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AMPARK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL
  • Our Story
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      • Wellness In The Schools (WITS)
      • Spelling Bee
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AmPark Owl Blog

Owl Blog Post for April 16th

4/16/2021

 
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Some Good News at AmPark: 
  • This week our teachers held and Open Door Day where teachers opened the "doors" of their Google Classrooms to share best practices with one another
  • The 2nd grade attended a virtual New York Botanical Garden trip & were provided real life planting kits!
  • This glorious spring weather has wonderfully increased outdoor learning time & utilizing our VCP permitted space
  • Preparations are underway to welcome additional student back to in-person learning who will begin in person during the week of April 26th
  • We will be having an in-person Picture Day with our amazing Michael Driscoll of Legacy Studios NY on May 25th, 26th, and 27th!  Flyers and details to come soon!

The schedules for Remote to Blended Families will be shared via email by Monday, April 19th along with important information to help your students reorient to the building and the safety procedures in place.  Due to continued staffing, space, and social distancing constraints we will not be able to offer all students a 5 days per week model. 

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Please click here to sign up for Ana's SEL at Home - Well Being Club!

The SEL at Home - Well Being Club for Kindergarten to 2nd Graders will be running on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 3:30 PM on  4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, and 6/1.  

The SEL at Home - Well Being Club for 3rd- 5th graders will be running on Thursdays from 3:00 to 3:30 PM on 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3, and 6/10.  

Both SEL at Home - Well Being Clubs will be held via Google Meet.  A Google Meet invitation will be sent in the morning of each session to the participating students in these clubs.

Suggested materials needed include a journal/notebook, coloring paper, and crayons or markers.

Below are some of the social-emotional learning activities that will be covered in both clubs:

  1. Mindful breathing exercises/techniques/activities: Deep breathing is beneficial in decreasing stress, by sending positive signals to our brains. This exercise aids us in calming down and focusing our thoughts more effectively. Students learn to focus on the present moment by identifying something that helps them calm down.
  2. Feeling check-ins: This activity helps us to gain self-awareness. It is the foundation for self-regulation and social awareness.
  3. SEL Books & Read Aloud: Reading comprehension and social-emotional learning with books are designed to teach the modeling of positive emotions encouraging students to respond with their feelings, engage in group discussions, make self-to-text connections, and identify with the character's emotions. Readings will include, My Strong Mind, In My Hear, My Many-Colored Days, I Can Handle It, Anxious Ninja, Don’t Worry Bear, Worry Says What?,  A Little Spot of Kindness, The Feelings Book, Happy, Clark the Shark, We are Best Friends, A Little Spot of Anxiety, I Am Human, Kind, The Invisible Boy, Stick and Stone, The Good Egg, Count on Me, The Dot, Rosie Revere, and Engineer, etc.
  4. Daily Quotes: Positive quotes are used to focus and encourage students at the beginning of every session, challenging them to think about the speaker’s emotions by encouraging empathy and critical thinking skills.
  5. Coping Strategies: Coping skills are taught using books, videos, and activities aligned to student’s grade level. These strategies include counting, listening to music, talking it out, deep breathing, positive self-talk, and affirmations. Additionally, each student will create an individualized coping strategies list and a self-care planning routine.
  6. Show and Tell: This helps build confidence by finding connections with others in a safe, social environment.
  7. Journaling as a SEL Practice: This journal writing practice will help students targeted skills such as: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships, and decision making. Every time we meet, students will be guided to one prompt. Prompts include research-based practices to teach SEL. According to Psych Central (2018) journaling can: help students clarify their thoughts and feelings in an organized way; lead to a reduction in stress by writing about feelings and experiences, etc.
  8. Online Games and Calm Down Apps: Online games and apps will help build SEL Competencies. These include:
  • Go Noodle-A popular learning tool that incorporates fun interactive videos to help student’s physical wellness, academic success, and social-emotional health.
  • Kahoot! -  This activity improves group dynamics by creating a safer, more positive learning environment on an interactive platform.
  • Mind Yeti- These guided sessions and videos are designed to teach mindfulness to students.
  • Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventure- This fun YouTube video series teaches relaxation techniques and yoga. Quick games can target decision-making skills, problem-solving strategies, collaborative skills, and working with others.
 
 If you have any questions, please reach out to Ana at averas3@schools.nyc.gov.


Students Entering Grades 1-12 in September can Apply Now for Exciting STEM Summer Enrichment Programs!
This summer, unplug and explore STEM! Students entering grades 1-12 can apply now to attend programs with STEM Matters NYC. Get your hands dirty in the garden, encounter amazing animals, or design an art or engineering project. Students entering grades 1-9 in September can apply for one-week camps. Students entering grades 10-12 in September can apply for STEM courses. Choose from a wide range of programs offered at sites throughout the city! 
Programs are offered at the NYC Department of Education’s Genovesi Environmental Study Center; Audubon New York; Bronx Zoo; MakerSpace NYC; New York Aquarium; New-York Historical Society; Prospect Park Zoo; Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden; Staten Island Museum; Staten Island Zoo; The Battery Conservancy; The Green-Wood Cemetery; and UrbanGlass. Students will meet and work with field experts in programs that feature real-world learning experiences.  
Don’t miss out, spots are limited and the application deadline is Friday, April 23. Preference is given to students who attend Title I schools. Download our flyer, learn more, and apply now. For questions, contact STEMMattersNYC@schools.nyc.gov.

