"We are thrilled to make more e-books and audiobooks for all ages available for free this summer to all DOE families, and it’s easier than ever to access them."

Read more about this in Chief Academic Officer Linda Chen's Summer Reading Letter to families.

Don't get trapped in a hot apartment this summer! The city is providing a free air conditioner to eligible families on a first come first serve basis.

To find out if you are eligible and to apply visit: https://access.nyc.gov/programs/cooling-assistance-benefit/

...or call 311, ask for help with the cooling assistance benefit.  Deadline for application is August 30th, 2020!

Report cards will be available on the NYSCA site next Monday.  Do you have your account set up?  If not, you may need to contact Monika for your child's personal Account Creation Code.

The Locke School has created an Accessing the Report Card Letter (with an attached letter from the DOE) available for you to read.

"As we move into the summer months during these uncertain times please know that The Clinic in Schools Program (CIS) of Northside Center is here to provide mental health support to children in who may show need while school is out of session."

Read more about this opportunity in Northside's Letter to Families.

Also available in Spanish: Carta de Programa de la Clínica en las Escuelas (CIS) del Centro Northside

While the Moving Up Ceremonies for Pre-K, K, and Grade 5 steal some of the spotlight, let's not forget our other students accomplishments!  More intimate moving up ceremonies for the other grades are as follows:

• Grade 1 - Thurs at 2:30

• Grade 2 - Tues at 1

• Grade 3 - Wed at 11

• Grade 4 - Fri 362 at 10:30, 373 at 11

Please check with your child's teacher for details.

Fatherhood is the path you take with your child towards life’s greatest achievements. Being a father means to give your child an understanding heart and to always be their source of strength. We would not be the strong community that we are without our dads!

Happy Father’s Day!

With love,

Your Locke School Family 

Have you heard about the FREE six-week summer enrichment program for students in grades 3-8? Spots are limited and registration closes on June 19th. Find out more information here on the fliers:

• Free Six Week Summer Enrichment Program

• (Español) Programa Virtual Enriquecimento de Verano

And here are the links, because who puts a crazy link like that in a picture that you can't click on? ;)

• Registration Link (English)

• Enlace de registro (Español)

"As a reminder for the health of all children in New York City, all children over the age of two who can medically tolerate a face covering must wear one when they are outside their home if they cannot maintain physical distance from others. Free face coverings are available..."

Read more in Chancellor Carranza's Health Update for Families.

The big day is almost here!  It's time to celebrate your child moving up to the next grade!  If your child is in Pre-K, K or Grade 5, the Locke School invites you to a special celebration via Zoom!  

Dates:

• PRE-K VIRTUAL STEPPING UP CEREMONY: Monday, June 22, 2020 at 10:00 AM

• KINDERGARTEN VIRTUAL STEPPING UP CEREMONY: Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM

• 5TH GRADE VIRTUAL STEPPING UP CEREMONY: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 11:00 AM

More detailed information, including Zoom info, can be found on the attached PDFs:

• Pre-K Stepping Up Invite

• Kindergarten Stepping Up Invite

• Grade 5 Stepping Up Invite

Detailed Zoom Info for each ceremony

PRE-K STEPPING UP CEREMONY

Monday, June 22, 2020 at 10:00 am (Arrive 9:45)

PLEASE LOGIN AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY AND WAIT FOR THE CEREMONY TO BEGIN. 

1st OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

1. You must use your DOE School Login Account that looks like: studentname@nycstudents.net 

2. Go to: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/     

3. Click the green box that says, “Join.” 

4. In the box under “Join a Meeting” type: 935 7218 9661

5. When asked for Meeting Password, type: 06222020

2nd OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

MEETING LINK:

1. Click: https://zoom.us/j/95051533897?pwd=aGsyRU5ZOTV1cGNiaVNzai9vS2grUT09 

2. Scroll down and choose "SIGN IN WITH SSO"

3. Type "nycdoe" where it says, "Your company domain."

4. In Username, instead of typing studentname@nycstudent.net, please just type the student name part of the email.  (For example: Instead of typing msjay3@nycstudents.net, just type "msjay3")

5. Use the password for your DOE School Login

6. Meeting ID: 935 7218 9661

7. Meeting Password: 06222020

KINDERGARTEN STEPPING UP CEREMONY

Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 10:00 am (Arrive 9:45)

PLEASE LOGIN AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY AND WAIT FOR THE CEREMONY TO BEGIN. 

