After 6 Years Of Planning, Fundraising & Construction, Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof Opened Today With Ribbon Cutting And First Plantings By Students - This Is Freaking Beautiful Says Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

This morning we celebrated the opening of PS/IS 217's green roof with a ceremonial planting. The space was funded with $1M from my office's participatory budgeting process, $250,000 from @galeabrewer & $500,000 from @Rebecca76AD. Thanks @RepMaloney for joining us! pic.twitter.com/ZgB8SWstVS

— Ben Kallos, NYC Council Member (@BenKallos) November 29, 2021

After more than 6 years of planning, fundraising and construction, Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof opened today with a ribbon cutting and first plantings by students.

 NYC Council Member Ben Kallos hosted the PS/IS 217 Green Roof Ribbon Cutting Ceremony saying:

What a wonderful day to be  here on the new PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island Green Roof which is officially open for business... 

PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman remarked:

As principal, it is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the opening of the Roosevelt Island School-- Green Roof. And what a roof it is! The purpose and beauty of its design, landscaping, materials and setting are so obvious that this space in which we find ourselves, seems to speak for itself.... 

... We have waited so long to be here today. The green roof is a wonderful addition to our facility. As is usually the case, wonderful things take a lot of work and in this case that work was done by a lot of people. It is appropriate at this ceremony to assure those who worked so hard that we will make the most of their creation and it is appropriate that we thank them: 

For the initial concept, we thank Ms. Fokine, who was inspired by her trip to Japan.  

We thank Christina Delfico who took that dream to its first steps of realization.  

For funding Council Member Kallos, Assembly Member Seawright, Manhattan Borough President Brewer, Congresswoman Maloney and NY State Senator Serrano who backed this project.
For our PTA and RI community constituents who got out the vote and championed our vision - RIOC, RIRA, Roosevelt Island Garden Club, the Girl Scouts, and Roosevelt Island Parent Network. 

For the designers Mary Rice, Abel, Bainnson & Butz who heard what we wanted and realized our vision in their plans. 

For our construction team led by Muhammed Siqb Arshed  

And for our Custodial EngineerJeff Atkins and the custodial staff who has tended this space in all its stages of completion. 

And we thank forward all those who will tend this incredible space and make it a vibrant learning, a multi-enriching and a spiritually healing place.

 Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 has advocated for the Green Roof since 2015. Troop Leader Yitza Martinez and two Girl Scouts spoke at today's event.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said of the new PS/IS 217 Green Roof:

This is freaking beautiful...

The new educational green roof at PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island will give the next generation of leaders the tools to excel in STEM starts in the classroom.

I am proud of NYC for being at the cutting edge of ensuring that our students are at the forefront of learning. pic.twitter.com/92mJn7hPrR

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) November 29, 2021

As a member of the Assembly Education Committee, proud public school parent and former PTA activist, I was pleased to cut the ribbon on PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island Green Roof and STEM learning Hub. We funded $500k toward successful completion. 🌻🪴 pic.twitter.com/r1Au9ONon8

— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) November 29, 2021

The current Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA thanked the prior PTA's for all their work getting the Green Roof built.


NYC Schools District 2 Superintendent Kelly McGuire thanked everybody involved in the Green Roof project.
 

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp President Shelton Haynes said the PS/IS 217 Green Roof:

... is a testament of when community and government work together great things happen, so congratulations. We're very excited about this space...

Today we unveiled a new green roof at PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island that provides flexible outdoor classroom space for educational gardening programs, theater and performing arts. Thanking @galeabrewer @BenKallos @Rebecca76AD & @RepMaloney for their support. pic.twitter.com/fdunPH63zv

— New York City School Construction Authority (@NYC_SCA) November 29, 2021

And this all began in 2015 with the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts campaigning for Participatory Budget funding from Council Member Kallos.

According to this press release from NYC Council Member Ben Kallos:

Students at PS/IS 217 have a new educational green space on their roof, thanks to funding from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Borough President Gale Brewer, Council Member Ben Kallos, and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright. Today they celebrated completion of the project, including a ceremonial planting.

$1 million in funding for this project comes from Council Member Ben Kallos, which was allocated from participatory budgeting that the school won in 2015 and 2016 thanks to the advocacy of the Roosevelt Island Community. Borough President Brewer funded $250,000 and Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright contributed $500,000 to the project.

To win funding through participatory budgeting, the whole Roosevelt Island community worked together to turn out a winning number of votes. Community members that advocated for the project include the PS/IS 217 PTA, Girl Scout Troops 3001 and 3244, Roosevelt Island Garden Club, Roosevelt Island Parents’ Network, Sharon Bermon from the NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch, and community activist Christina Delfico.  

“STEM education is a vital part of shaping our future generation of leaders,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “I am excited to celebrate the completion of PS/IS 217’s green roof, which will provide students with the opportunity to play and learn in new ways. I look forward to seeing all that the school is able to accomplish with this space.”

“I am thrilled to be here at the opening of the new educational green roof at PS/IS 217,” said Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “Giving the next generation of leaders the tools to excel in STEM starts in the classroom, and I am proud that our City schools are at the cutting edge of ensuring just that. I thank Councilmember Kallos, Borough President Brewer, and Assemblywoman Seawright for our ongoing partnership in ensuring New York City’s students are at the forefront of learning.”

