Honoring Mothers - 2018

PTA Vice President Orchid Rodriguez Huerta portrayed the "Candy Mom" during a celebration honoring mothers.

Directed by Mr. Perez (PS4's Dance Teacher), in collaboration with the P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior Intervention System) Committee, our scholars honored mothers and mother figures at a Spring performance that took place in our school's auditorium.  Entitled 'Mother, May I?', the show highlighted our talented scholars and featured mothers from our PTA.  We even received a special visit from Johanna Garcia, President of the Community Education Council - District 6)!

Johanna Garcia, President of the Community Education Council - District 6, congratulates Mr. Perez, the show's director.

Directly after some opening remarks from Mr. Perez, the audience was treated to video sharing the powerful portrayal of three women’s journey to motherhood, from around the world and members of our PTA shared a poem.  Then the PS4 Stepping Queens, consisting of ten girls from the 5th grade, took the stage! They showed us a type of dance, with origins in South Africa!  Stepping or step-dancing is a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps!  For more information on stepping, click here!

Our Spring performance, honoring mothers, continued with the Ellington Poets, directed by Mr. Cantu, performing their original bilingual poem entitled, "Madre Mia".  Our show ended with some Words of Wisdom from Ms. Lennon (Technology Teacher/P.B.I.S. Committee Member) and a special "Candy Mom" performance by the Duke Ellington Dance Company and Mr. Means (Music Teacher).  Here are some of Ms. Lennon's Words of Wisdom...

"The women who mother us speak to us in many ways.  They tell us they love us every time they give a hug or a smile.  They tell us they love us every time they cook a meal or cover us with a blanket when we're cold. Next time you are with the person who mothers you, notice all the little things she does that tell you that she cares.  Then write a letter of appreciation.  It's the best Mother's Day gift you could ever give her".

On behalf of the Duke Ellington School community, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers!  Special thanks Joanna Garcia for visiting our school and to Mr. Perez for directing a great show!  To see more photos and videos from the performance, click here!

Winter Arts Showcase

The Boy's Squad, under the direction of Mr. Perez (Dance Teacher) perform.

Happy Winter!  On December 21st, the official first day of winter, the Arts Department of PS4 presented a Winter Arts Showcase featuring our talented students.  In front of an audience of students, teachers and parents, dancers, singers and actors from 1st to 5th grade celebrated the season.  Take a look at the videos below for highlights of this exciting assembly


Class 520 - Vocal Performance in Spanish from PS4M on Vimeo.


PRIDE Actors - Winter Performing Arts Showcase from PS4M on Vimeo.


Boy’s Squad - Winter Arts Showcase from PS4M on Vimeo.


Class 320 - Dance the Menorah - Winter Arts Showcase from PS4M on Vimeo.


101 Dance Performance - Winter Arts Showcase from PS4M on Vimeo.


402 Dance Performance - Winter Arts Showcase from PS4M on Vimeo.

Ellington P.R.I.D.E (VIDEO)

With support from Dr. Montanez and the Turn2 Us Staff at Columbia Presbyterian, the students, teachers and staff at PS4 used their Ellington P.R.I.D.E. (positivity, respect, integrity, determination and excellence) to create this video that showcases our positive school culture. (Credits: Music from Justin Timberlake's "Dance", production by Jose Cantu and editing by Jesse Means.

Jazz & Democracy At PS4

Musicians from The Jazz & Democracy Project visited PS4 to perform for 4th and 5th grade students.

Hosted by Mr. Means (Music Teacher) and Mr. Cantu (Dean/ESL Teacher) students in grades 4 and 5 recently enjoyed a performance by a group of talented musicians from The Jazz & Democracy Project!  Their Jazz for Young People Concert Series allowed students to answer questions about where jazz began, details about woodwind instruments, and about the form or patterns that "blues" music follows.  Mr. Means was very proud of our students.  "I was so proud", he said.  "It was wonderful to see our students make the connection between jazz music and what we must do for a successful democracy".

Mr. Means speaks to students about the history of jazz music.

Mr. Cantu speaks to students about the connection between jazz, democracy and pride.

The Jazz and Democracy Project at PS4 is organized by Mr. Cantu who serves as our Arts Liaison.  The project helps the scholars make connections between democracy and jazz in a historical perspective.  It is a music integrated curriculum that utilizes jazz as a metaphor to bring American democracy to life, enrich the study and teaching of U.S. history, government, civics and culture, and inspire youth to become active, positive contributors to their communities.

For more information about the Jazz and Democracy project at PS4, contact Mr. Cantu. 

Learning Doesn't Stop While Students Are Testing

Students that did not take the ELA or Math Tests, spent time in the auditorium reading, singing and watching a movie.

Ms. Steinman (Speech Therapist) reads a book to students.

Elementary and Middle School students in New York State take yearly tests to assess their mastery in Common Core Learning Standards.  But, some students do not take the English Language Arts or Math Exams.  During these state exams those students who have been named as non-testable, who's parents have opted them out, or who arrive too late to start the test with their class are sent to the auditorium.

This year, Mr. Means and a team of student-teachers and support staff were able to plan educational activities for a time when only movies may been played in the past.  Last week's schedule went roughly as follows:

• morning announcements
• 30-minutes of music and singing
• 30-minutes of silent reading
• ONE movie shown in English with Spanish subtitles
• the lights on the right side of auditorium are left on for students who want to read or do work

Student-Teacher, Mr. Beller, works with non-testable students in the auditorium.

Ms. Williams, Occupational Therapists, reads to non-testable students.

