Dear parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists,

We're starting to plan next fall's UFT Staten Island parent conference and we need your help! If you'd like to join the planning committee, please email me at mrodriguez@uft.org.

Another way to get involved with education activism is to get on the bus for a UFT lobby day in Albany on Monday, March 16! We'll advocate to protect public education and increase school funding. The Staten Island bus will pick up at 6:30 a.m. at the UFT's Staten Island brough office, 4456 Amboy Road. Please download and share the flier in English and Spanish. There's limited room on the bus, so register soon »

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

Sincerely,

Marie Rodriguez
UFT Parent-Community Liaison
mrodriguez@uft.org

Upcoming events

• Wednesday, Feb. 5: There will be a crisis intervention for people with disabilities workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 150 Granite Ave. Learn about NYSTART, a state program that provides crisis response and therapeutic services to adults with disabilities. To register, email jloporto@pccsny.org. You can also see the flier »

• Thursday, Feb. 6: Parent to Parent of New York State will hold an informal support group for parents of children with special needs from 10 a.m. to noon at 1050 Forest Hill Road. Please RSVP to mfegeley@ptopnys.org or jluppino@ptopnys.org. You can also see the flier »

• Thursday, Feb. 6: Person Centered Care Services and Sibs NY will host a free workshop for siblings of people with disabilities at 6 p.m. at 150 Granite Ave. Please RSVP to adagosto@pccsny.org. You can also see the flier »

• Tuesday, Feb. 11: Explore your early childhood education options at a pre-K and 3-K information session. Run by the city Department of Education, this event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Michael J. Petrides School. For further details, visit the DOE website »

• Thursdays, Feb. 13 and 27: Come to the UFT's Black History Film Series from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway in Manhattan. On Feb. 13, we'll watch "Back to Natural," a documentary about hair, politics and racial identity. On Feb. 27, we'll watch "College Behind Bars," which tells the story of a group of incarcerated men and women earning college degrees. Learn more and register »

• Saturday, April 4: The UFT will host its fifth annual Men in Education Symposium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway in Manhattan. There will be workshops about mentoring, fatherhood and empowerment. For a flier and to register, see the event listing »

News you can use

• Join a parenting class starting Tuesday, Feb. 4: Families on the Move of New York City Inc. invites parents to join a 14-week parenting class that will meet on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 358 St. Marks Place from Feb. 4 to May 5. Refreshments and MetroCards will be provided. The registration deadline is Feb. 18. See the flier »

• Join an anger management class starting Tuesday, Feb. 11: Families on the Move of New York City Inc. will also host a 13-week anger management class on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. from Feb. 11 to May 5 at 358 St. Marks Place. Refreshments and MetroCards will be provided. The registration deadline is Feb. 25. See the flier »

• Paid internships for system-involved youth: High school students between the ages of 17 and 25 who are or have been involved in the court system, foster care, mental health treatment or another state system are invited to apply for the Young Adult Youth Supported Education and Employment Program. The program includes job training and a paid internship ($15 per hour) at a nonprofit organization or small business. See the flier »

• Read the DOE's guide to special education: The city Department of Education has updated its Family Guide to Special Education Services for School-Age Children. It contains information about initiating and navigating the process for getting your child special education services. Check it out »
  
  Is your child getting close to high school graduation? Check out the DOE's Family Guide to Transition Planning »

• File your taxes for free: If you will be reporting income of $69,000 or less on your 2019 tax return, you might be able to electronically prepare and file your income tax returns for free. To learn more and get started, visit the New York State Tax Department website »

• Free admission to the Museum of Jewish Heritage: Any city public school student with a student ID or report card can claim four free passes to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in downtown Manhattan until August 2020. Plan your visit »