Stephen A. Halsey JHS 157 Weekly Update

Hey Halsey Love Bugs. Yes, it was a strange and difficult week at times, but its Friday which means we got through week one of remote learning. Please keep in mind this is a new adventure for all of us. Not just the 1600+ Halsey families, but for millions across our great nation.Teachers, Assistant Principals, Principals and even Parent Coordinators too.

Please be patient and allow for our teachers and students to acclimate to remote learning. We are working to make the platform as user friendly as possible. At this time all questions may not be able to be answered. As updates become available they will be sent out to parents.

YES IT IS FRUSTRATING AT TIMES

I am sitting here as my daughter takes a test in American Sign Language. A class she aces all the time. The frustration she is going through is painful to watch and stressing me out. The internet is going in and out. The teacher didnt have the test posted when she said it would be. There is a time limit on the test. Mushu the Cat just jumped up onto her Chromebook.

We understand. A majority of our faculty are parents who are dealing with similar issues as the rest of us. Its not an easy time for anyone - except Mushu the Cat probably but together we will get through this.

I hope everyone keeps checking back on the Department of Education website for daily updates.

ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

One page I recommend all families checking out is the Activities for Students page which can be found here:

ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS PAGE

Here you can find a plethora of activities for students in all grades. From early childhood aged students all the way up to high school students, They have activities on health education, activities for English Language Learners, Physical Education and additional resources as well. If you have other children who are not Halsey aged students you can check out this page to get them some good educational activities to keep that brain working throughout the day.
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FREE MEALS

The New York City Department of Education is committed to making three free meals available daily for all NYC children.

Beginning March 23, meals will be distributed at more than 400 sites across the city.
Three meals a day, including breakfast, will be available to all NYC children
Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 1:30 pm at locations across the city.
Use their site lookup tool to find a location near you!

Click below

NYC Dept of Education Free Meals Webpage
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DEVICE REQUESTS FROM THE CITY

We know there are some families who filled out the form requesting a device to use while we are remote learning and have not heard back yet. Please understand that this is a city wide issue and not just Halsey students. My feeling is that there had to be an incredible amount of requests since 413 NYC schools reported to not having enough devices to distribute and they are trying to fill them all in due time.

Those who do not have access to an internet-connected device at home, to complete the Remote Learning Device Request Form or call 718-935-5100, and choose option 5 to request a device, which will be distributed on a rolling basis.
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REGIONAL ENRICHMENT CENTERS

In order to successfully fight COVID-19, our first responders, health care providers, transit workers, and other key personnel must be able to come to work. That is why we have created Regional Enrichment Centers—places where the children of these front-line workers can be safely cared for while their parents continue to serve the city in this time of need.

Staffed by DOE employees and community-based organization partners, the centers will provide children with three daily hot meals, remote learning time with their teachers, activities like art, music, and physical education, and social and emotional support.

Beginning Monday, March 23, Regional Enrichment Centers are opening across every borough, with at least two sites in every school district.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGIONAL ENRICHMENT CENTER PAGE

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Important Precautions

It is critical that all New Yorkers continue to practice general viral infection prevention measures including:

Wash your hands with soap and water often.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.
Get your flu shot – it’s never too late.
Reduce overcrowding by walking or biking to work, if possible.
If the train is too packed, wait for the next one.

If You Feel Sick

Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat.
If you do not feel better in 24-48 hours, contact your doctor.
Do not go to school or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
If you need help getting medical care, call 311.

Social Distancing Pick Up Lines:
An Attempt At COVID-19 Humor.

I saw you from across the room. Stay there!

Baby, do you need toilet paper because I can be your Prince Charmin.

Without you my life is as empty as the supermarket shelf.

Hey handsome! Can I ship you a drink?

Sorry about that. Very corny.

Mrs. Elfers has been working non stop and extremely hard running professional developments for our teachers AND creating a Halsey JHS 157 Distance Learning Assistance webpage. It is up and running with a quick lesson on how to submit an assignment in Google Classroom. We will update the assistance page as the days move on. For now check out the first lesson:

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ASSIGNMENT TO YOUR TEACHER

Mr. Lober, one of our younger teachers on staff has really stepped up like a champion. He, along with Mrs. Elfers and Mr. Blanco have taken on the task of teaching the entire faculty every nook and cranny of Google Classrooms and all it entails. They have created live professional development webinars for our teachers and administration with such detail that its awe inspiring. Mr. Lober is doing this work from home at his fancy new desk and work station:

Mr. Lober`s new teacher`s desk!

