Manhattan High School

P35@Beacon recently had a confirmed case of COVID-19 in which a number of students and staff members were deemed close contacts. Due to the number of staff members exposed, P35@Beacon will be closed for in-person instruction tomorrow, December 23rd, 2020, and all learning will take place remotely. As of now, in-person learning is expected to be in session when we return from Winter Recess, January 4, 2020.

Please read over this detailed Family Letter [PDF] for more information on the closure and our efforts to safely resume in-person instruction as soon as possible. We will remain in communication with families and inform you of any changes.

Due to expected severe weather conditions, all New York City public school buildings will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, December 17, 2020. All instruction will take place remotely. Students scheduled for in-person learning tomorrow should check their emails and Google Classrooms for information for their virtual class meetings.

Learning Bridges and Learning Labs, after-school programs, adult education, and YABC programs are cancelled tomorrow. Food distribution sites are closed as well.

The Chancellor has shared an update on with information on how instruction will take place during a potential school closure due to inclement weather. Please find this latest letter for families on the DOE's Messages for Families page. Translations will be available on this page later today.

Chancellor Richard Carranza shared an update for families today which includes additional information on mandatory COVID-19 testing, what to do if your child has recently travelled, and more. You can find his latest update for families on the DOE's Messages for Families page. Translations of the letter are also available on this page.

Chancellor Carranza shared an update this week on the re-opening of school buildings, providing the re-opening date of December 10th, 2020 for District 75 schools of all grades. Please review his latest update for families on the DOE's Messages for Families page. Translations are available on this page.

Chancellor Carranza shared an update for families today regarding remote learning and COVID-19 testing. Today's letter includes updates on attendance requirements, grading policy for the 2020-21 school year, and remote learning devices. Please find his latest message on the DOE's Messages for Families page.

As announced today by Chancellor Richard Carranza, all DOE buildings will temporarily close down starting tomorrow, November 19th, 2020, and all learning will take place remotely. Please review this important announcement on the DOE's Messages for Families page.

Chancellor Richard Carranza has shared updates clarifying the in-person learning start dates. You can find these latest updates, as well as translations, on the DOE website's Messages for Families page.

Please be reminded that we are a District 75 high school, which means in-person learning at our school begins on Monday, September 21st, with blended student group A scheduled to attend in-person on this day. The school day will begin at 8:30AM every day.

Please note that the start date for full-time blended learning for Manhattan High School will be September 21, 2020, with group A students scheduled to attend in-person instruction on this day. In-person school days begin at 8:30AM.

Chancellor Richard Carranza has shared a letter to families explaining what the new instructional guidance for the 2020-21 school year means. This letter includes more information on remote and live instruction, teachers, and how to stay informed on confirmed COVID-19 cases in your school community. You can find this latest letter, as well as translated versions, on the DOE InfoHub's Letters from the Chancellor page.

P35M/MHS has selected Model 5B as its programming model for the 2020-21 school year.

Based on your remote learning survey, your child will be placed in a cohort group and will attend in school instruction 2 or 3 days each week, alternating Mondays, and then attend either Tuesdays and Wednesdays or Thursdays and Fridays, unless you opted for remote learning only.

Presently we are programming your child’s schedule to ensure that all high school credit requirements are fulfilled.

You will receive specific cohort information shortly.

We appreciate your support and patience. We are all very eager to see the students. Administrators will return to the school on August 31st, 2020. You can contact us at 212-247-4307 or at MBarnett4@schools.nyc.gov.

Yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza released the Return to School 2020 Back to School Pledge, detailing their commitments to school communities regarding health and safety, cleaning, and instruction. You can find this pledge, as well as translations, on the Back to School Pledge page on the DOE website.

Chancellor Richard Carranza has shared an additional update on reopening. Please find his latest weekly update on the Message for Families page on the DOE website.

Please note that translations of this letter are now available available on the translations page on the DOE Infohub.

Remember to regularly check the Return to School 2020 page for ongoing updates.

Before the start of the upcoming school year, families in possession of DOE iPads are asked to take some steps to ensure their loaned devices are fully functional and prepared for remote learning. These steps are detailed on the Getting Started with Your iPad page on the DOE's website. If you need help following the steps, or they do not work for you, please contact Mr. Planer (jplaner@schools.nyc.gov).

Additionally, the DOE has now enabled personal hotspots on distributed iPads, which can be used to allow other devices, that may not have built-in service, to connect to the internet. Please contact Mr. Planer (jplaner@schools.nyc.gov) if you need help using this feature.

Ahead of tomorrow's deadline to submit your choice mode of instruction, Chancellor Richard Carranza has shared another update with additional information on the blended and remote learning options. Please find his latest update to families on the DOE's Message for Families page.

