Announcements

• End of a Great Year!

  As we close out another memorable school year at PS 144, we celebrate the learning, growth, and resilience that defined our community. Our students worked hard, our families supported every step, and our staff continued to show unwavering dedication to creating a nurturing environment for all.  There are so many events and memories from this year~we look forward to making more next year.

  Congratulations to our Class of 2026!! You worked hard and now are ready to move onto middle school! Always remember our PS 144 motto- Work Hard-Dream Big and Never Give Up!  We will miss you and we are confident you will make us proud!

  This year also marks a very special moment in our school’s history as we honor four extraordinary educators whose impact spans decades. We proudly congratulate Barbara Gandelman, Lori Diamond, Olive Maxey, and Jennifer Lucdamo on their retirement and thank them for their many years of continued service to PS 144. Their commitment, compassion, and leadership have shaped countless students’ lives and strengthened the heart of our school. 

  We wish them joy, fulfillment, and new adventures in the years ahead. Their legacy will always be part of PS 144.

  Juno wishes everyone a wonderful and safe summer!!! See you in September!

  P.S. 144Q

• 🏆 State Mathematics Tournament Champions!

  Congratulations to Chihaya, Isa, and Theo, our incredible first-grade team who took 1st place  at the New York State Mathematics Tournament!

  A special thank you to Mrs. Gandelman for proctoring our winning team and supporting them throughout the competition.  A special thank you to Ms. Kessler for always encouraging our students to participate in FIM.

  In the four years that this tournament has been hosted in Albany, P.S. 144 has consistently forged ahead to the finals—proudly bringing home two 3rd-place awards and, now, two 1st-place titles! We are so incredibly proud of our students' hard work, sharp math minds, and determination.

  P.S. 144Q

• 🏆 PS 144 Champions! 🏆

  On Friday, the PS 144 Basketball Team took on PS 101 and brought home the Championship title for their division—what an incredible accomplishment! And the winning didn’t stop there…

  On Saturday, our Grade 1 First in Math Team competed in the State Math Tournament and earned 1st place in their division! 🎉Photos to follow

  A huge thank you to Coach Savino (Basketball Coach), Coach Stathes (Cheer Coach), Ms. Kessler(First in Math Coach), and Ms. Gandelman (First in Math Coach) for their dedication and support of our students throughout the year.

  P.S. 144Q

• 🎉 What an incredible day at PS 144! 🎉

  We were thrilled to celebrate our 33rd Annual Career Day, and it was truly a huge success! Our students were inspired and energized as parents and family members brought learning to life by sharing their careers, experiences, and passions.From start to finish, there was excitement in every room as our school community explored a wide variety of professions—sparking curiosity, big dreams, and lots of “Wow!” moments along the way. It was amazing to see our students so engaged, asking thoughtful questions, and envisioning their own futures!  A huge THANK YOU to all of our incredible presenters for your time, enthusiasm, and commitment to our students. You made this day unforgettable!  A special thank you to our PA for sponsoring a light breakfast and lunch from Steve's Deli in Middle Village for our presenters.🌟

  P.S. 144Q

• PS 144 Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

  PS 144 students enjoyed a lively assembly featuring internationally renowned acrobats Yang Xiao Di and Li Chang Mei. Through balancing, juggling, and traditional Chinese performance, the duo captivated students while sharing rich cultural traditions. Their engaging performance provided a memorable and meaningful way to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

  P.S. 144Q

• Grade 4 Enrichment with Mr. Gustavo Submitted by By: Naomi S., Melina G., and Marlowe G.

   Hi, we’re in fourth grade and we just finished an enrichment program with Mr. Gustavo, an ART teacher who taught us how to make endangered animals out of clay. When we were given a plastic egg, we had no idea that they were going to turn into these masterpieces. 

