Spring 2016

What’s Inside…
2...Teacher Appreciation Lunch
3...PTA Presidents’ Letter
5...5th Grade Update
6...Wellness and 41 Cares Updates
7...PS41’s New Look 7
9...Fancy Day & Night 9
10...1st Grade Restaurant Study
12...Let Us Entertain You
14...PS41 Violin Program
17...75 Morton Update
19...Chess Team
20...Character Education
23...Deer Mountain Recess
23...Asparagus Frittata
SPRING 2016 VOL 33 PUBLISHED BY THE PS41 PTA
[email protected] www.ps41.org
Jazz Marches Into PS41
By Emma Davies, parent of Eddie in 5th grade and Hector in 3rd grade
Q&A with Kelly Shannon:
Music & Technology
Taking Off at PS41
By Sarah Choi, parent of TJ in 1st grade
Hi Principal Shannon. You stressed
the importance of taking the SLT
surveys for administration budgeting and planning the last time we
spoke. Can you share the results
from this Spring?
I love the new model of focused SLT
surveys throughout the year because
the feedback has been so pertinent
and timely. We can gather information
quickly and really create change.
It’s clear from the survey that families
would like more music programming,
in addition to the existing violin and
choral programs. So, we will extend
our relationship with Greenwich
House to come into school during the
day. We’ll need to balance all the wonderful enrichment opportunities we
already have (NDI, chess, Whitey and
Highline to name a few), but what we
“Q&A with Kelly” continues on page 17
On a Sunday afternoon in May, a soldout crowd of parents, teachers, children and friends of the school were
lucky enough to be present at a
musical performance for the ages. A
jazz ensemble of PS41 parents and
musicians, featuring the incomparable Wynton Marsalis (PS41 parent),
treated us to over an hour of breathtaking jazz. It was a rare privilege to
witness up-close the virtuosity of the
internationally acclaimed composer,
bandleader, educator and nine-time
Grammy award winner Marsalis.
The program kicked off with a stirring rendition of King Oliver’s Canal
Street Blues, before taking us through
a selection of jazz standards including pieces by Duke Ellington, Ray
Noble and Ann Ronell. Pianist Helio
Alves (PS41 parent) put on a dazzling display with a couple of Brazilian
jazz tunes including Antonio Carlos
Jobim’s O Grande Amor.
Vocalist Jamie Leonhart, who also
doubled up as emcee, gave us goose
bumps with her smoky-sweet vocals
on Just Squeeze Me and Willow
Weep for Me, ably accompanied on
the piano by her husband Michael
Leonhart (PS41 parents) who also
played trumpet on the other tunes.
Guitarist James Leibow (PS41 parent) was at once soulful and bluesy
on electric guitar. And rounding it out
were Joe Martin on bass, Stacy Dillard
on saxophone and Anthony Pinciotti
on drums. Throughout the musicians
seemed to be enjoying themselves as
much as the audience of parents, kids,
teachers and invited friends from the
local community.
To wrap up the event Mr. Marsalis blew
us away with his mellow solo on What
A Wonderful World before changing
tempo to lead a rousing finale of When
The Saints Go Marching In. The vibe
in the auditorium transformed into a
New Orleans second-line parade with
musicians walking around and parents
and kids standing and clapping along.
Third grader Olivia commented “I love
music because it makes me feel free.”
At the end of the concert some kids
shook Mr Marsalis’ hand and said “You
were amazing. Please come back.”
Many thanks to Wynton Marsalis and
all the musicians for bringing music
into our school, and to the Jazz committee led by Leora Leibow who made
this tremendous concert possible.
2
Spring 2016
A Feast for Teacher Appreciation Week
By Jessica Contrastano, parent of Noah in 4th grade & Ella in 1st grade
Our teachers were grandly feted at
our annual teacher appreciation luncheon held in the library. In what can
be described as nothing short of a culinary feast of savory and sweet, everyone enjoyed having lunch with their
colleagues.
Families turned up their generosity with
pad Thai, Chinese chicken salad, roast
chicken, banana pudding, quiches,
Jamaican patties and sushi galore to
name a few. The list goes on and on but
I don’t want to make anyone hungry.
Cards of appreciation and thoughtful
sentiments lined the walls all along the
buffet in the hall. Dessert tables were set
up inside the library in a glorious fashion to rival any top restaurant.
Beautiful flowers adorned the tableclothed settings with homemade
raspberry and mint lemonade to
quench everyone’s thirst.
The best part of the event is the teachers having a moment together to catch
up and be recognized for the hard work
they do every day of the year for our
wonderful community.
This is a tradition that is certainly appreciated by the staff and quoted by many
as their favorite day of the year. Thank
you to
everyone
for their
generous
donations.
Bottom left: Just a few of the sweets
from the huge dessert spread. Below:
Teachers enjoying a savory lunch buffet!
