PS56Q PTA Resource Suggestions

Please email any ideas, updates or corrections.

Educational Resources:

• PS56Qs website
• Community School District 27 website
• NYC DoE Department of Education (there is no longer a Board of Education) 212-374-6000
• DoE Office of Zoning 212-374-5426
• NYC School Leadership Teams
• NYS Education Department

• NEW MATH CURRICULUM! The NYC Dept of Education has chosen a new math curriculum. It will be structured in 3 groups: grades K-5, grades 6-8, and high school. This new curriculim will begin in Fall 2003. It promises to be "A new, coherent system-wide approach for mathematics instruction" For details, have a look at the links found here.
• New report cards The report cards are in .pdf file format, hence requiring that you have Adobe's Acrobat Reader. If you do not, you can download it.
• What is your child expected to know each year?
• Testing
  • Citiwide testing schedule
  • Citiwide testing overview
• Office of Pupil Transportation 718-392-8855 5am-9pm
• Parent Hotline 718-482-3777 Monday-Friday 6am-9pm, Weekends: 9am-5pm, for questions about your child's education
• Dial-A-Teacher 212-777-3380, for homework help

• TIME For Kids TIME Magazine for children, contains news, games, children reporters, etc.
• Dr. Math -- Questions and answers, in searchable format, about many math topic.
• Kevin's Playroom -- Award winning site in the UK with various educational activities that are interactive; many subjects, test reviews, etc.
• "Worldbook Encyclopedia" Online. Follow instruction given in "Parent Letter #25".
• "America's Library" via cyber Library of Congress
• KidSpace -- an "Internet Public Library" from the University of Michigan
• NYC's "Best Bookstore for Kids" Broadway & 112th Street, 212-678-1654
• lightspan.com -- get password from Principal letters.
• National Geographic for Kids.
• "Awesome Library" for Kids with links to reference materials on many subject
• OneKey, a "kid safe" search engine
• Yahooligans, a web guide for kids
• The popular "Ask Jeeves" but with study tools for kids
• KidsClick, web searching for kids set up by librarians pointing young users to valuable and age appropriate web sites.
• Discovery School, useful and enjoyable resources for students, and advice for parents.
• Kids' Planet, resources for children
• Main Jamaica Branch of Queens Public Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd
• Richmond Hill Public Library, 118-14 Hillside Avenue, 718-849-7150.
• Lefferts Branch Public Library, 103-34 Lefferts Boulevard, 718-843-5950
• Kids programs for all Queens Libraries. Also for "young adults" and adults

• Independent site with info on public schools
• Web news on NYC, including news of NYC public schools
• WNYE -- radio, TV, and internet from BoE
• Carol School Supply, 179-28 Union Turnpike, Flushing, NY 11366, 718-380-4203
• L.L. Weans Teacher's Store
• Upromise college savings program
• The Scholastic Store, book store, events, etc., on 557 Broadway off Prince Street, Manhattan, 212-343-6166

• Lunch Menu
• PS51Qs website, where many PS51Q students went to for first grade, and may have siblings there.
• Tutors on Wheels, 718-847-1063 home tutoring services (we have no experience with this group, so this information is only to say we know it exists).

• PS56 is participating in the General Mills "Box Tops" Program. Our goal is $1000. It works by clipping off the box top coupons from General Mills and other products, and putting them in the containers outside the office at school. You child will know what to do if you put it in their schoolbag. We must do the box tops before March 31st so please start bringing in the box tops now. Products include cereals, Pillsbury doughs, Betty Crocker, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Hamburger Helper, etc. Please therefore check out this link as they detail all the products we can get the box tops from on their website.
• Campbell's Soups has a similar Labels For Education program that PS56 participates in. Products include Campbell's Soups, and select other products such as Franco-American SpaghettiO's, Prego Sauces, V8 Juices, Swanson, Pepperidge Farm, etc. Please refer to the link for the full list of participating brands in their program too.
• Note as well that some stores, for instance Pathmark, provide bonus point coupons on your receipts for these programs, so check them carefully, and have your children bring them in as well.
• Also, join Kmart's "School Spirit Program" which donates money to PS56 when the Kmart School Spirit Card is used. Get this card at a Kmart's Customer Service Counter and enroll PS56 on your card today!

