From the Principal's Desk

Every printed issue of The Duke Ellington Express, our Principal, Ms. Delois White-Jones, addresses the PS4 community...

Dear Parents,

A new season is upon us.  As parents and educators, it behooves us to clean out our closets, take stock of accomplishments of the past and focus our eyes on new tasks and new beginnings.  Here at PS4, our children are setting their goals and aspirations for the new year.  Our new uniforms also signal a togetherness and collaborative spirit that will move each of our boys and girls to a new level of excellence.  Let us be reminded that though the past prepares us to make a smoother transition to the future, no one can move forward while constantly looking in the rear view mirror.  Let this reminder serve as a notice to our entire community that a positive future is on the horizon.  Let us persevere and keep hope alive.

For a printed copy of the Duke Ellington Express, please visit the main office.

From the Principal's Desk

In her final letter of the school year, our Principal, Ms. Delois White-Jones, addresses the PS4 community...

Dear Students,

The school year has finally ended, and I am sure you have some wonderful plans for your summer vacation!

Please remember that it is very important that you read some pages of a book each day.  In addition, I am encouraging you to review your math notes and to make sure that you have memorized the multiplication tables before returning to school on September 6, 2012.

I am counting on you to remind your parents to buy the new uniform for September.  Our new colors are  burgundy and grey.  We are asking our boys to wear burgundy ties with light grey shirts and blazers each day.  On some days, our boys may opt to wear a burgundy sweater instead of the blazer.  Our girls are asked to wear light grey blouses with burgundy skirts or jumpers each day.  On gym day, you may wear a burgundy warm-up suit with sneakers for your comfort.

Finally, I look forward to working with you in September, and I wish you and your family a happy and restful summer vacation.

Sincerely,
Delois White-Jones
Principal, PS4M

A Word From Our Principal

Dear Parents,

This is the time of year when we make adjustments to our daily schedules.  Often we are not comfortable with the idea of change.  However, change is a reality of life and in order to grow as individuals and citizens of our community, we must learn to adapt to an environment that is constantly in transition.  Even the weather is in a constant state of adjustment.  One minute it is hot and the very next minute it is cold. 

Though we are not in control of the many changes in life, there are some situations in life that we can absolutely control; we can control our thinking and will ourselves to think positively about the future, we can control our responses to challenges and problems, and we can control or will and determination to succeed in order to make a better life for our children and families.

So, as we march toward spring, let’s put a little extra pep in our steps, hold our heads up just a little bit higher as we march towards victory for all of the coming seasons.

Sincerely,
Delois White-Jones
Principal

From The Desk Of Ms. White

In a letter to parents dated September 13, 2011, our Principal, Ms. Delois White-Jones, addresses the PS4 community...

Our school is off to a terrific start!  This year, I plan to communicate with you on a constant basis so that we can work hard together to provide a quality education for our children.

All students are required to wear the school uniform each day from September to June.  Wearing the school uniform provides a positive and professional decorum for our students on a daily basis.


Please let me remind you that I expect students to be here daily and on time.  Regular attendance is critical to successful achievement in school.  On the other hand, poor attendance is one of the most important signs of potentially low performance.  You have been given the student attendance and testing calendar for the school year so that you may make family plans accordingly.  

Thank you very much for your cooperation in these schoolwide initiatives.

From the Principal's Desk

Every printed issue of The Duke Ellington Express, our Principal, Ms. Delois White-Jones, addresses the PS4 community...

Parents are the role models their children emulate from the very beginning. After three or four years, when children report to school, they meet their second role model, their classroom teacher. For children to advance there must be continued communication between home and school so that children can make a connection between what is learned in school and what is needed to survive in the home and in the community-at-large. I have learned over the years that there are no boundaries to what children can achieve when parents and educators work together for a common goal.

Let me take this opportunity to encourage all of our parents and guardians to continue to provide the enormous support that I have come to rely on. Let us continue to work together to provide the quality education that our children so richly deserve.

From the Principal's Desk

In every printed issue of the Duke Ellington Express, our Principal, Ms. Delois White, addresses the P.S 4 community...

Happy New Year to our PS4 family! When I think of the new year, I think of chances. As you know, life is filled with joys, sorrows and opportunities to make changes and a chance to embrace new beginnings and search for new horizons.

In the year 2010, we observed our students grow physically, emotionally and academically by leaps and bounds! Let us continue to bind together as parents, teachers, administrators, and staff to help our children to receive the support they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Let’s keep hope alive.

A Word From Ms. White...

A quality education involves much more than the core curricula subjects such as math English, social studies, and science. Without a doubt, students must receive all of the subject areas to live and enjoy a productive life. However, we often speak of meeting the needs of the “whole child”; which include opportunities that will expand the child’s cultural, emotional, and social well-being. Therefore, the school day must be extended to include courses in music, art, sports, dance, drama, computer literacy, as well as other activities that serve to motivate, inspire, and enrich the learning experiences of each child.

As adults, we often think of extra-curricular activities as merely “play time” for children, but children learn other needed skills through play. They learn how to share, teamwork, tolerance, and the need to work with people different from ourselves. In addition, we learn self-control and how to operate the old principle, “together we stand, divided we fall”. As teachers, parents, and community outreach personnel, let us strive to provide as many enriching opportunities and experiences for our children to excel in the passion of their choice.

From the Principal's Desk

Every issue, our Principal, Ms. Delois White addresses the P.S 4 community...

It brings me great pleasure to say, "Hello" to each of you in the new school year! Our plans are enormous and quite promising as we embrace the need to prepare ourselves to live productively in the 21st century. I'm sure that you have noticed that technology is moving at a rapid pace. Yesterday's T.V. set is today's antique. The telephone, though still a viable communication tool, is fast becoming an instrument for our parents and grandparents. The youth of today communicate through iPods, Wikis, web posts and blogs. Therefore, here at P.S. 4, we've taken on the challenge of teaching all of the skills and knowledge that our children will need to enter the job market and be able to exchange ideas with scholars around the world in an instant.





Our staff began the school year by asking this question; "are we preparing our child for our future or are we preparing them for our past." Clearly, the answer must be that we will embrace the winds of change with the help of our teachers, parents and staff. With our new 21st century grant, we will realize our goals and aspirations for the 2009 - 2010 school year. Let's take the A - Train to success.