Health Guidance and Resources for Families—Tips for Staying Healthy
Note From The Nurse
DOH: Flu Information from DOH for Families
DOE: Health Guidance and Resources for Families—Tips for Staying Healthy
The specials teachers have created a newsletter this month to share with all parents. This provides helpful information for parents and guardians about what their children are doing within each special class, and also provides some resources for families to use outside at home.
December Art Newsletter: by Ms. King
December Music Newsletter: by Ms. Tsao
December Physical Education Newsletter: by Mr. Devito
December Technology Newsletter: by Ms. Vargas
December Theatre Newsletter: by Mr. G
****Please only sign up for one open house. We look forward to sharing and providing information about the incredible curriculum, programs, and school community here at PS 166.
Steps to Sign Up:
1. Click on the link: https://www.schoolbookings.netOpens in a new browser tab
2. Use the code: 66kps
3. OR scan the QR code
Note From The Nurse
DOH: Flu Information from DOH for Families
DOE: Health Guidance and Resources for Families—Tips for Staying Healthy

Under the updated policy, Chancellor's Regulation A-413, students are not permitted to use personal internet-enabled electronic devices during the school day. This includes devices such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and portable music and entertainment systems.
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, in accordance with New York State law,(Open external link) New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is updating its policy regarding the use of internet-enabled electronic devices—including cell phones—in school. This change supports the State's intent to create distraction-free schools(Open external link) and aims to ensure safe and focused learning environments across all NYCPS schools.
The classroom lists will be shared the week before school begins. There will be information sent home to all families with information that includes the class lists, family handbook, and arrival/dismissal for the first few days of school. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer vacation, and we look forward to seeing you on the first day of school, Thursday, September 4, 2025!
Parents must communicate with their child’s teacher as to which days the child will ride the bus home. To avoid any miscommunication problems, teachers will not take a child’s verbal message. Please send a written note to the teacher stating which days your child will ride the bus. When changes occur, parents must email bus@ps166.org before 1 PM that day. Please email the teacher as well as the bus email.
For those students eligible for OMNY cards, they will be given to your child sometime the first two weeks of school. OMNY cards are for students only and cannot be used by an adult.
Students cannot have both an OMNYC card and bus service.
This form determines whether or not students qualify for free or reduced school meals. Even though in NYC school lunch is now free for all students, this information is used to determine school funding. Every family must submit a School Food form regardless of whether the student will eat a meal at school.
Families can complete the School Food form online.
Enter your zip code
Click on "New York City Schools"
After entering your name you can choose not to enter any financial information.
Please remember to label your child's outerwear, lunchboxes and water bottles. Labeled items will be returned to students. Unlabeled items pile up and are regularly donated or recycled. Lost and Found items will be on a table on the first floor in front of the cafeteria. If you wish to purchase labels AND support our PTA see below.
Back to School means time to label your child's backpack, clothing, water bottles and more! Shop in support of our PTA when you purchase labels from Mabel's Labels or Oliver's Labels.
PS 166 Auction FAQs
WHAT IS THE PS 166 AUCTION?
The spring auction is the biggest fundraiser of the year for FOPS (Friends of PS166). The funds raised at both the online and live auction events go towards the many incredible programs that make our school special, including our wonderful Teaching Assistants, professional development support for our teachers, and residencies for each grade, including Ballet Hispanico and chess for kindergartners, chess for first and second graders, and Liberty Science Center for grades three to five. These are just a few examples of how the funds raised through FOPS, support our school community.
IS THIS A LIVE EVENT OR IS IT ONLINE?
Both! The auction breaks down into two big events: The online auction and the live gala. Our online auction is open to the public and bidding will begin on March 20th and end on March 28th. You can bid on our children’s original works of art, tickets to events across the city, gift certificates to local restaurants, vacation homes, sports memorabilia, and much more. The live event is for the PS 166 community to raise money for the school, as well as enjoy a fun evening out. This year, the party will be held on March 27th at The Ellington. It’s going to be a terrific evening, and we need YOU to be there! We will enjoy specialty cocktails and tasty food as we bid on exciting items during our live auction. You can also purchase sweepstake tickets for fabulous gift baskets created by the classes and fun, local excursions for our kids to enjoy with their teachers. Tickets are available online NOW for the live event and the sweepstakes!
WHERE DO THE AUCTION ITEMS COME FROM?
We are counting on every parent to help bring in donations for our online auction. Local businesses donate gift cards and parents use their contacts to get tickets to Broadway shows, beauty services, kid’s activities and more. You can email us with your ideas at auction@ps166.org. All donations are tax-deductible and all proceeds from the auction go directly to FOPS and the amazing programming and enhancements they provide for PS 166. Meanwhile, please work with your class reps to help turn out those class art projects and gift basket; they are a vital part of our fundraising efforts and contribution total.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
Families looking for places to take their food scraps for composting can search this list of current options,
Want more information? Click here for more composting sites and information.
The Morningside Park Down-to-Earth Farmers Market (110th & Manhattan Avenue), accepts textiles weekly. In addition, Wearable Collections will pick up from your residence, although there is now a fee, and a large minimum amount: https://www.wearablecollections.com/homepickups
Another option is Pick Up Please: https://pickupplease.org/
Be sure to check out the Green Committee Home Page for more info.
PS 166 The Richard Rodgers School of The Arts and Technology
K-5 Elementary School
District 3
Principal: Debra Mastriano
Assistant Principal: Charles Stanton
132 West 89th Street
New York, NY 10024
212-678-2829
PS 166 Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
September 2025
New York City public schools are implementing a “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phone and internet-enabled personal devices use during the school day in alignment with Chancellor’s Regulations and Education Law § 2803, including classroom time and other settings like lunch, effective this fall for the 2025-2026 school year. We recognize that cell phones and internet-enabled devices have become a common tool for communication. However, they have also become a major distraction to the learning environment and are vulnerable to theft and damage. Students must adhere to the following policy once they arrive at the school building.
If a student is seen with their cell phone/internet-enabled device during the school, the cell phone/internet-enabled device will be confiscated, and a parent/guardian will be notified to pick up the device from the school administration office.
In the event that a student must call home during the school day, a telephone will be available in the main office and may be used with permission. Health concerns can be addressed using the telephone in the nurse’s office.
Our school will use GAMA, an automated communication system, to inform parents or guardians in case of emergency.
In case of emergency, parents or guardians may contact the main office and speak with Katie Qori, Pupil Secretary, or Gigi Bouchar, Supervising School Aide at 212-678-2829. A backup contact for emergencies is the Parent Coordinator, Jennifer Passero, at 212-579-4555.
Principal Mastriano, DMastriano@schools.nyc.gov, can be contacted to request an exemption