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PS 87 Backpack News: November 4, 2019

Dear Families,

November’s book of the month is ‘The Bad Seed‘ by Jory John.  In this book we meet a “bad seed.” He cuts people in line, shows up late, and does not listen to others.  He is so bad that the other seeds call him a bad seed when they think he can’t hear them, although he usually does.

As the book goes on, the seed explains that he wasn’t always a bad seed. He was once a happy seed living in a beautiful flower, but he suffered a trauma that left him sad, alone, and hopeless. 

One day, the bad seed decided he didn’t want to be bad anymore. Although he started to be good, there still were times that he was late, didn’t listen, and annoyed others by speaking during movies. However there were also times when he said “please” and “thank you,” smiled at others, and held doors for people. When he walked by other seeds, some still called him bad, but now there were also others who said, “Actually, he’s not all that bad anymore.”

The book shows us that we all need time to develop socially and emotionally. Unfortunately, if people do not mature or develop coping and social skills as quickly as others or suffer a trauma that affects their behavior, we sometimes label them as bad seeds.  Even when they try to change, it is very difficult because others don’t see their changes in behavior due to the focus on the negative.

There are two very important ideas we should take away from this book. For those who have been labeled “bad seeds,” you must remember that you have the power to decide if you are going to live up to the label of “bad” or if you are going to try to change. It is your choice and yours alone. For those who have not been labeled a bad seed, you can help those who have by being patient and understanding that change takes time. Those labeled as bad won’t change overnight. They will fall back into old habits, but bare with them. Change is a process. You would better serve them by encouraging their efforts to be good by acknowledging the good things they are doing.

Respectfully,

Principal Monica

Scholastic Book Fair, Nov. 8-15 

From Nov. 8-15, our lobby will be turned into a pop-up bookstore! We will have the classics, but there will be many new and exciting titles as well.  Here are some suggestions:

Pre-k and K: I am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde and Pig the Fibber by Aaron Blabey

1st Grade: Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal and The Brain is Kind of a Big Deal by Nick Seluk

2nd Grade: The Binder of Doom: Brute-Cake by Troy Cummings and Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts off by Kyla May

3rd Grade: Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls by Dav Pilkey and Pumpkin’s Story by Aubre Andrus

4th Grade: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball by Jeff Kinney and Guts by Raina Telgemier

5th Grade: The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown and Allies by Alan Gratz

A few reminders (click links below or go to ps87.info):

  • Go cash-less with the super easy e-wallet program.
  • Please help to restock our well-used classroom libraries by purchasing Classroom Gift Certificates. The deadline is Nov. 6.
  • Consider volunteering for a shift at the book fair!
  • Each class will visit the fair once during the week (class schedules will be posted by Nov. 6) but the fair will also be open to the public at  the following times:
    • Friday, Nov. 8 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 12  8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Thursday, Nov. 14 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
    • Friday, Nov. 15 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.  

Kids Book Club at St. Agnes Library

And speaking of reading, As the Page Turns is a new book club for the whole family! Each month we’ll pick a new children’s book to read. Parents, grandparents, and all caretakers are all encouraged to read the book too. This month’s meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21 at 3:30 p.m., and we’ll be reading Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Pierce. On our book club day, we’ll talk about our favorite/least favorite parts of the book, and address everyone’s questions and comments. There will be snacks and a fun take-home!  No advance registration is required.  Best for kids ages 7-13. For information on future meetings, check out the events page at https://www.nypl.org/locations/st-agnes.

  PS 87 Calendar

* Check ps87.info for venue info *

NOVEMBER 2019
5Election Day, NO SCHOOL
7General PA Meeting, 6:10 p.m. (EVE MEETING)
11Veteran’s Day, NO SCHOOL
8,   12-15        BOOK FAIR
14 Parent/Teacher Conference, Early Dismissal
18Spanish Class for Parents, 8 – 8:45 a.m.
19Moms’ Night Out, 7 – 10 p.m.
20Wine and Cheese Auction Volunteer Event
21Dads’ Night Out, 7 – 10 p.m.
25Kindergarten Open House, 6:15 p.m.
28-29Thanksgiving, NO SCHOOL
DECEMBER 2019
2Kindergarten Open House, 6:15 p.m.
3Teacher Appreciation Party, 5 – 8 p.m.
4PA Board Meeting, 6:10 – 8 p.m.
9Kindergarten Open House, 6:15 p.m.
13Winter Holiday CelebrationGeneral PA Meeting
16SLT, 4:15 – 5:30 p.m.
23-1Winter Break, NO SCHOOL

PS 87 Auction – March 28, 2020

Interested in helping to plan PS 87’s biggest fundraiser of the year? Please join us for wine and cheese on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. Email us at pa-auction@ps87.info for more information or to join a committee! Thank you!

Parents’ Nights Out in November!

Come hang out with your fellow PS 87 parents!

Moms’ Night Out

Date: Tuesday, November 19

Time: 7 -10 p.m.

Venue: Da Capo, 322 Columbus Avenue

Dads’ Night Out

Date: Thursday, November 21

Time: 7 – 10 p.m.

Venue: Blondie’s, 212 West 79th Street

An Amazing Thanksgiving for All!

Join the Thousand Turkey Challenge and help make this a memorable Thanksgiving for New York Families!

Each year, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, West Side Campaign Against Hunger launches the Thousand Turkey Challenge. Last year we provided turkeys to over 2,000 families!  PS 87 Community Service Committee has been a proud partner in this work and we encourage you all to donate.  You can:

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