SGO 2022 - 2023 Officers

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Tickets are available for cash for all performances of the Merry Widow.

The Spring Drama Festival production of RENT is sold out for the remainder of its run.  Beginning at 6:00 PM, a stand-by line is formed where there is a possibility of cancellations or returned tickets.  Families are encouraged to donate tickets not being used to the school so the seat can be resold, helping more people to see the show with the revenue going to the Drama Department.

It has come to our attention that the College Board has populated an incorrect upcoming date for the NYCDOE School Day SAT administration within individual student College Board accounts.

This message is to confirm that if you see an upcoming test date for either a School Day SAT or PSAT 10 in your College Board portal, the date listed is incorrect. You will NOT be testing over Spring Break. The LaGuardia PSAT10/SAT School Day administration is Tuesday, April 25th. Ms. Seid will share additional test related information closer to the exam, but for now please disregard the incorrect date shown on the College Board's site.

As a reminder, there are two exams happening in school that day. All 10th graders are automatically registered for a free PSAT 10 and all 11th graders are automatically registered for a free SAT. The test the juniors take is a real SAT and can be sent to colleges next fall, if a student orders it to be sent next school year. The PSAT 10 for sophomores is just practice exam and cannot play any roll in applying to college as a senior. No colleges will automatically see any testing records, so these exams are low stakes in that you fully control the score report.

It is our recommendation that students sit for and do their best on these exams to get a sense of if this brand of test is something where they excel. Ultimately, if the student decides to take the ACT instead or decides not to apply to college with testing in the future, that is completely fine, the exam will just be an exercise in practicing test taking skills and getting comfortable with timed standardized exams. (Other examples of timed standardized exams would be things like AP exams and Regents exams).

Any 11th grade student seeking an additional test registration is responsible for signing up on their own for a ticket through the College Board website. Those Saturday exams are first come, first served and sites will sell out so we recommend securing a seat now if you have not already. It is typically recommended to sit for an official exam two times total, one being the school day test and the second being a weekend date sometime before November of 12th grade. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify, email Ms. Kleiman if you need a waiver for a weekend exam.

If you have ANY questions about standardized testing, please review the following links to archived Friday Post-Secondary Parent Guardian Zooms. You are also always more than welcome to email me any questions regarding the PSAT 10 or SAT.

Dear Community Members,

I want to publicly thank Yeou Jey Vasconcelos for serving as principal of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Although her time as principal was short it was impactful.

Beginning today, March 6, 2023, Michele Mathesius will take on the role of Interim Acting Principal for Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Ms. Mathesius has served this school community for the past 37 years as a teacher and assistant principal. During her time at Laguardia, she has built trusting, powerful relationships with students, families, faculty and colleagues and has dedicated her professional life to elevating the educational experiences for all students. Ms. Mathesius’s core beliefs about education mirror those of the Manhattan High Schools District and she is ready to build on the great work happening at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

In the coming days and weeks, Ms. Mathesius will be meeting with members of the Laguardia community to begin to get to know everyone as she takes on this new role. I ask that you welcome Ms. Mathesius and support her transition.

I remain committed to supporting the students, families and staff that make up this school community and working with you to ensure that every student is experiencing an excellent, affirming, and engaging education that prepares them for success throughout their lives.

Best, Gary Beidleman

Gary Beidleman, Superintendent

Manhattan High Schools

New York City Department of Education

Dear Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts,

Over the past 17 years, I have been honored to serve as music teacher, assistant principal, and principal in the New York City Department of Education. Unofficially, I have stepped in as social worker, math tutor, artistic director, writing coach. Students have called me mom, colleagues have called me friend, families have called me advocate.

I will soon find myself with a new role. I have been offered an opportunity to serve New York City students and families in a leadership capacity outside of the Department of Education. I have humbly accepted. My last day in our community is Friday, March 3.

At LaGuardia, every day is a lesson about the importance of the arts, education, and arts education. Every day, our young thinkers witness adult decision-making and its impact. Every day, our young artists choose honesty over corruption, collaboration over hostility, creativity over conformity, action over posturing, inclusion over intimidation, humility over arrogance, kindness over vengeance, togetherness over marginalization, hope over fear. Every day, our young voices share their vulnerability in hopes of a more authentic, caring, and just world.

