COMMUNITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT 11
Meet The Team
Cristine Vaughan
Heather Morabito
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Nuwaira Muhammad
Daniel Russo
Zulma Valladares
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Latoya Caines
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Yvette Crespo
Yesenia Provencher
Dara Yusuf
Our Mission
District 11 is a thriving community of schools and families that embrace the diversity of ALL by working together to ensure rich and nurturing learning environments ultimately leading to accelerated student success. Our mission is to create a program that engages every student. We strive to help student accomplish challenges and exceed their goals in a caring and supportive environment.
Our Vision
We are dedicated to improving student achievement through our collective responsibility for district-wide success. We will collaborate within and among schools, with community stakeholders, and the Community Education Council through professional learning experiences and feedback at all levels, we will share best practices gleaned from our partnerships in order to ensure accelerated student success.
iPad Requests
The DOE has loaned more than 320,000 internet-enabled iPads to students since transitioning to remote learning. We have made great strides in closing the digital divide and getting devices into the hands of our students who need them.
If you need a device for your child for the fall, use the Device Request form(Open external link).
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The information you provide, including whether your family has WiFi, will be shared with your school so they can work with you to ensure your child has a device for blended or remote learning this Fall.
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If you need to contact your child’s school, use Find A School, and click on the General Information section of the school details.
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Schools are working with central DOE to help get the devices needed, but the central supply is limited and will be used for students in shelter or foster care as a priority.
Returning the iPad
If you are returning to a NYCDOE school, DOE Pre-K or 3-K program (NYCEEC/FCC/ EarlyLearn), or are participating in a NYCDOE program in a non-public or charter school this fall (either for blended or remote learning) you do NOT need to return the DOE iPad to us at this time
Returning students may be asked to bring the DOE device to the school they are attending. This includes:
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Middle or high school or students moving up to new grades
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Students transferring to a new DOE school
That device will stay in the school’s inventory at and can be reassigned by the school, as needed.
If you are not returning to a NYCDOE school or program, the borrowed iPad needs to be returned as soon as possible.
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If you need to return the iPad, please fill out this form(Open external link) so we know the best way to get it back to you.
Who Can Request an iPad
Any child, from 3K to grade 12, who attends a NYC public school, DOE Pre-K or 3K program (NYCEEC/FCC) and who needs a device is eligible to receive a device for remote learning.
Charter school students who are eligible for devices:
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3K-12 students with individualized education programs (IEPs)
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3K-12 students who are living in shelter, foster care, or are living doubled up who need a device
Private School Students who are eligible for devices:
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K-12 students who were recommended for a non-public school placement by the DOE and placed at a state-approved non-public school by the Central Based Support Team
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K-12 students who attend a private or religious school and also receive special education services from the DOE, typically through an Individualized Education Services Program (IESP), who need a device for such services
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Preschool students who receive special education services from the DOE, including students in NY State-Approved 4410 providers and students receiving related services or Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services.
All requests will be shared with the student's school to determine if the school can fulfill the request. Requests that cannot be fulfilled by schools will be referred to the DOE for support. Please note that families should work with their schools first to secure a device that meets their needs, and schools will be asked to attest to the availability of devices before the DOE fulfills requests. Requests that are referred back to the DOE will be fulfilled giving first priority to students living in shelter and students who do not have access to internet at home.
iPad Care and Safety
iPads should remain with the student they are assigned to in order to engage in remote learning. If there is a change in the student's residence during remote learning the iPad should remain with the student, and should be used primarily inside the residence to prevent unnecessary damage.
Damaged iPads are protected by AppleCare. The DOE will work with families to get broken devices repaired using this coverage. For AppleCare support, please file a Technical Support Ticket(Open external link) or call the Help desk at 718-935-5100. Families will not be held accountable for accidental damage through normal use, but please exercise caution and common sense to protect your iPad. iPads must be installed in the case provided. You should be using your iPad primarily indoors for schoolwork and it must be secured in the case when you travel with the device.
Getting Started with Your iPad
If you have received your iPad, and need help getting it set up, see the Getting Started with Your iPad page.
Technical Support for Families
Support for the iPads is available through our Technical Support Ticket(Open external link) or call the Help desk at 718-935-5100
School Reopening 2020-2021
Dear Families,
I hope you and your children are well and enjoying some time off this summer. September will be here before we know it, and I am writing to you today to keep you updated on the 2020–21 school year and make sure you know how to be part of the conversation. Throughout this summer, as we diligently work to clarify operations for the fall, I promise to be transparent about what we know—and what we don’t yet know.
Your Learning Options
First things first: New York City students will be learning five days a week, whether in person or at home. As previously announced, schools are planning for blended learning, in which students will be taught in school buildings for part of the week, and will continue learning remotely from home on the other days of the week. Any family can also choose all-remote learning, for any reason. We know that the majority of families want as much in-person instruction as is safely possible, and we will work to maximize it at every turn, consistent with health and safety requirements. However, if you intend to choose all-remote learning for your child and have not yet notified us, please let us know by August 7 so schools can plan accordingly. You can fill out a web form at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020 or call 311.
