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Citywide Parent Newsletter - December 2020

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a collage of children holding thank-you signs and wearing homemade masks

Students from PS 159 in the Bronx took pictures to thank the UFT for providing their parents, who are first responders, with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Dear parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists,

We've almost made it through 2020! It has been a challenging year, and I'm looking forward to turning the page and starting our next chapter. We at the UFT will do so with gratitude for parents, caregivers and educators who have given their all to protect and nurture our most vulnerable citizens — our children — during this difficult time.

The landscape of education may look very different this school year, but the UFT continues to provide resources for students and their parents and guardians.

In unity,

Nicholas Cruz
UFT Director of Community and Parent Engagement
ncruz@uft.org

Upcoming events

  • Thursday, Dec. 17: The UFT Staten Island parent outreach committee will host a free workshop for parents in Arabic on Google Classroom via Zoom from 6 to 7 p.m. You can register online.
  • Thursday, Dec. 17: The UFT will host a free panel discussion about managing chronic illness during a pandemic via Zoom from 2 to 3 p.m. UFT-represented nurses will share tips on managing and caring for dependents with diabetes, asthma and other chronic illnesses. Register now.
  • Friday, Dec. 18: The UFT Brooklyn parent outreach committee invites families to a First Book giveaway on the ground floor exterior of the UFT Brooklyn borough office at 335 Adams St. Each family will receive five books. We'll pass out books from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until we run out. Drop by any time! See the flier in English and Spanish.
  • Thursday, Jan. 7: The UFT Staten Island parent outreach committee will host a free workshop about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from 5 to 7 p.m. via Zoom. Register now.

News you can use

  • Nominate your favorite teacher or counselor for a Big Apple Award: The DOE's Big Apple Award is a great chance to honor an outstanding teacher or school counselor. Express your appreciation for a special educator in your child's life and submit a nomination by the Jan. 10 deadline.
  • Here's how to donate P-EBT funds: Over the summer, you should have received a P-EBT card with $420 to spend toward food. Every public school family received one card per child to offset the food costs of remote learning. You can learn more about P-EBT and how to share it if you don't need it on the New York City Council website. You should also know that you'll receive money back on your P-EBT card if you use it at a Greenmarket farmer's market.

Opportunities

  • Free, online job skills training: The state Department of Labor is providing free, online professional development courses to unemployed New Yorkers. Learn more and register.
  • Law internship for high school students: The Thurgood Marshall Law Internship is an intensive summer internship for high school students interested in a career in law. By offering students real work experience in a law office, the program aims to diversify the profession. For summer 2021, the internships will probably be virtual. Submit an application online by Jan. 3.
  • After-school program for high school students: The Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education is running a virtual after-school program every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. for students in grades 9 through 12. The program helps prepare students for the transition to college, providing information about applications and financial aid and hosting guest speakers from diverse careers. You can learn more about the program on the Casita Maria website or register online now.
Related Topics: Parent News