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In Landmark Year, Schools Look Ahead

By HEATHER HADDON

As local schools opened this Monday, three days later than usual, staff,
teachers and kids grappled with the biggest educational changes in decades. 
Every school in the greatly expanded Instructional Division 1 (which included Districts 9 and 10) has new curriculum (especially in math), a longer school day for kids on Tuesdays and teachers on Mondays, a paid parent coordinator assigned to their school, and other components of Mayor Bloomberg's new school order. But in addition to the systemic shake-up, individual schools each have things to look forward to this year.

The Norwood News surveyed principals from several local elementary and middle schools, both public and private, about what's in store for the 2003-2004 school year. Here's a look at what is to come:

PS 8, The Isaac Varian School
There are a handful of new faculty members this year at this Bedford Park school, 
according to principal Bob Weinstein. Four new teachers were hired for grades 
kindergarten through third, freeing up two veteran faculty members to act as early 
intervention teachers (who work with new teachers in the younger grades). "The new teachers are getting a lot of help," Weinstein said. 

PS 8 did a lot of planning and professional development throughout the summer toward incorporating the new curriculum. "There's a lot to learn, and we can't do everything at once," Weinstein said, "but we are ready to go and meet the challenge." As in the past, teachers will focus on creating a "print-rich environment" in their classrooms during September. 

The school is continuing with its second year of a federal Title VII grant, funding English language instruction efforts. They also got a new grant this year to help purchase instructional materials.

Registration continued steadily during the weeks before school, and will probably total around 1,200. "We're always going to be a crowded school," Weinstein said.

The parent coordinator is Jenny Marte.

PS/MS 20, The George J. Werdann III School
PS/MS 20 is one of the recipients of a new grant from the After-School Corporation (TASC), secured last year by District 10. In order to motivate students to think about college, middle school students at the Norwood school, along with PS/MS 95, will partner with a local community-based organization. Staff from the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center will work with PS/MS 20 students, providing homework help, extracurricular activities, and exposure to local colleges. 

"These visits will help to build a vision among our students to go to college," said principal Carol Carlsen. 

Monies allotted to the Webster Avenue school also funded the construction of a new computer lab, now complete. The school features a lab of laptops, and another room of desktops with new software. "We're thrilled it's up and running this year," Carlsen said. Teachers are receiving training in the software applications.

The school is home to 13 new teachers, and in a first, some are coming through the Teach for America program. School registration is about the same as last year, which averaged at 1,300 students.

Judith Espinal is the new parent coordinator.

PS 33, The Timothy Dwight School
PS 33 in Fordham has made great strides in its performance over the last few years, and it's not going unnoticed. The school was selected by Schools Chancellor Joel Klein as one of the 210 exempt from the uniform curriculum guidelines, one of only two schools locally. Academic performance and socio-economic challenges were considered in the selections.

Dr. Elba Lopez, principal of the Jerome Avenue school, is now sharing her insight through the chancellor's mentoring program. Two program participants spend four days a week at the school, becoming principals in their own right next year. 

Part of the secret to the school's stellar state test scores, according to Lopez, is their after-school enrichment programs. Beginning in October, PS 33 will start up its Saturday sessions for students who didn't pass their practice exams. Fifth graders will continue to participate in the Computers Reading and Math (CRAM) program on Fridays, which enlists Monroe College students to assist PS 33 teachers. 

There are many other after-school programs available, including the News Flash school newspaper, sports and science clubs. Lopez is very proud of the school's work with DreamYard, a nonprofit that fosters the arts in city schools and brings consultants to work with teachers in eight classrooms. The program concludes with a student performance at Lehman College's Lovinger Theatre. 

"It's a very creative program to train the children in higher-thinking skills, how to 
memorize and advance their vocabulary," Lopez said. 

PS 33 also offers enrichment for parents, including Saturday beginning and advanced ESL classes. Opportunities to work in the classrooms, cafeteria, and on school security are also offered.

The school building, standing for over a century, got a much-needed, multi-million dollar rehab four years ago. This summer, the building's lights were replaced. 

The school's parent coordinator is Edna Melendez.

PS 46, The Edgar Allan Poe School 
Principal Aramina Ferrer, who oversees PS 46 in Bedford Park, was not available for an interview. Grisette Mendez is the school's parent coordinator.

PS 51, The Bronx New School
While principal Paul Smith was not available for an interview, PS 51's parent coordinator was eager to speak about her new position. Marcela Torres will work at both the New School and Jonas Bronck Academy, the middle school near Manhattan College that grew out of the New School. 

"I have lots of great ideas, and am gathering an enormous amount of information," said Torres, who lives in Norwood. Torres has been involved with the New School's parent association for five years, starting when her daughter entered kindergarten. Both of her children now attend the school.

Torres is making herself available for parents' education and broader community concerns.  "If there is a spot in the neighborhood that's a bad scene, I want to know how we can effectively work with the Police Department," she said. Torres has a background in reaching out to youth and parents through previous volunteer jobs.

