Principal's Message

 

From the Principal

School Year 2024-2025

APRIL 2025

Greetings P.S. 104Q Families,

Spring has sprung! Hopefully, the colder weather has left us and the warmer weather will begin to be more consistent as we prepare to finish out our school year P.S. 104Q strong! Please remember school will be closed for Spring Break April 14th until April 18th. Students are to return to school Monday, April 21th. When we return, we are in the long stretch of our 2024 - 2025 academic school year. With three months to go in our academic journey for this school year, we must continue to work hard and persevere as we complete the long haul.

The Grades 3-5 ELA State Test, will take place April 29h and 30th. More information is forthcoming. Please look at the monthly reminders for specific and important dates. This month we are looking forward some wonderful events. Important information is delivered to our school community through Class DOJO, school messenger, email, and Google Classroom. If you need to update your email, address or phone numbers, please do so by calling the Main Office at (718)327-1910 so that we can update necessary contact information.

Please continue to work with your scholars every day and night. Scholars should be reading every night. This will help with the mastery of skills that your child has been learning in the classroom. Keep up the fantastic job with staying safe! Continue to shine bright!

The NYS ELA EXAM exam for grades 3-5 will be on Tuesday, April 29th and Wednesday, April 30th. Ensure your scholar has a hearty breakfast, two sharpened pencils and arrive to school on time. Be safe and be well!

Instructionally Yours,

Deirdre McShane,

Principal

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MARCH 2025

Greetings P.S. 104Q

Families, We welcome everyone back from Mid-Winter Recess Break. I hope everyone was able to spend some quality time with family and friends and rejuvenate! We must always take time out of our busy schedules to appreciate the little things we take for granted. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb! We are hoping for warmer weather and make sure we keep our scholars focused. Our scholars are our number one priority at all times. I thank you in advance for your continued support in making your scholar successful and their academics a priority.

Parent teacher virtual conferences will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025 and will be an 11:30 a.m. dismissal. This will be an opportunity for you to have academic conversations and learn how you can support your scholar. All report cards will be will be available via your child’s NYC Schools Account. Parent teacher conferences will be conducted virtually. Promotion in Doubt letters were emailed and back packed home. It is vital that you speak with your scholar’s teacher daily to see how he/she is progressing. Parent engagement time is an agreed time between you and your child’s teacher. If you need to schedule a conference reach out to your scholar’s teacher.

The vision and mission of P.S. 104 is to prepare our scholars for the real world by immersing them in new experiences, cultivating their academic success by building on prior knowledge. It is vital that you as guardians continue to assist your child at home. Ensure your scholars is reading daily, practicing math facts and writing skills.

On the horizon: The NYS ELA Exam for grades 3-5 will be on Tuesday April 29th & Wednesday April 30th. Be safe and be well!

Sincerely,

Deirdre McShane,

Principal

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FEBRUARY 2025

Greetings P.S. 104Q Families,

We hope that everyone has had a great start to 2025. February is “Black History Month”. We began our study in January with Dr. Martin Luther King. Students engaged in activities in class, after school, Saturday, lunch and during morning announcements. This month our scholars will continue to engage in rigorous and relevant lessons of Black History. Students will engage in daily trivia and continue to learn about Black History.

Please welcome our new Assistant Principal, Ms Stephanie Fazzino. Ms. Fazzino comes from PS108Q and with of wealth of experience. Ms. Fazzino will be the direct supervisor for grade PreK-2. We are extremely excited for Ms. Fazzino to join our team.

We are excited for the 100th Day of School on February 24, 2025. Scholars will engage in activities to celebrate the 100th Day.

We will kick off our “Respect for All Week” on Monday, February 10, 2025. A schedule for the week will be sent prior and we strongly encourage all scholars to participate. Our school theme is “Link of Kindness”. The students will participate in class activities to show how together we can show kindness to ourselves, to others and to our school. We will also have daily activities to bring awareness to the weeks theme.

Our After School and Saturday Academy programs are in full swing. These programs are designed to support scholars academically and socially. During these programs your child is engaged in targeted ELA and Math small group instruction. These programs are designed to provide intervention and prepare your child for the NYS ELA and Math Exams (Grades 3-5). We do have spots still available in our Saturday Academy. Please contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Gilda Quijije.

