Technology and Communication at PS 102
Communication
Please check your child's backpack, phone messages and your email daily for direct communication from your child's teacher, school administrators, the PTA and the DOE.
NYC Public Schools GAMA: You will receive emails, phone messages and texts weekly (usually on Friday evening) and at additional times as needed in your home language via the NYC Messaging system. We are no longer using the School Messenger Application.
NYCSA - New York City Schools Account: This important account allows you to view your child's report card, state test results, biographical and attendance data, IEP and more! You can access this account at http://schoolsaccount.nyc.
Please follow this link for step-by-step instructions for creating your NYCSA account. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will see links to the instructions in all DOE languages.
Letters with access codes are sent home in September, November and March with your child. If you cannot locate that letter, you can still set up the account and then contact our Parent Coordinator, Margaret Sheri, at melliotsheri@schools.nyc.gov to ask for the account creation code.
Please tell your child's teacher (or any staff member) if you need Translation and Interpretation services. We can access document translation, bilingual staff members and use the DOE's over the phone interpretation service so we can communicate more clearly with parents.
NYC Department of Education: The DOE also has important information and resources for you at schools.nyc.gov. You can access important DOE letters and notices in translation at schools.nyc.gov/messagesforfamilies.
If you are not getting emails or phone calls or need help accessing the NYCSA, please contact Ms. Sheri at melliotsheri@schools.nyc.gov. Be sure to include your child's full name in the message. Thanks!
Student Account Letter 2023-2024
Dear Parent / Guardian of PS 102 STUDENT
Welcome back to the 2023-2024 school year! This year we will continue using the nycstudents.net accounts for all students. These nycstudents.net accounts will be used by students throughout the school year, both in school and at home in the event of an emergency school closure. You will also use this account to attend Meet the Staff Night on September 14, 2023.
To access the nycstudents.net accounts:
1. Go to classroom.google.com
2. Click Sign in to Classroom.
3. Enter the nycstudents.net e-mail address found in the box on your personalized letter. Samplestudent@nycstudents.net (use the email address provided in your letter)
4. Click Next.
5. Enter your password: Welcome@102 (updated for 2023-2024)
6. Click Next.
7. If there is a welcome message, review it.
8. Click Accept.
If you choose to reset your child’s password, please be sure that they are easily able to remember it. Forgotten passwords will need to be changed by school staff to allow your child to access their devices while in the school building. For information on how to reset your child’s account, see below:
Resetting Student Passwords
How to Reset Your Child’s Password in NYCSA
You can reset your student password easily by following these instructions:
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Student Password.
- Select the child whose password you want to update.
- Enter a new password. Your password must:
- Contain between 8–32 characters.
- Contain at least one number (0–9).
- Contain at least one lowercase letter (a–z).
- Contain at least one uppercase letter (A–Z).
- Retype the new password.
- Click on Save.
- That’s it! Your password has been reset.
Device Requests & Returns
If you would like to request a device for a PS 102 student in your family to use this school year, please send an email to msilverman3@schools.nyc.gov with the following information:
Child's full name and date of birth
Parent's name, email, phone # and address
Do you have wifi available in your home? Yes/No
Returns:
All laptops and iPads loaned to students must be returned to the school if you discharge from the NYC Public School System.
If you are moving to another NYC Public School, you can bring any iPad with the asset tag beginning DOE-COV, DOE-R2, DOE-ACB with you as these iPads were issued by DOE central.
All laptops (asset tag beginning DOE-LN) and iPads (asset tag beginning DOE-AP) belong to PS 102 and must be returned to our building.
You may also wish to return a device that is not working well or is no longer needed.
Please bring the device and charger to the school and ask for Ms. Sheri or Mr. Silverman. We will give you a receipt when you return the device.
Need Technology Help?
Broken Device?
Lost or Stolen Device?
Need help with an application?
The DOE can help!
The DOE's family-facing Remote Learning Technical Support ticket system is now available! Families (or someone on their behalf) can submit requests for technical support for a broad range of issues, including application support, lost, stolen, or broken devices, and delivery status, through the Technical Support for Families Page. Note that when families select a topic and issue in the ticket submission form, the form will automatically list common resolutions to technical support problems; if the suggested resolutions do not resolve the family’s issue, they can continue to submit a tech support ticket by completing the form.
You may also contact our technology teacher, Mr. Silverman, at msilverman3@schools.nyc.gov with any technology-related questions.