To our young change makers: Remember that reflective silence can overpower even the loudest noise. There is great power in the pauses in choreography, the rests in music, the negative spaces in design. Intentional silence has the potential to invite others in.

My successor will be joining the LaGuardia community at a time of great excitement, as planning for the next school year is just beginning.

At LaGuardia, each of us are cast in the role of a life-time. Each of us have our own given circumstances, with a shared objective to positively support student outcomes. I am filled with gratitude for all the relationships that have supported me in meeting our shared objective with the highest level of integrity.

May LaGuardia’s equity lamp always burn bright,

Yeou-Jey Vasconcelos

Principal

A long-standing practice at Laguardia is including a group photo of the graduating class -- and each studio -- in the yearbook.  Most years, this is accomplished by the graduating class walking to Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, for the photographs.

This year’s field trip date is Thursday, February 16, 2023.  Seniors leave from school at a designated time and return by the end of Period 5 (12:05 PM).

A permission slip is required of every student.  The permission slips have been printed for Seniors and can be picked up off a cart outside Room 230 (across from the Dean's Office.)

Permission slips must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned by noon on Tuesday, February 14.  Your OP MUST be on the form.  This will allow us to complete the organizational items necessary for safely walking 850 students to Central Park.

For students who know in advance they are unable to attend this date, we will gather their names and work to have them featured in other sections of the yearbook.

This event will be a great outing for the Class of 2023.  Please pick up and return the signed permission slip sooner rather than later.  We don’t want to deny Seniors the opportunity to be in the group pictures due to  a lack of permission.

A long-standing practice at Laguardia is including a group photo of the graduating class -- and each studio -- in the yearbook.  Most years, this is accomplished by the graduating class walking to Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, for the photographs.

This year’s field trip date is Thursday, February 16, 2023.  Seniors leave from school at a designated time and return by the end of Period 5 (12:05 PM).

A permission slip is required of every student.  The permission slips have been printed for Seniors and can be picked up off a cart outside Room 230 (across from the Dean's Office.)

Permission slips must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned by noon on Tuesday, February 14.  Your OP MUST be on the form.  This will allow us to complete the organizational items necessary for safely walking 850 students to Central Park.

For students who know in advance they are unable to attend this date, we will gather their names and work to have them featured in other sections of the yearbook.

This event will be a great outing for the Class of 2023.  Please pick up and return the signed permission slip sooner rather than later.  We don’t want to deny Seniors the opportunity to be in the group pictures due to  a lack of permission.

Dear LaGuardia Students and Families,

I hope this email finds you all well.

By Wednesday, February 1, final grades earned for the Fall 2022 semester will post to student transcripts and report cards for Marking Period 3. Students and families may already see some grades as they are being processed by the system but please note that the official grade is not finalized until February 1. Students and families can access Marking Period and Final Grades in their DOE Schools Account at https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/  Students and families should sign in, click “My Student,” and then click Grades.

At LaGuardia, final grades are reported to student transcripts twice each school year - once at the end of January (end of Fall Semester), and then at the end of June (end of Spring Semester). These are the final grades that are sent to colleges and are recorded on the transcript for students. Interim marking period grades on report cards are for progress reporting only, and are not official credit-bearing grades. Marking period 3 grades are the final grades which post to the transcript.

CR Selection Requests

For grades earned in Spring 2020 through Spring 2023, parents/guardians may select a CR (credit) in place of a passing numeric grade (65+) earned on the student transcript. To select a CR in lieu of a passing numeric grade, for any of the semesters between Spring 2020-Spring 2023, the parent/guardian must submit this form:  CR Selection Request Form (2022-2023 SY)

Parents/Guardians of SENIORS who wish to have passing numeric grades changed to CR before the mid-year transcript is sent to colleges must submit this request no later than 8pm on Friday, February 3, 2023. Any CR Selection Request received after this time will be processed, but cannot be guaranteed to be represented on the mid-year transcript sent to colleges.It is possible that colleges may request additional context to better understand the reason a CR was selected in lieu of a numeric grade. If you have questions regarding selecting a CR, please email Ms. Kleiman at akleiman@schools.nyc.gov.

Spring 2023

Tomorrow, January 31, 2023 is the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester.  We encourage students and parents/guardians to regularly discuss their progress in classes.  Families are always encouraged to reach out to the classroom teacher directly to discuss the student's progress, at any time.