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Parent Coordinator Corner 

Hello Wonderful AmPark families! Get ready for this month’s Parent resources! Below there is info on many workshops you can attend and also a calendar I thought I would share from the Botanical gardens on a few special events coming up for the whole family! This month’s resources will have some helpful tips for online learning, watching and playing by age as well as another connection resource for you and your little ones. Check our April Parent Resource and previous resources from months prior.
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Brain Power and Wellness Friday!
Brain Power and wellness has been working in our classrooms and providing awesome workshops for our families! We have been able to develop many skills that you probably didn’t realize you were working on. We’ve been working on stress management, positive discipline, cognitive skills, emotional wellness, physical health and so much more. Check out the Brain power Link tree, it has resources from Youtube videos to live Instagram posts, try some out with the family and tell us which one stood out the most! Our next Brain Power workshop will be Friday, April 16th:  5:00PM - 6:00PM I hope to see you there!
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NEW FUNCTIONALITY! You asked, and we listened! Now you can re-watch all pre-recorded, on-demand courses!! Info-sessions: ESOL and HSE Programs  Are you interested in participating in an English as a Second Language (ESOL) class or obtaining your High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma? Join our community-based partners and learn more information about their programs and the process for enrollment.  Click here
Weekly: Arts Courses - Join us for Club CMA, a series of interactive art classes from Children’s Museum of the Arts, where families and children of all ages can participate in sing-alongs, create their own artwork, and much more! 

Plastic Bag Paintings 
Spanish – Saturday, April 17 @ 11am 
*Much more on website
 To register for a courses:  
·         Visit parentu.schools.nyc   
·         Sign in with your NYC Schools Account or create a new account  
·         Choose a course from the Course Catalog tab  
·         Click Enroll  
·         Check your email for confirmation! 
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EVENT: Apple Virtual Learning Sessions for NYC Parents and Guardians
Apple is hosting a series of virtual workshops for parents and guardians of NYC students to help them set up their child’s iPad for remote learning. From parental controls to staying organized on the iPad. Click here for more information about dates and times of sessions.
 
EVENT: Beyond Access
Join us for the Beyond Access Series, a weekly series of webinars designed to support families of students with disabilities during this challenging time. The webinars are provided by the Special Education team in partnership with experts in the field. 
Topics include executive cognitive functioning, literacy, social emotional learning and more. Presenters provide strategies and resources that families can use to support their children's learning and overall well-being at home. 
For more workshops visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/special-education/family-resources/beyond-access-series to see all the workshops opportunities.
 
Bronx community organizations, members, and other stakeholders are excited to celebrate April as National Minority Health Month. This topic is one very important to our borough, which ranks number 62 of 62 in health outcomes and health factors.  In order to bring awareness, provide information and support physical, mental, and emotional wellness we will be hosting events and workshops throughout the month. In partnership with local organizations, we will have parent and family workshops throughout the month that will focus on COVID 19, stress release, suicide prevention, healthy eating habits, Teddy Bear Clinic, as well as many others.  We will offer a wellness workshop to our school staff, a virtual dance party for families and student led panels to discuss ways to combat health disparities.  For our younger students we have designed an essay and art project to highlight the importance of healthy eating Check out some upcoming dates to attend workshops. Click here  
 
Botanical Gardens KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature- Free on Wednesdays Includes access to all KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature outdoor installations across the grounds, plus Garden features including the Everett Children's Adventure Garden and outdoor collections. More info click here
 
Bronx Night Market- April through November at Fordham Plaza The Bronx is celebrating culture and cuisine, represents the city’s diverse offerings and supports up-and-coming food concepts, all the while encouraging visitors from the greater New York area and beyond to explore our borough. Join with the family and support small & local businesses all spring and summer! Click Here
• 20 plus food vendors
• All family activities
• Pet friendly
• Free, Free, Free!



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  • Our Story
    • Mission & Vision
    • Administration
    • Contact Us
    • Programs >
      • Music
      • Wellness In The Schools (WITS)
      • Spelling Bee
      • AmPark Annual Science Fair
      • Roads to Success
  • Owl Blog
  • Calendar
  • At A Glance & FAQ Resources
  • Translation & Interpretation
  • For Families
    • Parent Association Website
    • School Leadership Team
    • Archive of Remote Learning Magic >
      • AmPark Sing Alongs
      • Teacher & Staff Read Alouds
      • PE at Home
      • Virtual Art Gallery
      • Home Learning Resources
    • Parent Handbook
    • Pupil Transportation
    • School Tours
    • Middle School Information