To enable you to make a more informed choice, we have prepared some important comparisons about what you can expect from each mode of learning, which you can find at the end of this letter. Families who choose all-remote instruction will be able to opt back in to blended learning on a quarterly basis throughout the school year, beginning in November. No matter whether you are at school in-person or you are learning remotely, you and your child are still enrolled in and part of your school community. Your child’s schedule and learning experience will be fully managed by your school. The vast majority of students who participate in fully remote learning will be taught by teachers from their school. While there may be some limited exceptions on a school-by-school basis, you should expect your child to be assigned teachers from their school when they receive their full schedule before the school year begins.
As our plans continue to come together, we must be nimble. We will make adjustments as public health conditions continue to evolve.
How to Learn More
Every week, we will be posting more information about school operations to schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020. Please bookmark this page and visit it frequently. On this page, you will find information on Physical Education, Arts Education, and more. We are asking for your patience and flexibility throughout this process as we work through a great deal of planning in collaboration with our teachers, principals, and school-based staff.
Your voice and feedback are essential as our work continues. We are creating many opportunities for you to discuss the year ahead with the DOE, and we hope you will get involved. We hosted our first citywide information session on July 16, and received many great suggestions from families across the City. Please join us for one of the upcoming info sessions Tuesday, July 28; Wednesday, August 12; and Thursday...
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year
Important Links:
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Register now for a Family and Student Information Session(Open external link)
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Want to continue all-remote learning in the fall? Let us know by completing the Learning Preference(Open external link) survey by August 7
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See the Messages to Families page for updates from Chancellor Carranza
On March 15, 2020, the nation’s largest school district underwent a historic transformation, closing school buildings in order to protect our 1.1 million students, and all staff, families, and fellow New Yorkers from COVID-19.
As we look ahead to September, we see the big picture: the continuing rise in cases across the country; current guidance from City, State, and Federal health authorities; and the knowledge that as the trajectory of the virus continues to evolve, the guidance we must follow will also evolve. When it does, we have to be ready, and prepared to adapt. We’ve also received over 400,000 responses from families and students to a survey asking about preferences and concerns for the upcoming year, and your input has been critical in our planning.
Taken together, this picture demands we begin the 2020-21 school year in an unprecedented way—including new health protocols, physical distancing, and more. Make no mistake: New York City students will still be learning 5 days a week. A major difference is that we are preparing to deliver their education through a blended learning model. Blended learning means students will be taught on-site in school for part of the week, and will attend school remotely on the other days of the week.
We are ready for this: adapting and strengthening our practices; investing in the technology required to provide a quality online academic experience—including distributing over 300,000 iPads to students who need them; and working with teachers to be more effective online instructors. We will update curriculum to reflect the blended learning online and in-person model, and to ensure the guidelines and curriculum include appropriate social-emotional learning and mental health supports.
Any family can also choose all-remote learning, for any reason. But we know that the majority of families want as much in-person instruction as is safely possible, and we will work to maximize it at every turn, consistent with health and safety requirements. We will continue to lead with the lens of equity and excellence, giving your child what they need to excel—and recognizing the ways that will be different from each of their classmates, especially in a time of crisis. We will not look away from the ways this virus has further magnified the effects of systemic racism in our communities. We will continue to explore opportunities to directly correct structural inequities—like closing the digital divide.
SURVEY
Free Childcare for Blended Learning Model
Learning Bridges
As the New York City Department of Education resumes in-person schooling this fall, most schools and early childhood programs will operate on a blended learning model. This means that each week, students will have some school days in person, and some school days remotely. Learning Bridges is a new program that will provide free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning.
If you are interested in the Learning Bridges program, please complete this survey.
The Learning Bridges programs will:
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Be operated by community-based organizations and other partners
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Provide opportunities for children to connect to their remote learning activities
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Include time for art, recreation, and other age-appropriate activities
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Follow the same rigorous health and safety precautions as schools
You can complete the survey even if you do not yet know your child’s school schedule. The survey is meant to assess interest; this is not a formal application. More information will be shared by the Department of Education (children in 3-K and pre-K) or the Department of Youth & Community Development (children in grades K-8) about a potential placement in the coming weeks. Programs will become available on a rolling basis beginning at the start of school.
Blended & Remote Learning
Theory of Action
If we maintain a supportive, rigorous, and culturally responsive learning experience for students throughout blended learning, which is aligned to the priority standards and integrates face-to-face learning alongside remote experiences, then schools will accelerate learning for all students while addressing the social emotional needs surfaced by the global pandemic.
Remote Learning Platform
Google Classroom
Classroom Dojo
iLearnNYC
Limited capacity; No longer mandatory for schools to use in the 2020-2021 school year. Schools that opt-in will engage in a slow, thoughtful transition to the new learning platform.
