November 1 – 30 2023
Monthly Parent Newsletter for
PCSST K-12 Parents
Issue 2
In this issue;
- October Events and Activities
Important Reminders and November Events Calendar
November Athletic Events Calendar
Educational Websites and Resources for Parents
Tips for Parents,
FAQs for Parents,
Facts about PCSST
Facts about NJ Public Charter Schools
Message from the Lead Person
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am excited to present the second issue of our K-12 Parent/Guardian Bulletin, keeping you updated on October events and offering a glimpse of what’s ahead in November.
October was vibrant with activities, all conveniently linked for your reference on the next page. A significant initiative that commenced is the “Lion’s Den Parent Academy.” On its designated website, you’ll find ongoing courses and standalone workshops available for you to join. Our GED course, led by our dedicated instructor, Mr. Gordon, had a successful launch and participants are following their weekly class schedule with him. While the registration for the GED course has closed, registration for Adult ESL classes is still available.
I would like to remind our parents and guardians that we stand beside you as partners in your child’s education. As we all grapple with the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel, we recognize that some of our families have been directly affected by the distressing events. Our school counselors and social workers are here to provide support to scholars and families who may be experiencing sadness or anxiety due to these events. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s administration or counselors for social and emotional assistance.
This issue also highlights the critical topic of “Internet Safety” with valuable information provided on pages 5 and 6. Regardless of your child’s age, there are measures parents can take to ensure safe internet usage. If you have any concerns about your child’s online activities, please reach out to your school counselors for guidance.
With the season of giving approaching, we have organized various events to assist those in need, including food drives, toy drives, and blood drives. We invite you to join us in contributing to these initiatives, helping our less fortunate community members. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements from your building administrators and teachers.
Lastly, I’d like to reiterate my message from a couple of weeks ago regarding the “Postcard Campaign”. I encourage you to support the campaign asking the governor to continue funding charter schools for their property expenses. I extend my gratitude to the parents and guardians who have already signed and returned the postcards. For those who haven’t had the chance, you can still support this worthy cause by picking up a postcard from your child’s school’s front office.
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we wish everyone a joyous and peaceful holiday season.
Mr. Riza Gurcanli
Lead Person
Melody Beattie"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
October Events and Activities
- Lion’s Den Parent Academy: The GED preparation course is to help adults earn their high school equivalency diploma, opening doors to better career prospects and future educational opportunities.
- Saturday Academy: 2-3, 4-7 and 8-12 Campuses continue to offer Saturday classes.
- Hispanic Heritage Month Activities: The Wabash Campus celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month with parents and families on October 5th.
- Suicide Prevention Month: We observed Suicide Prevention Month with various events and activities, emphasizing the importance of mental health and well-being.
- Latinx Art Field Trip: Field trip to New Jersey City University’s Latinx Art Exhibit, “Latin American Artists: Dreams and Possibilities.
- JROTC Columbus Day Parade: Our JROTC program participated in the 79th Annual NYC Columbus Day Parade.
- College Coaching Program (CCP) Kick-Off: 2023-24 academic year CCP program started on October 14th.
- 4th Grade Trip to the Statue of Liberty: Our scholars had the wonderful opportunity of exploring Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
- JROTC Promotion Night: This event celebrated the accomplishments and commitment of our Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets.
- School Violence Awareness Week Assembly: 4-7 Campus observed the National School Violence Awareness week.
- 1st Marking Period Parent – Teacher Conferences: in 4-7 Grade in Wabash Campus.
- Maker Fairy Carnival: This carnival was a great success with many students and their parents in attendance.
- Breast Cancer Awareness Walk: On Friday October 13th, 2023 PCSST 2-3 campus had its 2nd annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Students came ready to walk and support the cause with their pink attire and decorated posters and signs.
- Rep Your Flag Day: PCSST’s 2-3 campus students, teachers, and staff members wore clothing representing the colors of their countries’ flags.
- Unity Day: Students and staff members join together wearing shades of brown and their unity shirts to celebrate all of the beautiful skin tones within our school.
- K-1 & 2-3 Parent Literacy Night: Parents received important information and tips on how to improve literacy at home and were able to register for library cards while our students read stories and created superhero capes!
