DOE Announces New Elementary School Directory
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 0 Comment(s)
The Department of Education announced today that the new 2012-2013 Elementary School Directory is now available online here. The Directory includes information about the kindergarten application process and a list of elementary school choices by district. The kindergarten application period is open from January 9, 2012 through March 2, 2012 . All students entering kindergarten [...]
Help for Applying to Kindergarten and Elementary Schools
by Karen on 1/24/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Let’s just say that investigating and applying for schools in NYC is like crossing a raging river. (I’m trying to be optimistic here). Don’t despair! There are bridges for you so you can get to the other side of the process without losing your mind. Insideschools.org is throwing you a rope and hosting a free [...]
DOE Announces Kindergarten Application Deadlines (we have PreK too)
by Karen on 1/10/12 | 3 Comment(s)
Sharpen your pencils, get out your walking shoes and get ready for the kindergarten application season! It’s not fun, but by the end of it, hopefully you will be happy with where your child ends up. Here’s the scoop! The kindergarten application period is open from January 9, 2012 through March 2, 2012. Visit the [...]
Public PreK Deadlines Up Now!
by Karen on 12/22/11 | 5 Comment(s)
Joyce Szuflita, of NYC School Help is our School Expert and always has the scoop on what’s going on with schools. Joyce sent me an email early this morning with the just-announced deadlines from the DOE. She also breaks any school news on her blog here so make sure you check it out and sign [...]
Success Academy Gets Approval For Cobble Hill Location
by Karen on 12/15/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Last night, a 13 member panel that oversees education policy, voted “yes” to co-locating the Brooklyn Success Academy in a building that already houses 3 existing public schools in District 15. The site of the co-location, located at 284 Baltic Street (at Court Street), currently houses the Brooklyn School for Global Studies, School for International [...]
High School Rant, School Deadlines and Updates
by Karen on 12/13/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Joyce Szuflita, of NYC School Help is our School Expert and always has the scoop on what’s going on with schools. Joyce sent me a massive list of updates on schools, timelines and deadlines! She also breaks any school news on her blog here so make sure you check it out. From Joyce: Elementary School [...]
Proposed Charter Meeting in Cobble Hill Got Testy
by Karen on 12/01/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Last night, a heavily-attended hearing about co-locating the proposed Success Academy Charter School in a building that already houses 3 existing public schools in District 15, showed that emotions run (understandably) high when it comes to schools. Patch reported that, “Many times the crowd, holding signs that read “Co-Locations: Seperate and Unequal” or “Charters = [...]
NY Times, WNYC Will Present Event on School Choice
by Karen on 11/29/11 | 0 Comment(s)
On Thursday, December 8, SchoolBook, a collaboration between The New York Times and WNYC, will present a live Town Hall event on school choice. WNYC’s Brian Lehrer will host a panel discussion featuring NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott. The event will focus on how to navigate the public school system and make the best choices [...]
Enter Your School For Chance to Win a $25,000 Intel Tech Package
by Karen on 11/21/11 | 0 Comment(s)
We know that using technology in the classroom helps teachers and students be more resourceful and stay current in today’s environment. The problem is that most schools don’t have the access to the technology they need. Intel AppUp℠ center is trying to change that with its Wired to Learn contest. Intel is donating a $25,000 [...]
School News: New Schools, Deadlines and Tours
by Karen on 11/21/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Joyce Szuflita, is our School Expert, and always has the scoop on what’s going on with schools. Joyce Szuflita, of NYC School Help is our School Expert and always has the scoop on what’s going on with schools. Joyce sent me a massive list of updates on schools, timelines and deadlines! She also breaks any [...]
Free Forum For Pre-K Families
by Karen on 11/14/11 | 3 Comment(s)
The DOE (Department of Education) loves their acronyms, so if you are getting started in the admission process- let me start by saying: The OECE (Office of Early Childhood Education) is doing a series of information sessions on Pre-K (Pre-Kindergarten) and UPK (Universal Pre-Kindergarten) next month. Got that?! These sessions are intended to help parents [...]
Brooklyn Literati Read For PS8
by Karen on 11/09/11 | 5 Comment(s)
Brooklyn has so many writers that it isn’t all that surprising to find yourself watching a movie next to Jhumpa Lahiri at BAM or drinking coffee next to Jonathan Safran Foer at Sweet Melissa’s. So, why not gather some of Brooklyn’s best for an Author’s Night? Well, it takes a lot of effort and emailing. [...]
