<div dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" id="docs-internal-guid-e47e9406-bd9b-6cd5-01e0-9a3c8c031df7"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Dear Neighborhood School Families,</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">This is the last week to complete the Department of Education (DOE) survey! </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Only 40% of our families have responded so far (compared to almost 70% last year)!  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Not only do your responses count towards our school's rating, but </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">we are evaluated by the response rate.  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">You were given a green envelope which contains directions and your access code.  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">You can find the DOE survey at </span><a href="http://schools.nyc.gov/Accountability/tools/survey/default.htm" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">http://schools.nyc.gov/Accountability/tools/survey/default.htm</span></a><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">  Use the survey access code printed on your individual survey.  If you don't have the hard copy of the survey, click the link to access your code or call the Survey Hotline at </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">1-800-690-8603</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">On Wednesday, we had our Test Forum; teachers, members of the Advocacy Committee and I discussed a variety of issues related to testing, opting out, test prep, the middle school process and the TNS alternative assessment. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> Please reach out to me if were unable to attend the test forum and have questions.  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Last year 80% of our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students took the TNS Alternative Assessments. It is important that we know if your child is taking the TNS Alternative Assessment or the NYS tests this year so we can organize staffing and materials.  Please let me or your child’s classroom teacher(s) know so we can plan accordingly.  </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">All over the city, school communities are having conversations about the tests this year.  Teachers and Principal Liz Phillips of PS 321 in Park Slope recently held a test forum about the nature of the NY State tests. I found the slide presentation informative; in particular, the information about changes in tests this year:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span></p><ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The state tests that will be administered in April 2016 were created by Pearson,</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> as in years past</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">.  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">There is a new contract with Questar to develop tests that can be given on computers. When testing is done on computers, third graders will be expected to type multi-paragraph responses to essay questions in order to complete the tests. This is already happening in other states that do testing on computers. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">This year’s tests are much longer than 6 years ago.  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">A 5th grader this April will be faced with 117 questions (combined math and ELA).  2010’s 5th grader? 61. That’s 56 more questions, or an increase of 92%. </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">    </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Please check it out: </span><a href="http://ps321.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TTF-Presentation-Short-Version-1-1.pdf" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline">http://ps321.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/TTF-Presentation-Short-Version-1-1.pdf</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The girls’ bathroom in the main lobby is being renovated!  </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Construction will begin this Friday after the building closes and will take place each weekday from 6pm - 12am, and on weekends.  We anticipate the project lasting 3 - 4 weeks.  This Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be asbestos abatement.  Internal testing of asbestos will be done each night and I will receive the air quality test results to confirm it is safe for students and teachers to re-enter the building.  During construction, girls will have to use bathrooms in the basement, and on second and fourth floors.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.26;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Mark your Calendars:</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">The Diversity Committee meets Tuesday </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">at drop-off in the small cafeteria.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">SING</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> is</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> Wednesday at 8:45</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"> in the auditorium.  Please also join us for the bake sale beforehand.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">5th Grade Parent Night with STAR is Tuesday at 6:30pm in the auditorium! </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Over the past few months, STAR at the Directors Company has explored issues around puberty through drama and discussions with our 5th graders.  Now is your chance to find out more about what former parent and PTA President, Harvey Epstein called a “game changer” for TNS!</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Friday is a TNS half-day!  Dismissal is at 11:35am.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Have a wonderful week,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:"Times New Roman";color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline">Dyanthe</span></p><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></div>