Teachers and staff in the auditorium were very active educators.  From small reading groups to help with picking which film will be most appropriate for our whole audience (which includes students in special education as well as English Language Learners), everyone was focused on creating  learning environment for students that were not testing.

Special thanks to Mr. Means, our Music Teacher, and his team of student-teachers and support staff for making sure our scholars continue learning.  Thanks to Mr. Beller (student-teacher), Ms. Steinman (Speech Pathologist), Ms. Williams (Occupational Therapist), and Ms. Collado (Speech Pathologist).

Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony - 2015

Attendees at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony on December 8, 2015.

Congratulations to all the award winners that received certificates at the Cluster Teacher Awards Ceremony! Nearly fifty parents and guests attended the ceremony to see their child receive an award from PS4's Cluster Teachers!  The Cluster teachers work with all PS4 students each week to teach Science, Technology, Social Studies, Physical Education, Reading, Music and Math.

Upon careful consideration of classwork, effort, character and citizenship, fifteen students were selected to receive an award in the auditorium.  On behalf of all Ms. McLeod (Reading), Mr. Means (Music),  Ms. McArdle (Physical Education), Ms. Baez (Science), Mr. Cesani (Technology) and Mr. Harris (Social Studies), congratulations to all the award winners!  Take a look at the slideshow below for more photos from the event.

Customize your own free picture collage

PS4 Celebrates Black History: Black History Month Assembly

Under the direction of Social Studies Teacher Mr. Harris, students create a timeline.

At our annual Black History Assembly, students from grades 2 through 5 celebrated a few of the many achievement by African-Americans.  Two students were awarded with certificates for participating in an essay contest and representatives from the Harlem Swing Dance Society showed how Swing Dancing in 1930's Harlem has influenced the hip-hop dancing of today.  Under the direction of Mr. Means, class 501 shared a powerful poem about Harriet Tubman and Social Studies Teacher Mr. Harris guided students in creating a timeline with the names of seven African-Americans in the fields of science, literacy and civil rights.  To see the full video of the performance by class 501, click here or click the photo below!


Tubman Poem By Class 501 from PS4M on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Ms. Barbara Jones and Ray Davis from the Harlem Swing Dance Society!  For more information about their organization, click here!  Take a look at the photo collage below for highlights from the event!

Create a collage

Fifty Nifty United States (VIDEO)

Do you know the names of all 50 states in America?  Under the direction of Mr. Means, PS4 Music Teacher, many students in 2nd grade now know all 50 states because of a song called Fifty Nifty United States!  Two students from Ms. Hodge's class performed the song for the entire school during morning announcements with Ms. White, our principal!  They were also asked to perform for parents during a Pre-K workshop! 

Congratulations to Amanda A. and Eva H. from class 202!  Click here to read the lyrics of the song and take a look at the video below to see their performance!  Special thanks to Mr. Means for his expertise in recording and editing!


Fifty Nifty United States from PS4M on Vimeo.

Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest - 2014 (VIDEO)

Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest winners Fatima, Sherlyn, Penelope and Adriana hold their certificates.

From mid-September through mid-October, America recognizes the contributions, culture and heritage of Hispanic Americans.  Students in grades 3 and 4 celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with an assembly in the auditorium!  The celebration featured student winners of the Hispanic Heritage Essay contest.  The contest required students to write an essay about their culture.  All participants were given a certificate.  Winners received $5 in cash and five Scholastic books!  Congratulations to the following students who participated in the essay contest:

• Sherlyn G. (401)
• Fatima M. (301)
• Adriana M. (301)
• Penelope B. (301)
• Lisy S. (301)
• Jayrent C. (301)
• Ariana B. (301)

This celebration also featured a vocal performance by Ms. Barnosky's class (402), under the direction of our Music Teacher, Mr. Means!  Take a look at the video below to see the performance!  Congratulations to our talented 3rd and 4th grade students!



IMG 2215 from PS4M on Vimeo.

2013 Talent Show

Congratulations to all the students who performed at the 2013 Talent Show!  Thanks to all the parents, family members and teachers who saw the show!  Principal Bonnie D. White-Jones would like to give special thanks to Mr. Harris (host), Mr. Means (sound/video engineer) and Ms. Lennon (show director) who, along with the following VERY important people, produced a very successful show:

• Ms. Torres - Backstage Director/Decorations
• Ms. Salce - Talent Coach/Decorations
• Mr. Theodore - Talent Coach/Spotlight/Budget
• Mr. Cantu - Talent Coach (Ellington Poets)
• Ms. Cabral - Decorations
• Mr. Conrad - Stage Props/Decorations
• Ms. Martin (Assistant Principal) - Front House Manager/Tickets
• Lucy Perez (Parent Coordinator) - Snacks & Water
• Morena (School Aide) - Snacks & Water
• Officer Rosario - School Safety
• Sergio Larios & Clave Azul - House Band
• Kayla Morales & Elizabeth's Modeling Agency - Fashion Show
• Custodial Staff - Building Maintenance

Check out the slideshow below for backstage photos from the show!

Free digital slideshow made with Smilebox

5th Graders Sing at Fordham University

Recently, students from Ms. Anderson's class were asked to perform at Fordham University!  Administrators and and educational leaders who have partnered with Fordham's Graduate School of Education were invited to attend a Principal's Holiday Luncheon Program.  Directed by Mr. Means, class 520 sang "We The People", a song based on the Preamble of the United States Constitution.

For more information about the song, click here!  Click here to see a video from the event!

Ms. Anderson (back-right) and her class with Mr. Means (back-left), Marge Struk (Network Leader), Dr. Batisti (Associate Dean), Delois White-Jones (Prinicpal) and Mr. Theodore (Staff & Budget Coordinator).