The Power Within

Dr. Montanez encourages students in grades 3-5 to believe in their "heroic" qualities.

The Power Within - PBIS assemblies foster the definition of Ellington PRIDE.  Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework for improving and integrating all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. It is a way to support our school community to create the kind of school where all students are successful. The Power Within series is an educational and enriching set of assemblies where teachers and students alike can experience using positivity to attain goals and express their Ellington PRIDE.

Dr. Montanez teaches scholars about the effects of stress on the human body.

The Power Within Series, created by Mr. Cantu (PBIS Chairperson) is a series of workshops, geared toward scholars in grades 3-5. Scholars are motivated to believe in their super hero or “heroic” qualities. Qualities like positivity, respect and determination should be shared with the school community; classmates, teachers and family members. During this particular assembly, Dr. Evelyn Montanez, leader of Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation in New York City, encouraged students to focus on the five virtues that our school upholds:

1. Positivity
2. Respect
3. Integrity
4. Determination
5. Excellence

With help from members of her team from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Montanez shows scholars how to incorporate these positive traits in their everyday actions. She also reminded scholars to remain positive when they take tests. "Stress hormones in the body can affect your mood, body and test-taking skills", she says. "Negative thinking before a test, can release those stress hormones".  Students in grade 3-5 will be taking New York State Standardized Tests in March, April, May and June. The test dates are as follows:

March 25-26, 2020 - Grade 3-5 NYS English Language Arts Test
April 21-22, 2020 - Grades 3-5 NYS Mathematics Test
May 28, 2020 - Grade 4 NYS Science Test (Performance)
June 1, 2020 - Grade 4 NYS Science Test (Written)

Special thanks to Dr. Montanez for her continuous support of PS4 scholars and staff. For more information about her and the Turn 2 Foundation, click here. For more information about the Power Within Series, contact Mr. Cantu. For details about New York State and local tests that PS4 scholars will be taking this year, click here.

Pictured (left to right): Dr. Montanez, Mr. Cantu, PS4 scholars and members of the Turn 2/Columbia-Presbyterian team.

Ellington P.R.I.D.E. - The Matrix

PS4's Behavior Matrix lists the expectations of scholars in the classroom, shared spaces and the cafeteria.

At the end of every morning announcement, students hear:

"With something to think about, this is Mr. Cantu.  Make it a great day...or not.  The choice is yours."

These words, along with some Words of Wisdom, support our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) System.  This is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture that are needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success.  Our students are encouraged to make good choices in their classroom, in the hallway and in the cafeteria.  Students that show positivity, respect, integrity, determination and excellence (P.R.I.D.E.) are rewarded with "Knight Notes". 

At our first assembly of the year, scholars in all grades were treated to a screening of our Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Video professionally filmed and edited in 2017! Click here to see it!  Scholars were shown the behavior matrix and reminded of how they are expected to behave in the classroom, hallways and in the cafeteria.  They also learned about Knight Notes and ways to show determination. Mr. Cantu (Bilingual Coordinator/Dean), Ms. Scollo (Phys Ed 2 Teacher), and Mr. Lagares (Phys Ed 1 Teacher), gave examples of how they showed determination. "I read the book over and over again so I could be ready for my teacher the next day", said Mr. Lagares. "After that, I learned to love reading".

PBIS Assemblies will be held each month. For more information on our PBIS System, please contact Mr. Cantu or your child's teacher.

Mr. Lagares, Ms. Scollo and Mr. Cantu speaking to scholars about ways to show determination.

Ellington PRIDE Celebration - October

Columbia musicians, from The "Back to Bach" Project, visited PS4 to celebrate this month's virtue: integrity.

Our scholars celebrated this month’s virtue with a performance from students at Columbia University. Heather, Zoe, Annette, Yael, and Zane represented The "Back to BACH" Project! This global initiative inspires music and arts education to young children, and teaches them the value of hard work and passion. The Back to BACH Project is a global initiative to inspire music and arts education to young children, and to teach them the value of hard work and passion. For more information about the project, click here.

PS4 is a PBIS school! Through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, our school showcases a different virtue each month. The virtue of the month for October is INTEGRITY.  Students show integrity by being consistent with completing their classwork, always supporting their classmates and coming to school ready to learn.  

PBIS practices include preventative and responsive approaches that may be effectively implemented with all students in a classroom and intensified to support small groups or a few individuals. To encourage our scholars, they are commended with Knight Notes for excellent behavior.  Classes that receive the most Knight Notes are recognized at our monthly assemblies.  This month, Mr. Cantu (PBIS Coach) awarded classes 304, 402 and 504.  Congratulations to all of our Knight Note winners and special thanks to the musicians from Columbia University for bringing their Back to Bach Project to PS4.

3rd grade Class - Knight Note winners: Class 304 pictured with musicians, Mr. Beller,  Ms. Cole (teachers) and Mr. Cantu.

4th Grade Knight Note winners: Class 402 with musicians and Mr. Cantu (PBIS Coach) 

5th grade class Knight Note winner: Class 504, pictured with musicians, and teachers; Ms. Anderson and Mr. Rosario.

P.B.I.S. Celebration

Principal Stevens is joined with a kindergarten student whose Knight Note was chosen.

Since the school year began, students that receive 'Knight Notes' from teachers and administrators are given a chance to win prizes from Principal Stevens!  Two students from each class are called down to the office to select a prize from Mr. Stevens' prize box.  Friday afternoons are a very exciting time for PS4 students. "C'mon down", says Mr. Stevens as he calls names of students who have received "Knight Notes" during the week.

On Friday, October 13, students from all grades were invited to attend our first P.B.I.S. Celebration!  At this assembly, students enjoyed musical performances, directed by Mr. Means (Music Teacher) and theatrical performances directed by Ms. Batts (Theatre Teacher).  They were also given some Words of Wisdom by Ms. Lennon (Technology Teacher) and Mr. Cantu (PBIS Coordinator) gave certificates for classes that were given the most Knight Notes on their grade, for the month of September.  Take a look at some photos and videos below to see highlights from the celebration.

Principal Stevens with Kindergarten and 1st grade winners.

Mr. Cantu with 2nd and 3rd grade "Knight Note" prize box winners.

Mr. Cantu with 4th and 5th grade "Knight Note" winners.

Theatrical Performance by Class 520 from PS4M on Vimeo.



Recorder Ensemble Performance from PS4M on Vimeo.

Members of the P.B.I.S. Team: Ms. Batts, Ms. Lennon, Mr. Cantu, and Mr. Means.