P.S. 56 Queens                                          Teacher: Mrs. Neme Alperstein
                       Class 5-302 Astre                                     Notices for 2008

                     Last updated April 16, 2008    Return to Home page

We wish to express our appreciation of the men and women in the armed forces who continue to serve our country.
Congratulations STS 122 on a successful launch. Astre 5 has begun its lunar design challenge with seeds from Barbara Morgan's mission in space.


Teacher/Astronaut Barbara Morgan (left)
with Astre 5 Teacher Neme Alperstein

Red folders - All students have red folders in which to place school notices. Notices will be placed on the left side of the folder. If anything has to be sent back with a signature or additional note, please place that on the right side of the folder. This will help your child stay organized with notices that you need to stay informed.

School is closed in observance of Thanksgiving. We return on Monday, November 26th.

Thinkquest (Oracle) and digital storytelling have been completed and are in judging.

See: http://www.thinkquest.org

NASA Moon Math and Moon Habitat projects are in development -- Thank you Dr. Marci Delaney of Goddard Space and Flight Center who gave us an awesome math lesson. (Watch for photos.)

Stock Market Game Online - The program is underway. Students have portfolios and some teams that have opted for a mutual funds portfolio.
In the interest of protecting your investments, do NOT share your password with anyone outside your team.

Thursday: Joyce Theater trip!

Recent events:
Thank you to Dr. Kimberly Gilmore and The History Channel for sharing Veterans Day with us and for Bring a Veteran to school Day. Read the Nov. 20th article in The New York Daily News.

Our class photo in the NY Daily News can also be viewed.
NYS Sen. Serphin Maltese and Iraq veteran Pete Hegsith visited the class and shared their experiences serving our country.
Ronald showed the tags that were given as gifts to all fifth grade students.
We even visited with our friends in California via Skype, live.

2007-2008 Schedule (subject to change)

Special Projects for the 2007-2008 School Year:
1. The Joyce Theater Dance in Education (Project Arts and NYS Council on the Arts funding)
2 . NASA Distance Learning Program through videoconferencing.
3 . Thinkquest Oracle: Visit http://www.thinkquest.org
4. NASA Projects: Videoconferencing with NASA's Digital Learning Network
5. The Stock Market Game Online
6 . Class web site development
7 . Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking contest
8. Collaboration with our friends in Blackpool, UK. , and California.

Videoconferences 2007-2008:

We have some Sudoku author Paul Stephens who will meet us regularly from England to give tips on becoming experts. (He has a special gift for the class -- stay tuned!).
NASA - October 31 is our first NASA videoconference.
Blackpool, UK
California - We have already conferenced with our pals in Bellflower, CA (outside of LA) and will be working with them on our lunar growth modules.

Department of Education web site: http://schools.nyc.gov/default.aspx
The school year calendar for tests, parent teacher conferences, and more can be found at:
http://schools.nyc.gov/Calendar/default.htm

TESTING DATES for the 2007-2008 are on the NYS Dept. of Education site:


NYS Social Studies Tests - NYS Dept. of Education Web site for social studies preparation materials:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/elintsocst.html
NYS Social Studies Assessment Archives (2001, 2002, 2003): http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/arcelsocst.html
NYS Social Studies Assessment Archives 2004: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/elintsocst.html


Upcoming Trips for 2007-2008:



A salute to last year's Astre 5, Class of 2007:

Thinkquest NYC teams - Congratulations on your excellent sites!

http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074271 Living in Two Worlds - semi-finalist
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074272 Bioluminescent Creatures of the Deep - semi-finalist
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074273 The Okapi - semi-finalist
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074274 Kids of Liberty - semi-finalist
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074275 Kids Survival Guide to Algebra- semi-finalist
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074277 The Passion of Chocolate
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC074278 The Magical Monarchs of Vietnam -Winner of an "Outstanding Web Site Award"

Student author Denise Rivera has just published her book, The First Moon Mission, online. Her book comes with an audio CD as a "read along" for emergent readers.

A special thank you to Cable in the Classroom for naming Mrs. Neme Alperstein a 2007 finalist for Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards. She is a finalist in the "Pushing the Envelope" category. Time Warner Cable has provided the classroom with cable television programming over the years and that has been a tremendous asset to the classroom learning environment.

Astre 5 was featured on the PBS program "Nightly Business Report" with Paul Kangas. Reporter Erika Miller visited our class to learn more about our involvement in financial literacy.

To see the show online that aired on November 20, 2006 visit: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/research/learnmore/061120_kidscashMONEYBASICS/index.html

Click on "NASA TV" and choose "Watch NASA TV Live" to see missions live as broadcast by NASA in Houston.
Also available: NASA TV Schedule

C-Span in the Classroom highlights specific topics weekly. This week, the U.S. Constitution. Video clips are available on the following links:

The U.S. Constitution topic pages:
http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/VideoDetail.aspx?video_id=227
http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/VideoDetail.aspx?video_id=228

And from the C-SPAN Classroom home page:
http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/

2006 Year End Wrap Up:

Thinkquest NYC 2006 - Extreme Cuisine - First Place for the NYC competition!!
Center for Digital Education awards Extreme Cuisine First Prize nationally for 2006. Congratulations to Alanna, Seema and Rayna who won laptop computers.

