Preparing the NCA curriculum, via Newtown Creek Alliance
Happy first day of school, Greenpoint! This year, the local conservationists at Newtown Creek Alliance are bringing the creek to the curriculum as part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Greenpoint EcoSchools initiative.
NCA will pioneer its new STEM Urban Ecology curriculum in the four Greenpoint Public schools: PS 31, PS 34, PS 110, and MS 126. The learning modules and field trips, designed for elementary and middle school students, cover Flora and Fauna relationships, invasive and native species, topography, water and soil quality, ecological health and legacy and ongoing pollution sources.
Each lesson will culminate in a “design based applied learning project,” and NCA staff will serve as expert guides, leading classes through related activities and offering guest lecturers in the classroom. Continue reading →
November 11th is always a day to celebrate, and Greenpoint’s PS 31 (75 Meserole Avenue) marked the day with a Fall Festival to benefit the PTA. The school is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and the Festival helped PS 31’s PTA raise funds to support excellent enrichment opportunities for students, including arts and chess.
Parents, teachers, alumni and community businesses all contributed to the festivities, which included pony rides, crafts, cotton candy, balloons, face painting, a Bounce House and a bake sale. Local merchants like the Meatball Shop (170 Bedford Avenue) donated raffle prizes. All proceeds from the event went directly to the PTA. In a press release Sarah Sanders, PTA Co-President, thanked the Greenpoint community for an excellent turnout and a fabulous Festival.“This was a very successful community event that brought people together on a freezing day to help our school,” she said. “It couldn’t have been done without the wonderful volunteers, who included teachers, parents, and alumni.”
In the heart of where the old orchard once stood is P.S. 31, an elegant old school with a gorgeous façade that is being refurbished. Previously, P.S. 31 was on Dupont Street and the present school was once a middle school.
This post marks the first in a series of posts that will recount the history of different streets in Greenpoint. Meserole Avenue is named for the Meserole family who once had a gorgeous orchard that long ago disappeared. The orchard at one time was so beautiful that it was considered one of the “garden spots” of Brooklyn. Long after the orchard was just a memory, the name garden spot survived and was used ironically by Peter McGuinness and others to describe the highly industrial neighborhood. Continue reading →
Come to PS 31, 75 Meserole Ave on Thursday, May 30th from 4-7pm and enjoy their Spring Fling celebration.
This fundraising event, which is open to the public, will have tons of exciting of things for you and your family. Come see us in the playground and get your face face painted, jump in the bouncy house or enjoy some arts and crafts. These will be just a few of the fun activities they are going to have. Tickets are $1 each or 12/$10 but also vary in price.
Greenpointers worked with the PS31 to design the mural which will be shown in the school yard during the celebration. It is a take on Matisse’s Flower Mural at the National Gallery. The students were given pieces of the mural to color in. The mural will be hung up piece by piece for a huge piece of group work of art.
PS 31 Fiesta de Primavera
Venga PS 31, 75 Meserole Ave, el Jueves, 30 de Mayo de 4-7 pm y disfrutar de la celebración de la Fiesta de Primavera.
Este evento de recaudación de fondos, que está abierto al público, tendrá toneladas de cosas para usted y su familia. Venga a vernos en el patio de recreo y pinte su cara, salta en la casa hinchable o disfrutar de artes. Estos serán algunos de la diversión actividades que van a tener. Los boletos cuestan $1 o 12/$10 pero también varían en precio.
Greenpointers trabajo con PS31 para diseñar el mural que se mostrará en el patio de la escuela durante la celebración. Es un mural de flor de Matisse que esta en la Galeria Nacional. Los estudiantes recibieron piezas del mural para colorear. El mural se cuelga pieza por pieza y se hace una enorme pieza de obra de arte.