High Engagement Remote Learning Platforms
Nearpod
See how Nearpod is used by teachers to monitor student responses in real time, provide on-the-spot feedback, and strategically pair students to share and talk about their work in partnerships and groups.
Parlay
See how Parlay Videos anchor student thinking in conversation threads that allow students to build off each other’s thinking and develop a genuine conversation through an asynchronous format.
Flipgrid
How FlipGrid Works (Videos & Blog Tutorials)
Flip Grid is another asynchronous tool, common in the lower grades, that allow students to post video and/or audio responses to teachers’ questions, to multimedia that is posted, or to each other’s thinking as part of a remote lesson experience.
Khan Academy
An Overview to Using Khan Academy (Video)
Khan Academy platform houses videos that can be used in isolation to clarify content delivered during remote instruction, as well as full-scope courses that teach students full content and administers assessments to measure mastery level.
Anchoring Resources:
Priority Standards
Guidance for Principals/Directors
for Remote Learning in 3-K and Pre-K
Remote Learning in Early Childhood
Remote Learning in Early Childhood Young children learn best in the context of relationships and through play-based, hands-on, and engaging activities. In their early childhood classrooms, the relationships they develop with their teaching teams and caregivers are crucial to their development and learning. Additionally, the toys, games, and other materials in their classrooms support discovery and exploration – an essential component of early learning. For these reasons, remote learning for young children is centered around helping families, caregivers, and children connect and engage in joyful, fun, play-based activities that build on children’s natural curiosity. Supporting Remote Learning During this time, it is particularly important to consider how we support families and children in having safe, nurturing and predictable experiences. Children rely on their daily routines, including seeing their teaching team each day they come to school. At this time, our goal is to ensure smooth transitions from learning in a classroom to learning at home. During times of uncertainty and stress, it is important to maintain strong attachments to help children remain resilient and thrive. Together we can successfully support children and families by helping children feel connected to their early childhood program and teachers. When planning how best to maintain connections with children and families, teaching teams should consider the needs and circumstances of their classroom community. Considerations include:
Free Meal
Find a Free Meal Location Near You
Find a Free Meal Location Near You
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Free "Grab and Go" meals are available for all New Yorkers
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Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm
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Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
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No one will be turned away at any time
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All adults and children can pick up multiple meals at once
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No registration, ID, or documentation required
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Vegetarian and Halal are available at all sites
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No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises.
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Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children
All locations, dates, times and menus are subject to change.
Visit the NYC DOE website to search for a food hub and see menus, and visit CFA for an interactive map and full list of food hubs. (Please note: The food hubs may change over time. We will keep the list updated.) Or text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877-877.
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Meals are served from 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM
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7:30 AM - 11:30 AM to children and families
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11:30 AM - 1:30 PM to adults
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No registration, ID, or documentation is needed.
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Three meals are provided regardless of time of service.
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Parents and guardians can retrieve meals for their children, who do not need to be present...
Updates for Families on Instruction
August 6, 2020
Dear Families,
The educators and staff at your child’s school, and all of us at the DOE, continue to work around the clock to prepare for a safe and healthy return to school in September. An important part of our planning depends on you! Today I am writing with additional information and an important reminder as we head into September.
All schools are currently preparing for a blended learning model. Blended learning means that students learn part of the time in-person in school buildings, and continue their learning remotely, from home, on the remaining weekdays. Any family can also choose all-remote learning this fall, for any reason. If all-remote learning is your preference, we ask to hear from you by filling out a short web form at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020, or by calling 311, by this Friday, August 7.
If you begin in blended learning, you can decide later to transition to all-remote, but to best support schools in their planning for reopening, we ask that those who have a preference for 100% remote notify us by this Friday, August 7.
As you consider which learning model is best for your child, I want to restate our guiding principles that apply to every student’s education: All students will be learning five days a week, and teachers will continue to deliver high-quality instruction that is culturally responsive, rigorous and developmentally appropriate for all students, in all learning settings.
We are sharing additional information below about both blended and all-remote instruction to empower you to make this choice. This builds on the information contained in the letter sent to families in late July comparing remote and blended learning, which you can find at schools.nyc.gov/messagesforfamilies.
Types of Teaching and Learning
Whether your child is participating in blended learning or learning 100 percent remotely, they will receive instruction by
1) interacting live with their teachers and
2) by independently completing assignments and projects throughout the school day and week.
Teachers
Students engaged in remote learning will, for the most part, be taught by teachers from their school community. While there may be limited exceptions on a school-by-school basis, parents can expect their children to be assigned teachers from their school community when they receive their children’s full schedules before the school year begins.
Live Interaction
Teachers will provide daily live instruction for our fully remote learners, as well as for those students participating in the blended learning model. Teachers will deliver live instruction in short intervals (15–
20 consecutive minutes) throughout the school day for our youngest learners and may increase in length based on the student’s developmental stage and grade level. We will share additional information on live instruction in the coming weeks.
