Resource Links

Teacher Websites

2008-09-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Teacher Website  http://www.teacherweb.com/tweb/states.aspx
(note PS 39 in Staten Island uses The Teacher Website as their website.

Fourth Grade Teachers: 
Mrs Ottavino website 
Ms Racioppo website

Fifth Grade Teachers:
Mrs Herbert website

Letter from The PS 39 PTA to the Community

2008-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents/Guardians:

PS 39 stands for Public (or primary) School 39; yet with all that it offers it might just be called Private School 39. And that makes it one of the best kept secrets in NYC. Like a private school, we provide small classes, individualized attention, a caring, family-like atmosphere and lots of enrichment, yet we’re an extremely diverse public school where everyone is welcome.

Much of a school's reputation is based on the perception of the person at the top -- the principal. We are extremely fortunate to have Anita de Paz, a dynamic leader with boundless energy and a clear and progressive vision for the school. The community and the city look at what she is doing and see the school's future in her hands. But we know that an organized, effective parent body is just as important. Working as a team with the administration, we can take PS 39 to new heights of excellence.

We want to see PS 39 continue to be a place where children and their families grow and thrive. We want to build on what we’ve done so that the school can be a model for the best a public school can be. We want to add even more to the incredible value that families receive when their children enroll here. We can do it. How? By each of us giving all we can. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve done and some of our ideas for the future.

Last year the PTA produced the Fall Pot Luck, the Book Fair, the Winterful Craft Fair, the Holiday Party, Skate Night at Wolman Rink, the International Dinner and Auction, and the Flower & Plant Sale. For the past four years we have provided funds for the Chess Team to participate in a national chess tournament, given students and their families exposure to the arts through "Making Books Sing" and helped to fund a year-end dance, and autograph books for the 5th grade graduating class. We've funded author visits and provided extra classroom materials. These programs add dimension and depth to the PS39 experience, and build our community. Some are a source of funds as well.

One of our biggest achievements (and expenditures) was bringing the Renzulli Learning System (RLS) to PS 39. RLS is a new on-line program that matches students' learning styles to many different activities designed to provide enriched, challenging learning opportunities. RLS is based on the Enrichment Triad Model which is the most widely used plan for enrichment and talent development in the world. This on-line program provides resources for teachers as well as students to pursue their interests. The PTA was thrilled to be able to pay for this remarkable resource.

But, the PTA wishlist doesn't stop there. Some ideas for improvements in the coming year(s) include:

Adding more books to classroom libraries
Hiring Assistant Teachers, Literacy Coaches and Math Coaches
Finding a Mediation Consultant for a Peer Mediation Program
Enhancing Music / Drama / Dance Programs
Facilitating more professional development for teachers

As our community changes, other changes have come, too. The federal government is no longer providing funds for our school through the Title I program, yet we believe we can stand on our own because of people like you who have discovered and support this hidden gem of a public school. In the past, when we asked you to make a contribution, we could only give you a hearty “Thank You” for your generosity. Now, as a fully-recognized Non-Profit Corporation (with official 501(c) (3) status), we can also tell you that your gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. With this designation, your check can now be matched by employers with matching gifts programs.

However you read our name, PS 39 is truly a special place, a special school that is leading the way to make public education the very best it can be. Isn’t it right to support the place that is shaping the way your son or daughter views, understands and interacts with the world? We’re always being asked to invest in our future. Well, PS 39 is your future. Please return the attached reply form with your contribution. Thank you for your support.

The PS 39 Parent Association

PS 39 in Local News link

2007-12-02T15:07:00.001-08:00

Natural History’s ‘Movable Museum’ Brings Dinosaur Bones (and Fossilized Poop!) to P.S. 39

PS 39 In the news in the Brooklyn Eagle:
Ice Storm Puts Damper on Kids' Historical Trip to Green-Wood
by Mary Frost

PS 39 PTA Mission Statement see below:

2007-09-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

To create an environment that supports learning, diversity, community and family.

Our goal is to provide the support needed to create a positive, well-rounded educational institution as well as a caring and loving environment for growth.
The PTA is open to all families, teachers, administrators and support staff.

We pledge to:

Support the teachers, staff and administration in every way, not just monetarily.

Be a place where parents can make sure their voices are heard by administrators and staff.

Raise money for short term and long term school needs.

Partner to create a long term, strategic plan for the school.

Create an environment where all parents are welcome to participate.

Reach out to the community and identify ways in which we can get them more involved in the school through donations, sponsorships, volunteering.

Create consistent and reliable communication between the PTA and its members.