Also, Mr. Lober is working on his vertical in order to dunk! Here is a video of his first attempts with a football. This was also his last attempt as Mr. Lober is doing his part in social distancing and staying away from the park until things improve out there.

Mr. Lober skying high!

I mentioned Mushu the Cat earlier, here are a couple of pictures of Mushu and his sister Munchkin. If you have a pet or something that brings you joy and happiness send me a picture of it. By the end of the school year I will compile a newsletter with all of these things that bring a smile to our faces.

Here we have Mushu who has stolen the good chair and you tell me whose gonna tell that beast to give it back? Next to that on the top right is Munchkin who fell for my well planned out CAT TRAP! Bottom left is the Beast taking over the sofa and bottom right is Munchkin and Mushu sharing a tender moment.

The video below covers

-Entering your Google Classroom class

-Locating assignments

-Seeing descriptions/directions for assignment

-Locating attachments for assignments

-Attaching student work

-Completing exit tickets

Another Bad Attempt To Make You Laugh

Get it? Wanna Be Starting Something was a Michael Jackson song. Hello? Is this thing on? UGH...I'm sorry.

So, this Tik Tok stuff....I was suckered into learning one from my daughter Ellie. I look horrible and could have practiced more but I think I held my own for an old man. Click the Tik Tok picture below to laugh at Mr. Zevon. I promised Ellie I would learn one per week. I already got the next one down for everyone to laugh at....coming soon!

Mr. Zevon Learned a Tik Tok from Ellie

Here we have Jessie - Ms. Selvaggio's faithful companion sending off some great messages to the students of classes 709, 710, and 726.

During the staff training days, following the closure of schools to students, faculty members of the GREEN TEAM met to discuss what would and would not be happening while schools were closed. We, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Roth and Mr. Monaco, felt that it would be a disservice to our students and the overall Halsey Community to allow things to fall apart or plants to die. To that end, we decided to make it our business to 'sneak in' to Halsey and maintain students projects as best we could. Mr. Weiss showed up on Tuesday morning.

The hyacinths in front of our building are in full bloom. The aroma is potent. You can smell them from the corner of the block (they're planted next to the front doors.)

Most of our other plantings are starting to 'leaf out', including our oak-leaf hydrangea and coral bark maple tree.

Indoors, our plants appear to be doing well. Our Spring basil sale plants are growing nicely; they ought to be rather impressive when we get back to school business as usual. The classrooms' oxalis triangularis plants are doing well, the plants rescued from Ms. Boboc's office are growing nicely and the hydroponic system seems no worse for wear from a lack of attention. Our tomato plant is starting to take off!

We miss our students and being able to 'hang' with them for GREEN TEAM activities.

Mr. Weiss has begun to work on maintenance project at home for our return to school. Mrs. Weiss in not thrilled about the 'living room take-over'. Mr. Weiss is considering filing a complaint with H.R. about this new, hostile work environment.

We will keep coming in to Halsey to ensure the survival of our students' work as long as the NYC DOE will allow us to do so.

Stay well. Stay green.

Feeling a sense of Inspiration, Assistant Principal Mrs. Lisa and the entire ELA department have vowed to get the latest trending tattoo!

On behalf of our Principal Mr. Suraci and the entire Halsey faculty we would like to say THANK YOU for the amazingly kind comments you have been sending us through e-mail and posting on Social Media. We know these are tough times so we appreciate the patience and understanding so many of our families are showing. We also want to thank the parents who have contacted us with some really important feedback. We are not in your home so we do not see or hear how your children are doing. You are our eyes and ears and without that feedback we will not be able to make necessary changes to make remote learning a system that works for everyone.

So thank you everyone! Stay safe, stay healthy and we are always one e-mail away if you need us.

Halsey Staff Directory

Week One - Remote Learning In The Books

Important Precautions

If You Feel Sick