Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

I want to thank the 31 Bronx parents that joined us at our lobby day in Albany on March 27. State lawmakers heard directly from them about the importance of strong public school funding.

And, I want to thank those of you who joined us for the UFT Bronx college fair on March 31 and April 1. We had nearly 2,000 students, parents and counselors in attendance. Admissions recruiters from more than 100 colleges and universities met with students planning to attend post-secondary schools in the fall of 2018.

See more photos from the UFT college fair »

The UFT Bronx borough office will offer free citizenship application assistance on May 13.

• Date: Saturday, May 13
• Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Location: UFT Bronx borough office at 2500 Halsey St. Directions »

You must make an appointment in advance, and you'll need to bring certain information and documents. For more information, see the flier in English and Spanish »

To make an appointment, fill out the registration form »

In response to the federal government's crackdown on undocumented immigrants, Mayor Bill de Blasio has set a policy to protect undocumented students in New York City schools. Among other protections, the policy bars immigration agents from entry into schools unless they have a signed warrant. Read the story on the UFT website »

Check out more upcoming events and news you can use below.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cruz
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Saturday, April 8: The Westchester Square Library invites families to Early Learning Listening: Discovery Playtime from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday. This is just one of many events that the library holds every day for Bronx families. See the calendar of April events »

• Sunday, April 9: Learn about eels in the Hudson River and create drawings, maps and a diorama of marine life at a family art project event called Eels and Hudson River Theaters from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wave Hill House in the Bronx. Wave Hill House is at the intersection of West 249th Street and Independence Avenue. See the event listing »
  
  For more family friendly events in Bronx parks, check out the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation website »

• Saturday, May 20: It's the annual Super Saturday! Come to a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harlen Armory, 40 W. 143rd St. in Manhattan. Meet STEM professionals, learn about new technology and more. See the flier »

Summer programs

• Free summer program for high school students interested in public art: The Sculpture Center in Long Island City, Queens, invites high school students to apply for the Public Process High School Summer Program, a free three-week intensive summer program about public art. Applications are due by May 15. Find out more »

• Apply for free STEM summer programs: The Department of Education this summer will offer science, technology, engineering and math programs all over the city for all age levels. Programs include camps at the city's museums, paid internships and college courses. To learn more, see the flier »

• Register for day camp at NYC parks: The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation holds day camps in parks throughout the city for children between the ages of 6 and 13. Camps will run from July 5 to Aug. 18 this summer. The cost is $500 per child for seven weeks and includes activities like sports, arts and crafts, computer classes, field trips and more. See the website »

News you can use

• Online tool to apply for scholarships: Scholly is an easy-to-use online tool that allows students to fill out and track scholarship applications. Check it out »

• Job openings with the New York City Emergency Management Department: The city's Emergency Management Department is hiring for three positions. The department is looking for an Emergency Preparedness Specialist to oversee a flood protection program. Candidates should have a master's degree and one year of work experience. For more information, see the job listing »
  
  The emergency department is hiring for another Emergency Preparedness Specialist position to work on a broader range of projects. Candidates should have a master's degree and one year of work experience. For more information, see the job listing »
  
  And, the emergency department is looking for an Emergency Preparedness Manager to oversee various technology initiatives. Candidates should have a master's degree, four years of professional experience and at least a year of management experience. For more information, see the job listing »