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Bronx Parent Newsletter - April 21, 2016

News Stories

Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

I hope your family has a wonderful spring break next week.

The UFT will host our Be BRAVE Against Bullying Conference from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway on the second floor. This is a great chance to learn about organizations that know how to stop bullying and speak with anti-bullying advocates, vendors and allies. We will also feature our student video awards ceremony highlighting student efforts to create welcoming and inclusive school environments. I hope you can join us!

RSVP online now »

Remember to sign up for UFT text messaging by texting the word "parent" to the number 30644 and answering the questions that follow. We'll alert you about school cancellations, political campaigns and breaking news. And, we'll even send a text message that links to a copy of your newsletter you can easily read on your mobile phone.

Enjoy the events, resources and news below.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cruz
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

  • Saturday, April 23: Come to a free United States citizenship workshop from the UFT from noon to 3 p.m. at the UFT Bronx borough office, 2500 Halsey St. Get help with the citizenship application and legal consultation. You will need to bring your green card, Social Security card and other documents. Please spread the word to your friends and family members who could also use this support. For a flier and registration information, see the event listing on the UFT website »
  • Saturday, April 23: High school students are invited to a Black College Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an after show from 3 to 5 p.m, at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens. Learn about college admissions, scholarship opportunities and more. Tickets are $8. For more details and to register, see the website »
  • Sunday, April 24: The New York City stop of the National College Fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. High school students will be able to meet one-on-one with college representatives and talk to counselors about choosing a major, financial aid, scholarships and more. Preregistration is required. RSVP online now » or see the flier in English and Spanish »
  • Tuesday, April 26–Friday, April 29: The UFT and its partners invite fathers and male caregivers to a career development week and job fair at PS 59, 2185 Bathgate Ave. in the Bronx. There will be workshops Tuesday through Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. on resume writing, interview techniques and more, culminating in a job fair on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Breakfast will be served daily. To sign up, contact Mr. Ramirez at 347-601-3704. See the flier »
  • Saturday, April 30: Come to a free Brooklyn college expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. John's Recreation Center, 1251 Prospect Place between Schenectady and Troy Aves. Learn about scholarships and admissions for CUNY, SUNY and more colleges and universities. See the flier »
  • Thursday, May 5: You're invited to the second annual "HERspanic" achievement celebration, a night of music, dancing, food and entertainment to celebrate the accomplishments of Latinas. This event will run from 6 to 11 p.m. at 240 E. 123rd St. in Manhattan. Tickets start at $50. Register online now »
  • Saturday, May 7: The Department of Education will host its Bronx parent conference on special education from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hostos Community College, 120 E. 149th St. in D building. This free event is a great opportunity to learn about special education and connect with other special education families. Breakfast will be served. RSVP online now » or see the flier in English and Spanish »
  • Saturday, May 7: Lehman College invites families to its free "city of science," event: a day of discovery in the Bronx from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W, Gate 7. Drop in to enjoy fun, interactive science exhibits. See the flier in English and Spanish »
  • Thursday, May 12: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. invites you to a parent leaders appreciation dinner from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bronx County Courthouse, 851 Grand Concourse. Celebrate parent leaders and advocates like you with an evening of dinner and dancing. RSVP by emailing educationRSVP@bronxBP.nyc.gov. For more information, call 718-590-6012 or see the flier »
  • Saturday, May 14: Bronx Writing Academy, a UFT Community Learning School, invites families to its free second annual community fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 270 E. 167th St. There will be live music, zumba, face painting, raffles, basketball and more. See the flier »
  • Saturday, May 14: East Bronx Academy and Phipps Neighborhoods Community Schools present a free Bronx holistic and natural healing day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1716 Southern Blvd. There will be spa services, cooking demonstrations, soap making workshops and more. For more information, see the flier »
  • Tuesday, May 17: Come to a Borough of Manhattan Community College open house to learn about all the college's educational programs, including allied health, emergency management, media arts and more. This free orientation will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 25 Broadway on the 8th floor. A light breakfast will be served. Register online now »
  • Saturday, June 11: Save the date for a UFT and Community Learning Schools community fair at PS 18 in the Bronx, 502 Morris Ave. More details will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, you can contact Mia Martinez at 646-630-0065 or mmartinez@uft.org for more information or to get involved. See the flier in English and Spanish »
  • Saturday, June 11: The Bronx YMCA invites you to its "get-in-gear" street fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2 Castle Hill Ave. in the Bronx. There will be refreshments, arts and crafts, a clown, face painting and more. For more information, contact Carla Singleton at csingleton@ymcanyc.org or see the flier »

News and Resources

  • Enroll in a free diabetes prevention program in the Bronx: BronxWorks invites adults who are overweight or at risk for diabetes to join a free weekly 6-month diabetes prevention education program. Get free resources and incentives to take charge of your health in a supportive team environment. Classes have already begun at the BronxWorks location, but in Bronxchester, 514 156th St., classes will start on April 27 and continue weekly from 11 a.m. to noon. To enroll, contact Rachel Gill at 718-508-3156 or rgill@bronxworks.org. See the flier »
  • Principals must get approval for K–3 suspensions: A footnote in the Department of Education's discipline code requires principals to seek authorization from the Office of Safety and Youth Development before suspending students in kindergarten through third grade. You can read the entire discipline code on the DOE website »
  • You can track lead testing in your child's school: The Department of Education is checking the water in all schools built before 1986 for lead content. You can track the lead testing in your child's school on the DOE website »
  • Updates on the Zika virus: The New York Health Department has issued updates on the work it is doing to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, which has affected some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Find out more »
  • Grants for physical activity in elementary schools: Do you have an idea for a program in your child's school that could help spark and sustain physical activity before, during or after the school day? GO! Grants of $1,000 and $5,000 are available to elementary schools seeking funds for equipment, facilities, professional development and other programs that increase kids' physical activity. The application deadline is June 1. Find out more »

Free summer programs

  • Free summer tutoring for rising fourth-grade students: Everyone Reading will offer free tutoring this summer to children born in 2007 and entering fourth grade next school year. This program most benefits students with dyslexia or who need support with phonics. The program will begin on June 30 and run from July 5 to 29 Mondays through Fridays from 12:30 to 3:30 at the Museum of the City of New York on 5th Ave and 103rd St. in Manhattan. The program involves an hour of one-on-one tutoring in reading skills, then two hours of hands-on museum education activities such as photography, map making and model building. To apply, contact Lavinia Mancuso at lmancuso@everyonereading.org or 917-903-2648. See the flier »
  • Free sleep-away camp: The Fresh Air Fund sends low-income New York City children to sleep-away camps and to stay with host families in upstate New York free of charge. It is accepting applications for this summer now, and applications are available in English, Spanish, Bengali, Chinese, French and Korean. To learn more and apply, visit the website »
  • Summer youth police academy: New York City children who are between the ages of 10 and 16 and attending school are welcome to apply for the New York Police Department's summer youth academy. This 6-week program, running from July 5 to Aug. 12, offers educational sessions about law, behavioral science, drug prevention and gang resistance. Students will also enjoy field trips and outdoor volunteer opportunities. There are locations in all boroughs. Lunch and transportation are included. Applications are being accepted until May 20. To learn more and apply, visit the website »
  • Free summer science program for high school girls: New York University is accepting applications for GenCyber CS4CS, a free, three-week, full-day summer program for high school women. The program will focus on cyber security and computer science. Applications are due by April 27. For more information and to apply, visit the website »
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