FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there after-school programming at PS6?

PS6 hosts a number of onsite after school programs run by outside providers, Monday through Friday when school is in session. Offerings vary by day of the week and include classes in STEM, art, dance, sports, languages, chess, and debate. In addition, students may attend 92Y’s Noar after-school program via chaperoned bus service, which is also offered five days a week. Programs are open to PS6 students from K through 5th grade, though offerings may be limited to certain age groups. We are currently piloting after-school offerings for students in Pre-K twice a week. Programming runs from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with extended pick-up (free of charge) until 5:45.

Does PS6 have ICT classes?

Each grade level features one Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class, designed to foster inclusive learning. These classes blend general education students (40%) with students receiving Individualized Education Program (IEP) services (60%), ensuring all students benefit from a shared learning environment. ICT classes include, at minimum, two full-time teachers and one assistant teacher. Our comprehensive support team, comprising a guidance counselor, school psychologist, ICT teacher, and speech-language therapist, works collaboratively to provide tailored assistance to students with IEPs.

How is technology integrated into classroom instruction?

• Every classroom at PS6 is equipped with a large screen Promethean (SMART) board, fully loaded with software and learning tools. In addition to the SMART board, some classrooms also have a large screen TV and document camera which allows for technology integration in small groups throughout the school day. 
• Students in grades K through 2nd may access iPads at select periods throughout the day, including during center times (periods when students can choose work from various “centers” throughout the classroom). Available applications include DreamBox Math and Apple Books. 
• Students in 3rd through 5th grades meet with the science teacher to learn about the responsible use of technology and digital citizenship. They also learn to use the Google suite of programs. In the classrooms, laptop carts house Google Chrome books which students use regularly across all curriculum areas.

What are “specials?”

PS6 offers five specials: Art, Library, Music, Physical Education, and Science. Every class in grades K through 5th has one class in each special per week.

Does the school have a library?

PS6 is home to a state-of-the-art library that was reopened after extensive renovation in 2025. Students in grades 3K through 5th have access to the library each week. Students receive instruction from the librarian, experience interactive read-alouds, and may check out a new book weekly to bring home.

How often do students have opportunity for movement?

Students have a 25 minute outdoor recess every day, weather permitting. During this time, coaches are onsite to organize and supervise pickup games of football, soccer, and other sports. In addition, students have formal classes in physical education once a week. The school prioritizes movement and provides opportunities for children to be active throughout the school day, both inside and outside the classroom. Examples include GoNoodle Movement, our dance curriculum provided by National Dance Institute, and mindfulness exercises. The school also added a gaga pit in 2025.

What is music instruction like at PS6?

Once a week, students have music with Mr. Saewitz, who utilizes a curriculum that supports academic growth in music theory, music history, ear training, music appreciation, composition, and analysis – all of which is accessible to different types of learners. The PTA also funds The Sidewalk Singers Afterschool program, a chorus for grades 3 through 5th graders that meets weekly to rehearse. The Sidewalk Singers have performed on the steps of The Met and at the Upper East Side Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, TD Bank, and school events. 

What is art instruction like at PS6?

• Once a week students have art class with Ms. Diamond, who incorporates studio skills as well as art history into her curriculum. Exploration and discovery are priorities: students learn by exploring various materials and media while incorporating awareness of their culture and community. 
• In addition to formal art classes, thanks to the PTA, every year the school partners with outside arts providers like the National Dance Institute to provide additional arts education. Furthermore, in 2025 the school received an arts grant that allowed it to partner with Studio in a School to provide additional arts education to its early childhood classes (3K and 4K). 

How is science taught at PS6?

• Grades PreK to 3rd grade receive science instruction from Ms. Godshall at our rooftop Eco Center, the crown jewel of our school. Fourth and fifth graders receive science and computer science instruction from Mr. Reed and have access to the Eco Center as an outdoor reading area. 
• In the Eco Center students learn about the natural world, life cycles of animals, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. They grow vegetables that Ms. Godshall then prepares for them to taste in dishes such as pesto, salsa, zucchini bread, green smoothies, applesauce and lemon pie. Last year our school was certified as a SEED school (Sustainability, Efficiency, & Environmental Dedication) in recognition of these efforts. Our rooftop Eco Center has become a model for similar programs at other schools around the city. 
• In the upper grades, the children investigate real-world phenomena with the aim of using science to address practical issues. Students learn through hands-on investigations, digital simulations, and scientific literature, developing concepts such as cause and effect and observing patterns from data. Substantive subject areas range from astronomy and earth science to chemistry and electrical systems. 

Does the school provide breakfast? What is offered for lunch? 

• PS6 provides free breakfast and lunch to all students. Menus are available here. . 
• Breakfast is served at 7:45; students in grades K through 5 may be dropped off at that time. 3K and PreK students are served breakfast in their classrooms at the beginning of every school day.
• Each grade has a 25 minute lunch period, either preceded or followed by a 25 minute recess. Grades do not mix at lunch or recess. Kosher Lunch options are available as well, and a fresh salad bar is provided daily. 
• Allergies: There is a designated dairy and nut free table in the lunchroom, but PS6 is not a nut-free school. 

Do children go on field trips?

Each grade level enjoys multiple field trips throughout the school year. Examples from last year demonstrate this variety: Kindergarten explored the Central Park Zoo and engaged in arts-based activities; 1st grade learned about their neighborhood through visits to local businesses and cultural events; 2nd grade focused on New York City history and infrastructure; 3rd grade experienced both natural and cultural institutions; and 4th and 5th grades participated in overnight trips and a wide range of museum and historical site visits.

What is the Buddy Community program?

Every class in the upper grades is paired up with a buddy class in the lower grades, and each individual student is assigned a buddy. Buddies read to each other and participate in special activities together like holiday celebrations and school performances. 

The grade partnerships are as follows: 5th with 2nd, 4th with 1st, and 3rd with K.

What is the Peer Mediator program? 

Through the Peer Mediation program, which has been in place for over 18 years, 4th and 5th grade students who apply and are selected go through a three day training program that prepares them to resolve conflicts between 2nd and 3rd grade students during recess. They also make a presentation to the 2nd and 3rd graders about peer mediation.