My child is sick and is not in school today, what should I do?
Call the main office only if the absence lasts two or more days. If your child is absent for three or more consecutive days, please be sure to send a note explaining the reason for the absence when your child returns to school. When appropriate, include a doctor’s note indicating the reason for an extended absence. Sending a note does not erase the absence, it just provides information so that the absence can be properly coded.
I need to pick my child up before dismissal. What should I do?
Parents must come to the Main Office and sign their child out by 2:00 p.m. Students are only released to adults who are listed on the child’s blue emergency card. Please try to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours. Children miss important instruction when they are out of school.
Where are students dismissed?
Pre-K students are dismissed at 2:35. All other students are dismissed at 2:40 PM. For dismissal locations and procedures CLICK HERE.
I have questions regarding my child, what should I do?
Always address classroom questions or concerns with your child’s teacher. Please send in a note requesting a meeting/phone call. Let the teacher know the best way to contact you (phone, email, etc.) and days/times you are available. Please do not try to talk to the teacher at arrival or dismissal. Teachers begin instruction immediately following arrival. In the afternoon, teachers should not be interrupted while they are responsible for safely dismissing their students.
If your concerns are not classroom-related, please contact the Main Office to be directed to an Administrator that can help.
How can I keep abreast of important school dates and upcoming events?
The PTA sends out a weekly Eblast with reminders about important school dates, such as photo day, testing days or days off school–as well as PTA events such as the Fall Festival or Auction. To receive the Eblast, please send an email to the YCS Main Office at mainoffice@yorkvillecommunityschool.org
How can I find out what is going on in my child’s classroom?
At the beginning of the year, you will receive a letter of introduction from your child’s teacher with routines and plans for the upcoming school year. Other ways to keep in touch are by checking your child’s Take Home Folder every day and joining us for events such as Family Friday and Curriculum Night. You will also have the opportunity to schedule a Parent-Teacher conference in November and March. Class Parents liaison between the teacher and classroom families and will send out important emails and flyers about upcoming school events.
How can I keep track of my child’s attendance, test scores, etc.?
Use your NYC Schools account to access key information about your child’s progress in school, including attendance, report card grades, general student information, and test scores (new) in one of ten languages on a computer, phone or tablet. To access your account, contact the YCS Main Office at mainoffice@yorkvillecommunityschool.org for your child’s ID number and a temporary password (for first time log in). Log in at: http://schools.nyc.gov/myaccount.
Can I volunteer to help in the classroom or at school?
Yes! Parent engagement is vital to the success of our school and there are a variety of ways you can join us in making YCS great. Parents with limited time can volunteer at specific short-term events (like our Cupcake Social or Fall Festival) or help in an ongoing way as a class parent, library volunteer, etc. To learn more and get involved email mainoffice@yorkvillecommunityschool.org.
Can my child have school lunch once in a while and how do I pay?
As of September 2017, breakfast and lunch is free for all students.
Please note that ALL parents must fill out the Lunch Program application in order for YCS to receive the appropriate allocation of federal Title 1 dollars and to determine the eligibility of children for certain rights and services under the No Child Left Behind Act. CLICK HERE for more info. to complete the form online.
What time does my child have lunch/recess this year?
GRADE
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LUNCH
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RECESS
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KINDERGARTEN
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10:35 – 11:00
|
11:00 – 11:25
|
FIRST
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11:00 – 11:25
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10:35 – 11:00
|
SECOND
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11:25 – 11:50
|
11:50 – 12:15
|
THIRD
|
11:50 – 12:15
|
11:25 – 11:50
|
FOURTH
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12:15 – 12:40
|
12:40 – 1:05
|
Is recess outside every day? What about days when the temperature is below freezing?
The NYC DOE states that outdoor play is permitted regardless of the temperature when weather and yard conditions are appropriate. If it is cold outside, please make sure your child has appropriate outerwear for outdoor play (hats, gloves, etc.). In the event of rain or snow, indoor recess is in our gym.
How can I join the YCS PTA?
Every parent is automatically a member of the YCS PTA and is welcome at all PTA General Membership meetings (noted on the school calendar). There are no fees or annual dues to join. The PTA does ask each family for a contribution that helps support YCS enrichment programs. No donation amount is too small–please give what you can. Our goal is 100% participation!
How many classes per grade and how many students are there per class?
We are a PreK – 5th grade school. There are 2-3 classes per grade - class size varies from year to year.
Can I apply to YCS if I reside outside your zone?
YCS is a zoned school and therefore we must give priority to children that live within our zone. To find your zoned school, go to www.schools.nyc.gov.
What are school hours? Do you have early drop off?
The regular school day begins at 8:20 am for all students. Dismissal is at 2:35 pm for Pre-K, and 2:40 pm for all other grades. There is a free breakfast program every day for all students. Parents can drop off students at 8:20 am for grab and go breakfast.