3
Spring 2016
Letter from the PTA Presidents
By Lucy Green, parent of Dominic in 4th grade & Stella Chang, parent of Andrew in 3rd grade
Dear PS41 Families,
It is hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by! We
still remember seeing the Kindergarten students entering
their classrooms the first week of school and now we feel
the excitement of the 5th graders as they rehearse for their
musical production of Oliver and get ready for graduation.
It is amazing to be able to see first how the PTA funds
raised are able to help provide many programs to our students and teachers – some of which we were able to witness just this past month alone!
• WITS Cooking Labs teaching students in all grades
how to make salad dressings
• Insect study and field trips for 1st Graders with Friends
of the High Line
• Performances by the 3rd Graders after a two-week
program with National Dance Institute
• Author visit for 4th & 5th graders during the Book Fair
• Delivery of the NAO robot which be used to teach
coding starting the Fall
• Staff appreciation luncheon consisting of sweet and
savory dishes brought in by families
We are continuously in awe of how the amazing PS41
community of students, parents, teacher and staff comes
together for our many events like the Annual Auction &
Gala, Monster Mash, Winter Wonderland, Fall/Spring Fling,
Book Fair and more. Equally amazing, is how the community does so much to give back through 41 Cares and to
promote healthy eating through the Wellness Committee.
We are so fortunate to be part of this community.
The Wellness Committee
is looking for someone to
assist the Farmer’s Market
next year. If you have an
interest, please email
[email protected].
It is with a heavy heart that
we say goodbye to our
fifth graders and their families. We wish them well as
they begin their next journey into middle school.
We would also like to say
a fond farewell to all of our
“graduating” PTA executive board members, past
and present. We will miss
you dearly!
We are already working on
next year. Be sure to check
the calendar on the PS41 website over the summer to see
when your favorite annual events will happen.
We wish you and your family a wonderful summer and we
look forward to seeing you in the Fall!
Warmly,
Lucy & Stella
4
Spring 2016
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Spring 2016
5th Grade Update
By Kate Tentler, parent of Jake in 5th grade and the 5th Grade Committee
It’s amazing to think that the school year is almost over. For
5th Grade families this is a bittersweet time. We are excited
about the next chapter in our children’s education but we
are sad to say good-bye to a community and school that
has been such a cherished part of their childhood.
With that in mind, the 5th Grade year is one full of events
and programs that allow us to celebrate our kids’ accomplishments, while honoring the school that has been their
educational home for the past six years (for most). These
are just some of things that happen:
5th Grade Musical
One of the most treasured experiences, and one the kids
really look forward to, is the 5th Grade Musical. The entire
grade participates – on stage or back stage there’s a role for
everyone. It’s a year-long program, from auditions to casting to rehearsing to building sets and it all culminates in a
spectacular show.
5th Grade Fundraising
It might seem like we always have our hand out for a donation. That’s probably true. But it takes a lot to help fund all
these wonderful programs. So the 5th Grade helps by putting on things Bakes Sales and special previews of the Play.
We’re grateful for all the support, whether it’s donating time
or spending money on pizza in the yard!
The Middle School Search
Unfortunately PS41 ends at 5th Grade. Luckily, we have a
number of excellent choices available for Middle School.
The 5th Grade families spent much of the Fall touring these
schools and thinking about what would be the best match
for their kids. While it can seem overwhelming if you haven’t
been through this process before, there is a great deal of
support here at PS41. Michele Farinet and Bob Caputo lead
the charge, providing invaluable information and counsel. And parents who have students at the many excellent
Middle Schools here in District 2 share their experiences.
It’s like childbirth – one way or another it’s going to happen!
This year we are putting on Oliver! Our director Sydnie
Grosberg Ronga, with help from our Dance teacher Tiffany
Chumbley, has whipped the kids into an amazing singing
and dancing company. The sets, costumes, posters, tickets
and t-shirts are designed by the kids; families paint the sets
and provide the costumes; and everyone comes together
for an unforgettable weekend to see the performances. If
you have or know a 5th grader you may have come across
them singing “Food Glorious Food” while hanging with
their friends or working on dance moves in the yard.
5th Grade
“5th Grade Update” continues on page 8
6
Spring 2016
What’s Up, Wellness?
By Elaine Cohen, parent of Billie in 3rd grade
Where Does the Farmer’s Market
Produce Come From?
Since the April 2015, the Wellness
Committee has offered seasonal, local
produce at the PS41 Farmers Market.
While purchasing from the bounty of
Fall root vegetables or Spring fava
beans and ramps, parents have wondered how the fresh vegetables are
brought to school, which farms are
growing the items and what their
growing practices are.
From the start, the Wellness
Committee partnered with GrowNYC,
a NYC non-profit that collects the best
quality farm products from the region.
