This Week @ PS 88Q
January 11, 2026
A Message From Mrs. O'Shaughnessy
I hope everyone had a peaceful week back this past week. Our first week back was most certainly filled with smiles, hugs and lots of reunions. The winter break was indeed that, a break, and our staff and students were happy to be back together.
As we all know, this week did bring tragedy to Ridgewood as well. In the early morning hours on Tuesday, a fire began and spread through many homes. I shared a messaged with staff and community, that I will add here as well but with some new additions.
Yesterday was a tough day for many of our families, and school community, but specifically one of our PS 88Q families. The family got out safely, thank goodness, but has lost everything.
There will be a lot of next steps for the family, and I assured them that we will get them through it all. We have already gotten them through the first day. As of now, they are spending the next few days with family. In the coming days, they will have a better understanding of what they need. And we will help.
I am always so proud of how everyone handles situations. I am in awe, daily, of the humanity that I see in our school and our community. This is not always the case in all schools, or places of work. Today was even more of an example. Ms. Herman and I were communicating by 4:30am about the fire. Ms. Laurie, Ms. Herman and Ms. Guardi ran the ATS report and highlighted every student who lived on Madison Street by 6:15am. I contacted the District office and Superintendent by 5:45am of the potential impact for our PS 88Q Community. Ms. Herman and I were only able to go to the site at 6:30am because Ms. Lowe had the building under control and ready for a safe opening for our families. A neighbor, a woman who did not know them at all, but found the family cold and barefoot on the street, opened her doors to give them a place to stay.
Ms. Harvey lives on the corner, and heard the cries and saw the fire all night. She came across the street and brought the family coats, and breakfast. The children, upon seeing her enter the room, eyes lit up when she walked through the door. And then Mr. Canales walked through the door. This little apartment of a stranger was quickly filled with love and support.
Ms. Guardi ran the shoes down to the apartment and some PS 88Q gear for them to put on. Ms. Jackie was sending us phone numbers for the emergency contacts, as their phones and all their stored numbers, were gone. Our Deputy Superintendent, Jose Jiminez was on site with us as well. They received some more clothes from one of our parents, Vivian Mooney, and they changed and we walked them back to school. The didn't need to be at the Red Cross set up at PS 239. Their classroom teachers made it a normal day for them, as best they could. Ms. Herman and I returned to PS 239 to ensure our family was taken care of and to support any way possible if only to advocate that they receive all support available. A team effort all around not just by who I mentioned, but all of you what you do everyday for our families.
What you worried about yesterday, in one moment, doesn't matter anymore. Many people sat in that auditorium, alone, without family, and now without a home. I am shifting our planned Day of Service to more of a support for the all of the families. I will follow up with our Social Justice Committee, but our community and our students want to help as well.
Many of you are asking "What can I do for them right now?" I could say I am amazed by the outpouring, but I am not. This is what this community does; you are amazing every day.
I am in contact with the family daily, and housing remains their main priority, as it does for all of the families affected. Friday, reluctantly, the family shared a GoFund Me link that a family member created. Chancellors Regulations restrict the sharing of any fundraising links through NYC Public School platforms, but our PTA is able to share the link. Please follow the PTA on Social Media, where the link is provided.
Within 24 hours of sharing the link, the fund grew massively. Below is the PTA message, and how to help. Our community will also support not just financially, by providing what they need. Right now, finding a home is the priority.
Our community was also part of the rescue. One of the brave firefighters is one of our own fathers at PS 88Q. The FDNY staged a massive response, and PS 88Q supports them and our very own New York's Bravest!
Have a Great Week
