PS 33 Edward M. Funk Elementary School
News From the Chancellor's Office
The most recent messages and translated versions can be found at the NYC Public Schools Website
The most recent messages and translated versions can be found at the NYC Public Schools Website
Last Updated: October 24, 2023
Week of October 23, 2023: What's Happening in NYC Public Schools
This Family Update provides important information about the 2023–24 school year calendar, admissions and enrollment deadlines, parent-teacher conferences, and how to get the latest news from New York City Public Schools.
School Year 2023–24 Calendar
Welcome to the new school year! You can view and download printable files of the calendar for the full 2023–24 school year in multiple languages and see important upcoming dates such as parent-teacher conferences and days when schools may be closed at schools.nyc.gov/calendar. Please note:
This year, schools will remain open on the weekdays immediately preceding or following the non-public holidays noted, which fall on weekends during the 2023–24 school year: Rosh Hashanah (September 16–17), Veteran’s Day (November 11), Diwali (November 12), and Lunar New Year (February 10).
Please reach out to your school with any questions about the school calendar. To assist with future planning, calendars for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years are also available on our website.
Fall 2024 Admissions
Great news: the opening dates and deadlines for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs, middle school, and high school (including Specialized High Schools) for fall 2024 admissions have already been announced! Here are resources to help you throughout your child’s application process:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences (PTCs) are a great opportunity to speak directly with teachers about your child’s academic and social-emotional development and how you can support their growth outside the classroom. PTCs will be conducted remotely throughout the 2023–24 school year, though they can occur in-person upon request. Translation and interpretation services are also available—please let your child’s school know if you need services.
Upcoming PTCs:
Stay Connected
We have an exciting school year ahead of us, and you won’t want to miss any information about what’s happening in NYC Public Schools. To make sure that we can reach you, be sure to update your contact information in your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) online at schoolsaccount.nyc(Open external link), or complete the emergency contact form provided by your school. Learn how to sign up for NYCSA at schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.(Open external link)
This year families and students can access information they need more conveniently than ever, thanks to our new NYCSA and mobile TeachHub applications!
NYCSA Mobile Application: Parents/guardians who have an active NYCSA account(Open external link) can access their child’s grades, assignments, and attendance using the NYCSA mobile application, which can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices. Learn more at schools.nyc.gov/nycsamobile(Open external link).
TeachHub Mobile Application: Students can now use the TeachHub mobile application for iOS and Android devices to easily track their grades, assignments, schedule, and attendance information. Learn more about the app at schools.nyc.gov/teachhubmobile(Open external link). Students must sign into the application with their NYCStudents.net username and password—to learn more about student accounts, visit schools.nyc.gov/studentaccounts(Open external link).
To stay up to date with all NYC Public Schools news, bookmark schools.nyc.gov(Open external link), and follow us @nycschools(Open external link) and @doechancellor(Open external link) on Twitter/X. You can also find us on Facebook(Open external link) and Instagram(Open external link) at our official @nycschools accounts.
This Family Update provides important information about the 2023–24 school year calendar, admissions and enrollment deadlines, parent-teacher conferences, and how to get the latest news from New York City Public Schools.
School Year 2023–24 Calendar
Welcome to the new school year! You can view and download printable files of the calendar for the full 2023–24 school year in multiple languages and see important upcoming dates such as parent-teacher conferences and days when schools may be closed at schools.nyc.gov/calendar. Please note:
- On days when school buildings are closed due to severe weather or other emergency conditions, all students and families should plan to participate in remote learning.
- Under New York State law, public holidays (also referred to as legal or federal holidays) that fall on a Saturday are not observed on a weekday; where such holidays fall on a Sunday, they will be observed on the following Monday. Per New York City Public Schools’ policy, when non-public holidays fall on a weekend, schools remain open on the weekdays immediately preceding or following that holiday.
This year, schools will remain open on the weekdays immediately preceding or following the non-public holidays noted, which fall on weekends during the 2023–24 school year: Rosh Hashanah (September 16–17), Veteran’s Day (November 11), Diwali (November 12), and Lunar New Year (February 10).
Please reach out to your school with any questions about the school calendar. To assist with future planning, calendars for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years are also available on our website.
Fall 2024 Admissions
Great news: the opening dates and deadlines for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs, middle school, and high school (including Specialized High Schools) for fall 2024 admissions have already been announced! Here are resources to help you throughout your child’s application process:
- Learn about key admissions dates and more at schools.nyc.gov/enrollment(Open external link). Each admissions process page includes the 2024 NYC Public Schools Admissions Guide and a video series to walk you through various stages of the application process. The guide is available in 10 languages at schools, early childhood programs, libraries, and other sites, and can also be downloaded from our website.
- Read the NYC Guide to the SHSAT for 2024 Admissions, which provides an overview of how to prepare for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) and includes practice tests. The guide is available in 10 languages and can be viewed at schools.nyc.gov/SHS under “Documents.”
- Explore schools and programs on MySchools.nyc, and attend open houses and information sessions to become familiar with your child’s options. You can find in-person and virtual events listed in the MySchools events calendar at MySchools.nyc/calendar(Open external link).
- Sign up to receive the latest updates and reminders by email at schools.nyc.gov/SignUp.
- Tuesday, October 3, 2023: High School Application & SHSAT Registration Opens
- Wednesday, October 11, 2023: Middle School Application Opens
- Friday, October 27, 2023: SHSAT Registration Closes
- Friday, November 10, 2023: Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests for Middle School
- Friday, December 1, 2023: High School Application Closes
- Friday, December 8, 2023: Middle School Application Closes
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences (PTCs) are a great opportunity to speak directly with teachers about your child’s academic and social-emotional development and how you can support their growth outside the classroom. PTCs will be conducted remotely throughout the 2023–24 school year, though they can occur in-person upon request. Translation and interpretation services are also available—please let your child’s school know if you need services.
