SGO President
Rohan Menon
SGO Vice President
Mariam Mtchedlishvili
SGO Secretary
Olive Adamek
SGO Club Liaison
Chiara Giardina
SGO Sports Rep
Alexandra Brill
Art Rep
Angela Lin
Dance Rep
Jasmin Juul Hansen
Drama Rep
Orion Bracha
Instrumental Rep
Mia Sullivan
Technical Theater Rep
Carolina Thomas
Vocal Music Rep
Samiah McWilliams
Sophomore Class President (Class of 2025)
Alice Frankovich
Junior Class President (Class 2024)
Jonah Schwarz
Senior Class President (Class 2023)
Noga Tenzin
Senior Class Vice President (Class 2023)
Naima Akhter
Please see the attached documents for the January 23, 2023, SLT meeting which begins at 6:00 PM.
The agenda also includes the link to the Zoom meeting, as well as a link to the December minutes.
January 18, 2023
Dear families of LaGuardia High School 9th and 10th grade students,
I am writing to notify you of an incident in which your child’s New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) records were accidentally shared with the LaGuardia High School community on January 17, 2023. This email outlines what happened and what our school is doing to rectify the situation. We sincerely regret that your child’s personal information was involved in this incident.
On January 17, 2023, families and students of 9th and 10th graders were messaged a link that directed them to a Google Sheet with the date, time, and room number for students to take city-wide periodic assessments in English and Math, called MAP Growth Assessments. This Google Sheet contained students’ last names, first initials, and last four digits of their student ID numbers. A link to the Google Sheet document was also posted on our school’s homepage (www.laguardiahs.org).
Later in the day, as soon as we realized the Google Sheet contained personal information, we immediately disabled the link and removed student information. If you viewed this Google Sheet, please disregard all information you saw. You must also delete/destroy any copies, physical or digital, of the information. This includes emptying your “trash” folder.
Students and families should access the revised sheet (Student Information for MAP Growth Testing (January 2023)) for information on where they should report and what time they should be at the Computer Lab they are assigned to for the MAP Growth Assessments. The assignments are organized by Math and English course name, class period, section, and teacher name. No student information is listed.
We take the privacy of our students very seriously. LaGuardia High School is committed to ensuring no student information is inappropriately disclosed or shared when communicating with our families.
For more information, please reach out to Ms. Phenix, Parent Coordinator, at jphenix@laguardiahs.org. We sincerely apologize for accidentally disclosing your child’s information.
Best,
Yeou-Jey Vasconcelos, Principal
Dear LaGuardia 9th and 10th Grade Students and Families,
We are now in the testing window period for 9th and 10th grade students city-wide to take periodic assessments in English and Math, called MAP Growth Assessments. In order to minimize disruption to regular classroom instruction, the majority of LaGuardia students will take these assessments during Regents Week (January 24 - January 27). Those not scheduled between these dates will take their MAP Growth Assessments the following week when regular school resumes.
Students should not prepare/study for these assessments and should not be concerned about their performance on the exam. The assessments are diagnostic and have no effect on class grades or future class placement. The results are not recorded on transcripts, nor are they shared with colleges.
Students and families should access this sheet, on a computer, which will tell them when they are scheduled to take their MAP Growth Assessments, where they should report, and what time they should be at the Computer Lab they are assigned to. Students can identify themselves by their Math and English course name, class period, section, and teacher name here: Student Information for MAP Growth Testing (January 2023).
Based on experience from administering this electronic exam in the past, we anticipate some unavoidable technical difficulties that may delay the start of the exam or extend the end time of the exam. Please plan accordingly.
Most LaGuardia students complete each MAP Growth Assessment in 25 minutes. Students are scheduled for a total of 50 min in their testing session. If you do not want your student participating in MAP Growth Assessments, please use this form to opt-out by Friday, January 20, 2023: MAP Growth Testing OPT-OUT Form (2022-23)
We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we gather information that will assist teachers in adjusting instruction to the students in front of them.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Thank you.
