School Hours
- Early Morning Drop-Off begins at 7:30am
- The school day is 8am-2:20pm
- 3K/Pre-K dismiss at 2:10pm
- K-5 dismiss at 2:15pm
- Please see Konstella for Arrival and Dismissal procedures
Afterschool Dismissal Procedures
- All students must be picked up by 6pm
- YMCA students dismiss at the playground walkway entrance
- World Explorers and Community Schools students dismiss at the Pacific St. Main Entrance
Breakfast & Lunch
- All children are provided with free breakfast and lunch at school
- Menus can be found here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus
Food Allergies
If your child has a food allergy, please inform your child’s teacher and the School Administrative team. DOE policy on food allergies can be found here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/staying-healthy/allergies
Need to Drop Your Child Off Early?
Free early drop-off is provided everyday from 7:30-8:00am. K-5 students should enter the playground walkway. 3K-Pre-K students should enter through the Pacific St. Main Entrance
Need to Pick Up Your Child Early?
Stop by the School Safety desk at the Pacific St. main entrance. School safety will inform the main office, so your child’s teacher can be notified to send your child to meet you. You must sign your child out before leaving the premises. Early Pickups are not permitted after 2pm; at that point you must wait until dismissal.
Is Your Child Absent or Late Today?
- It’s imperative that you email your child’s teacher when your child is absent. Please cc Jessica (jsmith276@schools.nyc.gov) and Jennifer (jmoore@schools.nyc.gov) as well. Each absence is coded, and our goal is to have 100% of absences coded with an explanation – this can be a message from you that your child is sick, a doctor’s note, travel plans, etc.
- If your child is absent, you will receive an automated message at 11:30am, regardless of whether you have already notified the teacher/school of the absence.
- If you child arrives after attendance is taken, you will receive an automated message at 11:30am. School begins at 8am; please ensure your child is on time to school.
Cell Phone/Electronics Policy
Students are permitted to bring cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices to school but they must be checked in with the classroom teacher at the start of the school day. Teachers will return devices to students at the end of the school day. Any electronics discovered during the school day will be confiscated and given to a school administrator. In this case, a parent or guardian will be required to come to school to pick up the device. Cell phones and other electronic devices may not be turned on for use until the student is off the school grounds.
Birthday Policy
Your child’s birthday is an exciting time! You may coordinate with your child’s teacher, at least two days in advance, to send individual snacks and/or goody bags for a small classroom celebration. Please respect that it is at the discretion of the classroom teacher, and adhere to the following guidelines:
- Only individual snacks are allowed. We cannot accommodate sheet cakes, and we do not have access to refrigeration
- If you send in a snack, please be sure to include plates and/or napkins
- Goody bags will be distributed by the classroom teacher at the end of the day
- Please limit guests to two adults for birthday celebrations
We also encourage you to let your child wear a birthday button, sash or hat, so they can receive plenty of birthday love when they walk through the hallways!
Toy Policy
All toys – Rubik’s cubes, Pokemon trading cards, action figures, cars, etc. – are not allowed in school, which includes for lunch and recess. Students often spend more time playing with their toys than eating lunch. Toys also cause conflicts among friends and can get lost at school. If students need to bring in a toy for afterschool or any other reason, it must stay in the backpack until the end of the school day.
Homework Policy
Below is PS 38’s school-wide homework policy, to provide a guideline, on the amount (in minutes) of homework we expect in each grade. Homework is rarely assigned on weekends although we encourage and recommend that our students read every day, whether it’s with grade level texts and/or children choosing what they want to read during their own time. The time ranges are a guide for you and your child. If your child finishes their homework quickly, additional reading is recommended. Your teacher can also recommend additional resources, including many wonderful literacy and math websites, for your child to explore. If your child is struggling within the given timeframe, please reach out to your classroom teacher for homework. We want to work together, with you and with your child, to help make homework a positive (as much as it can be!) and manageable experience.
| Grade | Reading | Written/Math Work | Total Time |
| Kindergarten | Read to/with your child 10-15 min | Rarely at beginning of Kindergarten 5 min close to the end of Kindergarten | 10-15 min |
| First | 10-15 min | 10 min | 20-25 min |
| Second | 15-20 min | 10-15 min | 20-25 min |
| Third | 15-20 min | 20-25 min | 35-40 min |
| Fourth | 20-30 min | 25-35 min | 45-60 min |
| Fifth | 25-30 min | 35-40 min | 60-70 min |