“I’m excited to be able to celebrate the completion of the green roof at PS/IS 217, a project that will provide educational space to learn about the importance of protecting our environment,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I know that this space will benefit students for years to come by acting as a learning hub for 21st century skills and advancing scientific and environmental knowledge, in addition to supporting our city’s climate resiliency efforts by keeping the roof cooler, acting as an insulator, saving heating and cooling costs, helping to protect the school from environmental wear and tear, as well as reduce noise.”

“As a member of the Assembly Education Committee, proud public school parent and former PTA activist, I was please to award PS/IS 217 on Roosevelt Island with $500,000 for the creation of a Green Roof and construction of a STEM learning Hub. Our students deserve a safe place to learn and play. I commend Principal Mandana Beckman, school leadership, and PTA for seeing this through for the benefit of students and educations at PS/IS 217,” said Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.  

“This green roof provides flexible outdoor classroom space for educational gardening, theater and performing arts, and general student education, and recreation,” SCA President and CEO Nina Kubota said. “It’s a great example of the SCA’s steadfast commitment to provide enhanced educational services and better facilities for the City’s kids and the teachers and staff who serve them.”
“So many people had a small role in making a big impact,” says local sustainability advocate Christina Delfico. “This roof top project proves that community, schools, and government can create a sea of wide open green space to excite students in every subject of learning.”...

Learn more about Green Roofs from this 2015 visit to the Randall's Island NYC Parks Department 5 Boro Green Roof Garden.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Beckman Among NYC DOE District 2 Principals Calling For In Person Schooling Delay From Scheduled September 10 Start

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

Principal Mandana Beckman was among a group of District 2 NYC Department Of Education Principals who signed letter calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio's to delay in person school learning scheduled to begin September 10.

According to the Twitter account of NY Times Education reporter:

Group of principals from NYC's biggest school district, District 2, join calls to delay in-person school. Notice that their concerns are as much about logistics/planning as about safety. They still dont know how many kids + teachers are gonna show up. pic.twitter.com/ICsdS2woaL

— Eliza Shapiro (@elizashapiro) August 20, 2020

ask and you shall receive pic.twitter.com/pscOrr8E6k

— Eliza Shapiro (@elizashapiro) August 20, 2020

I can’t read? Where does it say that?

— Robin Broshi (@EastSideGadfly) August 20, 2020

i couldnt screenshot all of it but i imagine you got the letter too right

— Eliza Shapiro (@elizashapiro) August 20, 2020

Chalkbeat NY has more on calls by Principals to delay NYC in person schooling. Also here's press release from the Mayor's office earlier today:

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza today announced the City’s Back to School Pledge. The pledge, available here, outlines the City’s safety and health commitments to students, parents, and the school community prior to the start of the school year.

Read more »

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Parent Tests Positive For Coronavirus - Governor Cuomo And Mayor de Blasio Announce NYC Public Schools Closing Tomorrow Due To Coronavirus Emergency, Hope To Reopen April 20

Earlier today, a Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

parent shared a letter received from school Principal Mandana Beckman last Friday. According to this excerpt of Ms Beckman's letter:

... We would like to make clear that at this time no member of our student body or school staff has a confirmed case of coronavirus.

A member of our school community who has identified themselves at potentially higher risk for contracting the virus is at home in voluntary self-quarantine.

We are following citywide guidance to urge any member of our school community who is feeling sick to stay home. Please remember that it is cold and flu season, and no absence, for any amount of time, should be interpreted as a coronavirus-related absence.

I can reassure all of you that if the City of New York confirms a case of coronavirus within our school, the school community would be immediately notified by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and myself, and next steps would be clearly outlined without delay....

I asked Principal Beckman if the Coronavirus test results were positive and:

Will the school will be open on Monday and rest of this week?

Read more »

Concerned Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Parents Seek Answers About Alleged Student Gun Threat - School Principal Silent For 2 Weeks, RIOC Public Safety Chief Tells Parent What Happened

Last October 24, I received reports of a large NYPD presence earlier in the morning at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217

and that a threat with a gun was made by a student.

I asked PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman:

There was a large Nypd presence at Ps/is 217 this morning.

I’m told a student claimed to have a gun.

Is that true? Was the school shut down?

Do you have any statement on incident?

Principal Beckman never replied.

In response to my inquiry, a NYPD spokesperson replied there was a dispute between a student and teacher but that no gun was involved.

The issue was raised again last Thursday, November 8, when a concerned PS/IS 217 parent sent this message to the Roosevelt Island Parents Network:

Possibly someone can clarify me a doubt. Could somebody explain to me why no one is doing anything (PSD, RIOC, PS/IS217, DOE, NYPD, etc.) or why are some parents more concerned about the Library Fair than the threat of gunfire at the Island’s school?

As many of you know, a student at PS/IS 217 has threatened his classmates to bring a gun to school and shoot them, he also claimed to have access to the gun, as a reference he has friendship with the shooter of Manhattan Park, whose gun was not found per NYPD information....

... Last night happened a new mass shooting (number 307 so far this year).

Hopefully somebody can answer my questions.

On Friday, November 9, I again asked PS/IS 217 Principal Beckman about the alleged gun incident at the school.

... Do you have any comment on this important safety issue for Roosevelt Island and PS/IS 217 parents....

No response from Ms Beckman to my second inquiry but she did send this message to 217 Parents on Friday:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The safety and well being of all students and staff members at PS/IS 217 remain our highest priority. Towards that end, we understand that there have been questions in the community regarding an alleged threat that took place two weeks ago. Though we are not at liberty to share information about particular students or specific follow-up related to any student, we assure you that every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

We look forward to your continued partnership as we work together to ensure PS/IS 217 continues to provide the best and safest learning environment possible for all of its students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 212-980-0294.

