Dear Parents/Guardians,

The next “Plastic Free Lunch Day” will happen at your child’s school on November 29!

What is Plastic Free Lunch Day?

A day when school lunch is prepared without plastic in the cafeteria. In New York City elementary schools, it happens once every three weeks! Middle and high schools have different types of meal service and may not be able to prepare all school lunches without plastic. However, they can still reduce plastic from home lunches, and work with kitchen staff and Principal on options to reduce plastic. All schools are encouraged to take part in reducing plastic waste.

Why reduce our plastic use?

Plastic is made from fossil fuels. After we use plastic, it does not break down. It becomes small plastic pieces (“microplastics”) that stay around forever. This hurts the Earth and our health.

Reducing plastic in our schools helps protect the environment and student health. It empowers our students to make positive changes in their community, and take climate action.

Together, we can take steps to reduce plastic. Here’s how you can help!

• Pack a reusable water bottle for your child to use.
• Pack reusable utensils for them to use during mealtimes. 
• If your child brings food from home, use reusable containers, paper bags, or aluminum foil instead of plastic bags or wrap.

Thank you to our partner organizations Cafeteria Culture and the Urban School Food Alliance.  Together we can build a better future for our students and our planet!

El 29 de noviembre, la escuela de su hijo celebrará el próximo "Día de almuerzo sin plástico".

¿En qué consiste el "Día de almuerzo sin plástico"?

Es un día en el que la cafetería no utiliza plástico para servir el almuerzo y se celebra cada tres semanas en las escuelas primarias de la Ciudad de Nueva York. Las escuelas intermedias y secundarias ofrecen varios tipos de comidas, y algunas de ellas podrían no poderse servir sin utilizar plástico. Sin embargo, estas escuelas pueden reducir el uso del plástico de las comidas caseras y buscar opciones para reducir el uso del plástico en colaboración con el personal de cocina y el director. Animamos a todas las escuelas a participar en la iniciativa de reducción de residuos plásticos.

¿Por qué reducir el uso del plástico?

El plástico se produce a partir de combustibles fósiles. El plástico no se descompone después de utilizarlo, sino que se convierte en trozos pequeños de plástico, o microplásticos, que no se descomponen nunca. Esto es dañino, tanto para la Tierra como para nuestra salud. La reducción del uso de plásticos en nuestras escuelas ayuda a proteger el medioambiente y la salud de los estudiantes, y también empodera a los estudiantes para que hagan cambios positivos en su comunidad y tomen acción contra el cambio climático.

Juntos podemos reducir el uso de plásticos. Usted puede ayudar de la siguiente manera:

• Empáquele a su hijo una botella de agua reutilizable para su uso diario.
• Empáquele a su hijo cubiertos reutilizables para que los use a la hora de comer.
• Si su hijo trae comida de casa, utilice envases reutilizables y bolsas de papel o papel aluminio en lugar de bolsas plásticas o papel envolvente de plástico.

Queremos agradecerles a nuestras organizaciones colaboradoras Cafeteria Culture y Urban School Food Alliance. ¡Juntos podemos construir un futuro mejor para nuestros estudiantes y nuestro planeta!

什麽是「無塑料午餐日」?

在這一天,學校食堂在準備午餐時不使用塑料製品。 在紐約市小學,每三個星期就有這麽

一天! 初中和高中學校有不同類型的餐飲服務,可能無法在不使用塑料製品的情況下準備

所有學校午餐。 但是,他們仍可以在家裏準備午餐時減少使用塑料製品,並與學校厨房工

作人員和校長合作,做出減少使用塑料製品的選擇。我們鼓勵所有學校都參與減少塑料廢

物的活动。

爲什麽要減少塑料製品的使用?

塑料是從化石燃料中生產出來的。在我們使用塑料之後,塑料並不會分解。它會變成細小

的塑料碎片(「微塑料」)而永遠存在。這會損害地球和我們的健康。

減少我們學校中的塑料使用有助於保護環境和學生的健康。它讓我們的學生有能力在社區中做出積極的改變,並採取氣候行動。

我們一起可以採取步驟來減少塑料的使用。以下是您可以幫助的方法!

