This Week @ PS 88Q

Well here we are....the last week of school.

What a year it has been. This week always brings up so many emotions. We are ready for the break, but we will miss the daily connections with everyone. It is a time to reflect on the growth of everyone, and how as a community, we have accomplished so much. I remember these days as a mom, ready to shelve the bookbag and lunch box for easier mornings, and time. Time that isn't managed by anyone but me. Enjoy that time, and the freedom to not live so strictly by the calendar (or the newsletter lol).

As I shared in last weeks newsletter, my sister and I were in Florida last weekend for my dad. On Friday, June 19th, our father passed away. We are heartbroken. Over the last five months he had taken a turn, and although those months were painful, there was beauty. Beauty in having the opportunity to say it all, how much we loved him and how much we always knew how he loved us. My sister and I spoke to him daily, Facetimed him and visited him. There were laughs, tears, stories, and hopes. There is comfort in knowing that 21 years, 11 months and 1 day later, our parents are together again.

Everyone, enjoy your summer. Be safe, make memories, and have fun. I will be around all summer, both at PS 91 for Summer Rising, and at PS 88Q (Principals don't have the summer off ;). ). Feel free to reach out to me for anything. The website will be updated over the summer with new calendars, supply lists and resources, so check regularly. https://www.ps88q.com/

Thank you for an amazing year!

🎓 June 22 Grade 5 Commencement 9:00am
💃 June 24 Grade 5 Dance 12:00pm to 2:00pm

🎉 June 26 Last Day of School

It is hard to believe that six years have passed since many of you first walked through the doors of PS 88Q as kindergarten students. Your journey began during one of the most challenging and uncertain times in recent history.

For some of you, kindergarten was split between learning in school and learning from home.

For others, your first experience of elementary school happened entirely through a screen, with teachers, classmates, and lessons taking place remotely.

And yet, here you are.

Your years at PS 88Q have been a lesson in resilience. You learned how to adapt, how to persevere, and how to keep moving forward even when things were unfamiliar or difficult. Those experiences shaped you into a class that is strong, compassionate, flexible, and ready for whatever life may bring next.

Over the years, you built more than academic skills. You built confidence. You discovered your voices in classrooms, on stages, on basketball courts, in music rooms, gardens, art studios, podcasts, coding clubs, debates, and countless other opportunities that helped make PS 88Q feel like home. You learned how to work together, support one another, celebrate successes, and overcome challenges.

You leave PS 88Q with a strong foundation ; one built on curiosity, creativity, kindness, and determination. Through your introduction to the arts, music, theater, STEM, athletics, and leadership opportunities, you learned that success is not one thing. It is found in trying something new, taking risks, discovering your passions, and believing in yourself.

Most importantly, you leave with friendships and memories that will stay with you for years to come. The people beside you today shared a once-in-a-lifetime elementary school experience, and those bonds are something special.

As you prepare for middle school and all the adventures ahead, know this: you are ready. Ready to take on challenges. Ready to grow. Ready to lead. Ready to dream bigger than ever before.

No matter where life takes you, you will always be part of the PS 88Q family. I am incredibly proud of who you are and all that you have accomplished.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your future is bright, and we cannot wait to see all that you will become.

What an absolutely fabulous performance of Beauty and the Beast by our Disney Theater Club! From the moment the curtain opened until the final bow, our students captivated the audience with their talent, confidence, and heart.

This year, our students took on a very special challenge. Our team selected the middle school adaptation of Beauty and the Beast for PS 88Q because they believed this particular cast was capable of performing at that level. And were they ever! They rose to the occasion in every possible way, demonstrating maturity, dedication, and artistry far beyond their years.

