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.

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.

Class Knight Note Winners - November

Maria Garcia, Accelerated Reader Implementation Specialist, and Ms. Lennon, Technology Teacher with Star Readers.

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".  Those classes that receive the most "Knight Notes" are rewarded with a certificate at our monthly P.B.I.S. Celebration.  Winning classes are also given a choice of an extra period in the gym with Mr. Lagares, eating lunch outside with the principal or chosen teacher, or free time with Ms. Lennon in the computer lab.  See photos below of the "Knight Note" class winners for the month of November!

Class 480 - Ms. Smith's Class

Class 102 - Ms. Pinales

Class 220 - Ms. Salce

Jazz & Civil Rights Show

Band leader and pianist Samora, plays for students during a Jazz and Civil Rights Show in the auditorium.

What does jazz music have to do with civil rights?  Students, teachers and parents assembled in the auditorium for the third and final assembly from the Jazz and Democracy Project.  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.

At this Jazz and Civil Rights Show, more than two hundred audience members learned about the origin of "Spirituals" and how they helped people in coping with the obstacles and struggles that came with the slavery experience. Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619.

As part of the Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Arts Series, organized by PS4's Arts Coordinator Mr. Cantu, students have been learning about the history of jazz music. When asked about how the arts help our students, Mr. Cantu said, "our students are able to make connections with everyday personal conflicts that they may have in their own lives..they find ways to cope with problems by using music or art".  To see photos from a Jazz & Democracy Show done in Novembers, click here!

P.R.I.D.E. Day Celebration (VIDEOS)

Ms. Mercedes Ellington (center - rear) poses with her fellow musicians, Principal Stevens, staff and students from PS4.

The Duke Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Day Celebration event was a success with support from Dr. Montanez and the Turn2 Us Staff at Columbia Presbyterian, featuring performances from The Ellington Poets Society, The Jazz and Democracy Project, The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts and with special guest speaker Ms. Mercedes Ellington; Granddaughter of Duke Ellington!

Ms. Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington, poses with host and Technology Teacher, Ms. Lennon.

During this special assembly, we celebrated the tenets of The Duke Ellington School; Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence and honor the American icon that our school is named after; Duke Ellington.  Click here to to read an article about Duke Ellington's granddaughter!  Then take a look at the videos below to see Ms. Ellington show her skills in ballroom dancing and watch an excerpt from a poem by The Ellington Poets Society. 


Ms. Mercedes Ellington Ballroom Dancing from PS4M on Vimeo.


Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Poem (Excerpt) by The Ellington Poets Society from PS4M on Vimeo.

Perfect Attendance for December

Mr. Diaz, Kindergarten Teacher, shakes the hand of a parent as her daughter receives a Perfect Attendance certificate.

Congratulations to the nearly seventy-five students that attended the celebration for scholars that have achieved perfect attendance for the month of December!  This celebration took place in the auditorium with an audience of parents, teachers and guests.  Teachers presented students with a certificate.  "A special thank you goes to the parents", said Ms. Martin, assistant principal and host.  "Thank you for making learning a priority and making sure that your child comes to school every day, on time".

Excellent attendance is a crucial requirement for doing well in school--and life! A student may be absent for illness, emergencies, or for religious observance, but the goal is for every student to be in school every day.   A student who has 90% attendance is missing one month of instruction. A student with less than 90% attendance is considered chronically absent.  For more information from the NYC Department of Education, about student attendance, click here.

Take a look at the photo collage below, for some highlights from the Perfect Attendance Celebration!

Free photo collage made with Smilebox

College and Career Day

 Fifth grade students celebrated College and Career Day with PS4!  Special guests from Boricua College and City College of NYC - Teachers College, spoke to students about the reasons why college is so important. Hosted by Mr. Batiz, Assistant Principal, and Ms. Estrella, Guidance Counselor, students were encouraged to start thinking about colleges that they may want to apply for.

For assistance in choosing the right middle school, contact our guidance counselor, Ms. Estrella.  For more inspiration, watch the video below of Michelle Obama speaking about the importance of going to college!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly (VIDEO)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said his 'I Have A Dream' speech on August 28, 1963.

"I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" is what Dr. King told an audience of millions in August of the year 1963.  As America continues to struggle with racism, students at PS4 honored the great man by listening to presentations by our students and inducting fifteen new members of our National Elementary Honor Society.  Hosted by our Social Studies Teacher, Mr. Harris, this celebration included students reading excerpts from Dr. King's most famous speeches:

• Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech (December 10, 1964)
• Montgomery Bus Boycott Speech (December 5, 1955)
• I've Been to the Mountaintop Speech (April 3, 1968)
• Letters From A Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963)

After learning about the meaning of each speech, Mr. Harris spoke about why we celebrate Dr. King and encouraged students to learn more about his life by doing some research.  Here are some kid-friendly websites about the life of this great man;

• Brainpop.com - Martin Luther King, Jr. (VIDEO)
• Time For Kids - Honoring King's Dream (VIDEO)
• Social Studies for Kids - Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Our assembly to honor Dr. King also included a candle-lighting, induction ceremony for the fifteen new members of PS4's National Elementary Honor Society (advised by Ms. Lennon), a great vocal performance of Estelle's song 'Conqueror' from Kasiyah O. (class 502) and a poem from the Ellington Poets (directed by Mr. Cantu).  To see their performance, click the video below.

Ms. Lennon with the new members of the National Elementary Honor Society.

Kasiyah O. (502) sings 'Conqueror' by Estelle.

MLK Jr. Celebration - Ellington Poets from PS4M on Vimeo.

3rd Grade Meeting & Awards

Assistant Principal Ms. Martin discuss her expectations with students and teachers in grade 3.

Recently, Assistant Principal Ms. Martin met with students and teachers from the 3rd grade.  She encouraged students to create academic goals, discussed expectations for the next month and provided time for teachers to give certificates to students who have achieved success in math, English language arts, reading and overall behavior.  Nearly fifty students were awarded for academic success and another fifty students were also rewarded for having perfect attendance since the first day of school!

Congratulations to the 3rd grade award winners!  Take a look at photos of the meeting below.

Ms. Schwartz with award winners from class 301 and Ms. Martin.

Ms. Davis with award winners from class 302 and Ms. Martin.

Mr. Cantu with award winners from class 320 and Ms. Martin.

Ms. Cabral with award winners from class 321 and Ms. Martin

Ms. Marino with award winners from class 322 and Ms. Martin