ICE PAC

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ELA tests are over! At ICE 89% of eligible students refused the test. Many school districts around the state very actively tried to suppress opt out this year, leading the state's highest education officials, Chancellor Betty Rosa of the Board of Regents and Commissioner Elia of the State Education Department, to issue a statement today affirming opt out rights. We at ICE PAC are happy that our school needed no such reminder and view our work in the context of another statement, released earlier this week by the grassroots group Jackson Heights People for Public Schools. An excerpt (it's long!) appears below.

In a system of school choice championed by Trump, DeVos, and leading Democrats, middle and high-income parents will almost always choose the schools with higher test scores, which enroll wealthier students and fewer students learning English. Zoned schools that accept all students face intense pressure to raise test scores and resort to excessive time for ELA and math classes at the expense of a well-rounded curriculum. On the other hand, students at schools that serve disproportionately wealthy and white children are offered a more balanced and arts-enriched curriculum.

Jackson Heights People for Public Schools rejects state tests that are used to further segregate our schools, and unfairly evaluate children in our community and the educators who serve them. 



Free Feminine Products in ICE Girls' Bathroom  

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Around a year ago a group of young women who were soon-to-be graduating 12th graders gathered at ICE to talk about ways to improve the experience for other girls at ICE. One of the important recommendations that arose from that meeting, was suggestion that the ICE Girls' Bathroom should always have a supply of feminine products available to students for free. The group felt this would be helpful for many reasons, and for students of all ages. 

Since that time, our school has been committed to keeping a steady supply available. If you would like to help us in this effort, please see our amazon wish list here. Contributions of any size are welcomed and appreciated! 
 

URGENT:  Chaperones Needed for Wednesday April 10 - High School Community Service Day 

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On Wednesday April 10th, all of our high school students will be leaving the building to participate in a variety of service projects around the city. We are partnering with sixteen organizations including senior centers, urban farms, soup kitchens, food pantries, the billion oyster project, the parks department and more. 

Students will be divided into groups of between 10 and 25 kids. Each group will be accompanied by a teacher. A few of the larger groups need a couple of extra chaperones. We're looking for parents interested in spending a few hours chaperoning one of these groups, along with one teacher. Middle school parents are MOST WELCOME to participate. You do not have to accompany your own child's group (students will not be assigned groups yet).

Please use this link to sign up for one of the slots available:

Thanks for your help to make this day a success.