• 為您的子女準備一個可重複使用的水瓶。
• 讓他們帶上可重複使用的餐具在午膳時使用。
• 如果您的子女從家裏帶飯,則使用可重複使用的飯盒、紙袋子或鋁箔紙,而不用塑

料袋或塑料保鮮膜。

感謝我們的合作組織「食堂文化」和「城市學校膳食聯盟」。我們同心協力,可以為我們

的學生和我們的地球創建一個更美好的未來!

Dear PS 163 community,

Our sincerest thanks to everyone for making the festival a fun family night. Thank you Ms. Marsaggi, Ms. Kaul and Mr. Barone for your constant support. Thank you to the staff and teachers for spreading the excitement about the festival. Thank you to the janitorial crew for the setup and cleanup. Much appreciation to security for ensuring our safety.

Our most heartfelt gratitude to each and every volunteer: parents who prepped and designed for weeks, people who showed up to run the games and stations, and gracious volunteers like Ms. Tiffany Tung and Ms. Chen (203). The festival was only possible because of your altruism and dedication.

To the entire PS163 community, this event was an overwhelming success because of you. This was the first PTA in-person event in many years and it was a profound experience to see the community come together. We would love to see your photos or videos from the festival as well as your experience and feedback. Please share them with us at ps163q@gmail.com.

Thank you everyone!

PTA

***********************************************************************************************************

亲爱的 PS 163 社区，

我们衷心感谢大家让这个秋日游园会成为一个有趣的家庭之夜。感谢校长Marsaggi 女士、副校长 Kaul 女士和Barone 先生一直以来的支持。感谢工作人员和老师传播节日的热情。感谢清洁人员的布置和清理工作。非常感谢保安确保我们的安全。

我们对每一位志愿者表示最衷心的感谢：花了数周时间准备和设计的家长、现场带游戏和站岗的每一位，以及像Tiffany Tung女士和陈老师（203）这样亲切的志愿者。这次活动之所以能够完满成功，是因为你们的无私和奉献精神。

对于整个 PS163 社区来说，这次活动因为你们而取得了无比的成功。这是多年来第一次 PTA／家长会面对面的实体活动，看到社区聚集在一起是一次深刻的经历。我们很乐意看到您在节日中的照片或视频以及您的体验和反馈。诚挚邀请您通过 ps163q@gmail.com 与我们分享。

谢谢大家！

PTA

***********************************************************************************************************

Estimada comunidad de PS 163,

Nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a todos por hacer del festival una noche familiar divertida. Gracias Sra. Marsaggi, Sra. Kaul y Sr. Barone por su constante apoyo. Gracias al personal y a los maestros por difundir el entusiasmo por el festival. Gracias al equipo de limpieza por la instalación y limpieza. Mucho agradecimiento a seguridad por garantizar nuestra seguridad.

Nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a todos y cada uno de los voluntarios: padres que prepararon y diseñaron durante semanas, personas que se presentaron para dirigir los juegos y las estaciones, y amables voluntarios como la Sra. Tiffany Tung y la Sra. Chen (203). El festival sólo fue posible gracias a vuestro altruismo y dedicación.

Para toda la comunidad de PS163, este evento fue un éxito abrumador gracias a ustedes. Este fue el primer evento presencial de la PTA en muchos años y fue una experiencia profunda ver a la comunidad reunirse. Nos encantaría ver tus fotos o vídeos del festival, así como tu experiencia y comentarios. Compártalos con nosotros en ps163q@gmail.com.

¡Gracias a todos!

PTA

WhatsApp English/Español

 Respect for all Parent Letter Eng/中文/Espanol.docx 

Dear Parents and Students:

Each student and staff member brings to our school community the richness of our city’s cultural diversity and the desire for respect. We are committed to promoting respect for diversity among students and between students and staff so that all of our students feel valued, safe and supported.