- Trunk or Treat 2023: we welcomed over 100 students and their families.
- 2nd Grade Field Trip to the Crayola Factory: While visiting the factory students were able to make their own crayons, paint with neon crayons, and received their own plushy characters to color at home.
- 3rd Grade Field Trip to Alstede Farm: 3rd grade went on their annual pumpkin picking field trip.
- Red Ribbon Week: Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life.
- Fire Safety Month: Scholars were given techniques and tools that can help them if they were to encounter a fire.
- Special Ed. Parent Workshop: Parents and special education personnel collaborate and discuss how to ensure that the needs of every student with an IEP are met.
October Students of the Month.
- Haunted Hallway: The seniors each year decorated the hallway and turned down the lights to put on one of Halloween’s most favorite events, a haunted house.
- Student vs. Staff Soccer Game: PCSST Athletic Department hosted their annual staff vs students soccer game.
Important Reminders & November Calendar
K-12
- The theme of the month of November is Citizenship
- Friday, November 3rd – 1st Marking Period Ends
- Sunday, November 5th – Daylight Saving Time Ends (“Fall Back”)
- Tuesday, November 7th – Election Day (Schools are in Session)
- Thursday, November 9th – Early Dismissal
- Friday, November 10th – Veterans Day Observed – Schools Closed
- Saturday, November 11th – Veterans Day
- Wednesday, November 22nd – Early Dismissal
- Thursday, November 23rd – Friday, November 24th – Thanksgiving Recess
K-1 Campus
- Friday November 3rd-Thursday November 9th- Scholastic Book Fair
- Tuesday November 14th – 1st Marking Period Report Card Night at 1:30 pm
- Thursday November 16th – National Parent Involvement Day Activities
- Friday, November 17th – Paid Tag Day
- Monday-Wednesday, November 20-22, Thanksgiving Spirit Week
2-3 Campus
- Tuesday, November 7th – Picture Day
- Monday November 13th – Canned Food Drive
- Thursday, November 16th- Parent Involvement Day
- Friday, November 17th – Paid Tag Day
- Monday, November 20th- Turkey Drive
4-7 Campus
- Wednesday, November 1st – Internet Safety Parent Training
- Tuesday, November 7th – Veterans Day Assembly
- Wednesday, November 8th – Scholar Parent Breakfast
- Wednesday, November 15th – Canned Food Drive
- Thursday, November 16th – Spelling Bee- Parent Event
- Tuesday, November 21st, Community Thanksgiving Dinner
- Thursday, November 30th-Parent Literacy Night
8-12 Campus
- Thursday, November 2nd, Field Trip – JROTC Raiders National Competition in KY
- Friday, November 3rd, Field Trip – Spanish Class trip to Seton Hall
- Saturday, November 4th, Field Trip – CCP to FunPlex
- Wednesday, November 8th – Field Trip: Nokia Bell Labs
- Thursday, November 9th – Blood Drive
- Wednesday, November 15th – 10th Grade goes to Hamilton on Broadway
- Thursday, November 16th – Field Trip: Spanish Heritage Theatre Show in Jersey City
- Friday, November 17th – Field Trip: High School Leadership Conference at Kean University
- Thursday, November 29th – Field Trip: Trendsetters Goes to K-1 and 2-3 Campus
Athletics Department’s November Calendar
Internet Safety Resources for Parents
- NetSmartz Workshop: NetSmartz is an educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer online.
- Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media provides resources for parents about all aspects of media and technology, including online safety.
- Federal Trade Commission – Protecting Kids Online: The FTC is a U.S. government agency that provides information and resources about protecting children’s online privacy.
- ConnectSafely: ConnectSafely is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security.
- National Cyber Security Alliance – Kids Safe Online: This is a comprehensive resource provided by the National Cyber Security Alliance, a nonprofit, public-private partnership focused on cybersecurity awareness and education for all digital citizens.
- Cyberbullying Research Center: This research center provides resources for parents, educators, and students dealing with cyberbullying and other digital abuse.
- Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe): iKeepSafe certifies digital products as compliant with state and federal requirements for handling protected personal information. They help parents, educators, and policymakers with practices for the safe and healthy use of technology.
