Embedded Files
Stay in the loop! This section brings you the latest updates and events from around our school. From important news to fun happenings, we’ve got everything you need to know about life at M.S. 407. 🏫
Table of Contents:Â
The Morgan Library: A Hidden Treasure in the Heart of New York City by Ms. Ward
Where Interests Come Alive: A Showcase of our Incredible Crew Classes by Mason Louie
 The Math Exploration Club: Equations, Games, and Fun! by Harrison Scheer
 The Results of Participatory Budgeting Are In by Scarlet Kang & Zehra Guney
Entrance, Photo by Ms. Ward
A Christmas Carol in the Red Room, Photo by Ms. Ward
The East Room, Photo by Ms. Ward
 The Morgan Library: A Hidden Treasure in the Heart of New York CityÂ
 by Ms. Ward
At the corner of Madison Avenue and East 36th Street—blocks from the Empire State Building and Grand Central Station—the Morgan Library stands like a soldier, guarding secret underground passages and some of the world’s most precious books.
On a cold December day, students from M.S. 407, with Ms. Brown, Ms. Ward, Mr. Sidman, and Ms. Jiang, visited the Morgan Library to explore its extraordinary collection of art and historical manuscripts.Â
The tour began in the Red Room, also known as J. P. Morgan’s Study, where Morgan once spent a considerable amount of time reading. This area, shown to the left, was adorned with red wallpaper and turn-of-the-century furniture, creating an old-fashioned atmosphere. Before the fireplace, the original manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol rested in a glass case.
Next, we entered J.P. Morgan’s personal library, known as the East Room. The space featured towering bookshelves rising three stories high, connected by narrow glass-and-wood walkways. By peering into a small corner, we spotted one of the hidden spiral staircases that were once used to reach the upper levels. The room also had a breathtaking ceiling decorated with Italian Renaissance–inspired artwork. According to our tour guide, Morgan once used the room to entertain guests.Â
Toward the end of the tour, students learned about the art of bookmaking. We were able to see and hold parchment made from animal skin and squid ink—materials historically used in writing and publishing.
Our tour was led by Walter, who made the visit even more special. He shared fascinating details about J. P. Morgan’s life while answering our all of our questions, even during our rides in the glass elevator. His humor and passion for history left a lasting impression, making the experience one we will always remember.
We would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Brown for organizing this incredible school trip! 📖🤓🎒
M.S. 407 students performed at the event. Photo Credit: Mason Louie
Mr. Lombardo & Mrs. DeClara announce the raffle winners. Photo Credit: Mason Louie
 Where Interests Come Alive: A Showcase of our Incredible Crew Classes
by Mason Louie
On January 22, 2026, students from M.S. 407 and their families gathered at 5:00 p.m. to attend the highly anticipated Crew Showcase. This special event highlighted the creative and compelling projects students worked on during their Crew classes, filling the school with excitement, energy, and pride.Â
Before the doors opened, students and teachers prepared the gym by setting up tables, props, and displays, while families waited eagerly downstairs. Once the showcase began, visitors were welcomed by a wide variety of booths representing different Crews, each offering something unique. Guests enjoyed sweet treats from the Culture Through Food Crew and the PTA, purchased custom cups from the Cricut Club, sang karaoke with the Lyrics Crew, played money-management games, learned dances, tried origami, and explored many other interactive activities. The showcase also featured impressive projects, including artwork, presentations, videos, a handmade house, and even dissected frogs!Â
One of the most exciting parts of the event was the raffle. Attendees earned tickets by participating in games and activities, then entered them for prizes such as school swag, discounts on snack sales, and tickets to the school play. The raffle drawing, hosted by Principal Stephen Lombardo and Assistant Principal Christina DeClara, kept the audience on edge as winners were announced.
The showcase also included live performances. Members of the Lyrics Crew amazed the crowd with energetic singing and rapping, followed by a lively dance performance from the Dance Crew that had the audience cheering. To close the evening, the Lyrics Crew delivered a heartfelt final song, bringing the event to a memorable end.
Overall, it was an unforgettable night that celebrated student creativity, talent, and hard work. Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoyed learning about this incredible event!
Image retrieved from: https://waawfoundation.org
The Math Exploration Club: Equations, Games, and Fun!
by Harrison Scheer
At M.S. 407, we are fortunate that there are so many clubs to choose from. One of these is the Math Exploration Club. This club is not a homework help session—instead, it dives into the more advanced and challenging parts of math. For example, we’ve explored high school–level algebra and even something called the Fibonacci Sequence with our math teacher, Ms. Jiang.Â
We also play educational games like Blooket and Jeopardy with math-themed questions—and yes, at the end, we always get to play a bonus game! I think math is super fun for everyone, whether you’re a math whiz or still learning the basics like multiplication or Pi.Â
Overall, the Math Exploration Club is a fun learning experience, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone curious about math! ✨🧠✨
Image retrieved from: https://blog.blackbaud.com
The Participatory Budgeting Results Are In
by Scarlet Kang & Zehra Guney
On Friday, January 9th, 2026, M.S. 407 students voted on how to spend their funds in Mr. Seiler's class, as well as Ms. Chirico's class.
The options were:
M.S. 407 Cafe
M.S. 407 Multicultural Fair
M.S. 407 Field Day
M.S. 407 Cafe, proposed by Valentina R., Ramina B., and Zakariya N., will fund a microwave, a blender, food items like muffins and doughnuts, drinks, and a Whirlpool 3.3 refrigerator.
M.S. 407 Field Day, proposed by Benjamin G. and Luca M., will fund sack races, bean bag tosses, dashes, awards, and medals. According to Benjamin and Luca, new sports equipment is needed because Field Day is approaching, and the current recess equipment is running low.
M.S. 407 Multicultural Fair, proposed by Nicktarios G. and others, will celebrate the value of diverse cultures and their impact on the community. Activities will include tasting traditional foods, cultural performances, arts and crafts workshops, and interactive storytelling sessions. According to Nicktarios, the fair aims to teach students about the importance of cultural diversity in shaping their community.
The results were as follows:
First place: M.S. 407 Cafe – 60% of votes, with $1,380 allocated.
Second place: M.S. 407 Field Day – 30% of votes, with $690 allocated.
Third place: M.S. 407 Multicultural Fair – 10% of votes, with $230 allocated.
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