Dear PS/MS 278 Families,
What an absolute joy it has been to kick off the new school year together! Seeing our hallways filled with bright smiles and the vibrant spirit of our students over these past few days has been incredibly inspiring. It serves as a beautiful reminder of why we love this work: the privilege of partnering with you to nurture, support, and challenge your children every single day. We were also deeply honored to celebrate our opening days alongside K–8 Supervising Superintendent Dr. Maribel Torres-Hulla and District 6 Superintendent Renzo Martinez, who joined us to catch a glimpse of our amazing community in action. You can see some of those wonderful highlights and stay connected with our daily school life by following us on social media at @PsMs278_Tigers.
As we head into our first full week, please note that beginning Monday, we will transition to our regular school year arrival schedule. Thank you for your partnership in helping our students arrive on time to maximize their learning:
• Entrance & Breakfast: All students will enter through the main entrance and proceed to the cafeteria. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast. Please note that hot breakfast service concludes at 7:45 a.m. so students can transition smoothly to their first period.
• Middle School Arrival: Middle school students who are not eating breakfast should arrive no later than 7:55 a.m. This ensures they have enough time to visit their lockers and be at their classroom doors by 8:00 a.m. sharp when instruction begins.
• Elementary School Arrival: Elementary students who are not eating breakfast should arrive prior to 8:00 a.m., which is when teachers will begin moving classes out of the cafeteria to start the day.
Please see below for essential updates and key dates for the upcoming weeks:
• Uniform Grace Period Extended to September 30: A huge thank you to our community for showing up and looking so sharp in our new school uniforms! We understand that many of our new families and those caught in the vendor’s back-to-school rush are still waiting on their orders. To support you during this transition, students may continue wearing last year’s uniform (white tops and grey bottoms) through the end of the month. You can visit our School Uniform Policy page (www.psms278.org/school-uniform-policy/) for full details and the direct ordering link. If your family needs support, please reach out to our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Gonzalez, at agonzalez32@schools.nyc.gov and be sure to include your child’s clothing sizes so we can support you quickly.
• First PTA Meeting: Join us on Wednesday, September 23 at 8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria. We look forward to connecting, collaborating, and hearing your ideas for the year ahead!
• In-Person Back to School Night: Please save the date for Thursday, September 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Your child’s classroom teachers will share more specific details and schedules soon.
• NYC Public Schools AI & Screentime Policy: The city has released new guidance regarding artificial intelligence and screen time. You can review the details on the NYC Public Schools policy page (www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/policies/guidance-on-artificial-intelligence). Please feel free to bring any questions you have to our upcoming family events.
• School Website & Resources: Remember to bookmark our school website (www.psms278.org/) to easily access our updated student/family handbook and the complete family events calendar.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for bringing such incredible warmth and positivity into our school community from day one. We are fully committed to making sure every single Tiger feels safe, loved, and inspired this year, and we are thrilled to walk this journey alongside you as true partners. Let’s make this an unforgettable school year!
With gratitude and excitement,
Bryanna Velazquez,
Principal, PS/MS 278