At the Waterside Children’s Studio School, our mission is to inspire a community of lifelong
learners by nurturing their innovation, creativity, and social-emotional well-being in a
diverse and inclusive environment.
At the Waterside Children’s Studio School, our vision is to provide a safe and nurturing 21st Century learning environment where creativity and artistic expression are integral to the academic and emotional success of every child. Through music, drama, visual arts, film, technology, writing and dance, our rigorous and progressive curriculum will empower ALL of our children to g
row academically, creatively and socially.
They will acquire the critical thinking, personal integrity and self-esteem that go beyond the classroom walls. As a community, we will take pride and ownership of our school and celebrate
all of our accomplishments.
Our pamphlet is a quick way to get to know our vision and approach for your child / children.
At the Waterside Children’s Studio School, our vision is to provide a safe and nurturing 21st Century learning environment where creativity and artistic expression are integral to the academic and emotional success of every child. Through music, drama, visual arts, film, technology, writing and dance, our rigorous and progressive curriculum will empower ALL of our children to grow academically, creatively and socially.
They will acquire the critical thinking, personal integrity and self-esteem that go beyond the classroom walls. As a community, we will take pride and ownership of our school and celebrate
all of our accomplishments.
The ASD Nest Model is designed for students with ASD who are able to do grade-level academic work, the ASD Nest classroom, while utilizing the standard NYC curriculum, creates a fully inclusive therapeutic environment that uses positive behavior support, targeted instructional strategies and specialized social interventions to make inclusion work. The ASD Nest school and district provide the necessary structures and supports; these include smaller class size, co-taught classes, pre-service training and on-site support on Nest practices, regular interdisciplinary team meetings to promote consistency across all settings, and a strong home-school collaboration.
Why does this class have 2 teachers?
Because 2 teachers are better than one! Even though this is a general education class, there are 2 teachers who work together to teach all of the students. One teacher has a general education certification, and one teacher has a special education certification (some may even have both). The class is made up of both general education students and special education students who learn, work, and play together throughout the day. Both teachers are the teacher – there is no lead teacher or assistant. Both teachers work with ALL of the students. The goal is to create a community in the classroom where the children learn from one another and accept each another’s strengths and weaknesses.
What are the benefits of Co-Teaching for my child
One teacher can only do so much. With a large group of children, it can be difficult to make sure each student is getting enough attention. Two teachers are able to divide their time more efficiently by taking turns leading the class and helping individual students. This also allows a teacher to lead small groups for group projects, or take aside students that may be falling behind the rest of their class. Because there is a special education teacher in the room, he/she is trained to adapt lessons in multiple ways, so that ALL students can access the information. Basically, each child receives more one-on-one time with a teacher than in a single-teacher classroom.
Kindergarten through 5th grade: 8:00am – 2:20pm (Drop off is through the back of the school doors facing Beach 109th Street. Doors open up at 7:30AM for breakfast and close at 8:00AM)
Pre-K: 8:00am – 2:20pm (Drop off is at the Pre-K classrooms through the small yard. Doors open up at 7:30AM for breakfast)
Dismissal- PreK: Classrooms, K-1: Small Yard, 2-5 Big Yard
Kindergarten through 5th grade: 8:00am – 2:20pm (Drop off is through the back of the school doors facing Beach 109th Street. Doors open up at 7:30AM for breakfast and close at 8:00AM)
Pre-K: 8:00am – 2:20pm (Drop off is at the Pre-K classrooms through the small yard. Doors open up at 7:30AM for breakfast)
Dismissal- PreK: Classrooms, K-1: Small Yard, 2-5 Big Yard
If your child is ill for more than three consecutive days, please call the main office. Lateness and attendance are extremely important issues. Consistent lateness and/or poor attendance by a child require mandated action by attendance officers of the Department of Education. We strongly advise against children being pulled out of school for vacations or leisure activities except at DOE designated vacation times.
No, the decision on outdoor recess is left to each school’s administration. Given the limited amount of physical activity during the school day, all schools are encouraged to allow their students to play outside as much as possible. Here at 317, children will go outside unless: it is raining or snowing; excessive snow or ice creates dangerous conditions; or it is dangerously cold, as determined by the National Weather Service. Because of this policy, please make sure your child comes to school dressed warmly with a hat, scarf and gloves.
