PS4 Alumni Visits Class 501

Denise, a graduate of PS4 attending Syracuse University, visits her 5th grade class.

Denise Romero, a PS4 alumni and freshman at Syracuse University, recently visited class 501!   She shared her college experience with our scholars.  She is an older sibling of Daniel R., who is a current student in that class.  The students really enjoyed hearing specific details about college life, majoring in a subject area of interest, and transitioning to living at school and managing free time effectively.  Denise is majoring in English and Secondary Education.  She wants to be a teacher!

Ms. McLeod, who was her 5th grade teacher, was inspired by College Awareness Day, that took place in January.  "It's important for young scholars to hear from students in college", she said.  "This way they can see that college is something that they can do".  Thank you, Denise, for inspiring our scholars at PS4 and good luck to you in completing your first year at Syracuse!

To see photos from Career Day, that took place in January, click here!   

Book Fair Kingdom

Each year Scholastic Book Fairs®, in partnership with schools across the country, hosts more than 127,000 book-sale events that give more than 35 million students and their families access to thousands of affordable and educational products, helping foster a lifelong love of reading.  PS4 hosts three book fairs each year in the library.  These fairs take place during Parent-Teacher Conferences and are always an exciting time for students, teachers and parents.

The Book Fair Kingdom was this year's theme!  Two of the most best-selling books at this season's fair were Sisters by Raina Telgemeier and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Long Haul by Jeff Kinney.  Special thanks to the student crew who helped shoppers find the books that were just right for our young readers.  Cassandra C. (520), Donarly F. (501) and Nathan M. (501) used iPads and iPods uploaded with the Scholastic Book Fair app to help parents find books.  Special thanks to Ms. McLeod who provided advice and support to our many visitors shopping for books to help their children become better readers.

Take a look at the slideshow below for some photos from our recent book fair.

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Classroom Champions Update #3

As part of the Classroom Champions program, top performing athletes are connected with students in high-need schools. They use video lessons and live video chat to motivate students to recognize their potential, set goals and dream big, while educating them in the practical use of communications technology. 

Upon their return from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, gold medalist ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White made sure to spend some time with students they've been mentoring since October!  Ms. McLeod and Mr. Nycz's students were invited to the Today Show, at Rockefeller Center, to reunite with the athletes that they know and love.

Check out the slideshow below for some highlights from this memorable experience!  A big thanks to Giddeon Massie, Olympian and Classroom Champions Advisor, for making this opportunity a smooth one.  We appreciate your dedication to the program.

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Classroom Champions Update #1

Classroom Champions is a program that brings Olympians and Paralympians (Athlete Mentors) into the classroom using videos and live chats. Each athlete mentor adopts 1-4 classrooms per year. Focusing on their own personal journey, athletes teach young students about the hard work of training, goal setting, competition and perseverance.  Class 502 has been part of the Classroom Champions since September!

Class 502 and parents with ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White at Rockefeller Center.

Recently, Mr. Nycz and Ms. McLeod's students were invited by the program to attend a live taping of the Today Show at Rockefeller Center to meet their athlete mentors, Meryl Davis and Charlie White!  They are two highly-accomplished American ice dancers who have their eyes on the prize as they prepare for the Winter Olympics next year.  Students arrived at PS4 at 6:30am to have breakfast and board a bus to 49th Street.

Congratulations again to Mr. Nycz, Ms. McLeod and their students for being classroom champions!  Keep us updated on all of your great experiences.  Click here to read a blog post written by Mr. Nycz about his experience on the trip!  Check out the video below to see how students from his class discuss their goals and how they plan to achieve them.


Classroom Champions Goal Setting Video for Class 502! from Brent Nycz on Vimeo.

Meet Our New Teacher: Ms. Barnosky

Ms. Barnosky, in her classroom.

Ms. Barnosky is a new teacher at PS4!  She is co - teaching with Ms. McLeod in class 502. Ms. Barnosky still lives in the town where she was born and raised; Cornwell, New York. She believes that her job is to help students learn to love to read. "I want every child that I teach to love reading."

This is Ms. Barnosky's first year teaching for New York City's Department of Education, but this is not her first year working with children. "I used to work with Pre-K children at West Point." West Point is a famous Army College that has produced many leaders and Generals in the United States of America, including two presidents! It is located 50 miles north of New York City.  Each year, more than 1,000 cadets graduate!  Click here to find out more information about West Point Military Academy.