Please note that translations of this letter will soon be available on the translations page on the DOE Infohub.

Remember to regularly check the Return to School 2020 page for ongoing updates.

Following the joint press release on Friday, July 31 from City Hall and the NYC Department of Education, the Chancellor has shared information on test and trace protocols for all NYC public schools. Please find his latest update to families containing this information on the DOE's Message for Families page.

Please note that translations of this letter will soon be available on the translations page on the DOE Infohub.

Remember to regularly check the Return to School 2020 page for ongoing updates.

The DOE has recently made updates to its filtering application on centrally issued iPads, resulting in limited internet connectivity for iPad users. In order to restore full internet access, students must sign in to the Zscaler application using their DOE credentials to enable those updates. For help getting your DOE credentials and completing this process, please contact Mr. Planer.

The Chancellor has shared additional information regarding the remote and blended learning options for this upcoming school year. Please find his latest letter to families on the DOE's Message for Families page.

Remember to regularly check the Return to School 2020 page for ongoing updates.

Please note that translations of this letter will soon be available on the translations page on the DOE Infohub.

Chancellor Richard Carranza has shared updates regarding school reopening plans for the upcoming school year. Please find his letter to families by accessing the Message for Families page on the DOE website. We also encourage all families to regularly check the Return to School 2020 page for ongoing updates.

Please note that translations of the Chancellor's letter will be available later today on the translations page on the DOE Infohub.

The deadline to complete the Return to School 2020 Survey has been extended to June 30. This survey was created to gather feedback from students and families about the most important considerations for your return to school in the Fall. All students in grades 6–12, and parents/guardians of students in grades 3–K through 12, are encouraged to participate in this anonymous online survey.

You can fill out this survey by accessing the Return to School 2020 page on the DOE website.

The Return to School Survey 2020 is now open to capture feedback from students and families about what are the most important considerations for their return to school in the fall. This feedback will help us to explore and plan various options for re-opening school buildings in the 2020-21 school year along with guidance from public health experts and advisory groups.

All students in grades 6–12, and parents/guardians of students in grades 3–K through 12, are encouraged to participate in this anonymous online survey through June 22. You can fill out this survey, as well as read some recent updates shared by the chancellor, on the Return to School 2020 page on the DOE website.

The week of June 15 is Senior Spirit Week. Below please find the agenda for our Senior Spirit Week Activities:

• Monday (6/15): Jersey Day


• Wednesday (6/17): Ice Bucket Challenge


• Thursday (6/18): Senior Pizza Day


• Friday (6/19): Quarantine Fashion Day - Zoom Chat Room (2-3PM)

Please contact Mr. Ottey with any questions. Thank you to all the staff who helped put this together for your participation and support.

Addtional updates have been shared regarding Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), formerly known as Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS). The letter on the Coronavirus Parent Letters page on the Info Hub offers more information to families about the illness and guidance about when to seek medical care.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health) has shared updated information on Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), formerly known as Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS). The letter on the Coronavirus Parent Letters page on the Info Hub offers more information to families about the illness and guidance about when to seek medical care.

Information is emerging about Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, or PMIS, a new health condition appearing in children in New York City and elsewhere, and which may be associated with COVID-19 in children. The letter on the Coronavirus Parent Letters page on the Info Hub offers more information to families about the illness and guidance about when to seek medical care.

NYC DOE wants your feedback!

Take the Remote Learning Survey to share your experiences learning at home. All students in grades 6–12 and parents/guardians of students in grades 3-K through 12 are invited to participate in the Remote Learning Survey. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, May 1. Survey feedback will help schools support students and families learning at home.

Visit schools.nyc.gov/RLSurvey to take the survey now! If you need help completing the survey, please call 311.

New York City public schools will be continuing academic instruction through Remote Learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Please check back for further updates, as all announcements are subject to change.

Please see the New York City Schools Chancellor's letter for more information.

On Monday, the Governor announced that all public school buildings in New York State will now remain closed until April 29. The State also announced that high school Regents exams have been canceled.

Please see the family site for more information.

For the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, the City and the State are in agreement that schools must continue to offer remote learning, including during days that were previously scheduled as breaks. As a result, our schools will continue with remote learning through the time originally scheduled for Spring Recess.

Please see the New York City Schools Chancellor's letter for more information.

Beginning March 23, free meals will be distributed at more than 400 sites across the city. Three meals a day, including breakfast, will be available to all NYC children Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 1:30 pm at locations across the city. Use the site lookup tool to find a location near you!

• No registration, ID, or documentation required.
• All three meals a day may be picked up at the same time.
• No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises.
• Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children.

To help students stay connected during emergencies, the DOE is lending internet-enabled iPads to support remote learning for students. If you would like to request a device for a NYC student in your family, please fill out the Request form. The DOE will use the contact information you provide to get in touch with you to discuss when and where you can pick up a device. Priority will be given to students most in need, and all devices are granted on a temporary basis and will need to be returned.

