Congratulations and Welcome to the Stuyvesant Family!

Stuyvesant (Stuy) is a big step up from middle school, so we thought you might find some tips from fellow parents helpful to get you started.

 

Remember, the Stuyvesant High School Parents’ Association (StuyPA) is here to help you (and your student) navigate your way through four years of high school and on to college. We are your team. Just reach out if you need help.

 

Before School Starts

Enjoy your summer of freedom before high school starts in September. High school summers often include internships, volunteering activities, and more. You have some free time now, so enjoy it!

 

  • Come to Camp Stuy for Parents in late August. At Camp Stuy you will meet fellow parents, school counselors, Big Sibs, and upper classman parents in your student’s homeroom. You will get information about class schedules, homework policy, details about TALOS, our student record system, the grade books used by teachers (i.e. Jupiter Grades), Naviance (a college tool), and much more. You can buy Stuy T-shirts, hoodies, and other Spirit Wear. Please note, students have two sessions of Camp Stuy: one in June when they take placement tests and do auditions etc and one in August.
  • Make friends with parents of upper classmen. They have a wealth of experience and advice to share with you. The Stuy family is a friendly one! It is one of your best sources of information about the school and even college applications.
  • Plan your student’s daily journey to school. Some high schools run buses. Stuy has never done that. Therefore your student will have to use public transport to get to school on time. It’s a good idea to do a test run before school starts so that your student knows how long the journey will take on public transport.

 

When School Is In Session

  • TALOS is your friend. TALOS is our student information and records system created by one of our talented alumni and used by multiple other specialized high schools in New York. You will get an access code to use TALOS and be able to log on and see your student’s absences, late swipe ins, textbook loans, course options, grades, and other information. Your students report cards are emailed to you from TALOS. It is a one stop place for all up to date information. 
  • Read the weekly Parent Newsletter from Dina Ingram. Dina, Stuyvesant's Director of Family Engagement, sends out a  newsletter every week with updates on what is happening at school, including a calendar of upcoming events. .
  • Explore the Student Opportunity Bulletin (SOB). With your donations, the Stuy PA funds a special internships and opportunities counselor, Harvey Blumm. Harvey publishes a weekly Student Opportunities Bulletin to help students find internships, jobs, volunteering positions, and more. Harvey is a parent of two alumni and was our Parent Coordinator for many years. The SOB is an excellent resource and is available on TALOS each week.  
  • Attend the StuyPA Monthly Meetings. The PA meetings are a great way to find out what is going on at school. Meetings are held virtually most months, starting at 7:00pm. Meetings typically include updates from Principal Yu, Director of Family Engagement Dina Ingram, and the PA leadership team, as well as presentations from outside experts in student wellness, college admissions, and other subjects to help you support your student.
  • Attend your student's Parent Teacher Conferences. Conferences are held twice a year (virtually) and is a great way for you to learn how you can better support your student.

 

Get Involved

Can you help out? We need volunteers to help us stage certain events like College Night for Juniors, Faculty Receptions, Spring Gala, and more. Come and work with like-minded parents and help the Parents’ Association Executive Board and the School Leadership Team. Volunteer here!

 

Join the Executive Board and/or the School Leadership Team. Elections are held in September and May. September Elections include Freshman Members-at-Large and the Freshman School Leadership Team delegate and alternate. See this page for more information. Consider running!

 

Growing Up at High School

Students are growing adults – not sheep. Our young adults are growing independent, making their own decisions, sharing confidences with friends you may not meet. They will need to be self-supporting for college and parents should encourage their self-sufficiency as much as their academic achievements.

 

  • Skipping classes or missing homework is a warning sign – have a conversation if you think that is happening. Always reach out to your student’s school counselor if you have concerns. Counselors treat your communications in confidence. Our Director of Family Engagement, Dina Ingram, is also available to help with any problems that may arise.
  • If your student misses a deadline, they should still hand the work in. Missing the work means missing the information! If your student has an extenuating circumstance that stopped them from doing homework, the student should reach out to the teacher and explain.
  • If your student is having trouble with a class, have a conversation. The key is listening. Help them advocate for themselves – but let them do it.
  • Help them learn to resolve problems. Resolving problems that may arise with a class, teacher, or classmate is part of learning. When students are in college, they will have to do this by themselves without your help. So if they learn how to speak to teachers and counselors now and solve their problems, they will be well prepared for life! You can always act as an advocate for your student – but try and let your student find the solution first. They will need your advice in dealing with situations – let them come to you and ask for it.
  • Conversations are often hard to have when your student comes home tired after a day of school. Keeping in touch can be difficult. They have after school events, homework, and are often not very willing to give a complete account of their day. They don’t have the energy to explain it all. Give them some slack.

 

To resolve problems related to classes, contact should be made in this order

  • Teacher
  • School counselor
  • Department Assistant Principal
  • Director of Family Engagement (Parent Coordinator) with parents
  • Principal with parents

 

Homework

A new Homework Policy was put into effect in June 2019. The policy is designed to help students avoid overload and stress and to give them time off during vacations.

  • Homework is to reinforce and prepare for classroom work – writing, reading, problem sets, reviewing.

  • Homework assignments for non-AP non-honors subjects are up to 30 minutes per night 3-5 times a week.

  • Homework assignments for AP subjects are up to 60 minutes per night.

If homework is taking your student too long, perhaps consider the following:

  • Organize the work space.

  • Encourage a regular schedule for eating and doing homework.

  • Eliminate distractions like TV.

  • Have a conversation with your student about their social media use, how it distracts and can be addictive. But be aware that social media can also provide their support group.

  • Help them with deadlines. A shared Google Calendar is a useful tool for students and parents. It saves having to ask questions about what is going on too.