Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for Class 482

Each year, District 75 holds an Adaptive Physical Education Parade and Sports Day!  This event is specifically for students with disabilities and is very similar to the Special Olympics.  Teams presented banners, a torch was lit to symbolize the beginning of the games and all students received ribbons and medals!  Students in Ms. Torres class (482) were able to compete in games against students from other schools.  Some of the events were the standing long jump, softball throw, and the 50 meter run.  "I'm very proud of my students", said Ms. Torres.  "They showed their ability to physically compete".  Most of the students in her class, received gold, silver and bronze medals!  Congratulations, class 482!

For more information about the Department of Education's Adaptive Physical Education Program, click here!  Take a look at some photos and videos (taken by Ms. Torres) in the collage below!

Picture collage made with Smilebox

The BioBus Visits PS4

Did you notice the 1974 San Francisco Transit Bus parked outside PS4 recently?  Well, that was thanks to Dr. Ben and his team of scientists who brought the BioBus to PS4!  Students from fourth grade and a few parents got on board this high-tech laboratory on wheels!  Each student got a chance to use microscopes, learn about what scientists do and see Daphnia!  Daphnia is a tiny, shrimp-like animal that can be found in rivers around our community.

"The BioBus is a great opportunity for students to get experience magnifying objects under a microscope", says Ms. Baez, our Science Lab teacher.  "Students need more experience using scientific tools and the BioBus allows them to do that!".

Thank you, Dr. Ben, for visiting PS4!  Our students had fun and learned a lot in the process.  For more information about the BioBus, click here and for a game using an online microscope, click here!

Respect For All!

Speaking with the Dean of Discipline, Mr. Cantu (pictured here, with Mr. Harris), The Duke Ellington Express has learned about a program, named Respect For All. This program is dedicated to ensuring that students learn in a safe environment. "It is something that we take very seriously here at P.S. 4," says Mr. Cantu in the Dean's office. "We would like every student to be tolerant and respectful towards each other. The Respect For All program helps us do that." Each month, students are awarded for their academic achievements, but students are also awarded for showing tolerance and respect. Last week, the "Golden Rule Award" was given to ten 5th graders including Alex G. and Michelle H. (pictured above-both from class 521).

P.S.4 will continue to support the Respect For All program by hosting a series of anti-bullying workshops for students. On Wednesday, January 26th, a bully-proofing program called the Power of One (series of skits presented by actors) will review the roles of the Bully, Target, and Bystander. The program teaches students the importance of reporting bullying when they see it.

To see games, videos and information about what you can do to stop bullying, click here.

If you or someone you know is being bullied, immediately contact Mr. Cantu in his office, e-mail him at jcantu@schools.nyc.gov or call the main office at (212) 928-0739.

Meet Ms. Torres!

Meet Ms. Torres, the new teacher of Class 482! Ms. Torres is a New York City Teaching Fellow and has been teaching for two years. She comes from the Urban Institute of Mathematics, a Junior High School in The Bronx. Ms. Torres says she is happy to teach here at P.S. 4 because,

"I like the change and the challenge of teaching younger students."

Born and raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Ms. Torres is a former social worker who has worked with anti - gang task forces that try to get and keep children out of gangs. So working with children isn't that much of a drastic change for her. "I like this school, and I love my students." She says that when it comes to her goals for her students that there is one goal in particular that she wants them all to reach. "I want my students to be independent. I want them to be able to survive in the real world with street smarts and the academic world with book smarts." She hopes that the parents of her students can help her reach this goal. " I need parents to help them at home because it is very important for them to reinforce the lessons that I teach in school."

The only criticism that can be said of this bilingual teacher now living in Long Island is that she is getting married to a Red Sox fan. Working just a mile away from Yankee Stadium, she knows that can be dangerous, "I hope no one holds it against me." Welcome to PS4, Ms. Torres!