Principal's Corner

Principal’s Message   

"I'll be there for you"

Dearest P.S. 56 School Family,

 Happy Summer Everyone!  An amazing school year has ended, and preparations for our new school year have already begun.  The last weeks of June were overflowing with an abundance of special and memorable events.  The final days were extra-special as we celebrated our sensational grade 5 students - the Class of 2026.  Our Closing Exercise ceremonies were absolutely beautiful and were perfect celebrations of our amazing grade 5 students!  Our gymnatorium was overflowing with so much joy and love.  The standing ovation our students received in recognition of their resilience and dedication to excellence was so well-deserved.  Our pride and love are immeasurable!

     And this pride and love extends to all our students, grades K - 5!  They have been incredible super stars this entire school year!  I have watched them in awe this entire school year.  They filled every moment of every school day with joyful learning, and they have all grown in leaps and bounds this year as learners.  They have also formed lasting friendships and strong positive relationships with peers and staff.  #BestStudentsEver!   

  Below are some important reminders and updates:

  • Report cards are available on your child’s New York City Student Account (NYCSA). 
  • Kindergarten registration and registration for new students grades 1 - 5 will resume the week of August 31, 2026, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.         
  • Research shows that all children are at-risk of losing some of what they have learned this past school year during summer vacation.  Researchers call it the summer slide, but there are some ways we can help our children avoid any significant loss of learning.

* Encourage our children to read every day and to read books and stories that they enjoy.  Twenty to thirty minutes a day can support our children’s reading skills while also supporting their lifelong love of reading.  This includes listening to a story too! 

* Games and puzzles are a great way for our children to strengthen their critical thinking skills while also having lots of FUN!  

* Outdoor activities provide an opportunity for all of us to turn off our devices and enjoy the summer sun, while engaging in conversations that strengthen our children’s listening and speaking skills. 

     As a grandmother, I know the most important summer assignment for our children is to HAVE FUN with family and friends!  Those fun moments will become lifelong cherished memories!  Our children have worked hard all year and we want them to have a summer vacation overflowing with R & R, laughter, and fun in the sun!

  • Your child’s class assignment and teacher for the 2026-2027 school year will be shared with you via email on Friday, September 4.
  • The 2026-2027 School Year officially begins for all students on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.    

     Please note:  For the first two days of school, our kindergarten students will arrive in our school yard at 9:15 a.m. on September 10 and September 11 to support their transition into their new academic home away from home.  This delayed arrival time on September 10 and September 11 is only for our kindergarten students.  Beginning Monday, September 14, the kindergarten arrival time will be at 8 a.m. 

Breakfast will be served every day in all our classrooms.

Dismissal times are as follows:

Kindergarten: 2 p.m.

Grade 1:  2:10 p.m.

Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5: 2:15-2:20 p.m.

  • Hot and cold lunches are prepared and served by our P.S. 56 Top Chefs every day. 
  • Breakfasts-To-Go are available every morning for all our students and are eaten in our classrooms.
  • You can continue to contact me throughout the summer with any questions, concerns and/or suggestions you might have at 1-914-570-4527.  My email address is mbyrneoneil@schools.nyc.gov. 

     From my heart to your hearts - thank you everyone!  I know I have THE best job in the world because I work with THE best staff in the world, and together we serve THE best students and THE best families in the world!  I am so blessed!  Together we truly did come so very far.  And together is truly the most wonderful place to be!  I wish you all the most wonder-filled summer.  May it be especially happy and healthy.  May it be overflowing with the best of times with family and friends, and may every moment become a cherished memory.  You are loved and appreciated more than words can ever say. 

Fondly, 

Maureen O’Neill

Principal

 

Contact Information

Principal 914-570-4527

Main Office 718-920-1100

Parent Coordinator 347-685-5983

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

Technology Support: 718-427-7605

Email: Akazi2@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Coordinator: Sherica Martinez

Email: smartinez103@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Association Executive Board:

Email: 10x056PA@schools.nyc.gov 

President: Diana Seales

Secretary: Rooshanie Niranjan

Treasurer: Isabel Maldonado

Title 1 Representative: Victoria Tzic

 

 

 

Parent Flyers & Updates

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

Our Community Builders Museum by Class 2-2: 

 "Our community builders museum."  city bridge constructed by students.  urban community.  rural community. 

Hearts & Flowers & Respect for All Week 2026 Begins: 

   Hearts & Flowers Week.  4th grade class group photo during kindness week activity.  Small group of students with Art teacher.  Two students pose during Hearts & Flowers activity.  Small group of students with their classroom teacher.  Student council students posing for a picture together as a group.                 

 

    

               

Upcoming Events

View Monthly Calendar

"Our Community Builders Museum" - An Amazing Project shared by Class 2-2!

Kindness For All Celebration at 10X056

PIX 11 News at P.S. 56

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 Breakfast & Lunch Menus

P.S. 56 KINDNESS VIDEO 2022

P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

  • P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt

    P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2024

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2023