

PS 20 Dolphin Tales
Dr. Maya Angelou Elementary School Newsletter
*******************January Newsletter******************
"Be Safe, Live Responsibly, Understand, Respect, and Encourage Each Other!"
Principal: Mr. Hani Ileya
Assistant Principal: Dr. Courtney Campbell
January 9, 2025: PS 20 School-Level Spelling Bee
Grades 3-5 held their classroom-level spelling bees in December, in which one student from each class was chosen to represent their classrooms in the school-level spelling bee. The 12 representatives did an amazing job going head-to-head with each other on January 9, 2025! We are proud of their incredible spelling skills!
Ultimately, we would like to congratulate our third place winner Alexandria Thompson (fourth grade), our second place winner Hunter Collins (fifth grade), and our first place winner William Eziokwu (third grade)!
WIlliam will now represent our school in the Scripps County Spelling Bee, which will be held in the Hudson County School of Technology in Secaucus, NJ on February 8, 2025. William will also represent our school at the Jersey City Public Schools District Spelling Bee on March 22, 2025. Congratulations and best of luck to William in the upcoming bees!
First Place Winner: William Eziokwu--Room 361
Second Place Winner: Hunter Collins --Room 351
Third Place Winner: Alexandria Thompson--Room 340
January 23, 2025: First Grade Educational Arts Visit
The Jersey City Educational Arts Team had a wonderful Literacy Activity for our first grade students! Students listened to a story and created their own puppet characters, background, and stage to take home and share with their families!
January 28, 2025: District Science Fair at Liberty Science Center
Congratulations to the winners of the PS 20 School Science Fair! These three students also represented our school by displaying their projects during the District Science Fair at the Liberty Science Center. We are very proud of you-----way to go!
Anjerlin Hernandez: Which Filtration Leads to the Best Drinking Water?
Liam Santiago: Enzymatic Browning Process
Quentin Plaza: What Melts Ice Faster?
January 31, 2025: Performing Arts Assembly
Grades K-5 experienced how Diasporic African Polyrhythms from Africa, Brazil and America create mechanisms for place-making. They experienced a Porch Choreo-Story from a Historically Black Neighborhood, while learning about the Great Migration. Using dance as text, students danced and considered how we navigate our friendship qualities towards justice.
PS 20 Celebrates Muslim Heritage Month with Classroom Crafts and Activities!
Room 261--Henna Designs
Room 247--"My Father's Shop" Read Aloud and Carpet Designs
Room 255--Mandalas and Musallas
*******************Activities Corner****************
Room 255: Mr. Kroeger, Ms.Vidal, and Ms. Wright's Fourth Grade Class
Room 255 honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as Inauguration Day, with beautiful writing activities!
Room 163: Ms. Massiah, Ms. Mahon, and Ms. Javed's Kindergarten Class
Students observed and completed an activity to show how they are alike, and how it doesn't matter what they look like on the outside. The activity also showed how they can make a difference by being kind and respectful!
Room 361: Ms. Sciarretta's Third Grade Class Celebrates the Lunar New Year!
Upcoming Events and Reminders
February 4, 2025: End of Marking Period 2
February 5, 2025: Afternoon Professional Development for Teachers--Half Day Schedule for Students: 12:45 Dismissal
February 11, 2025: In-Person Report Card Conferences- 1:30-3:00pm---Half Day Schedule
for Students: 12:45 Dismissal
February 17, 2025: Presidents' Day--No School
February 19, 2025: 100th Day of School
MATH CORNER: K-5 Math Savvas Parent Homework Help:
Please use the following link to help your child with homework via grade level and topic!
About Us:
Dr. Maya Angelou Elementary School
239 Ocean Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07305
201-369-2630
Facebook/Instagram: @Dr.MayaAngelouPS20JC
Website: www.ps20.jcboe.org