The source farms have been picked
because they are transparent about
their growing practices, committed
to responsible land stewardship, and
coordinate shipping logistics. Most of
these farms deliver their fresh foods to
a refrigerated facility in the Hunts Point
neighborhood of the Bronx, where
products from 15-25 different farms
(depending on the season) are aggregated. PS41 selects and receives
items from a few of these farms, or all
of them, depending on what foods are
ordered.
The cartons of eggs that have been
on sale come from Handsome Brook
Farm, a collaboration of small, mostly
Amish-owned farms in upstate New
York. Their pasture-raised hens are
provided acres of pasture to forage,
roam, and scratch in and produce
wonderful golden yolk eggs.
While Sorbello Farms, a 3rd generation farm in Woolwich Township in
New Jersey has provided us with the
bundles of springtime asparagus. The
owner Tom Sorbello was raised on the
farm and has been farming for most
of his life. His nephew, Kris, recently
left his job as a middle school physical
education teacher to help oversee the
farm and says he’s enjoying spending
his days outside with his dedicated
farm crew.
All of the juicy and sweet apples
are grown at LynOaken Orchards in
Medina, New York. The Oakes family have been in business since 1919
when their grandfather purchased
land in rural Western New York State
to grow the best apples possible.
This farm proudly provides unwaxed,
hand-packed apples.
In the Black Dirt region located in
southern Orange County, in Florida
New York are 400 acres owned by
the Dagele Brothers Produce farms.
The region gets its name from the
extremely dark and fertile soil there
that was left over from a glacial lake
bottom. This farm provides us with
their delicious onions, lettuces, beets,
tomatoes and carrots among other
healthful staples.
Although some of the Farmer’s Market
produce may not be labeled organic,
you can be sure that all the produce is
naturally grown and is as likely much
fresher than anything that you can
purchase at a supermarket. We look
forward to seeing you at the market!
The New Normal: Puberty At A
Younger Age
Two PS41 parents, Niyati Parekh, a
NYU Professor of Public Health and
Nutrition and Seema Dhar, a pediatrician, along with Niyati’s colleague
Jennifer Pomeranz, spoke on April
18th about the landscape of issues
affecting the lower age of the onset of
puberty in the US.
The talk covered the recent phenomenon of the falling age of puberty;
it’s likely causes and consequences
in children, what to look for, what you
can change and some practical suggestions. They discussed the role of
our food environment as it relates to
pubertal timing. And most importantly
what parents should know! Contact
[email protected] for resources and
more information from the lecture.
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41Cares Update
By 41Cares
As we approach the end of another
wonderful year at PS41, 41Cares would
like to say a big Thank you our community for their generosity. Our last drive
of this school year was the gently used
book drive, we collected over 60 large
boxes of books to donate to Kings
County Medical Center and Bellevue
Hospital Reach Out and Read Program.
These books will be given to young
patients and their siblings to foster the
love of reading.
Coach G’s JDRF Walk-A-Thon will be on
June 20th. We will need a minimum
of 10 parents to help us to safe guard
the route around the school block from
8:30 - 12:30pm.
Additionally, we would also like to
Thank our volunteers (Susi Nichol,
Cassandra McCallum, Laura Reilly Bell,
Oliver Grubelic, Alex M. Singal, Maya
Brewster-Dorian, Elise Wilks, Amy Koza,
Nita Stella and Jacqueline Anderson)
as well as the students who helped
us with our posters this year. All your
hard work was appreciated, without all
of you none of this would have been
possible.
Spring 2016
7
PS41’s New Look
By Fallon Mihalow, 5th grade student
As some of our readers might know, PS41’s school colors
are brown and light blue. Have you noticed that when you
walk in the front of the building up the stairs there are blue
tiles that read, “PS41?”
When you see our custodians, Igor and Basilio, give them
a big thank you, because it was Igor’s idea to lay down the
tiles and to lay them down in light blue, and the person who
took their spring break to add this new addition to our hallway was Basilio!
The tiles have changed our school; they give us a very
unique welcome. Not many schools have a floor with tiles
that say their school name or have skilled custodians who
are willing to use their spring break to make our school feel
welcoming for everyone. In order for this to happen, Basilio
had to take out the beige tiles and put in the blue ones. He
was very generous, and Igor was very nice to bring this to
the school’s attention.
When you walk over the new PS41 tiles, remember that
people did this to create school spirit and to make us smile
every time we come to school. This change will go down in
PS41 history. It took a lot of muscle to complete this project,
but Igor and Basilio did it happily and generously.
We are all a community at PS41, and we all should be kind
to each other and thank one another for these acts of kindness. This was a big job. Our custodial staff doesn’t just
clean up and make our school very shiny and nice. They
also are a part of our community, and they’re helping us to
be the best we can be!!!
8
Spring 2016
“5th Grade Update” from page 5
Community Service
Recently, the 5th Grade Committees have included a community service event in our plans. This year, we joined the
soup kitchen and food pantry at the Church of the Village,
on 7th Avenue and 13th Street. It was a beautiful sight to
see!
