Bookbag? Check. Marble notebooks? Check. As the kids head back to school for the 2024-25 school year, we’ve got you covered with a handy guide with key information for the upcoming school year. Plus, we’ve partnered with NYC Public Schools to share some of my own advice and wisdom gained as the mom to a recent high school graduate who’s now in her first year of college.
Important dates:
The 2024-2025 NYC school calendar can be found here. Take a moment to put key dates and breaks into your calendar.
Schools will be closed:
- October 3–4 for Rosh Hashanah
- October 14 for Italian Heritage/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- November 1 for Diwali
- November 5 for Election Day
- November 11 for Veterans Day
- November 28–29 for Thanksgiving Recess
- January 20 for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 29 for Lunar New Year
- February 17–21 for Midwinter Recess
- March 31 for Eid al-Fitr
- May 26 for Memorial Day
- June 5 for Eid al-Adha
- June 6 for Clerical Day (no classes for students attending 3-K, Pre-K, elementary schools, middle schools, K–12 schools, and standalone D75 programs)
- June 19 for Juneteenth
The Department of Education also has this handy checklist that you can download to help you get started for the new year.
Remote learning
Snow days are a thing of the past thanks to remote learning. If schools are closed in the event of bad weather, they will still be expected to participate in school remotely. Every teacher handles this differently, but be sure that your child has access to Google Classroom so that they aren’t scrambling on the day of.
Pages to follow
By now we know how often we find out important information on social media before anywhere else. Here are some important websites and social pages to follow to keep you in the loop:
DOE website: Keep this site bookmarked so you can reference it at any time.
The Morning Bell: This is the official blog of the DOE where you can learn about important information and resources.
NYCPS + You: is a newsletter sent out to families from NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks.
Social Media: You can also follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
NYC Schools Account: All parents need to make sure they are signed up for this account. This is how you will apply to schools, track your children’s progress from Pre-K through high school graduation, and more.
Your school: Be sure to bookmark your school’s official website as well. Some also utilize social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook pages or groups, etc.
After school
Will your student walk home from school? Get picked up by a family member? Or attend an after-school program? If you’re looking for after-school programs, find out if your child’s school partners with a community-based organization that provides an onsite after-school program. You can also check with your parent coordinator to see which programs in the neighborhood offer pick-up and even drop-off at the school.
Getting involved and who you need to know
Whether you’ve been on the PTA before or you’re determined to get more involved this school year, it’s never too late to make a conscious decision to be a part of the school community.
Get to know the parent coordinator
Each school has a parent coordinator, who is your go-to for most school-related questions. Be sure to take the time to introduce yourself and keep their email handy. They also often help host parent workshops and other events for parents to participate in and be a part of the school community.
Guidance Counselors
Taking the time to meet your child’s guidance counselor can also be very beneficial. Letting your student know that the counselor is there if they feel like they need someone to talk to is important, and the counselor will also play a key role when it’s time to apply to high school.
Volunteer with the PA/PTA
Each school also has a Parent Association or Parent-Teacher Association. These groups are volunteer based and are a great way to be involved with your child’s school. You don’t have to commit fully and join the board; you are already a member just by being a parent at the school. So attend meetings, volunteer at events, or just turn up when events are hosted to show your support.
For incoming families
I officially have a high school graduate! Now enrolled in her first year of college, it feels like just yesterday I was dropping her off for her first day of kindergarten. As NYC Schools welcomes back families and gets ready to meet new ones, I figured I would share five of the biggest lessons I learned over the years as a NYC Schools parent:
- Be involved: I started out volunteering at our school’s holiday shop before eventually becoming PTA president for a few years. It’s okay if you can’t make every meeting- any help is appreciated, whether it’s helping out on picture day, handing out popcorn on movie night, or even donating materials for an event.
- Help them help themselves: As much as we want to protect our children, teaching them to advocate for themselves is so important. Show them how to write a proper email to a teacher or encourage them to visit their guidance counselor to ask about various resources.
- Join a sports team or club: Not every student is into sports, but being a part of a team or a club is so beneficial. Being on a team requires discipline and can give a student purpose. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people and be involved in the school community.
- Use your voice: While the principal is in charge of the school, parents help represent with their voice. Attend CCEC meetings, show up to district-wide events, and ask your principal how you can help make sure the school is receiving the resources needed.
- Be nosy: When your child starts kindergarten, you don’t miss a single piece of artwork that comes home. But as they get older and are more self-sufficient, it’s easy to find things out too late. Don’t wait until parent-teacher conferences to learn that they’re missing assignments or at risk of failing. Still check their folders, look online at grades posted, and make sure their teacher has your email for easy communication.
This sponsored post was created in partnership with the NYC Public Schools. To learn more, visit NYC Public Schools on the web.
