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Watch this space for events and resources available to help counter the effects of the novel coronavirus crisis.

REC (Regional Enrichment Center i.e. Free Childcare Facilities) courtesy of NYC DOE

In order to successfully fight COVID-19, our first responders, health care providers, transit workers, and other key personnel must be able to come to work. That is why we have created Regional Enrichment Centers (RECs)—places where the children of these front-line workers can be safely cared for while their parents continue to serve the city in this time of need. Staffed by DOE employees and community-based organization partners, the centers will provide children with three hot meals daily, remote learning time with their teachers, activities like art and music, and social and emotional support. Regional Enrichment Centers will be available citywide.

If you are a New York City resident, and you have no other child care option, please complete this survey to begin your enrollment process.

Click for all RECs updated info' from the DOE.


NYC Coalition for Educational Justice Survey

NYC Coalition for Educational Justice (one of NYC largest Parent Led Organization) has created a survey to collect information on what our communities need to survive during this current crisis. If you are a public school parent please take the survey and share it far and wide.  The survey is in English & Spanish. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAb6IdkQcbaaP8kFWXGVBWpoPRKLMacsSgBjvAVxUCnWvSeQ/viewform


Petition Governor for Groceries

Petition to the Governor asking for low income families to be given money for groceries - Sign the Petition! https://www.change.org/p/andrew-m-cuomo-i-want-low-income-families-to-be-given-money-by-the-government-for-groceries  


Launching Parent Volunteers (Parent-To-Parent Support)

Hope all is well with everyone.  We recognize our new normal is way more challenging than we'd like and we are all still adjusting.  With that being said, there are some parents out there able to offer their personal time to help other parents during this remote learning process. Please start sharing the below with all your parent networks. 

A group of public school parent leaders (Shino, NeQuan, Liz, Marco, Jimmie, Sheree, Rasheedah and others) are launching a volunteer networking project. 

We are recruiting parents/guardians who are interested in volunteering to help families in need.  In particular we are looking for parents/guardians who are multi-lingual and can translate or interpret and/or have technology skills (connecting to internet, online learning platform how-to's, etc.). 
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.
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Volunteers will be matched to families requesting assistance based on the skills.  How and when the volunteers connect with families requesting help will be decided between the volunteers and the families.  
We are in phase 1 of the project. Once we have enough volunteers, we will begin accepting requests from families via a website (in the process of being set up).  
This is an entirely grassroots effort.  We wanted to set up a system quickly to help one another.  That means this is a work in progress! 

We need your help in recruiting volunteers. Please send questions to hello@parentvolunteers.nyc.

If you are in need of a laptop from TAG for your student to do remote learning at home, please contact Mr. Johnson today, Wednesday, March 18th.  Tomorrow is the last day the building will be open, so please reach out today, so we can set a time for you to come in tomorrow.

Daniel Johnson
Parent Coordinator
TAG School for Young Scholars- 04M012
240 East 109TH ST.
NY, NY 10029
(212)860-6003 Ext.1061
DJOHNSON73@schools.nyc.gov

If you have missed the deadline to contact Mr. Johnson, you can request a digital device directly from the DOE by completing this form.

At this time, we are planning to return Monday for regular classes at TAG, but if you are choosing to keep your children out of school you can refer to the DOE link sent yesterday, with material for at-home learning:  https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/learn-at-home

Today, for those who were in attendance in K-6th, we sent packets home with students.  This is a precautionary measure, and these are NOT to be completed unless the school is closed.  For those not in attendance at the end of school today, all packets will be available online, in the event that school is closed.
For any coronavirus related questions, and the DOE policies, please refer to the NYC Department of Education website:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/

This COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic shows the systemic inequities built into our education system. Some schools don't have access to THE BASICS such as: soap, multiple functioning sinks with running warm water, paper towels and anti-bacterial solution.

This crisis highlights how years of systemic under funding makes some schools more vulnerable than others. We need New York State to Fully Fund Foundation Aid so these schools can function properly. Most of the schools in the poorest districts suffer, with no nurses, social workers, sufficient amount of teaching staff and other educational resources and support (i.e. technology).