Sincerely yours,

Mandana Beckman

Principal

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 parent Sangeeta Joseph (correction, Ms Joseph is not a 217 parent) reports on her conversation Friday, November 9 with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Chief Jack McManus about the school incident. According to Ms. Joseph:

Chief Jack McManus ... called me back to give out the facts of what really happened at PS 217 a couple of weeks ago.

The facts are as follows:

1. An 11 year old child had his/her phone taken away at school and responded by verbally threatening to return and shoot. (It has been confirmed that the child does not have access to a gun.)
2. Both PSD and NYPD got involved immediately and the parents of this child were contacted and spoken to. There is no legal requirement on what action the parents have to take and so there is no additional news on what follow up they have done personally with their child.

It appears that the main issue with this incident is the lack of communication from PS 217 about the incident taking place and having to hear it from a random email. Although we should not scrutinize every single flippant thing kids say on the playground, in today's day and age with gun violence at school's being so common place this is a particularly sensitive topic that we cannot take lightly. Schools should be advising students on things that are unacceptable to do/say and advising parents on topics that they must talk to/re-iterate with their kids at home.

At the same time we should keep a little bit of perspective - this is an 11 year old child who said something incredibly stupid in a fit of frustration. Even us as adults can admit to being guilty of saying things we don't really mean. As a community we should be concerned but equally empathetic to this childs emotional state as well as his/her parents state.

Lastly, Chief McManus has also asked whether the parents would like to have a town hall to discuss some of these issues? If you prefer we could also work on holding a video conference call so that more parents can dial in and submit questions.

Rumors spread when information is hidden from the public. Best to communicate quickly and honestly with the Roosevelt Island community.

Child Center Of NY Welcomed As New Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Beacon After School Provider With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Yesterday In Schoolyard

The Child Center of New York was welcomed as the new Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Beacon After School Program provider with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the schoolyard yesterday afternoon.

Celebrating the Child Center of NY PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island Beacon After School ribbon cutting ceremony on its first day of providing services was NYC Council Member Ben Kallos, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal, Child Center of NY VP of Youth Development Nicholas Ferreira,  PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman, PS/IS 217 PTA President Erin Olavesen and PS/IS 217 students.





Following the Ribbon Cutting, students asked for and received their own piece of the ribbon as a souvenir.



According to this Press Release from Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos:

Residents, elected officials, school and program administrators gathered yesterday September 18 at PS/IS 217 to welcome Child Center of NY to Roosevelt Island as the Beacon after-school program provider. In April of 2017, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) issued a request for proposal (RFP) for providers to offer Beacon after-school programming at the Roosevelt Island school to a growing population of school-aged children on the Island. By mid-summer, DYCD had selected a winner, Child Center of NY. Today the doors to the new Beacon after-school program were opened by Council Member Ben Kallos, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and other community leaders including Mandana Beckman Principal at PS/IS 217 where the programming will be held.

The Child Center of NY is based in Queens New York and has been a children’s care provider since 1953. Each year its services reach more than 26,000 children and families across New York City.

The programs and services offered by Child Center of NY are:

• Early Childhood Education
• Behavioral Health
• Health Homes & Family Integrated Care
• Prevention and Family Support
• Youth Development

Beacon Youth Programs that will be serviced by Child Center of NY on Roosevelt Island are:

• Academic Enhancement: Activities designed to help with school, including tutoring, homework help, reading clubs, and financial literacy
• Life Skills: Activities designed to increase personal responsibility, self-esteem, and confidence.
• Career Awareness/School to Work Transition: Activities designed to educate young people on career opportunities and assist with the transition to work or higher education
• Civic Engagement/Community Building: Activities designed to strengthen leadership skills, community awareness, and civic responsibility.
• Recreation/Health & Fitness: Activities designed to promote healthy lifestyles such as cooking programs and organized sports.
• Culture/Art: Activities designed to provide students with opportunities to express themselves through music, dance, photography, and drama.

Read more »

Garbage And Rat Playground In Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Courtyard - Principal Says School Not Allowed To Use Dumpsters And Sanitation Department Does Not Always Remove Garbage On Scheduled Days

A Roosevelt Island tipster reports:

PS/IS 217 doesn't put their garbage in containers

and it's a playground for rats as you can see from the video.



It's disgusting/disturbing. I've talked to our landlord about it and they've said they reached out but there's been no change.

I asked Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman about the garbage and rat problem raised by the tipster's complaint.

Ms Beckman replied:

As the community knows, a determination was made by the DOE to remove trees from PS/IS 217's rear courtyard that were, unfortunately, growing unevenly and leaning. These trees and their roots had created potential hazards to our building, and also made our rear emergency exits unusable for our students, creating a safety concern for our students and staff. We have also heard concerns about rats in the area, and share those concerns.

217 is anxious to replant this area, to remove the tripping hazards, and to replant and beautify the rear courtyard. At this point, our plans are on hold due to an unexplained cancellation due to weather by the only DOE contractor responsible for root grinding and removal. We urge the DOE to help us ready this area for planting this spring, and also to assist with the leveling of the land and rat abatement.

Despite raising concerns with the NY Department of Sanitation, 217 has been advised by the Sanitation Department that 217 is not permitted to use dumpsters and the Sanitation Department from Queens does not always come to remove the school's garbage on the scheduled days.