PS 54
Ruth Lopez, the principal of PS 54 since it opened four years ago, is no longer at the Webster Avenue school. Maribelle Nunez-Pardo is PS 54's new principal. Nunez-Pardo, who was not available for comment by press time worked at District 10 for a number of years in bilingual education. 

Carmen Aleman is the parent coordinator. The kindergarten through fifth grade school averages around 600 students. 

PS 56, The Norwood Heights School 
Principal Priscilla Sheeran is looking to continue much of the programming that was in place at the Norwood school last year. "We want to see how we can enhance the activities," she said.

Sheeran was especially thrilled to host an arts program led by the National Shakespeare Company. Run through Project Arts, PS 56 fourth and fifth graders learned and performed Shakespeare for their school in the spring. The Norwood school was also treated to two performances by the Metropolitan Opera. 

Sheeran is looking to continue the school's music, basketball, literacy and math clubs. The school will also repeat its successful career and health fair. Held in April, local professionals in a variety of careers discussed their jobs with students.

No major building work was done at PS 56 this summer. "Our building is in very good condition," Sheeran said.

There are no new teachers this year. Registration seems to be in keeping with previous years, which averages around 500.

PS 94, The Kings College School
There's a lot of change brewing at PS 94 this year, with a new computer lab opening on the third floor. Made possible by a Resolution A grant, the lab will house 32 new computers. "It will be enough for an entire classroom," said principal Jacqueline Thomas.

But work on the Norwood school, located on Kings College Place, will continue throughout the year with a greatly expanded library taking shape on the second floor. Through a Robin Hood grant, the school will also secure a full-time librarian and a paraprofessional to work alongside her. The construction should be finished by February, according to Thomas.

Many of PS 94's veteran teachers retired last year, some who worked at the school for upwards of 30 years. "I have a cadre of Teaching Fellows," said Thomas about the teachers coming through the city program. "They are very energetic, and worked in the school as interns for the summer program." 

The approximately seven new teachers join five other Teaching Fellows who started at PS 94 over the last two years. "I've been fortunate that all of my Teaching Fellows have stayed on," she said.

Thomas hopes to continue the school's award-winning chess program -- run by a non-profit that teaches the game in city schools -- and its debate team. PS 94 will also keep its journalism club running, a unique program that trains students to deliver "the news" each morning over the loudspeaker.

The new parent coordinator is Semi Nario.

PS/MS 95
PS/MS 95 in Van Cortlandt Village has a new principal -- the third in four years. Elizabeth Lopez, who replaced former principal Fran Ott, did not return calls. 

This magnet school, with a focus on technology, averages 1,800 students. Delis DeLeon is the parent coordinator. 

PS 280, The Renaissance School 
PS 280 was humming all summer, working hard to prepare for the big changes this school year. "We're really in the swing of things," said principal Gary LaMotta. "It's like I never left."

LaMotta is confident that the four days of staff development, which all city schools 
underwent last week, will help the Norwood school brace for the new curriculum changes. The school will implement the new math program in grades kindergarten through second this year, and for third through sixth next year, like many other area schools. 

LaMotta is also pleased by the number of children who pre-registered this year. Numbers seem to be slightly higher than last year (at around 575), in part due to children transferring to the school through the federal No Child Left Behind Act. 

The school continues to benefit from a number of special grants. A magnet grant for innovative programs funds the school's interdisciplinary methods of teaching. "It's something we've gotten very good at, and it's an essential approach in this age of information," LaMotta said. The school also received a series of small grants in art for specific programs in the classrooms. 

PS 280 continued to score well above the city average in the 2003 state math and literacy tests. This is in keeping with the school's general academic excellence, which was spotlighted in a 1999 study of high-performing schools in low-income areas. 

Five new teachers are at the school. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., teachers will be available to speak with parents about school expectations during a "curriculum night." Sharon Ramphir is the new parent coordinator.

PS 340
PS 340 principal Deirdre Burke is eager to continue the school's focus on professional development. The school, located behind the Kingsbridge Armory, will persist in conducting staff trainings after school, now concentrating on the new math curriculum. "We're looking to work smart," said Burke, principal of the school since it opened in 1999. "It's a good opportunity to plan together and look at how students are working." Burke is also ready to fully utilize the school's parent coordinator, Michelle Almengor. "We're putting a big focus on making the school more welcoming," Burke said. 

The school will continue its relationship with Carnegie Hall's Save the Music program, in operation at PS 340 since the school opened. Every child in grades three through six learns the recorder, and a professional musician takes up residency at the school during the year. In the fall, musicians come to the school to perform. And in June, the students make their own big debut -- playing at Carnegie Hall themselves.

"It's something we really enjoy," Burke said.

Registration went pretty smoothly, and is already inching above capacity (650 seats), according to Burke. No major maintenance was conducted this summer. "We didn't get the gym or other space that we really need," she said. The school did hire four new teachers this year.