There has been no change in our Bell Schedule and students can access their Spring 2023 programs tomorrow, January 31, in their DOE Schools Account https://www.schoolsaccount.nyc/.  Students and families should sign in, click “My Student,” and then click Schedule.  

• Marking Period 1 ends on Friday, March 17, 2023

  • Interim marking period grades are scheduled be accessible on Friday, March 24

• Marking Period 2 ends on Friday, May 5, 2023

  • Interim marking period grades are scheduled to be accessible on Friday, May 12

• Marking Period 3 ends on June 13, 2023

  • Final grades are scheduled to be accessible on Tuesday, June 27, 2023

     

We hope that having this information will help manage your expectations for grades this Spring Semester.

Best,

Shoshana Seid

Assistant Principal for Special Education, Testing & Programming

Dear LaGuardia Arts Community,

Today we welcomed back our students for the Spring Semester! It is hard to believe that the Fall Semester has gone by so quickly.  I look back and am so proud of our students’ artistic and academic achievements, both in and out of the classroom setting.  Our Fall season of professional-level performances and exhibits set new standards for high expectations while placing student voice front and center.

We are saddened by the continued news of violence that makes us question the humanity of our world. We ask ourselves how we speak with young people about race, and how we speak with young people about racism. In these horrific moments, we are fortunate to be part of an artistic community, where we understand that at the core of kindness and inclusion is appreciation of culture and healing. Yesterday we were humbled to host the NYCDOE City-Wide Professional Development for music teachers across the City. We learned about social justice from educators and artists from Berklee College of Music and Take Me To The River through the music and cultural traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians and Afro-New Orleans culture. Thank you to LaGuardia music and technical theater faculty and staff for their behind the scenes support to build meaningful connections that extend beyond the walls of LaGuardia.

Engaging with Our Faculty/Staff

Monthly Coffee & Donuts with Our Parent Coordinator 2/3

Parents and guardians are invited to join our Parent Coordinator, Jerrianna Phenix, Friday, February 3, for some hot coffee and donuts! Everyone is welcome to stop by Office 211, between the hours of 7:45am and 10:45am. As always, DOE policy requires photo identification and proof of vaccination. Ms. Phenix would love to meet more parents and hear how everyone is doing on their artistic journeys. (Ms. Phenix will be continuing this event the first Friday morning of each month)! If coming to campus is not possible, she will have her Google Meets open between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, here is the link, just paste it into your browser: meet.google.com/bzp-hcqx-ebumeet.google.com/bzp-hcqx-ebu

Principal’s Office Hours 2/8 - Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention

Monthly, virtual Principal’s Office Hours are held on the second Wednesday of every month during breakfast, lunch, and dinner times. The February Office Hours topic is Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention, and I will be joined by members of our Guidance staff. Please join us Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 7:30am, 12pm, or 7pm on Zoom:  https://zoom.us/j/83138114097?pwd=UmViYm5yRXRJampkMzVSU09kdkxqdz09

Math and Science Grading Policy Workshop 2/13

We appreciate the community feedback requesting informational opportunities in the first month of the semester for understanding the math and science grading policy. Math and Science teachers have been developing details of what the Spring semester looks like, and there will be a series of communications to support students and families. 

• On Friday, February 3, Assistant Principal of Math and Science Alyssa Collins (acollins10@schools.nyc.gov) will be emailing all families an overview.

• On Friday, February 10, individual math and science teachers will be sharing details pertaining to the course that the student is in.

• On Monday, February 13, at 7pm, Ms. Collins will be conducting a virtual workshop. The workshop will be recorded and materials made available to all families.

Personnel Updates

Assistant Principal of Career & Technical Education Appointed

Congratulations to Elijah Schreiner who has been appointed Assistant Principal of Career and Technical Education (CTE). Thank you to our C30 Committee for their insightful questions and feedback during the interview process. Mr. Schreiner shares the following message: It is important to me as an educator that all of our students feel a sense of community at our school. As a trans man it’s crucial for me that our students feel that they belong. Working backstage was always a safe space for me growing up, and as Assistant Principal of Career and Technical Education I’m excited to help our students carve their own safe spaces, helping them to become the future bright spots of our world.