Families donated all the food and supplies we used. The
children made hundreds of sandwiches, decorated and
packed lunch bags, wrote loving and inspirational notes
and then handed out the bags. Not only did these neighbors in need get the hot lunch they in came for, they left with
another meal for later. And the kids were simply amazing!
Originally, we expected there would be very little interaction between the students and the adults who came to eat.
The kids were supposed to simply hand out bags. But our
kids wanted to interact. They talked to people and offered
to bring them food and drinks where they sat, so the people could feel they were being waited on.
Pastor Vicki, the other soup kitchen volunteers and so many
of the clients who came in for lunch were thrilled to have
the kids there and it was an unforgettable experience.
Saying Goodbye
We spent many months working on the yearbook, taking
pictures, filling out questionnaires, tracking down baby pictures to create a beautiful tribute to students, then it’s on
to graduation and the year-end party. There are tears and
cheers, good byes and see you in the Fall. We wish everyone in 5th grade good luck next year and we thank everyone at PS41 for everything!
9
Spring 2016
Watching the Heroes on One Fancy Day and Night
By Michele Farinet, PS41 Parent Coordinator
For a dedicated community of volunteers, including current
and former PS41 parents, the annual PS41 “Talent Show” is
more than just a showcase for our often prodigiously gifted
student body. The show is held to honor and celebrate the
life of the extraordinary Celia Rose Fitzgerald, who was killed
in an accident a few years back when she was in 2nd grade
at PS41.
One of Celia’s many poems urged the reader to “do fancy
things for the world” – this idea seemed a perfect concept by
which to express her joyful spirit and irrepressible energy—so
“Fancy Day” and “Fancy Night” were born.
Each year we come up with a theme around which to organize and illustrate the show. This year, after the untimely
death of cultural icon, trailblazer, musical genius and New
York City resident David Bowie, the theme seemed to write
itself.
We can be heroes…just for one day. Or, in keeping with that
unique PS41 magic…we can be heroes…just for one fancy
day/night of May 21, 2016.
I
NEED
We envisioned an urban playground with a graffiti-filled
wall at the back, spray painted with the words “We Can Be
Heroes….” plus the initials of those we have loved and lost.
Illy Fraiture (mom of Elysia and Phoenix) brilliantly brought
to life this vision. We encouraged our performers to go
out and be heroes for one moment…and to think of those
who have been heroes to them. So that their voices ring out,
maestro Mike Mardini (dad to Christian and Julia) produced
sound of exceptional quality.
Marianna Modlin Morris (mom to Noa and Ayelet), Susi
Nichol (mom of Stevie and Lachie) and Jacqueline Brachman
(mom to Isabella and Violet) spent countless hours and gave
of themselves selflessly as co-directors, ensuring that each
performer is given the utmost care and encouragement.
Former student AJ Lazar inspired us with her dedication and
commitment to this show. Laura Williams (mom of Anabelle,
Dakota and Juliette) made sure that delectable treats were
available to all. Lee Burnley (mom of Ellen and Harry), Jill
Hennessy (mom of Marco and Gianni) and our incredible
3rd grade teacher Lauren Duerson ensured that the show
always goes on. Jenny Collins (mom of Morris) stage managed with a finesse and dexterity that left us breathless. Marj
Penrod and Eric Wallar (mom and dad of John and Anne)
provided irreplaceable behind-the-scenes expertise and
labor. Marj organized a tribute to GrooveCat director Don
Mulvaney, who we lost last summer in a car accident. Former
GrooveCats came back and did a touching tribute to Don, an
everyday hero to many of us. Jill Tapia (mom of Christina and
Rebecca) did the posters. Lisa Yee (mom of Austin) designed
the program. Many PS41 parents were our heroic volunteers
for the two shows. Michele Farinet (mom of Coco and thousands of 41 students) was the director. She thanks the entire
PS41 community for doing fancy things for the world.
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Check out more photos from Fancy Day & Fancy Night
on pages 12-13!
10
Spring 2016
Photo Essay: First Grade Foodie Fun with Restaurant Study
By Emily Rann, parent of Lincoln in 1st grade and Sarah Choi, parent of TJ in 1st grade
Above: 1-206 enjoyed making pizza at Otto in April. A tough day at school visiting a restaurant and devouring handmade pies!
Below: In March, Gramercy Tavern welcomed 1-209 to its kitchen and dining room. On the menu was Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie and Apple Crisp.
How Times Have Changed At PS41
By Suzanne Garfinkle, parent of Teddy in Kindergarten
For this issue, I interviewed Elaine Hall, mother of Aria
Hall, in K-108, who attended PS41 as a child herself from
2nd to 5th grade.
Elaine noted that while the cafeteria smells exactly
the same as when she was a student, times have really
changed. Students were allowed to go out for lunch and
often visited a pizza place around the corner on a 6th
Avenue. Even in the second grade!
