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P S 3 F A Q s |
| The security guard knows me, so do I really
need to show my ID every day? Because PS3 is committed to community, unlike many New York City schools, parents and guardians are welcomed into the halls and classrooms. But with this privilege comes a responsibility—you must show your badge every time you enter the school so the security guard can see at a glance that you belong there. Following this rule ensures our children’s safety. We get so many forms each September. Can I fill out one set for both my kids? No, it is imperative that the school has up-to-date information at the ready for each child. Most important are the blue and green cards (please complete both sides). The green cards are for quick access by teachers, cluster teachers and the nurse. Blue cards are kept in a separate file to to ensure a back up in of case a larger scale emergency. The lunch form is important, even if your child brings his/her own lunch, as the Department of Education requires schools to have these on file. If we don’t, it counts against PS 3 when the school is graded. I’ve heard that if we’re really late, it’s actually good to get a late pass. Why is that? School starts at 8:20 and teachers must hand in their attendance sheets by 8:30, which means if your child arrives after that s/he will be marked absent. The late pass informs the office that your child is not absent – just tardy. If the building should be evacuated for any reason, the school must know which children are in school that day. What’s the earliest I can drop off my child at school? At 7:55, you may drop your child off for breakfast (it’s free!) in the cafeteria. Otherwise, drop off your child in their classroom (Pre-K, K/1) or the auditorium at 8:20, when school officially begins. Can I get a message to my child during the day? The office staff cannot transfer you to your child’s teacher, but will happily relay a message. Please call prior to 2:30 as after which they must turn their attention to dismissal. My child usually brings in lunch but sometimes likes to eat hot lunch. Is that ok? Yes, just send $1.50 with your child on that day and s/he can pay for his/her lunch in the cafeteria. Milk and chocolate milk are also available every day for just $0.35 . Why can’t I enter the school before 3:05? As the school day winds down, it becomes harder for the kids to concentrate. Parents and guardians arriving can be an exciting distraction during important classroom wrap-up time. How does PS3 pay for all its wonderful enrichment programs, like clay and music? One word: community. PS3 holds many events, like the Antiquarian Book Fair, Silent Auction, and Fall Festival (or Spring Fling), to build our community and raise money necessary for our enrichment programs. Our most important fundraiser is the Direct Drive, when we simply ask each PS 3 family to give what they can. Donations range from $10 to $3,000 and every dollar is equally appreciated and crucial in making PS 3 an amazing place for our children to learn. On the tour, I heard about the artist-in-residence program. What is it? The PS 3 curriculum has a committed focus on the arts not only as a subject area, but a way of learning. This philosophy goes way beyond offering enrichment classes. A project-based approach integrates music, dance, clay, drama, etc., into all aspects of classroom life in order to create independent thinkers. The PTA-sponsored artists-in-residence program is designed to give classroom teachers the necessary funding to bring in a teaching artist or appropriate organization to enhance their individual classroom curricula. BACK TO TOP |