Principal Manuel Urena

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year!

Whether you are a returning student or joining the JKO family for the first time, we are excited to have you join us for what promises to be an excellent year. This year, we are eager to concentrate on three areas that will give our students a compelling and interactive learning experience: literacy, project-based learning, and NYC Solves.

Our focus on literacy in every subject will enable students to build their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. We will also be incorporating project-based learning, which pushes students to use what they've learned to solve real-world challenges. This hands-on methodology is at the core of our new NYC Solves program, where students will be addressing citywide challenges through a S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) lens. These components will be at the forefront of our practice, promoting creativity and collaboration.

To best ready our students for the future, we're also increasing our academic portfolio with additional AP courses, College Now courses, and college courses in collaboration with Berkeley College and BMCC. Our AP for All program and robust business partnerships are intended to enable students to succeed in both college and their eventual careers.

All students are to be present at school on Thursday, September 4, at 8:20 a.m. The daily dismissal time will be 2:40 p.m. For complete information on the upcoming school year, see our inaugural parent newsletter on the school website (JKOhighschool.org) under the "Parents" tab. We also invite you to read the attached messages from our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Bernabel, and the school counselors.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students, staff, and school community.

Best regards,

Manuel A. Ureña, Principal