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Stay up to date with what’s happening at P.S. 222Q!
Browse the latest news, announcements, and recaps of recent events to see how our students and staff are learning, growing, and celebrating together.
Stay up to date with what’s happening at P.S. 222Q!
Browse the latest news, announcements, and recaps of recent events to see how our students and staff are learning, growing, and celebrating together.
News
News
Honoring the Legacy of Firefighter Christopher A. Santora
Honoring the Legacy of Firefighter Christopher A. Santora
On Friday, September 11, the P.S. 222Q community came together to honor the life and sacrifice of Firefighter Christopher A. Santora, our school’s namesake, and all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 participated in a special commemorative assembly coordinated by our Assistant Principal, Ms. Tanisha Dorvil, who also conducted a heartfelt read-aloud of My Son Christopher by Maureen Santora. Through Christopher’s story, our youngest learners learned about the life of the young man whose name our school proudly carries and explored the enduring values of courage, kindness, service and helping others.
The commemoration extended beyond the assembly and into our classrooms and special-area instruction. Classroom teachers engaged students in age-appropriate conversations and activities centered on community helpers and the important role firefighters play in keeping our communities safe. Students created firefighter-themed headbands and reflected on what it means to be brave, compassionate and willing to help others. During the assembly, our music teacher, Mr. Jason Albertson, taught students “We Are the World,” using music to reinforce the themes of unity, compassion, community and caring for one another.
For P.S. 222Q, September 11 is not simply a date on the calendar. It is an opportunity to ensure that a new generation of children understands why the name Firefighter Christopher A. Santora appears on our building and the values his legacy represents. Through literature, music, classroom learning and shared remembrance, we continue to honor Christopher by helping our students understand that courage, kindness and service to others can make a lasting difference.
A special thank you to Ms. Dorvil for coordinating this meaningful commemoration and leading our read-aloud, to Mr. Albertson for teaching the inspirational song "We Are the World" and to all of our teachers for thoughtfully preparing our students and creating meaningful, age-appropriate learning experiences in their classrooms.
Ms. Dorvil conducting the read aloud
Students Pre-K to 2 students participating in the 9/11 Assembly
Mr. Albertson, Music Teacher, teaching the song "We Are the World" to our students
First Grade Spotlight: Learning, Growing & Building Community (September 2026)
First Grade Spotlight: Learning, Growing & Building Community (September 2026)
Our first graders have been busy building strong academic skills, developing classroom communities and making meaningful connections across the curriculum as they begin a new school year!
In math, students are developing their understanding of addition and subtraction within 10 through hands-on learning. First graders created their own addition stories, using counters and pictures to model situations and bringing their mathematical ideas to life while explaining their thinking. These experiences help students see mathematics as more than numbers on a page—they are learning to represent, discuss and make sense of mathematical ideas.
In social studies, students began their study of families and communities by starting with something especially meaningful—their own families. Students drew and labeled family members, shared some of the things they love about their families and listened as classmates shared their own experiences. Through these conversations, children are learning that families may have many different stories and traditions while discovering the connections that help build a classroom community.
Literacy is woven throughout the first grade day. Through fiction and nonfiction texts, students are exploring how making new friends and learning new things can help us grow.
In writing, students are drawing upon their own experiences as they develop personal narratives about their first day of school. Another exciting literacy milestone this fall was our first graders began visiting Ms. Mullen's library and borrowing books to enjoy at home!
Our young scientists are also beginning an exciting exploration of plant and animal defenses. Students were introduced to Spruce the Sea Turtle. Spruce lives at an aquarium and eventually returns to the ocean. As the unit unfolds, students will investigate how Spruce—and other living things—have structures and behaviors that help them survive in their environments.
Building a Caring Classroom Community
Building a Caring Classroom Community
Social-emotional learning is also an important part of the first grade experience. Students are learning that a successful classroom is a community in which everyone has a voice and everyone has a responsibility to care for one another.
As shown in the photographs below, students helped develop a class mission statement. They identified how they want to feel in their classroom and how their actions will help make that possible. Their ideas included feeling loved, hearing kind words and following classroom expectations. They also shared that they should respect someone who says “no” or indicates that something is not okay. In addition, they are guided to greet one another with friendly gestures such as smiles, high-fives and fist bumps. By giving children a voice in establishing these expectations, teachers are helping students develop ownership, empathy, respect and a shared sense of belonging.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
First graders are also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on September 15–October 15 through literature, art and opportunities to connect classroom learning with the culturally rich community around them in Jackson Heights. Students are exploring aspects of Hispanic culture and considering the ways food, music, art and traditions are shared and enjoyed within their own community.
As part of their learning, students enjoyed the read-aloud Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Kyle. The story sparked many text-to-self connections, giving children opportunities to connect what they encountered in the book with their own lives and experiences. Students are also working collaboratively to create a colorful display inspired by traditional Talavera tiles, with each child contributing an individual tile that will become part of a larger collective work of art.
Together, these experiences reflect what learning in first grade is all about: reading, writing, thinking, creating, questioning, collaborating and learning from one another. We are proud of the wonderful start our first graders have made and look forward to watching their learning continue to grow throughout the year!
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