There was also a funny “pseudo-military system, almost
like something out of Harry Potter, where students
would be captains, and sergeants, and lieutenants,
with real metal badges.” Quite different from the traffic light system today!
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Spring 2016
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Spring 2016
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13
Spring 2016
Photo Credits: Sebastian Gollings, Marianna Modlin
Morris, Circe Hamilton, Catherine Daly, Seema Dhar
and Lindsay Baxter.
By Abbie Park, parent of Robert in 4th grade
The West Village had more than beautiful, blossoming flowers to boast this
spring.... Our amazing school abounds
with blossoming and full-blown talent! The High Notes, Violin, Groove
Cats, Fancy Day & Night, NDI, Jazz at
PS41 and the much anticipated, Oliver!
Congratulations to all our teachers,
students and parents who enrich the
community with their amazing talent.
THANK YOU!
14
Spring 2016
Violin Program at PS41
By Minda Cowen, PS41 Violin Teacher, [email protected]
When a child picks up the
violin and creates a sound
for the very first time, I get a
smile. Always. Fast forward
three weeks into taking the
PS41 group violin class and
all the parents whose children are new to the program
tell me how much their children just love the violin. The
kids themselves declare
how much fun it is, and say how learning to play the violin
is just the best! I smile, nod, and then go back to teaching.
Because I know that three months later, tops, it is going to get
hard..and frustrating. There are always ups and downs and
moments when they want to quit no matter how advanced
the students are.
In teaching the violin, whether it be a group class or a private lesson, I am always conscious that I am balancing three
things. The first is taking in the immediate moment, wherever the children are, and trying to get them to advance one
step forward now. The second is the understanding that I
am creating memories for them that they will look back on as
being part of their childhood and their experience at PS41,
so amidst the challenges and joys of learning an extremely
difficult instrument, I better make it fun... Balancing marshmallows on the violins and bows to help with correct positioning, for example, goes a long way! And finally, there is
always the bigger picture of the journey ahead. Should they
wish to continue, I am responsible for setting up that beginning foundation just right in order for them to progress properly. This is all worthwhile, of course--even for children who
decide not to continue playing, the experience of participating in the class and performing opens them up to experiencing music in an active way that is different from simply
listening to it. This intimate relationship to music will stay with
them always.
But for now, what do the kids say about their experiences in
the violin program?
Alessia, 4th grade: “The sound of the violin makes me think of
feathers and birds flying high in the sky swiftly.”
Dot, 4th grade: “It makes me think of the seasons--the slow
quiet music is winter, the faster louder music is summer.”
Isabella, 3rd grade: “The violin makes me feel like dancing
gracefully and that I should learn more violin songs.”
Shelby, 4th grade: “I feel like I am on a cloud. It is a good
feeling.”
Lennan, 2nd grade: “I feel amazing when I play the violin.”
Zoe, 2nd grade “Hard and happy.”
Lukas, 2nd grade “It’s fun and you learn one of the hardest
instruments in the world.”
Sawyer, 2nd grade “Makes me proud of myself.”
Dahlia, 2nd grade “Feels good. It really feels like you’re playing real music. I like it.”
Annapaola, 2nd grade: It’s really amazing to learn all this new
stuff. Inside I feel really free and unstoppable.”
Come hear everyone perform Thursday, June 23rd at 6:30
pm in the PS 41 auditorium! Our concert will feature current
students in te violin program as well as alumni who started
in the program and are now in middle and high school.
Admission is free.
The PS41 Violin Program is subsidized by the PTA and group
violin classes are available for any child who wishes to sign
up for them starting in second grade. Additionally, a K and
1st grade violin class for younger PS41 students, as well as
private lessons (in violin, guitar and piano), are offered by the
Intersection Arts After-school Music Program. For more information email: [email protected].
15
Spring 2016
Check Out the Strings on These PS41 Students!
Left column: 4th and 3rd graders, middle column: 2nd graders, and right column: Kindergarten and 1st graders
16
Spring 2016
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Spring 2016
“Q&A with Kelly” from page 1
predict is providing a program cycle of 8-10 weeks for 1st
and 2nd grades. We’ll talk to instructors about what will fit
into their current studies and what would work best with student interests. Then we’ll look at how to get Kindergarten
and 3rd grade involved. Upper grades are trickier with the
NDI program, 5th grade play and academic rigor. We’ll start
planning over the summer!
Wow, it’s wonderful to see parent feedback tied so
directly to programming at school. Are there other new
programs on the horizon for next year?
The buzz amongst the students is technology! I attended
the Educational Technology Conference with a school yearend goal to have a team in place to think long-term about
technology. We have several faculty and staff members committed to it and will begin planning a three-year vision this
summer. We want to think about how technology can support and enhance learning, how relevant it is for students and
how we can best implement it at school.