Best,
Shoshana Seid
Assistant Principal for Special Education, Programming & Testing
January 13, 2023
Dear Families,
One of our core pillars is to engage you as our true partners. You are the experts on your children and their education, and your involvement can help them thrive inside and outside of school. That is why I am encouraging you to take a leadership role in our public schools by applying to run for a seat on one of the City’s 36 Community or Citywide Education Councils (CCEC).
The Councils are made up of elected and appointed parent volunteers just like you. If you win a seat, you will play a vital role in shaping important decisions in your school district. For example, you could approve zoning lines or review improvements to your child’s school building, as happened recently in the northwestern portion of District 15.
To raise enrollment and promote more diversity, Community Education Council (CEC) 15 members worked with New York City Public Schools, education researchers, and community leaders to develop an elementary school rezoning plan. The CEC also successfully advocated for a much-needed middle school option in the Red Hook, Brooklyn neighborhood. These are the kind of policy changes that make a real difference in the lives of our children.
To bring even more diversity to our Education Councils, I’m excited to share that for the first time ever, families with a child in a District 75 school or program can vote for a District 75 representative to sit on each local Council. This is a big win for our families, and I encourage eligible parents to run for a designated District 75 seat.
Our Family and Community Engagement team is providing a host of resources to walk you through the election and voting process. These include information sessions via Zoom in different languages and more details on the structure and roles of the Education Councils, eligibility guidelines, key dates, and Frequently Asked Questions. You can access all of this and submit your application at schools.nyc.gov/elections2023 through February 13.
As parents, I believe we all share a loving mission: to help young people flourish and succeed. When you run for a seat on an Education Council, you commit to being a voice for change in your child’s education. When you lend your voice to the important issues affecting our schools by voting and sharing your opinions with your CCEC representatives, you show your communities that you are part of the solution. Please consider running for a Council seat and help put all our students on a path to the bright futures they deserve.
Soaring high,
David C. Banks
New York City Schools Chancellor
The PDF version of this letter is attached.
Dear LaGuardia Arts Community,
This Monday, as schools close in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we hope everyone will find time to reflect on his legacy of peace and action. How fortunate we are, to be part of a community where we use the power of the arts to fight for social justice.
Introducing Our New Parent Coordinator!
Thank you to our Parent Coordinator Interview Committee and the District 3 Community Education Council for their support in finding a compassionate, newest member of our family. After two robust rounds of searches, we are pleased to introduce our new Parent Coordinator, Ms. Jerrianna Phenix! While we await her DOE credentials to be set up, Ms. Phenix can be reached at jphenix@laguardiahs.org and (212)496-0700 x 7209. Please see her welcome message below:
Hello LaGuardia Community!
My name is Jerrianna Phenix and I am thrilled to announce my new position as Parent Coordinator. This week marks a collaborative journey as we strive together to ensure that our mission of engagement allows each family to feel like a vital part of this iconic school’s artistic family. As a parent myself, I know what a significant impact that can have for a family; feeling heard by school representatives and connected to a school community has always been central to my daughter’s positive school experiences. My goal is straightforward: I want to ensure that parents have the ultimate support experience.
Each time a question or concern arises, I want families to have confidence that I’m here as their advocate – and, hopefully, in time, their friend. I’ve learned that this type of relationship building begins with the heart. So, I’m looking forward to not only figuring out a student’s best path forward but also to nurturing the involvement and enthusiasm of the adults in their life. Please be on the lookout for upcoming coffee and donut chats. I'm eager to get the dialogue started and find out what is on your minds!
All my very best,
Jerrianna Phenix
End of January School Year Calendar Highlights
Monday, January 16 - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Schools Closed
Monday, January 23 - End of Marking Period 3
Tuesday, January 24 - Friday, January 27 - Regents Week (see schedule, below)
Friday, January 27 - End of Fall Semester
Monday, January 30 - Professional Development Day for high schools. No students attend.
Tuesday, January 31 - First day of Spring Semester, Marking Period 1. Metrocards distributed.
*Final report card grades, which are reported to transcripts, will be available in February.
*Families of students who wish to select “CR” to replace any passing numeric grade are eligible to make the selection once final grades are released.
*Families of senior students who wish to select “CR” to replace any passing numeric grade will have a short-window of time to make the selection before the transcript is sent to colleges.
