What an incredible week it has been for our PS 88Q community! I am beyond proud to share some remarkable moments that highlight just how special our students are.

To start, our Disney Theater Team was featured on ABC World News with David Muir! This program reaches over 7 million nightly viewers, not including online streams and social media shares—our PS 88Q performers went global! The world got a glimpse of what we see every day: talent, dedication, and heart. What an honor for our school and our entire community!

The spotlight continues this week as several of our Saturday Academy students head to Tweed Courthouse, the central office of NYC Public Schools, to present their incredible work on Gardening and Food Sustainability. This project, rooted in Project-Based Learning, showcases our students' problem-solving skills, creativity, and commitment to a better future. They will be presenting to city and state leaders—what a proud moment for PS 88Q!

On Tuesday, every student will take part in a powerful tradition—our annual May The Change Be With You Advocacy Walk. Our students are learning that their voices matter, and that age is no barrier when it comes to standing up for change. Education isn’t just about facts and figures—it’s about using knowledge to solve problems and lead with purpose.

Our student-athletes are also soaring! Our Grade 5 basketball team—the PS 88Q Eagles—has made it to the playoffs! While the Knicks made headlines, so have our own home team! We’re rooting for them all the way!

And finally, this week brings one of our most joyful traditions—Field Day at Mafera Park! A huge thank you to Ms. Corniel and Mr. Tripotseris for organizing such an exciting day of fun and teamwork. Families—we need you! Please consider volunteering to make the day a success. Sign-up information was shared and we’d love your support.

The school year may be winding down, but the energy and accomplishments at PS 88Q are only growing.

🌸 May Highlights

🇺🇸 May 26 No School – Memorial Day
✨ May 27: "May the Change Be With You" Advocacy Event
🎓 May 28: Saturday Academy PBL Showcase at Tweed – Featuring Projects with ELLs in Mind
🏃 May 28 Field Day (Grades 3–5)
🏅 May 29 Field Day (Grades K–2)
🌧️ May 30 Field Day Rain Date (Just in Case!)
🌳 May 31: “We Are District 24” Celebration – Forest Park

🌞 June Celebrations & Events

🎉 June 4: #WeArePS88Q Celebration (3:30–6:30 PM)
🎬 June 4: Outdoor Movie Night (6:30–8:00 PM)
🕌 June 5: No School – Eid-al-Adha
📝 June 6: No Students – Clerical Day
🏫 June 9: SLT Meeting @ 5:00 PM
💌 June 11: Gifted & Talented Offers Released
🦁 June 12–13: The Lion King Evening Performances
🏃‍♀️ June 14: PS 88Q Fun Run! (9:30 AM)
🎶 June 18: Band Performance @ 6:00 PM
🤝 June 17: PTA Meeting
✊ June 19: No School – Juneteenth
🍽️ June 20: Grade 5 Breakfast & Final Walk-Through
🎓 June 23: Grade 5 Commencement Ceremony
🥳 June 24: Grade 5 Party!
📅 June 26: Last Day of School – Let Summer Begin!

🌴 Looking Ahead

☀️ July 2: Summer Rising Begins

There are truly no words to capture how proud the entire PS 88Q community felt witnessing this moment of recognition, attention, and celebration. The Lion King, this year’s unforgettable production, and our talented student actors were beautifully highlighted on ABC World News with David Muir—what an incredible honor!

Equally deserving of the spotlight was the dream team behind it all: Ms. Bawer, Ms. Fogarty, and Mr. Nolan. Year after year, they pour their hearts into creating this magical opportunity for our students. Their passion, dedication, and belief in the power of the arts were finally recognized on a global stage—and we couldn’t be prouder.

This was more than a performance. It was a moment that showed the world what we’ve always known: PS 88Q is a place where creativity, talent, and community shine.

🎭 Don’t miss your chance to see the magic live! Our students will perform their full production of The Lion King on June 12 and June 13 at 6:00 PM. Come celebrate their incredible work and be part of this unforgettable experience!

🎉 You’re Invited to the PS 88Q Open House Celebration! 🎉
📅 Date: Tuesday, June 4th
🕒 Time: 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM and the Outdoor Movie Night from 6:30pm-8:00pm
📍 Location: PS 88Q – The Heart of Our Community

• Join us for a fun-filled, schoolwide celebration where YOU get to experience what your child sees every day! Our amazing staff has curated an afternoon of learning, laughter, and community connection. It’s a true open house—and we’re adding more excitement every day!

