About PS 199 Jesse Isidor Straus

PS 199 is a kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Our school community respects and celebrates the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of our learners and their families. We believe that in order for children to be their best selves and excel academically, they need to feel safe and valued in their classroom. Our community strives to make all students feel this way. Our dedicated educators know that learning is a social and active process. Our students turn and talk, work in purposeful partnerships, and collaborate in group projects. Instruction is geared towards supporting students’ continued growth to meet their goals. We promote inclusive practices for students with learning differences and have at least one Integrated Collaborative Classroom on each grade level. We believe that students should have the opportunity to express their talents in many areas and we make a strategic effort to incorporate the arts and sciences into our curriculum. We have longstanding partner-ships with several organizations including New York Philharmonic, National Dance Institute, and Center for Architecture to achieve this vision. We are also fortunate to have a hydroponics Science Center and implement Amplify Science Curriculum in partnership with the organization New York Sun Works. All our learners also receive physical education, art, music, and participate in a creative expression class on a weekly basis. Each child's social and emotional development is a crucial aspect of our school life. We promote respect, community building, and teach awareness and understanding of feelings through our social emotional RULER curriculum. Our classes engage in daily emotional and wellness check ins to help create and maintain a positive learning environment. A very special practice is Community Reading whereby families choose a picture book meaningful to their families to read to their child’s class. We also have many beloved traditions that involve curriculum and community, including beginning and end of year picnics, holiday celebrations, fall and spring festivals, field trips, and student publishing parties. Throughout the year, parents are welcomed into their children's classrooms to celebrate student writing, view project-based artworks, or see dances and chorus performances. Our school motto, embraced by students, staff and families alike is: "Work Hard. Be Kind." These words drive the work of our community every day.​