The Month Ahead (November 2024)
Goodbye, Pumpkin Spice Season...
November's here, which means it's time to start preparing ourselves mentally for the end of election season, jacket weather, endless pie sales, and the Thawing of Mariah Carey.
For City public school families, November is a month packed with school holidays and early dismissal dates that should definitely be noted, including Veterans Day, Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs), and Thanksgiving Recess. In fact, everyone should keep in mind that just in the first half of the month alone, there are three school holidays for City students (November 1, 5, and 11)—so plan accordingly!
Beyond the days off, this month, our schools will be celebrating their very first Climate Action Day for the 2024–2025 school year as well as commemorating Native American heritage—check in with your schools to see how these celebrations will be addressed in the coming days.
And so without further ado, here's what else is in store for City schools in November 2024, courtesy of the 2024–2025 NYC Public Schools Calendar.
NYC Schools Calendar — November 2024
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
All Month Long | National Native American Heritage Month |
Friday, November 1 | Diwali Schools closed; no classes for students enrolled in NYC Public Schools |
Sunday, November 3 | Daylight Saving Time Ends Standard Time resumes at 2 a.m.—roll your clocks back by one hour! |
Tuesday, November 5 | Election Day No classes for students enrolled in NYC Public Schools |
Thursday, November 7 | Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for Elementary Schools Students attending K–8 programs will be dismissed three hours early; check in with your child's school for details and possible changes |
Friday, November 8 | Last Day to Register for the I.S. 239/District 21 Talent Test For fifth graders seeking admission to the Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented (I.S. 239) as well as five other District 21 middle schools |
Monday, November 11 | Veterans Day Schools closed; no classes for students enrolled in NYC Public Schools |
Thursday, November 14 | Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for Middle Schools and D75 Programs Students attending middle schools (programs with just grades 6–8) and District 75 programs will be dismissed three hours early; check in with your child's school for details and possible changes |
Saturday, November 16 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Murry Bergtraum High School | 2024 NYCPS Family and Community Resource Fair NYC families are invited to learn about the many resources available through NYC Public Schools and our community partners — register online. |
Tuesday, November 19 | Climate Action Day — "Waste" Check in with your school to see how teachers, students, and building staff members are working together to respond to climate change. |
Thursday, November 21 | Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences for High Schools, K–12 Programs, and 6–12 Programs Check in with your child's school for details and possible changes |
Friday, November 22 | Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences for High Schools, K–12 Programs, and 6–12 Programs Students attending high schools (grades 9–12), K–12 programs, and 6–12 programs will be dismissed three hours early; check in with your child's school for details and possible changes |
Thursday, November 28–Friday, November 29 | Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed; no classes for students enrolled in NYC Public Schools |
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Some notes about this month's schedule:
November is National Native American Heritage Month
All month long, NYC Public Schools across the City will be recognizing the history, cultures, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of our nation to New York City and beyond. In addition, we'll also be highlighting books, historical figures, and learning resources right here on The Morning Bell—so join our students and help us celebrate Native American history and heritage throughout November!
Check in with your child's teachers to see how Native American heritage is being celebrated at their school this year.
November's Parent-Teacher Conferences
This month, NYC Public Schools' second round of Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on:
- November 7 for elementary schools (K–8 buildings);
- November 14 for middle schools (buildings with just grades 6–8) and District 75 programs; and
- November 21 and 22 for high schools (grades 9–12), K–12 programs, and 6–12 programs.
Note that students whose schools are hosting Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 7, 14, or 22 will be dismissed from their schools three hours early—speak with your child's teachers for more information about your Parent-Teacher Conference, including meeting times. Also, check out our official Parent-Teacher Conferences webpage for meeting tips and policy information.
Middle and High School Applications Remain Open; Will Close in December
NYC families seeking admission to NYC's public middle schools and high schools have all of November to continue working on their applications and learning more about their school and program preferences. Check out the MySchools Event Calendar to look up any of the hundreds of admissions events our middle and high schools will be hosting throughout November, including open houses, classroom tours, and community presentations
Remember: high school applications will close on December 4, while middle school applications will close on December 20. To learn more, check out our middle school and high school admissions overviews right here on The Morning Bell!
Applying for I.S.239 Mark Twain and/or Talent Programs in District 21 (D21)? Note that your student must be registered for Mark Twain/D21's Talent Tests on MySchools by Friday, November 8. Visit our "Middle School Auditions" webpage to learn more.
Help Support the Environment During This Year's First Climate Action Day
On November 19, NYC Public Schools across the five boroughs are celebrating this year's first official Climate Action Day, a fun, environmentally-themed, creative learning opportunity for entire school communities. This month's Climate Action Day theme is "Waste," and participating schools will be hosting activities that promote outdoor learning and stewardship for green spaces.
Check with your/your child's school to find out how they will be celebrating November's Climate Action Day.
December 2024's Calendar Updated with Additional Day of Winter Recess
Yes, this Month Ahead is all about November, but we thought it would be important to note for you that we just updated the 2024–2025 NYC Public School Calendar to reflect the fact that Winter Recess now has one additional day off for NYC students! Winter Recess will now begin on Monday, December 23—meaning that students' last day of school before the start of recess is now Friday, December 20!
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That's all for this month—on behalf of NYC Public Schools, we wish you and your families a wonderful November!
Banner photo by Emma Bauso. Original photo can be found on Pexels.