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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

Read Across America Author Night

We had an absolutely fantastic time at our Annual Author Night! Families filled the room with excitement as parents and students joined us for an evening celebrating the joy of reading. Our amazing teachers brought stories to life by sharing books written by our talented featured authors. Students were also thrilled to create their own colorful bookmarks and creative door hangers, adding a fun, hands‑on touch to the celebration.

A huge thank you to our wonderful authors for inspiring our students and helping make this event truly special. Your creativity and contributions made the night unforgettable!

P.S. 144Q

First in Math Family Night

Our students and families joined Ms. Kessler for an exciting First in Math (FIM) Night! First in Math is an online, game‑based educational program for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. It is designed to strengthen math fluency, critical thinking, and computational skills, using “Deep Practice” to help students master everything from basic addition to more complex algebra. With over 200 interactive games, students stay engaged while building confidence in their math abilities.

PS 144 is a proud supporter of the First in Math program. Each week, our students compete to earn the title of Champion, showing dedication, growth, and school spirit. We are also thrilled to share that NYSED and First in Math are partnering to bring a Statewide Mathematics Tournament to New York! All New York State students in Grades 1–8 who are enrolled in First in Math are invited to participate.

Mark your calendar: On March 19, 2026 students will participate virtually to see who will be invited to compete in the event in Albany in the spring. More information will be shared with parents as we get closer.

We look forward to cheering on our mathematicians as they prepare for this exciting opportunity!

P.S. 144Q

Dance Showcase

Our students in dance class presented their very first Dance Showcase of the year, put together by our very own Ms. Stathes. Students from Kindergarten through Grade 5 entertained the audience with energetic performances featuring songs like the YMCA, Macarena, and styles of hip hop, ballroom, and salsa. Congratulations to all of the students for their hard work and to Ms. Stathes for her dedication and creativity in bringing this showcase to life. Broadway, watch out—some future stars are on their way!

P.S. 144Q

Welcome back and Happy New Year !!!

December was a month overflowing with joy, connection, and community spirit, thanks to the many warm activities hosted by our Parent Coordinator, Ms. Erica. She helped bring families together, brighten our halls, and close out the year with heart. Below is a message she'd like to share with all of you:

Hello PS144 Families,

My Name is Erica Seidl, I am the new Parent Coordinator. I will be here to support you and your child throughout their years at PS144. My role as Parent Coordinator is to help parents gain access to their child’s education and provide you with all the resources you may need help your child succeed. This year we will have many exciting opportunities for parents to get involved. We will be offering a variety of parent workshops, parent/child workshops, & virtual workshops. I encourage you to attend these events and get involved in your child’s education.

My office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feel free to stop by the school, email or call me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Office of Parent Coordinator: Room 160

Email: Eseidl2@schools.nyc.gov

Phone (718) 268-2775 X- 1601

I look forward to working with you!

P.S. 144Q

Happy 67th Day of School!

We’ve reached 67 days of school, and our teachers are rocking their shirts to celebrate this milestone & the students LOVED it!

They showed off their school spirit and commitment to making every day count.

P.S. 144Q

P.S. 144 Spelling Bee

On Thursday, November 20th, we hosted our School-Wide Spelling Bee!

Students in Grades 4 and 5 first competed in classroom spelling bees, and each class winner advanced to the school-wide competition. The top two finalists will now represent our school at the Queens South Spelling Bee!

Our 10 spellers showed incredible courage and confidence as they stood before their peers. We are so proud of every participant for their hard work and determination!