School Year 2026-2027

Dear PS 160 Families,

Welcome back to the 2026-2027 school year! I am forever grateful to be in this role as I enter my 14th year as Principal of the Walter Francis Bishop Magnet School of the Arts. This year, our schoolwide mission is BUILD. Using explicit instruction and MTSS, we will strengthen every student's capacity to independently make meaning of complex, grade-level texts. To do this, teachers will BUILD across every subject, every day by:

• Basing every lesson on complex, grade-level text
• Unlocking pre-requisite skills through explicit instruction
• Instilling vocabulary that grows knowledge of topics and texts
• Layering scaffolds so all learners access grade-level text
• Deepening understanding through text-dependent discussion and writing

Additionally, I will continue to focus on school culture, teaching and learning, and increasing parent engagement by establishing school-wide morning routines and celebrating students’ academic and personal successes. Teachers will be engaged in professional learning cycles to norm their understanding of knowledge-building instruction and strengthen their practices around MTSS. We will continue to bridge the home-school connection by hosting open classrooms, inviting you in as guest readers, and increasing attendance at schoolwide events.

Curriculum & Instruction

In ELA, we will continue to use Heggerty, Fundations, and HMH Into Reading to offer a balanced approach to literacy instruction and support teachers in explicit instruction.

In mathematics, we will use enVisionmath2020 to deepen our work around building conceptual understanding and solving multi-step word problems.

We will help our students explore and understand phenomena through the use of Amplify Science and engage them in Project Based Learning units of study aligned to the NYS Social Studies Scope & Sequence.

As a professional learning community, we will strengthen our practices in the following areas: Explicit Instruction, Developing Math Fluency, Foundational Literacy & Student Discussion Protocols.

As we aim to transform the well-being of our school, we will incorporate SEL within our daily practice and provide students with a daily mindful-minute to get refocused and centered.

There will be a strong focus across the NYC Public School system as it pertains to the Chancellor’s Big Goals.

• All students will learn to read well.
• All students will be physically and emotionally safe.
• All students will have a high-quality academic experience.
• All students will graduate with a strong plan and pathway to economic security.
• Families can easily access the information and support they need from NYC schools and be empowered to help their children succeed.
• The NYC school system will reflect the diversity of the city it serves.

With that being said, I ask for your continued support and I hope you know that you are deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,

Principal