We are at the halfway point of our school year. Check in with your scholar’s teacher and utilize the at home tips you are given. Schedule an appointment with the teacher to discuss academics, supports, etc. Promotion in Doubt letters will be backpacked, and mailed the week of February 12th. If your child is struggling, has poor attendance, is not completing assignments, is not participating, etc. their promotion to the next grade may be affected. Make sure you are involved with your scholar and his/her teacher. The communication line must be open which creates a line of support to make sure all of our children are moving forward. We must make consistency a priority. Be safe and be well!

Sincerely,

Deirdre McShane, Principal

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January 2025

Greetings P.S. 104Q Families,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable holiday season! I hope 2025 brings hope, joy and continued resilience as we continue to live and thrive. As a community, we will continue to rise to the challenge and ensure our scholars are safe and making academic progress.

Be reminded P.S. 104 is a uniform school. Uniforms are to be worn Monday through Thursday. Scholars can wear “Spirit Wear” on Fridays. The uniform is navy blue bottoms (no jeans) with a white, navy or light blue polo or buttoned down shirt. Please make sure your scholar is in the proper uniform every day unless noted on the calendar.

Be aware the window for Kindergarten registration for school year 25-26 opened Tuesday, December 10, 2024 and closes on Friday, January 24, 2025. Ensure that you have the correct contact information on your New York City Schools Account. Applications for Pre-K registration for school year 25-26 opens Friday, January 10, 2025 and closes Friday, February 28th, 2025.

We will begin our Afterschool Academy and Saturday Academy for students in grades K thru 5. This is time for our scholars to receive extra support in ELA and Math. Scholars will also engage in student clubs. Please understand your child must be picked up on time from After School and Saturday Academy. On Tuesday, January 7th, we will begin our After School Academy. On Saturday, January 4th we will begin our Saturday Academy. This is to provide students with homework, ELA and Math support. Grades 3 through 5 will also engage in student clubs. Please be sure to sign up.

I would like to repeat again. Parents you must monitor your scholar’s cell phone and device usage. This is vital to ensure their safety and yours. As the adult you are responsible for your scholar and all they do. Check their phones daily by scrolling through it, reading group chat exchanges, etc. As a school, we have conducted lessons on digital citizenship in all grades. P.S. 104 needs for you to assist us in making sure our scholars are using these tools properly.

Be safe and be well!

Sincerely,

Ms. Deirdre McShane

Principal

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December 2024

Greetings P.S. 104Q Families,

My, how time flies! We are in our final month of 2024! Our scholars are in a routine in our school community and are aware of the daily expectations for behavior and learning.

Parents, you must work with your scholar in practicing reading and math facts daily. The school is beginning to use the HMH Into Reading Curriculum. This curriculum is used to improve skills in reading. Scholars should read daily and solve real world math problems to make academic gains. Be reminded that homework is given Monday-Thursday, with a light task on the weekends. Ensure you check your scholar’s homework, folders, etc. Return forms that require a signature when needed.

Have your scholar practice daily living skills of tying their shoelaces and buttoning their clothes, learning their phone numbers, etc. Too many of our scholars do not know the basics that should be taught prior to attending school. You are your scholar’s first teacher!

If you do not have your NYC School Account set up, please contact the main office. This tool is where you will find all information on your scholar such as attendance, report cards, etc. You can also use it to update contact information. When doing contact updates, please also contact the main office. A good best practice is to also write your contact information in your scholar’s notebook so they have it when necessary.

School begins at 8:00 A.M and ends at 2:20 P.M. Please ensure that you drop off and pick up your scholar on time. Remind caregivers to pick up your scholar timely, if you are not the one doing it. We have too many scholars arriving to school and being picked up late. Be punctual as we at P.S. 104 teach our scholars.

On the horizon: Our Saturday program will begin January 4th. This is time for our scholars to receive extra support in ELA and Math. Scholars are in the process of choosing a club they wish to participate in. Please understand your child must be picked up on time for Saturday Academy.

Yours in Education,

Deirdre McShane, Principal

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NOVEMBER 2024

November 2024 P.S. 104Q Families,

Happy Fall! Time continues to escape us! We must treasure each day and be grateful for the positive moments in our lives. Teachers have completed beginning of the year assessments in reading and math to see what scholars know and are able to do. They will use this data to drive classroom instruction and inform you on your scholar’s results during Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The day is a half day, dismissal is 11:30 AM sharp. It is important that you implement your classroom teacher’s suggestions to reinforce skills at home.