Even though she did not get to ride on a tank or on a fighter airplane, she did have other experiences that only young soldiers might have.  Ms. Barnosky knows what it's like to eat in the Army mess hall!  She also used to get free meals at restaurants in the area! Ms. B, as her students call her, earned her Master's Degree at Rutger's University in New Jersey. She hopes that she, along with her co - teacher Ms. McLeod, can bring all of her students to read at or above grade level. "Hopefully we can work to narrow the achievement gap." Welcome to PS4, Ms. B!

New Technology At PS4

Mr. Nycz, conducting a workshop for teachers.

Ms. McLeod using the Promethean Board during a lesson.

Thanks to a grant from Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, all classroom on the third and fourth floor have been outfitted with Promethean Boards!  A "Promethean board" or "Activboard" is a component of the Promethean Activclassroom which is simply a new way to create an exciting environment that allows students to actively participate in their learning.  

"Even for my really shy students, two-thirds of the class is participating", said third grade teacher Mr. Nycz. His co - teacher describes how excited students get when the Promethean Board is used.  "I see them going back to their seats grinning from ear to ear", said Ms. Bonilla.

For more information about Promethean Boards, click here!  To see a video of a Pre-K class using a Promethian Board, click here!

Joke of the Week!

Question: What did the pencil say to the math book?

Answer: You have a lot of problems!

Special thanks to 5th grader Brianna T. for this joke! Click here for jokes about astronomy! If you would like to share a joke, post it in the comment box.

Art Exhibition at PS4

On March 15 and 16, the Dia/Hispanic Society Museum and PS4M officially opened an art exhibition showcasing student artwork inspired by Koo Joeng A. "This year, the artist's work is very abstract", says Education Associate, Christine Hou, "and the students really have to use their imagination". Miss Christine (as she is fondly called by our 5th graders) worked with Ms. McLeod's class to discuss how the artist was inspired by the five senses. Since January, each 5th grade class worked with an art instructor to create their masterpieces. Click here to see an article about how it all began. The exhibition will remain in the 4th floor lobby during the month of March.

If you are interested in purchasing framed artwork for your child (any grade level), click here for more information or contact the school's librarian by calling the main office at (212) 928-0739.

Senior Spirit Week

Recently, the seniors of The Duke Ellington School celebrated Spirit Week! The Spirit Committee of PS4's National Elementary Honor Society came up with ways for students to school spirit by participating in activities or dressing in certain ways that show how much they love PS4. Here's how the week went:

Monday-Hat Day
Tuesday-Compliment Day
Wed-Duke Pride Day (wear your uniform)
Thursday-Twin Day
Friday-All Black Day (dress in all black)

Twin Day was especially exciting! Even teachers got in the spirit! "I can't wait for our next Twin Day", said Ms. McLeod,"It was fun!". For more information on this and all events sponsored by the Honor Society, speak to Yeni P., 5th grade president of the organization.

5th Grade Hosts Health & Fitness Fair

On February 17, 5th grade classes hosted a very successful Health & Fitness Fair! Each 5th grade class presented an important topic concerning health or fitness:

Ms. McLeod's class shared healthy snacks, including hummus and peppers! Selected students then gave Google Doc presentations about the disadvantages of eating processed foods. Students in Ms. Anderson's class provided water to visitors after leading them through a series of exercises. In class 520, students used diagrams and posters to discuss the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Rafael N. showed students how to take their pulse by putting two fingers under your chin. With the list of ingredients distributed, Ms. Cabral taught visitors how to make a strawberry-banana smoothie and everyone got a taste of this healthy treat!

"This is great", said Rahel Biegel, Program Coordinator for Healthy Schools & Healthy Families, "PS4 always has some great ideas for encouraging healthy lifestyles".

Look at the slide show below for pictures from this event!

P.S.4 Partners In Education: Dia/The Hispanic Society of America Museum

Each year, 5th grade classes partner with artists and instructors from Dia/Hispanic Society of America Museum to create artwork inspired by exhibitions at the museum. This year, students will focus on the work of Koo Jeong A.

"This year, the artist's work is very abstract", says Education Accociate, Christine Hou, "and the students really have to use their imagination". Ms. Christine (as she is fondly called by our 5th graders) will work with Ms. McLeod's class to discuss how the artist was inspired by the five senses. Each 5th grade class will work with an art instructor on four different occasions. On January 21, students walked to the Hispanic Society of America Museum to see the exhibit. "It smells like paint", said Franklin S. and Carlos D. (pictured above) as he walked in the large white room housing the artwork of Koo Jeong A. During the month of February, P.S. 4 will host it's own exhibition showcasing student work inspired by this abstract artist.

To see a photo of our students working with Dia/Hispanic Society of America last year, click here.