Pajama Day at HSA

The pajama parade in front of Harlem Success Academy 3 began at around 7:25am on February, 17, 2011.  Throngs of pajama clad elementary school scholars began rounding the corner on Lexington Avenue, hopping out of cars and taxi cabs on 111th Street, making their way in nightgowns, pajama pants and nightshirts from the nearby 110th Street subway station and local bus stops on Lexington and Second Avenues.  It was officially PAJAMA DAY at HSA3!  The scholars were greeted at the entrance by pajama clad teachers and school administrators aptly outfitted in their PJs and prepared to join in the fun.  

Scholars and teachers alike bound up the 5 flights to the gymnasium where there was an all school Community Circle, led by Ms. Johnson, of Whitman College, who was appropriately dressed in elephant pajama pants!       

Community Circle began with interesting facts about all the colleges represented at HSA3.  This information was researched and presented by third grade scholars.  There was a celebration of scholars born in February, and a dance contest.  An amazing time was enjoyed by all!  After Community Circle, scholars returned their classes to continue the pajama party then settle down to the business of being Beyond Z scholars.

Kudos and a resounding Hamburger Patty Cheer to whomever thought up the Pajama Day celebration!

HSA3 Staff Holiday Luncheon is a Success

On Wednesday, December 22nd, as the semester wound down and the anxiety of the approaching holiday was at its highest, the staff at Harlem Success Academy 3 was treated to a relaxing, fun and food filled afternoon hosted by the HSA3 Parent Council.  

There were food selections ranging from succulent roasted pork, rice and beans and mandarin salad to mouth-watering curried chicken, rice and peas and tacos.  There was an assortment of cakes, cookies, cupcakes and pies.

The PCEC strived to create a relaxing environment where teachers were able to let their hair down and mingle with each other and members of the PCEC.  Teachers were invited to take seconds and many were encouraged to take food and deserts home with them for the holiday.

Special thanks to the HSA3 PCEC, for planning and organizing, the parent body, for providing all food, drinks and deserts, and Lourdes DeLaCruz, for her expert setup and food presentation.  HSA3 Rules!!  

 

   

HSA Math Bee Winners - Interview with Shelley Goldberg of NY1 News Aires

Harlem Success Academy 2nd Annual Math Bee winners, Evelyn Knapp (HSA1), Sean Pena (HSA3) and Brandon Bautista (HSA4), were invited to NY1 News studios to interview with Shelly Goldberg, NY1 Parenting Correspondent, regarding their personal views on their favorite teachers and their personal secrets to their successes.  The full interview is posted on the NY1 News website and may be accessed using the following link:  http://www.ny1.com//Default.aspx?ArID=131074.

HSA3 Parent Council Newsletter - December 2010

Math?? No problem!!

HSA3 2010 MATH BEE PARTICIPANTS

Sean Pena

Nervous parents adjusted ties and ponytails in the lobby outside the auditorium at HSA2.  Cameramen from NY1 news adjusted their lenses and the audience buzzed as the third grade scholars from the Harlem Success Academies 1, 2, 3 and 4 gathered on Tuesday, December 7th for their second annual Math Bee.  In early November each third grade homeroom class held their own math bee and three scholars from each homeroom were selected to represent their class and school in the network math bee and all contestants received a medal for their participation.  

At promptly 5:00pm the opening remarks were made and the bee was officially underway!  Slowly, third grade contestants made their way to the front of the stage for a practice round where they were given simple questions to acclimate them with the format of the bee.  After the practice round, the bee kicked into high gear with scholars being asked to answer questions related to addition and subtraction with and without regroup, multiplication and division.  Scholars were given 5 seconds to answer each question.  Our scholars fought hard and the competition was fierce!  Finally, the field was narrowed and a victor emerged!

Evelyn Knapp (HSA1) emerged victorious!  Sean Pena (HSA3) and Brandon Bautista (HSA4) shared second place!  Kiss you brains scholars!  Job well done!  The winners are pictured below with Eva Moskowitz, founder of Success Charter Network.   

After the competition, the winners were invited to the NY1 studios and were interviewed by Shelley Goldberg.  The segment will aire on December 16th throughout the day.  Be sure to tune in!

HSA 2010 Math Bee winners with Eva Moskowitz

HSA Math Bee winners with Shelley Goldberg of NY1

BRANDON BAUTISTA

SEAN PENA

EVELYN KNAPP

  

Teach Me How To Study

This morning the second and third graders at HSA3 had their first Community Circle (assembly) of the 2010-2011 school year. Ms. Kirchner stood in for Mrs. Rodriguez as the official Master of Ceremony, as Mrs. Rodriguez's ascent to the fifth floor is becoming increasingly slower as her gait becomes more unsteady!

Community Circle at HSA3 is a school-community building event where all scholars and teachers gather to celebrate their individual and group accomplishments. This event usually begins with roll-call, where scholars answer the call with resounding class cheers and chants! Awards are given for going "Beyond Z" in terms of adhering to the school's ACTION values. Birthdays are also acknowledged with a cheerful rendition of the HSA3 original birthday jingle, "It's Somebody's Birthday!" and a certificate. This morning the second and third grade scholars unveiled the new school song, "Teach Me How to Study" (set to the tune of "Teach Me How to Dougie" by the California Swag District).

I left the Community Circle celebration enveloped in camaraderie and school spirit, as I usually do. It's always a pleasure to see children with a renewed enthusiasm marching off to "Go Beyond Z" and accomplish great thing!

HSA 3 Field Day

The date was Thursday, June 10th, and HSA3 Field Day was underway! The weather was perfect and the scholars and staff were psyched! Classes trooped over to Thomas Jefferson Park on first avenue to enjoy a healthy dose of competition and fellowship.

HSA3 Scholars participated in egg races, a spirited game of tug-of-war (in which I was hurled to the ground by the mighty scholars of Berkeley), limbo, face painting, sack races and relays. Great fun was had by all!

Parent Council Elections

The cap on charter schools has been lifted. HSA has fought hard and won space for ALL of our new schools and is prepared to welcome our new scholars. Year-end testing is underway and scholars are preparing for HSA Field Day! The school year is almost over, but one there is one more important piece of business to attend to: HSA3 Parent Council Executive Committee Elections!

There are four positions available on the Parent Council Executive Committee: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Officer. I've decided to throw my hat in the race this time and am running for the position of Officer. Wish me luck!

When to vote: Tuesday, June 8 through Friday, June 11 between 7:20am and 5:00pm.

How to vote: If you are a parent of an HSA3 scholar, you can vote in the lobby during arrival and dismissal, or come by the main office during the school day and fill out a ballot.

Teacher's Appreciation Week at HSA3

We parents at the Harlem Success Academy love, love, love our teachers! Last week was Teacher's Appreciation Week. It began on Monday, May 3rd, with breakfast for all of our teachers, spiraled through the week with an assortment of fun activities and ended on Friday, May 7th, in a bang with a barbecue! All the activities were expertly organized by our HSA3 parent council. They bought supplies, coordinated contributions, crafted gifts and essentially, performed magic to rival the instructors at Hogwarts! The following photos are highlights from our barbecue.