Upcoming PTCs:
- Thursday, November 2: Afternoon and Evening conferences for elementary schools.
- Thursday, November 9: Afternoon and evening conferences for middle schools and D-75 schools.
- Thursday, November 16: Evening PTCs for high school students, K–12, and 6–12 schools.
- Friday, November 17: Afternoon PTCs for high schools, K–12, and 6–12 schools.
- How do you feel about school now? Do you have any questions or concerns that you’d like to talk to your teachers about?
- What are your favorite subjects in school right now? What’s your least favorite?
- What do you think about your teacher? Do you feel supported and welcome in your classroom?
Stay Connected
We have an exciting school year ahead of us, and you won’t want to miss any information about what’s happening in NYC Public Schools. To make sure that we can reach you, be sure to update your contact information in your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) online at schoolsaccount.nyc(Open external link), or complete the emergency contact form provided by your school. Learn how to sign up for NYCSA at schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.(Open external link)
This year families and students can access information they need more conveniently than ever, thanks to our new NYCSA and mobile TeachHub applications!
NYCSA Mobile Application: Parents/guardians who have an active NYCSA account(Open external link) can access their child’s grades, assignments, and attendance using the NYCSA mobile application, which can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices. Learn more at schools.nyc.gov/nycsamobile(Open external link).
TeachHub Mobile Application: Students can now use the TeachHub mobile application for iOS and Android devices to easily track their grades, assignments, schedule, and attendance information. Learn more about the app at schools.nyc.gov/teachhubmobile(Open external link). Students must sign into the application with their NYCStudents.net username and password—to learn more about student accounts, visit schools.nyc.gov/studentaccounts(Open external link).
To stay up to date with all NYC Public Schools news, bookmark schools.nyc.gov(Open external link), and follow us @nycschools(Open external link) and @doechancellor(Open external link) on Twitter/X. You can also find us on Facebook(Open external link) and Instagram(Open external link) at our official @nycschools accounts.
October 23, 2023: A Message on Respiratory Viruses
We hope this letter finds you well. With the 2023-2024 school year underway, we want to remind you that we are now in respiratory virus season. We are writing to encourage you to take steps to protect yourself, your children and your families from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). To learn more about these respiratory viruses, see on.nyc.gov/covid-flu-rsv-faq (available in multiple languages at nyc.gov/health/coronavirus under “Additional Resources”).
Here are some tips you, your children and your family can follow to stay healthy during this time:
We hope this letter finds you well. With the 2023-2024 school year underway, we want to remind you that we are now in respiratory virus season. We are writing to encourage you to take steps to protect yourself, your children and your families from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). To learn more about these respiratory viruses, see on.nyc.gov/covid-flu-rsv-faq (available in multiple languages at nyc.gov/health/coronavirus under “Additional Resources”).
Here are some tips you, your children and your family can follow to stay healthy during this time:
- Stay up to date on all vaccines.
- Vaccines are the best way to protect you, your children and your families from getting sick and spreading illness to others.
- Many vaccines are required to attend school. To find out what vaccinations your child needs, contact your child’s health care provider. Your child may be sent home from school if they do not have required vaccinations. For more information on vaccinations required for school, visit schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/immunizations.
- Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are now available in New York City (NYC). The COVID-19 vaccines have been updated for the 2023-2024 season and are designed to protect against current COVID-19 variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get both an updated COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine, even if they have been vaccinated or had these viruses before.
- Check with your provider to see if they offer vaccination. To find a site that offers the COVID-19 or flu vaccine, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. For vaccination assistance, call 212-COVID-19 (212-268-4319).
- Check with your provider to see if they offer vaccination. To find a site that offers the COVID-19 or flu vaccine, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. For vaccination assistance, call 212-COVID-19 (212-268-4319).
- Stay home when sick.
- Rest can help you and your child feel better sooner and prevent the spread of germs.
- If children have a fever, they should stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours or their provider says it is OK to go back to school.
- If you or your child has fever or other COVID-19 or flu symptoms, get tested and follow your provider’s advice about staying home and away from others. COVID-19 at-home test kits are available at schools for those who need them.
- If you or your child test positive for COVID-19, call your provider to ask about treatment.
- People with COVID-19 should stay home and away from others (isolate) for at least five days (Day 1 is the day after symptoms began or, if the person has no symptoms, the day after their positive test date).
- If symptoms are improving and no fever is present after five days, most children can return to school but should wear a mask until 10 days after their symptoms began (or test date, if no symptoms). People can stop wearing a mask sooner if they have two negative tests at least 48 hours apart. For more detailed guidance, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html.
- Wear a mask.
- Wear a mask after leaving isolation due to COVID-19 (see “Stay home when sick” on the first page).
- Wear a mask for 10 days after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Consider wearing a high-quality mask in crowded indoor settings, especially if you or your child has a medical condition that increases your risk for severe COVID-19 or if around others who are at increased risk.
- The above aligns with CDC guidance. For more information about masks, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html.
- Cover your cough and sneezes.
- Encourage your child to use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes or sneeze and cough into their sleeve (not their hands).
- Wash your hands.
- Washing hands often with soap and water helps prevent the spread of germs.
- If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Always wash your hands before meeting small children, touching food and eating, and after meeting small children using the bathroom, helping children use the toilet, wiping your or your child’s nose, coughing, sneezing, and changing a diaper.
The NYC Department of Education website has 2 web pages that you can refer to for information regarding the new school year. Please visit School Year 2023-2024 page and the Back to School Checklist page.