PS 39 History Brief Facts Links

2006-03-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

PS 39 is the second oldest public school in Brooklyn
(the first is PS 34 in Greenpoint which was originally built as a hospital)

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle's July 1877 article announced the upcoming first day of school, September 1877.
PS 39 was built as a school by the City of Brooklyn to serve the south Brooklyn community.
Brooklyn Public Library's has the Brooklyn Daily Eagle article online Reprinted below:

The Brooklyn Eagle July 7, 1877 A NEW SCHOOL

Structure No. 39 as it Looks Completed

__________

A Fine Building for the Children of South Brooklyn

With the opening of the Public School year in September another school house will be thrown open of the accommodation of the children this that district of South Brooklyn, bounded by the Park on one side and Fourth Avenue. It seems to be a query whether it will be opened as Primary No. 2, or Grammar School No. 39. The latter is the inscription on the front, and yet it is said to have been originally intended for a primary school.

The building is nearly completed and will be opened in September. It stands on the corner of Sixth avenue and Eighth street, fronting to the west, and is one of the handsomest school buildings in Brooklyn. It's site is certainly one of the most beautiful in the city , for from the upper windows you can see all over the city and the Bay to the shores of Staten Island and New Jersey.

The lot on which the building stands is 172 feet deep and 100 feet wide. The building is 110 feet 6 inches long and 56 feet wide, is three stories high with basement and mansard roof, and is built in what might be called the Romanesque style of architecture. The material is brick, with brown stone trimmings.

THE FIRST STORY

is 7 feet 6 inches above the sidewalk, the foundation walls from the ground to the water table, being in square stone. The front is divided by a tower which rises above the main entrance. This divides the front into three points running clear to the roof, and separated from each other by brown stone trimmings, the corners being of ground stone. There are three double windows in each story in the front, one in the tower and one on each side. The windows are bordered with brown stone trimmings and a keystone of Nova Scotia stone.

The roof rises in a central tower, with smaller towers at the corner that just rise above the line of the roof. From the sidewalk to the top of the central towers it is about 90 feet. Passing up the front steps you enter a vestibule, and on the left hand is the stairway leading to the floor above. On the right is a class room, and directly in front on the other side of the vestibule partition is the teacher’s platform, while on the left of the platform is the teacher’s room. The balance of this floor 85 feet long and about 50 feet wide, is at present designed for a play room but by putting up the necessary partitions can be transformed into class rooms. It is 14 feet high, and like all the other floors, is admirably lighted.

The second floor is the first one devoted to class rooms. In it's size and general arrangements it is the same as the floors below except that it is divided into class rooms , four on each side of the central partition and one in the front right hand corner. They are of about the same size and will average about 20 feet square.

The top floor is the same as the others in size and interior arrangements.

On each side of the building is a small wing enclosing a stairway to the second floor, and in the rear is another wind also enclosing a stairway which reaches to the third floor. These stairways are broad, and the fact that they are entirely outside the building in a structure by themselves gives an added security in case of fire. The third floor has the front and rear stairways for escape in case of danger, and the second floor the front and two side exits.

The basement is devoted to the heating apparatus and in it's construction the aim has been to bring into operation the most recent discoveries and improvements in this line. How to best accomplish the ventilation of a large building is still a vexed question, and in very many of our public buildings it has seemed as though the air in view had been “how not to do it,” but while in the case of this school the system of warming and ventilating does not differ from that in use in other school houses of the Department, yet such alterations and improvements as experience has suggested have been made.

In the rear, on Eighth street and Seventh avenue, will be the janitor’s house, 18 by 30 feet and two stories high. It's general appearance assimilates with the school building. A fence divides the playground in the rear into two yards, separating the boys and girls when at play. The crest of the roof is crowned with graceful ironwork, and the general effect of the whole structure is pleasing. At any rate, it offers a little break in the monotony of style which has hitherto distinguished most of the new school structures. The windows in the side are single but numerous, and light each floor admirably, while the airy situation will afford plenty of fresh air. The building and it's appointments cost as follows:

Mason work ………………………………………………………………………$29,250

Carpenter work …………………………………………………………………….19,487

Heating ………………………………………………………………………………4,500

Furniture ……………………………………………………………………………..3,000

Total ……………………………………………………………………………….$56,237

Landmark School: The Building

2006-02-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

The photo is from New York Architecture PS 39 images.

architect	Samuel B. Leonard, Superintendent of Buildings for the City of Brooklyn Board of Education.
location	417 Sixth Ave., NE cor. 8th St.
date	1876-1877.

The New York Architecture website describes the PS 39 building:
Built in 1877,the building is a historical landmark. A mansarded Victorian school house in painted brick and rusticated brownstone.
The Second Empire (of Napoleon III) influenced the far reaches of Brooklyn only 5 years after his downfall.

