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Time's running out! Apply to run for a seat on an Education Council by Sunday, February 16, 2025!


Respect for All (RFA) Week is February 10–14, 2025, when City schools celebrate the diversity of our student body and staff members while promoting respect and understanding through theme-based activities and lessons. If you want to join in on the celebration and need some ideas, consider some of the following activities!

A graphic with Respect for All Week written

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2025 NYC School Survey

Let us know what you think about NYC's public schools by completing the 2025 NYC School Survey! Learn more about this year's Survey, and submit your answers by April 4, 2025!


Opportunities for Students (February 2025)

February is a great time for NYC students to begin securing outstanding learning and earning opportunities for the rest of the school year and beyond, including scholarships, grants, free classes, and even paid jobs. See what's available for NYC public schools students this month, and register/apply for them today!


The Month Ahead (February 2025)

Take a look and see what's in store for NYC Public Schools in February 2025. Key dates and celebrations this month include Climate Action Day, Respect for All Week, Midwinter Recess, our monthlong celebration of Black History Month, and the last days to submit applications for this year's CEC elections and 3-K/Pre-K admissions.


Get College, Career, and Financial Aid Support at NYC's Public Libraries

As teens start to think about next steps, apply for financial aid for college, and brush up their resumes in preparation for entering the workforce, NYC's public libraries are here to provide support and clear information.


The 3-K and Pre-K Applications for Fall 2025 are Open!

From January 15, 2025 until February 28, 2025, NYC families with children born in 2022 can apply to 3-K programs and children born in 2021 can apply to Pre-K programs for the 2025–26 school year. Learn more about this year's admissions processes, including suggested tips and tools that you can use to discover and select programs, and submit your application!


    Stay Healthy This Winter

    With winter in full swing, learn more about the resources available to you and your family that can help boost your physical and mental health all season long.


    Black History Month Highlight: Victor H. Green, Creator and Publisher of the Green Book

    In celebration of Black History Month, we’re sharing the story of Victor Hugo Green, a postal worker from Harlem who created the “Negro Motorist/Travelers' Green Book”, an annual travel and vacation guide published from 1936–1967. The "Green Book" helped readers identify and travel to businesses that accepted Black customers back during an era where legalized segregation between the races was the norm.

    Learn more about Victor Hugo Green on Hidden Voices

    Black and white photograph of Victor Hugo Green in front of a copy of the Fall 1956 copy of 'The Negro Travelers' Green Book' which features a green-toned illustration of two people driving in a car.

    What We're Reading

    Wednesday, February 5 is our next Climate Action Day! This month, the Climate Action Day theme is energy, so students will be participating in activities and lessons focused on reducing their energy use and switching to renewable sources of power in our communities.

    We encourage families to join in on the fun and learning at home with these books for readers of all ages, which showcase the importance of climate action and sustainability practices on both a local and global level. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

    Image of two students reading.

    Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)

    • Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea: How a Science Project Helps One Family and the Planet, by Elizabeth Suneby; illustrated by Rebecca Green
    • Our Green City, by Tanya Lloyd Kyi; illustrated by Colleen Larmour
    • Solar Story: How One Community Lives Alongside the World’s Biggest Solar Plant, by Allan Drummond

    Elementary (Grades 3–5)

    • Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth, by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
    • Earth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet, by Nanette Heffernan; illustrated by Bao Luu
    • Planet Power: Explore the World’s Renewable Energy, by Stacy P. Clark; illustrated by Annalisa Beghelli

    Middle School (Grades 6–8)

    • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
    • Forest World, by Margarita Engle
    • Nowhere Better than Here, by Sarah Guillory

    Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)

    • Black Gold: The Story of Oil in Our Lives, by Albert Martin
    • Hothouse Earth: The Climate Crisis and the Importance of Carbon Neutrality, by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson
    • The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the US Government Over Climate Change, by Elizabeth Rusch

    You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more great recommendations in the Climate Climate Action Day collection. Day collection.

    Missed our previous book recommendations?
    Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!


    SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS

    Last week on Wednesday, February 5, schools across the five boroughs commemorated World Read Aloud Day, an international celebration dedicated to highlighting the power of reading! Since 2010, classrooms around the world have been celebrating and sharing their favorite stories aloud on this special day to honor the joy and awesomeness of literacy. 

    Check out how some of our schools commemorated World Read Aloud Day, and think about some of your favorite stories—which ones do you love to read aloud? 


    Black background with text that reads 'Celebrating Black History Month' in white, red, green, and yellow text. Shapes in the same colors border the image.

    Community and Citywide Education Councils (CCECs): Your Community, Your Voice

    Education councils help shape policies and priorities for NYC Public Schools. Learn all about New York City's Community and Citywide Education Councils, what they do, and how you can get involved.


    Class is in Session with Parent University

    Parent University is a free online learning platform for NYCPS families. Start the 2024–25 school year by enrolling in courses you're interested in today!


    Exploring Climate Action at Home: Make Your Own "Solar Oven"

    Graphic showing a home-made solar oven, made from a pizza box, with s'mores cooking inside the box on a sunny day.

    Join in on the fun of our energy-themed Climate Action Day at home with a solar-powered science project—and enjoy a tasty snack when you’re done!


    A MySchools.nyc Tutorial: Learn the Basics

    Throughout any stage of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) application processes for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, middle school, high school, and Gifted and Talented (G&T) for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, you can use MySchools.nyc—learn how to today!

    A screenshot of the MySchools homepage

      Prepare for Remote Learning

      In the event that weather conditions or other emergencies require the temporary closure of public school buildings, students will participate in remote learning at home. Make sure your family is ready with these tips and answers to frequently asked questions.


      Stay Informed with a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA)

      With a NYCSA, you can:

      • Access your child's school information on the go
      • See your student’s grades, test scores and more
      • Complete important forms
      • Take classes in Parent University
      • Get technology support through SupportHub

       


      Ready to Read: Literacy Resources for Families

      NYC Reads is reshaping the way that we teach our students to read, but the learning doesn't have to stop at the classroom door! Whether it's a family book club or a phonics-based 20 questions game, you can bring the "science of reading" home by using any of our helpful resources that will help your children continue to develop their literacy skills, like: 

      • Reading Games
      • Phonics, Vocabulary, and Storytelling Practice
      • And more!

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