It is the policy of the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to maintain a safe and supportive learning and educational environment that is free from harassment, intimidation and/or bullying, sexual, harassment, and discrimination on account of actual or perceived race, color, age, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.

It is a violation of DOE policy for any DOE employee to discriminate against or create a hostile environment for a student by conduct and/or verbal or written acts on school property, or at a school function, on the basis of any of the above-noted grounds. Please see Chancellor’s Regulation A-830 for additional information regarding this policy.

It is also a violation of DOE policy and of the Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student Learning (DOE’s Discipline Code; https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode) for any student to discriminate against another student on account of actual or perceived race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight, or to harass, intimidate or bully another student or to sexually harass another student. Please see Chancellor’s Regulations A-831 and A-832 [https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/policies/chancellors-regulations/volume-a-regulations], and the Discipline Code, for additional information regarding DOE’s policy. 

It is further the policy of the DOE to prohibit retaliation against any student, parent, or DOE employee who in good faith reports or participates in an investigation of allegations of student-to-student harassment, intimidation and/or bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination.

Our school’s Respect for All (RFA) Liaison(s) to whom students and parents can make reports of student-to-student discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying, is (are) Jbarone3@schools.nyc.gov.

Our school’s Sexual Harassment Prevention (SHP) Liaison to whom students and parents can make reports of student-to-student sexual harassment is Jbarone3@schools.nyc.gov

The RFA and SHP Liaisons can be reached by calling the school at 718- 353- 2514 or at Jbarone3@schools.nyc.gov.

Students, parents, and individuals other than staff may report allegations of student-to-student discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying or student-to-student sexual harassment verbally, or in writing, by submitting  a Student and Parent Complaint/Reporting Form [https://www.schools.nyc.gov/RespectForAll], to the principal/designee or the RFA or SHP liaison, or any other school staff member, or via the online portal available at https://www.nycenet.edu/bullyingreporting.

Any student or parent of a student who feels that the student has been discriminated against by a DOE employee may file a complaint with the DOE’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) by contacting:

Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management

110 William Street, 15^th Floor, New York, New, York 10038 at 718-935-3320.

OEO Complaint Form (https://www.nycenet.edu/oeo)

Gender-based discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment), whether by a staff member or a student, can also be reported to the DOE Title IX Coordinator at Title_IX_Inquiries@schools.nyc.gov.

Some of the conduct that is prohibited by Chancellor’s Regulations A-831 and A-832 is also prohibited by Title IX, which is a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination and harassment in schools and DOE’s programs and activities. In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Education adopted regulations which revise the type of behavior prohibited by Title IX and the procedures for investigating allegations of Title IX student-on-student sexual harassment, stalking, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault.  In some cases, depending on the nature of the allegations, the Title IX Team will conduct its own separate investigation, in addition to the investigation conducted by the school. If this occurs, a member of the Title IX team will reach out to you. Please refer to the Title IX webpage [https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/policies/non-discrimination-policy/title-ix] for additional information regarding Title IX. The U.S. Department of Education is expected to adopt updated Title IX regulations during the 2023-2024 school year. DOE will communicate key information to parents.

We look forward to a productive school year as we work together to promote Respect for All [https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/respect-for-all/respect-for-all-handouts]. Please feel free to contact me or our schools RFA and SHP liaisons if you have any questions regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

Francine A. Marsaggi

中文: covid-19-symptoms-what-to-do-factsheet-ch

Español:  covid-19-symptoms-what-to-do-factsheet-sp

September 2023

Dear Families, 

The NYC Public Schools is committed to ensuring safe, supportive, and inclusive environments in all schools. We
successfully foster these environments by providing professional learning for teachers and school staff on how to
support students who may be experiencing challenges in or outside of the school day and by engaging families as
partners in our school communities.

Driven by our Four Pillars for Building Trust in NYC Public Schools https://www.schools.nyc.gov/FourPillars), we know
that schools need to prioritize wellness and its link to student success, as well as be culturally responsive spaces where
all children are affirmed and where all families are engaged as true partners. Our school communities are working
diligently to support the social-emotional, mental, and physical health and safety of our students.

