Frequently Asked Questions

Current Families FAQs 2022-2023

 

What time will the school day start this year?

The schedule for 2022-2023 school year will be as follows:

Pre-K: 8:28 am - 2:45 pm

Kindergarten: 8:30 am – 2:50 pm

Grades 1st–5th: 8:27 am – 2:50 pm

Please be sure to refer to our Arrival + Dismissal procedures for further details. 

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Who is the parent coordinator?

Olivia Poor is our parent coordinator. She can be found greeting families at drop-off and pick-up. She is always available to answer any questions. Olivia is the liaison between parents and the principal, administration, teachers and the DOE. You can always talk to Olivia if you have any concerns, if you want to volunteer but don’t know where to start, or for anything at all!  You can drop by Olivia’s office in room 105 or email her at opoor@ps29bk.org. Olivia also sends out a weekly newsletter to keep you in the loop about all that goes on at PS 29 and posts photos and videos about all the great school events on our Instagram and  Facebook.

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How do I get in touch with my child’s teacher?

Each teacher has a preference for keeping in touch and will let you know the best way to establish communication (e.g. notes via your child’s homework folder, email, phone).  If you have a specific concern about your child’s work or behavior in a specialty class such as library, music, science, chess or PE, speak with that teacher directly. Every teacher will share their PS29 email address.  If you are not sure what to do, speak with our parent coordinator, Olivia Poor. You can reach her at opoor@ps29bk.org.

 

Who should I talk to if I have a concern or a question about my child’s education and experience at PS 29?

If you have any concerns about your child, talk to your teacher first before reaching out to anyone on the administration team. Your classroom teacher is the person that knows your child best at school, and strives to be a strong partner in your child's education. If you feel you need further assistance, you can contact one of our assistant principals. Dawn Pender is the assistant principal for 3rd to 5th grades and Halee Hochman is the assistant principal for grades Pre-K–2.  You can always reach out to our parent coordinator Olivia Poor at opoor@ps29bk.org, and she can arrange a meeting with someone on the administration team. Our principal, Rebecca Fagin is also available to meet with parents.  Call the office (718-330-9277) to arrange an appointment.

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Can I ask for a change in my child’s class placement?

Our administration and teachers go through a very thoughtful process and work hard to make sure all classes are balanced. There are NO changes to classes.

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Should I call the school if my child is absent?

No. When your child returns to school after one or two days, provide your classroom teacher with a note stating the date(s) of and reason for the absence (e.g. illness, family emergency, trip). When appropriate, include a doctor’s note. For extended absences, which should be avoided whenever possible, please contact your child's classroom teacher. 

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I have a question related to the After School Program (PS 29 Plus), should I call the main office?

No. Please send all your PS 29 Plus questions to our after school program manager, Marie Isner. She can be reached at marie@ps29plus.com or call (917) 412-0054 (until 6:00 pm).

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I am moving out of the PS 29 zone, can my child and her siblings still come to PS 29?

PS 29 is a zoned school and follows the DOE zoning priorities. If your child is applying for Pre-K, we only have 36 spots as of April 2019 and zoned siblings have first priority.  If you move out of the zone, you lose your zoned-sibling priority status. The same applies to Kindergarten, though in Kindergarten we do have more spots.  To find out more about zoning priorities, please visit our Registration page.

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What is the Free Breakfast program and what time does it start?

Breakfast is served starting at 7:45 am. All students who come in early may be dropped off directly to the cafeteria where they will be encouraged to participate in our universal breakfast program. There are also board games during this time in the cafeteria.  School aides are present to supervise students. Pre-K and Kindergarten students are escorted by school aides to their classrooms. There is no need to register for the FREE breakfast program.

 

What is an ICT class? Why does the ICT class have two teachers?

In an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classroom, 60% of students are in general education and 40% have an individualized education plan (IEP). ICT classes have two teachers, one licensed in general education and one licensed in special education. Our inclusion classes provide the same curriculum as our other classes, with the added benefit of a higher staffing ratio and a great deal of support.

Children at PS 29 29 are likely, at some point in their school career, to be in an ICT class.

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What is the total student population at PS 29?

We have about 950 students, but enrollment fluctuates so it is hard to give a number.

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Can I park my scooter or skateboard in front of the school?

There are no scooters, skateboards or ripsticks allowed in the school building at any time. For safety reasons we ask that all scooters and skateboards be left outside in the “Scooter Parking” on the Baltic St. and Kane St. side of the school. NO scooters should be left in the garden areas in front of the school. Please note that you are leaving your scooters and skateboards at your own risk and PS 29 is not responsible for lost or stolen objects. Many parents lock up these items.

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