Tech in the STEM field is particularly a focus. During the break,
Joaquin Rodriguez and Kate Unger attended a DOE STEM
workshop where they took coding classes and can offer it
at school. What we love about coding is that when you’re
building code, you’re not just a consumer of technology but
maker of technology. You understand how it impacts daily
life and how it can be utilized and support community. We
would like to next year pilot a program, but just need to find
the personnel, time and space. Instead of a year-round program, we are thinking of weeks-long sessions for a coding
group and robotics club.
Thanks so much for this exciting update. We can’t wait to
see the new music and tech presence at PS41 next year!
Have a question for Principal Shannon?
Email any question to [email protected].
75 Morton Update
By Heather Campbell, parent of Shelby in 4th grade and
Tatum in 2nd grade
In 4th Grade?
Take a Look at Your New Middle School Choice!
75 Morton, our new District 2 middle school, continues
to build towards its opening in the Fall of 2017 (yes - that
means you, 4th graders). Many questions have been asked
and answers are pouring in.
We now know that there will be two ways to be admitted
to 75 Morton. One way is if you live within the 75 Morton
Zone, you can choose to go to this school. Nothing else
would be required. Yes, it could be that easy! You would
attend a brand new, state of the art, in the PS41 neighborhood middle school that parents and community members
have had an influential part of building! The Zone includes
the current PS41 zone and much more. If you want to know
if you live within the Zone, the best way to be sure is to
[email protected] and give them
your current residential address.
If you are not in the 75 Morton Zone, you could be admitted through a screened process. Through the 75 Morton
Community Alliance, community members expressed the
desire for a screening that evaluates children on things
other than just test scores and grades. That feedback will
be shared with the new Principal, who will ultimately decide
on a screening process.
And there is more good news in that the 75 Morton
Principal should be hired almost seven months sooner than
originally planned. The DOE’s goal is to announce the new
Principal as early as this Summer. That will give the person
over a year to get to know the potential 75 Morton community, share philosophies and build a team that will set up the
school to succeed. This philosophy will take into consideration that the dual admissions process will feed into a single
school program. This is different from the structures within
other District 2 middle schools where the dual admissions
means dual programs (for example, Baruch).
Thank you to all parents, educators and elected officials
who have put in so much energy to bring this new school to
fruition. What do you think, 4th graders (and parents)?
Email me at [email protected] with your
questions and thoughts on this school - because really, it is
all about you guys!
Stay in the know about 75 Morton at
www.75mca.com
18
Spring 2016
19
Spring 2016
The PS41 Chess Team Continues to Decorate the Main Office
By Lisa Yee, parent of Austin in 4th grade
You may have noticed the peculiar decor of the main office
at our school. Sure, there are the expected desks, mailboxes,
and filing cabinets, but you will also find numerous chess trophies placed in the most intriguing places! This spring, our
chess team added even more shiny testaments of their competitive winnings to Room 109’s collection.
In March, at the New York State Scholastic Championships
(Brooklyn, NY), our K-6 placed 1st; our K-3 team placed 5th,
and our K-1 team placed 6th. In April, at the All-Girls National
Championships (Chicago, IL), our Under 8 team placed 7th.
And in May, at the National Elementary K-6 Championship
(Nashville, TN), our K-5 team placed 14th; our K-3 team
placed 3rd; our K-3 Under 800 team placed 13th; and our
K-1 team placed 11th.
Penelope Merchant, Jonathan Metzler, Finn Mihalow, Jack
Milazzo, Theo Henry Morris, Max Pesha, Semai Ralph, Sofia
Ralph, Aiden Regina-Kagan, Quinn Srethapramote, Logan
Tsai, Sebastian Turchin, Oscar Turner, Wyatt Weiss, and Lucas
Wilson-Bevington.
A huge thank you to our chess coaches Jeremy Scheinbach,
Anatoly Trubman, James Lewis, and Roman Krant for their
guidance and insight. And thank you to the school, the PTA,
and generous families for their continued support of the
chess program. If you want to learn more about chess at our
school, visit nycknights.com.
This year’s trophies were happily provided by team members Nico Chasin, Ketan Chatterjee, Sofia Cropper, Julia
Dowdall, Andrei Eliezer, Matei Eliezer, Elana Frank, Zachary
Frean, Jordan Ginsberg, Henri Guerrier, Suzanne Guerrier,
Roxana Harris, Blake Herman, Austin Hom, Achilles Imundi,
Alessandro Imundi, Henry Kang, Logan Kramer, Eliot Levin,
Gabriel Levin, Jack Levine, Liam McPeake, Aeneas Merchant,
Above: Ready to play in Nashville at
the K-6 Nationals!
Left: Our girls take on the Windy
City at the All-Girls Nationals in
April.
Below: The team is ready to compete
in Saratoga Springs for the NYS
Championships.