We ask that you, along with your child, review the Chancellor’s Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support Student
Learning (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode), which includes the Discipline Code and outlines the K-12 Student Bill of
Rights and Responsibilities (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/StudentRights), protections for students with disabilities, and
expectations for student behavior. The Discipline Code outlines how school staff will address behavioral issues with a
focus on restorative approaches.

Please discuss these behavioral expectations with your child. The Discipline Code applies to all students—and
includes both supports and interventions, as well as disciplinary responses. Please note that the 2019-20 Discipline Code
remains in effect for the 2023-24 school year. The full Discipline Code is available in all NYC Public Schools supported
languages at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode and can be provided by your school in paper copy, upon request.
We thank you in advance for reviewing the Discipline Code and for your partnership in contributing to a supportive, safe,
and inclusive school climate. Thank you for making our school community better, stronger, and safer for all children. If
you have any questions, please contact your school’s principal.

Best wishes for the upcoming school year! 

Best regards,
Mark Rampersant,
Chief, Safety and Prevention Partnerships
New York City Public Schools

Estimada familia:

El Sistema de Escuelas Públicas de la Ciudad de Nueva York (NYC Public Schools, NYCPS) se compromete a garantizar entornos
seguros, solidarios e inclusivos en todas las escuelas. Fomentamos con éxito estos entornos proporcionando capacitación
profesional a los maestros y al personal de las escuelas sobre cómo apoyar a los estudiantes que puedan estar enfrentando
dificultades durante o fuera del horario escolar y haciendo partícipes a las familias como colaboradores en nuestras
comunidades educativas.

Guiados por nuestros Cuatro pilares para generar confianza en las escuelas públicas de la Ciudad de Nueva York
(https://www.schools.nyc.gov/FourPillars), sabemos que las escuelas deben priorizar el bienestar de los estudiantes y el
efecto que genera en el buen desempeño académico, así como ser espacios que tomen en cuenta la diversidad cultural donde
todos los estudiantes sean valorados y todas las familias puedan participar como verdaderos colaboradores. Nuestras
comunidades escolares trabajan activamente para apoyar la salud y la seguridad socioemocional, mental y física de los
estudiantes.

Le pedimos que revise junto a su hijo las Expectativas de conducta para apoyar el aprendizaje estudiantil en la Ciudad, del
canciller (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode) que incluye el Código Disciplinario y describe la Declaración de Derechos y
Responsabilidades de los Estudiantes de kínder a 12.o Grado (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/StudentRights), las protecciones
para los estudiantes con discapacidades y las expectativas de conducta estudiantil. El Código Disciplinario describe cómo el
personal escolar abordará los problemas de conducta centrándose en enfoques restaurativos.

Converse con su hijo sobre estas expectativas de conducta. El Código Disciplinario se aplica a todos los estudiantes e incluye
tanto apoyos como intervenciones, además de respuestas disciplinarias. Tenga en cuenta que el Código Disciplinario del año
escolar 2019-2020 seguirá vigente para el 2023-2024. El Código Disciplinario está disponible en los 10 idiomas del NYCPS en
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode y su escuela puede proporcionarle una copia impresa, si lo solicita.

De antemano le agradecemos por revisar el Código Disciplinario y por su colaboración para crear un entorno escolar solidario,
seguro e inclusivo. Gracias por ayudarnos a que nuestra comunidad escolar sea mejor, más sólida y más segura para todos los
estudiantes. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con el director de la escuela de su hijo.

