Message Center

• 3/22: "We will be successful if we continue to work together as a community of families, educators, and staff": Chancellor's Letter

  PPA Families,

  As we head into our first day of remote learning, please take the time to read Chancellor Carranza's latest letter to families. Below, we have bulleted a few points from the Chancellor's letter to preview it for you.

  -  Please check in with your teachers and principals if you have questions: just as they were before last week, they will continue to be your guide to instruction and (virtual) engagement during these unprecedented times.

  -  If your child needs a device to participate in remote learning, and you have not yet filled out a device request form, please visit coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices(Open external link). We will help you get a device with internet connection.

  -  Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): If your student is recommended for integrated co-teaching, special class, or special education teacher support services, your school will make every effort to arrange for them continue to receive instruction from the same special education teachers and classroom paraprofessionals that usually teach them. Someone from your school will contact you to discuss how instruction will be delivered.

  -  In just a few hours, we will all take a great leap together into uncharted territory. We will be successful if we continue to work together as a community of families, educators, and staff. We all share two key goals: a high-quality education for every single one of our 1.1 million students, and protecting health and safety of everyone in our school communities.

  -  Public education in New York City is going to look tremendously different for the foreseeable future. But together, we will chart this path forward, and I have no doubt that we will eventually look back and say this was our finest hour: when we confronted this great challenge and overcame it, in unity, with shared strength and commitment.

  Here, at PPA, we are ready to meet the moment with you.

  Best wishes,

  PPA Admin

  Pelham Preparatory Academy

• 3/19: Mailing

  Good Afternoon, PPA Familes

  Today, our staff mailed out student report cards for Marking Period 1, parent surveys, and our Plan for Remote Learning.  Furthermore, students received an email from Principal Ferron detailing how to access Google Classroom codes, roles and expectations, and how to succeed at remote learning.  We look forward to continuing to work with you throughout this transition.  

  Regards,

  PPA Admin

  Pelham Preparatory Academy

• 3/16: "This is not a closure, but a transition": A Letter to Families from Chancellor Carranza

  PPA Families,

  Please take the time to carefully read Chancellor Carranza's Letter to Families regarding recent events and our transition to remote learning.  

  He beautifully captures the sentiment of how "All of us are living through an unprecedented time as we work to keep our communities safe and healthy in the face of the coronavirus. New Yorkers are joining millions in cities, states, and nations across the world in confronting decisions that we’ve never had to face—and maybe never could have imagined having to."  Furthermore, he goes on to reassure that "On Sunday, we announced that for the next three and a half weeks, we are moving to a remote learning model, with a projected reopening of school buildings the week of April 20, 2020. I know this may feel abrupt, and has the potential to cause disruption in your lives. We are committed to consistent and clear communication with you throughout this time period, and a clear understanding of what will happen" and that "We know this is a difficult time, and we are working hard to make sure our City continues to support families in every way we can. I want to assure families we’re working to make this as seamless a transition as possible."

  You can expect to hear more from us in the coming days and as information comes our way.

  Humbly,

  Principal Ferron

  Pelham Preparatory Academy

• 3/15: NYC Public Schools Will Move Toward Remote Learning Model

  PPA Families,

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza announced the City will move toward a Remote Learning Model for all school days until Spring Recess.  Students will begin learning remotely on Monday, March 23.  PPA has a plan for this, and we will work diligently over the coming week to message this out to all students and families.  In the meantime, students will not report to school buildings for instruction.  Instead, school buildings are scheduled to reopen to students following Spring Recess on Monday, April 20, 2020.  Grab-and-Go meals will be available for students at all schools for this week.

  Please visit the NYCDOE website for more information at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update .

  The schedule, as we move to remote learning, is as follows:

  • Monday, March 16: Citywide closure. Students, teachers, and principals do not report.
  • Tuesday, March 17: Thursday, March 19: All staff reports. Teachers and principals participate in professional development on remote learning. 
  • Thursday, March 19-Friday, March 20: Students who need it will be able to begin process of picking up the technology necessary for remote learning. More guidance to families will be sent this week. 
  • Monday, March 23: Remote learning launches, with additional guidance provided throughout the week of the 23. 

  In solidarity,

  Principal Ferron

  Pelham Preparatory Academy