As we head into our first day of remote learning, the New York City Schools Chancellor has prepared the following letter for the families of all our 1.1 million New York City public school students, available on the InfoHub Coronavirus Letters page.

Dear Families,

All of us are living through an unprecedented time as we work to keep our communities safe and healthy in the face of the coronavirus. New Yorkers are joining millions in cities, states, and nations across the world in confronting decisions that we’ve never had to face—and maybe never could have imagined having to.

Here in New York, Mayor de Blasio and I have been clear that any changes to our school system as we know it would be an extreme measure—a last resort. We’ve been monitoring the outbreak in New York City day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. This weekend, it became clear that continuing public education in our school buildings was no longer sustainable for the time being.

On Sunday, we announced that for the next three and a half weeks, we are moving to a remote learning model, with a projected reopening of school buildings the week of April 20, 2020. I know this may feel abrupt, and has the potential to cause disruption in your lives. We are committed to consistent and clear communication with you throughout this time period, and a clear understanding of what will happen.

Our announcement today means that Monday, March 16, school buildings are closed and students will be out of session. However, students and families can pick up medication or receive any standard medical services from Tuesday through Thursday, during regular school hours; school nurses and school based health center staff will be on site. During that time, teachers will also be expected to report to their buildings and receive full-day professional development on remote learning.

Later in the week, students will begin picking up materials, including technology to participate in remote learning when needed. Additional guidance on all of this will be shared with you in the next couple of days.

All throughout this week, grab-and-go breakfast will be available at the entrance of every school building from 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Any student can pick up breakfast and lunch at any school building.

On Monday, March 23, we will be opening several dozen Regional Enrichment Centers across the City, to serve the children of our City’s first responders, healthcare workers, transit workers, and our most vulnerable populations.

That Monday, we will also launch remote learning for grades K-12. I have every confidence in New York City educators and know they will rise to the occasion, and dedicate the same passion for delivering high-quality instruction remotely as they do in the classroom. We know we have the most dedicated school staff: teachers, custodians, administrators, and especially the school food workers who will be continuing to work during this time as part of a citywide meals program. More information on the launch of that program will be coming soon.

I want to be clear that this is not a closure, but a transition. We will not lower our expectations for our students. We know they are hungry to learn and we will match their curiosity and passion with work-from-home materials, including distribution of devices that will support our remote-learning instructional model.

There are already instructional resources available for every grade level in every subject at schools.nyc.gov/learnathome.

We know this is a difficult time, and we are working hard to make sure our City continues to support families in every way we can. I want to assure families we’re working to make this as seamless a transition as possible.

Now is the time to come together to do what’s best for the health and safety of all New Yorkers. We are with you, partners in education in the greatest city in the world. We have the world’s most talented students, educators, and staff—and nothing will ever change that.

We will continue to communicate with you in the coming days, and encourage you to visit our website at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update for more information and updates on this transition.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza
Chancellor
New York City Department of Education

As per the Chancellor's communication, NYCDOE schools are closed for instruction effective today through the end of the April vacation. We are currently planning on how we will support students through virtual and at-home learning over the upcoming weeks and what this new reality means for District 75 in terms of our uniqueness.

Tuesday-Thursday, all staff should report to their assigned school site. Staff with multiple site assignments should follow their typical reporting schedule on each day, and Inclusion teams should report to their regularly assigned host school to engage in planning along with their general education colleagues. This time will be used to ensure that students have what they need to support instructional continuity at home beginning March 23rd.

We know that this is a challenging and unprecedented time, with many questions left to be answered. We hope to obtain these answers in the upcoming days, and will pass along all information to you as it comes. We thank all staff for your ongoing commitment to your students, communication to your school communities, and support to your families. Your steadfast leadership is what assures us that we will effectively continue to serve our students during this unexpected shift in our school year.

Take good care and stay well.

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,

The safety and well-being of all students and staff members at P35M: Manhattan High School remains our highest priority. Towards that end, we are informing about a non-school related incident that took place today near our school.

Out of an abundance of caution, the school was placed in a Shelter-In for approximately 15 minutes due to NYPD activity in the vicinity of our school building. The Shelter-In was lifted after NYPD determined that there was no threat to our school building.

We assure you that every precaution was taken and will continue to be taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff. I want to thank all students and staff for their cooperation during the Shelter-In.

We look forward to your continued partnership as we work together to ensure that P35M: Manhattan High School continues to provide the best and safest learning environment possible for all of its students and staff.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Assistant Principal Gavriel Berkovits at (212) 465-4390.

Sincerely yours,

Marta Barnett
Principal