Schools

FIFTY ZONED KINDERGARTNERS WAIT-LISTED AT PS78

April 17, 2015 by editor 4 Comments

More. more, more — More, more, more – that’s how we like it

It’s deja vu all over again, as 50 children were wait-listed for Kindergarten at PS78Q this year, according to numbers just released. This compares to less than ten kids last year, but 31 back in 2013. At that time, the school expanded from two to originally three classes. After the big wait-list number was posted, there was a huge uproar and the school opened a fourth class. This time, due to capacity issues, that may not be possible.

We wrote about this crunch back in 2012 1. As for today, [Read more…] about FIFTY ZONED KINDERGARTNERS WAIT-LISTED AT PS78

In fairness to the DOE, they were able to accommodate every child in 2013 as they said they would at that time, by adding the extra class. [↩]

LONG ISLAND CITY YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE AND KIDS BASKETBALL COMING IN JANUARY

December 8, 2014 by editor 2 Comments

Winter will be here soon, what to do with the kids? — Winter will be here soon, where will the kids play?

As we all know, Long Island City is a great place to live. Yet due to its nascency, there are several crucial resources that have yet to emerge. One of these is a locally-based youth sports program for kids over five years old. So I have decided to form one. It will have a very modest start this winter with a [Read more…] about LONG ISLAND CITY YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUE AND KIDS BASKETBALL COMING IN JANUARY

THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE NATION

November 20, 2014 by editor 6 Comments

If school doesn't work out, you can always drive a cab in this town — If this school thing doesn’t work out, at least your kids can always get a job in the neighborhood

Two weeks ago, a list of the best public school districts in the U.S. was published. Normally I don’t put much faith in these subjective top-10’s, but when I saw who was ranked #1, I knew they got it right. No, it wasn’t LIC/PS78, …yet, but we’ll get to that. Instead, it was Edgemont, a small school district in southern Westchester. As it turns out, the Editor of this rag grew up in Edgemont.

While a lot of people may focus on academics as the reason for its top ranking, I can tell you as an insider and as anyone who grew up in Edgemont will confirm, this is just one piece of the winning formula. Now I’d be the first to say that I had some outstanding teachers, whose influence is still imbedded in me today. But there were also a handful of clunkers, just like in any great school district.

Setting academics aside (for the time being let’s just call it the fixed variable. Though some may view it as immovable), there are two other equally important pieces of the puzzle: [Read more…] about THE BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE NATION

PS 78Q PTA STEPS IT UP FOR 2014/15

September 19, 2014 by editor 3 Comments

New school year, new agenda — New school year, new school attitude

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer’s always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. – Nora Roberts

Right out of the school gate, PS 78 has decided to take the route of several highly sought after public schools in Manhattan and put in the big ask. This week, the parents of students attending the school, received a letter outlining the fundraising initiatives of the PTA, and in it they specifically requested [Read more…] about PS 78Q PTA STEPS IT UP FOR 2014/15

LIC PARENTS PROTEST 8AM SCHOOL STARTING TIME

August 7, 2014 by editor 5 Comments

Do you really want to get in the way of this mom and an early start time? Do you? — Do you really want to get in the cross-hairs of this mom and a change to her schedule?

So it’s early August, the Mets are seven games out, Mister Softee is omnipresent, and thoughts of your upcoming week at the shore are pulling you through the deals, decks, depositions, and deadlines of work. When out of the blue, you receive a letter informing you that the school start time a month hence, has been changed from 8:40am to 8am. Yikes, in a heartbeat, your whole ‘Rain Man’ world has been turned upside down! [Read more…] about LIC PARENTS PROTEST 8AM SCHOOL STARTING TIME