At PS 39, we are committed to a culture of inclusion, respect, social justice, and equity. We encourage all members of the community to explore topics and issues relating to diversity and inclusion. By doing so, we develop a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges we face as we are raising the next generation of socially responsible citizens. The Equity Team is comprised of community members including teachers, parent and caregivers and school administration. We encourage everyone in our community to explore our vision and join us at our meetings!
Committee Chair
Andrea Margulies
Committee Chair
Andrea Margulies
PS 39's Diversity & Inclusion Equity Team Vision
Our vision and core values of caring, resilience, curiosity, respect, and belonging anchor our focus on anti-racist, anti-bias education that puts kids first. By asking how curriculum, lessons and engagement support the most marginalized or at-need students in any learning space, we will make PS39 more inclusive for everyone. This focus encourages and reinforces respect for one another, and in turn social justice, empowering students to be able to use their voices and to speak these values. A parallel focus is to connect this work with families through family engagement and activities focusing on our core values.
We are committed to engaging in this work with respect, curiosity, authenticity and vulnerability. We seek to build community and partnerships and maintain accountability to ourselves, our families and school in the process. As a subcommittee of the Student Leadership Team (SLT) all parents, teachers and administrators are welcome and encouraged to join us!
Our vision and core values of caring, resilience, curiosity, respect, and belonging anchor our focus on anti-racist, anti-bias education that puts kids first. By asking how curriculum, lessons and engagement support the most marginalized or at-need students in any learning space, we will make PS39 more inclusive for everyone. This focus encourages and reinforces respect for one another, and in turn social justice, empowering students to be able to use their voices and to speak these values. A parallel focus is to connect this work with families through family engagement and activities focusing on our core values.
We are committed to engaging in this work with respect, curiosity, authenticity and vulnerability. We seek to build community and partnerships and maintain accountability to ourselves, our families and school in the process. As a subcommittee of the Student Leadership Team (SLT) all parents, teachers and administrators are welcome and encouraged to join us!
D&I Equity Team Meetings
Please join us twice per month (all on Mondays at 4pm) for our D&I Equity Team Meetings!
The 2020-2021 school year meeting dates are as follows:
April 5th and 19th
May 3rd and 24th
June 14th and 28th
Join Zoom Meeting
https://fedcap.zoom.us/j/89070572977
Meeting ID: 890 7057 2977
Please join us twice per month (all on Mondays at 4pm) for our D&I Equity Team Meetings!
The 2020-2021 school year meeting dates are as follows:
April 5th and 19th
May 3rd and 24th
June 14th and 28th
Join Zoom Meeting
https://fedcap.zoom.us/j/89070572977
Meeting ID: 890 7057 2977
Download our latest Newsletter!
The Book of the Month Program
April's theme is Social Justice. Our Diversity & Inclusion committee is committed to helping our school community promote a culture of respect, social justice, equity and openness. To help our families on this journey, our team of parents and teachers have created a Book of the Month program for both families and adults. We hope this program will spark robust conversations around inclusion and diversity while bringing us together as a community with shared ideals.
The books can be purchased from local, independent bookstore, Books are Magic. If you own any of these books or would like to purchase them to be donated to the classrooms, please contact Karen Herskowitz.
April's theme is Social Justice. Our Diversity & Inclusion committee is committed to helping our school community promote a culture of respect, social justice, equity and openness. To help our families on this journey, our team of parents and teachers have created a Book of the Month program for both families and adults. We hope this program will spark robust conversations around inclusion and diversity while bringing us together as a community with shared ideals.
The books can be purchased from local, independent bookstore, Books are Magic. If you own any of these books or would like to purchase them to be donated to the classrooms, please contact Karen Herskowitz.
K/1st: What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris
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Complete list of all Books of the Month by Year
2017 - 2018 BOM * 2018 - 2019 BOM * 2019 - 2020 BOM * 2020 - 2021 BOM
2017 - 2018 BOM * 2018 - 2019 BOM * 2019 - 2020 BOM * 2020 - 2021 BOM
Dialogue & Drinks
April/May 2020
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Please join us for Dialogue & Drinks on Zoom, Tuesday May 4th at 8:30pm and enjoy some real adult conversation about our April/May selection, The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. RSVP to swatiparikh@gmail.com.
Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.
Here is a complete list of all of our past Dialogue & Drinks Book Choices:
2017 - 2018 Dialogue & Drinks 2018 - 2019 Dialogue & Drinks 2019 - 2020 Dialogue & Drinks 2020 - 2021 Dialogue & Drinks
April/May 2020
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Please join us for Dialogue & Drinks on Zoom, Tuesday May 4th at 8:30pm and enjoy some real adult conversation about our April/May selection, The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. RSVP to swatiparikh@gmail.com.
Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.
Here is a complete list of all of our past Dialogue & Drinks Book Choices:
2017 - 2018 Dialogue & Drinks 2018 - 2019 Dialogue & Drinks 2019 - 2020 Dialogue & Drinks 2020 - 2021 Dialogue & Drinks
The Events in Washington, DC. Resources for Talking to Our Kids
Here are some articles for how to talk to our children about the attack on the Capitol
We are Teachers
Facing History offers ways to create space for discourse in a remote learning environment
Beyond the Stoplight
National Education Association
Here are some articles for how to talk to our children about the attack on the Capitol
We are Teachers
Facing History offers ways to create space for discourse in a remote learning environment
Beyond the Stoplight
National Education Association
Traveling Book Project
D&I PS39 invites students to take part in a traveling book project!
We want to encourage our students to get out in the community and share books they love with others.
So we are inviting students to grab a book from their bookshelf and visit our Traveling Book Padlet, where they can place their name, their current location, any interesting stories about their history with the book, fun facts about the book or its location, or anything else that comes to mind!
THEN… place the tag below on the book and leave the book... ANYWHERE!
We encourage students to be creative with where they leave their books. Take them on vacation! Bring them to a neighborhood that may not have as much access to books as you do! Share a book with a friend who could use a window or a mirror!
The book tags will be given out in school classrooms, and will be available at drop off or pick up. The below image can also be printed and taped to a book.
There will also be books available at PS39 for kids to tag and leave (anywhere. REALLY!!), if they don’t have one at home that they want to send off into the world.
D&I PS39 invites students to take part in a traveling book project!
We want to encourage our students to get out in the community and share books they love with others.
So we are inviting students to grab a book from their bookshelf and visit our Traveling Book Padlet, where they can place their name, their current location, any interesting stories about their history with the book, fun facts about the book or its location, or anything else that comes to mind!
THEN… place the tag below on the book and leave the book... ANYWHERE!
We encourage students to be creative with where they leave their books. Take them on vacation! Bring them to a neighborhood that may not have as much access to books as you do! Share a book with a friend who could use a window or a mirror!
The book tags will be given out in school classrooms, and will be available at drop off or pick up. The below image can also be printed and taped to a book.
There will also be books available at PS39 for kids to tag and leave (anywhere. REALLY!!), if they don’t have one at home that they want to send off into the world.
Resources for the 2020-2021 School Year
D&I has collected stakeholder feedback, and cmplied it into a community support document of activities and resources for the time students are not in school. This document contains information on the needs and capacities of our community members (parents, caregivers, siblings) to assist with after school activities for kids, ideas for socialization outside of school, ways to volunteer your time with our kids, etc. It is a living document, so we need your feedback. We are looking for the concerns and needs of all families in the remote learning space, as well as feedback from parents and caregivers on ways they might be able to support each other outside of school.
PS39 COMMUNITY SUPPORT DOCUMENT
D&I has collected stakeholder feedback, and cmplied it into a community support document of activities and resources for the time students are not in school. This document contains information on the needs and capacities of our community members (parents, caregivers, siblings) to assist with after school activities for kids, ideas for socialization outside of school, ways to volunteer your time with our kids, etc. It is a living document, so we need your feedback. We are looking for the concerns and needs of all families in the remote learning space, as well as feedback from parents and caregivers on ways they might be able to support each other outside of school.
PS39 COMMUNITY SUPPORT DOCUMENT
Masks for All
The Coronavirus has created a school year unlike any other. For the ‘20-’21 school year, the PS 39 mask initiative aims to provide a reusable fabric facemask to any student or staff member. We are starting with PS 39, but are looking to build partnerships with other schools to make sure everyone is protected. We believe that every person who wants a reusable mask should have access to one.
