Take Climate Action on Earth Day (April 22)

Missed our schools' third Climate Action Day on April 17? No worries—consider building your own self-watering planter made from recycled materials just in time for Earth Day on April 22!


NYC's Gifted and Talented (G&T) Application for Grades 1–4 opens April 15

The Gifted and Talented (G&T) application for children entering grades 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the 2024–2025 school year opens on Monday, April 15, 2024! If your child is eligible and you're interested in applying, submit your child's G&T application by Friday, May 3, 2024.


Opportunities for Students (April 2024)

Throughout April, organizations near and far are seeking City students for grants, scholarships, contests, classes, and even paid work! Check out some of the great opportunities available to students in grades 4–12 this month from institutions and organizations like New York University, Cooper Union, NPR, and Seeds of Fortune!


Books of the Week

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? We’re celebrating by sharing some of our favorite poetry books and novels in verse across all grade levels this week. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)

  • Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, by Amanda Gorman; illustrated by Loren Long
  • How to Write a Poem, by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido; illustrated by Melissa Sweet 
  • Kiyoshi’s Walk, by Mark Karlins; illustrated by Nicole Wong

Elementary (Grades 3–5)

  • The Color of My Words, by Lynn Joseph
  • Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar
  • Words With Wings, by Nikki Grimes

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

  • All He Knew, by Helen Frost
  • Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
  • Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science, by Jeannine Atkins

Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)

  • An Appetite for Miracles, by Laekan Zea Kemp
  • The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners, by Naomi Shihab Nye
Image of two students reading

For more great reads, check out the  Climate Change Collection on Sora, our citywide Digital Library which provides free access to hundreds of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students!


In celebration of Earth Month, we're sharing the story of Dr. Eugenie Clark, a fish scientist from New York City who earned herself the nickname, "Shark Lady," thanks to her trailblazing research on fish and shark species around the world as well as her personal dedication to protecting sharks and their ocean habitats from extinction.

Learn about Dr. Clark on Hidden Voices

Image of Eugenie Clark smiling while sitting on the edge of a pier.

In this installment of the Hidden Voices series, learn more about Dr. Joanne Chory, a Lebanese American plant geneticist whose early work revolutionized botany and who is now dedicated to the global fight against climate change.

Dr. Joanne Chory at her laboratory at the Salk Institute, posing with her plant specimens.

In recognition of National American Sign Language (ASL) Day on Monday, April 15, we’re highlighting the tiny, but mighty team at the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Office of Sign Language Interpretation Services (OSLIS).

An image of two people communicating using sign language.

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS

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Two students wearing eclipse glasses stand outside on their school's field to watch the eclipse together.
Student standing outside school building wearing eclipse glasses to look at the sun.
A student stands in from of a green screen to record an interview. She is facing a teleprompter, and another screen showing her video feed.
A young, smiling student wearing eclipse glasses, a grey sweatshirt, and a black hat poses for the camera with a school staff member.
Three students in a classroom - from left to right, they are holding puppets representing the moon, sun, and earth for an eclipse activity.
A group of students standing on their school field with decorated solar eclipse glasses, looking at the sun.
A student and teacher both dressed as astronauts pose in front of an outer space backdrop.

White, gold, and pink text on a navy blue background that reads "Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month" surrounded by illustrations of moons and stars in the same colors as the text.

Summer Rising Offers Now Available

Summer Rising 2024 logo on top of an orange background

Applied for any of NYC's Summer Rising programs earlier this year? You can view your offers beginning Wednesday, April 17!

Register for our virtual info session to learn more about Summer Rising 2024.

Thursday, April 18: 6:30—8:00 PM


View Your Child's Middle School Offer Today!

Did you apply to New York City's public middle schools in December? Then great news: you may now log into MySchools to see your child's offer!

GIF featuring groups of students that reads,


Ready to Read: Literacy Resources for Families

NYC Reads is reshaping the way that we teach our students to read, but the learning doesn't have to stop at the classroom door! Whether it's a family book club or a phonics-based 20 questions game, you can bring the "science of reading" home by using any of our helpful resources that will help your children continue to develop their literacy skills, like: 

  • Reading Games
  • Phonics, Vocabulary, and Storytelling Practice
  • And more!

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