November 8, 2023	April 10, 2024
December 13, 2023	May 15, 2024
January 10, 2024	June 12, 2024

Parent-Teacher Conferences and Communication

To develop a strong parent/teacher relationship, every teacher at P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy will be communicating with parents daily. Some methods of outreach include phone calls, notes, face to face meetings, Class Dojo and emails. If you would like to communicate with your child’s teachers via email please provide your email to the teacher. Teachers will also prepare a monthly newsletter which they will distribute at the beginning of every month. We encourage you to develop a system such as creating a binder which will allow you to keep all newsletters in order to refer back to them.

Community Circle and Family Breakfast

Community Circle will be held on the first Friday of each month. Community Circle occurs from 8:30am–9:00am and promptly followed by a PTA meeting. In addition, we will also have several Family Breakfast events. All parents are invited to participate. These events are designed to provide families an opportunity to celebrate scholars and families in many areas. This is also a time to have open discussion around learning and other school related topics.

October 6, 2023	February 2, 2024
November 3, 2023	March 1, 2024
December 1, 2023	April 5, 2024
January 5, 2024	May 3, 2024

Staff Contact Information

You can always call the main office at (212) 690-5954/5 if you need to speak to a member of our school’s support staff. Or you can reach us by emailing us. See information below.

Name	Title	Email
Wanda Acevedo	Principal	wacevedo@schools.nyc.gov
Colleen Cornwall-Lewis	Assistant Principal	ccornwalllewis@schools.nyc.gov
Clara Peña	Parent Coordinator	cpena@schools.nyc.gov
Kelly Sutherland	Community Associate	ksutherland5@schools.nyc.gov
Caprice Simmons-Young	Community Associate	cyoung12@schools.nyc.gov
Derek Anello	School Social Worker	danello4@schools.nyc.gov
Xiomara Rivera	School Guidance Counselor	xrivera2@schools.nyc.gov
Shalibra Frazier	Special Education Coordinator	sfrazier7@schools.nyc.gov
Shannon Fiore	Partnership with Children Social Work Director	sfiore@partnershipwithchildren.org

PS 194 Family-Scholar Handbook 2023-2024 Receipt

This handbook describes the commitments that we must make to each other this school year in order for our children to achieve success academically and social-emotionally, which are outlined below:

School Staff Commitments

● High Quality Education – We will do whatever it takes to nurture and strengthen our students’ creativity, knowledge, and character as we prepare them to excel in school and in life.

● Support and Respect – We promise to respect, appreciate, and support every student. We will work together with you for the benefit of your child and all the children attending P.S. 194 Countee Cullen.

● Communication – We promise to communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress, both socially and academically, and make ourselves available in person and by phone.

● Civility Code – We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with you. We know that we are all on the same team and we will conduct ourselves in a respectful manner.

● Fairness – We will address the values of P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy consistently and fairly.

● Safety – We will always protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals.

Parent/Guardian Commitment

● Attendance and Punctuality – We will make sure our child comes to school every day by 8:20 AM.

● Support and Homework – We will provide a quiet place for our child to study. We will check our child’s homework every night and ensure that our child reads and/or is read to every night.

● Communication – We will make ourselves available to our children, the school, and address any concerns they might have.

● Civility Code – We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with the school. We know that we are all on the same team and we will conduct ourselves in a respectful manner.

● Dress Code – We will make sure that our child follows the P.S. 194M Countee Cullen Academy dress code and comes to school dressed in full uniform every day.