We are seeking to build an army of sewers and crafters to construct masks and ear savers. There are also many other ways to participate in the initiative without having to craft a thing.
If you are interested in participating, please click fill out our Interest Form.
You can also email Lesa Rozmarek at masks@ps39.org
The Coronavirus has created a school year unlike any other. For the ‘20-’21 school year, the PS 39 mask initiative aims to provide a reusable fabric facemask to any student or staff member. We are starting with PS 39, but are looking to build partnerships with other schools to make sure everyone is protected. We believe that every person who wants a reusable mask should have access to one.
We are seeking to build an army of sewers and crafters to construct masks and ear savers. There are also many other ways to participate in the initiative without having to craft a thing.
If you are interested in participating, please click fill out our Interest Form.
You can also email Lesa Rozmarek at masks@ps39.org
Wearing a Mask is Anti-Racist
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A Note from D&I
It is important that we address the atrocities that have been in the forefront of the news. The D&I committee is dedicated to creating an inclusive community of respect and equity and it is vital that we, both individually and as a school, address the racism that has permeated this country for far too long. It is not enough for us to express outrage at the murder of George Floyd or the ingrained racism shown in Amy Cooper’s privilege, we must offer families in our community ways to take action, to show up for racial justice. We have work to do. We need families to stand up as anti-racist--with actions, not just words. Here are some resources focused on talking about the current injustices, and ways in which families can actively combat racism.
It is important that we address the atrocities that have been in the forefront of the news. The D&I committee is dedicated to creating an inclusive community of respect and equity and it is vital that we, both individually and as a school, address the racism that has permeated this country for far too long. It is not enough for us to express outrage at the murder of George Floyd or the ingrained racism shown in Amy Cooper’s privilege, we must offer families in our community ways to take action, to show up for racial justice. We have work to do. We need families to stand up as anti-racist--with actions, not just words. Here are some resources focused on talking about the current injustices, and ways in which families can actively combat racism.
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Events, Protests and Talks
Protests: Centralized updates on where Protests are Happening in NYC Talks: Raising Antiracist Kids: Ibram X. Kendi with Derecka Purnell TED Talks: Ibram X. Kendi: The Difference Between Being Not Racist and Anti-Racist The Brown Bookshelf Rally Tough Talks: Unpacking White Privilege & Raising Anti-Racist Children Solidarity Convos: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Black Lives PBS Special Event: Talking to Children Authentically About Race and Racism CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism Read or Listen to The 1619 Project Author Jason Reynolds Talks About Racism and Protests: Audio Workshops/Seminars: Race Forward’s Building Racial Equity Virtual Training Series DoNYC's Virtual Workshops and Events on Racial Equity and Solidarity The Ally Nudge Embrace Race Seminar: How to Make Sure I'm Not Raising the Next Amy Cooper. Original Article Here Videos: Why the Statement "All Lives Matter" is So Problematic Please Watch: Author Kimberly Jones "How Can You Win?" Video John Oliver on Defunding the Police Act.tv's Video Explanation of Systemic Racism A Conversation on Race: A series of Short Films About Identity in America |
Resources
