Principal's Corner

Principal’s Message                          

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

It truly is THE most wonderful time of the year! Our students are filling our hallways, classrooms, and hearts with so much joy and joyful learning! The best part of my day continues to be visiting all our classrooms each day and engaging in conversation with our awesome students. #IAmBlessed!

December is always a special time as visions of the holidays and winter recess dance in all our heads. Our integrated units of study build on this excitement as our children connect their learning to the world at large. We remain dedicated to our mission to educate the whole child ensuring the development of every child’s self-esteem and social responsibility, while instilling a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Wonder-filled learning continues here at P.S. 56 in every moment of every school day. Joy and good cheer are in abundance. Our students are always so excited and proud to share their learning and work with me as they grow in leaps and bounds as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, geographers, athletes, artists, musicians, critical thinkers, and friends. Our days together fly in and fly out and I cannot believe that we will soon be welcoming a new year. I remain so honored and grateful to be on this academic journey with all of you, and I am looking forward to making soooooo many more cherished memories as a school family in the months ahead!

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all THE most blessed (& hopefully RELAXING!) holidays and winter recess! May Hanukkah be the happiest, Christmas the merriest, Kwanzaa the most bountiful, and our New Year the happiest and healthiest as we gather with family & friends. All these winter celebrations always include lots of lights. May the warmth & glow of every light fill our homes & hearts with hope, peace & love. And may you always receive from others all the kindness and love you so generously give! Looking so forward to a happy & healthy New Year 2022! We love you all so much & you are appreciated always! #BestSchoolFamilyEver!

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

Parent Association 2020-2021:

Parent Coordinator: Carmen Garcia

Email: cgarcia22@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Association Executive Board:

Email: 10x056PA@schools.nyc.gov 

President : Cynthia Reyes

Secretary: Cristina Iglesias

Treasurer: Yessica Ramales

Parent Association School Leadership Team (SLT):

Elisabeth Von Uhl

Hazera Hussain

Lizette Flores

Sherica Martinez

 

 

Parent Flyers & Updates

Happy New School Year 2021-2022!

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

Highlights: 

 Principal speaking at the Hearts and Flowers Assembly.  Student presentation at the Hearts and Flowers Assembly.  Students share their Kindness Project at the Hearts and Flowers Assembly,  "Count on us, we're all wonders!"  Fourth and fifth grade students present at the Hearts and Flowers Assembly.  Students participate in the Hearts and Flowers Assembly.  "You can count on me! Can we count on you?"  "Be the reason someone smiles"  

 "Glowing with kindness" 

Previous Highlights: Speech Competition 2020!

 Speech competition continued.  Audience listening at the speech competition.  Student giving a speech at the Speech Competition.  Audience listening at the speech competition continued.  

Previous Highlights: Free Rice Vocabulary Award Ceremony

Free Rice Contest winners in 3rd grade.  Free Rice Contest winners in 4th grade.  Free Rice Contest winners.  Free Rice Contest winners in 5th grade. 

Previous Highlights: Holiday Festivities. 

  Beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the lobby.  Parents Association raffle prize. 

Previous Highlights: Annual Free Rice Vocabulary Contest! 

 Students search for unknown words in an online Thesaurus.  Students learning vocabulary through an online game.  Playing a vocabulary game online to feed the hungry.  Students partake in the online vocabulary contest.  Students partake in an online vocabulary contest.  Vocabulary Contest participant busy at work.  

Previous Highlights: Red Ribbon Day Walk

 Principal, Maureen O'Neill rallies students for the annual Red Ribbon Week march.  Students in the schoolyard getting ready to march for the annual Red Ribbon Walk.  Students march for the Red Ribbon Walk at the local park.  Students and teachers march for the Red Ribbon Walk at the local park.  Teacher march along students at the local park.  Students march holding a banner.  Students march against drugs at the local park.  Students marching back to school from the Red Ribbon Walk. 

Upcoming Events

  • SCHOOL CLOSED

    Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Last Day to Return Saturday Academy Responses

    Grades 3, 4 & 5. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • School Leadership Team Meeting

    Starting at 3 P.M. via Zoom.

    All Are Welcome! 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • School Spirit - Comfy Day

    Everyone invited to relax and wear sweatpants and sweatshirts. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Saturday Academy

    Grades 3, 4 & 5.

    8:30 AM to 12 PM. 

    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 Skype with other students in Wales.

    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. 

  • 2nd grade students using tablets.

    2nd grade class learning on iPads. 

  • Students practicing their math skills on the computer.

    Technology Integration in 5th grade. 

  • Practicing math skills on the computer.

    Technology Integration in Grade 5. 

  • A student practicing multiplication facts on a computer.

    Technology Integration, grade 5. 

  • 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. 

NYC Middle School Admissions

Applying to Middle School? Welcome! from NYC Public Schools on Vimeo.

NYC Middle School Directory

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

P.S. 56 Closing Exercises 2021

P.S. 56 Closing Exercises 2020

P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

  • P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt

    P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

P.S. 56 Kindness Video 2021

P.S. 56 Kindness Video 2020

Happy Holidays 2020!

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

Thank You to all of our Essential Workers at P.S. 56 & Everywhere!