- Family Online Safety Institute: FOSI is an international, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families.
- OnGuard Online: OnGuardOnline.gov is the federal government’s website to help you be safe, secure and responsible online.
- SafeKids.com: SafeKids.com is one of the oldest and most enduring sites for Internet safety. It provides practical tips and advice for parents to help manage their children’s online activities and ensure safe internet usage.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents
Here are some internet safety tips for parents based on school age groups:
Preschool and Kindergarten (Ages 3-6):
Supervise Screen Time: Always supervise your child when they’re online.
Use Kid-Friendly Websites: Encourage them to use age-appropriate websites and apps.
Teach Privacy: Explain the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers.
Set Time Limits: Limit their screen time to ensure a balance with other activities.
Enable Parental Controls: Use parental control software to filter content.
Elementary School (Ages 7-11):
Talk About Online Etiquette: Teach them about being polite and respectful online.
Strong Passwords: Help them create strong, unique passwords for accounts.
Online Friends: Discuss the dangers of talking to strangers and the importance of not sharing personal information.
Report Bullying: Encourage them to report any cyberbullying incidents to you or their teachers.
Educate About Scams: Warn them about online scams and phishing attempts.
Middle School (Ages 12-14):
Social Media Guidelines: If they use social media, set clear rules and privacy settings.
Online Reputation: Discuss how online actions can impact their real-world reputation.
Cybersecurity Awareness: Teach them to recognize potential online threats and scams.
Open Communication: Keep lines of communication open so they feel comfortable discussing any online concerns.
Respect for Copyright: Explain the importance of respecting intellectual property.
High School (Ages 15-18):
Privacy Settings: Ensure their social media profiles have strong privacy settings.
Online Identity: Discuss the implications of their digital footprint on college and job applications.
Cyberbullying and Sexting: Address the seriousness of these issues and how to respond.
Critical Thinking: Teach them to fact-check information they encounter online.
Digital Footprint: Explain the permanence of their online actions and the potential consequences.
Regardless of the age group, the key is to maintain open communication with your child, be aware of their online activities, and provide guidance to help them make safe and responsible choices on the internet.
FAQs for Parents
Student Database System:
- How can I access my child(ren)’s assessment results, grades and attendance as well as discipline
records 24/7?
Yes, if you log on the Genesis Student Database, all the information is on your finger tips. - I don’t know how to access the Genesis Database. What should I do?
You can reach out to school secretary or any of the admins and request your username and
password. - I do not know how to navigate the database, Where can I receive help?
Please watch the online training video or check out the manual. - What do you need to do if you want to update your child’s information on the database?
Reach out to you campus Secretary and provide the updated information and necessary documents
if asked.
Transportation:
- How can I get information on School Transportation?
Please visit our transportation webpage to learn all about transportation at PCSST.
Food Service:
- How can I check school’s daily breakfast and lunch menu?
All our campus lunch information can be reached for our Food Service provider Maschio’s website.
Anonymous Reporting:
- How can I report an incident anonymously?
You can report any incident that is a concerning you but you do not want to be identified, you can use our school’s “STOPit” platform to report and get rapid respond from a school administrator.
Facts about PCSST
- PCSST offers 14 different AP Courses;
- AP Seminar,AP Language,
- AP Literature,
- AP US History I & II,
- AP Human Geography,
- AP Computer Science Principles,
- AP Biology,
- AP Psychology,
- AP Calculus,
- AP Chemistry,
- AP World History,
- AP Statistics, and
- AP Physics
- PCSST is offering 10 different Dual Enrollment Courses with 7 different Colleges and Universities;
- Passaic County Community College (PCCC),
- Howard University,
- University of Delaware,
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT),
- Seton Hall University,
- Arizona State University, and
- Ramapo College
Class of 2023 High School Graduation Rate over 95%
Class of 2023 received collectively over $17M worth of scholarship
5 Ivy League and other prestige college acceptances since 2013 (including Princeton, Cornell, and West Point)
PCSST is offering 12 Varsity Sports
PCSST Boys Basketball holds 5 divisions, 2 Sectional, 1 County, and 2 State Champion titles.
K-1 Campus
2-3 Campus
4-7 Campus
8-12 Campus