Where does my child eat lunch? What about nut allergies? Will my child have recess every day?
• Children eat lunch in the YCS Café and sit with their class.
• The YCS cafeteria is not nut-free (peanut butter sandwiches are served as part of the NYC school lunch program) however, children with allergies may sit at a reserved table. All our classrooms are nut-aware. We create action-plans to support allergies and severity of allergies/ case-by case.
• Recess is every day and run by the Asphalt Green REP organization.
What curriculum(s) do you use?
At YCS, students in all grades engage in multiple thematic units of study throughout the year. Our Common Core State Standard aligned thematic units of study are presented using a cross- curricular approach that integrates basic disciplines like reading, math, and writing with the exploration of a broad subject, such as communities, pets, sea creatures, government, etc.
The research based curriculum programs integrated into our thematic units are: Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Investigations/TERC Math, Context for Learning Math, Wilson Foundations
YCS is proud to have been honored as a SHOWCASE SCHOOL for four years in a row, from 2015 through 2019.
We have been selected to Showcase and share with other educators across the city how we Design Cross-Curricular Thematic Units of Study! Our thematic units of study provide our students with continuous opportunities to participate in whole class discussions and investigations that encourage verbal and written communication, collaborative studies, and student directed research.
Social Emotional Learning at YCS/ SEL @ YCS
Our goal is to develop our students to be curious, compassionate, self-aware and self-motivated individuals. While our curriculum is designed to encourage these traits, we have chosen to integrate the RULER approach into our daily practice. RULER is an evidence-based approach, developed at The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, used to develop emotional intelligence.
RULER teaches five key skills of emotional intelligence:
- Recognizing emotions in one’s self and others.
- Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions.
- Labeling emotions accurately.
- Expressing emotions appropriately.
- Regulating emotions effectively.
YCS Cares
At Yorkville Community School, we guide our practice around our core values: Honesty, Responsibility, Respect and Kindness. Our YCS Cares program is centered on our core values and provides ways for our students to be proactive members of our community. Each grade is responsible for partnering with an outside organization and though their thematic study culmination projects, finds a way to support that organization.
What specialty classes does YCS have?
We have full time specialty teachers in art, music, dance, science/ STEM, and physical education, and library.
What enrichment programs do we offer?
We partner with the 92nd Street Y ( Dance, Intro To Music, 3-D Design), NYC Chess, NY Historical Society, Asphalt Green (REP-Recess Enhancement Program), Morgan Library, and Carnegie Hall.
Do you have after school programs?
Yes, we have several programs (on site and at other facilities). Programs are run independently of YCS. Please check the YCS website for after school registration information, program descriptions and cost.
Support Services at YCS
What is ICT – Integrated Collaborative Teaching?
The YCS ICT class is a model for the entire New York City school system. Each grade has one ICT class, which has one full-time general education teacher and one full-time special education teacher. In the ICT classes, the ratio is approximately 60% general education students and 40% special education students. ICT classes provide the same curriculum as other classes, with the added benefit of a higher staffing ratio and a great deal of support.
What other Support Staff and Service Providers are at YCS?
We have a full time guidance counselor as well as speech and language specialists, a school psychologist, school social worker, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a SETTS/Academic Intervention specialist and ESL specialist. We also have a full-time nurse and medical room.
In addition to the classroom teacher(s), we have student teachers from several universities such as Bank Street College, Columbia Teachers College and NYU’s America Reads Program and Stern College.
Sneak Peek into the data… 2017-18 NYC School Quality Guide - The Framework for Great Schools
Research shows that the six areas of school conditions and practices in the Framework for Great Schools drive improved student learning. Data in this section is from the NYC School Survey, the Quality Review, and metrics related to student attendance and movement of students with disabilities to less restrictive environments. See YCS School Quality Data by clicking here!
Framework for Great Schools
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YCS Score
|
Compared to City Average
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Rigorous Instruction
|
4.90
|
+1.24 (Avg is 3.66)
|
Collaborative Teachers
|
4.61
|
+0.85
|
Supportive Environment
|
3.83
|
+0.43
|
Effective School Leadership
|
4.02
|
+0.42
|
Strong Family-Community Ties
|
4.62
|
+0.86
|
Awards and Accolades
Showcase School - 2015 to 2019
Blackboard Award 2010 - New and Noteworthy School
Blackboard Award 2017 - Outstanding School
New York State Assembly Citation - April 2010
Otty Award 2010 - Principal Samantha Kaplan featured in Our Town, February 2010
"From the Ground Up, Guided by Rigor and Create Kaplan Launches a New School"
Principal of the Week/DNA Info - March 2012, October 2015
Recipient of NY CIty Council CASA Grant - 2009 to Present
YCS is named a Literary Landmark by the United for Libraries organization - May 2014