Congratulations to Thinkquest NYC "Outstanding Web Site Award" winners:

Teacher Neme Alperstein attended the International Space Station Educators Conferences in February 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 20007 at Johnson Space Center, Houston.  

Dave Leestma and Neme Alperstein - JSC

Top row (from left to right) Astronaut David Leestma with teacher Neme. Alperstein accepting Astre 5's letters at Johnson Space Center (JSC) 2003; California educator Pam Leestma, Rhonda Foale (wife of astronaut Mike Foale of Expedition 8 on the ISS) and teacher Neme Alperstein at JSC 2004.


Bottom row (left to right): Astronaut Steve Robinson ( STS 114) with teacher Neme Alperstein, JSC 2005;
Astronaut and educator Barbara Morgan with Neme Alperstein, JSC 2005;
California teacher Pam Leestma,
Astronaut Chris Hadfield and teacher Neme Alperstein at JSC 2005.

Thinkquest NYC Winners of 2005 - Astre 5
Congratulations to our Thinkquest NYC winners! Please visit these sites as excellent examples of entries.

http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051575 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - First Place - Division 2
Team members: Briana and Lelia Byron
http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051568/commercial_flight_index.htm - Future of Space Flight - Collaboration Award
Team members: Anthony Kustas (5T2), Jared Khan, Kenny Sullivan, Bianca Diaz, Christina Torossian
(of P.S. 144Q)
http://tqnyc.org/NYC051567/ The Short Eared Owl - Second Place - Division 1
Team members: Gabriel Agoado, Joseph Feldman, Wendy Liu
http://tqnyc.org/NYC051576/ DNA: The Bottom Line - Outstanding Web Site Award
Team members: Dean Taseen, Joseph Sookrah, Rajeevan Anthonypillai

http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC051407 TUT: The Ultimate [String] Theory - Semi-finalist
Team Members: Stephanie Diu, Angela Acevedo
http://tqnyc.org/NYC051577/ - Purpura, Those Little Red Dots- Semi-finalist
Team members: Melissa Persaud, Aminah Ali
http://tqnyc.org/NYC051578/index Mission: Combatting Tuberculosis- Semi-finalist
Team members: Gurkamal Kaur, Sugam Manocha, Henna Choudhary, Ravtej Kohli

We had a successful videoconference with: NASA Digital Learning Network and the Global Friendship Through Space Education/Partner School Science Program! Look for the article on our videoconference in the Queens Tribune!

Congratulations to the Thinkquest Oracle entry, The World of Nanotechnology, for presenting at the National Educational Computer Conference of 2005 in Philadelphia in June 2005. Team leaders Derek Chen and Mark Shneerson impressed educators from around the country with their expertise and demonstration of their site.


left to right - Derek, Mark and Dr. Dave Richards of Oracle planning presentation; Mark presenting to educators; Mark, Dr. Richards and Derek near the Convention Center.


For the 2003-2004 school year:
Congratulations to Astre 5 and P.S. 56, winners of the NYS Learning Technology Grant 2004! Our partners are The Ascension School in Elmhurst, Queens.

Thinkquest NYC - Congratulations to our "Life In The Ice Age" team - 3rd Place winners and our "Swimming in Action" team for their "Outstanding Web Site Award". Visis http://www.tqnyc.org to see photos of the awards ceremonies and visit their web sites.

Congratulations to our Nanotechnology web site team for being Thinkquest NYC finalists.

Thinkquest Oracle - "The World of Nanotechnology" - This site will be included in Oracle's library of sites that entered the competition.

The Joyce Theater in Dance Education - Students will have attended 4 performances for Study at The Joyce Theater and worked with Teaching Artist Susan Thomasson at P.S. 56, integrating the study of modern dance and balanced literacy. The Joyce Theater is the recipient of a NYS Council on the Arts Grant 2003-2005 which will allow us to expand on our collaboration for Performances for Study.

The Museum of Modern Art's Visual Thinking Curriculum - Astre 5 has studied modern art through this program including museum visits. Free family passes have been made available to Astre 5 families.

New York Life Foundation New Visions for Public Schools Power Tech extension grant 2003-2004 - We are proud to have been the recipients of an extension grant enhancing technology use with curriculum in the classroom. We thank the New Visions for its support these past three years.

Kenny Sullivan - second place national winner of the InvestWrite competition (as part of the Stock Market Game). Kenny was featured on CNBC and appears on the InvestWrite site's, "In the Spotlight". (http://investwrite.org/spotlight_2.html)

Looking back at Astre 5, Class of 2003: Congratulations on your many achievements!
 Thinkquest NYC First Place winners Heman Howard,  Sandeep Singh  and Manjinder Kandola (New Rockets for NASA)!
 Thinkquest NYC Second Place Winners (tied!): Eric Chen, Andrew Polyak, Davindra Lall (Aviation During the Vietnam War site) and Emilija Landsbergis, Kimberly David, Kritika Chand, Mariel Mejia, Ashley Newman and Jessica Lebron (Poetry For All Ages)
Thinkquest NYC Outstanding Web Site Award: Brandon Sanichar and Rickie Harripersaud.