The Parent Coordinator is the liaison between parents and the school administration, staff members and teachers. PS 317’s WCSS Parent Coordinator is Berniece Crespo and she can be found in the Main Office. She is always available to talk to parents about any concerns, questions or suggestions they may have, and she can facilitate contact with other staff members like the Guidance Counselors and Assistant Principals or Principal. You may contact Ms. Crespo at 718-634-1344.
If there is a city-wide emergency, you can access emergency information on the New York City Department of Education website or by calling 311. When at all possible, the Parent Coordinator will keep her Parent E-Mail List informed through e-mail updates or check this website. Parents are encouraged to subscribe to the NYC and DOE notification newsletters which provide information on topics such as Middle School enrollment calendars and procedures, neighborhood emergency alerts and other useful information.
Please start with your child’s teacher. Teachers are available to meet with you by appointment and the PS 317 administration prefers that you speak with your teacher first. During your class’ curriculum meeting, the teacher informed you of the best way to contact them to make an appointment. If you are unsure of how to contact your child’s teacher, you can always send a note to school with your child or contact Ms. Quiles, Parent Coordinator, who will help you get in contact with your child’s teacher. In addition, Ms. Quiles is available to meet with any parent, and she can refer you to an administrator or Guidance Counselor, if need be.
Yes! PS 317 encourages family involvement in your child’s education. Once the school year gets under way, teachers schedule various activities throughout the year when families are invited to go to the classroom and observe what their children are learning. Additionally, the first Friday of every month is our Family Friday program where you can sit in your child’s class doing themed activities.
Yes. All parents and guardians who wish to enter the school are required to sign in at the lobby security desk with identification. Our security officers are wonderful at remembering names but you still must officially sign in to enter the school.
Blue cards are the official contact cards for your family. They are administered by the Department of Education and are coordinated through our Main Office. The Department of Education requires that these cards be filled out every year in triplicate to ensure the safety of your children. Legally, the school is only allowed to release your child to the people listed on your blue card. The blue card also informs us of the proper procedures to be followed should your family need to be contacted in an emergency. Please return the blue cards ASAP and keep them updated throughout the year. Fraudulent, non-working or incorrect information about addresses and phone numbers on your child’s emergency card is a severe breach and compromise of your child’s safety and security. The school must be able to contact you immediately if your child is ill or has an accident at school.
PS 317 is uniform optional. If you choose to dress your child in uniform, Monday – Thursday, uniform colors are any color green shirt with khaki bottoms. Friday’s are dress down day for our students. Additionally, we expect children to be appropriately dressed for the weather and to wear age-appropriate clothing. Flip flops, backless shoes, heels, halter tops and hats are not allowed in school. “Heelies” are strictly prohibited.
Electronics (Game Boys, iPods, etc.), toys (action figures, etc.), cards, and cell phones are extremely disruptive and create many problems. Therefore, they’re not allowed to be used during the school day or they will be confiscated immediately. This is in accordance with DOE regulations. If cell phones are brought to school and are lost or stolen, PS 317 will not be responsible. Scooters, bikes, skateboards, or roller blades cannot be kept at school during the school day — as we do not have storage space for these items.
Any organization that would like to take a picture of your child or his/her work and/or use that image to showcase the work they have been doing with PS 317 must have written consent from parents. The first consent form sent home was from us here at PS 317 at the start of each school year.
There are District 27 schools that have the G&T program, but PS 317 does not. The teachers at PS 317 are trained to work with a diverse range of children, from those who are performing above standard levels in some areas of learning to those performing below standard levels in some areas of learning. The administration of PS 317 believes that students learn best with a range of learners in the classroom and all children benefit from the additional opportunities for enrichment available at PS 317.
PS 317 has 6 ICT classes (one per grade) in grades Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. The ICT class has one general education teacher and one special education teacher. In the ICT classes, the ratio is approximately 60% general education students and 40% special education students. The same curriculum is provided as the other classes, with the added benefit of a higher staffing ratio and a great deal of support. The Committee for Special Education (CSE) places the children who are on the special education side of the ICT classes. The school administration places the children on the general education side.
Cluster classes are part of our regular classroom instruction throughout the school year. At PS 317 we offer S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), Drama, Music, Art, Dance and Physical Education. Enrichment clusters through the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) are the last two
periods on Friday’s.
You should check with your teacher about the best way to celebrate your child’s birthday in school. Classroom birthday celebrations should be low-key and in keeping with the school routine. In addition, please check with your teacher on the treats brought to the classroom since some children may have allergies.
