P.S. 8 Isaac Varian Home

Home of the Lions

Principal's Message

August 4, 2026

Dear PS 8 Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying a joyful, restful summer with your loved ones.

To our returning families, thank you for your continued support and partnership. Your commitment helps strengthen the connection between home and school and plays an important role in the success of our students. To our new families and students joining PS 8 for the first time, welcome! We are delighted to have you join our school community and look forward to getting to know you and building meaningful relationships throughout the year.

We are excited to welcome all students back for the first day of school on Thursday, September 10, 2026. As we prepare for the start of the school year, we invite you to join us for our Virtual Fall Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, September 2, from 10:00–11:00 a.m. (see link below.)

We look forward to connecting with you, welcoming our new families, and partnering with all of you for another wonderful year of learning, growth, and success at PS 8.

Respectfully,

Claudia Tahiraj-Sadrija

Principal

PS 8 Monthly Calendar

Pillar of the Month: Friendship:Being a Good Friend/Caring for Others

District 10 News

September 10, 2026

Dear Families:

Welcome back! I am so excited to begin the 2026–27 school year together.
The first day of school is one of my favorite times of the year; it brings so many possibilities and new
beginnings. Whether your child is a kindergartner proudly carrying their oversized backpack into
class for the first time, a middle school student trying out their new locker combination, or a high
school senior taking their last first-day photos with friends, I hope your family feels that same
sense of promise and possibility.

Over the years, I've experienced many first days as an educator and parent. In each of these roles,
I’ve learned firsthand how much trust our families place in New York City Public Schools every day.
We all share the same hopes for our children: that they will walk into school feeling welcomed,
supported, and ready to learn. On my first “first day” as Chancellor, my commitment is to make
that experience a reality for every child at every school.

Since taking on this role, I've had the privilege of listening to hundreds of students, families,
educators, and community members across all five boroughs. My conversations with all of you
have shaped my priorities for the year ahead: to create safe, academically rigorous, and truly
integrated schools. In other words, we want to ensure that every student feels a sense of belonging
and has the support they need to reach their fullest potential in a robust, culturally responsive
learning environment.

As we begin the new school year, please know that we are here to answer questions and provide
any support you may need. Your parent coordinator, principal, teachers, and school staff are here
to help you every step of the way. Our schools welcome all students, and we want every family to
know that they belong here.

I wish you and your family a wonderful year of learning and growth. I am eager to continue engaging
with all of you, and I look forward to everything we'll accomplish together this school year.

In partnership,

Kamar H. Samuels
Chancellor