Behind this magical performance were months of hard work, pages and pages of scripts to memorize, countless rehearsals, hours of singing, dancing, and collaborating. Students learned not only how to perform, but how to support one another, persevere through challenges, and work together toward a shared vision. The growth they experienced along the way is every bit as impressive as the final production itself.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our extraordinary staff who poured their time, talent, and love into this production: Ms. Bawer, Ms. Fogarty, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Dumont, Mr. DeCastro, Mr. Early, Ms. Verderber, and Ms. Dimarco. Your creativity, dedication, and belief in our students made the impossible possible. The countless hours you spent rehearsing, coaching, building, encouraging, and problem-solving created a truly magical experience for everyone involved.

We are also incredibly grateful to our parent volunteers who worked tirelessly designing sets, creating costumes, and helping bring the world of Beauty and the Beast to life. Your partnership and support are invaluable, and this production would not have been the same without you.

Most importantly, we are so proud of our student actors. They exhibited remarkable talents, not only in acting and singing, but in teamwork, responsibility, and courage. They entertained us, inspired us, and reminded us that when students are challenged and supported, they can achieve extraordinary things.

Bravo to our Disney Theater Club! The applause may have ended, but the memories, the learning, and the pride we feel will last for years to come.

The gym was filled with excitement, school spirit, and plenty of cheers as our Grade 4 and Grade 5 basketball teams faced off in a friendly but competitive game!

Both teams showcased not only their basketball skills, but also outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship, and determination. The players hustled for every rebound, celebrated each basket, and encouraged one another throughout the game. It was a wonderful example of how athletics help students build confidence, resilience, and lasting friendships.

Our Grade 5 team, coached by Mr. Tripotseris and Mr. Nolan, displayed leadership and experience on the court. The Grade 4 team, led by Ms. Bloom and Mr. DeCastro, brought incredible energy and enthusiasm, proving they are a force to be reckoned with in the years ahead.

PTA UPDATES

Thank you for a wonderful school year!

As we close out another school year, we’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire PS88 community.

Thank you to our students, families, teachers, staff, volunteers, and supporters. Whether you attended an event, volunteered your time, donated, shared an idea, or simply stayed engaged behind the scenes, you helped make this year possible.

Parent voices matter. One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that the PTA is only effective when parents make their voices heard. The PTA exists to serve the parents of PS88, and when we understand the needs, ideas, and priorities of our families, we’re better able to support our students and strengthen our school community.

This means you have a say in what the PTA focuses on, when meetings are held, which programs are offered, what events are held, and which fundraising efforts are worth pursuing. Your feedback helps shape all of this.

Over the summer, the incoming 2026–27 PTA Executive Board will begin planning for the year ahead. Please keep an eye out for the Annual Parent Survey, where you’ll have an opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas, and priorities for next year.

Remember: our WhatsApp channels will remain active throughout the summer. The Parents Chat is a great place to ask questions, connect with other families, and reach the PTA Board if you need anything.

Thank you again for a wonderful year. We wish every PS88 family a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer, and look forward to seeing you in September!

Your 2026–27 PTA Executive Board

We're so grateful to the PS88 parents who stepped forward to serve our school community next school year as PTA Executive Board members:

President
Liliana Campoverde

Co-Recording Secretaries
Jenny Soderqvist Gallishaw
Becky Vinter

Treasurer
Daliza Cabrera

Communications Director
Zack Bruce

Co-Fundraising Directors
Tania Morales
Arianna Rebolini

Events Director
Erin Florio

PAC Chairperson
Anna Ibarra

We look forward to working alongside families, school leadership, teachers, and staff in the coming year.

Stay connected this summer

Questions? Ideas? Looking for information about school events, supplies, schedules, or PTA activities?

The PS88 PTA WhatsApp channels will remain active all summer long.

Join the PTA Announcements channel for important updates.

Join the Parents Chat to connect with the PTA Executive Board or share questions, feedback, or ideas.

We’d love to hear from you!

Stay informed

All Things PTA + Newsletter Signup:
https://linkin.bio/ps88pta

WhatsApp:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/ILNl02KhJQb3mcy8C9Gb63

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ps88q.pta/

Anonymous Feedback Form:
https://bit.ly/ParentNeeds2025_26