  Here is how we did it: 

  1. We took a plastic egg and taped it onto a piece of styrofoam to make the skull of the animal
  2. We made the body with rectangular pieces of styrofoam, paperclips, and pipecleaners
  3. We added a layer of any color clay to support the second layer
  4. We made eyes and put them on the first layer of clay (whatever color we wanted)
  5. We put a piece of styrofoam and covered the piece of styrofoam with pink for gums, then covered it with white teeth
  6. We covered the body and head in a new layer of clay (the color of our individual animal)
  7. And lastly, we put on the background made of clay and the ears and nose of our animals.

  After hard work of covering and creating, we were able to make some beautiful, artistic, amazing, endangered animals! From the start, it was an egg on styrofoam but now, it’s a unique endangered animal that can be hung up on a wall to remind us of how fun we had creating this!!! 

  
  
  

  P.S. 144Q

• Celebrating PS 144 Day on the 144th Day of School

  Celebrating PS 144 with Nick the Balloonatic and a Special Visit from Juno!

  PS 144 was buzzing with excitement as our community came together for a joyful celebration filled with creativity, laughter, and school pride. We were thrilled to welcome Nick the Balloonatic, whose incredible balloon artistry and larger‑than‑life personality brought smiles to students, families, and staff alike. His colorful creations and interactive fun made the day unforgettable.

  Adding to the magic, our beloved mascot Juno made a special appearance, spreading Panther pride throughout the school. Students lit up as Juno cheered, posed for photos, and helped make the event feel truly special. 

  As part of our Teacher Experience Auction, we welcomed four new Assistant Principals for the Day who were able to join in the fesitivities and "work" as a AP along side our Assistant Principals.

  Events like this remind us why PS 144 is such a vibrant and connected community. Thank you to everyone who joined in the celebration — and to Nick and Juno for making it a day to remember.

  P.S. 144Q

• March Math Madness

  On March 14, we celebrated Pi Day (3.14) with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a love of math!  One of the highlights of the celebration was our optional Digits of Pi Memorization Contest, where students challenged themselves to see just how many digits of π they could recall. We are so proud of all the participants who took part and showed determination, focus, and school pride.

  🎉 Congratulations to our winners:
  🥇 1st Place: Owen  – 561 digits memorized!
  🥈 2nd Place: Kathleen – 185 digits memorized
  🥉 3rd Place: Mark – 116 digits memorized

  In addition, Pi Day skylines with Pi-Scrapers were created.  The height of each building in the Pi cityscape represents a digit of pi.  The first three digits of pi are 3.14, therefore the first building is three squares high, the second is one square high, and the next is four squares high; some of us included a decimal point.  Students used grid paper for the skyscrapers and glued the skyline onto watercolor backgrounds.    If you look closely, you can also see pi stars.

  FIRST IN MATH Virtual Regional Tournament (Qualifying Round) was held on Thursday, March 19, 2026.  Students who signed up participates in grade appropriate challenges to solve the most skill set problems within the allotted time.  We had almost 100 students participate in this event during the school day.  We hope to find out that we have qualifying students who will go to the next round:  Statewide Mathematics Tournament, to be held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on Saturday, June 13, 2026.  Stay tuned.....

  Math is everywhere, and every problem you try helps your brain grow. Keep challenging yourself and enjoy the journey!

   

  P.S. 144Q

• Civics for All Week

  Civics for All Week is a time when students across New York City celebrate using their voices to help make their school and community better. Civics is about learning how we work together, solve problems, and support others.  Throughout the week, students were encouraged to think about one way they could make a positive difference—because your voice matters!  We extend a special thank you to Councilperson Lynn Shulman for visiting our school and speaking with students about her role in government. We are grateful for her continued support of our school community and students.

  P.S. 144Q

• Sensory Gym Project Officially Underway

  We’re thrilled to share that construction has begun on our Sensory Gym!
  A big thank‑you to Council Member Lynn Schulman for her continued support.
  Check out this early look at the space coming to life! 💙🙌

  P.S. 144Q