November: Steady Orbit
Mission Status: In Orbit. Now that we’ve launched and gained altitude, November is all about finding our rhythm. Our students are locking into their daily routines and keeping their trajectory steady toward success!
Mission Status: In Orbit. Now that we’ve launched and gained altitude, November is all about finding our rhythm. Our students are locking into their daily routines and keeping their trajectory steady toward success!
🍁 Japan Day: PERFORMERS SHINE ON CITY HALL STEPS!
November 3rd was a day to remember! 🤩 Our students absolutely crushed their performance at the annual Japan Day Celebration right on the steps of City Hall.
They delighted the audience with their beautiful rendition of "Momiji" (Autumn Leaves), sharing a piece of Japanese culture with our community. From the energy they brought to the stage to their flawless execution, they represented our school beautifully. A huge congratulations to the performers! Check out the video below!
📢 Election Day Buzz: Make Your Voice Count!
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 was Election Day! This is when grown-ups get to use their voices to make big decisions for our towns, states, and country.
What is a Vote? It's how people choose their leaders and decide on important community issues. The choice with the most votes wins!
Why is it Important? The people elected tomorrow will make decisions about our schools, roads, and even our local parks.
Be a Voice: Every vote counts! Even if you are too young to vote, you can remind the grown-ups in your life to go to the polls. When you vote in class for a new book or game, you're practicing being an active, engaged citizen!
🗳️ First Graders Cast Sweet Votes for a Class Favorite!
The First Grade students in 105A took part in a very special election! Instead of politicians, the candidates were cookies, and the big question was: Which treat is the best? Each student received a ballot paper and carefully cast their secret vote, placing it right into the ballot box. The class had so much fun counting up all the votes together! It was a great lesson in how elections work, from casting a private vote to seeing the results counted. The winner of the 105A Cookie Election was announced, and the champion cookie—by a landslide—is the Oreo! What a perfect, tasty way to learn all about the power of voting!
🌟 Dream of joining the National Elementary Honor Society? Watch this video! 🌟
Are you a 4th or 5th grader who excels in Scholarship, Responsibility, Service, and Leadership? This video, created by our school's NEHS officers, breaks down exactly what you need to do to qualify for the Cornelia F. Bradford's chapter of the NEHS. Watch now to learn the selection process and start working toward this prestigious honor! Good luck! 📚✨
NEHS Officers: President- Aarohi Sawant, Vice President- Jeremy Turtel, Treasurer- Skylar Wong, Historian- Oona Sabitov, Secretary- Sanya Mehta
🌟 PS 16 Community Service Initiative: Grades 3-5 🌟
We are excited to announce the launch of the PS 16 Community Service Initiative for all students in Grades 3-5. This program is being implemented because students considered for the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) are expected to have demonstrated service, both in and out of school. For current NEHS members, this requirement is 1 hour per month, totaling 10 hours across the school year. The initiative is designed to encourage our young learners to become active and compassionate members of their community, helping them understand that even small acts of service can have a big impact. Although participation is voluntary and not mandatory for non-NEHS students, we strongly encourage all students to get involved, as it offers invaluable opportunities for personal growth and community connection. Please note that students and families are responsible for tracking their own service activities.
🎖️ Jersey City Spotlight: Ms. Rosa-Mendez, Veteran of the Year!
We are honored and incredibly proud to recognize Ms. Rosa-Mendez, our phenomenal 5th-grade Teacher, as the well-deserved Veteran of the Year for Jersey City! Ms. Rosa-Mendez embodies the definition of service, having dedicated herself to protecting our country and now to educating our students. She brings the discipline, leadership, and commitment she learned in the military right into her classroom every single day. Join us in giving a huge salute and thank you to Ms. Rosa-Mendez! You are a hero in our halls and beyond! 🇺🇸🍎
🎂 Happy Birthday to Our November Celebrants! 🥳
A big, warm shout-out to everyone celebrating a birthday this month! We hope your day is filled with joy.
🚶♀️ Walking for Courage: Honoring Ruby Bridges
On Friday, we celebrated the enduring legacy of civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges with a powerful symbolic walk to school. This moving and important event was a tribute to her incredible courage and monumental role in the civil rights movement. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the students, parents, and staff who joined us at both the Main Building and the Annex to participate and show their support for unity and progress!
The PS #16 National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) and Student Council have officially teamed up to kick off the annual food drive benefiting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Members met to unleash their creativity, dedicating time to decorating the collection bins that will be placed on all floors in the main building and annex. Their effort ensures the boxes are bright, welcoming, and inspiring, reflecting the school's commitment to fighting hunger!
5th Gr. Trip - ELA Enrichment - St. Joseph's School for the Blind
While the original purpose was to gather information and insight about the visually impaired community in conjunction with their group projects, they learned so much more! Students had meaningful and sometimes silly conversations with the students, learned Braille, saw their adaptive swimming pool (which is located on the second floor!), and had a great time overall.
They were excited to hear the school is doing a school play in January for Encanto and are already asking if they can visit and attend.
What a great opportunity!
I'm so glad we were able to start this relationship with SJSB! ~ Ms. Cartagena
🔬 Science Fair Success: Mission Evaluation Complete!
On Monday, November 24, the PS 16 gym was transformed into a high-tech "Mission Control" for our annual Science Fair! Our young scientists have been working around the clock on their research, and the results were truly stellar.
We want to extend a massive thank you to our Expert Judging Panel! Our judges took on the critical task of reviewing each project number by number. Using detailed digital rubrics, they meticulously evaluated every hypothesis and experiment to ensure our mission met the highest scientific standards.
🥧 Fueling the Crew: Mrs. Nasir’s Thanksgiving Recipe Swap
Every successful mission needs the right fuel! This month, Mrs. Nasir’s class launched a special community project to celebrate the Thanksgiving season: a Classroom Recipe Swap.
To keep our PS 16 "astronauts" energized, students shared their favorite family traditions and secret ingredients. From savory sides to stellar desserts, the crew traded recipes to ensure everyone has a delicious holiday on their home planet.
A huge congratulations to these students for their focus, perseverance, and outstanding academic achievements during our first marking period. You have set a wonderful example for the whole school!
Mission Control, signing off until December!