Principal's Corner

Principal’s Message   

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

~ L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)

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

 Happy October, dearest families and friends!  The autumn season is a favorite season for many as the leaves begin to turn a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors, we need a sweater or light jacket, and there are wonder-filled holidays to enjoy and cherish with our families.  Our days and weeks continue to fly in and fly out, and my best advice always to all parents is “Don’t Blink” because you don’t want to miss a single beautiful moment with your beautiful children!

     It continues to be pure JOY to welcome all our students every morning to a new day of learning and growing here at P.S. 56.  The daily routines needed to maximize instruction and learning are in place.  Our flow of the school day ensures that we are meeting the academic, social and emotional strengths and needs of every child in a joyful learning environment.  Always striving to be better than our last best, we have so much to celebrate as our sensational students continue to grow as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, historians, artists, critical thinkers and friends.

    Connecting our students’ learning to the world at-large has been a long standing tradition here at P.S. 56.  We have always recognized the importance of providing trips for all our students to enhance and strengthen their learning.  Trips are an excellent opportunity for students to experience learning outside their classroom and are always educational and fun.  Learning at P.S. 56 is connected across the disciplines.  A variety of educational and interactive trips are being planned on every grade level to support our units of study.  We are excited this month to begin scheduling these learning experiences for all our students from kindergarten through grade 5.  

     Our October calendar is filled to the brim with wonderful events and also opportunities for service to others.  Our annual sock drive commences this month and with support from our sensational student council we will be collecting donations of new socks to give to those less fortunate than ourselves.  We continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and everyone is invited to wear something representing Hispanic Culture on Friday, October 11.  In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month everyone is invited to wear something pink on Wednesday, October 16.   Our annual Red Ribbon Week begins on October 22.  During this annual event our students in grades 3, 4 and 5 discuss and learn the skills and strategies to help them make lifelong healthy choices.  The entire school community is invited to wear something red on Tuesday, October 29.  The 2024 World Series is scheduled to begin at the end of this month and we are looking forward to wearing our favorite baseball team attire on Friday, October 25!  Of course we will all be ready to welcome the Great Pumpkin on Tuesday, October 31.  Everyone is invited to wear something orange! Yes, October is a wonderfully busy month!  

     Teamwork definitely makes the dream work, and there are not enough words to convey my immeasurable gratitude to my entire P.S. 56 family for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.  You are loved and appreciated always.  #BestSchoolFamilyEver! 

     So bring on this wonderfully busy month as we welcome October 2024 ~ our best is yet to be!

Fondly,

Maureen O’Neill

Principal

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

Technology Support: 845-581-0056

Parent Coordinator: Carmen Garcia

Email: cgarcia22@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Association Executive Board:

Email: 10x056PA@schools.nyc.gov 

President: Sherica Martinez

Recording Secretary: Estefany Rodriguez

Treasurer: Samantha Quintena

Title 1 Representative: Samantha Quintena

Title 1 Alternate: TBD

 

 

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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 Assembly 2024: Being Kind! 

 A group of students on stage presenting for Hearts & Flowers.  Three students present their Hearts & Flowers project board on stage.  "Why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out."  "One step at a time"  A presentation board created by a 5th grade class for Hearts & Flowers week event.  Five students on stage posing after presenting. 

Celebrating Red Ribbon Week 2023

 Principal in the yard.         We Rock Drug Free at the park.  Class 5-1 in the park.  McGruff in the park.  Class 4-3 in the park.    Red Ribbon Day march in the park.  Class gathering at the park.  Kids running at the park.  Class 3-3 in the yard.     McGruff in Yard 

Hearts & Flowers Assembly 2023

   P.S. 56 AdministrationClass 5-1 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Class 5-3 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Class 5-2 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation. Class 3-4 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Class 3-2 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Class 3-3 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Class 5-5 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.  Grade 4 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation.    Class 235 students representing their class for Hearts and Flowers presentation."Be uniquely you".                                         

    

               

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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. 

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2024

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2023

P.S. 56 KINDNESS VIDEO 2022

P.S. 56 Graduation 2021

P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

  • P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt

    P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

We Miss You Slideshow 2020!