Assistant Principal of English Returning

This Fall Assistant Principal Julissa Marrero took a leave of absence to care for her mother. We thank the community for respecting her family’s time and privacy, and colleague assistant principals who stepped in for her responsibilities. We are happy to be welcoming Ms. Marrero back on February 1. She will be communicating internal English department changes with families of students impacted by other English teachers returning from leave.

Librarian Retiring

Librarian Susannah Tamarkin has worked tirelessly to protect the integrity of the LaGuardia library: a beautiful, inviting physical space that is made possible by a renovation grant she spearheaded in the 2014-2015 school year. Ms. Tamarkin states: I am retiring from the Department of Education after a 25 year career that began for me in the Spring Term, 1998.  It was my honor to serve you all as the librarian and I wish you well in your future endeavors.  With much respect for all you do, Susannah Tamarkin. Congratulations Ms. Tamarkin! Ms. Tamarkin always took great initiative to ensure that the library remained a sacred instructional space for students. The library will continue to be open 10 periods a day as we embark on our search for a new librarian.

Calendar Reminders

Curricular Events - Art Show

On Friday, February 10, we present the first of four Senior Art Shows of the year! Preview and Opening are from 1-7pm, and On View continues on February 17 from 4-7pm. Thank you to the Fine Arts Studio for adding additional times and dates for all art shows this year to accommodate as many family schedule needs as possible.

President's Birthdays & Mid-Winter Break - 2/20-24

NYCDOE Schools are closed for Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, and Mid-Winter Break from February 20 through February 24. School resumes on Monday, February 27.

COVID-19 Testing Before Returning from Break

All students may pick up two COVID-19 testing kits on Friday, February 17, in the Main Lobby. Additional kits may be picked up for family members. Students are asked to use the tests the day prior to returning from Mid-Winter Recess.

New Semester Mindfulness Course Offering!

Our new Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist, Alex Falk, is offering a course in Mindfulness.  In this course students will discover how meditation and mindfulness practices can help a person build a healthy, positive and empowered life. Together the group will learn to manage stress, develop healthy relationships, balance difficult emotions, and live with intention. The participants will also explore the role of creativity and artistic expression as mindfulness tools, and the importance of using our creativity in service of others. For students who are interested in learning about meditation, love making art, want to collaborate with their peers, and care about social activism, this is the perfect class for them.  

The course will meet during the Spring Semester, starting February 27, during Period 10, 2-3 times per week.  The course will be co-taught by Alex Falk, SAPIS, and an additional teacher.  The course is a credit-bearing elective course.  Interested students should complete the Interested in Mindfulness Course Google Form using their laguardiahs.org account.  The deadline to express interest is February 10, 2023.

Safety Support

Parents/Guardians Needed to Chaperone Senior Class Photo in Central Park

Traditionally, a photograph is taken for the yearbook of the current graduating class and of each studio in Central Park.  Due to the large number of chaperones required to walk 850 Seniors to Bethesda Fountain, we are asking for volunteers.  Volunteers can be from any grade level.  The date is Thursday, February 16, 2023, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.  There is a lot of walking to and from Central Park, Bethesda Fountain and LaGuardia. Each parent is typically matched with a staff member.  All chaperones make sure that Seniors are aware of their surroundings, follow all traffic safety rules, cross at lights, don't stand in the street, etc. HERE is the link to the sign-up Google form for the trip to Bethesda Fountain. Please email Parent Association Senior Representative Anne at seniorrep@laguardiahspa.org with any questions.

Safety & Security

Our staff, including School Safety and our Deans, are working hard to keep LaGuardia safe.  Safety is the top priority during our school day and six days a week of after school and weekend programs. But we cannot do it alone! Any time a report is made of an unsafe incident, the school immediately acts upon it following DOE safety protocols. Part of the protocol is we are not able to share with the community outcomes of investigations. If a student, parent/guardian, or faculty/staff member is aware of an incident, please contact the Assistant Principal of Safety & Security Greg Brummell (gbrumme@schools.nyc.gov), any dean, or any supervisor IMMEDIATELY.  Receiving the information quickly helps us address situations and keep everyone safe.

Best,

Yeou-Jey Vasconcelos

Principal

ON OUR WEBSITE www.laguardiahs.org: Announcements / Events Calendar / Faculty & Staff Directory / Weekly Counseling Newsletter

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.