January Regents Week 1/24-1/27
The draft of the Regents Week Schedule can be viewed here. The schedule is organized by grade (please click on the tab that corresponds to your grade). Students will only report based on their scheduled activities. Every student will have a different schedule depending on the arts courses they are enrolled in, and additional academic opportunities they would like to take advantage of.
All students will attend a Guidance Meeting via Zoom with their Guidance Counselor, except for Juniors who will have an in-person Post-Secondary Kick-Off Session.
Please note that for some of the activities, students are scheduled individually with their own specific reporting time. If there is a conflict between two scheduled activities, the student should inform the teacher in charge of the individually scheduled activity so that an alternate time can be arranged.
We will continue to update the schedule as more information available, and the draft will be finalized at the end of next week.
End of January Curricular Performances
We look forward to our final performances of the fall semester:
Friday, January 20 (4pm & 7pm) & Saturday, January 21 (2pm) - Winter Dance Showcase
Wednesday, January 25 (6:30pm) - New Music Showcase
Thursday, January 26 (6:30pm) - Symphonic Band & Wind Symphony Concert
We encourage community members to purchase tickets online in-advance at (https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/laguardiahs/699). The ‘day of the performance’ tickets are available in-person one hour prior to start time. Students may also purchase tickets in-person using cash at our Main Lobby Box Office during lunch periods on Wednesdays.
A reminder that if the cost of admission, or transportation to the performance, causes a financial hardship for your family, please reach out to Assistant Principal Shelliann Wiliams (swillia35@schools.nyc.gov). We want all of our community members to be able to attend performances and have set aside funds so we can all celebrate together.
Please remember that as per NYCDOE policy, all adults must continue to show ID and proof of COVID vaccination to enter DOE buildings.
COVID-19 Cases Year-To-Date
Below are the COVID-19 cases reported at LaGuardia each month of the 2022-2023 school year:
September - 74 cases
October - 69 cases
November - 84 cases
December - 87 cases
January (as of January 12) - 30 cases
Schools are required to continue reporting all cases of COVID-19. Please continue to inform us if a staff or student tests positive for COVID-19 by emailing covid@laguardiahs.org with:
date of symptom onset,
date last in school,
date of positive COVID-19 test, and
type of COVID-19 test.
Questions for Town Hall with Chancellor
The Citywide Council on High Schools is collecting questions for their upcoming Town Hall meeting with Chancellor David C. Banks on February 7. Please click on this form and submit your question(s) by January 31.
Have a restful three-day weekend.
Best,
Yeou-Jey Vasconcelos
Principal
ON OUR WEBSITE www.laguardiahs.org: Announcements / Events Calendar / Faculty & Staff Directory / Weekly Counseling Newsletter
Good morning, LaGuardia. Happy Fiorello Friday, and Happy Friday the 13th. We were welcomed into the building by the Vocal Jazz Club; Mr. Blancq, Faculty Advisor.
Monday is a Federal Holiday, so schools will be closed. This is in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday. Dr. King was born January 15, 1929. He was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. His leadership was fundamental to that movement’s success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans in the South and other parts of the United States. King rose to national prominence as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which promoted nonviolent tactics, such as the massive March on Washington in ‘63), to achieve civil rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
The Bells today are playing songs associated with the Civil Rights Movement as a tribute to Dr. King. Due to the nature of some of these tapes, the sound quality and volume may be a little off. See the morning announcements posted on the SGO page of our website for the entire playlist.
This week we saw performances of Musicale #1 and Musicale #2. Events like these are not possible without the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and parents.
This Tuesday, come celebrate the near end of the first semester with our first school-wide dance, sponsored by our Parents Association. Information about the dance was emailed home to both students and parents. We can’t build school spirit without [in cheerleader voice - not yelling] Y (clap, clap) O (clap, clap) U (clap, clap). Seriously. What a great way to unwind from the semester by dancing.
There are volunteer opportunities to work the all-school dance next week on the 17th. Please sign up on x2VOL. The shift is from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. This is a great way to get involved, help out, and record community service hours. Also, all families were asked to make a small contribution, if possible, to help provide snacks for the dance. These can be dropped off Tuesday morning as you enter the building.
