A New Initiative to Combat Bullying Students who are victims of harassment and intimidation by their peers now have access to a telephone hotline to professional counselors. The phone number for the hotline is 212-709-3222. It will be staffed from 2:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, by professionals from the Mental Health Association of New York City. Students can call for services in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and other languages, translated immediately. The UFT is providing a grant of more than $50,000 to pay for the first year of the initiative, which also includes workshops for parents and school staff to help schools build on their own anti-bullying programs. The U.F.T plans to expand the hotline services in January for students to connect through text messaging and online chat. The new hotline is part of a wider initiative called BRAVE (Building Respect, Acceptance, and Voice through Education), announced Wednesday by the United Federation of Teachers with support from the Mental Health Association of New York City. It will connect students with clinicians and mental health professionals who can provide supportive listening, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments and advice on crisis de-escalation

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the parents or guardians of John Dewey High School students’ you are a part of this learning community. You might say that your children are older now; you don’t have to be as involved. The truth of the matter is that you’re needed now more than ever.

At John Dewey High School, there are many others on our team -teachers, administrators, and support staff - who are committed to you child’s academic success. We look forward to working together to make this a wonderful year of learning and growth for you and your child.

The Parents Association goal is to keep you informed about what is happening in our school and the Department of Education. Our meetings, workshops and special events, planned with the school staff, especially Kristine Gattuso our Parent Coordinator.

One of the keys to your child’s success will be your on going involvement in our school community. Throughout the year, you will have opportunities to meet your child's teachers, attend information workshops on teaching approaches and learning materials that we use.

The P.A. of John Dewey High School looks forward to building a partnership in support of your child. We are available to provide information, answer questions, help you access resources for you and your child.