2021-2022 NYC Public School Calendar

If your child attends a New York City public school, tear out this page and put it on the fridge or your family’s bulletin board. That way you can keep it handy to reference all year long. And you can always visit siparent.com/nycdoe for up-to-date information.

Here are a few important things to note, according to the NYCDOE: all students should plan to participate in remote learning on “snow days” or when school buildings are closed due to an emergency, and individual schools’ parent-teacher conference dates might differ from what’s listed below (your child’s teacher will schedule your conference with you).

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

• Monday, Sept. 13: First day of school for students • Thursday, Sept. 16: Yom Kippur – schools closed

• Monday, Oct. 11: Indigenous People’s Day – schools closed

• Tuesday, Nov. 2: Election Day – fully remote, asynchronous instructional day • Wednesday, Nov. 3: Evening parent-teacher conferences for elementary and K-8 schools • Thursday, Nov. 4: Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for elementary and K-8 schools – students in these schools are dismissed 3 hours early • Wednesday, Nov. 10: Evening parent-teacher conferences for K–12, 6–12, and high schools • Thursday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day – schools closed • Friday, Nov. 12: Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for K–12, 6–12, and high schools – students in these schools dismissed 3 hours early • Wednesday, Nov. 17: Evening parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 • Thursday, Nov. 18: Afternoon Conferences for middle schools and District 75 – students in these schools dismissed 3 hours early • Thursday-Friday, Nov. 25-26: Thanksgiving Recess – schools closed

• Friday-Friday, Dec. 24-31: Winter Recess – schools closed

• Monday, Jan. 17: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Day – schools closed • Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 25-28: Regents Administration • Monday, Jan. 31: Professional Development

Day for 9–12 and 6–12 schools – schools closed for students in these schools

• Tuesday, Feb. 1: Lunar New Year – schools closed • Wednesday, Feb. 2: Spring Term begins for semester-based schools • Monday-Friday, Feb 21-25: Midwinter Recess – schools closed

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

• Wednesday, March 2: Evening parent-teacher conferences for elementary and K–8 schools • Thursday, March 3: Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for elementary and K–8 schools – students in these schools dismissed 3 hours early • Wednesday, March 9: Evening parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 • Thursday, March 10: Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 – students in these schools dismissed 3 hours early • Wednesday, March 16: Evening parent-teacher conferences for K–12, 6–12, and high schools • Friday, March 18: Afternoon parent-teacher conferences for K–12, 6–12, and high schools – students in these schools dismissed 3 hours early • Tuesday, Thursday, March 29-31: 3-8 ELA Assessment administration

• Friday-Friday, April 15-22: Spring Recess (includes

Good Friday and Passover) – schools closed • Tuesday-Thursday, April 26-28: 3-8 Math Assessment

Administration

• Monday, May 2: Eid al-Fitr – schools closed • Monday, May 30: Memorial Day – schools closed

• Tuesday, June 7: Clerical Day for K–5, K–6, 6–8, and K–12 schools, and District 75 – schools closed for students in these schools • Thursday, June 9: Chancellor’s Conference Day for staff development – schools closed for students • Wednesday-Friday, June 15-24: Regents Administration • Monday, June 20: Juneteenth (observed) – schools closed • Monday, June 27: Last day of school for students

-in- Historic Historic Richmond Town Richmond Town

Fall Fall Richmond County Fair | Sept. 4-6 Richmond County Fair | Sept. 4-6 Revolutionary War Living History Saturday | Sept. 11 Revolutionary War Living History Saturday | Sept. 11 Yankee Peddler Day | Sept. 19 Yankee Peddler Day | Sept. 19 Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm | Oct. Weekends Pumpkin Picking at Decker Farm | Oct. Weekends Open Village & Guided Tours Open Village & Guided Tours

Thurs.-Sun. | 12-5pm Thurs.-Sun. | 12-5pm

www.historicrichmondtown.org www.historicrichmondtown.org

Handling Back-to-School Anxieties

Returning to the classroom can trigger an array of emotions in kids. Here’s how to tackle a few common scenarios head on.

BY STACEY FEINTUCH

Like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye to the carefree days of summer and say hello to a new school year. Back-to-school stress impacts children of all ages: Younger kids may experience separation anxiety, while older ones may be stressed about increased academic pressure and college applications. During times of transition, anxiety is normal, but it’s usually manageable. Deal with back-to-school stress as a family to help your kids start the school year off right.

CHANGING SCHOOLS» Your child once

ruled the middle school but now they’re at the bottom of the pack as a first-year high school student. Or maybe your child is moving from a day care they’ve known for years. Changing schools can be an adjustment, but there are measures you can take to ease the transition.

