Spreading Cheer and Holiday Magic at P.S. 59: December Highlights

December at P.S. 59: The Dawn Best School was filled with festive cheer, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities for students and families to come together. We hosted hands-on lessons, schoolwide celebrations, cozy community events, and fostered opportunities for creative expression to truly reflect the spirit of togetherness.

Classroom Learning

Throughout December, students continued engaging in enriching and hands-on learning across programs. Phoenix Futures students explored the important roles of first responders, learning about paramedics (EMTs) and firefighters and how they help keep our communities safe. Phoenix Explorers dove into science by creating their own Energy Robots and experimenting with concepts like density and the behavior of liquids, strengthening inquiry and critical-thinking skills. In Arts & Crafts, students celebrated the winter season by creating projects inspired by holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Social Emotional Learning lessons focused on the importance of diversity, cultural understanding, and respect. This encouraged students to reflect on different traditions while building empathy and connection.

Spirit Week Fun

P.S. 59 hosted its first-ever seven-day Holiday Spirit Week, running from Monday, December 15 through Tuesday, December 23. Each day brought excitement and creativity as students and staff proudly participated in themed celebrations. The week included Blue & White Day for Hanukkah, Red, Black & Green Day for Kwanzaa, Festive Pajama Day, Holiday Hat Day, Gingerbread vs. Candy Cane Day, Ugly Sweater Day, and a fun-filled Grinch Day to wrap it all up. Throughout the days, the school was filled with smiles and laughter as students and staff fully embraced each day’s theme.

Ugly Sweater Making Pajama Party

One of the month’s highlights was the Ugly Sweater Making Pajama Party, where families joined their children for an afternoon of creativity, music, and games. Families worked together to design festive sweaters while participating in holiday-themed activities. The games included a Christmas Twist Game, Kwanzaa games, and the traditional Hanukkah dreidel game. This event created a welcoming space for families to connect and celebrate together. 

Hot Chocolate Snack Party/Plastic TLC Workshop

To close out the month, students enjoyed a Hot Chocolate Snack Party, adding an extra touch of warmth to the season! Students got the chance to customize their hot chocolate with marshmallows, peppermint spoons, sprinkles, whipped cream, and other toppings. To accompany their drinks, students also enjoyed some sweet treats, like cakes and donuts, generously provided by families. Before enjoying their treats, students participated in a Plastic TLC Workshop led by Re:Create Brooklyn, where they learned about recycling small everyday plastics like bottle caps and lids. Students then transformed these materials into meaningful creations to take home, reinforcing lessons on sustainability and climate action.

3K/PreK Game Day

Students with perfect attendance from November 5 through December 5 enjoyed a day of games including bowling, golf, limbo, fishing, and puzzles, along with a special lunch, goodie bags, and Perfect Attendance Certificates.

Detective Rafael Ramos Foundation Toy Giveaway

Another special moment came from the Detective Rafael Ramos Foundation Toy Giveaway. A longtime partner of P.S. 59, the foundation provided toys for all 245 students, along with music, a special guest, and joyful interactions between students and police officers. Officers even visited 3K/PreK classrooms to personally deliver gifts, making the experience extra memorable.

P.S. 59 Holiday Show

The month concluded with the P.S. 59 Holiday Show, where students from multiple grades came together to present A Holiday Christmas Story. The performance was a way to showcase students’ immense hard work and talent!  The event also included an interactive intermission where the audience joined in for The 12 Days of Christmas P.S. 59 Style, creating a fun and inclusive celebration for all.

We are grateful for our students, families, staff, and community partners who helped make the winter season so special. We look forward to an exciting start to the new year!