Thank you
Bronx Community
At dozens of charter public schools and district schools, educators are showing up for our kids. Now, let’s show up for them. Sign your name to thank local teachers.
Dear Bronx Community:
After a long sixteen months, we’re launching a new school-year – and we are ready for learning! Despite the uncertainty around the return to schools, Bronx charter schools couldn’t be more excited about the months ahead. Though the pandemic is not behind us, we know that students and their families need our support and our public charter schools are working to deliver just that and more.
Since last March, the entire Bronx community has shown incredible resilience and perseverance while facing historic challenges, and this year will require the same. Schools continue to serve as anchors for our communities and second homes for our families, and we all must work together — teachers, caregivers, elected officials, neighborhood leaders, and more — on behalf of our students. This moment demands no less, and we’re excited about the possibilities this new school year will bring.
We are vaxxed, masked and ready for learning.
Thank you.
SIGN YOUR NAME TO THANK BRONX TEACHERS
Instructional Tools & LeaRning Resources
With many more children now having access to the internet and technological devices, there are many online resources that can help educators and families reimagine learning, so that children can embrace learning anytime, anyplace.
- The New York Public Library offers free resources, including Remote Learning Resources, After School Activities & Resources, English Learning Resources, One-on-One Tutoring, and more.
- The International Children’s Digital Library offers free digitized books in multiple languages including Arabic, Dutch, French, Greek, Hindi, Chinese, and more.
- Supplement academic learning with creative activities from the world’s best artists and educators on Lincoln Center Pop-Up Classroom. Learn to dance, make your own creative instrument, compose music, and more.
- The White House Historical Society offers virtual education resources including resource packets, reading lists, videos, and a digital library of the White House.
- New York State also offers a comprehensive list of virtual arts events for all ages.
Social-Emotional & Mental Health Resources
A variety of social-emotional learning resources are available for teachers and caregivers in support of students.
- Learn more about social emotional learning (SEL) and 25 learning activities that promote student well-being.
- Along is a new free digital SEL tool for teachers to check in with each student using multimedia tools. Students are able to respond back directly with video, audio, or text.
- Positiveaction.com offers over 30 different SEL games and activities for teachers and students ages 4-18.
- A comprehensive list of mental health apps, support groups and organizations, websites and online content is available on Teach.com.
- MentalHealth.gov offers educators tips on how to recognize behaviors in students and design classrooms for a more positive and safe school environment.
- NYC Well offers free, confidential 24/7 Talk. Text. Chat support those dealing with problems like stress, depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol use. Interpreters are available in 200+ languages.
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINES
Schools everywhere and especially in the Bronx have been deeply affected by COVID-19. To effectively and safely have all of our kids back into physical classrooms, we must vaccinate as many members of our community as possible.
Throughout March, Bronx public charter schools partnered with local physicians from SOMOS Community Care – a network of over 2,500 medical providers in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn – to host bilingual virtual forums for school staff, students, parents, and families where they discussed commonly asked questions, addressed concerns and dispelled myths about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Information from those forums is available in English here and in Spanish here, and more key facts about the COVID-19 vaccines are available at the SOMOS Community Care website.
Additional Resources for Teachers
As vaccine distribution expands, there are resources for families and teachers to learn more about the vaccine timeline, eligibility, and appointment scheduling.
- In the Bronx, Borough President Diaz’s office has set up a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments page for more information about local borough appointments.
- To check your eligibility to receive the vaccine and find distribution sites, you can visit the official New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Page, NYC Health and Hospitals, or SOMOS Vaccinations for the current and upcoming timelines for eligibility, as well as information about appointments and scheduling options.
- New York City’s Vaccine Finder displays both city- and privately-run locations like pharmacies and local clinics on a map, detailing vaccines available at each site, scheduling options and directions.
WHY I GOT THE SHOT
Press
PIX11: Bronx charter school going beyond to protect students, staff amid pandemic
Principal David Noah, of Comp Sci High School is proud that 100% of the teachers and staff at Comp Sci High in the Bronx are vaccinated. This milestone comes before the city’s recent implementation of a vaccine mandate for teachers.
Bronx Times: Bronx Charter School reaches nearly 99% vaccination rate among teachers and staff
As New York City prepares to reopen public schools, International Leadership Charter High School, a public charter school in the Bronx, announced it has reached 98.9% vaccination rate among its teachers and staff.
Daily News: C’mon, parents, get your shots
Janelle Bradshaw of Public Prep Network and David Noah of Comp Sci pen a first-person piece urging the Bronx community to get vaccinated for COVID-19 so children can learn in-person, five days per week, uninterrupted this school-year.
Chalkbeat: Facing a lack of guidance, NYC charter schools are coming up with their own COVID safety rules
With a new school year and new COVID-19 variants, charter schools create their own safety protocols to keep students safe as public health officials have yet to provide detailed guidance about issues ranging from coronavirus testing to when to quarantine students and...
Amsterdam News: Bronx charter schools warn community about COVID-19 dangers
Bronx charter schools release an open letter warning the community about the continued dangers of COVID-19 and the importance of being vaccinated.
Bronx Times: Bronx charter transfer schools call on the city to fairly fund vulnerable students
Leaders from Bronx charter transfer schools, Urban Dove and John V. Lindsay Wildcat, call on elected officials Wednesday to deliver fair funding to their students.
News 12: State of Our Schools: Leaders of charter transfer schools call for access to grant program
Leaders of charter transfer high schools - Urban Dove, John V. Lindsay Wildcat and New Dawn - gather outside city hall to demand access to the city’s “Learn to Work” grant program.
CBS New York: Entire Senior Class At Bronx Charter High School Accepted Into College
The entire senior class at International Leadership Charter High School defy the challenges of the pandemic and learn they were all accepted into college
Bronx Times:Bronx charter public schools launch ad campaign to encourage people to get COVID vaccine
Charter schools from across the Bronx launch the “Why I Got the Shot” campaign to encourage educators, school staff and community members to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Bronx Times:Bronx charter schools and doctors hold forums on COVID-19 vaccine
Bronx public charter schools host bilingual virtual forums about the COVID-19 vaccine, encouraging eligible families to get vaccinated.