Two 5th Grade Girls Donate to PS4

Veia G. (top) and Stacey E. are creative 5th graders who are helping PS4 raise money.

The PS4 School Store, run by members of the Honor Society and managed by Ms. Lennon (librarian), is not just a rolling cart where students get to purchase school supplies.  The School Store is a fundraising initiative that allows students to understand the concept of money, learn elements of customer service and experience running a small business.  Each year, student leaders are encouraged to support their school by creating a product to sell at the PS4 School Store.

This year, Stacey E. and Veia G. (5th graders from Ms. Wilson's class) are donating their creativity to help PS4 raise money for school assemblies and programs.  They are decorating pens with Duck tape!  Proceeds of the sale of every pen will support PS4.  "I wanted to sell these pens to help my parents with money for my college education.  But, the school needs money", said Stacey who wants to be a doctor and give these pens to hospitalized children.  Veia wants to be a designer of shoes and dresses.  She used Duck Tape to create her own tablet bag!  "YouTube has videos on how to make everything", she exclaims.

Duck Tape Pens are wrapped in decorative duck tape and will be sold for $2 in the cafeteria from 11:30-12:30pm.  For directions on how to make your own Duck Tape Pen, click here!  

Washington Heights Library Reopens

Members of the PS4 Honor Society & Ms. Wilson's class cut the ribbon of the newly reopened library with local politicians.

The PS4 Honor Society and Ms. Wilson's class were invited to join the Washington Heights New York Public Library for their grand reopening and centennial celebration!  The renovated branch now features materials and dedicated spaces for adults, teens, and children, a multipurpose community room, nearly 50 brand-new desktop computers, and more than a dozen laptop computers with Wi-Fi capability!  PS4 Honor Society members, instructed by our librarian Ms. Lennon, and Ms. Wilson's class (501), instructed by our music teacher Mr. Means, performed in front of nearly 300 local officials, community organizations, school children and residents of the Washington Heights community! 

Click here to see the news report from the event on Time Warner Cable!

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/204584/washington-heights-library-reopens-to-rave-reviews

Check out the photo collage below for more highlights from the event!

Free picture collage created with Smilebox

PS4 5th Graders Design in the Classroom

Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design Educator, Allison Cox gives students in Ms. Wilson's class a design challenge.

The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum's Design in the Classroom Program brings a basic understanding of design to the classroom!  Recently, students in 5th grade classrooms were visited by Allison Cox, Design Educator for Cooper-Hewitt.  During her 45-minute workshop, students solved a challenge through prototyping or creating a smaller version of a structure that will solve a problem.  Ms. Allison worked with each class to create a structure for kids on the beach!  "PS4 students are very innovative", she said.  "They really thought about the challenge and even created a water slide with a tent for a sunscreen".  Ms. Allison went on to talk about how design impacts our daily life and how it is thinking at a higher level.

Special thanks to Allison Cox and the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum!

  Ms. Allison and Physical Education Teacher, Mr. Ovalle, support students with a design challenge.

Peter J. Murray Brings His New Book To PS4

The Carmel Hill Fund Education Program (the organization who funds Accelerated Reader in our school) helped author Peter J. Murray launch two new books! His newly released titles include the 5th book in his "Mokee Joe" series - "Mokee Joe: Swamp Warrior" - and the student-collaborated short story book "PS 13."

"PS 13" is extra special for PS4, since chapter seven was written by one of our graduates from Ms. Wilson's class!  Adriana H. wrote a very scary story called "George".  She was the guest of honor at a recent assembly featuring Peter Murray!  She was given gifts and the student audience heard the first page of her scary story.  Last year, the winners of the "'Spooky Story Contest" took a limousine ride to Jekyll & Hyde Club Restaurant in Times Square, where they enjoyed a "spooky" lunch and got to speak with Peter himself.  Click here to see photos of Adriana and her teacher just before that event!

Special thanks to Tommy Parker (Implementation Specialist) and the Carmel Hill Fund Organization for encouraging our students to read.  Click here to see other schools Peter J. Murray has visited.  For the author's official website, click here!  Take a look at the collage below to see photos taken at our school!

This free digital collage personalized with Smilebox

5th Grader Wins Writing Contest!

The PS4 family is very proud of our very own Adriana H., from class 501.  Adriana’s story “George” was selected as one of the twelve winners of the Peter J. Murray (one of our favorite authors) Spooky Story Writing Contest!  The story will soon be published in a book, along with the eleven other winning stories and a special story written by Mr. Murray.  Recently, this author visited PS4 and spoke to students from 3rd and 4th grade about his famous Mokee Joe character.  "You were all born with the most powerful tool in the world...your imagination", the author said during the assembly.

Author Peter Murray (center) pictured here with PS4 Librarian Ms. Lennon and students.

On Thursday, May 30th, Adriana is invited to attend a spooky lunch with Peter J. Murray.  Adriana and the chaperone from PS4 will be picked up at the school by limousine and transported to the Jekyll & Hyde Club Restaurant in midtown Manhattan.  Adriana will also receive 20 copies of the book for her family and friends and copies of the book for our school.

Congratulations, Adriana!  Special thanks to Judy Parker (Carmel Hill Director), Tommy Parker (Carmel Hill Implementation Specialist), and Ms. Wilson (Adriana's teacher).

Adriana H. with her teacher (Ms. Wilson).

Double The Fun At PS4: Aracely and Yaritza

Aracely on the left and Yaritza on the right.

Each week we'll feature a set of twins that go to PS4!  Our school has nine sets of twins from kindergarten to the fifth grade! Most of them are identical, but some are fraternal. This week, we're featuring 5th grade fraternal twins, Arecely and Yaritza, both from class 501.  Click here to meet their teacher!

Aracely and Yaritza D. are fraternal twins, which means they were born at the same time but don't share the same facial features. These twins have attended PS4 since Kindergarten. When asked about the best part of being a twin, Aracely said, "the best part about being a twin is that I don't have to be an only child." Yaritza, who is an Art Club member, added that she likes being a twin and loves her sister.   The next time you see this set of twins, say hello!

Did you miss our story about fourth grade twins Rossy and Jessy?  Click here to read all about them!

Meet Mrs. Wilson

The newest teacher here at PS4 is Mrs. Wilson! Mrs. Wilson teaches Class 501 and is very excited to begin teaching here at The Duke Ellington School. "Everything is going well so far", says Mrs. Wilson, a Harlem native who still lives in the historic neighborhood. When asked about her teaching philosophy, Mrs. Wilson states, "I support a quality education for all children. I believe in getting to know all of my students well". The one thing that she would like for all of her students to come away with this year is for them to be independent thinkers and learners. With all the resources available to them in this age of technology, Mrs. Wilson wants her students to use the research skills they will learn this year to continue. "One of my hopes as an educator", she says, "is to instill a love of learning in my students". Mrs. Wilson is very committed to providing a learning environment that is exciting! She promises to treat her students with the utmost respect. Welcome to PS4, Mrs. Wilson!