Talking to Kids About Social Justice: Sesame Street Special: Standing Up to Racism Embrace.org : 10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids about Race The Center for Racial Justice's Guide to Talking to Kids About Race Let us Also Talk to our Kids About Microagressions Pepperdine University's Confronting Prejudice : How to Protect Yourself and Help Others Tolerance.org: Teaching Kindness Isn't the Same as Teaching Justice Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk about Race: Resource Roundup New Victory Theater's New Website - free performance art based resources The New York Times' Interactive Stories and Projects on Race Adult Resources: Conscious Kids How to think about the books in your Child's Library 100 Race-Conscious Things To Say to your Child to Advance Racial Justice 13 Ways to Show up as Anti-Racist 75 things White People Can do for Racial Justice List of Resources on How to Dismantle Systemic Racism The Center for Racial Justice’s Resource Guide Get to Know Activist Jane Elliot Non-Black Folks: Self Educate and Practice Direct Action: A Working List Black Lives Matter: Now What? Act To Change: Solidarity Resources A Friend Shared Their Journey Regarding Racism and Whiteness: And Lots and Lots of Resources |
Book Lists
Anti Racism Daily's Bookstore's children's books that celebrate diverse stories
Thems Health Book List. Children's books on the exploration of gender, identity, and sexuality
Anti-Racist Book List for All Ages
Read to learn and Read These Anti-Bias Children's Books With Your Kids
Corretta Scott King Book Award Winners
Here Wee Read's 2020 Book List
We Need Diverse Books Book List
NYC Black Owned Bookstores
Lee and Low Checklist: 8 Steps to Creating a Diverse Book Collection
Anti Racism Daily's Bookstore's children's books that celebrate diverse stories
Thems Health Book List. Children's books on the exploration of gender, identity, and sexuality
Anti-Racist Book List for All Ages
Read to learn and Read These Anti-Bias Children's Books With Your Kids
Corretta Scott King Book Award Winners
Here Wee Read's 2020 Book List
We Need Diverse Books Book List
NYC Black Owned Bookstores
Lee and Low Checklist: 8 Steps to Creating a Diverse Book Collection
Organizations you can Support
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Support the Black Lives Movement and Protesters in NYC
Black Lives Matter: Direct Ways to Take Action Communities United for Police Reform Sign the BLM Petition to Defund the Police 135 Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color Support The Movement for Black Lives Support any number of Bail Funds Join Campaign Zero Black Theatre United Equal Justice Initiative Teaching Tolerance NAACP |
The Innocence Project exonerates those wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
Exodus Transitional Community (NYC) is committed to helping those formerly incarcerated from Rikers Open Hands Legal Services brings free legal services directly to community members at host non-profit organizations throughout the city. Color of Change helps to do something real about Injustice The Conscious Kid Embrace Race SURJ NYC Black Women’s Blueprint |
Shop Local, Black Owned Stores and Check Out Black Owned Brooklyn
Check out the Black Vision Collective
Check out the Black Vision Collective
Covid-19 Family Supports:
Here are some resources for the current state of our community. We have ways to help others in our community, ways to support our children, and ways to support yourselves. Choose what works for you and your family, and stay healthy, safe and engaged in our community.
Outdoor Inclusive Activites
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Supporting Our Children
Tips for Coping at Home
Childcare Assistance
Crisis Text Line
Mental Health Supports
Support for Immigrants
Live Family Supports
Webinars from NYU Langone
Child & Family Institute
Pro Bono/Donation Based Support Groups: Email childfamilyinstitute@gmail.com for more details.
Here are some resources for the current state of our community. We have ways to help others in our community, ways to support our children, and ways to support yourselves. Choose what works for you and your family, and stay healthy, safe and engaged in our community.
Outdoor Inclusive Activites
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Supporting Our Children
Tips for Coping at Home
Childcare Assistance
Crisis Text Line
Mental Health Supports
Support for Immigrants
Live Family Supports
Webinars from NYU Langone
Child & Family Institute
Pro Bono/Donation Based Support Groups: Email childfamilyinstitute@gmail.com for more details.