We look forward to working with the community to improve the situation. We also look forward to working with our PTA, students, parents and members of the community to replant and rebuild this Spring.

UPDATE 5/1 - I asked Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos to look into matter of PS/IS 217 courtyard rats and garbage. Council Member Kallos' office responded:

Our office has alerted both the Health Department and the Department of Education, they are looking into the problem in hopes of finding a quick and permanent solution.

Roosevelt Island Parents Ask For More PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented Seats - School Principal Says Unable To Accommodate Extra Classes At This Time

During the June 1 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council Meeting Public Session, a Roosevelt Island mom (did not get her name) asked for help in supporting a joint effort by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network and PS/IS 217 PTA to increase the number of PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented kindergarten and 1st grade seats from the current 1 class to 2 classes.



Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman provided the following statement on subject yesterday:

Recently there's been significant interest and numerous requests about G&T classes specifically regarding whether 217 will open additional G&T classes in Kindergarten, grades 1,2 and 3. We'd like to acknowledge and thank families for their passion and support.

At this time, G&T classes in all grades are full with waiting lists and we are unable to accommodate extra classes. As seats become available in our G&T program, our staff is making offers based on the prioritized wait lists provided by the NYC Department of Education. The DOE is continually updating these lists, and our staff uses the most recent, updated list when making offers

More information on Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented program available at this previous post which includes video from December 2015 Manhattan Community Board 8 forum on subject.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Students, Teacher & Principal Meet Mayor Bill de Blasio Following June 16 Cornell Tech Groundbreaking Ceremony

Following the June 16 Cornell Tech campus groundbreaking ceremony, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio

met with students from Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 and school Principal Mandana Beckman.

Mayor @BilldeBlasio meets PS/IS 217 leaders & the principal & asst for the day! @217pta @cornell_tech #groundbreaking pic.twitter.com/6XZtrp7K4Y

— Diane Levitt (@diane_levitt) June 16, 2015

Ms Beckman adds:

Here is the picture we took with Mayor DeBlasio following the Cornell Tech Ground Breaking:

Mandana Beckman, Ursula Fokine , Instructional Coach, Jennifer Bartolino , AP Students: Felicia Einhorn, Principal for A Day & Elyes Bouchik, Assistant Principal for a Day

Here's what Mayor de Blasio said about PS/IS 217 during his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony.



Complete coverage of the Cornell Tech Groundbreaking ceremony at this post and more on the Cornell Tech PS/IS 217 Hackathon here.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof Project Celebrates $500 Thousand Participatory Budget Funding From Council Member Ben Kallos Last Night - Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer Announces $250 Thousand For Green Roof Too

 As reported May 15:

... Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof project was the top vote getter in NYC Council District 5 Participatory Budget election and will receive $5 Hundred thousand towards the total $1.5 million project cost....

Last night, Roosevelt Island community members

gathered together at the PS/IS 217 schoolyard to celebrate winning the $500,000 for the Green Roof and to participate in a ceremonial milkweed planting. P.S./I.S. 217 plans to build a managed milkweed haven on its green roof to serve as a flight corridor for monarch butterflies, which have suffered a severe loss of habitat.

Among those present were New York City Council Member Ben Kallos;

Ben Kallos Greeted By Roosevelt Island Brownies

P.S./I.S. 217 Principal Mandana Beckman; representatives from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's and New York State Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright’s offices; GrowNYC;  Grow to Learn; local Girl Scout troop members and Roosevelt Island residents.

Roosevelt Island resident Christine Delfico of iDig2Learn hosted the celebration and introduced Council Member Ben Kallos who congratulated the community on its Participatory Budget win. Mr. Kallos asked the Roosevelt Island Brownies questions about milkweed plants and monarch butterflies. Mr. Kallos also revealed a secret. When he proposed to his wife, he hid the ring in a box of butterflies.



Exciting news followed. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's representative Erica Baptiste announced that the PS/IS 217 Green Roof project will receive $250 Thousand from the Borough President.



The Roosevelt Island Brownies then presented Mr. Kallos with a book about the PS/IS 217 Green Roof project to thank him for his support



and then the milkweed planting for monarch butterflies began.



Below is Press Release about the event from iDig2Learn.

The Manhattan Borough President’s office today committed $250,000 in funding to build a green roof on top of Roosevelt Island’s public school. The announcement came as elected officials and other community leaders gathered to celebrate the school’s recent win of $500,000 through the District 5 participatory budget ballot for the project.

“The green roof project at P.S./I.S. 217 will help the environment while giving our kids a vital opportunity to learn by doing. I’m thrilled to celebrate this funding today and proud to announce my office is committing $250,000 to this project as well,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “The project-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education made possible by facilities like this one promote a deeper, more enriching learning experience. At the same time, green roofs reduce the ‘urban heat island’ effect and improve our air quality – a win-win.”

"Congratulations to the students, parents, and friends of P.S./I.S. 217 for winning participatory budgeting funding to construct a green roof that will be a great educational boon for our children. I am deeply impressed by how actively the Roosevelt Island community mobilized and came together throughout the participatory budgeting process. The success of the green roof project was a product of incredible volunteerism by residents and community groups of all ages. Participatory budgeting is about actively engaging to improve the community around us. P.S./I.S. 217 and its supporters certainly did that," said Council Member Ben Kallos.

