Our school staff is a hardworking crew and takes great pride in their role in fueling the fire of student achievement. That is a fire that has burned for 147 years on South Perry Street.

We, on our best days, combine the efforts of families, staff and students to continue to carve a place in history for old #3, Columbus Elementary School.

Every school day, approximately 300 students from Kindergarten to 5^th Grade stream into Public School #3 and work diligently to improve their lives and the lives of those around them through education.

Sincerely,

Thomas Hartford

• Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• All parents want their children to be successful.
• We need to treat others as we want to be treated.
• Enthusiasm is contagious.
• Every individual is deserves to be safe both physically and emotionally.
• Every individual is capable of attaining higher goals.
• Positive praise enhances positive performance and attitudes.

The mission of Columbus School is to prepare students to be lifelong learners who are well-rounded, nurtured by the dedicated and competent staff and ready for the academic challenges that lie ahead. We will accomplish this mission by providing a caring and safe environment that allows students to grow and learn academically and socially.

• OFFICE

  The office of Williams & Williams is always ready and willing to help. They are the keepers of mission control at Columbus Elementary School. Ms. Barbara Williams and Ms. Gail Williams comprise the Main Office Secretarial Staff.

• COLUMBUS CLASSROOM TEACHERS

  Our Classroom Teachers are the backbone of our instructional program. They have primary responsibility for our children and coordinate their entire academic program.

• TEACHING ASSISTANTS

  Our Teaching Assistants are essential counterpart to our teaching staff. They assist our teachers and students in many ways.

• COLUMBUS SPECIAL AREA TEACHERS

• Physical Education, Music, Art and Library comprise our special areas. These teachers enrich our core education curriculum with their special talents.

• KITCHEN

• Ms. Altamary Every and Ms. Brenda McKinney provide nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks to our students. They are always willing to make special accommodations for trip activities and special student needs.

• COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SUPPORT TEACHERS

• Resource Room, Speech, Remedial Reading, ESL as well as our School Social Worker and School Psychologist provide special services for our students and families in need. They meet together as the Child Support Team to review the successes and deficiencies of our students at Columbus. They recommend help to make every student successful.

• SCHOOL NURSE

• Mrs. Patricia Wilkins is our School Nurse. She assists students and families with school attendance, school medications, health records and screenings as well as the occasional bumps and bruises.

• CUSTODIAN

• Mr. Henry Silburn and Mr. Leroy Ashley maintain our school to provide a clean and safe learning environment. They work closely with our other staff members and families to serve the needs of students.

• SECURITY

• Mr. Tyrone Thompson has worked for us through Promar Security and is the “guardian of the gate” as well as our in-house D.J.

Columbus Elementary School or Public School #3 was built in 1928. Our building is actually the second building on this site and replaced the original Christopher Columbus School that was built in 1858 and had a 2-classroom addition built in 1907.

The original Columbus School was demolished in 1926 to begin construction on our existing building. This building has always been an important and influential center of education in the area of Poughkeepsie known as the "Italian Quarter".

Columbus Elementary School continues to generate its piece of Poughkeepsie history. The Italian Quarter is now home to not only European Americans but also African Americans, Latin Americans and Asian Americans. This cultural diversity is one of the main ingredients that make our neighborhood school a special place.

• After School Program

  The basic components of our program are:

  • Snack/Social

    During the first hour of our program, the students are provided with a nutritious snack of juice/milk and crackers/fruit provided by Food Services from the school district, while also engaging in a social time with their friends. The staff and volunteers talk with the students, exploring the well being of the attendees.

  • Physical Recreation

    During the after-school time, the students are provided with a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity, either in the gym or on the playground, which may include an organized game or unstructured/free playtime.

  • Academic Enrichment

    The Columbus After School Program provides each student 30 minutes in which to work on homework or a quiet activity. It is not a homework/tutorial program. The staff/volunteers are available to the students for assistance with this work. However, they are not required to complete or forced to work on their assignments.

    The program uses FastForward, a literacy-based manual designed to help children with language arts through games, plays, and other mediums. Science kits/activities are also available thanks to an IBM Executive that was on-loan to the program last year.

    Interns from the High School's Partnership With Business Program are available several days a week to assist the students with their work and to serve as mentors to the students.

  • Enhancements

    The students are involved in many activities outside the normal academic realm. These activities are our enhancements. An indoor and outdoor garden was started last year in cooperation with Cornell's Cooperative Extension Green Teen Program. This program has continued this year with a fall and spring session. Along with the garden program, we will be beginning a nutrition program with Cornell's Food Insecurity Program in spring.

    Computer instruction with the use of laptops is taking place, allowing each student the chance to learn how to use a computer. The older students are learning how to use Microsoft Word, save files, input data and pictures into a file, etc. The younger students are playing educational, fun games such as Math Blaster, in order to familiarize themselves with the keys and functions of a computer.

    All of the students are getting lessons on life skills with Learning For Life, a curriculum designed by the Boy Scouts of America. Activities in this manual are designed on an age-appropriate level and deal with such things as sharing, empathy, fairness, respect, and cooperation.

    Our first edition of "The Voice of Columbus Elementary After-School Program", our literary magazine, was a success and a second edition is in the works. An interest in poetry by the students sparked this project and the interest continues to grow, especially since several of the poems have been published in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Some of the poems have also been submitted to local and nation-wide literary magazines.

    Other activities for the year will include arts and crafts, talent shows, dance, community service projects, and field trips.

  • Parental Involvement

    The After-school Program encourages parental involvement by inviting families to participate as volunteers, attend parties/activities with their child’s group, after hour shows, etc. We are also working closely with the PTA, co-sponsoring family-based activities, such as carnivals and special presentations.

  • Enrollment

    Currently, the Columbus After-School Program has a full enrollment of 113 students with a wait list of 10 students. Participants are enrolled into six groups according to their grade level.

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• NYS Assessment Results
• Outstanding ELA ad Math scores.
• Most improved in Hudson Valley ñ February 3, 2004.
• The Business Council of NYS Inc.
• 2004 Honor Roll for its outstanding education improvement from 1999 to 2003.
• Columbus School Honor Roll Each quarter 3rd, 4th and 5th graders are awarded certificates for maintaining an 85% average and no unsatisfactory mark in special areas.
• Columbus School Student of the Week Every Friday each teacher awards role model behavior in citizenship and academics during that week.

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