Newsletter - NYC Public Schools Plus You

Finding the Joy in Reading

Dear Families and Colleagues,

Do you remember the first time you read a book that captivated you—one with a story so riveting, you couldn’t put it down until you reached the last page? Can you recall the joy of that experience—the feeling that every word was placed there just for you?

Last week, libraries across the City celebrated this very feeling as part of National Library Week (April 19–25, 2026). This year’s theme, “Find Your Joy,” highlighted the essential role libraries play in helping people of all ages explore stories and opportunities that inspire and delight. Libraries across the five boroughs, including our school libraries, marked the week with a range of fun activities and events while helping patrons discover their next favorite books. It was wonderful seeing our families and students engaging with their neighborhood and school libraries last week, and I am grateful to every librarian who helped make National Library Week happen this year.

Beyond the celebrations, National Library Week is a critical reminder of the power of reading. Literacy is a vital skill for educational, career, and lifetime success, and NYC Reads, our citywide literacy program, provides our students with the phonics and decoding skills they need to be confident and lifelong readers. I’ve heard from many of you about NYC Reads during my Chancellor Conversations over the past few weeks, and I am eager to continue engaging with you on this transformative work.

In the meantime, I encourage families to review our “Literacy Resources for Families” page, which offers tools to help children build literacy skills at home. The page includes recommended reading lists, links to our Citywide Digital Library, directions for fun word games, and learning materials like flashcards to boost reading outside the classroom.

I hope you and your children find joy within the pages of your next book!

In partnership,

Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor

The Chancellor’s Spotlight:

On April 4, we commemorated National School Librarian Day with a special shoutout in support of the school librarians who inspire and nurture our students’ imagination. On behalf of NYCPS, I thank Kim Chase of P.S. 17 in Brooklyn along with the hundreds of school librarians who help build our students’ literacy skills every single school day!

Our Highlight Video:

In celebration of Earth Day and Climate Action Day, Deputy Chancellor Kevin Moran and I stopped by P.S. 14 in Queens to team up with @nycparks’ Ben Osborne and P.S. 14’s “Green Team” to plant four new trees outside the school! We had an absolute blast putting “life into the ground,” and I thank Principal Heather Benson, NYC Parks, D24 Superintendent Anthony Rivera, our Office of Energy and Sustainability, and P.S. 14 students for their green thumbs!

NYCPS News and Resources:

• The 2026–27 NYC School Calendar is now available in 14 languages.
• The 2026 NYC School Survey’s final deadline for online surveys has been extended to Thursday, April 30. We thank everyone who has already submitted their 2026 Survey!
• Summer Rising 2026 application results have been released; log into MySchools to view your results, and if applicable, accept your offer by Tuesday, May 5.
• 2-K is launching in select neighborhoods this coming fall; learn about our new child care and learning options for two-year-olds.
• For more news and resources, subscribe to The Morning Bell, and follow NYCPS online at Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.