Yes! PS 317 has an after-school program through Millennium Development. Please get in touch with Darrah Burns to find out how to enroll your child in the program. Additionally, WCSS offers academic afterschool for students in grads 3-5 from November – April. WCSS also offers band (grades 3-5), art (grades 1 and 2) and basketball (grades 3-5) various times throughout the year.
Our nurse can help you with any medical needs or questions. The nurse’s office is located on the first floor, room 165, and she can be reached at 718-634-1344.
Our nurse can help you with any medical needs or questions. The nurse’s office is located on the first floor, room 165, and she can be reached at 718-634-1344.
The School Leadership Team is a collaborative team of parents and teachers and the principal that is mandated by state law to play a significant role as an advisory panel in representing the school community. The SLT helps create structures for school-based decision-making, develops school-based educational policies and ensures resources are aligned to implement those policies. The SLT writes and reviews the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP).
There are District 27 schools that have the G&T program, but PS 317 does not. The teachers at PS 317 are trained to work with a diverse range of children, from those who are performing above standard levels in some areas of learning to those performing below standard levels in some areas of learning. The administration of PS 317 believes that students learn best with a range of learners in the classroom and all children benefit from the additional opportunities for enrichment available at PS 317.
Admissions to PS 317 for Kindergarten are based on a set of priorities and are not on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Admission priorities are as follows:
1. Zoned students whose verified siblings will be enrolled in grades K-5 in September
2. Zoned students without siblings in the school;
3. Students whose verified siblings will be enrolled in grades K-5 in September who are not zoned to the school but are residents of the district;
4. Students whose verified siblings will be enrolled in grades K-5 in September who are residents of another district;
5. Students who are currently enrolled at the school for pre-k who are residents of the district;
6. Students who are currently enrolled at the school for pre-k who are residents of another district;
7. Students without siblings in the school who are residents of the district;
8. Students without siblings in the school who are residents of another district.
Admissions to other grades are based on availability of open spots. For more information, you can contact the school at 718-634-1344.
Our goal is to create a calm, cooperative learning environment through a Respect Initiative. Our community standards of behavior are a key part of the Respect Initiative. Classroom teachers need to introduce students about these standards on the first day of school and to use them extensively. Parents will be getting them with a letter that they are supposed to sign to indicate that they have discussed the standards with our children. It is important to go back to the standards periodically, to reinforce them. To connect to the Respect Initiative, we will be starting a “Kindness Campaign”. We will highlight acts of kindness both school wide and in the classroom. In addition, every week we will post around the school “kindness quote of the week” said by influential men and women. Behavior in the schoolyard and lunchroom are important parts of our respect initiative. All adults working in the yard must be actively
supervising play.
An important part of the respect initiative is teaching children that ALL adults in the school are responsible for all children. Children need to hear this from their classroom teachers. And, teachers need to be willing to stop children who are not from their classes when they are doing things that violate our Community Standards of Behavior. Similarly, we are hoping to approach this from a positive perspective through our kindness campaign, and we encourage teachers to recognize acts of kindness by children in the hall as well. Appropriate behavior in the halls and bathrooms is another aspect of our Respect Initiative. A crucial aspect of our Respect Initiative focuses on respecting diversity of families in our school community.
Thank you for your cooperation in creating a safe and nurturing learning environment for our children!
In the winter months its best to arrive early to ensure that your child gets in on time as traffic in the area can tend to snarls at times.
Our nurse can help you with any medical needs or questions. The nurse’s office is located on the first floor, room 165, and she can be reached at 718-634-1344.
Effective use of time is an important priority at P.S. 317. All students are expected to consistently arrive at school by 8:00 am. All students must enter the school from the Parks Department yard in the back of the school facing Beach 108th Street. Ms. Quiles, our parent coordinator, will be there to greet you and your child and to ensure that they enter the school safely. The door will be opened at 7:30 and at that time, your child can have the option of eating breakfast. Breakfast time is from 7:30-7:50 and pick up of classes from the auditorium (K-5) will be at 8:00AM.
PreK children should be brought to their classrooms by parents/caregivers through the backyard attached to the Pre-K classrooms. Breakfast for our Pre-K students begins at 7:30 am. At this time, the doors to the small yard will be open for children to enter.
Since reading is normally the first period each day, parents need to help their children develop the habit of arriving at school on time even if it means revamping a hectic morning by starting earlier or eating breakfast while you’re walking to school. Late children miss important instruction and morning routines, and disrupt these activities for others. Lateness is recorded and becomes part of the student’s permanent record. Research shows that students who come to school on time every day meet standards more successfully than those who are late or absent. After 8:00, students are considered late.