  🌟 What’s in Store:
  🎨 Ms. Fogarty’s Annual Art Show – Every student’s artwork will be on display in our spectacular PS 88Q Gallery!
  🏫 Visit Current & Future Classrooms – Tour where your child learns now and peek into what’s next!
  🎭 Sneak Peek at This Year’s Disney Performance – A magical preview you won’t want to miss!
  🎶 Explore the Music Rooms & STEM Lab – Get hands-on with the spaces that spark creativity and innovation.
  🤝 Meet All of Our Amazing Teachers – Connect with the educators who make PS 88Q special.
  🛝 Playground Open for Families – Let the kids play while you explore!
  🎨 Family Craft Activity – Get creative and make something memorable together.
  💆 Relax in the Wellness Room – Yes, we’ll have a real masseuse on site!
  🎓 Incoming Pre-K, 3K & Kindergarten Orientation – A warm welcome to our newest families!
  🎉 Class of 2020 Welcome Back – A special moment to celebrate our returning alumni.
  📚 Resource Fair – Discover community programs and school services available to your family.

  This is your moment to celebrate all the incredible work our students, staff, and families have accomplished together. We can’t wait to welcome you!

  
  

o the Class of 2020, PS 88Q will always be your home!

Five years ago, you left PS 88Q on a regular Friday in March, not realizing it would be the last time you say in your grade 5 classroom. We entered a time period that was not easy, and for you all, you didn't get the traditional graduation, party and farewell. We want you to know that PS 88Q will always be part of your story, and you are all part of our story .

On Wednesday, June 4th we are holding an open house for all our families, to see how amazing PS 88Q really is. All of the teachers will be there, and showcasing many things, such as band with Mr. Dumont, Art with Ms. Fogarty, Coding with Mr. Nolan, Disney Theater, but most of all, the opportunity for you to see some of your teachers, walk the hallways again, and return to your elementary school. At 6:00pm. we will gather you all in the auditorium and celebrate you! Feel free to bring your family!

I would love to gather any pictures you may have. I am adding the ones I have. Feel free to drop some pictures of then, and now in the link below.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O__AEHlxzJ7G_5QF16bcuJpmIOW3t7bo?usp=sharing

Check out the links below for a look at last year’s community walk and aftermath podcast!

https://youtu.be/40lsG6mX2qs?si=7Mkn6torjPgpAxBQ

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2227217/episodes/15287039

We are thrilled to announce that a full Executive Board was elected by the parent membership at the May PTA Meeting, including several new positions. We're all very optimistic for what this means for the coming school year!

Please welcome your new 2025-26 PTA Executive Board:

President: Samantha Desz

Treasurer: Sabita Krishnan

Recording Secretary: Abbey Bryant

Co-Communications Directors: Marc Watley and Carlos Fernandez

Fundraising Director: Arianna Rebolini

Co-Event Directors: Caitlin Johnson and Mariella Price

We will have contact information for everyone soon. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to Sam, Camila, and Sabita.

Be sure to visit the PTA table at the WE ARE PS88 Event on June 4th!

We'll have info and sign-ups and other surprises!

The last PTA Meeting of the 2024-25 school year will be Tuesday, June 17, 6pm-7pm, in person and on Zoom.

A conversation about charter schools and public schools will be featured at this meeting.

With a charter school coming to Ridgewood next year, there has been a lot of talk, a lot of questions, and a lot of misinformation floating around. So let's talk about it!

The conversation will feature parents and teachers who have taught in and/or had children in charter schools, including the specific school opening up in our neighborhood. The goal is to host an open, non-judgemental space for parents to ask questions, voice concerns, clear up confusion and rumors, and overall have an honest, calm conversation in the spirit of giving parents what they need to help their children thrive.

We look forward to seeing you there! As always, during the meeting there will be activities for the kids with our amazing PS88 staff so the parents can really focus on the conversation.

Your 2024-25 Executive Board,

Sam PTA88President@gmail.com

Sabita PTA88Treasurer@gmail.com

Camila PTA88Secretary@gmail.com

Dear Families and Colleagues,

Earlier this week, if you happened to stop by Governors Island in New York Harbor, you would have seen something incredible: over 400 students and about 100 educators gathered for our seventh annual Youth Climate Summit, learning about topics ranging from food waste to marine ecosystems to climate policy.

Many of these workshops were led by our students themselves, and for the first time, middle schoolers participated alongside their high school peers. Together, they discussed climate solutions and the powerful role schools can play in creating positive change.

Even beyond this summit, our students are promoting sustainability in many ways, contributing to curbside composting, joining their schools’ Green Teams, participating in Climate Action Days, and more. Some of these students are part of the Youth Leadership Council; our Chancellor’s Spotlight below shares more about this group. I’m so proud of all they have accomplished.

I’m also proud of what we’ve achieved as a New York City agency. We have expanded our curbside composting program citywide in partnership with the Department of Sanitation, making it the largest school district composting program in the nation. We’ve also completed approximately 120 solar installations at our schools, resulting in nearly 26 megawatts in solar energy capacity—over 80% of the city’s total progress to-date! Another 90-plus solar projects are in progress.

To learn more about our environmental work, visit schools.nyc.gov/sustainability.

In partnership,

Melissa Aviles-Ramos

Chancellor