Take a visit. Consider visiting the school in advance. Familiarizing kids with the environment can help them feel more comfortable. If possible, attend an orientation or open house, pointing out their classrooms, restrooms, water fountains, and other important places. You may even visit the school’s playground to show what recess will look like.

Get organized together. Purchase and label supplies. Make sure you’ve submitted all required health and emergency contact forms. Stock your refrigerator with meals and snacks for the first week (check out p. 32 for some fun ideas!). Choose a first-day-of-school outfit, backpack, and lunchbox to get kids more excited about going back. The more organized and prepared you are, the calmer and less stressed you’ll all feel.

Read about it. A story about school can help ease the jitters. Talk to your local librarian about the right book for your child. Read the tale together and ask your child to share any concerns.

Set the tone. Kids pick up on your feelings. That means if you’re nervous, sad, or worried, your kids will likely feel the same. Try not to ask leading questions (“Are you nervous about going back to school?”), which can indicate to your child that there really is something to worry about. Be happy and smile in front of your kids. Save the tears for when you’re alone.

BEING THE NEW KID» Moving to a new town is hard enough let alone being the new kid in the classroom. Fortunately, starting school at the beginning of the year should help since everyone is in a new situation.

Discuss information about the routine. Kids often worry about the little aspects of school. They wonder who will take them to school and pick them up. Or they’re uncertain where to go once they get to school. They may question what they’ll be eating for lunch. Review the school routine with them to ease their minds.

Validate their feelings. It’s important for parents to stay positive. If a child is nervous, that’s okay. Say, “I’m so proud of you for going to school.”

Share your stories. You were the new kid once, too. Discuss those memories and experiences with your children. Talk about friends you made or a favorite teacher, always staying upbeat and optimistic. And discuss positive aspects of your children’s school, like an amazing playground or extensive library.

Be on time. Don’t stress out your children by running late on day one. Get as much as possible ready the night before, laying out clothing, backpacks, and lunchboxes so everything is set. And allow enough time in the morning to get ready—and take some first day of school pictures!—so you don’t have to rush out the door.

Emphasize that they’re not alone. Remind your kids that they’re not the only new ones at school. Even some teachers are new. Tell them that the teacher is aware of nerves and will do their best to make kids feel more comfortable.

LINGERING COVID CONCERNS» Many kids haven’t had

in-person schooling for a full day since March 2020. Perhaps their school had a remote, hybrid, or half-day model. Going to school full time can seem foreign.

Handling Back-to-School Anxieties Cont’d

Establish open communication. Let your child know that you’re always available to talk about anything and everything. A good time to chat is before lights out. They often open up and feel comfortable and safe right before bed. It’s when they’re getting 1-on-1 attention and feel relaxed.

Be present. Aim to be there for your child right before school starts and during the first few days back to help them feel more secure. If you can’t be there, ask a friend or family member to take on this role for you.

Plan something special. Give them something to look forward to— like a trip for an ice cream cone or a visit to a favorite playground. That way they’ll anticipate a fun activity. You can even make it an annual tradition.

Emphasize safety measures. We can’t promise our kids that we won’t get sick, but we can express confidence in public health efforts, and that schools have done months of planning to minimize risk and keep everyone safe.

Encourage flexibility. We don’t know how “normal” most kids’ schools will be in the fall, and plans may be changing up to the last minute. Let your child know the whole family will have to be flexible.

WORKLOAD STRESS» For those who spent months out of traditional in-person school due to the pandemic, returning to the classroom may feel scary. They may wonder if they have the skills to get the job done after sitting behind a computer for so long.

Create a homework routine. Predictability and structure reduce stress in kids and reinforce good habits, particularly when it comes to tackling schoolwork. Create a designated homework space in the house away from the chaos. Let the kids decorate and stock the space to make it feel like their special spot.

Hit the hay early. No more staying up late catching fireflies or playing video games. Kids need to go to sleep early enough so they’re well-rested for school. Get them into their school bedtime routine a week or two before school starts so they’re back on track before day one.

Hire a tutor. If you sense they’re anxious about a particular subject, consider hiring a tutor. A tutor can get them back on track academically and help boost their confidence in the classroom.

Stacey Feintuch is a freelance writer for print and online publications based in Bergen County, NJ. A mom to two boys, you’ll find her at the baseball diamond on the weekends.

FALL CLASSES STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 4 Convenient Staten Island Locations: Snug Harbor, West Brighton, Oakwood, Tottenville To Register Go To: SIFamilyMusic.com 718-207-1128 Mary Lee Aloia, Program Director