Principal's Corner

Principal’s Message   

Dearest P.S. 56 School Family,"I'll be there for you"

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

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.  Parent-Teacher Conferences are always an invaluable opportunity to discuss your children’s academic growth thus far this year.  As we celebrate all progress and achievements, we also share specific learning goals and strategies for each individual student.  This month we also celebrate the investiture of our P.S. 56 Student Council representatives for this school year.  Student Council members in both grades 4 and 5 are recognized and honored during our Student Council Induction Ceremony.   Together with their moderators the students 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 Student Council is collecting new socks and gloves for those less fortunate than ourselves.

  November 2022 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!

 

 

 

Contact Information

Principal 914-570-4527

Main Office 718-920-1100

Parent Coordinator 718-552-0429

School Nurse: 718-920-1100 x1011

School Based Support Team: 718-920-1100 x5104 

Guidance Office: 718-920-1100 x5022

DOE  Help Desk: 718-935-5100

School Tech Contact: 845-581-0056

Parent Association 2020-2021:

Parent Coordinator: Carmen Garcia

Email: cgarcia22@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Association Executive Board:

Email: 10x056PA@schools.nyc.gov 

President: Ms. Renita Polonia

Secretary: Ms. Sherica Martinez

Treasurer: TBD

Title 1 Representative: TBD

Title 1 Alternate: TBD

 

 

Parent Flyers & Updates

P.S. 56 Kindness Video 2022

Quick Links

Mission Statement

“Our mission is to educate the whole child, develop his/her self-esteem, social responsibility; sense of community; values, mental and physical health, citizenship, and instill a life-long love of reading and learning. We will accomplish our mission through cooperative planning, both short and long-term, parent and community involvement, and respect for all members of the PS 56 community. It is our goal to make our school an exciting place to learn and work.” 

Our Motto

 "Always striving to be better than our last best." 

P.S. 56 Highlights

Hearts & Flowers Week Assembly 2022: 

 "He or she is the greatest whose strength carries up most hearts."  "Being kind is a great thing to do, kindness is in everyone, even you!"  "Blooming with kindness."  "Kindness show it beautifies whatever it touches."  "One step at a time."  "We're all wonders."  "Why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out?"  "Count on us. We're all wonders."  Kindness poster by class 4-5.  Students watching a Hearts and Flowers class presentation.  3rd grade students on stage.  Principal, Maureen O'Neill playing the guitar.  Hearts and flowers assembly.  "It's better to build everyone up."  A fifth grade class presents on stage.  A fifth grade class presenting on stage.  "The seeds we sow, make kindness grow."  Class 4-4 presents on stage.  Kindness poster by class 3-2.  "Count on me."  "Count on me, 1, 2, 3." 

Free Rice Vocabulary Contest Award Ceremony: 

  3rd grade vocabulary champions.4th grade vocabulary champions.5th grade vocabulary champions.

    

    

               

Upcoming Events

  • P.S. 56 Student Council

    Sock & Glove Drive Ends. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Class Trips

    Class 5-3 & 5-4

    Paley Center for Media

     

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Library Open Access

    3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights
View Monthly Calendar

Image Gallery

  • P.S. 56 building and it's new addition.

    P.S. 56 view from outside. 

  • Small group of students on a Skype call.

    Skyping with students from Wales during Social Studies. 

  • Students Skype with an educator in Bangladesh.

    Skyping with an educator from Bangladesh during Social Studies. 

  • Students Skype with students from Amsterdam.

     Skyping with students from Amsterdam during Social Studies. 

  • Students Skype with other students from Australia.

    Skyping with students from Amsterdam during Social Studies. 

  • Students practice touch typing.

    Touch Typing in 5th grade. 

  • Students learning to use tablets.

    2nd grade class learning on iPads. 

  • Students checking out books with the librarian.

    Students checking out books at the library!

  • Students reading books in the library.

    Class library hour. 

  • Inside the library.

    Inside our library. 

  • School library entrance.

    P.S. 56 Library. 

  • "How are you feeling in the Mood Meter?"

    Mood Meter

  • "We Believe"

    We Believe. 

  • Sparkles and Shines chart.

    P.S. 56 Sparkles & Shines. 

  • Alvin Ailey dance practice.

    Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 

  • Alvin Ailey Dance group practicing in the auditorium.

    Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

  • Alvin Ailey Dance group in the school auditorium.

    Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 

  • Art work samples by students.

    Students' work in Art. 

  • Students work sample in art class.

    Students' work in Art. 

  • Student participating in a vocabulary contest.

    Class 3-3. 

  • A third grade class participating in a vocabulary contest.

    Class 3-3. 

  • Math Masters student champions.

    Math Masters Champions! 

  • Red Ribbon Day march.

    Red Ribbon Day March at Oval. 

Take a Virtual Tour!

  • PS 56 entrance way from 207th street nearing the gate.

    Main entrance gate on 207th street. 

  • PS 56 side view of the building from 207th street.

    PS 56 Corner view from Hull Ave. 

  • PS 56 entrance way from 207th street past the gate.

    PS 56 Main Entrance Yard. 

  • Security lobby displaying a large U.S. flag on the wall above.

    Main Entrance Security Lobby. 

  • School security desk on the main lobby.

    Please have your ID ready to show Security.

  • Security lobby staircase leading towards the first floor.

    Lobby staircase leading up to the 1st floor. 

  • Second half of the main floor staircase leading into the first floor.

    Staircase leading up to the 1st floor and the Main Office. 

  • PS 56 first floor walk up towards the main office.

    PS 56 first floor walk up towards the main office.

  • PS 56 view of security lobby from above.

    PS 56 view of security lobby from above.

  • Poster with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. by the main office floor elevators.

    A quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by the 1st floor elevators. 

  • Main office entrance and hallway.

    Main Office entrance and hallway. 

  • Main office reception area with a bulletin board that displays the school calendar.

    Welcome to the Main Office! 

  • Main office reception desk close up.

    Main Office reception desk. 

  • Principal, Maureen O'Neill's office entrance way.

    Welcome to Principal, Maureen O'Neill's office!

  • Lobby leading towards the library.

    Lobby leading towards the school library. 

  • PS 56 library entrance floor.

    Library and cafeteria entrance stairway from lobby. 

  • Library floor hallway in the lower lobby.

    Lower level hall by the library. 

  • Inside the library.

    Inside our library. 

  • School cafeteria entrance view from distance.

    School cafeteria hall. 

  • School cafeteria entrance doors.

    Cafeteria entrance.

  • School cafeteria food station.

    Cafeteria food station. 

  • School cafeteria seating area.

    Inside from cafeteria. 

  • Multi purpose room entrance way.

    Multipurpose room entrance. 

  • Multi purpose room right view.

    Multipurpose room. 

  • Multi purpose room skylight ceiling view.

    Multipurpose room skylight ceilings!

  • Music room.

    The music room. 

  • Upper floor hallway view by the elevators.

    Upper floor hallway near the elevators. 

  • 2nd floor hallway seating area for students.

    2nd floor reading nook. 

  • Inside gym stage view.

    2nd floor gym facing the stage. 

  • Inside gym looking away from stage view.

    2nd floor gym looking back from stage. 

  • 3rd floor stairway exit facing large windows.

    3rd floor view towards the central stairs. 

  • Staircase descending down.

    Staircase coming down from the 3rd floor. 

  • PS 56 art room facing large windows with students work.

    Art room window view. 

  • Art room student seating area.

    Art room class view. 

  • Upper floor hallway door connecting original side from new the new side.

    Hallway bridge connecting new and original part of the building. 

  • Upper floor original side hallway view from front end to the back end.

    3rd floor hallway facing East. 

  • Upper floor original hallway view from back end to front end.

    3rd floor hallway facing West. 

  • PS 56 original main entrance on 207th street.

    Original main entrance on 207th street. 

  • Original side main entrance inside doors before the staircase.

    Original main entrance past the red doors. 

  • Original main entrance staircase.

    Original main stairs leading up to the 1st floor. 

  • Original side main exit staircase.

    Original main building exit stairs. 

  • PS 56 view from sidewalk from one end to the other end looking West.

    PS 56 sidewalk view from Hull Ave. 

  • PS 56 school yard on South end.

    School yard by Decatur Ave. 

School Food Menus

School Leadership Team (SLT)

Happy New School Year 2021-2022!

P.S. 56 Closing Exercises 2021

P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

  • P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt

    P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

P.S. 56 Staff Slideshow 2020: We Miss You!