20
Spring 2016
Character Education Spotlight: Compassion and Self-Compassion
By Jennifer Casriel, parent of Oren in 1st grade
June is Compassion month at PS41 and students are being
tasked with “showing kindness in all situations” according to the Character Education page on the PS41 website.
So while the students work with their teachers and classmates on being kind, appreciative, tolerant, and empathetic
towards others, let’s take a deeper look at of compassion
towards oneself.
According to Shilagh Mirgain, PhD. child psychologist and
contributing writer for the website Growing Up Healthy,
self-compassion is “learning to extend understanding, compassion and encouragement to yourself when things don’t
go your way, treating yourself the way you would a special
friend.” Furthermore, research shows increasing self-compassion, “reduces anxiety, lowers feelings of embarrassment
when you mess up, and is associated with more consistent
feelings of self-worth.”
So how can we foster self-compassion in our children
and ourselves? Here are four key areas to focus on, as
well as specific suggestions, from Dr. Mirgain:
Mindfulness
In a world driven by distraction, teach your child how to be
in the moment.
- Help them notice things around them, savoring positive
experiences when they occur. Teach them how to be present with themselves.
- Encourage them to take 3 deep breaths when feeling stressed, overwhelmed or distracted to return to the
moment and back to their center.
- Help them develop awareness of their thoughts and feelings, to not ignore them but to also not become overwhelmed by them either.
- Help them learn how to observe non-judgmentally their
internal experience, understanding that they don’t have to
believe every thought they think, especially the negative
ones, and that emotions, like ocean waves rise and fall if you
just let them be.
Kindness
Kindness begins when we understand that we all struggle. Teach your children to talk kindly to themselves versus
being critical. Teach them how to self-soothe during difficult
times. Teach children to put their had on their heart to selfsoothe when upset. This small gesture helps them value and
feel good about themselves, just as they are, no matter what
is going on.
Compassion for Others
Remind children that they are not alone. All children struggle, feel inadequate, do not get approved of, or fail at something in life. It’s part of our common humanity. This helps
normalize what a child is going through and reduces feelings of shame, embarrassment and inadequacy.
Gratitude
Teach your children to focus on what’s right. Make gratitude
a part of your daily conversation. During dinner or as part of
a bedtime ritual, ask children to share three things they’re
grateful for about themselves and their lives.
There are TED Talks, meditations, scholarly articles and
books about self-compassion. Take a look; be an example
to your children; be kind to yourself.
Learn more about
Character Education at
PS41 and find resources
for every month’s character
unit at www.ps41.org.
Modern Dance
Technique,
Improvisation,
Composition
Ages 5 – Teens
Classes meet in
Soho, Chelsea and
Union Square
ELLEN ROBBINS
DANCE
ellenrobbinsdance.com
212-254-0286
21
Spring 2016
CHECK OUT THE BOUNTY OF
THE PS41 FARMERS MARKET!
TUES PM PICK-WUP & WED AM DROP-OFF
JUST A FEW COPIES LEFT!
THE PS41 COOKBOOK
AVAILABLE AT THE SCHOOL STORE
Find your voice
Develop self-esteem
Sing healthy
Read music
Make friends
with Vielka Kelly-Weiss
Carnegie Hall’s Lead Teaching Artist and PS 41 Mom
Personal instruction in a small group setting
Specializing in children and teens for over 15 years
Build confidence for auditions, performances, and life!
www.voiceclassnyc.com
Woodworking · Fashion · Photography · Architecture · Drawing · Sculpture · Cooking · Sewing · Robotics
PS 41 Kids Love
Arts and recreation classes in the heart of the Village
AND
ARTS
AFTER-SCHOOL
Register and
Learn More at
greenwichhouse.org/afterschool
22
Spring 2016
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Campers Ages 3-15
Door to Door
A/C Transportation
Towel Service
Call for a
Personal Tour
23
Spring 2016
Another Great Year with Deer Mountain’s
Lunchtime Rec Program
Roberta & Carol Katz, Owners of Deer Mountain Day Camp
It’s hard to believe that another school
year of the DMSE Lunchtime Rec program is drawing to a close! As we near
the end of the year, we’d like to reflect
on some goals and highlights.
This spring, student favorites have
included Four Square, Basketball, and
Parachute Games. While some students consistently pick the sports-related offerings, others vary each day
and often opt in to dance, yoga, or
helicopter, a fun jump rope game,
throughout the week. Rainy days have
not stopped us from having fun during
lunchtime recess. Students can be
found in the auditorium engaging in
indoor favorites like “Extreme Simon
Says” and Special Shoes, a dance
game, or in the gym playing active
games like Four Corners and Speed
Ball.
We have heard from parents and students that each of the DMSE instructors has built a rapport with and
developed a following of students.
The connections that students and
Asparagus Frittata
By Deborah Soffel, WITS chef
This is a versatile vegetarian recipe
perfect for a spring supper. Children
can help prepare the dish, assisting
with these cooking tasks: cracking the
eggs, whisking, grating cheese and
plucking parsley leaves off the stem.