Peter H. Kostmayer, CEO of Citizens Committee for New York City, said, "We're thrilled to provide a 2015 Neighborhood Grant for iDig2Learn's volunteer project that helps restore wildlife micro-habitats right here in the city. When neighborhood groups team up with local schools to better the environment, the entire community benefits and young student leaders are born. We're grateful for their dedication and happy to be a small part of these remarkable local efforts." iDig2Learn, an initiative that promotes green spaces and provides children with hands-on education using plant life, works with community groups as an advocate for the school green roof project.

Girl scouts were among those who spent hours raising awareness and encouraging voting throughout the Island. Janine Schaefer of the Beacon/Roosevelt Island Youth Program’s Troop 3244 said, “We live in an amazing community where people care enough to vote.” Added Aiesha Eleusizov, Brownie Girl Scout leader of Troop 3001 (which is sponsored by Manhattan Park), “It’s been so exciting for us to see our hard work pay off.”

“This green roof will help us provide a real world setting to support our curriculum,” stated Principal Mandana Beckman of P.S./I.S. 217. “It will facilitate sharing our learning in the arts and sciences and provide a venue for many generations of students and the greater Roosevelt Island community.”

"We are growing our STEM programming,” said 217PTA co-president, Olga Shchuchinov, “so this win brings us one step closer to creating a 21st century teaching hub on the roof."
 “The P.S./I.S. 217 green roof will be an exceptional resource for Roosevelt Island and all of the students who attend the school,” said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright.  “Once again, Roosevelt Island residents have demonstrated their remarkable ability to unite for the common good.  Congratulations to P.S./I.S. 217 for this wonderful achievement.”

Noted the Roosevelt Island Garden Club’s president, Ali Schwayri, “Engaging children early sets them on a lifelong path of learning and interest in being stewards of our planet. We couldn’t be more excited to share our expertise and passion for this important project.”

Stated Eva Bosbach, founder of the Roosevelt Island Parents’ Network, “This project will serve our children throughout their school years, and our entire Island for years to come.”

Christina Delfico, who helped navigate the green roof project as iDig2Learn’s founder, stated, “Green roofs give young people a chance to test their theories, find solutions, and build professional know-how. They benefit our environment, transform neighborhoods, and serve as a catalyst for all sorts of learning. In short, everyone wins.”

The event included a ceremonial planting of the milkweed plant that monarch butterflies, which have suffered a severe loss of habitat, heavily depend upon. iDig2Learn is working with P.S./I.S. 217 to include the school’s green roof as one of many planting sites along Roosevelt Island that will together form a managed milkweed haven. These destinations will serve as a flight corridor for monarch butterflies on their migrations south to warmer weather every fall.

The cost for P.S./I.S. 217’s 6,750 square-foot green roof has been estimated at $1.5 million. Organizers said that, with one-half of the funding now in place, they hope the project will be in full swing by 2018.

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Celebrates Winning $500 Thousand For Green Roof Project In NYC Participatory Budget Vote At Schoolyard Last Night

As reported April 30, the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof project was the top vote getter in NYC Council District 5 Participatory Budget election and will receive $5 Hundred thousand towards the total $1.5 million project cost.

 Image Of Green Roof Celebration From PS/IS 217 PTA

Last night, the PS/IS 217 students, parents, teachers and friends held a party in the schoolyard to thank their Roosevelt Island supporters and celebrate. According to the PS/IS 217 PTA:

On behalf of PS/IS 217 and 217PTA we wish to thank you for your amazing support of the Green Roof project.  We are still pinching ourselves with joy that our island won the top votes and secured $500,000 toward the project.  Thank you!...

Sincerely, PTA Co-Presidents, Olga Shchuchinov & Natalia Starkova

PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman thanked the Roosevelt Island community for its support



of the Green Roof project

and then came the Cake Celebration.

Among those thanked by Principal Beckman (pictured below at left) were Roosevelt Island residents (from left to right) Christina Delfico of iDig2Learn, Sharon Berman, Olga Shchuchinov of the PTA and Aiesha Eleusizov of the Girl Scouts.

Here's what the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts think about the Green Roof.



More pictures of the celebration at PS/IS 217 PTA web site.

NYC Pre K Application Period Begins Today - Roosevelt Island PS 217 Offering Full Day Program Says DOE Update

Are you a Roosevelt Island parent interested in a Pre-Kindergarten school program for your child? The New York City Department of Education (DOE) reports:

Pre-K Application Period Is Open!

If you live in New York City and your child was born in 2011, he or she is eligible to attend a free, high quality pre-K program in September 2015. The application period runs from Monday, March 16, 2015 to Friday, April 24, 2015.

and Mayor de Blasio tweets:

It’s a big day for our city: the application period for #prekforall is now open. Apply now: http://t.co/72AzNECe6k pic.twitter.com/JoAgE40vyH
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) March 16, 2015

Roosevelt Island parent Desiree Charles reported March 6:

So the 2015 Pre-K directory just came out today and PS217 isn't one of the many schools that have gone from offering half day programs to full day programs. The question is why? What happened to the $300 million in funds allocated to providing full-day pre-k to all NY City Public School children. Roosevelt Island is definitely a community that is dying for affordable/free full-day pre-k.

The full-day pre-k options are Roosevelt Island Day Nursery at $17K which actually opted out of the universal pre-k system. Or you can use Bright Horizons at about $14K a school year. Besides cost, there are the difficult logistics this presents to parents who already have a child at 217 - how do you handle pick-ups and drop-offs with one kid on the island and another kid (4 years old) off-island all at the same time?

