P.S. 056 Norwood Heights School

Principal’s Message   

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” ~ Cicero

Dearest P.S. 56 School Family,

    Happy November, dear friends!  The month of gratitude and for giving thanks for all our blessings is here!  There is truly so much to be thankful for in every moment of every day at P.S. 56!  I watch with immeasurable pride and love the tremendous dedication of our entire school family to the children we serve and love.  Always striving to be better than our last best, our amazing students continue to grow in leaps and bounds as readers, writers, mathematicians, historians, scientists, digital citizens, musicians, artists, athletes, critical thinkers, and friends!  They are excited and proud to share their learning, and well they should be.  Visiting their classrooms every day is truly THE best part of my day, and my daily reminder that I truly do have THE best job in the whole world!

     Everyone has an important role to play in the academic lives of all our students, and our ongoing positive and strong home-school connection remains paramount in ensuring the academic growth and success of every child.  We are most grateful to you, dear parents, for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!  Teamwork definitely makes the dream work! 

      November includes Parent-Teacher Conferences as we conclude our first trimester and prepare to begin the next.  This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our children as learners!  As old as I am I can still remember my report card days.  We want our children to always know that we are with them every step of their journey as learners. A special treat, a congratulatory note on a pillow, an “I am so proud of you” or an “I am here to support you” conversation will be memories of report card days our children will cherish in the years to come.  Parent-Teacher Conferences are also our opportunity to share our students’ learning goals and our next steps in achieving these goals.  With our strong home-school relationship and ongoing communication we can ensure all our students achieve their full potential.  We are all always striving to be better than our last best.  #TogetherWe’veGotThis!

     We recently celebrated the investiture of our P.S. 56 Student Council representatives for this school year.  Together with their moderators our grade 4 and grade 5 student council members discuss and plan activities that represent our core values of Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, Kindness, Love of learning and Empathy for all (SPARKLE).  This month our P.S. 56 Student Council is collecting new socks and gloves for those less fortunate than ourselves.

     November 2025 begins.  This is always such a special time of the year.  Please know always how immeasurably grateful I am for all of you.  Your ongoing support, understanding, kindness and thoughtfulness are tremendously appreciated in every moment of every day.  #BestSchoolFamilyEver!  #BestStudentsEver!  #IAmBlessed!     

    Together we continue to go far, and together is a wonderful place to be!  From my heart to yours:  thank you.

Fondly,

Maureen O’Neill

Principal  

Tip of the Month:  Today’s families are busier than ever, and the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holiday season can make our lives extra-busy!  Let us all make a pinky promise to carve out some time from our busy schedules to enjoy some fun activities with our families. Let’s disconnect our electronics to reconnect with each other!  Board games, family movie nights, walks in the park, living room ‘camp-outs’ are inexpensive and FUN opportunities to make priceless memories with our children!