Events

🎨 Studio in a School Art Exhibition

We are proud to present our upcoming Studio in a School Art Exhibition on Friday, February 27, from 1:25-2:20 pm. We will be showcasing creative work from participating classes, 1-407, 1-408, 2-402 and 2-406. Students’ collages, sculptures and mixed-media projects will highlight their imagination, skill and artistic growth.

We look forward to celebrating their creativity with our families and community.

➕ Family Math Night

On Friday, February 27 from 4:00-5:30 PM, we will close out the month with Family Math Night, where students and families will participate in hands-on math games and activities together. This fun and interactive evening will offer creative ways to build number sense and problem-solving skills at home.

We hope you’ll join us for an evening of learning, laughter and connection.

📚 Read Aloud Pajama Day

On Wednesday, March 4, our students will celebrate literacy during our annual Read Aloud Pajama Day.

The day will begin at 7:30 AM with a special Pancakes with Warm Syrup Breakfast, setting a cozy and joyful tone for the morning. There is nothing better than starting the day together with warm pancakes and smiles!

Students are invited to wear pajamas and enjoy a literacy-filled day centered on reading. Classrooms will come together to share meaningful stories, participate in interactive read-alouds and engage in rich discussions that spark imagination and curiosity.

We are also pleased to invite parents to join us from 9:15–9:45 AM to share in the reading experience. It is always a special moment when families come into our classrooms to celebrate the joy of books alongside our students.

This beloved tradition reinforces the importance of developing a lifelong love of reading while creating warm, lasting memories for our children.

At P.S. 222Q, we believe that when children see reading as joyful, they become confident, enthusiastic learners. And yes — reading is always in style, especially in pajamas!

☀️ Title I Parent Workshop:                                     Preventing the “Summer Slide” 

On Thursday, March 12 from 8:30-10:00 AM, we invite families to join us for an important Title I Parent Workshop focused on preventing the “Summer Slide.”

The “Summer Slide” refers to the learning loss that can occur when students are out of school for extended periods during the summer months. Research shows that without regular reading and academic engagement, students can lose progress in literacy and math — particularly in the early grades when foundational skills are still developing.

During this workshop, families will learn practical and manageable strategies to keep children academically engaged throughout the summer. The session will focus on:

• Building daily reading routines
  
  

• Strengthening vocabulary through conversation
  
  

• Supporting math skills through everyday activities
  
  

• Encouraging writing and critical thinking at home
  
  

We understand that summer should be a time of joy and relaxation for children. Our goal is not to add pressure, but to provide families with simple, realistic tools that can be incorporated naturally into daily life — whether through library visits, storytelling, cooking together or playing math games.

When schools and families work together, students are more likely to maintain and even grow their academic skills over the summer months. This workshop reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that every child returns in September confident, prepared and ready to thrive.

📖 Parent Workshop: Vocabulary & Content Knowledge 

On Friday, March 13, from 8:30-9:15 AM, our second grade teachers will host a Parent Workshop on Vocabulary and Content Knowledge, designed to support families in strengthening their children’s reading comprehension and overall academic growth.

Vocabulary is one of the strongest predictors of reading success. When students develop a rich and deep understanding of words, they are better able to comprehend complex texts, express their ideas clearly and make meaningful connections across subjects. In the early grades, building vocabulary and content knowledge is especially critical, as students transition from learning to read to reading to learn.

During this workshop, our second grade team will share practical strategies that families can use at home to expand vocabulary naturally and effectively. Parents will learn how everyday conversations, shared reading and even simple routines can significantly strengthen a child’s word knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

The session will also highlight the importance of content knowledge — understanding topics in science, social studies and literature — and how this background knowledge supports stronger reading comprehension. When children know more about the world, they understand what they read more deeply.

This workshop reflects our commitment to strong home-school partnerships. By working together, we can ensure that our students continue to grow as confident readers, thinkers and communicators.

💛 Spirit Week: Celebrating Kindness

Kindness takes center stage during Spirit Week (March 16–20) at P.S. 222Q, and we are excited to dedicate an entire week to celebrating the power of compassion, respect and community.

Throughout the week, students and staff will participate in themed dress-up days that celebrate school pride while reinforcing an important message: kindness begins with each of us. While Spirit Week is filled with fun and creativity, its deeper purpose is to nurture empathy, strengthen relationships and intentionally cultivate a positive school climate.

Spirit Week aligns closely with our character development work and Leader in Me principles, reminding students that leadership starts with personal responsibility. When children choose kindness, they help create a safe and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Our building will be filled with energy, creativity and joy as we celebrate together. More importantly, it will be filled with intentional acts of kindness — big and small — that strengthen our school community.

At 222, kindness is not just a theme for one week. It is part of our culture. It is how we lead. It is who we are. ❤️ 

🌈 Holi Celebration Performance – Ajna Dance Company

As part of our commitment to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and cultural appreciation, students will enjoy a special Holi Celebration Performance by Ajna Dance Company on Thursday, March 19. This experience also supports our schoolwide PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework, which promotes positive behavior, respect and a strong sense of community.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students develop essential life skills such as empathy, self-awareness, relationship-building and responsible decision-making. PBIS reinforces these skills by establishing clear expectations and recognizing positive behaviors that contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment.

Holi, often referred to as the Festival of Colors, is a vibrant celebration of joy, renewal and community. Through traditional Indian dance, music and storytelling, students will learn about the meaning behind this important cultural celebration while reflecting on themes of unity and inclusion.

Experiences like this broaden students’ perspectives and deepen their understanding of the diverse world around them. They reinforce core values of inclusion, respect and cultural appreciation — values that are central to our mission at P.S. 222Q.

We are proud to celebrate the rich diversity of our school community and provide opportunities for students to experience global traditions firsthand.

📖 Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair (March 23–27) is just around the corner, and excitement is building!

Students will visit the fair with their classes and have the opportunity to explore a wide range of books that reflect diverse interests and reading levels. Families will also have the chance to shop at dismissal, making it a wonderful opportunity to select books together.

The Book Fair encourages independent reading, supports classroom libraries and helps families build home libraries that nurture daily reading habits. Research consistently shows that when children have access to books at home their reading achievement grows.

We look forward to seeing our students discover new authors, new genres and new favorite stories.