Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Pantry Grand Opening

Principal Stevens stands with Councilman Mark Levine, Food Bank Representative Zack Paul, Deputy Borough Pres. Mathew Washington and parents of PS4 at the grand opening of the Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Pantry.

The grand opening of our new food pantry took place on February 10th!  Along with Principal Stevens, PTA President and parents, the grand opening included special guests.  Councilman Mark Levine, Deputy Manhattan Borough President Matthew Washington and Zack Paul of Food Bank NY each spoke to parents about the how the food bank is important to this community and great for PS4.

Ms. Jones (PS4 Budget Manager) speaks to special guests about how pantry items will be distributed.

The new Ellington P.R.I.D.E. Pantry will distribute free food for PS4 families in need.  The pantry is named after our school's namesake and the five key attributes of behaviors we expect from our students; positivity, respect, integrity, determination and excellence.  Any family in need of emergency support is eligible.  All applicants will be screened as we can serve a maximum of 60 families per month.  The pantry includes food and personal hygiene products.  For more information about the pantry or to get an application, please contact Parent Coordinator Denise Nunez or Budget Manager Sonja Jones.  For more photos from the event, click the photo collage, below!

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Breakfast In The Classroom

Ms. Jerome hands out breakfast to a student in her 2nd grade class.

Our school now participates in a free and innovative program called Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC)! Breakfast will no longer be served in the cafeteria. Breakfasts are now packed in insulated bags and delivered to classrooms by 8am. Students eat at their desks while the teacher takes attendance, gives a short lesson or reads announcements.  Ms. Jerome, who currently teaches 2nd grade, is already seeing the benefits of this new program.  "Having them eat breakfast in the classroom every morning, gives them time to talk and socialize before I begin a lesson", she says.  "It gives them a surge of energy and allows them to socialize in the beginning of the day so they stay cussed for on learning for the rest of the day".

Breakfast in the Classroom is an initiative by Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) to ensure that a free and complete breakfast is available to all NYC elementary students. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and skipping it has both short and long term effects. It can make a child restless, tired, and inattentive. It can also contribute to tardiness, poor attendance, and overall lower grade performance. By serving Breakfast in the Classroom everyone stands to benefit. Students are ensured a nutritious and healthy breakfast needed to think clearly, concentrate on learning, and perform better in class, and since the allotted time will also be used to take attendance or give announcements no class time is lost.  To see a menu or to read more information about the BIC, click here.

PS4 Students Smile

Students wait in the PTA room that was transformed into a dental clinic.

With support from Dr. Beth Posner, Director of Educational Partnerships at Smile NY (Mobile Dentists), our school was approved by the State to receive Dental Services beginning with dental clinics!  What better way for our students to start the new school year than with a dental visit to at PS4! 

Smile New York Mobile Dental Programs focus is on elementary schools with a free and reduced lunch percent of about 80% or higher.  There is no cost to schools or to families!  All children are seen, regardless of ability to pay.  A team of licensed professionals set up a clinic in our PTA room and saw nearly 70 students from Pre-K to 2nd grade!  Students received dental cleaning, exam, X-rays when needed, fluoride treatment and sealants and an oral health report card so families knew the health of their children.

Special thanks to Nicole Tatro, School Relationship Manager at Smile NY Outreach and her team of dental hygienist that made sure our students left with great smiles.  For more information about the program, click here or contact Denise Nunez, Parent Coordinator.

PS4M Is No Place For Hate

Partners In Education: BookPALS

BookPAL Caitlin Johnston reads a book to Ms. Schwartz's 3rd grade class.

BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) is a signature children's literacy program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation designed to provide and opportunity for performers, gifted in the art of storytelling, to help develop a love of reading in children and give back to their local communities.

Since late October, nearly all lower grade teachers (from PreK to 3rd grade) have partnered with an actor or actress from the BookPALS program.  Teachers and BookPals are able to schedule a day and time that works best for their schedules.  Many BookPALS are visiting classes on a weekly basis!

BookPAL Kimberly Harris talks to Ms. Lirano's Kindergarten students about jazz and Duke Ellington.

Maria Cabezas, BookPALS Director, was excited to hear from Mr. Stevens regarding a partnership with PS4 because of the amount of English Language Learners.  If you are a lower grade teacher that has not had a BookPAL assigned to your classroom, please contact Ms. Lennon.  For more information about the BookPALS program, click here!

PS4 Goes on a Google Expedition

Google Expeditions is a Google-led program that allows students to have 360-degree views of places around the world, under the sea, and even up in space!  Mr. Nycz, a 5th grade teacher, applied for our school to be a part of the Expeditions Pioneer Program last April.   Recently, representatives from Google sent three instructors with small computer tablets with virtural reality technology installed.  As the students looked at their mini-tablets through cardboard frames, they were able to see views of places that they have never been before.  "I wanted students all across PS4 to have more of a first-hand view of the places we talk about as teachers throughout the year, either through our reading books, textbooks, or even in everyday conversation", he said.  Mr. Nycz is confident that the technology through Google allows for our students to have those experiences.

Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade (as well as Ms. Hodge's class [201]) enjoyed this incredible experience!  Every student was able to not only talk about what they saw, but also vividly describe the details of the expeditions they saw, whether they went to the moon, under the sea, seeing 5 Pointz before it was torn down (with Ms. Nuez's class), or witness the Mayan ruins (with Ms. D. Cabral's class).  Mr. Nycz describes the excitement as electric and with the help of Mr. Stevens in the future, we hope we can bring Google Expeditions as a viable piece of technology the teachers can use with their students as they see fit.

Special thanks to Mr. Nycz and the Google Expedition Team for bringing this innovative technology to PS4. For more information on this program, click here!

The NED Show Was Here!

NED instructor, Meghan, with a 4th grade student.