The Henry Bristow School: The Man

2006-02-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Congressman Henry Bristow of 400 Sixth Ave. had many titles in his lifetime and this 0721 1896 Brooklyn Eagle article is about his Police Justice appointment. The article has a brief biography of the local Brooklyn Republican politician's life as of 1896.

The Brooklyn Public Library's current online archive only extends to 1902. His obituary notice probably has more information about him and his connection to PS 39. Contact this website if you have a copy of his obituary.
Information about Henry Bristow can be found at the
Biographical Directory the United States Congress: reprinted here:

BRISTOW, Henry, a Representative from New York; born in St. Michael, Azores Islands, June 5, 1840; immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Brooklyn, N.Y.; attended public and private schools; engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1896; served as a private in Company B, Seventh Regiment, New York State Militia, from April 26, 1861, to June 3, 1861; appointed city magistrate in 1896; member of the board of education of Brooklyn 1880-1889; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1903); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth Congress; appointed public administrator of Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1904 and served until his death in that city October 11, 1906.
The internment of Henry Bristow and the Bristow family is at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn at
lot 19908 (Henry Bristow) location 148 (Bristow Family) 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of his death.

PS 39 Report Cards

2006-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

PS 39 reviews are all over the web,
most seem to be positive and or filled with the same information.
If you find something unpleasant and/or not right email this site.
Many real estate web sites reprint PS 39 information or list the school with the same information.

Here is information about our Region 8
PS 39 statistics from The New York City Board of Education

This is what I found so far:
Inside Schools.org an independent guide to NYC Schools gives PS 39 a positive review.
Here is a May 2008 review from Inside Schools
They do not charge but they do ask for donations to maintain this free service to the community.
Inside Schools is a project of Advocates for Children of New York, a non-profit organization that provides a full range of educational support, legal, and advocacy services for parents, young people, and professionals.

K12 Guides provide information about public, private, charter and alternative, including PS 39.

Schoolbug a free service information on any public school in the United States, including PS 39.

Schooltree offers free listings for over 140,000 schools, including PS 39.

Public School Report has information, including PS 39, however it is unclear who runs this site.

Great Schools.net charges for reviews and asks for information from the PS 39 community.

Jim Brennan, NYS Assemblymember

2006-01-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Jim Brennan, NYS Assemblymember again spoke at the first PTA meeting of the school year 2006-2007
From the 2005-2006 minutes (this will be updated with 2006-2007 minutes account)

1.1 Mr. Brennon welcomed everyone and wished all a good school year.

1.2 He spoke of many efforts his office made on behalf of getting the DOE to drop the citywide “double” testing.

1.3 He spoke of his continued efforts to get the pre-k bathroom built. Every year $4000.00 is designated for this in the budget. Apparently it went out to bid last year and the bids came in too high. It is being rebid now. He reported that the city would now be reimbursed 50% for schoolat PTA Meeting construction costs from the state (but they have to spend it first and submit the bills). Also in the State budget is 6% school aid for NYC schools.

1.4 He spoke of the status of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. Governor Pataki appealed the monetary judgment (5 billion after 5 years and a 9 billion construction fund) in lower court. Hopefully the courts will finally tell legislators what monies to give to the NYC school system.

Campaign for Fiscal Equity is a coalition of parent organizations, community school boards, concerned citizens and advocacy groups seeking to reform New York State's school finance system to ensure adequate resources and the opportunity for a sound basic education for all students in New York City.

Advocates for Children of New York, has worked in partnership with New York City's most impoverished and vulnerable families to secure quality and equal public education services.Their website offers many links of organizations that advocate for public education.

Class Size Matters an organization of parents, teachers, and other concerned members of the community, dedicated to the goal of smaller classes in NYC and the nation as a whole.

.Jim Brennan, NYS Assemblymember's website: http://assembly.s tate.ny.us/mem/?ad=044
His email: brennaj@ assembly.state.ny.us to contact him to pusue these issues..

New York City Board Of Education Links

2005-12-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

Home Page http://schools.nyc.gov/
The NYC Board of Education PS 39 web site :
The site has basic information includes school reports in adobe acrobat
Region 8 Website
NYC Board Of Education for Parents website. Has very useful information and resources.
NYC Board of Education for Students website. Includes Links for Homework help
NYS Education Department for Parents website.
Calendars for NYC Schools Pick the one you need.
Basic Tools and Resources
Press Releases

Community and Education Council: explains the concept and Monthly Meeting Schedule Community Education Council for District 8Parent Members, as of July 2006:
Juliette Ayala; Laurine Berry, President; Rosalina Corsino;
Rose Foley, appointed by Borough President
Robert Franklin; Norma Mendez Cruz
Thomas Messina, appointed by Borough President
Brendia Ramsey; Mohini Singh; James Tynan

PS 39 Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ps39/

More links to come, after I get some sleep!

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