On February 10, P.S. 222Q students gathered for a special Black History Month Assembly in honor of the remarkable leaders who have helped shape our nation and world.

Throughout the month of February, students learn about the contributions, courage and accomplishments of Black Americans whose leadership has advanced justice, innovation, the arts, science and civil rights. Our assembly brought those stories to life in an engaging and age-appropriate way for our Pre-K through second-grade students through a very effective Laser Show.

The program reminded us that Black History Month is not only about learning history — it is about understanding how kindness, inclusion and respect for all strengthen our community. Students reflected on the importance of treating others with dignity and recognizing that every voice matters.

At P.S. 222Q, we are proud to celebrate diversity and to honor the leaders who inspire us to build a more just world. A special thanks to Ms. Julisa Liz, Guidance Counselor, for coordinating this activity.

On Thursday, February 12 at 4:00 PM, our first and second grade students proudly took the stage in the auditorium for “Hats Off to Broadway,” a culminating performance presented through our Inside Broadway partnership.

Sponsored by Council Member Shekar Krishnan through the New York City Council’s CASA Initiative, this Build-A-Musical residency provided students with the opportunity to work alongside professional teaching artists from Inside Broadway. Over the course of several weeks, students explored choreography, acting, voice and storytelling while collaboratively building their own musical presentation.

The final performance was a celebration of confidence, creativity and teamwork. Students demonstrated stage presence, expressive movement and joyful enthusiasm as they shared what they had learned. For many, this was their first time performing on stage — and they rose to the occasion with pride.

We are incredibly proud of our first and second graders for their dedication and enthusiam — and we thank Ms. Anna Marmaduke, Teaching Artist, Ms. Shehnaz Amlani, Paraprofessional, our families and community partners for supporting the arts at 222. 

🎥 Watch the performance here:

https://youtu.be/D8eZt8W02UM

On February 13, families joined us for a Title I Parent Workshop presented by Matthew Zagami, Educational Consultant. This workshop focused on supporting homework routines and building positive study habits at home.

The workshop emphasized a powerful message: homework is practice — not perfection. Families discussed how homework reinforces what students learn during the school day and how parents can support learning without completing the work for their child.

Caregivers explored practical strategies such as:
• Creating consistent homework routines
• Setting up a comfortable, distraction-free workspace
• Encouraging independence while remaining available for support
• Communicating with teachers when students are struggling

Families also reflected on the importance of reading daily — in any language — and staying connected to the school community. The session reinforced that parent involvement, strong routines and open communication are key ingredients in student success.

We are thankful to the families who participated and continue to partner with us to create strong academic foundations for our students.

During the week of February 9–13, P.S. 222Q proudly participated in Respect for All Week, a citywide initiative dedicated to promoting inclusion, kindness and anti-bullying awareness. 

Throughout the week, students engaged in themed dress-up days and meaningful classroom discussions that helped define what respect truly means. From Silly Sock Day to Spread the Love Day, each activity reinforced the message that everyone deserves kindness — no matter who they are, what they look like or what they believe.

Students explored questions such as:
• What does respect look like in our classroom?
• How can we be upstanders instead of bystanders?
• How do our differences make our school stronger?

Classes participated in age-appropriate lessons, videos and discussions focused on empathy, cultural appreciation and preventing bullying. Many students signed a “Never Bully” pledge as a commitment to keeping our school safe and welcoming for all.

Respect for All Week reminded us that kindness is not just something we celebrate once a year — it is part of who we are every day at 222. By working together, we continue building a school culture rooted in dignity, compassion and belonging.

Last month, P.S. 222Q welcomed families to a hands-on Parent Workshop on Math Vocabulary & Math Talk, led by our first-grade teachers. The session focused on helping families feel confident supporting math learning at home through everyday conversation and meaningful discussion.

During this interactive workshop, caregivers explored ways to naturally incorporate math vocabulary into daily routines, practiced using sentence stems that encourage children to explain their thinking and learned strategies to build confidence in problem-solving.

Together, we emphasized an important message: math is not just about getting the right answer — it’s about thinking, talking and making sense of ideas. Families left with practical tools and simple strategies they could immediately use at home, strengthening the connection between school and family learning.

We are grateful to all the families who joined us and partnered with us to make math meaningful beyond the classroom.

Our school community came together for a wonderful Family Literacy Night, filled with reading, creativity and shared learning. Families enjoyed an evening of engaging literacy stations that turned reading and writing into a joyful, collaborative experience.

Students and caregivers created book-themed crafts and mini-books, participated in family writing activities and storytelling challenges, played vocabulary and word games and explored digital literacy tools together. Laughter and excitement filled the rooms as families worked side by side.

The evening reminded us that literacy thrives when it’s nurtured both at school and at home. It was truly heartwarming to see families learning, creating and celebrating reading together.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Dorvil, Assistant Principal, and Ms. Lathourakis, Second Grade Teacher and ELA Content Lead, for thoughtfully coordinating this event, and to all of our staff volunteers whose time and teamwork helped make the evening such a success. They are Ms. Marrero, Principal; Ms. Santora, Mr. Bustos, 3-K Staff; Ms. Monique, Ms. Soto, Ms. Shehnaz, Kindergarten Staff; Ms. Monge, Ms. Morelli, Second Grade Staff; Mr. Albertson, Ms. Kammermeyer, Cluster Teacher Staff; Ms. Cajigas-Dias, Speech Pathologist; Ms. Debbie, School Aide; and Ms. Tatyana, Parent Coordinator.  

Over three exciting evenings, our first graders proudly showcased their hard work during our First Grade Folktale Film Festival, where families gathered for red-carpet-style premieres of student-created films inspired by folktales from around the world. This year’s featured performances included:

• Jabuti, the Tortoise – Class 1-302
  
  

• The Good Game – Class 1-407
  
  

• Master Man – Class 1-408
  
  

Students worked collaboratively to analyze stories, write scripts, practice fluency, and bring characters to life on screen. Through this creative process, they strengthened their reading, writing, speaking, and teamwork skills while also learning about cultures and traditions from around the world.

The festival beautifully blended literacy and the arts, highlighting student voice, creativity, and confidence. Families beamed with pride as they watched their children perform.

We couldn’t be prouder of our talented first graders!

🎥 Watch the performances here:

https://youtu.be.com/KcOV3q14glQ (Jabuti, the Tortoise – Class 1-302)

https://youtu.be.com/iMKiuxCIRXw (The Good Game – Class 1-407)

https://youtu.be.com/2ZCOuanDc8s (Master Man – Class 1-408)

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.