It's pretty disappointing to say the least! Why has the DOE chosen not to move forward with Roosevelt Island? With no other affordable full-day pre-k options, Roosevelt Island should have been among the first schools to transition.

I asked Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman:

I understand that Roosevelt Island's PS 217 was not chosen for full day Pre Kindergarten class.

Is that true?

I have received inquires on that subject from Roosevelt Island parents.

Can you provide any information on the subject to the community.

Ms. Beckman replied on March 10:

PS/IS 217 supports the DOE’s expansion of full day Universal PreK. Although we will continue to have 2 half day sections for the 2015-2016 school year, we will be working throughout the year on ways to address accommodating full day PreK in our Pre K to Grade 8 school in the future.

Ms. Charles followed up on March 15:

An update to the Pre-K Directory was just released and lists PS217 as going full day! I can't tell you how excited I am!

The DOE has more information and application for Pre K program here.

Image From NYC DOE Pre K Update Page 6

Roosevelt Island Day Nursery (RIDN) Executive Director Pamela Stark explains why RIDN declined to participate in the NYC DOE Pre K program:

Roosevelt Island Day Nursery is an independent school that has offered quality early childhood education to Roosevelt Island residents for 40 years. In addition to highly qualified professional teaching staff, RIDN also offers an excellent teacher to child ratio and special activities including Music Together with Owen (of RI Music Together and MST & DA) and Creative Movement and Dance with Debra (of MST & DA).

As a not-for-profit school, RIDN continues to look for ways to help keep our quality early childhood program an option for as many families as possible. We offer financial aid to families who qualify, a sibling discount for families who have more than one child attending RIDN, and we have a partnership with Weill Cornell which provides subsidized tuition for five postdoctoral families each year. We are also open to creating further partnerships with local employers seeking to subsidize school tuition for their employees, and the school is actively engaged in various fundraising efforts to support its program, including events focused at current students, alumni, and the broader community.

Unfortunately the NYC Universal Pre-K funding that the Department of Education provides is not only insufficient to support the program we offer, it currently imposes obligations upon recipient schools that are unworkable at RIDN. As a result, RIDN’s Board of Directors (the majority of whom are current RIDN parents) has decided not to pursue UPK funding at this time. Other independent schools in Manhattan have made similar decisions.

Here's more information (including video) on Roosevelt Island PS 217 Pre Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Gifted & Talented program at this January 12 Community Board 8 meeting.

UPDATE 4:10 PM - The Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA is holding a Silent Auction Fundraiser Saturday March 21 from 2-5 PM.

More information on the PS/IS 217 PTA Silent Auction fundraiser and an online catalog for the auction available at their web site.

UPDATE 6:30 PM - PS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman reports that the Roosevelt Island full day Pre K program will have 1 class with 18 children. The previous half day program had two classes with 18 children each.

Also, the DOE page has changed from 36 seats (listed in Screenshot above) to

 Image From NYC DOE Pre K Update Page 6

 18 seats for 1 class.

NYC Department Of Education Gifted & Talented Program Presentation At Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 - Here's What Happened At January 12 CB 8 Meeting

Image From NYC G&T Community Forum Presentation

Manhattan Community Board 8's (CB 8) Youth & Education Committee together with the Roosevelt Island Committee hosted a presentation on the NYC Department of Education (DOE) Gifted and Talented (G&T) program last Monday evening, January 12, at PS/IS 217. According to CB 8:

Presentation by Principal Beckman, PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island and Daniel Hildreth, Office of Student Enrollment, NYC DOE:

Discussion of the Gifted and Talented Program such as what the standards for admission are and the timing of applications, programming, etc.

Here's what happened.

Part 1. Introduction by CB 8's Youth & Education Committee Co-Chairs Hattie Quarnstrom and Judith Schneider of NYC BOE's Daniel Hildreth, PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman and PS/IS 217 G&T Testing Coordinator Ursala Fokine.



Part 2. An overview of the G&T application process from beginning to end and questions from parents on subjects including:

• city wide and district admissions eligibility,
• sibling and district priority,
• testing and note taking and
• bilingual test taking (not available at PS/IS 217 unless child is already in English Second Language program at PS/IS 217)

Part 3.

• transferring from one G&T program location to another,
• kindergarten placement and
• over subscribed placement lottery.

There is no guarantee of G&T placement even if child is eligible based upon test scores.



Part 4.

• PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman discussed PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented Program,
• size of classes,
• interaction between G&T and general education classes,
•  placement of twins and
• a discussion of District 30 Queens students placement in the Roosevelt Island G&T program.

Part 5.

• child testing preparation and procedures,
• PS/IS 217 tries to make the test as unstressful as possible,
• Pre Kindergarten program (will there be a full time program at PS/IS 217 - not decided yet), 
• improvements at PS/IS 217 and 
• involvement of PTA

Part 6. Involvement of Cornell Tech at PS/IS 217.



Here's more information on NYC G&T Program,

Presentation From NYC Board Of Education

PS/IS 217 and the PS/IS 217 PTA.

Also,  as previously reported, for more info check out the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Choosing A Kindergarten workshop as well as the January 16 and January 27 family PS/IS 217

Kindergarten Tour.