1st OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

1. You must use your DOE School Login Account that looks like: studentname@nycstudents.net 

2. Go to: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/     

3. Click the green box that says, “Join.” 

4. In the box under “Join a Meeting” type: 954 1718 8303

5. When asked for Meeting Password, type: 06252020

2nd OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

MEETING LINK:

1. Click: https://zoom.us/j/95051533897?pwd=aGsyRU5ZOTV1cGNiaVNzai9vS2grUT09 

2. Scroll down and choose "SIGN IN WITH SSO"

3. Type "nycdoe" where it says, "Your company domain."

4. In Username, instead of typing studentname@nycstudent.net, please just type the student name part of the email.  (For example: Instead of typing msjay3@nycstudents.net, just type "msjay3")

5. Use the password for your DOE School Login

6. Meeting ID: 954 1718 8303

7. Meeting Password: 06252020

5TH GRADE STEPPING UP CEREMONY

Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 11:00 am (Arrive 10:45)

PLEASE LOGIN AT LEAST 15 MINUTES EARLY AND WAIT FOR THE CEREMONY TO BEGIN. 

1st OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

1. You must use your DOE School Login Account that looks like: studentname@nycstudents.net 

2. Go to: https://nycdoe.zoom.us/     

3. Click the green box that says, “Join.” 

4. In the box under “Join a Meeting” type: 950 5153 3897. 

5. When asked for Meeting Password, type: 06232020

2nd OPTION - SIGN-IN INSTRUCTIONS 

MEETING LINK:

1. Click: https://zoom.us/j/95051533897?pwd=aGsyRU5ZOTV1cGNiaVNzai9vS2grUT09 

2. Scroll down and choose "SIGN IN WITH SSO"

3. Type "nycdoe" where it says, "Your company domain."

4. In Username, instead of typing studentname@nycstudent.net, please just type the student name part of the email.  (For example: Instead of typing msjay3@nycstudents.net, just type "msjay3")

5. Use the password for your DOE School Login

6. Meeting ID: 950 5153 3897

7. Meeting Password: 06232020

Pre-K families, have you seen "Getting Ready for Kindergarten"?  It addresses preparing for kindergarten, while understanding that right now none of us know exactly what that looks like. The video is about an hour long, but very informative.

Additionally, the same author has shared her most recent newsletter with families with children in any grade, titled "Parents = the Difference."  It discusses Zoom fatigue how parents can thoughtfully respond to it.  (Side note, the parent's chart on page 2 is as adorable as it is useful! :)

On behalf of The Locke School administrators, teachers, PTA and SLT members I proudly support all of our families during this time of civil unrest in our city and in our country.

For way too long America has allowed racism to be woven into every part of life for people of color and in particular Black men, women and children. It permeates everything from education, housing, employment, police brutality, and just being alive. 

I am proud to be a part of the Harlem community as a Principal and resident but my everyday journey is very different from that of the members of this community and the families I serve.

We strive at our school to be inclusive and continue to celebrate all cultures and ethnic groups in everything we do.

We strive to educate and have hard talks about race, class and the systemic racism during our PTA and SLT meetings.

We want our Black families to know we love and support you and acknowledge your diverse experiences and we strive to continue making our school a safe space.

Your lives matter.

#BlackLivesMatter

Jane Murphy, Principal

The Locke School of Arts and Engineering

Check out the upcoming special events and important dates in the June Calendar. 

Here is some information about our upcoming virtual ceremonies:

“Stepping Up Ceremony” for Prekindergarten will be on Monday, June 22 at 10:00am

“Moving Up Ceremony” for Kindergarten will be on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00am

“Moving Up Ceremony” for Grade 5 will be on Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00am

Fifth Grade Dance Party will be on Tuesday, June 23 / Time TBA

You can download this moving up information as a PDF.

"We have two days coming up in June that were originally scheduled as times when students would not be in attendance. However, with the ongoing pandemic, students will be expected to participate in remote learning on both of these days"  Read more in Chancellor Carranza's May 30th letter to families.

We may not be in the building, but school continues!  Please check out the new May events that are happening for our Locke School Community!

At the Locke School, every child comes to us with unique gifts and talents, without exception. This city is filled with children who have so much to offer -- all it takes is someone to notice and nurture those gifts.