Parents, you must work with your scholar in practicing reading and practicing math facts daily. Engage them in conversations by asking questions, their opinions and reasoning behind their thoughts. We must teach our scholars to be independent thinkers who use evidence to support their ideas. Gradually release the learning and support when needed, which enables scholars to “think and do” on their own. Have your scholars practice daily living skills of tying their shoelaces and buttoning their clothes, learning their phone numbers, etc. Too many of our scholars do not know the basics that should be taught prior to attending school. You are your scholar’s first teacher. If you do not have your NYC School Account set up, please contact the main office. This tool is where you will find all information on your scholar such as attendance, report cards, etc. You can also use it to update contact information. When doing contact updates, please also contact the main office. A good best practice is to also write your contact information in your scholar’s notebook so they can also have it when necessary.

School begins at 8: 00 A.M and ends at 2:20 P.M. Please ensure that you drop off and pick up your scholar on time. Remind caregivers to pick up your scholar on time if you are not the one doing it. We have too many scholars arriving to school and being picked up late. Stay safe and be well!

Yours in Education

Ms. Deirdre McShane

Principal

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OCTOBER 2024

P.S. 104Q Families,

Happy Fall! Time continues to escape us, as we are in the tenth month of 2024 and the second month of the new school year. We must treasure each day and appreciate the positive moments in our lives. Our scholars are getting used to the daily routines in our school community. Teachers are conducting their beginning of the year assessments in reading and math to see what scholars know and are able to do. They will use this data to drive classroom instruction.

Ensure your scholar is reading and practicing math facts daily. Engage them in conversations by asking questions, their opinions and reasoning behind their thoughts. We must teach our scholars to think critically with evidence to support their ideas. As a school community, we must teach and coach our scholars to become independent thinkers as well as be able to regulate their emotions. Gradually we release the learning and support when needed, which enables scholars to “think and do” on their own. Too many of our scholars do not know the basics that should be taught prior to attending school. Have your scholars practice daily living skills of tying their shoelaces and buttoning their clothes, learning their phone numbers, etc. Let’s work together to have each scholar be able to identify their favorite coping strategies as well, so that they are equipped with skills when difficult situations arise.

This month we will have our “Hispanic Heritage Week and Assembly”, “Book Character Day Walk for grades PreK-3” and “Title 1 and PTA Meeting”. We are looking forward to seeing you at these events. If you would like to volunteer, please contact our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Gilda Quijije. School begins at 8: 00 A.M and ends at 2:20 P.M. Please ensure that you drop off and pick up your scholar on time. Remind caregivers that pick up your scholar, if you are not the one doing it. We have too many scholars being arriving to school and being picked up late.

Stay safe and be well! .

Yours in Education

Ms. Deirdre McShane, Principal

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September 2024

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic school year!

We want to welcome you and your scholars back to PS104Q The Bayswater School! We would like to send a sincere welcome to the new families in our school community with open arms.

As the Principal of P.S. 104Q, I look forward to engaging with our scholars and families as we go on our academic journey. With all hands on deck, staff, scholars, families and the community, we will be able to prepare our scholars for the future. TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

All Kindergarten thru grade 5 scholars will eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Breakfast will be served from 7:45am-8am. All scholars in grades K thru 5 will use the cafeteria door to enter the school building (Exit 5). The door will close every morning at 8:10am sharp. After 8:10am, scholars must use the main entrance. Pre-K scholars will enter and dismiss thru the main entrance. Scholars are considered late at 8:10 a.m.

This academic school year we will ensure your child is engaged in learning through listening, speaking, writing and reading through all content areas. This will be done with a focus on Chancellor Banks’ Four Pillars for Building Trust: Reimagine the Student Experience, Scaling, sustaining and restoring what works. We will prioritize wellness and it is link to student success and engaging families to be partners.

Please welcome our new staff at PS104. All new staff will be introduced on September 12th during my “Welcome Back” session. They are extremely excited to join our community.

Every scholar will receive a packet on the first day of school. Please be sure to complete and return all documents. Ensure you check your child’s folder for information from the school. It is important that you keep contact information current for your child. I look forward to working with you all and having a successful start to the new school year! Be safe and be well!

Yours in Education,

Ms. McShane Principal

DOWNLOAD THE SEPTEMBER 2024 CALENDAR

 

 

Happy April!

GENTLE REMINDERS:

• Discovery Day: April 10th
• Spring Fling: April 11th
• Spring Recess: April 14th-18th
• Return To School: Monday, April 21st - Jeans Day!
• PTA Meeting: April 24th
• NYS ELA EXAM: April 29th and 30th (Grades 3-5)
• Uniforms: We are a uniform school Monday through Thursday. Friday is Spirit Wear Friday.