• Poison control 1-800-222-1222 (this is a national number which is supposed to automatically forward somebody to their local poison control center). In the event that for some reason does not work, an alternative national poison number is 1-800-POISONS or 800-764-7667. As well, a direct number for NYC poison control is 1-212-POISONS or 212-764-7667).
• NYU Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine, addressing children health and learning difficulties.
• Info about SARS, recent worldwide outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
• Info about Listeriosis, recent outbreak in northeast US related to sliced turkey luncheon deli meat.
• Info about the Flu and the Flu vaccine
• Info about Asthma. Also, Starbright's Asthma CD-ROM Game
• Info about Lead in school drinking water.
• Info about Lice
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDC's Kid Page BAM, Body and Mind
• USDA, the US Department of Agriculture
• FDA, the US Food and Drug Adminstration
• FDA's Kid Page

• Cool New York, free winter events throughout New York City.
• 2002's Top 10 Gridlock Alert Days: (1) Friday, November 22nd, (2) Wednesday, November 27th, (3) Wednesday, December 4th: Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Day, (4) Friday, December 6th, (5) Wednesday, December 11th, (6) Thursday, December 12th, (7) Friday, December 13th, (8) Wednesday, December 18th, (9) Thursday, December 19th, (10) Friday, December 20th
• Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights, Nov 22-Jan 6 (but not Dec 24), 5pm-9pm, park and walk around, Fordham Road & Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, 718-367-1010
• "Holiday Lights Spectacular", Nov 22-Jan 1, Arrive at Dusk, West End, Jones Beach, drive past displays
• New York Botanical Garden Holiday Garden and Train Show, Nov 29-Jan 5, Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-817-8700
• Central Park Holiday Lights, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street, near 5th Ave, 212-860-1370
• Toys "R" Us, Holiday Parade, Times Square, Nov 9, 9am
• Various Christmas Tree Lightings throughout New York City
• World's Largest Menorah, Grand Army Plaza, 59th Street and Fifth Avenue, (718) 778-6000, Lit each night of Chanukkah
• Menorah on Indian Row, 6th St btwn 1st and 2nd Ave, (212) 683-9004
• Giant Snowflake at the corner of 57th and Fifth
• Flushing Meadow Park World's Fair Ice Skating, same building as Queens Museum, 718-592-6200
• Chelsea Piers Ice Skating, Manhattan, Pier 61, 18th Street, 212-336-6100
• Long Beach Ice Arena, Long Beach -- "past" Far Rockaway, near Lido Beach, 516-431-6500

• Macy's Annual Flower Show on March 20th through April 3rd at Herald Square 34th Street, Manhattan
• The Annual New York International Orchid Show at Rockefeller Center, off 5th Avenue and 49th Street, Manhattan, on April 12th through April 17th
• Celebrate Rose Month Kickoff on June 1st at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with concerts, storytelling, rose workshops, etc.
• Rose Week from June 7th at The NY Botanic Garden, with music, storytelling, workshops, family flower crafts.
• "Children's Day" at South Street Seaport, June 7th! From Noon to 4pm.
• Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing. 718-886-3800
• Downtown NYC River to River Festival

• NYC Visitor's Bureau ideas on NY City tourism and events, even for residents, 1-800-NYC-VISIT
• I Love NY ideas on NY tourism and events
• Things to do in Long Island
• Connecticut Bound ideas on CT tourism and events
• Visit New Jersey ideas on NJ tourism and events
• Colonial Williamsburg, historic site in Virginia

• Big 'A' Fair, June 20 through July 13, Aqueduct Racetrack, Rockaway Blvd. or North Conduit
• Street Fairs in Queens, and other boroughs.
• Events at Prospect Park Bandshell, dance, music, word and film during June, July and August
• Concerts at Brooklyn's Asser Levy Seaside Park
• Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus, Brooklyn and Queens locations, including July 25-27 at Forest Park
• Events at Central Park
• Remaining Events at Forest Park:

  * Doo wop with "The Emotions", Sunday, Aug 3 at 4pm
  * Sleeping Beauty Puppet show, 7pm, puppet making workshop at 5:45
  * Country Music with "The Dixie Chicklets", Thursday Aug 7 at 7:30pm
  * A Shakespeare Comedy, Sunday Aug 10 at 4pm
  * Jesse McCartney, singing teen sensation from DREAMSTREET, Monday Aug 11, 7pm
  * Swing with The Stardusters, Thurs, Aug 14, 7:30
  * Queens Symphony Orchestra, Sun Aug 17, 4pm
  * Rock-n-roll with Billy C & Friends, Mon Aug 18, 7pm
  * Grease, movie-under-the-stars, Thurs Aug 21 8pm
  * Queens Symphony Orchestra, Sun Aug 24, 4pm
  * New York Free Music, Space Light Band Jazz Concert, Sun Aug 31, 4pm
  

• Go Apple picking!, in Warwick, NY, lots of apple varieties. Go from Labor Day till November
• Forest Park Street Fair, at Myrtle and Park Lane South, usually Saturday in mid-September, see RHBA for info
• Austin Street Fair, on Austin Street, Forest Hills, centered on 72nd Ave from Ascan to Yellowstone, 718-268-6565, usually on a Sunday in mid-October
• Queens County Fair, held at Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park 718-347-FARM, usually Saturday and Sunday toward end of September
• New York Renaissance Faire, usually August through the end of September, at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo, NY, 845-351-5171

• broadway.com, see a show in Manhattan!
• FROG and TOAD on Broadway, The Cort Theatre, 138 West48th Street, between Broadway and 6th Ave, use telecharge.com for tickets.
• FROG and TOAD theatrical workshops for children
• TheatreWorks/USA's NYC Weekend Series held at Equitable Tower at 787 Seventh Avenue, between 51st & 52nd Streets, Manhattan. 212-647-1100
• The Little Orchestra Society Lolli-POPS Concerts, The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 68th St between Park & Lexington, Manhattan, 212-971-9500
• New York Philharmonic For Kids, Lincoln Center, Broadway & West 65th, 212-874-9021
• Jazz for Young People, at Lincoln Center, with Wynton Marsalis, 212-721-6500
• Metropolitan Opera, at Lincoln Center, 212-362-6000
• American Ballet Theatre, City Center, West 55th St at 6th & 7th Ave, Manhattan, 212-581-1212
• Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street, off 7th Avenue, Manhattan, 212-247-7800, Click on "Education", then click on "Bring the Kids", then click on "Family Concerts"
• Joyce Dance Theatre, 175 Eighth Avenue, Manhattan, 212-242-0800
• The Lion King, 214 West 42nd St., Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Manhattan
• Beauty and the Beast, 205 West 46th Street, New Amsterdam Theatre, Manhattan
• Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, 1260 6th Avenue & 47th St, Manhattan, 212-307-7171
• Westbury Music Fair Theatre Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, 631-888-9000 or 212-307-7171
• Tilles Center For the Performing Arts CW Post, Greenvale, LI, 516-299-3100
• "Disney On Ice" Nassau Coliseum, L.I. and also Meadlowands, NJ, 212-307-7171 or via Ticketmaster
• Colden Center Family Theatre and Kids Classics, Queens College, 718-793-8080
• Big Apple Circus at Cunningham Park and also at CW Post during May and June

• Staten Island Children's Museum, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Snug Harbor, Staten Island, 718-273-2060
• Brooklyn Children's Museum 145 Brooklyn Avenue at St. Marks Ave, Crown Heights, (718) 735-4400
• Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, Manhattan, 212-721-1234
• Long Island Children's Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, 516-224-5800
• New Jersey Children's Museum, 599 Valley Health Plaza, Paramus, NJ, 201-262-5151

• NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation (Forest Park info, etc.)
• New York Aquarium, Surf Avenue & 8th St, Coney Island, Brooklyn, 718-265-FISH
• Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th Street, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Corona, 718-271-1500
• Bronx Zoo, Fordham Road & Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, 718-367-1010
• Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, 718-399-7339
• Central Park Zoo and Central Park Children's Zoo, 830 5th Avenue (off 64th Street), Manhattan, 212-861-6030
• L.I. Reptile Museum, Hicksville, NY, 631-REPTILE
• Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, located in GateWay National Park, Cross Bay Boulevard, Broad Channel Gateway National Recreation Area, 718-318-4340
• Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, 718-229-4000
• "Are We There Yet?", this site lists many day trips and places of interest in our area

• Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park 718-347-FARM
• Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing. 718-886-3800
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-623-7200
• New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-817-8700
• D&D Stables, horseback riding in Forest Park, ages 8 and up, 88-11 70th Road, Forest Hills (between Metropolitan Ave and Union Turnpike), 718-263-3500
• Flushing Meadows Mini Golf Center, located between Shea Stadium and Tennis Center, 718-271-8182, park near (but not at!) Home Depot off College Point Blvd near Van Wyck
• GoCityKids, activities in Queens
• Louise Benes Dance Studio, 115th Street, off Jamaica Avenue, 718-849-3099

• South Street Seaport, dining, shopping, nautical museum and entertainment, at Fulton Street and Water Street in Manhattan
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 56th Street between Madison & Fifth Avenues, 212-833-8100
• F.A.O. Schwarz Toy Store, 767 5th Ave & 58th St, Manhattan, 212-644-9400
• Toys "R" Us -- Times Square, Broadway & 44th St, Manhattan, 800-869-7787
• Mars 2112 Restaurant, 1633 Broadway, Manhattan, 212-582-2112
• Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant, 91 7th Ave, Manhattan, 212-989-7701, haunted house theme

• New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street, SoHo Manahattan, 212-691-1303
• New York City Police Museum, 100 Old Slip, Manhattan, 212-480-3100
• New York Transit Museum, subway station at Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, 718-694-5100 CURRENTLY CLOSED, RE-OPENING IN 2003, while it is closed, some exhibits will be at Gallery Annex off the main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan
• Statue of Liberty, 212-363-3200
• Ellis Island Immigration Museum, 212-363-3200, also Ellis Island online
• Federal Hall Many historic activities occured here, 26 Wall Street, Manhattan, 212-825-6888

• National Museum of the American Indian, NYs George Gustav Heye Center, at Alexander Hamilton US Customs House, One Bowling Green, Manhattan, , 212-514-3700
• New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street, 718-699-0005, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• TryScience interactive science and technology website, 47-01 111th Street, 718-699-0005, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
• ConEd interactive website on electricity, energy, etc.
• Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ, 201-200-1000
• Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadow Park, 718-592-9700
• Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Parkway, 718-638-5000
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Avenue, Manhattan, 212-879-5500
• Museum Of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, 212-769-5920
• Museum Of Modern Art QUEENS, 33 Street at Queens Blvd., Long Island City, Queens, 212-708-9400
• Rose Center for Earth and Space, aka "The Planetarium", 81st Street & Central Park West, Manhattan, 212-769-5920
• Museum of Natural History, Central Park West & 79th St, Manhattan, 212-769-5920
• American Folk Art Museum, 45 West 53rd St, Manhattan, 212-265-1040
• Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave at 89th Street, 212-423-3500
• Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave at 75th Street, Manhattan, 212-570-3676
• American Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Avenue at 36 Street, Astoria Queens, 718-784-0077
• Links to museums throughout the USA
• America's "Great Museums"

• Richmond Hill Community Guide
• 102nd Police Precinct, 116th Street, 718-805-3200
• Richmond Hill Block Association, 110-08 Jamaica Ave, 718-849-3759
• Richmond Hill Historical Society, 86-20 115th Street, 718-847-6070
• Richmond Hill Public Library, 118-14 Hillside Avenue, 718-849-7150.
• Richmond Hill weather report
• Woodhaven Cultural and Historic Society, 93-34 91st Ave., Woodhaven, 718-846-1907
• Queens Historical Society, 143-35 37th Ave, Flushing, 718-939-0647

• NYC Visitors Bureau
• NY State I Love NY tourism and event ideas
• Manhattan "street locator"
• Interactive NYC Subway Map
• MTA NYC Subway Map, also info on LIRR, Metro-North, buses
• NYC Traffic, link to 880am reports

• PBS website for children
• WNET Channel 13 website for children
• Scholastic Kids
• Parenting Website from Big Apple Parent, Queens Parent and Westchester Parent magazines
• moviefone.com

• Governor Pataki 212-681-4580
• Senator Charles Schumer (D) 212-486-4430 http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html
• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) 212-688-6262 http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html
• Mayor Bloomberg 212-788-7585
• Councilman Thomas Ognibene 718-366-3900
• Senator Maltese 718-497-1800
• Assemblywoman Vivian Cook 718-322-3975
• Congressman Gregory Weldon Meeks (D-06) 718-337-9791 congmeeks@mail.house.gov