Hell's Kitchen native, Alecia Keys, recorded a song that puts a spotlight on each one of us, and how together we are keeping our world together right now -- and we just had to share it.  

Locke School families: From the bottom of our hearts let us remind you "You're doing a Good Job!" 

Take the Remote Learning Survey to share your experiences learning at home.

All students in grades 6–12 and parents/guardians of students in grades 3-K through 12 are invited to participate in the Remote Learning Survey. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, May 1.

Survey feedback will help schools support students and families learning at home.

Visit schools.nyc.gov/RLSurvey to take the survey now! If you need help completing the survey, please call 311.

Take a moment to read Volume 3 of the Greens Paper, or learn more about the team on the Green Team Site.

Missing the inside of the Locke School?  Well, then this video should cheer you up! The Locke School works with New York City Children's Theater to provide engaging anti-bullying workshops for our children. Red Summit Productions was there to document the event for us and our families!

"After consulting with public health experts [...] and educators across the City [...] we have decided that New York City school buildings will not reopen during the 2019-2020 school year."  Read more in Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza's April 11 letter to families.

April 8, 2020

Dear Locke School Family,

I hope you are well.  My prayers are with our community members who are suffering in this crisis.  Please do not hesitate to reach out if and when your burden becomes too much.  We are here to help.

Monika mvargas16@schools.nyc.gov  or Jane jmurphy32@schools.nyc.gov

I want to provide some clarification around the news you have been hearing about the Spring Break, the continued state wide ‘PAUSE’, the cancellation of state tests and how all of this plays out for your child.

• First and foremost, thank you to all of our community members who are reporting as essential workers each day. You are truly the heroes of this story.

• Attendance VS Engagement:  It is not possible to track student ‘absence’ in this crisis.  Families will not be penalized for not being able to participate in distance learning.  ‘Absences’ cannot not be used against any child for promotion to the next grade.  We are not tracking who is ‘present’ in class each day, we are tracking who is ‘interacting’. 

• “Interacting’ can be as simple as a parent email to the teacher or a quick hello in a class meeting, or as involved as a completed assignment returned in Google Classroom.  We just need to know that your child is safe and engaged at some level. We encourage families to respond to our TECH TEAM outreach or email GoogleClassroomHelp@Lockearts.org for support and more information.

• The statewide PAUSE has been extended through April 29th.  I will be perfectly candid with you and say that I don’t think we will be back in school by that time.  We can be hopeful, but we should prepare ourselves for a much longer ‘PAUSE’.

• The state wide tests have been cancelled.  No make- ups, no do-overs, and as we say in the school yard, no take-backsies.  We do not know how promotion to the next grade will be determined in June, but be assured that we will consider the impact of this crisis in all decisions that are made about promotion.  (In other words, it’s not worth worrying about at this time.)

• One of our least stressful and most enjoyable on-line distance learning experiences has been ZOOM class meetings, so truly I feel your pain at the announcement that we are no longer able to use it.  Chancellor Carranza’s decision was based on his assessment of the risk to student safety and privacy verses the benefits.  We are working hard at the Locke School to adapt Google Meets to our needs.  Stay Tuned!

• IF YOU WANT TO TAKE TIME OFF OVER NOW CANCELLED SPRING BREAK, DO IT!  Turn off your computers.  Open the windows.  Breathe.  Relax.  Just remember that we are still practicing social distancing.   Children will need supervision to maintain social distancing if they are not inside with the family. 

• There will be NO PENALTIES for non-participation during the Spring Break.  The work we will offer from Thursday April 9 –Friday April 17th is enrichment.  Every grade will offer fun, engaging activities that should take up to an hour each day.  Again, not required but may be beneficial- you decide.   

• PLEASE RE-JOIN US ON MONDAY, APRIL 20TH AT 8:20AM TO RESUME DISTANCE LEARNING.  

I miss you all!  I miss being with you!  I look forward to seeing you when it is safe and we can all celebrate together.  Until then…

With All My Heart,

Jane

"I have important updates and reminders to share with you," writes the Chancellor.  Continue reading Chancellor Carranza's April 7th letter to families.

"For the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers [...] our schools will continue with remote learning through the time originally scheduled for Spring Recess."

Continue reading Chancellor Carranza's April 3rd letter to parents regarding changes to Spring Break.

Please see the following list of places we can access fresh food at no cost during this crisis.  Please spread the word so that no one goes hungry.  (Always call beforehand to make sure they are open.)

