PS 166 is a K-5 Elementary School in District 3

Principal: Debra Mastriano

Assistant Principal: Charles Stanton

132 West 89th Street

New York, NY 10024

212-678-2829

PS 166 Blue Ribbon School Cohort 2024

 

We are excited to share that on Monday, September 23, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized PS 166 The Richard Rodgers School of Arts and Technology as one of the 356 schools in the 2024 cohort of Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon Schools. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.” The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

For more information please use the following: https://www.nysed.gov/news/2024/us-department-education-honors-21-new-york-schools-2024-national-blue-ribbon-schools

Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/

We are grateful for the hard work and dedication that our PS 166 teachers provide each day.

Thank you to all of our families for your collaboration and support of our teachers and your commitment to the education of your children.

 

 

PS 166 Technology Updates

 

Our fifth grade students started their Keyboarding unit at the end of November, and have received TypingClub accounts where they can practice their typing skills at their own pace with grade-level typing activities. The focus is to develop speed and typing accuracy so that they are prepared for future projects and online tests, and to build a strong foundation in keyboarding abilities.

All third, fourth, and fifth graders have PS 166 Typing Accounts.  To get onto the PS 166 Typing Accounts, students must access ps166tech.typingclub.com and log in with their credentials: usernames are in the format of classroom number and first name (ex. 406mark, 409susan, etc) and the password is ps166tech. Students are NOT expected to practice at home as they have time in the computer lab (but some students may still be proactive at home)!


Some fifth graders have also started their LEGO Robotics unit. Running alongside the Keyboarding unit, students have created teams and received LEGO Spike Prime box sets. These sets have all the robotic parts and LEGO pieces they need to begin building responsive robots to solve puzzles and challenges posed to them. For now, students will be learning how to build and program robots before they move on to projects.

 

Announcements

  • SchoolFood /Family Income Form

    This form determines whether or not students qualify for free or reduced school meals. Even though in NYC school lunch is now free for all students, this information is used to determine school funding. Every family  must submit a SchoolFood form regardless of whether the student will eat a meal at school.

    Families can complete the SchoolFood form online.  

    Enter your zip code
    Click on "New York City Schools"
    After entering your name you can choose not to enter any financial information. 

    PS 166
  • A Message from our Nurse

    • Please do not send your children to school if they are sick.
    • Please be reminded that children should be fever-free without the use of pain relievers for 24 hours before coming to school. 
    • If children are coughing frequently, they may be given a mask to where while in close contact with other children at school. 
    • Kindergarten parents: Please submit your child's 5 year old doctor's visit form to the school if you have not already done so. You can either backpack it to the attention of Nurse Elizabeth Cross or email it to nurse@ps166.org 
    PS 166
  • Lost and Found

    Please remember to label your child's outerwear, lunchboxes and water bottles. Labeled items will be returned to students. Unlabeled items pile up and are regularly donated or recycled. Lost and Found items will be on a table on the first floor in front of the cafeteria. If you wish to purchase labels AND support our PTA see below.

    Back to School means time to label your child's backpack, clothing, water bottles and more! Shop in support of our PTA when you purchase labels from Mabel's Labels or Oliver's Labels. 

    PS 166
  • School Bus Service

    Parents must communicate with their child’s teacher as to which days the child will ride the bus home. To avoid any miscommunication problems, teachers will not take a child’s verbal message. Please send a written note to the teacher stating which days your child will ride the bus. When changes occur, parents must email bus@ps166.org before 1 PM that day. 
     
    For those students eligible for MetroCards, they will be given to your child sometime the first week of school. MetroCards are for students only and cannot be used by an adult (unless an exception is made in a bus strike.)
     
    Students cannot have both a MetroCard and bus service.

    PS 166
  • Impact Coaching Network (ICN)

    We are excited to announce that Impact Coaching Network (ICN) will be coming to P.S. 166 to teach our kids chess and all of the valuable skills that come with it!ICN is the city’s leading scholastic chess program (https://impactcoachingnetwork.org), and they will be running after-school classes for kids at every level — from brand-new novices who just want to learn the basics, to advanced players who want to play in competitive tournaments as part of 166’s amazing chess club, the Manhattan Knights. After-school classes are open to all levels and will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with late stay options until 6 pm. Registration will open on July 1. Sibling Discounts and Financial assistance is available.
    For any questions, please email PS166CHESSCLUB@GMAIL.COM

    PS 166
  • Amazing Athletes Sports & Education Programs

    We are thrilled to be chosen as the new provider of after-school enrichment programs for PS166. Our company, Amazing Athletes Sports & Education Programs (www.amazingathletes.com), is the leading educational sports program in the country, positively impacting over 250,000 children annually through sports and enrichment activities. We are also the proud owners of Super Soccer Stars, which was founded on the Upper West Side 22 years ago. Our offices are conveniently located on 89th and Columbus, just around the corner from PS166.

    As parents ourselves - my partner Carmen Bellavia, who is the Chief Technology Officer (and a PS166 parent), and myself, the CEO and a thirteen-year resident of the Upper West Side - we are committed to providing the diversity of programming PS166 children have enjoyed, such as musical theater, dance, arts, coding, study hall, and chess. 

    Furthermore, we are excited to collaborate with the PTA and the administration to explore new possibilities. This includes options like an early drop-off, enhanced programming, and expanded locations to provide an even better experience for PS166 families.

    We understand the importance of maintaining continuity of pricing, program options, and, whenever possible, instructors and teachers. We are in daily communication with the school administration to ensure a seamless transition.

    To ensure we capture your input, we will send out a parent survey early next week to gain insights into your preferences and expectations for the program. Your partnership is incredibly important to us as we aim to deliver the highest quality of enrichment programming for your children. We will also provide you with additional details regarding the opening of registration, which is planned for late July or August 1st.

    Should you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to email us at ps166@amazingathletes.com. We value your input and look forward to building a strong partnership to deliver exceptional enrichment programming.

    Thank you all and we are looking forward to an exciting year in ‘23/’24.

    Best,

    -Adam Geisler
    CEO

    PS 166
View More Posts

PTA Announcements

  • Join PS 166 Community Group

    PS 166 has a moderated Google discussion group that enables you to communicate and share useful information with other PS 166 parents/guardians.  If you have questions about pick up or drop off procedures or need a recommendation for a good babysitter, pediatrician or other service provider, feel free to post your questions to the group.  If you would like to send and/or receive reminders about upcoming school events or activities or would like to thank or congratulate another member for a job well done, this is the place to do it.  

    If you would like to join, email moderatorps166@gmail.com.  Please include PS 166 Message Group in the subject line with your name and your child’s grade in the body of the message.

    PTA
View More Posts

Trying to contact a teacher or administrator? Click here for the school directory.

School Directory