Friday, November 20th marked School of the Future’s Friendsgiving event organized by our middle school student council members under the advisement of Ms.Ordonez, our MS Spanish teacher. Filled with music by our student DJ Desiree for the afternoon, the cafeteria was transformed into activity/game stations and dance halls. Uniting with after school, our SOF kids were able to fund raise for student council and enjoy their time with friends and reflect on what they were most grateful for. We look forward to more Friendsgiving events at School of the Future!

Should schools be tracking students according to academic ability?

Please save the date of Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 6:30pm. District 2 Community Education Council will be hosting a forum on academic tracking at PS 59 (233 E 56th Street), featuring education expert Carol Burris.

Dr. Burris became Executive Director of the Network for Public Education Foundation in August 2015, after serving as principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District in NY since 2000. Her publications include Detracking for Excellence and Equity (2008) and On the Same Track: How Schools Can Join the 21st Century Struggle against Re-segregation (2014). She regularly expresses her concerns about the misuse and unintended consequences of high-stakes testing on the Washington Post, The Answer Sheet blog.

You can learn more about Dr. Burris and her work at her blog and the National Education Policy Center.

The forum will be followed by CECD2’s January Calendar and Working Business meetings. Agendas will be circulated before the meeting.

Babysitting and light refreshments will be provided.

Our 8th graders have been channeling their inner Superhero in Art Class. Students have been focusing on Principles of Proportion & Scale. They utilized the 8-oval method of drawing a proportional figure as well Oil Pastel techniques to create a “portrait” of themselves as superheroes (antiheroes included!)

In preparation for our upcoming pop art inspired shoe sculpture project in the art room, students went to see The Rise of Sneaker Culture exhibition at The Brooklyn Museum. They also viewed an interactive installation by contemporary artists Faille. Both these exhibitions pushed our 8th graders thinking of what Art is and what constitutes as art. Who knew going to an art exhibition could be this much fun!

This year’s Back to Curriculum Night and Pot Luck Dinner will be held on Tuesday, September 29th. The schedule is the following:

5:15 pm – Brief PA Meeting

6:00 pm – Back to School Night with teachers

7:00 pm – Pot Luck Dinner – Bring your favorite dish!