Of course, you can still pick up grab-and-go food at school from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM Monday through Friday

While our City stays home to stop the spread of coronavirus, New Yorkers can access a range of mental health services by phone or online. If you or someone you care about needs support, we encourage you to reach out to the programs below. Help is available. Every mental health service below is free to … Continue reading "Mental Health Support New Yorkers Can Access While Staying Home"

Thanks for learning with us as we dive into remote instruction.  It's been a slightly rocky start, we've all made huge progress already!

If you have not been able to get your child on to Google Classroom, please email your child's teacher as soon as possible. Teacher email addresses can be found in the Staff Directory.

Even in this new environment, please remember that children are expected to attend instruction every day. Teachers will be required to record student attendance and absences starting this coming Monday.

If you have not been able to set up your child on a device, install Google classroom for the time being on your phone. You will be able to keep on top of class updates, as well as information on how to get a device from the DOE.

iPad and Tablet users -- we recommend you get the google apps from the app store. Go to the app store for your device and download "Google Classroom", "Google Drive", "Google Docs" and "Google Slides". 

We are open today (Friday, March 20) from 9am-12pm to pick up grade-level work packets. This will be the last chance to pick up a physical copy of your child's work packet. You will be able to download the packets from our website and print them yourself soon.

Please take a grab-and-go breakfast/lunch when you arrive. They are fridge-stable, so you may wish to pick up some for multiple days while you're there.

If you are still in need of an electronic device for your child to access Google Classroom, you can register for a device and be put on the wait list.

Stay safe, Locke families!

"If you are a first responder, health care provider, or transit worker whose child is a New York City resident, and you have no other child care option, please complete this survey to begin your enrollment process."

Read more in Chancellor Carranza's March 19th letter to families.

Work packets and devices for online access will be available for pickup at the school on Thursday, 3/19. Families are not required to pick up materials at the school.  Devices for loan are in limited supply, so we ask that families who have desk-and laptop computers and/or tablets at home give first access to families who don't.  Packets for each grade will be available for printing at home on this website by Friday.   

GOOGLE CLASSROOM with your child's teacher will be up and running on Monday.  Be sure to get your access information from your child's teacher.  Be sure to call the school on Thursday 3/19 if you haven't heard from us!

Go to the APP Store or Google Play and type in "Locke School". We're posting important updates daily!

Here is some guidance from our partners at Bank Street College about to talking to children about COVID-19.

"I want to be clear that this is not a closure, but a transition. We will not lower our expectations for our students."  Read more about the changes coming to all NYC public schools in Chancellor Carranza's March 16th letter to families.

NYC.gov has updated their Coronavirus information page. Use it to find the latest updates as they are announced by the Department of Education.

Harlem Link, which shares a campus with the Locke School, has closed its doors for the next two weeks.  Read how this affects our school in Jane's March 14th letter to parents.

Excerpt from Jane's March 13th letter to parents:

"First and foremost, I want to encourage everyone to tune in to the most reliable news sources for the latest verified news on COVID-19.  There will be considerable misinformation as we move through this crisis and we want to make sure we are not getting distracted by rumors..." 

Read more in Jane's March 13th letter to parents.

Dear Locke School Family,

It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the postponement of our fabulous Black History Celebration Show.  As of this evening, the mayor has cancelled all assembles and recitals in schools.

It has been pure joy watching the children and teachers prepare for the show.  Your children are truly amazing, and I promise that as soon as  the mayor lifts the ban on assemblies, we are going all going to celebrate together with this show! 

Bee Rally and Locke Leader Rallies scheduled for next week are postponed as well.  I’ll provide more information about the Beacon Afterschool Program as I get it. 

Stay safe, stick together and we’ll get through this.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out when you have questions and concerns. 

With All My Heart,

Jane

Jane Murphy, Principal

The Locke School of Arts and Engineering

Formerly Early Childhood Discovery and Design Magnet School

20 West 112th Street

New York, NY 10026

212-534-7490

Jane has shared some updates on the Corona Virus. Take a moment to make sure you and your child are staying safe this season!

Join in the fun on Monday October 7th — The competition is on!

Click here for the Rainbow Monday Flier.

What a great start to the year! Families with students in Kindergarten will want to check out this posting: It has a special notice from our K team, a letter from Jane, and a brief Kindergarten timeline for the next few weeks.