Principal's Message

Welcome back to a new and exciting school year at the Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts & Sciences! I hope that you and your families are ready for a year filled with learning, growth, opportunity, and achievement.

We are excited to share several wonderful developments at QHST. Beginning in Fall 2026, QHST is a Future Ready NYC school offering an Education Pathway. As the Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts & Sciences, this pathway is a natural extension of our school's mission and history. Students in the Class of 2029 who opt into the program will have the opportunity to graduate not only with a high school diploma, but also with a paraprofessional certificate, providing them with an employment pathway immediately after high school.

We are also expanding opportunities for our students to leave QHST with meaningful distinctions that recognize their accomplishments. This year, eligible graduating seniors will have the opportunity to pursue the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and the Seal of Civic Readiness.

Attendance Matters: Every Day, All Day

One of our most important priorities this year is improving student attendance and ensuring that our students are chronically present: every day, all day. Being in school and attending every class are essential to academic success and graduating on time.

More importantly, we want QHST to be a safe, supportive, and welcoming school where students want to show up each day and have every opportunity to become the best versions of themselves. We ask families to partner with us by emphasizing the importance of daily, on-time attendance and communicating with the school whenever challenges arise that may affect your child's attendance.

Cellphone Policy and Morning Entry

We will continue implementing our updated cellphone policy in accordance with New York State requirements. All cellphones and other personal electronic devices must be secured in students' Yondr pouches and may not be visible or used during the school day.

We have also established new procedures to help morning entry move quickly and smoothly. Each morning:

• Students must bring and present their Yondr pouch, whether or not they bring a cellphone to school.

• Students should have their valid QHST student ID card ready upon entry.

• Cellphones and other personal electronic devices must remain secured in the Yondr pouch throughout the school day.

• If a student is found with a cellphone outside of the Yondr pouch, the device will require parent/guardian pickup in accordance with our school policy.

Your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home will help us maximize instructional time and maintain a focused learning environment.

Living Our A.I.R. Values

At QHST, our schoolwide values continue to guide who we are and how we treat one another. We strive each day to live our A.I.R. values: Accountability, Inclusion, and Respect.

Accountability: We teach our students to take responsibility for their actions, decisions, learning, and growth.

Inclusion: We are committed to creating a school community where every student is welcomed, valued, supported, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging.

Respect: We expect students to demonstrate respect for themselves, one another, our staff, and our school community.

These values are more than words. They represent the culture we are building together at QHST.

Preparing Every Student for What Comes Next

Our commitment is to meet the diverse needs of all learners while maintaining high expectations and providing rigorous, meaningful instruction. Students will continue to have access to our general education curriculum, Pre-AP and AP courses, College Now, college and career readiness experiences, and other academic opportunities designed to prepare them for success beyond high school.

Throughout these experiences, we will continue to integrate the six attributes of the Portrait of a Graduate, with the goal of ensuring that every QHST student graduates prepared with a strong and purposeful postsecondary plan.

Our Partnership With Families

As we move forward together, I ask that we remain like-minded and united in our commitment to our students' success. Families are essential partners in this work, and your voices matter.

Please stay connected and engaged by participating in school activities and becoming involved in our Parent Association, Title I activities, and School Leadership Team. We want to hear from you, work alongside you, and understand how we can best support your student and your family.

I am looking forward to another year of partnership, growth, and achievement. Together, let us make this a year in which our students show up, work hard, feel that they belong, and continue becoming the very best versions of themselves.

Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of educating and supporting your children.

With appreciation,

Camille Gardner
Principal
Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts & Sciences