Principal's Corner

Principal’s Message   "I'll be there for you"

Dearest P.S. 56 School Family,

   It truly is THE most wonderful time of the year!  Our students are filling our hallways, classrooms, and hearts with so much joy and joyful learning!  The best part of my day continues to be visiting all our classrooms each day and engaging in conversation with our awesome students.  #IAmBlessed!

     December is always a special time as visions of the holidays and winter recess dance in all our heads.  Our curriculum builds on this excitement as our children connect their learning to the world at large.  We remain dedicated to our mission to educate the whole child ensuring the development of every child’s self-esteem and social responsibility, while instilling a lifelong love of reading and learning.  

     Wonder-filled learning continues here at P.S. 56 in every moment of every school day.  Joy and good cheer are in abundance. Our students are always so excited and proud to share their learning and work with me as they grow in leaps and bounds as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, geographers, athletes, artists, musicians, critical thinkers, and friends.  Our days together fly in and fly out and I cannot believe that we will soon be welcoming a new year.  I remain so honored and grateful to be on this academic journey with all of you, and I am looking forward to making so many more cherished memories as a school family in the months ahead!       

     From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all THE most blessed (& hopefully RELAXING!) holidays and winter recess! May Hanukkah be the happiest, Christmas the merriest, Kwanzaa the most bountiful, and our New Year the happiest and healthiest as we gather with family & friends. All these winter celebrations always include lots of lights.  May the warmth & glow of every light fill our homes & hearts with hope, peace & love.  And may you always receive from others all the kindness and love you so generously give!  Looking so forward to a happy & healthy New Year 2026!  We love you all so much & you are appreciated always!  #BestSchoolFamilyEver!

Fondly,

Maureen O’Neill

Principal  

 

Contact Information

Principal 914-570-4527

Main Office 718-920-1100

Parent Coordinator 347-685-5983

School Nurse: 718-920-1100 x1011

School Based Support Team: 718-920-1100 x5104

Guidance Office: 718-920-1100 x5022

DOE  Help Desk: 718-935-5100

Technology Support Email: Akazi2@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Coordinator: Sherica Martinez

Email: smartinez103@schools.nyc.gov

Parent Association Executive Board:

Email: 10x056PA@schools.nyc.gov 

President: TBD

Recording Secretary: Estefany Rodriguez

Treasurer: TBD

Title 1 Representative: TBD

Title 1 Alternate: TBD

 

 

Parent Flyers & Updates

Quick Links

Mission Statement

“Our mission is to educate the whole child, develop his/her self-esteem, social responsibility; sense of community; values, mental and physical health, citizenship, and instill a life-long love of reading and learning. We will accomplish our mission through cooperative planning, both short and long-term, parent and community involvement, and respect for all members of the PS 56 community. It is our goal to make our school an exciting place to learn and work.” 

Our Motto

 "Always striving to be better than our last best." 

P.S. 56 Highlights

Hearts & Flowers Assembly 2025: Being Kind! 

 Students presenting on stage.  A group of students presenting on stage.    School principal playing a guitar and singing to students.             Some third graders presenting on stage with their teacher.

 

                              

    

               

Upcoming Events

  • Beginning of the Week

    Attendance Raffle

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Festive Day

    Winter Wonderland

    Everyone is invited to SPARKLE and wear blue & white attire. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Student Council Meeting

    2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. 

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Beginning of the Week

    Attendance Raffle

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights

  • Merry Monday

    Toasty "Mistle" toes

    Everyone is invited to war holiday or winter socks!

    P.S. 56 Norwood Heights
View Monthly Calendar

School Breakfast & Lunch Menus

P.S. 56 Being Kind Music Video 2025

PIX 11 News at P.S. 56

Take a Virtual Tour!

  • PS 56 entrance way from 207th street nearing the gate.

    Main entrance gate on 207th street. 

  • PS 56 side view of the building from 207th street.

    PS 56 Corner view from Hull Ave. 

  • PS 56 entrance way from 207th street past the gate.

    PS 56 Main Entrance Yard. 

  • Security lobby displaying a large U.S. flag on the wall above.

    Main Entrance Security Lobby. 

  • School security desk on the main lobby.

    Please have your ID ready to show Security.

  • Security lobby staircase leading towards the first floor.

    Lobby staircase leading up to the 1st floor. 

  • Second half of the main floor staircase leading into the first floor.

    Staircase leading up to the 1st floor and the Main Office. 

  • PS 56 first floor walk up towards the main office.

    PS 56 first floor walk up towards the main office.

  • PS 56 view of security lobby from above.

    PS 56 view of security lobby from above.

  • Poster with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. by the main office floor elevators.

    A quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by the 1st floor elevators. 

  • Main office entrance and hallway.

    Main Office entrance and hallway. 

  • Main office reception area with a bulletin board that displays the school calendar.

    Welcome to the Main Office! 

  • Main office reception desk close up.

    Main Office reception desk. 

  • Principal, Maureen O'Neill's office entrance way.

    Welcome to Principal, Maureen O'Neill's office!

  • Lobby leading towards the library.

    Lobby leading towards the school library. 

  • PS 56 library entrance floor.

    Library and cafeteria entrance stairway from lobby. 

  • Library floor hallway in the lower lobby.

    Lower level hall by the library. 

  • Inside the library.

    Inside our library. 

  • School cafeteria entrance view from distance.

    School cafeteria hall. 

  • School cafeteria entrance doors.

    Cafeteria entrance.

  • School cafeteria food station.

    Cafeteria food station. 

  • School cafeteria seating area.

    Inside from cafeteria. 

  • Multi purpose room entrance way.

    Multipurpose room entrance. 

  • Multi purpose room right view.

    Multipurpose room. 

  • Multi purpose room skylight ceiling view.

    Multipurpose room skylight ceilings!

  • Music room.

    The music room. 

  • Upper floor hallway view by the elevators.

    Upper floor hallway near the elevators. 

  • 2nd floor hallway seating area for students.

    2nd floor reading nook. 

  • Inside gym stage view.

    2nd floor gym facing the stage. 

  • Inside gym looking away from stage view.

    2nd floor gym looking back from stage. 

  • 3rd floor stairway exit facing large windows.

    3rd floor view towards the central stairs. 

  • Staircase descending down.

    Staircase coming down from the 3rd floor. 

  • PS 56 art room facing large windows with students work.

    Art room window view. 

  • Art room student seating area.

    Art room class view. 

  • Upper floor hallway door connecting original side from new the new side.

    Hallway bridge connecting new and original part of the building. 

  • Upper floor original side hallway view from front end to the back end.

    3rd floor hallway facing East. 

  • Upper floor original hallway view from back end to front end.

    3rd floor hallway facing West. 

  • PS 56 original main entrance on 207th street.

    Original main entrance on 207th street. 

  • Original side main entrance inside doors before the staircase.

    Original main entrance past the red doors. 

  • Original main entrance staircase.

    Original main stairs leading up to the 1st floor. 

  • Original side main exit staircase.

    Original main building exit stairs. 

  • PS 56 view from sidewalk from one end to the other end looking West.

    PS 56 sidewalk view from Hull Ave. 

  • PS 56 school yard on South end.

    School yard by Decatur Ave. 

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2024

BEING KIND MUSIC VIDEO 2023

P.S. 56 KINDNESS VIDEO 2022

P.S. 56 Graduation 2021

P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

  • P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt

    P.S. 56 Kindness Quilt 2021

We Miss You Slideshow 2020!