Key Contacts
You may call the main office at 718-748-7404 or contact Margaret Sheri, Parent Coordinator by email melliotsheri@schools.nyc.gov with your questions and concerns.
For tech help (whether you are using a DOE, school issued or personal device) please see the link for DOE Tech support below, or contact Mr. Silverman at msilverman3@schools.nyc.gov.
Tech Tips for Families
This year, DOE is continuing to use Google Meets, Zoom, and Microsoft teams to host virtual meetings, events and classes. Many parents have asked about how to enable a virtual or blurred background on these platforms, so that their faces can be seen, but not their background environment. Below are instructions on how to create virtual backgrounds:
· Background Effects in MS Teams
· Background Effects in Google Meet
Have multiple Google accounts -- Work, school, personal? Find the solution below in just one minute
Avoid conflicts by creating a Google Chrome profile for each user. Click here for a video about how to manage multiple accounts. Click here for a video about how to switch accounts on a shared device.
Visit the Google Junior Training Series for other helpful videos.
Our School's Digital Learning Resources
Click here to access the Family Log In Reference Guide - UPDATED November 2023
These pages contain an overview of the applications available to students at PS 102. Within this document, you’ll find descriptions and links to our online programs that are available for both home and school use.
At the 11/6/23 PTA General Meeting, Mr. Silverman presented on Accessing PS 102 Digital Resources. Here are his slides which should be helpful to all.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1j0Z3iBK9jEj5FEYVSUj9YHOiyWbT-1Ci_E9iHp5-fzE/edit#slide=id.p
Pairing Your NYCDOE iPad and Zagg Keyboard
ZAGG KEYBOARD PAIRING INSTRUCTIONS
- On your iPad home screen, go to the Settings icon.
- Go to Bluetooth
- Make sure the Bluetooth setting is set to On (green).
- On the keyboard, press the
button to turn the keyboard on (the light should light green). - Press and hold the
button until the light turns blue. - On the iPad, under "Devices," press ZAGG Rugged Book.
- Ensure that the "ZAGG Rugged Book" is listed as "Connected." Your keyboard should now work.
Free and Low-Cost Internet Options
NEW - https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/project-10-million
All families with a student enrolled in a DOE school or program are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers monthly discounts up to $30 on internet bills, and a one-time device discount up to $100 with participating providers.
This program, launched by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is a replacement to the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which provided broadband internet service for eligible New York City households at a reduced cost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To apply for this program, confirm your household’s eligibility, and find participating broadband internet providers, visit the ACP website. Families may also call the ACP helpline at (877) 384-2575.
There are several free or low-cost internet options available to New York City students and families.
Free Internet for Your Home
The following internet carriers are offering free household Wi-Fi or special accommodations for 60 days:
- Comcast
- Charter Communications/Spectrum
- Altice
Learn more about the above at NYC.gov.
Free Internet Locations in NYC
There are many places across the city where you can go to connect to internet for free. Locations include:
- All branches of the New York Public Library
- Several public spaces in Lower Manhattan
- LinkNYC kiosks across the City
Low-Cost Internet Plans
The following internet plans are available to eligible participants. Eligibility varies by provider. Contact the provider for more information.
Altice (also known as Optimum)
Altice offers Altice Advantage, a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, you must be:
- eligible for--or participate in--the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); or
- a New York City resident who attends a New York City public school; or
- eligible for--or receive--Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 65 years of age or older; or
- a veteran and receive state or federal public assistance.
Charter (also known as Spectrum)
Charter offers Spectrum Internet Assist, a plan that starts at $14.99/month. To qualify, one or more members of your household must be a recipient of one of the following assistance programs:
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP
- Supplemental Security Income (for applicants age 65+ only)
Verizon
Verizon offers the Lifeline program, a plan that starts at $19.99/month. To qualify:
- Your annual income is at 135% or less than of the U.S. federal poverty guidelines
- You, or someone in your household, participates in a qualifying federal assistance program:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps), or
- Medicaid, or
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
- Tribal Programs (and live on federally-recognized Tribal lands)
For more eligibility information, visit Lifelinesupport.org
Wi-Fi Hotspots for Existing Cable Customers
As an extension of their internet service, the providers listed below enable each other's high-speed internet customers to access up to 500,000 nationwide WiFi hotspots through the network name CableWiFi:
- Cox
- Optimum
- Spectrum
- Xfinity
Learn more at cablewifi.com