ICE PAC (Parent Action/Education Advocacy Committee

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Registration is open for the annual Parent Action Conference, which takes place Saturday Jan 27 in downtown Manhattan. Past conferences have yielded a great, informative, and energizing day. From the organizers (Class Size Matters, NYC Kids PAC, and Community Education Council 2): 

Come spend the day with fellow parent activists and participate in workshops to create an action agenda!

  • Morning: Choice of workshops (Parent Organizing 101, Legal challenges to School Overcrowding & Large Classes, Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs, Opting Out of Testing, Promoting Restorative Justice Vs. School-to-Prison Pipeline, Preventing Bullying to Create Safe Learning Environments, Integrating Our Schools, Fighting Against Charters)
  • Afternoon: Backpack Full of Cash, documentary narrated by Matt Damon about the efforts to privatize our public schools. Post screening discussion with New York State's Chancellor of the Board of Regents, Betty Rosa.


Lunch provided. Suggested donation for entire day (including lunch and film) $10. A steal!

View the flier here.

 PTA Meeting--January 17th 

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 This coming Wednesday I look forward to addressing the current public dialogue about sexual harassment in the work place, and the often toxic attitudes and behavior that pervade all areas of our society. At I.C.E. our kids are no strangers to these forces both at school, at home and the wider world. It is crucial that we support our kids and examine our behaviors and assumptions as we all reckon with the possibility of transforming our society for the better. Similar to how I have engaged you all in previous years, I plan to present some scenarios that we have recently discussed as a staff, as well as the conundrum of how to reconcile official policies with our commitment to address each interpersonal challenge as unique.
 
This conversation will certainly continue, but I hope you will join me as we begin.
 
See You Wednesday
 
Pete

SAT  Prep Course Offered at ICE

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Hi 11th Grade Parents,
 
I am writing to let you know of an opportunity that we have offered our 11th grade students at ICE for the past five years. We hire an SAT prep company called A-List to come in to our school during the second semester to help prepare students for the SATs in May.  It is a course that will occur three days a week, during these times:
 
Tues: 10:48 am -11:35 am (Advisory)
Weds: 12:30 pm - 1:19 pm (Gym)
Thurs: 9:55 am - 10:45 am (Elective)
 
The diagnostic SAT exam will occur on Saturday, February 10th at 10 am at ICE and the course will begin on Thursday, Februray 15th (the practice exam can also be taken on an alternate date at the A-List offices in Manhattan, or if BOTH of these options don’t work, PSAT scores can be used from last year).  The course will run through the week leading up to the SATs on May 5, 2018, which all students in the course will take.  There are also two other practice exams given at ICE in April on the 21st and 28th to gauge progress.
 
The cost of the course is $450 per student.  You can set up a payment plan on the ICE website under “SAT Prep.”  You can also send your child in with a check for $450 made out the ICE Foundation and bring it to Mark or Eileen in the main office.  If possible, we ask families who have the means to sponsor another student or donate an extra $100 to please do so. These are options on the ICE website.
 
Payment is not a barrier to enrollment in this course. If you need help with payment, email Pete and Mark and we will find a way to help you manage the payment.  If the payment is unmanageable, we will help provide assistance.
 
Participation is optional and has varied from year to year but has been between 30-60% of 11th graders.
 
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR THIS COURSE, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING TWO THINGS:
 
1.  Please fill out this survey.


2.  Hand the check to someone in the main office (made out to ICE Foundation) or pay online at by selecting "Trips and Events" then "SAT Prep."
 
**Please send the email by Tuesday, January 16th** At that point, we'll confirm the number of participants with A-List and provide more information regarding the classes.
 
Please email Lisa Bleyer with any questions.