MS 80, The Isobel Rooney School
Norwood's MS 80 also has a new principal this year. Principal Kim Piccolino, at the school for two years, was replaced by Lovey Rivera. The Mosholu Parkway school also has a new assistant principal, Anthony Russo.

Angela Roker is the parent coordinator. The school averages around 1,400 students.

MS 308, The Bronx Dance Academy
Bronx Dance Academy (BDA) students and staff can leap for joy this school year, now that they have a brand new home in Norwood. The middle school moved into its swanky new digs at 3617 Bainbridge Ave. this week after construction continued throughout the summer. 

The Norwood school of choice spent four crowded years in a warren of transportables behind MS 80, and now will have significantly more leg room. Registration should also be able to roughly double from the 150 students that previously could attend the school.

BDA's new principal, Meridith Nasjletti came from PS 209, where she was an assistant principal, and was previously a teacher at PS 33. Many of the students and parents that waited outside the school on the first day knew Nasjletti (which many kids pronounce as "nice lady") from their previous schools. 

St. Ann's School
St. Ann's School worked on the maintenance of its Norwood facility this summer. "We spent a little more money on the computer lab," said principal Lucia DiJusto. The school's lab, built in 1999, now boasts a T1 high-speed Internet line for its 36 computers.

But raising enough money to replace the parish's boiler is still a big priority. The school will be holding a walkathon next month to help with their share of the total expense, which DiJusto estimates at $50,000.

Besides the building, St. Ann's will also maintain its successful band program for grades three through eight, and recorder classes for grades two and three. The computer lab will continue to feature the Writing to Read program, which uses phonetics to develop literacy skills in kindergarten and first grades. "It really hones their writings skills," DiJusto said.

Reading will be the school's big thrust this year after their successful math push -- with roughly 60 percent of fourth graders passing the state math exams. Teachers attended professional workshops in math, and will do the same this year in reading. 

As of last week, nearly 300 children had registered (about the same as last year). Three new teachers joined St. Ann's staff.

St. Brendan's School
Principal Patricia Gatti is excited for St. Brendan's music program to kick off again this year after some stellar shows in 2003. "There was no lip-syncing allowed," said Gatti, principal of the Norwood school for the past eight years. "I was astounded to see the talent. There was piano playing like you couldn't believe."

Gatti is also proud of the school's hot lunch program, begun in 1998 after the construction of a new cafeteria. Most kids at the school participate in the federal program. "It's a wonderful convenience for the parents," she said.

The school, located on East 207th Street, is home to 30 new computers as of this summer. New software, focusing on math, was purchased through state funds. 

Like St. Ann's, the school mustered a big push on math last year. Their efforts delivered, with roughly 75 percent of fourth graders passing the state exams. "We've more than doubled the school's math scores over the last two years," Gatti said. English scores were also quite good, especially considering that English is a second language for many St. Brendan's kids.

The school did general maintenance work this summer. "We painted almost every classroom in the school," Gatti said. A new librarian was hired, and as of last week, 560 students had registered.

St. Philip Neri School
Tom Celestino, the new principal of St. Phillip Neri School, comes to the Bedford Park institution with big ideas. He intends to start chess, science, math, and debate after-school clubs, and is also looking to create a student council. And though he began his tenure just a month ago, he already knows the demographics of the pre-K through eighth grade school from top to bottom.

But Celestino is not new to education. He was previously a principal at a Catholic school in Connecticut, and worked in public schools in New York and Westchester. Celestino is excited to join the roughly two dozen faculty members at the school.

There's been a lot of activity with the school building itself, now home to a new library center. "I wanted to upgrade it, while being realistic with our financial picture," Celestino said. No longer in the school's basement, the library is now housed in a larger, reconfigured classroom.

The pre-K also has a lot to celebrate, moving into an expanded facility. Now in the Church's parish hall, the 1,200 square foot facility includes an auditorium-sized classroom and two adjoining facilities, complete with kitchens and a washer and dryer. The pre-K classes also utilize the art studio, computer and library facilities in the main school building.

There are five new teachers this year, two of whom are Fordham University interns. "We have a great relationship with Fordham," Celestino said. There were between 600 and 650 students registered last week, which is about average.

The school will continue its Education Through Music (ETM) program for all grades. Now in its second year, ETM "helps students understand and appreciate music in a variety of forms, including dance, movement, and instrumentation," he said. The program explores concepts used in many classes, including analogies, comprehension and math. Three professional musicians will be leading ETM.

St. Philip Neri will continue its successful art program, and hold another exhibition of student work this year. Celestino also intends to work with the 52nd Precinct's DARE anti-drug program. 

He is especially excited to "grow" their Catholic Youth Organization basketball team and school choirs. "We do a variety of secular music, including pop, Broadway and contemporary," Celestino said.

Ed. note: The Norwood News was not able to reach Our Lady of Refuge School, Grace Lutheran School, and PS 219 by press time. We will certainly report on the activities of those schools in future issues.

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