Dear Parents,

I would like to take an opportunity to thank all the parents who have been attending our monthly PTA meetings

and to the parents viewing it on the internet. I want to inform parents that we have no school on Wednesday,

November 11, 2009 in observance of Veterans Day. On Friday, November 13, 2009, we will have a unique opportunity for our students to have their cell phone, PSP and IPods etched by the New York City Police Department. Last year, our PTA Executive Board, Parents from our Leadership Committee, teachers and Assistant Principals attended a meeting with the 90^th Precinct to address issues that have impacted upon the students of I.S. 318.

At that juncture, I felt it was important for the local authorities to be aware of the fact that we are experiencing a great deal of difficulty in the areas surrounding the Broadway Station G stop and Lindsay Park. There were representatives from both the NYPD and Transit available during this meeting. Both were very receptive to the issues we were experiencing and they assured us that they were already taking action to alleviate many of the problems our students were experiencing. We are aware of the fact that there cannot be a police presence every where at all times. From this meeting we learned that they have identified three items that are increasingly being taken from individuals and they are:

- side kicks and cell phones

- IPods

- PSP hand held video devices

We also learned a great deal from our meeting with the local authorities. There are many things that our children can do to decrease the probabilities that they will become a victim of a crime. Some of these are just common sense. For instance:

- not using your cell phone when you are outdoors (if no one knows you have a cell phone, chances are you will not be approached)

- not wearing your IPod when you know you are in an area where you may be prone to have it taken by others

- If you walk to the train station in groups there will be a lesser chance that you will be approached

These are very simple common sense suggestions that will lessen the chance that your child will be a victim of a crime. Even with all these precautions, there is still a chance that you may be a victim of a crime. The 90^th precinct is trying some alternative methods to attack this problem. They have developed a very innovative program that is designed to “etch” each item with a specific serial number that will identify this item as belonging to an individual owner.

Many times criminals are apprehended and they have items on them that the police cannot prove are stolen. If the etched item is stolen, and the perpetrator is apprehended, the item is immediately identified as the property of a specific owner.

Police Officer Thomas Brown will be here on Friday, November 13, 2009 to continue the etching process with students who have permission slips on file. If you wish to have your child’s IPod, cell phone or PSP etched, please complete the form below. Students have permission to bring these items on this day if they are being etched.

Sincerely,

Fortunato V. Rubino

Fortunato V. Rubino

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I wish to have my child’s cell phone, IPod and/or PSP player etched for identification by the NYPD

Child’s Name _____________________________ Class _____________________

_____________________________________ ` Parent’s Signature