Will you please help these schools get the billions New York State owes them by contacting your State Senators and Assembly Members?  We need them to sign-on to Senator Robert Jackson’s proposed Bill S.7378 to fully fund Foundation Aid.

Please click link to sign and send ALL FIVE OF THESE PETITION LETTERS (and PLEASE forward this to everyone you know to spread the word and get more supporters to sign): https://www.aqeny.org/action-update/

The New York City Department of Education employs several different on-line applications (Apps) that allows families the ability to keep track of their scholars' academic performance. 
Schoolnet (https://nyc.schoolnet.com/authentication.aspx)  is one of these on-line applications that TAG uses.  The site contains data on your scholars.  The following student performance data is available on the site:

• New York City Performance Tasks, also known as MOSL
• TAG-Administered RALLY Assessments, including the most recent RALLY assessments given in January
•  The data available goes back to the 2013-2014 school year

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Earlier this school year, letters containing your child’s Schoolnet username and password information were distributed.  This username and password stays consistent from year to year. 
If you cannot locate your child’s login information or are having difficulty logging in, please contact Mr. Dascal, via email, jdascal@schools.nyc.gov . 

To see Rasheedah Harris explain this, click here: 
https://youtu.be/hDc-dUpODRQ

On AQE's website, in the "Newsroom" section, click "recent news" to get updated information about this:
https://www.aqeny.org/newsroom/

In 1993, parents sued New York State for severely under funding public schools (Campaign for Fiscal Equity "CFE") and parents won! 

In 2006, The New York State Court of Appeals ruled that NYS is violating students constitutional right to a "sound and basic education" by not properly funding the schools as needed.  NYS committed to paying a 5.5 billion (BILLION with a "B") to public schools statewide over a 4 year course from 2007 to 2011 (using a formula called Foundation Aid). 

13 years later, our public schools still need this money.  We are still fighting for this money and we need everyone's help.  To learn more about this click here.

By April 1st, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Assembly and Senate will come to an agreement on New York’s $170 billion state budget.

This means we have just a few days left to tell our Senators and Assembly members that they need to fight harder than ever to ensure New York invests in our children and families.

Please click here to see how you can do your part.

PLEASE CLICK, SEND LETTERS AND FORWARD THIS ON TO OTHERS ASKING THEM TO DO THE SAME, POST AND RE-POST ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, PLEASE.

Thank you to those parents who have reached out to help with our Annual Gala and Auction!

In the event  the live event is cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency, we plan to proceed with the online auction.

We need your help soliciting donations!  
Start collecting auction items, big and small.  Our goal is one donation per family.  The more items and services donated, the more funds we can raise to support our children's education.  The PTA is a 501c organization, so donations are tax deductible.

What can you do?

• Do you have a local favorite restaurant, spa, or retail store?  Ask for a gift certificate donation.
• Do you work someplace fascinating?  Donate a tour.
• Do you have unopened holiday or birthday gifts?  Donate them.
• Do you own season tickets?  Donate tickets to a game.
• Do you work in the theater or music industry?  Donate tickets to an event.
• Do you own a vacation home?  Donate a weekend getaway
• Do you have a lot of frequent flyer miles?  Consider donating some miles.
• Have you vacationed recently?  Ask the hotel/resort/bed and breakfast for a donation.
• Does your child attend after school classes?  Ask the program if they'll donate discounted classes
• Do you have access to an exciting experience, such as a movie premiere, celebrity meet and greet, privater party featuring a famous chef or sommelier, or TV show?  Donate it!

Click here for a donation solicitation letter that can be given or emailed to businesses.  

The sky's the limit to what can be auctioned!  Let's work together to make this the most successful online auction ever! 

Starting Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 20--FOR ONE WEEK ONLY--all TAGwear (excluding Chess Team T-shirts) will be sold for 25% off!  For this limited time, the prices for TAGwear will be:

• zip up hoodie  $25  $18.75
• t-shirt $14  $10.50
• sweatpants  $28  $21
• (x-small sweatpants  $20  $15)
• Crewneck Sweatshirt  $20  $15

So, just click here if you need TAGwear.