HOME / SCHOOL CONNECTION

Consistent communication between school and home contributes to a student’s success in school. There are multiple ways for you to receive important information from our school as well as communicate with YCS.

  • During the first days of school, teachers will send a letter of introduction home that will include routines, plans, etc.

  • Take-Home Folders– Each student has a take home folder. Please check this folder EVERY DAY

  • Adventures, our monthly school newsletter, will be sent home to share information about the curriculum, upcoming events (field trips, celebrations of learning).

  • Emails are sent regarding ongoing announcements and upcoming events

  • School Messenger

  • School Website - yorkvillecommunityschool.org

  • Class Parents

  • Family Friday

  • Parent/Teacher Conferences

  • NYC Schools Account

  • Report Cards

  • Easels and bulletin boards in Main and West Lobbies

Communication with Classroom Teachers

It is our goal that teachers use their instructional and daily planning time to work with students and design lesson plans. We do not want our teachers consumed with emails; therefore we discourage this form of communication during school hours and/or after hours. If you have a question regarding school work, homework, your child’s development, etc., please write a note to your child’s teacher and put it in their Take-Home Folder. In a case of an emergency, please call the Main Office and leave a message for the teacher and they will contact you.

  • Meeting with your child’s teacher– Weekly time, is set aside for parent engagement. If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher(s), please schedule a meeting. During these meetings, you can discuss ways to support your child’s academic and social development. If a conference is requested, parents are asked to please provide teachers with a note regarding the topic and three available days/times for a meeting.

Family Friday 

Family Fridays are an opportunity for students to share what they are doing in class, with their family members. Families are invited into the classroom for a 45 minute visit. This is an interactive time between students and family, developed to share our curriculum and instructional philosophies. We will take these opportunities to share with families our daily practice, the constructivist teaching method through units of study, developing emotional IQ, and YCS Core Values and how to support your children at home. Dates and times subject to change.

NYC Schools Account

NYC School Account is a secure online location where you can find your child’s daily attendance, report card grades, test results, and other information. If you need to create an account, please contact our Parent Coordinator.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled in November and March. At these individual conferences, parents discuss their child’s academic and social progress with the teacher. Teachers are also available to meet during Parent Engagement time, appointments necessary. During Parent-Teacher conferences, your child’s teacher(s) will:

  • Speak with you about your child’s strengths and growth areas.

  • Provide strategies that can be used at home to help your child meet instructional goals this year.

  • Discuss the YCS Curriculum and review Assessments used to measure student progress.

Report Cards

Students will receive progress reports in December, March and June. The information provided in our Report Cards supports our belief that collaboration and dialogue between school and families is critical in supporting the academic, social, emotional and physical development of our students. Our report cards are closely aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards, measuring skills and knowledge needed for college and career readiness. The Standards based scale is used to support your child’s academic and social growth by providing you with grades that best reflect your child’s ability. Grading is based on formal and informal assessments that are implemented on a daily basis. As you read your child’s report card, please keep in mind that it is meant to be one of many tools used to support and track your child’s development. Our students are graded using an on-track system, students being on-track toward meeting the NGLS and/or relevant content standards by the end of the year. Each child is evaluated as an individual, not in comparison to another child.

Translations

Many different languages are represented at our school. It is not possible to translate newsletters and other publications into all of these languages. Therefore, our staff will make an effort to reach out individually to families who might need assistance in understanding school communication. Please contact the Main Office.

PTA

All parents are automatically members of the PTA and are welcome to all General Membership meetings once a month. The Parent Association/Parent Teacher Association will work to support teachers and families at our school. Additionally, the PA/PTA serves as a liaison between parents and the school administration. They provide tools and information to help parents become active participants in their child’s education and the school community.

School Leadership Team

The New York State legislature mandates that all NYC Public Schools have a School Leadership Team in place by October of each school year. The SLT is made up of 50% parents and 50% staff. The Principal, PTA president and UFT Rep (or designees) are automatically on the team; other members are elected by their constituencies at a meeting held for that purpose. The SLT is a place where parents, administrators and staff members have an opportunity to communicate regularly and share ideas.