Parents’ Forum on Gifted and Talented Elementary Schools
by Karen on 11/08/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Parents’ Alliance for Citywide Education (PACE) is a new organization founded by parent volunteers who represent each of New York City’s five Citywide G&T schools: Brooklyn School of Inquiry, NEST +m, STEM, TAG, and The Anderson School. In their quest to educate other parents about those schools, they will hold their first Parents’ Forum providing [...]
Researching Schools in Brooklyn- Which Sites Give You What
by Serena on 10/18/11 | 1 Comment(s)
Growing up in Brooklyn I don’t ever remember my own mother researching schools – we simply went to the school that was in our neighborhood. And now? As parents, we discuss zoning, applying out of zone, G & Ts, charters, magnets- and it isn’t enough to just discuss it sometimes: you really need to research [...]
Public School 101 Talk This Week
by Karen on 10/17/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Joyce Szuflita, school consultant of NYC School Help and our School Expert, is always on top of what is going on within the NYC school system. Join her this week for an informative discussion entitled “Intro to Public School: PreK and Kindergarten” to help clear up any confusion about the public pre-k and kindergarten process [...]
Two Innovative Ways To Raise Funds For Schools, Those In Need
by Serena on 10/10/11 | 0 Comment(s)
With so many people in need giving back is a great way to do your part and teach our children to help those less fortunate. We recently learned about two ways to support education and those in need of some of life’s basics. We are really excited to have learned about Portrait Press Fundraising, a [...]
Admissions Talk by Inside Schools’ Founder
by Karen on 10/09/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Did you know that in some city districts, kids are assigned to their school, and in others, kids must apply? All kids must apply to high school. Carefully consider your options because once you accept a placement- it’s difficult to transfer. The advice above is paraphrased from Insideschools, the guide and blog about New York [...]
Big News from The International School of Brooklyn
by Karen on 10/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
It seems our middle school options in Brooklyn have expanded today as the International School of Brooklyn (ISB) announced it will open an independent middle school in September 2012. The program will follow the inquiry-based Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate . It will continue to offer a bilingual program (Spanish/English or French/English) as [...]
Middle School Fairs This Week And Next
by Karen on 10/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Whether you have a kid ready for middle school next year or a preschooler and you’re just interested in finding out what your middle school district options are, head to one of the two fairs this week. Most districts host a fair for families of 5th grade students to learn more about their options for [...]
Gifted and Talented Admissions Start Monday
by Karen on 9/24/11 | 2 Comment(s)
Starting Monday, you can begin submitting the Requests for Testing (RFT) Forms for G and T admissions. You only have a month to do so, so put it on your “to do” list this week. If you want to know more about the entire process (because it is just that complicated), there are Gifted and [...]
School Crazed? Seminars promise to help with the pain
by Serena on 9/21/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Are you overwhelmed or just plain confused by the school admission process in NYC? Navigating the NYC application process is uniquely competitive and byzantine. But, help is on the way! The best way to get through the whole process is to be armed with information! This week, we found a few informative talks where you [...]
Free NYC Gifted & Talented Seminars This Week
by Serena on 9/18/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Think you might have a child who will qualify for a Gifted and Talented Program next year? Or, how about, you don’t? Either way, I hope you read this post because it might help you decide if it is right for your family. Take a look at these statistics reported by The New York Times: [...]
Get your head around Brooklyn schools at SchoolFest
by Karen on 9/15/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Everyone knows how daunting the NYC school search can be- you only need to watch Nursery University to get a taste of it. Whether you are just beginning to look into daycare, schools or are looking for middle or high schools, this week’s SchoolFest can help you. This school fair by TownSquare, invites all schools [...]
Our favorite backpacks for school 2011
by Serena on 8/31/11 | 0 Comment(s)
It’s that time of year again: back to school time! No matter what age your children are, they all love a special backpack to begin the year with. With so many choices, we searched for the cutest, eco-friendly and functional backpacks out there to help you choose. Topkat Backpack ($40). Created by Milkdot, a New [...]
Does your school need $25K? Apply here.
by Serena on 8/24/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Does your school need a new playground, basketball court or heck- even tennis court? Well, Sprite Spark Parks Project for Schools is awarding grants to local schools in need, and your school could be next. Sprite Spark Parks Project recently awarded the Boys and Girls High School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with a $25,000 grant to [...]
