Students embarked on a vibrant cultural journey during a special assembly presented by Accent Dance NYC celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Through traditional and contemporary dance performances representing the Philippines, India, China/Tibet and Japan, students gained a deeper appreciation for the rich traditions, stories and artistic expressions of diverse cultures.

Interactive elements throughout the program encouraged student participation while fostering curiosity, cultural understanding and respect for the many communities that contribute to the diversity of New York City and our school community.

As part of our ongoing commitment to social-emotional learning, students participated in Rainbows of Kindness, a schoolwide program focused on the values of kindness, inclusion, respect, friendship, empathy and belonging. Through thoughtfully designed activities, guided discussions and engaging read-aloud, students explored these important themes while celebrating the unique qualities that make every member of our school community special.

Students also contributed handprints to a collaborative rainbow display symbolizing unity and the many strengths that emerge when individuals come together as one community as you can see below. This meaningful experience reinforced the message that every child belongs, every voice matters and our differences make us stronger together.

Our Rainbows of Kindness banner celebrates the unique qualities each child brings to P.S. 222Q and reminds us that together we create a caring, inclusive school community. Our students contributed handprints to this collaborative rainbow.

Families and students celebrated ten weeks of artistic exploration and creative expression during the annual Studio in a School Art Exhibition. The exhibition featured artwork created by students in classes K-301, K-303, K-306 and 1-302 under the guidance of teaching artist Mr. Mahler and showcased projects inspired by the theme Shapes in Space: Collage and Sculpture Explorations.

The event highlighted students' creativity, problem-solving skills and growing artistic confidence while providing families with an opportunity to experience the remarkable work produced throughout the residency. The exhibition served as a celebration of the arts and the power of creativity to inspire learning and self-expression.

Students concluded the school year with a day of excitement, celebration and community during our annual SEL Carnival Day. Designed to reinforce the social-emotional skills students developed throughout the year, the event featured bounce houses, carnival games, popcorn, cotton candy, hands-on SEL activities and the opportunity for every student to create and take home a stuffed teddy pal.

More than just a day of fun, the carnival celebrated friendship, teamwork, perseverance, kindness and belonging while providing students with a joyful and memorable way to close out another successful school year at P.S. 222.

On September 3, 2025, the staff of P.S. 222Q came together to reflect deeply on our shared purpose as educators and to reignite our school’s mission and vision. This collaborative process reaffirmed what we believe about teaching and learning, and how we bring those beliefs to life every day in our classrooms.

Our Vision
At P.S. 222Q, we teach so that every child feels safe, engaged and excited.

Our Mission
      Our mission is to provide daily opportunities for language-rich talk, cultivate joy and belonging through classroom routines and strengthen learning through strong family partnerships.

To make our mission visible in every classroom, we identified three daily practices that guide our work:

1. Daily Opportunities for Language-Rich Talk
   Students engage in meaningful conversation across all subjects through turn-and-talks, partner routines, songs, chants and structured sentence frames that build vocabulary and confidence.
   
   

2. Joy and Belonging
   Classrooms are joyful spaces where students feel seen, heard and valued. Each day includes positive greetings, affirmations, movement breaks and opportunities for self-expression and reflection.
   
   

3. Strong Family Partnerships
   We believe learning is strongest when families are involved. From Meet the Teacher Nights and publishing parties to family workshops and ongoing communication through ClassDojo, we actively partner with parents to celebrate and support every child’s growth.
   
   

Together, these practices reflect our commitment to creating a safe, language-rich and joyful learning community—one where children, families and educators learn and thrive together.