6 eggs, beaten
1 -ounce Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1 cup sliced potatoes, skin on
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped asparagus, or other
seasonal vegetable
1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
I’D DO ANYTHING...
TO SEE THE 5TH GRADE MUSICAL!
instructors have formed and the comfort they create for students as they
approach their mid-day break is one of
the driving goals of the program. The
DMSE team values having the opportunity to help PS41 students have fun
and catch a breath during the busy
school day.
At Deer Mountain, we truly value the
role we play in the PS41 community
and we look forward to continuing
our partnership with PS41 during the
2016-2017 school year. We wish you
all a safe, wonderful summer and look
forward to seeing you all in September.
The recess program is affiliated with
Deer Mountain Day Camp, located in
Pomona, NY. Any questions or feedback you would like to provide can be
directed to Roberta and Carol Katz,
owners of both organizations. They
can be reached in the camp office at
845-354-2727 or via email at roberta@
deermountaindaycamp.com or carol@
deermountaindaycamp.com.
In medium size bowl, using a fork
or whisk, blend together the eggs,
Parmesan, pepper, and salt. Heat
12-inch non-stick sauté pan over
medium high heat. Add butter and oil
to pan and melt.
Add the onions and potatoes to the
pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring
to coat with butter. Cook until potatoes and onions are softened. Add
asparagus, or other vegetable, to pan
and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes more until
the vegetable loses it’s rawness and
starts to become tender.
Pour egg mixture into pan and let it
settle evenly over the cooked vegetables, rotating and tilting the pan as
necessary. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or
until the egg mixture has set on the
bottom and begins to set up on top.
OLIVER!
THU, JUNE 16
FRI, JUNE 17
SAT, JUNE 18
@
PS41 AUDITORIUM
TICKETS ON SALE MON, JUNE 6
CONSIDER YOURSELF...A FAN!
Use a spatula to push the egg toward
the center and away from the sides of
the pan and let the raw egg run down
the sides of the frittata to cook.
Now for the fun part! When the frittata is almost completely set, slide
the spatula under the eggs to loosen
it completely from the bottom. Lift
pan off burner, cover the frittata with
a plate that will both fit comfortably
inside the pan and cover the entire
frittata, and quickly flip the pan over
and allow the frittata to drop onto the
plate. Carefully slide the frittata back
into the pan and cook a few minutes
more until bottom is set. Sprinkle with
parsley and serve immediately.
24
Spring 2016
Coming Up... Important Dates
MON, JUNE 6
TUES, JUNE 7
THU, JUNE 9 TUES, JUNE 14 JUNE 16-18
FRI, JUNE 24
TUES, JUN 28
4th Grade NYS Science Test
SLT Meeting @ 4:45pm
PTA Meeting @ 8:45am
School Closed (Chancellor’s Day)
School Closed (Clerical Day) Oliver! 5th Grade Musical
Staten Island Yankees Game
Last Day of School!
11:45am Early Dismissal
PS41 News
116 West 11th Street
New York, NY 10011
[email protected]
Editorial & Layout: Sarah Choi
Photo Editor: Abbie Park
Advertising: Lisa Yee
We are looking for volunteer writers, photographers
and graphic designers. Email us to get involved!
On the Horizon...
School Holidays Next Fall
THU, SEPT 8
FRI, SEPT 9
MON, SEPT 12
SUN, SEPT 18
THU, SEPT 22
OCT 3-4
MON, OCT 10
WED, OCT 12
SAT, OCT 29
TUES, NOV 8
FRI, NOV 11
NOV 24-25
First Day of School!
After-School Fair @ 8:15am
School Closed (Eid al-Adha)
Pre-K & K Welcome Picnic @ 2:00pm
Back-to-School Night @ 5:00pm
School Closed (Rosh Hashanah)
School Closed (Columbus Day)
School Closed (Yom Kippur)
Monster Mash
School Closed (Chancellor’s Day)
School Closed (Veterans Day)
School Closed (Thanksgiving)
Get your
Remember the good times
from this year and check out
the 5th graders’ baby photos!
On sale starting June 20th
Posters of the original cover art will also be available
P3 Baseball
& Softball
Summer Camp at Pier 40
• Daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly camps
• From June 13 through August 19
• Weekly all day baseball & softball camps include
lunch, skills & drills, daily game competitions, t-shirt,
cap, and snacks
• $125 daily or $450 weekly with additional discounts
for additional weeks
Our P3 staff and coaches are beloved by the community. With over 15 years of
experience running camps and programs at Pier 40, we are committed to delivering
FUN, AFFORDABLE and FLEXIBLE youth programs in lower Manhattan.
For more information or to register go to www.pier40.org
Pier 40 is located at West Houston Street, west of the West Side Highway