Greetings!

The summer is here and the opportunity to complete graduation requirements is upon us!

As per our requirements for graduation, for each year attending Greater New York Academy, students are required to perform 20 hours of community service per each year of attendance. This means, by the time your child completes Greater New York Academy after four years of attendance, they are required to have 80 hours of community service.

Community service hours must be documented and submitted using the Community Service Form enclosed with this letter. Please see the requirements for community service below:

1. Community service form must be completely filled out, approved and signed by the supervisor of the activity. Forms will not be accepted if not completely filled out.
2. Services must be voluntary. You cannot receive payment, a grade or incentives for services provided.
3. Services cannot be performed for immediate family or relatives.
4. Supervisor must clarify on the form the amount of hours performed.

Please note, we will validate with supervisor the services performed for community service.

Below please find some options available regarding opportunities to complete community service hours. Try to find opportunities that will impact your community and confirm ahead of time:

• Vacation Bible School
• Hospitals, Schools or Nursing Homes
• Pathfinders or other church-based outreach programs
• Tutoring or providing academic assistance

Please submit forms to the guidance office. Community service is a graduation requirement. It is recommended that students complete community service hours in a timely manner.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me directly at (718)639-1752, ext 115 or email me at aquinones@gnyacademy.org. 

Have a happy and productive summer!

Ms. Q

Link to form is below:

Community Service Form

This year, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature enacted the nation’s first tuition-free degree program for full time students: the Excelsior Scholarship.  A college education is increasingly necessary to secure the jobs of tomorrow, and the Excelsior Scholarship ensures New York’s students have access to a quality education and the skills they need to succeed.  The Scholarship is available to students enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY community college or university beginning in the fall of 2017.

The application will be available starting June 7th.  To receive an electronic notification when the application is live, we encourage you to enter your email in the Excelsior Alert Form on the HESC website: www.hesc.ny.gov/excelsior.

Juniors, the SUNY college fairs are coming up soon! Check out the website and register to attend. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the SUNY colleges, the application process, and lots of other information. You can register here.

Are you ready for college? On October 3rd at 7pm I will have a meeting for the Juniors, Seniors, and their parents. I will be going over all the necessary steps needed to complete the college process. We will discuss college applications, financial aid, college entrance exams and much more. I look forward to seeing you there!

World of Discovery Day Camp is looking for lifeguards, camp counselors, and other specialists. For more information check out their website www.worldofdiscover.org.

Queens College is offering a FREE SAT prep course over the summer. You must apply to be admitted and the application deadline is 6/1/2016. This is a great opportunity for all juniors and sophomores to prepare for the SAT and also to get assistance with college applications and the entire college process. For more information check out www.letsgetready.org or click here Student Flyer – Queens Summer 2016 to see the flyer.

The SYEP will be recruiting on Tuesday, April 5th at Queens Center Mall from 3:00 pm until 6:00pm. Click here for more information: QCM Flyer

Hofstra University will be hosting a financial aid workshop for all high school students. You do not have to be planning to attend Hofstra to attend the workshop. It is open to all. In the workshop they will help parents and seniors complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The workshop will be on Thursday, January 7, at 6:45pm. For more information or to register for the workshop please click here.

For those seniors who are going on the college trip, do not forget to register for your housing at Oakwood by Wednesday. You can do that here: https://oakwood.secure.force.com/events/targetx_eventsb__eventsplus_newcontact