2nd Round of Enrollment to the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) G&T

Parents of children from District 2 and District 30, interested in attending P.S./I.S. 217:

If your child qualified for the G&T program this year, but received placement elsewhere, you are welcome to re-submit your applications to P.S./I.S. 217.  The Kindergarten class will open this Fall, as soon as it gets more children registered. Please, contact the school to register your child!

The PTA thanks every parent who came to the meeting with DOE representative this morning to defend our case.  It is gratifying to see such a tremendous community support for our neighborhood school.

Kindergarten Chorus at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) Spring Concert 2010

Kindergarten students gave a touching performance at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) Spring Concert yesterday, June 9th.

An Article About Roosevelt Island School G&T in the Wall Street Journal

To clarify, the G&T Program in the Roosevelt Island School will be offered as an alternative for the students coming next year (2011/12), and current Kindergarten class is continuing on to the 1st Grade (and according to DOE is expected to grow by three students).  There will be a G&T program meeting to discuss the fate of the students who chose PS/IS 217 this year.  If you are interested in this program, please join us tomorrow, Friday, June 11th at 9 am in the Roosevelt Island School auditorium (2nd floor).

Gifted Classes Are Hot Point By JOY RESMOVITS

A Roosevelt Island public school won't offer its gifted-and-talented program for incoming kindergartners, prompting parental gripes and threats to move to the suburbs.

Families point to the Department of Education's discontinuation of the class at P.S./I.S. 217 as ironic amid overcrowding and a scramble for kindergarten seats.

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Michael Rubenstein for The Wall Street Journal
Cari Bak, left, and her husband, Jakob, inside P.S. 217 with their daughters Elke, 11 months, Bronwyn, 3, and Lillian, 6.

"I'm devastated," said Cari Bak, a mother of two who moved to Roosevelt Island recently. One of her daughters, 6-year-old Lillian, can distinguish rivers from tidal estuaries. According to Ms. Bak, Lillian benefits from the 14-student gifted-and-talented classroom.

But now, Ms. Bak is nervous. If her 3-year-old daughter, Bronwyn, qualifies for the accelerated program but can't attend school on Roosevelt Island, Ms. Bak said she would move to the suburbs.

School officials said its decision was driven by a lack of demand. "Two students this year listed P.S. 217 as their first choice—far below the 25 needed to fill a classroom," said education department spokesman Matt Mittenthal. "These students will be assigned to seats nearby."

But the school PTA President Nikki Leopold said she knew of at least five families that ranked the school first. Children must score above a 90% on an admissions exam to qualify; families often rank several schools in order of preference and children are placed according to how high they scored on the exam.

An Update about G&T Program at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S 217)

To answer some of the questions we received from interested parents, a quote from an email update from the Council member Lappin's office regarding the status of the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) G&T Program :

"They [The DOE - Department of Education] have promised us that they remain committed to the program and will include it among the choices next year.  They will also work to devise strategies to increase enrollment at the program.  This year’s kindergarten class will be able to continue in the G&T program in first grade next year (and, in fact, is expected to grow by three students).  <...> Even with the hopeful note about the DOE remaining committed to the program in the future, <...> transportation from off the Island is likely going to be a determinative factor in the program’s success."

More information will be available at the G&T Program meeting this Friday, June 11th at 9 am in the Roosevelt Island School auditorium (2nd floor).

Field Day Activities at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

On Wednesday, June 16th Kindergarten classes of the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) are having a field day.  This will be a fun-filled morning of activities at the filed across from the school from 9 to 11 am.  The teachers need as many parent volunteers as possible to assist with this field day (setup activities, run an activity station, move teams to different stations, bathroom runners).  Please return the sign up form sent home via backpacks if you are able to volunteer.  Volunteers should be at school at 8:30 am to start setup.

Please send your child to school wearing sneakers and comfortable clothing.  A sheet for the color each child should wear on this day was sent back home - children will be split into six teams.  The children will be having a water event.  If you would like, you can send a change of clothing in your child's backpack.

Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) G&T Program Meeting this Friday, June 11th

G&T Program Emergency Meeting this Friday, June 11th @9:00 am in the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) Auditorium (2nd Floor).  Everyone, interested in the future of the G&T Program on the island, is invited.  Offices of Council Member Lappin and Assembly Member Kellner confirmed they will be there.   Please make every effort to attend!

Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) Spanish Program Recording

Lower grades students at P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) recorded a CD with some songs that they have studied in their PTA sponsored Spanish After-school Program during this semester on Wednesday, June 2.

Moving-Up Ceremony at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

What: "Kindergarten Moving-Up Ceremony" followed by breakfast party

Where: In your child's classroom

When: Friday, June 25th at 9 am

Why:  We are so proud of all the student's accomplishments and would like to celebrate all their hard work!

A sign-up sheet for party items is outside your child's classroom.  Since this is a classroom celebration, it will be limited to just parents/guardians.  Your are welcome to take. you child home after the celebration.  However, please note that Monday, June 28th is the official last day of school.  It is a half-day and student report cards will be distributed.

Field Day Activities at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

A note from The Roosevelt Island School principal Ms. Beckman: "As the summer approaches PS/IS 217, many classes have scheduled Field Day Activities.  Please remember that only students that have demonstrated positive behaviors and have no outstanding school lunch bills will participate.  You will find out more information from your child's teacher regarding what food to bring and the number of chaperons needed.  Please speak with your child's teacher with any question you might have.  Have a wonderful summer."  K003 (G&T) class will have their field day on Wednesday, June 16th 9:00 to 11:00 am.

Spirit Week at the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217)

Teachers and students at P.S./I.S. 217 (Roosevelt Island School) enjoyed the Spirit week. See some photos from Twins Day and Crazy Hair Day below.