The NED Show came to PS4!  The NED Show is an innovative character education assembly.  Using humor, storytelling, audience participation and amazing yo-yo and magic tricks, Megan motivated PS4 students through the adventures of NED, a character kids (and teachers) could relate to.  Each of our students from Pre-K to 5th grade left the auditorium inspired to become champions at school and in life.  They learned three things from NED:  Never give up.  Encourage others.  Do your best.

Thanks to Meghan, our NED instructor and yo-yo expert and Danielle Pennock, Account Executive of The NED Show for bringing this entertaining, behavior support assembly to our stage.  Special thanks to our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Estrella, for making sure that our students learn the best ways to be the best in all that they do.

Capoeira Program - 2014 (VIDEO)

Students in 3rd and 4th grade have been practicing the Afro-Brazilian art from of Capoeira!  Capoeira blends dance, martial arts and acrobatics into one beautiful art like no other.  This martial art was created by Africans brought to Brazil from many parts of Africa as a means of self-protection and as a way to fight for their own freedom.  During its early years, Capoeira was disguised as a dance in order to be practiced openly.  Today, Capoeira is widely known and practiced in more than 100 nations around the world.

Congratulations to the twenty boys and girls that participated in this year's Capoeira program!  Special thanks to Master Jelon, Chuvisco, Sabia, and all the instructors from NY Capoeira Luanda that visited PS4.  Click here to see videos of those talented instructors!  Very special thanks to Patty Bryan, Director of Educational Programs at Dance Brazil, for continuing to support PS4.  Take a look at the slide show below and watch a video of the final performance!


Capoeira Program 2014 - Part 1 from PS4M on Vimeo.

This free digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Making Books Sing's Video Featuring PS4 Students

Making Books Sing is an organization that uses theater and music to inspire and educate children in grades K-5. PS4 students have been enjoying the many teaching artists who have provided us with residencies, workshops and touring shows for more than five years! Their last program allowed students from first grade to get a better understanding of October's artist of the month, Frida Kahlo! Click here to see some photos from that event!

Recently, our students were featured in Making Book Sing's promotional Youtube video! At the 6:20 mark, you'll begin to see many of our first graders enjoying the Frida Kahlo program held in the auditorium.




Special thanks to Brooke Boertzel, Director of Education at MBS, for always making PS4 a priority and providing us with all the great programs her organization has to offer.

The Green Machine - Jazz at PS4

Jazz vocalist, Pam Cornelius, singing with a 4th grade student.

Once again, PS4 students paid homage to their namesake, the great jazz composer Duke Ellington, by featuring professional jazz musicians in our schools auditorium!  At a recent assembly, we heard from Arthur Green and his quartet which he calls 'The Green Machine'!  With Arthur Green on tenor saxophone, Robert Anderson on piano, Larry Preston on drums and vocalist Pamela Cornelius, staff members, teachers and students from 4th and 5th grade heard jazz standards with an R&B style.  The lead vocalist even brought two students on stage to perform with her!  Click here to see the video clip of Nathalie M. (Class 401) singing with Ms. Pam!

Special thanks to the Jazz Foundation of America and Coordinator Will Glass for providing us with legendary musicians through their Jazz in the Schools Program that preserves the legacy of jazz and blues by introducing this music to thousands of school children.  Click here for more information about what the Jazz Foundation does.

Tar Wars Comes Back to PS4

Recently, physicians and medical students returned to PS4 for our annual Tar Wars presentation for students in 5th grade.  Led by Dr. Anita Softness, who coordinates Tar Wars, the program has been a hit at our school for more than seven years! 

Tar Wars is a tobacco-free education program for students in 4th and 5th grade students.  The program is designed to teach kids about the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use, the cost associated with using toacco products, and the aderttising techniques used by tht toacco industry to market thier produts to youth.  A follow-up post contest is conducted at the school, state, and national level to reinforce the Tar Wars message.  After a visit from doctors to her classroom, Ms. Cabral said, "I'm sure after experiencing 'Tar Wars', my students will encourage members of their family to stop smoking".  For more information about this program and the poster contest, click here!

Special thanks to Andrea Hausel, from Columbia University and Dr. Anita Softness, Tar Wars Coordinator, for making sure our school is always at the top of the list for receiving this great program!  Check out the photos below from the Tar Wars presentation at PS4!

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Did You Know?

Did you know that Capoeira (pronounced cap-o-ware-a) is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music?  It was created in Brazil with African and Brazilian influences.  It is known by quick and complex moves, using mainly power kicks and quick leg sweeps, with some ground and aerial acrobatics, knee strikes, take-downs, elbow strikes, punches where the opponents never touch each other.  Click here to see videos!

Capoeira instructor leads the class.

"The Circle"

Since Monday, November 14, nearly 50 students from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade have participated in PS4's Capoeira After-School Program which is held on Mondays and Fridays from 3-5pm.  This program promotes discipline and self-esteem, as well as cultural awareness.  Master Capoeira Instructors from Capoeira Brazil have been training students to perform this expression of art.

Although no more students are being accepted for this program, click here to find information on how you can take classes.

Students Learn How To Play The Guitar!

Forty students have been selected to participate in a new after-school program sponsored by Midori & Friends (http://midoriandfriends.org/)! This organization has donated 50 new chairs and allowed us to borrow 50 brand new guitars. Soon, students will have the opportunity to take a guitar home. This will allow them to practice.

The Guitar Program meets every Friday and Saturday. With instructor Nick Russo, 4th and 5th grade students are learning how to take care of a guitar and how to play basic musical notes. Mr. Cantu, who is a guitar player, assists Mr. Russo on Saturdays. "Nick is a really great instructor", says Mr. Cantu, "and the kids are doing pretty well". The parents of children who were chosed are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to their first concert in May.