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P.S. 253Q’s Students Are Making History




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Left to Right: Assistant Principal Candra Sutherland; Denise Leary -Teacher and Performance Coordinator; PTA Treasurer Dalisa Espinal; Assistant Principal Matthew Goodman; PTA President/Title 1 Chair Renee Moore, and Principal Robinson of P.S. 253.

Left to Right: Assistant Principal Candra Sutherland; Denise Leary -Teacher and Performance Coordinator; PTA Treasurer Dalisa Espinal; Assistant Principal Matthew Goodman; PTA President/Title 1 Chair Renee Moore, and Principal Robinson of P.S. 253.

Students at P.S. 253Q are retelling history, not only through words, but with dance.

In front of a packed auditorium filled with enthusiastic faculty members and proud parents, students used a variation of dance styles and instruments to celebrate Black and Women’s History at P.S. 253Q on Mar. 22.

“In essence, dance and the arts allows them to be challenged and find themselves on another scale and explore their possibilities,” said Principal Robinson. “And through that exploration, they experience fun and encouragement, which they bring back into the classroom.”

After hours of after school rehearsals and late practices, students from second to fifth grade learned to play drums, perform ballet and even stepping- a percussive dance which uses a mixture of footsteps and hand claps to form a rhythm and beat.

“Music and dance brings more enrichment to their education,” said Dalisa Espinal, PTA Treasurer. “After practicing reading and math all day, they have something fun to look forward to.”

Denise Leary, a teacher at P.S. 253Q, choreographed the dances which were performed by the students in between presentations on key figures and pioneers of Black and Women’s History. Important figures that were mentioned by the students included, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. Dubois, Henry Ossian Flipper, Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, and dozens more.

“Dance is a big part of the culture at this school,” said Renee Moore, PTA President/Title 1 Chair. “It teaches children that they can do something else out there instead of only playing video games and learn history at the same time.”

In an effort to keep students engaged, faculty members cultivate the arts outside of the classroom to create a balance with student academics.

“We can’t change the low-income of our community, but we can change the performance of our school by the experiences we create here,” said Principal Robinson. “The arts is one of the avenues that we can explore to help us on our journey.”




Students at P.S. 253 hold signs to promote equal education to celebrate Black and Women’s History.

Students at P.S. 253 hold signs to promote equal education to celebrate Black and Women’s History.

On stage at P.S. 253, dozens of students celebrate Black and Women’s History with a dance performance.

On stage at P.S. 253, dozens of students celebrate Black and Women’s History with a dance performance.

Hundreds of parents, relatives, and neighbors of students gathered in the auditorium of P.S. 253 on Mar. 22

Hundreds of parents, relatives, and neighbors of students gathered in the auditorium of P.S. 253 on Mar. 22

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