2020 Summer Engagement Kit
Our Kit includes:
★ Free events within NYC ★ Opportunities to get involved in community outreach ★ Booklists ★ Book of the Month selections for children and adult selections for Dialogue & Drinks ★ Museum exhibits and safe social distancing activities around the city ★ A weekly Challenge to engage in learning and community ★ A Guide to Digital Citizenship ★ Mindfulness and Wellness Resources ★ Safe Social Distancing Activities ★ Resources on how to volunteer and get involved in community action ★ Black Lives Matter Resources, Events, Organizations and book Lists ★ Social Emotional Learning Resources ★ Last Looks from our Fifth Graders
★ Free events within NYC ★ Opportunities to get involved in community outreach ★ Booklists ★ Book of the Month selections for children and adult selections for Dialogue & Drinks ★ Museum exhibits and safe social distancing activities around the city ★ A weekly Challenge to engage in learning and community ★ A Guide to Digital Citizenship ★ Mindfulness and Wellness Resources ★ Safe Social Distancing Activities ★ Resources on how to volunteer and get involved in community action ★ Black Lives Matter Resources, Events, Organizations and book Lists ★ Social Emotional Learning Resources ★ Last Looks from our Fifth Graders
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Community Supports
Local Food Pantries: SCO Food Pantry CHIPS Brooklyn Museum Roots Cafe Camp Friendship Supporting the Elderly and Immunocompromised Help with Sewing Masks for donation. There are online DIY instructions. Or PS39 Parent Kim Postma at knpostma@gmail.com can help! Some other Ways to Volunteer As always, Ms. Reyes' AOK Missions are fabulous! And, here are some other great way our Kids Can Contribute |
Diversity Resources
District 15 Diversity Plan Read about efforts to diversity middle schools in our district here. From the DOE / City Council Equity & Diversity in Schools for ALL Desegregating NYC: 12 steps toward a more Inclusive city Integrate NYC A youth run organization that stands for integration and equity in NYC schools. Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework The CR-S framework helps educators create student-centered learning environments that affirm racial, linguistic and cultural identities and empower students as agents of social change. Center for Racial Justice Webinars from the Child Study Center at NYU Topics ranging from teaching kids about the internet to overcoming anxiety How to talk to your children about Disabilities and Differences Check out this website for a variety of resources: Doing Good Together |
Join us at D&I PS 39 Committee Meetings
Bi-weekly on Thursday at 7:30pm Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 833 559 486 Password: 615849 Center for Racial Justice Parent Workshop
Here are the materials from our last workshop. Children are Not Colorblind Lens of Systemic Oppression Parents Resource Guide White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo |
ARCHIVES
Follow Race/Related from the NY Times Follow Scary Mommy on Race Follow EmbraceRace Follow Raising Race Conscious Children And, here is some materials from our Gender Inclusivity Workshop |
1/23/2020: Nurses, Fathers, Mothers, Teachers, Mothers. Why do We Devalue Someone the Minute They Care for Others?
12/3/19: Eight Brilliant Student Essays on Immigration and Unjust Assumptions 5/17/19: Black Girls Detail Harsh Consequences of Being Seen as Older Than Male White Peers 5/17/19: Why We Can't Afford to Leave Race Out of School Funding Conversations 2/27/19: Why Include Pronouns in Your Email Signature 2/26/19: Fashion Retailer Boden Sparks Fury with New Sexism Row 2/25/19: Interview: Robin D' Angelo 2/13/19: I'm Not here to Answer Your Black History month Questions 2/11/19: The Women Who Contributed to Science but Were Buried in the Footnotes 1/16/19: White People Assume Niceness is the Answer to Racial Inequality: It's not 1/9/19: When White People are Uncomfortable, Black People Are Silenced 11/29/18: America is Racist: So What Do We Do Now? 10/30: Every Vote Should Count: North Dakota ID Law Threatens Native Americans' Vote in Key Senate Race 10/25: I Was a Racist Teacher and I Didn't Even Know it 10/24: Boy Talk: Breaking Masculine Stereotypes 10/15: The Rise and Fall of Affirmative Action 09/30: White Progressive Parents and the Conundrum of Privilege 09/20: De Blasio Acts on School Integration but Others Lead Charge 09/16: White People are Still Raised to be Racially Illiterate 0912: What Happened to Serena Williams at the U.S. Open Happens to Black Girls in School Every Day 09/10: Does Teacher Diversity Matter in Student Learning? 09/06: To The Non-Racist White People, Please Just Be The First 09/04: Caranza Is Ready To Approve An Integration Plan For Brooklyn Middle Schools 09/04: How Well-Intentioned White Families Can Perpetuate Racism 09/03: NYC's School Chancellor Is Talking About Integration. Can He Make It Happen? 8/29: What is Privilege? 08/27: How to use Gender-Neutral Words 08/27: Why I Came Out As Being Poor 08/24: Review: "America To Me" 08/23: De Blasio Is Stalled on School Integration, but Brooklyn Parents Have a Plan 08/02: Why White Liberals Are So Unwilling To Recognize Their Own Racism 07/01: When Children Say They Are Transgender 06/06: In a Twist, Low Score Would Earn Admission to Select Schools |
We want to hear from you! Let us know if you want to join the committee, what your interests are or what role you'd like to see the committee have with parents, children and/or teachers across a range of diversity and inclusion issues. Thank you! Please share your voice in our feedback form below.