TODAY'S BELLS
We shall overcome
This Little Light of Mine
Lift Every Voice and Sing
I Wish I knew How it Would Feel to Be Free
When Will We Be Paid
Oh Freedom
Blowing In The Wind
Strange Fruit
Eyes on the Prize
I Have a Dream
I’ve Been to the Mountaintop
The Times Are A-Changin’
Lean On Me
Monday is a Federal Holiday, so schools will be closed. This is in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday.
Come see performances by the String Orchestra, Operetta Workshop, Elementary Chorus, and Cantare in Musicale #2, tonight at 6:00 PM. Tickets are available in the lobby one hour prior to curtain. Remember: Adults must show ID and proof of COVID vaccination.
This Tuesday, the day we return from the MLK Holiday, is our first school-wide dance, sponsored by our Parents Association. Save a little money by purchasing presale tickets, which includes dancing, snacks, and coat check.
There are volunteer opportunities to work the all-school dance next week on the 17th. Please sign up on x2VOL. The shift is from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM.
Come celebrate Lunar New Year with us this coming Wednesday in the Main Lobby, sponsored by the Chinese Student Association. Lunar New Year is celebrated by nearly 2 billion people worldwide. This year, participants say goodbye to the Year of the Tiger and usher in the Year of the Rabbit.
Congratulations to Musicale #1 which took place last night. Musicale #2 takes place tomorrow and features the String Orchestra, Operetta Workshop, Elementary Chorus, and Cantare.
Tickets for Musicale #2 and the Winter Dance Showcase are available today for cash at the Wednesday Box Office during lunch periods in the Main Lobby. Musicale tickets can be purchased at the door, and Dance Showcase tickets are still available online.
Attention seniors & anyone who loooves a good dance off- LISTEN UP!! Come watch senior dance majors do a dance improv circle, today, 5th period in the lobby. Trust us, you won’t wanna miss this.
Students waiting for clubs starting after Period 10 should wait in an area OTHER than a hallway where classes are being conducted, such as in the Library or out of the building. As quiet as you may be, 10th period classes are still finding the noise and movement in the halls disruptive. Thank you.
While we have many after school activities, for safety reasons coaches, directors, advisors, etc. are asked to walk down with students as they exit the building. Students should go to their lockers and bring everything they need to take home with them to their activity. Students should not be going to lockers once an after school activity is over.
Freshmen: today is the Post-Secondary Planning Zoom Session at 8 pm. I would make attending this with a family member a priority.
Seniors: the senior committee is holding a Senior Game Night! All funds raised will be going towards lowering senior dues so don’t miss it! The event will take place in the 7th Floor Cafeteria after period 10.
As a reminder, if you wish to have a qualified guest enter the building, a staff member must first complete an application. This visitor application must be completed at least one week in advance of the visit and must be approved by the Principal.
IN SPORTS NEWS
For those interested in trying out for the Boys varsity volleyball meeting today after school at 4:15 in the gym. Meet Coach Lardner, some players, and learn about tryouts."
Tonight is Musicale #1, featuring performances by the Concert Orchestra, Treble Chorus, Mixed Chorus, and the Symphony Orchestra, taking place in the Concert Hall at 6:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased in the lobby one hour prior to the performance. Please remember, all adults must show ID and proof of COVID vaccination. Wearing a face mask is also recommended.
Tomorrow, 9th Graders are encouraged to attend a Post-Secondary Planning Zoom Session at 8 pm. The link will be sent to your email. Students (meaning all 9th graders) and their parents/guardians are welcome to this optional, but important Zoom, presentation. This will be an introductory session on what Freshmen need to know, now, about the college application process.
Tomorrow, the senior committee is holding a Senior Game Night! All funds raised will be going towards lowering senior dues so don’t miss it!
The Rising Stars Schedule Survey closes tonight at 10 pm. Students should use their laguardiahs.org email address to vote on the dates if they plan to participate this year. We need to know which April or June option works best for most.
In sports News…
In Boys Track,
Ariel Yaron ran a personal best in the boys 1600m and Yu Jiang Laing had a great performance at the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games on Saturday. The track team will take part at the MLK Games this weekend.