Mayor de Blasio Announced New Cell Phone Policy For NYC Public Schools - Roosevelt Island's Principal Explains PS/IS 217 Cell Phone Policy

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday the lifting of ban on cell phones

Image From RobertLovesPi

 in NYC public schools.

Thrilled to announce that we'll be lifting the ban on cell phones in public schools. http://t.co/czquzNKm85 pic.twitter.com/sOqzooFRMX
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) January 7, 2015

I asked Principal Mandana Beckman how the new cell phone policy will be implemented at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.

 Image Of Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217

Principal Beckman answered:

Our policy is students are not permitted to have a cell phone on their body. All cell phones must be turned off and kept in their lockers for middle school students and in their back packs for elementary school students. Should a student need to contact their parent or a parent needs to contact their child they must do this via the school phones.

According to Mayor di Blasio's office:

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced the City will lift the ban on cell phones at schools, a policy affecting all 1.1 million students. The change will better enable parents to stay in touch with their children, especially before and after school. It will also end the inequity under the current ban, which was enforced mostly at schools with metal detectors in low-income communities.

The existing Chancellor’s Regulation bans cell phones and other electronic devices like iPads from school property. Students are required to leave their cell phones at home or leave them outside the building, often incurring a daily charge for private storage that can cost a family on average $180 each year.

The reform announced today lifts the ban, and, if approved by the Panel for Educational Policy in February, will take effect in all schools on March 2. It allows for each school’s principal to consult with School Leadership Teams in developing a cell phone policy tailored for the unique needs of their students. As part of the change, schools will increase education and training to identify and prevent cyber-bullying, including a “Misuse It, You Lose It” policy.

“Parents should be able to call or text their kids. That’s something Chirlane and I felt ourselves when Chiara took the subway to high school in another borough each day, and we know it’s a sentiment parents across this city share. Lifting the ban respects families, and it will end the unequal enforcement that has penalized students at so many high-needs schools. We are giving educators the tools and the flexibility to make this change responsibly,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Lifting the cell phone ban is about common sense, while ensuring student safety as well as high-level learning in our classrooms,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “As a parent and a grandmother, I know that families and children feel safer when our students have access to cell phones. I also know that it’s simply not fair that members of school communities without metal detectors are more likely to have that sense of comfort than other families and students. With today’s changes, we are demonstrating our commitment to student safety and community concerns, as well as our respect for principals, as we allow them to develop a cell phone policy that best addresses their individual school’s unique challenges and circumstances.”

The new changes would remove cell phones and electronic communication devices from the list of banned items in schools, and create a new regulation, A-413, that specifically governs their use in school. Under the new regulation, principals will consult with School Leadership Teams in deciding among a range of options for their schools, depending on what they feel best meets the needs of their students, families and educators. In the coming weeks, schools will receive guidance on how to create an appropriate use policy. Among the options are:

• Store mobile devices in backpacks or a designated location during the school day
• Allow mobile devices to be used during lunch or in designated areas only
• Allow mobile devices for instructional purposes in some or all classrooms

For schools that do not develop a written cell phone policy promptly, the default will be a policy that allows students to bring cell phones into the building, but requires that the school or students store the phones out of sight for the duration of the school day. All cell phone policies must prohibit the use of cell phones during examinations, as well as during internal emergency preparedness drills and exercises, and be consistent with the DOE’s Discipline Code. Schools will have a range of options for discipline in cases where cell phones are misused, including confiscation.

... The proposed changes to the Chancellor’s Regulations must be approved by the Panel for Educational Policy. These changes will be voted on at the Panel’s February 25 meeting.

Click here for full statement.

Also, PS/IS 217 will be the location for January 12 Manhattan Community Board 8's Youth & Education Committee meeting  featuring a discussion of the Gifted & Talented Program.

Roosevelt Island PTA Approves Renaming PS/IS 217 The Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island School - More Approvals Needed Including From Cornell Tech

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA announced an emergency December 4 meeting to discuss:

... What’s in a name?

We have some exciting news to announce! In partnership with Cornell Tech, we are looking to re-name our school and reap the full benefits of an association with the prestigious higher education institution that will soon be our island neighbor. Since this is just the beginning of a two-year process, we wanted to start by giving all our parents up-to-the-minute information about the latest developments. We hope you’ll be as thrilled with the news as the rest of us are!

What is the proposed new name of the school?
The Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island School. The school will retain 217 as its numeric code for the Department of Education....

As part of the 2013 Cornell Tech lease agreement with New York City for the Goldwater campus property, Cornell Tech agreed to:

... Partner with New York City middle schools to create Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, with a special focus on girls. Initial pilot programs will begin at P.S./I.S. 217 on Roosevelt Island, M.S. 406 in East Harlem, and I.S. 204 and P.S. 111 in Long Island City, Queens. Starting this summer, Cornell NYC Tech will sponsor an immersion program for girls in these schools to learn coding, web design, robotics and mobile development under the mentorship of some of the industry’s top engineers and entrepreneurs.

"Adopt" the local school on Roosevelt Island, PS/IS 217, by providing programming such as teacher training and support, after school programming, tech events, career day options, and hardware and software programming development....

but its not clear what precisely being "adopted" means for PS/IS 217.

The advocates for renaming PS/IS 217 the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island School believe:

Image From Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA

The PS/IS 217 PTA approved the school's renaming to Cornell Tech during yesterday's meeting. Here's what happened.

