Rock the Test Pep Rally!

The New York State ELA Tests will take place on March 28, 29 and 30th. Our Rock the Test Pep Rally was a success! The scholars enjoyed all the fun planned activities by Mr. Ovalle and Mr. Keys. The pep rally included some memorable moments such as:

• the PRIDE song sang by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, led by the talented Janelys R.
• the awesome dance moves from the America Scores Soccer team [choreographed by Mr. Keys and Mr. Ovalle] 
• a beautiful poem written and performed by Henesy J., about being strong 
• the amazing AAU basketball team [PS4 Duke Ellington's finest athletes]! 
• and let's not forget our crowd "risers" - Maurice H., Nasir H., and Lismaldy J. They kept us dancing the whole time!

Special thanks to all of our teachers, for all the hard work they have put in for our scholars to feel successful on their test! Students were in such good spirits and are ready to rock the test! For more information about our state tests, click here and check out the video below for some highlights from our Test Pep Rally!


Rock the Test from PS4M on Vimeo.

PS4 Celebrates Black History: The African American Experience

Students listen to Mr. Keys' mother and aunts as they share their stories of living in Harlem in the 1960's.

To celebrate Black History Month, Mr. Keys brought in three very special guests!  Guest Speakers Mozella Keys (the mother of Mr. Keys), Helen Baker (Mr. Keys' aunt), and Ann Burley (another aunt)!  These three sisters visited the boys and girls of class 520 and allowed them to ask questions about living in the Harlem in the 1950's and 1960's. They all lived during the civil rights era after migrating from South Carolina.  They were 6, 9 and 11 years old.  They boarded a train and arrived in Harlem where they stayed with their aunt who lived on 158 Street and St Nicholas Ave. This was an area of Harlem called "Sugar Hill".  They shared great stories of attending school with actor and activist Harry Belafonte, actress Diana Carroll, boxer Joe Lewis and famous singer Frankie Lymon. Even the great Duke Ellington lived in the neighborhood!

Special thanks to Ms. Keys, Ms. Baker and Ms. Burley who gave our students a better understanding of the African-American experience.