 2003 Thinquest NYC Teams are listed below.

Recipes from Home: A Culinary Visit to Guyana 

Poetry for All Ages 

Aviation During the Vietnam War

Turning Pro: Making it in the NBA

New Rockets for NASA

Thank you to the Bertelsmann Foundation for awarding Mrs. Alperstein "Third Prize" as Innovative Teacher of the Year 2003.   NYC Department of Education's Chancellor Joel Klein attended to celebrate and present awards.  

 
Catch the series on PBS (WNET-Thirteen): "Freedom, The History of Us"  
    Visit their terrific accompanying web site for students at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/  
               
Grants awarded to PS 56 Q:

     P.S. 56 Queens is proud to be the recipient of the following two grants in partnership with the Joyce Theater.  Our grants  will allow students to explore modern dance through performances for study both at dance company performances and in school with dance artists throughout the spring 2003 semester.  Our awards have been following organizations:

  • New Visions for Public Schools Power Tech Extension Grant 2004
  • Parents as Arts Partners grant for 2003 from the New York City Center for Arts Education.  
  • NYSCA : New York State Council on the Arts 2003- 2005 in conjunction with the Joyce Theater Dance in Education Dept.  
  • Thank you, New York City Center for Arts Education and New York State Council on the Arts for this honor!
        Our international news:  Global Friendship Summit in Space Camp Turkey July 4- 10th.
        Astre 5 will be corresponding with a class in Turkey in conjunction with a NASA project to promote global friendship!  Our new keypals will work with us on space education activities!  

     Reminder: Dismissal is at 2:40 pm.   School hours are 8:05 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.

          2002-2003 Programs for Astre 5:
        New Visions for Public Schools Grant - Year Two  
        We will continue our partnerships with:
            The Museum of Modern Art at MoMA - QNS (the newly opened Long Island City site),
            NTTI (National Teacher Training Institute - WNET - Thirteen of PBS)
            The Joyce Theater (modern dance in education)
            Teaching Matters, Inc.    

Looking back on our past successes:
Astre 5, Class of 2002:

  

   Parents of Astre 5 students willing to make their email addresses available to me can send a message to:
        alperstein@hotmail.com              or         nalpers@nycboe.net
 Make sure to include the first and last name of your child and your relationship (parent, aunt, grandparent, guardian, etc.)
  No attachments please without prior arrangements.   This is to avoid possible viruses that might be unknowingly sent. Once I know to expect an attachment, it should only be sent to the   <alperstein@hotmail.com>   account.
            I delete attachments sent to the    <alperstein@att.net>    account without viewing them.

Document Based Questions Resource site:  Yale University Law School has a site where you can view original documents (primary sources).  It's an excellent resource and worth a look.
       http://elsinore.cis.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm

          
       2001-2002 Awards and recognitions for Astre 5:
        Notable Achievement Award for Thinkquest U.S.A. for the class web site entitled
        Coming to America in Search of the American Dream: Immigrant Voices
        NASA Student Involvement Program - First Place Middle School Winners representing the Goddard Space and Flight Center - Congratulations to Roger Guzman, Leon Li, and Nikolas Eder

        2000-2001 Awards and Recognitions:

  • P.S. 56 and Neme Alperstein have been awarded the New Visions for Public Schools Grant by the New York Life Foundation for 2001 - 2003.   The grant is part of the The New York Life Tech Power Program which will be focus on technology and a Primary Sources Project.
  • Thinkquest Junior Silver Award to Alyssa Genna of P.S. 56 Queens and Moriah Kreippen (of Holy Child School) for "Raptors in the City: The Peregrine Falcon, A Conservation Success Story (Science & Mathematics Category)
  • Thinkquest Finalists (Arts & Literature Category) - Lauren Gonzalez, Susan Chen, Michelle Herrera for "Touring With the Stars In A Royal Production"
  • NASA Awards presentations to Daniel Escobar and Anthony Bhola for First Prize from the Goddard Space Flight Center (entry: Mission to Mars).
             

2000-2001 Congratulations to:

  • Alyssa Genna for her Thinkquest Junior 2001 Silver Award for her web site on the peregrine falcon.
  • Lauren Gonzalez, Susan Chen and Michelle Herrera for their Thinkquest Junior 2001 finalist web site on Touring With the Stars in a Royal Production.
  • Kristin Wise, Andrea Napoli, and Carissa Hernandez - Winners in the District 27 Queens Computer Contest.
  • Daniel Escobar and Anthony Bhola - first place winners in NASA's Student Involvement Program 2001 for their Mission to Mars entry.   Goddard Space Flight Center has chosen Daniel and Anthony as the winners for the Middle School category.  Medal presentations on May 16th at 9:00 am.