Our end of unit Celebrations of Learning give us a chance to observe a trimester’s worth of shared study in panorama: noting threads, perspectives, connections, and evolving understandings around a common topic. This Integrated Study Unit — Civics: Communities and Citizens in Action — challenged students to discover how citizens organize and act to achieve community goals.

During the Celebration of Learning culminating the “Civics: Communities and Citizens in Action” Unit, Upper Primary students documented their research about structural racism, the civic activism it has inspired, and the persistence of injustice in our democracy.

During this trimester’s Integrated Unit “Civics: Communities and Citizens in Action,” Kindergarten used storytelling to figure through the concepts of fairness and equity and to think about how communities and citizens work together to understand and achieve fairness for all.

Kindergarten is a magical and monumental time at PCS. Children are growing into their backpacks and the longer days and the school routines and their independence. It’s exciting to celebrate their bravery and accomplishments, but it’s also an honor to hold space for their sweet littleness. There’s an ebb and flow of venturing out and seeking shelter that is at the heart of this time of tremendous social, emotional and cognitive development, and we can think of no one more uniquely suited to working alongside Kindergarten students than Paola Flórez.

Val Gatz is a people person. Big people, little people, lots of people, one person – Mrs. Gatz loves being with people: talking with them, drawing them in, listening to their stories, making them feel at ease, and enjoying their company. A community-maker a heart, Mrs. Gatz brings people together in a way that honors their individuality and unites them in their commonality. At PCS, she creates a family culture in the Early Childhood classroom that she co-facilitates.

It’s hard to believe, but Upper Primary’s afternoon at The Watermill Center with dancer Alice Heyward was even more magical than it looks. Alice lead students through a movement workshop ….

What to do when our annual all-school Halloween pumpkin and apple picking trip to the Milk Pail is postponed due to a rainy forecast? An impromptu, surprise all-school MAKER HALLOWEEN PARADE of course!

Learning to read is such a monumental transition for students, and being a part of this educational milestone is what draws Ashley Russo to the Lower Primary classroom. “I love teaching kids to read!” she says. “It’s so amazing as they make progress and can turn letters and words into stories. It opens a door for them.” 

Music Facilitator Ms. Jeanne Woelker and PCS students treated us to our first Music Share of the school year during this morning’s First Friday Community Gathering.

What an afternoon for the school-wide “Civics: Citizens and Communities in Action” integrated Unit! PCS welcomed local community members to both the Upper and Middle Primary classes to work with students in their areas of focus.

In an effort to see how they can best channel their desire to help threatened wildlife into effective action, Middle Primary contacted Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons, a local not-for-profit passionately dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured native turtles. We were so lucky to have Karen, the executive director, and John visit the MP classroom to talk about the issues impacting native turtles and ways to help.

We were so fortunate to welcome Dennis Gaboury and Tinashe Basa – the Founder and Director of Zimkids Orphan Trust – back to PCS for their 7th annual visit and Skype session with Zimkids at the Center in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe!

The Hon. Laura Jens-Smith, Riverhead Town Supervisor, visited the MP classroom this week to talk with these concerned citizens. She answered their (many) questions, including queries about her motivation for serving as Supervisor, her goals for the remainder of her term, how zoning for development is determined, and the town’s climate action plan.

Meghan Hillen joined PCS this fall as the Middle Primary facilitator, bringing with her 18 years of teaching experience in third and fourth grade classrooms, extensive experience writing Math and Cultural History curriculum that emphasizes integrated, project-based learning, and an abiding interest in community building and social justice. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome her aboard!

First Fridays are a chance for PCS families to join us every month for an all-community gathering, followed by informal visits to classrooms to check out our learning in progress.

We talk so much about the approaches and practices that we think make a school stand out. But what makes a school really special is when it’s the place where children meet their favorite teachers.

This fall, we’re profiling our PCS facilitators: the wise, passionate and engaging teachers who hear what your child is really saying, who speak their language, and who arrive at PCS each day ready to meet your child right where they are.

What an exciting new feature of our weekly all-school morning gatherings — UP does the news!! UP students are hand-selecting and rewriting national news stories to present to their younger peers. Today, we heard about the 2019 Climate Summit, Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Imelda, Firespotting and the Fire Service, the perils of screen use, and the 80th anniversary of Batman!

The International Day of Peace, September 21st of each year, was established by the United Nations in 1981 as day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace.” At PCS it’s a day for students to compose and share their understandings and hopes of peace.

The early days of school are such a dance -- of connection and compromise, finding rhythms and making space, reaching out and looking in – and at PCS we are all about slowing down during these first weeks and embracing the transition into a new school year.

Loose parts are a vitally important and hugely popular resource at PCS: they are a choice time staple, a STEAM essential, and an indispensable material for project-based learning.