If children arrive late, they must enter through the main lobby and obtain a late pass from the Main Office. If your child is late, they must not be dropped off or allowed to walk to the back yard, where all doors will be locked. Parents may not accompany children to the classroom except during Family First Fridays the first Friday of every month. If you are bringing your child to school late, such as after a doctor’s appointment, please go to the main office for a late pass.
Dismissal is at 2:20 PM in the small yard attached to the school, and teachers escort classes at dismissal. Please make sure your child’s teacher knows who will meet your child, or if they attend after-school programs or other activities in 317.
All students must “touch base” with their teacher before leaving by saying “I see my parent” or using a signal such as a wave or handshake. Please discuss this with your child, especially if someone different will pick them up. If anyone other than the usual designated person is meeting your child, the primary caregiver must send a signed written note to the teacher.
If a child is unsure about pickup arrangements, they should go to the Main Office, where staff will assist them. Children should know school is the safest place to stay if they are uncertain where to go, and staff can help make phone calls. This is why updated numbers on the Blue Card are important.
Children must be picked up promptly at dismissal, as teachers and staff cannot stay late. Students not picked up on time are brought to the main lobby for staff supervision, which can be upsetting for children. Phone calls begin around 2:30 PM if a child is still waiting.
For younger children attending after-school programs in or outside the building, please inform the classroom teacher of their schedule. Children may be confused during the first weeks of a new program, so they should check in with school staff for guidance. Parents are encouraged to meet children on the first day of a new after-school session so everyone knows names, faces, and locations.
Because many students are dismissed at the same time, wheels of all kinds and ball playing are prohibited in the playground until the yard clears to help prevent injuries. If older children have permission to skate, scoot, board, or unicycle home, please ensure they wear safety gear.
If you need to pick up your child before dismissal, you must sign in at the Security Desk in the lobby and then sign your child out in the Main Office.
The purpose of homework is to extend and reinforce learning and to develop self-discipline, personal responsibility and independent thinking. To this end, our teachers try to make all assignments purposeful and related to class activities, as well as to individual children’s interest, needs and abilities. Parents can offer assistance in the following ways:
Check homework daily for completeness, accuracy and neatness.
If it is taking your child significantly longer than this to do homework, please consult with the teacher. Children who want additional homework can be encouraged to read or write more. Need help before you can reach the teacher? Call Dial-A-Teacher at (212) 777-3380. This United Federation of Teachers sponsored helpline, staffed by highly skilled teachers, offers help in all subjects in 8 languages. They don’t give answers – just enough coaching to let children complete assignments on their own, or help parents get what’s going on in math. Mon. and Fri. 4 – 7 p.m.
All students have a RED plastic homework folder provided by the school that goes home with them every night and returns to school with them every morning. Generally, the right side is for current homework and the left is for important notices for families. The folder should travel back and forth every day because even when homework is not assigned, there may be important notices for families, or you may need to return notes or permission slips to teachers
At Waterside Children’s Studio School, our partnerships and residencies connect students with artists, scientists, environmental leaders and community organizations that enrich learning through real-world experiences, creative exploration, and meaningful community involvement.
At Waterside Children’s Studio School, Social Emotional Learning helps students build confidence, strengthen relationships, develop leadership skills, and manage emotions in healthy and positive ways. Through safe spaces for reflection and open communication, students are encouraged to feel supported, heard, and connected to their school community.
Brain Power Wellness teaches physical and mental brain breaks, mindfulness practices, and social emotional wellness strategies that support a positive classroom atmosphere. We partner with Teachers, Students, Parents, and Administrators to create a sustainable, healthy, happy and focused school environment.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework to improve and integrate all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. PBIS creates schools where all students succeed
Restorative justice empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups, and it’s a growing practice at schools around the country. Essentially, the idea is to bring students together in peer-mediated small groups to talk, ask questions, and air their grievances.
Schools can teach Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) through the development of curriculum & activities focused on the personal and interpersonal leadership capacity of students, staff, and families. Learn more about SEL and how Leader in Me, a CASEL-endorsed SEL program, helps prepare students for life success.
Every classroom at WCSS will have this space as a safe place for students to get centered, reflect, or take a couple of minutes of themselves.
Social Emotional Learning
at Waterside
Our programs and curriculums to enhance your child’s
emotional and social well-being.