Students at P.S. 203 were thrilled to be feeling blue this week.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, city Comptroller John Liu and a bevy of northeast Queens elected officials packed into P.S. 203’s auditorium with hundreds of students Thursday morning to celebrate the school’s being named a Blue Ribbon school.
“This is a team effort,” Walcott said. “It’s not just the principal, not just the teachers, not just the parent coordinators, not just the students and not just the parents. It’s all these people who helped win this award. The students in this school will be prepared for life to be productive adults and make this city and country a better place.”
The student reveled in the school’s winning the prestigious award by presenting a lengthy musical revue that included skits, two school theme songs and a medley of popular hits, including “Blue Velvet,” “Blue Moon” and “Blue Suede Shoes.”
During their presentation, students noted that there are only 1,700 Blue Ribbon schools nationally and a mere five in New York City.
“We’re joining a special elite group,” said Principal Carole Nussbaum, who has been with the school for 20 years and in the city’s education system for 50 years. “It is the highest award in education that any school can get. It honors students performing at the highest level.”
Nussbaum said P.S. 203 is ranked sixth in the city and eighth in the state.
Comptroller John Liu, who attended P.S. 203 and was the valedictorian in his sixth grade class, said he received a “wonderful education” at the Bayside school.
“It’s such a great day for the students, parents and staff,” he said. “This shows how much their hard work has paid off. This is no small feat.”
Other elected officials in attendance included state Sens. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, and Toby Stavisky, D-Whitestone, as well as City Councilman Mark Weprin, D-Oakland Gardens, and a representative from Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, who presented the school with a proclamation.
Jacquelyn Pitta, the communication director for the U.S. Department of Education’s Region 2, said P.S. 203 had “instituted strong organizational foundations.”
“Your efforts have resulted in a very special award,” she said. “Your students express the belief that all can and will succeed.”