PTA President Olga Shchuchinov provided a brief overview of the meeting and introduced parent Chris Warsing who gave this presentation on the matter

217-CornellTech Name

followed by PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman saying:

... we're looking to create that partnership with Cornell so that this word adoption really does mean something in terms of how they are supporting what's happening in this building...

and answering questions from parents.



Ms Beckman noted that Cornell Tech has not expressed a position on the renaming of PS/IS 217 yet and that discussions have just begun.

The motion to approve the PS/IS 217 renaming to Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island School was approved by the PTA. If Cornell Tech also approves, the renaming process is as follows.

Image From Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA

More on Cornell Tech and PS/IS 217 from previous posts.

There is a Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Town Hall meeting scheduled for Monday December 8.

UPDATE 2:40 PM - Cornell Tech participated in a program to get students ready for the digital age.

Today: @cornell_tech, @google, @NYCSchools talk how #ToCodeAndBeyond and ready students for the digital age. pic.twitter.com/M28RuIt41D
— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) December 5, 2014

Was anybody from Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 present?

Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 Wins $225,000 For Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Education Announces NYC Council Member Ben Kallos - PS/IS 217 Still Trying To Figure Out Relationship With Cornell NYC Tech

Image From The Edvocate

Roosevelt Island's New York City Council Member Ben Kallos

Image From Ben Kallos

announced the winners of Manhattan District 5's Participatory Budgeting program earlier this week. Among the winners are Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 which will receive $225,000. According to the announcement:

Thank you for voting in participatory budgeting this cycle. You, together with your neighbors, determined how some of your own tax dollars will get spent. This was the first year our community did participatory budgeting, and the process gave me great confidence in the continued success of this program....

... PS 217, The Roosevelt Island School ($225,000): Technology update to further support the STEM programs that will be incorporated into the curriculum. Need of updated Active Boards, computers, laptops, smart devices including tablets, iPads, chrome books, and document cameras....

Click here for the full announcement including other winners of the 5th District's Participatory Budgeting Program initiated by Council Member Kallos.

Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman was very happy to learn of the $225,000 STEM funding. According to Ms. Beckman:

I am excited to see that we will receive the funds. This funding is awarded to schools as a RESO A grant. I will have meetings with integrators about the specific technology we plan to order. Once the order is placed, it is filled sometime in the summer/fall of 2015.

Ms. Beckman's reference to a "Reso A grant" is described by the NYC School Construction Authority as:

Resolution “A” (Reso “A”) projects are school specific capital improvement or enhancement projects that are funded through individual grants which are allocated by the Borough Presidents or members of the New York City Council. These projects are very important to the school community because they provide enhancements and upgrades to existing facilities. The most common Reso “A” projects are upgrades to a school’s technology, auditorium, playground, science Lab and other specialty classrooms. The SCA has also been able to utilize Reso “A” funding to complete some unique and innovative projects such as a Challenger Space Center, an Edible Schoolyard (farm), planetarium upgrade and Green roofs. The SCA is grateful to our elected officials for entrusting us with this capital funding that has led to numerous enhancements in schools throughout the City.

During the April 28 meeting of the Cornell NYC Tech Roosevelt Island Construction Task Force, the issue of Cornell's assistance to PS/IS 217 was raised. Cornell NYC Tech Director of Community Relations Jane Swanson reported that a Director of K-12 Education was hired last January and has been engaging with the PS/IS 217 Principal and PTA.

Roosevelt Island Community Coalition (RICC) Director Christina Delfico noted in response that while it is a great first start, PS/IS 217:

... wants more concrete information on what can be done and clarity. ... Good ideas are terrific but if there is no funding or assistance to help them in the execution...  Good start but how can we execute knowing there are obstacles.

Here's the discussion.



Ms.Delfico also reported the the Girls Who Code Program that was begun last year is not happening this summer.

Cornell NYC Tech's Cathy Dove discussed adoption of PS/IS 217 during this 2013 Community Board 8 Education Committee meeting. 

Will have more on the entire April 28 Construction Task Force meeting including information on demolition, construction schedules, air quality, presentation by Technion representative and more.

Cornell NYC Tech VP Cathy Dove Discusses Adoption Of Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 With School Principal At Community Board 8 Meeting - The Roosevelt Island School Is Where Our Focus Is Going To Be In Perpetuity Says Ms. Dove

PS/IS 217 Third Graders African Dance Performance From RIGandT Blog

As reported last Monday:

The Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB 8) Youth & Education (Y&E) Committee will be meeting tonight to discuss an issue of great importance to Roosevelt Island - what will Cornell NYC Tech do to help Roosevelt Island students attending PS/IS 217.

During the CB 8 meeting, PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman described current programs available at the school and her hopes for future collaboration with Cornell NYC Tech.



Later during the CB 8 meeting, Cornell NYC Tech Vice President Cathy Dove reported on the upcoming Girls Who Code summer program which will include Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 students and discussed Cornell NYC Tech's intention to "adopt" Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217. Responding to my question as to what Cornell adopting PS/IS 217 means, Ms. Dove said:

the Roosevelt Island school ... is where our focus is going to be ... in perpetuity...

Here's the CB 8 discussion with Ms. Dove.

Information Learning Session Last Night For Parents Interested In Their Children Attending Roosevelt Island's Neighborhood School, PS/IS 217 - Here's What Happened

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman and Southtown Developer David Kramer spoke to a group of parents last night about our local neighborhood school.

Here's what they had to say.




More information on PS/IS 217 available from previous posts, PS/IS 217 portal and PS/IS 217 PTA.