各位家長：

紐約市公校系統致力於確保所有學校的環境安全、支援學習和包容。我們成功地促使這種環境的產生，方法是為
教師和學校職員提供專業學習機會，指導他們如何支援在上學日或以外時間遇到困難之中學生，以及讓學生家庭
成為學校社區的夥伴。

在我們的於紐約市公立學校建立信任的四個支柱(https://www.schools.nyc.gov/FourPillars)的驅動下，我們知道學
校需要將健康及其與學生成功的聯繫當作頭等大事，並且成爲文化回應場所，在這裏所有學生都得到鼓勵，所有
家庭都作爲真正的合作夥伴而參與教育。

我們的學校社區勤奮工作，支援學生的社交情緒、身心健康和安全。
請您和子女一起細閱教育總監的《全市促進學生學習行爲期許》(Citywide Behavioral Expectations to Support
Student Learning)(https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode)，當中包括《紀律準則》和《幼稚園至 12 年級學生權利與
責任法案》(K-12 Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities)的槪述(https://www.schools.nyc.gov/StudentRights)、對殘
障學生的保護和對學生行爲的期望。《紀律準則》槪述了學校的職員如何以修復式的方法處理學生的行為問題。

請與子女討論這些行為的期望。《紀律準則》適用於所有學生──包含支援和干預措施以及紀律處分。請注意，
2019-20 學年《紀律準則》在 2023-24 學年仍有效。紐約市公校系統所支援的各種語言版本的《紀律準則》全
文：https://www.schools.nyc.gov/DCode，您也可以向子女學校索取印刷版。

謝謝您預先查看《紀律準則》，並與我們合作，為營造支援學習、安全和包容的學校氛圍而貢獻力量。謝謝您為
所有的學生，使學校社區變得更好、更強和更安全。如果您有任何問題，請與子女學校的校長聯絡。
祝大家在這個學年一切順利﹗

 annual-ferpa-notice 23-24 CHINESE

annual-ferpa-notice 23-24 SPANISH

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents and students age 18 and older rights over student education records. The Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security provides you with additional provides additional information.
Among other things, you have the right to:

• Inspect and review your child’s education records within 45 days after the DOE receives your request.
o You should submit a written request that identifies the record(s) you wish to inspect.
o Your child’s school will notify you of the time and place where you may inspect the records.
• Request changes to your child’s education records when you believe they are inaccurate, misleading, or violate your child’s privacy rights under FERPA.
o You should make requests to amend records in writing, and identify what you want changed and the reason for doing so.
o If the DOE decides not to amend records as requested, you will be notified of the decision, and of your right to a hearing and certain hearing procedures.
• Provide written consent before personally identifiable information in your child’s education records is disclosed. However, in certain cases, FERPA allows disclosure without consent. Cases permitting disclosure without consent include:
o Disclosure to school officials who need to review education records to fulfill their professional responsibilities. School officials include:
▪ DOE employees (such as administrators, supervisors, teachers, other instructors, or support staff members); and
▪ People whom the DOE engages to perform services or functions for which it would otherwise use its employees. These include (a) individuals and entities providing DOE services and functions through contracts, (b) employees of other government agencies providing DOE-related services or functions, such as attorneys in the NYC Law Department representing the DOE, and school nurses and Office of School Health staff employed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, (c) parents, students, or other volunteers assisting other school officials in performing their tasks, and (d) other qualifying individuals or organizations, such as consultants and community-based organizations, but only if they have agreed in writing to keep student information confidential.
• When records are requested by officials of another school, district or education institution in which your child seeks or plans to enroll, or is already enrolled if made for purposes of your child’s enrollment or transfer.
• Other exceptions exist that permit disclosure of personally identifiable information without consent include certain types of disclosures. Some are listed below. Most of these types of disclosures are subject to certain additional requirements and limitations. Please see FERPA and Chancellor’s Regulation A-820 for more information about them.
▪ to authorized representatives of government entities and officials in connection with audits, evaluations, or certain other activities;
▪ in connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received;
▪ to organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the NYCDOE;
▪ to accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions;
▪ to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
▪ to appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency; and
▪ of information that the NYCDOE has designated as “directory information.”
• File a complaint with the USDOE if you believe the NYC DOE failed to comply with FERPA’s requirements. Complaints may be filed here:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue
SW Washington, DC 20202-8520
or by email to FERPA.Complaints@ed.gov