Dear parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists,

Happy 2018! The new year is a time to set goals, make new resolutions and work hard to achieve them. We at the UFT are here to help you stay informed and supported as you focus on making the best of this year.

To that end, I want to remind you to save the date for the 2nd annual Bronx UFT college fair on Friday, March 23.

• Date: Friday, March 23
• Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Location: UFT Bronx borough office at 2500 Halsey St. Directions »

There will be admissions recruiters from more than 100 colleges and universities to answer questions about college applications, and representatives from organizations that offer resources and support in the college admissions process.

This event is free for students, parents and counselors. I'll be in touch soon with more details and registration.

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

Sincerely,

Nicholas Cruz
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Tuesday, Jan. 16: Bronx Health REACH will host a school-based nutrition and fitness work group meeting from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1225 Gerard Ave, room 214. Join for a discussion about health and equity in the school food system with guest speakers from Community Food Advocates/Lunch 4 Learning, the Office of School Food and Wellness in the Schools. See the invitation »

• Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27: Free tickets are available for the annual SNY Invitational basketball tournament with games at 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday, and 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, at 160 Convent Ave. Tickets are free for families, schools and community groups that request them in advance. Find out more »

• Saturday, Jan. 27: Don't miss the Parent Action Conference 2018: An Action Agenda for Public Schools from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Peck Slip School, 1 Peck Slip in Manhattan. Come to workshops about advocacy, responding to bullying, organizing against privatization and more. Learn more and RSVP »

• Monday, Jan. 29: The Center for Educational Innovation will host a professional development day for high school educators from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Madison High School in Brooklyn and the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in Manhattan. This is a great chance for paraprofessionals, teachers and other educators to earn CTLE credits and advance their careers. The attendance fee is $139 with CTLE credits available for an additional $30. Find out more »

• Saturday, Feb. 3: Come to a CPR, AED and First Aid course from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2780 Reservoir Ave. and get certified or re-certified. The registration fee is $27. Learn more and register online »

News you can use

• Adult education classes in upper Manhattan: The Union Settlement Association will offer adult education classes in English and Spanish starting Jan. 8 in its office at 237 E. 104th St. in Manhattan. Classes include preparation for the high school equivalency test, English classes, preparation for the citizenship test and preparation for careers in health. For details, see the flier »

• Tuition-free academic and career training in the Bronx: The State University of New York's (SUNY) Bronx Educational Opportunity Center offers courses in English, college preparation and high school equivalency, and vocational programs including barber certification, medical career certifications and more. Classes are held at 1666 Bathgate Ave. To learn more, visit the website »

• Tuition-free academic and career training in Yonkers: SUNY's Westchester Educational Opportunity Center offers courses in English, college preparation, high school equivalency, medical careers and more. Classes are held at 26 S. Broadway in Yonkers. To learn more and register, you can attend an information and intake session in English or Spanish. See the flier in English and Spanish »

• Employment and career training for Section 8 tenants: If you live in Section 8 housing, you're eligible for programs from the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation that assist in employment and employment training, accessing public services, citizenship and immigration, child care help and more. Read more in English and Spanish »

• You might be eligible for NYC Free Tax Prep: Free tax preparation is available to NYC parents who make $54,000 or less a year. Services are available at tax preparation sites all over the city and begin this month. Learn more and find a site near you »

• Paid focus group for bilingual nurses and teachers: The New York City Administration of Children's Services is seeking nurses and teachers who speak English and Spanish to participate in a paid study. Spend 90 minutes sharing your thoughts about issues that affect New Yorkers and earn $200 in case. To participate, call 212-244-3960 and say the code "NYC." You can also email staff@zstrategies.net for more information.