NYC Ends Outdoor Mask Mandate For Schools
New York City students will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors on school grounds, the department announced Friday.
Masks will still be required inside of school buildings, officials said in a news release. The change, which goes into effect Monday, means students or anyone else on school property, including staff, can participate in recess or other outdoor activities without wearing masks.
While the indoor mask mandate remains in schools, changes could be on the horizon. Gov. Kathy Hochul said there’s a “very strong possibility” she will lift the statewide mask mandate for schools by the second week of March, after she reviews data on COVID positivity rates, vaccinations and hospitalizations.
Important Dates
NY State Exams Grades 3-8:
- Friday March 18 – Sunday March 20: NYS 2017 State Exam Diagnostic & Individual PTC
- Friday March 25 – Sunday March 27: NYS 2017 State Exam Review
- Tuesday March 29 – Thurs March 31: NYS 2022 State English Language Arts ELA Exam
- Tuesday April 26 – Thursday April 29: NYS 2022 State Math Exam
NYC Specialized High School Admissions (SHSAT) Grade 7:
- Sat Feb 19 & Sunday Feb 20 – MANDATORY GROUP PTC Pre- DIAG
SAT, GPA, Advanced Placement (AP), College Admissions
- SAT Head Start
- Start Date – End Date : Dec 4 – June 26
- Ideal Student Grade Level : Beginning 9 & 10
- Number of Classes Per Week : 1 day/week
- Target SAT Exam Date : Fall 2022
- SAT Fall
- Start Date – End Date : Sept 4 – Mar 6
- Ideal Student Grade Level : Advanced 10 & 11
- Number of Classes Per Week : 1 day / week (2 days / week beginning 1/ 29)
- Target SAT Exam Date : March 2022 (In-school March 23), June 2022
- Crash Course
- Start Date – End Date : Dec 4 – Mar 6
- Ideal Student Grade Level : 10 & Advanced 11
- Number of Classes Per Week : 1 day/week
(2 days/week beginning 1/29) - Target SAT Exam Date : March 2022 (In-school March 23)
Can NYC Keep Up with Adams’s New Summer Youth Employment Plans?
NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, also known as SYEP, is a familiar program to many New York youth. The program offers summer jobs at minimum wage, or $15 an hour. It is open to people aged 14-24. SYEP works on a lottery based program, although only about half the people who apply actually get paired with a job.
These odds could become less of an issue under a new plan being floated by Mayor Eric Adams. Adams wants to expand the $170 million program as part of a broader plan he announced last month to combat gun violence.
He has revealed few details, but aims to identify a paid internship “for every young person who wants one” for this summer, he said. The city would forge partnerships “with large businesses and corporations across the city” to make that happen.
Department Spotlight
This month the spotlight shines on our wonderful department leaders! They were asked to answer 3 questions:
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What is your biggest motivator?
- What is your proudest moment in life?
Rin Naser
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I aim to have finished law school and either secured a promising career or be actively looking for possibilities to advance my career. In addition, I hope to have had the opportunity to visit many of the destinations on my bucket list.
What is your biggest motivator?
My family is my most powerful motivator. They are both my greatest source of inspiration and my fiercest supporters. My parents are exceptionally hard workers, and their devotion to their craft inspires me to emulate them. I strive to incorporate their optimism into my own life.
What is your proudest moment in life?
My most recent accomplishment, graduating from college, has to be the proudest event in my life thus far. As a first-generation Bengali-American, I am the first person in my family to graduate from college, which is an honor. I wish to make my family proud with the education they have invested time and money in, and to one day return them for all the possibilities they have given me.
Fariya Farah
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I plan on pursuing a graduate degree.
What is your biggest motivator?
My biggest motivator is my family. They have always supported me in every aspect of my life and I cannot imagine where I would be without them.
What is your proudest moment in life?
My proudest moment is tutoring my students when I was an instructor. I’ve always had a passion for teaching and mentoring and being able to reach out to kids in a meaningful way has always been fulfilling.
Emma Mohammad
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Professionally, in 5 years, I would like to work in a company whose mission is to improve the quality of life through modern and advanced technology. Particularly, I want to be a photonics engineer. I also want to be happily married and make my way to start a healthy family.
What is your biggest motivator?
Professional growth. I look at everything as an opportunity to grow and better myself, whether it is through communication and relationship-building, or my written and organization skills. I also like being able to make a difference, so I try very hard in what I do and seek results that will have a positive impact.
What is your proudest moment in life?
My proudest moment in life was when I compiled a magazine for myself with scanned pages of every sketchbook, journal, diary, letter, etc. that I’ve ever had throughout my childhood. It was satisfying to see which parts of me remained the same, and which parts changed. Although it took a month to put together and get it printed, I will cherish it forever and show my future children.
Shadman Kazi
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself in 5 years hopefully in medical school working my best to get through and become a doctor that can serve my communities and any communities I have the chance to work with in other opportunities. I want to be in a headspace where I’m still active and volunteering in my community and still finding time to devote to my mental health and take better care of it.
What is your biggest motivator?
My biggest motivator is definitely my parents and hearing what they went through their whole lives early on and seeing what they went through especially after immigrating and still being the best role models I could wish for. They motivate me to work to the best of my ability but also to adjust to anything life can throw and still come out of it learning from it and becoming a better person.
What is your proudest moment in life?
My proudest moment would be when I gifted my parents phones when I had enough income because they have done a lot for me. And I was just glad that I was able to at least give them something usable for all that they did for me. And since it was something that they needed to change and something that they can remember for a long time.
Mental Health Resources For Students Impacted By The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust many of our lives in an unpredictable direction. Many adolescents have never experienced something this drastic, and as we’re seeing it has definitely taken a toll on them.
Seeking help can feel complicated, it might even seem easier to just “deal with it.” However, at the end of the day if we are not taking care of ourselves, we cannot be expected to properly be present for others.
If you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Check out our website for access to more resources and to read the full blog post!
Khan’s Tutorial Free College Admissions Workshop Videos
Khan’s Tutorial has posted a new College Admissions Workshop regarding “Knowing Your Career Path.” College is a place where you are meant to explore your interests and navigate a wide variety of career paths.
This video is only in Bengali, but non-bengali speakers are welcome to visit our YouTube page to access all of our college workshop videos!
Khan’s Tutorial Announces NEW Referral Program
This new referral program allows for families to recommend Khan’s Tutorial another family, after which BOTH families will receive a discount! It is important to note the discount is only valid if the family who has sent the referral is named during the process. As the New Year rolls in, lets aid one another in tackling another Pandemic school year!
All families will be eligible for a referral discount if
- The family they refer signs up for and pays for a package
- Names them as the referrer
BOTH families will be eligible to receive a $50 discount
- The new family will receive this discount with their first payment
- The enrolled family will receive this discount on their next package