Tuesday 1/18: ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO PARK EAST
Wednesday 1/19: Blue to Annx; Silver and Grey to Park East
Thursday 1/20: Silver to Annx; Blue and Grey to Park East
Friday 1/21: Blue to Annx; Silver and Grey to Park East
The New York Post has called Park East "a hidden gem" in the NYC school system. Come to a virtual open house to find out what makes us special! Click here for more information. You can also view our newly updated virtual tour as well as a slide show chock full of information about our academic program and our school community. Please email Assistant Principal Mrs. Edmonds with any questions: medmonds@parkeasths.org.
Please read this document for important Covid updates as we resume school, along with the letter from the new NYC Schools Chancellor, David C. Banks.
The highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID is rapidly spreading through New York City, and New York State has declared a state of emergency. The best defense we have is the vaccine! It is safe, free, and available to all adults and children aged 5 and up. Almost 85% of Park East students are vaccinated, but we could do better! After you've been vaccinated, be sure to upload your COVID Vaccine card to the DOE Vaccine Portal .
On February 16, 2022, a group of optometrists called Eye on Education will visit Park East to provide FREE eye exams and glasses to students. To receive this service, parental consent forms and insurance information must be completed and submitted by February 2, 2022.
We had this service at Park East in 2019 and it was a great success. Please call Nurse Renee Renard with any question: 212-831-1517 x109.
Looking for somewhere to go after school? The library is now open every Monday until 4:45. All students are welcome to use the computers, check out books, or get help from Ms. Holland on research or other assignments. It will also be open late on Wednesdays with Mr. Parks. Please see the after school activities schedule for many other clubs and tutoring opportunities throughout the week.
Testing is the best tool we have right now for keeping our community safe. It is important that all unvaccinated students submit their COVID testing permission forms. Please complete this consent form and bring it to the main office or upload it to your NYC Schools Account ASAP!
In case you missed our presentation on NYC Graduation and Diploma Requirements, you can view the slides. Please contact Ms. Johnson, Guidance Counselor, at njohnson@parkeasths.org with any questions.
Students, check out the new schedule for after-school (and some before-school) clubs and activities. There's something for everyone! Please join in -- a great way to get to know other students and build your brag sheet.
Welcome to this year's COVID-19 Resources page. Below, you will find all the critical information about how we are operating in the 2021-22 school year to reduce the risk of COVID infection. We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe while we deliver quality academic instruction for all students, with purpose, preparation, and pride.
We urge all students to get vaccinated, and boosted when eligible. Teachers and staff are required to be vaccinated. Please take a look at our COVID-19 Vaccine One-Stop Shopping document, which contains FAQs on the vaccine, reliable resources, up-to-date info on where to get vaccinated, and more. The vaccine is approved for and widely available to all New Yorkers age 5 and over. For more information, go to https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692). You can also text your zip code to the number 438829. In most cases, appointments are not necessary.
To keep families up to date on our plans, we are holding regular town hall meetings via zoom. Please scroll down on this page to view slides from past town halls. In addition, please check this website regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.
This information was last updated on January 9, 2022.
The Omicron variant is rapidly on the rise in New York City and is highly contagious. In light of this current condition, please read the below updates of our policies around Covid. If a student tests positive, contact the school immediately by emailing Principal Ort, Parent Coordinator Vickiana Ramirez, or Assistant Principals Edmonds, Edouard, or Jurman. It is very important that you let us know: when was your last day in the building, what are your symptoms, when did they start, and when were you tested.
Currently the quarantine period for students is 10 days after testing positive. Stay home and Zoom into classes until the quarantine period is over. You may return to school on day 11, unless you still have symptoms. If you have any symptoms, regardless of your testing status, please stay home. We need to be extra cautious during the surge, so listen to your body and stay home if you feel sick. And be sure to let us know! PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR ZOOMING IN TO CLASSES FOR ANY COVID-RELATED REASON.
When there is a case in school, all students and staff who were in close proximity to the infected individual will be notified. Note that students no longer have to quarantine if they do not have symptoms and do not have a positive COVID test result. All close contacts will receive a take-home rapid test kit and take two tests over the course of five days. We will have more in-school testing for students, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, as well as staff. We will do our best to get as many at-home test kits as possible out to our community. Nonetheless, If you can get tested regularly outside of school, please do so. For a list of testing sites, including sites with at-home rapid tests, call 212-COVID19, visit nyc.gov/covidtest, text "COVID TEST" to 855-48, or call 311
While the above policies and protocols are designed to keep our community as safe as possible, there are two important things that everyone should do to ensure our safety:Wear your masks over your mouth and nose at all times. We will have N95 or KN95 masks to distribute as well as surgical ones. These models offer much better protection than cloth masks. Get vaccinated and boosted. Go to https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/ to find a site. There is a $100 incentive available if you get vaccinated at a NYC site.
We have divided our students into three groups: grey, blue, and silver. The blue and silver groups (about 120 students each) will alternate days between Park East and the Annx. Our alternating day schedule will be sent out via email as well as posted on the school website calendar and Instagram. The grey group (approximately 150 students) will attend school at Park East five days per week. This group includes students who receive specialized services as well as some other, randomly selected students.
Dear Park East Community,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year!
It feels like a terrific gift to be able to be all together back “home” in our building. I feel so lucky to be starting this year as your new principal, tackling all the joys and challenges we will face as we get readjusted to in-person school together.
The COVID year taught us so much about resilience, flexibility, compassion, and love. As we move forward to find our way in the new normal, we must constantly pay attention to taking care of ourselves and each other. Together we will recover and heal from the traumas of last year with renewed appreciation for everything -- our beloved school traditions, all the laughs in our hallways, academic inspiration in our classes, competitive action and community with Pride sports and in our clubs, focus on civic engagement, social justice, and generally making the world a better place -- that makes our awesome little school so special. I am excited for a great year full of reconnecting, learning, and fun. Together, let’s make this the best year yet!
Go Pride! Go Park East!
Much love,
Dr Suzy Ort
August 2021
If a student is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, or is feeling ill, they MUST remain at home.
If a student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms in school, they will be escorted to the isolation room, seen by a school nurse, and go home.
Students must follow social distancing and wear masks throughout the entire day, except when eating. Students who refuse to wear masks properly will be sent home.
Students must follow proper hygiene protocols, including washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and wiping down their equipment as needed.
As per DOE policy, any student who habitually does not follow these guidelines will be moved to 100% remote learning.
As of September 2021, all visitors to Park East MUST show proof of vaccination to enter the building. If you need to pick up a student and do not have proof of vaccination, please call 212-831-1517 x 104 and wait for them outside. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our learning environment safe. Vaccination is highly encouraged for all family and community members.
Staff Welcome 2021
Looking for a book to read? The New York Public Library is open throughout the pandemic and offers many ways to access free books, ebooks, and more. Watch this presentation on Independent Reading by our librarian, Ms. Holland. Please contact her with any questions at aholland@parkeasths.org.
