parent teacher letter fall 2016

1. P.S. / I.S. 226
The Alfred De B. Mason School
6006 23rd Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11204
(718)234-4940 Fax: (718)234-4945
www.psis226.com
Evan Klein, Principal I.A.
Hrysoula Niarhos, Assistant Principal Soledad Montañes, Assistant Principal Brad Hyman, Assistant Principal I.A.
“Together We Make Our School a Success”
October27, 2016
Dear P.S./I.S.226 ParentsandFamilies:
You are all cordiallyinvitedtoattendnextweek’sFall Parent-TeacherConferencesonthe followingdates:
 AfternoonConferences - Thursday, November3, 2016 from 12:30 - 2:30 PM
o All studentswill be dismissedat11:20am. Lunch will be servedonanabbreviatedschedule from
10 – 11:15 AM.
 EveningConferences - Thursday, November3, 2016 from 4:30 - 7:30 PM
Thisyear,I am excitedtointroduce anewformat for our 5th - 8th grade students:Student-LedConferences
(SLC’s).Researchhasshownthat studentswholeadconferencesbuildself-confidence,initiategrowth,accept
responsibility, andimprovetheircommunicationandcritical-thinkingskills.Studentsare currentlyworkingwith
theirteacherstoidentifyareasof academicgrowthandchallenge inordertocome up withtheirlearninggoals
movingforward.
Our goal in implementingStudent-LedConferencesistobuildthe engagementof studentsintheireducational
lives.InSLC’s,we shiftfroma model inwhichthe teachertellsthe parenthow achildisdoinginschool,to a
model in whichthe studentdescribes his/heracademicachievementsandgrowthareas.Studentspresentwork
to highlightthese areas.Essentially,SLC’sputthe studentatthe centerof the conference.
Here’swhatyouneedto knowaboutSLC’s at P.S./I.S.226:
 The studentSHOULD be presentatthe conference.The conference will be entirelyledbythe student,
whohave preparedinadvance of the conference.A teacherwillalsobe present,butwillnotbe leading
the conference.Studentswillfollow aprotocol fortalkingabouttheirwork.Duringthattime,the role of
the parentand teacheristo listen.There will be time duringthe SLCforQuestion&Answer.
 In the case thatthere are issuesthatrequire furtherdiscussionthantime allows,orthat a concern
shouldbe discussedwithoutthe studentpresent,parentsandteacherscanschedule additional timesto
meetonTuesdayafternoonsfrom2:20 - 2:50 PM duringparentengagement time.
Unlessappointmentshave beenmade inadvance withindividualteachers,sign-upinformationwill be available
for all familiesuponarrival.We thankyouforyour continued partnershipaswe worktogethertoempoweryour
childrentotake ownershipof theirlearning.We hope tosee youall nextThursday!
Sincerely,
Evan Klein
Principal,I.A.