On Roosevelt Island, Cornell Tech's Teacher-In-Residence partnership with PS/IS 217 has brought computer science teaching into every classroom in every grade. With schools closing due to the COVID-19 crisis and all instruction moving online, we wanted to give families on Roosevelt Island and beyond a way to learn and practice computational thinking and computer science at home. @Breakfast_CS (on twitter, soon to be on Facebook and LinkedIn) provides an engaging and accessible way for students to flex their computing muscles daily and it is an extension of Cornell Tech’s commitment to increase access to a rigorous, joyful CS education to all K-12 students in NYC."
Welcome to BreakfastCS! The @cornell_tech K-12 team wants you & your kids to understand computational thinking: the thought process behind programming. We use it to solve everyday problems in schools like @10X86. Each day, we’ll post a CT concept & a problem to solve. #CSforALL
Using toothpicks, buttons, pennies, or any kind of counter you have around your home, try decomposing bigger numbers. Do some numbers break up into groups of equal numbers? Can you find any patterns when you decompose numbers? Have an awesome Monday, CT'ers, and WASH YOUR HANDS!
But unfortunately, this and other programs are not available for all. Ms Levitt notes the disruptive impact of Coronaviurs on education and it's exposure of inequities within the system for children who don't have access to technology and broadband wi-fi service.
Principal Mandana Beckman describes computational thinking being taught at PS/IS 217 with the help of the Cornell Tech K-12 Initiative. According to Ms. Beckman:
When I think about the work that we have to do here at school, there's so much that we're doing to prepare kids for the future and that the world they live in today is about computational thinking, it is about computer science and we want to make sure that we're preparing them for that just as we prepare them to read, to write, to do math...
We really want the best for every single student here at PS/IS 217, so when they pick their career path they can think back to their experiences in elementary and middle school and how it had an influence on who they are in the future. It's been a great experience working with Cornell Tech and we're excited about what we're going to be doing tomorrow.
The K-12 Initiative at Cornell Tech builds the capacity of new-to-CS teachers in five NYC public schools to teach computing through content coaching and professional development. https://t.co/3xLpMgQq7s
On Friday, October 20, 60 Cornell Tech and 75 Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 middle school students participated in the 4th annual Let's Code RI computer science learning project.
During the October 24 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Community Task Force meeting held at the PS/IS 217 auditorium, Ms Levitt described last Friday's Let's Code RI which had the PS/IS 217 middle school students editing news reports with help from their Cornell Tech student mentors.
Check out previous Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Let's Code RI projects at these previous posts.
Following the Let's Code RI presentation, Ms Levitt moderated a panel discussion of Cornell Tech’s Teacher in Residence Program and computer science education at PS/IS 217 with the school Principal, Teachers, PTA President and the Teacher in Residence.
Will have video of this panel presentation soon as well.
Come join the Cornell Tech Community Task Force meeting on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:00 pm at PS/IS 217, 645 Main Street, which includes a panel discussion of Cornell Tech’s Teacher in Residence Program and computer science education at PS/IS 217.
Quarterly Cornell Tech Community & Construction Task Force
Tuesday, October 24th
645 Main Street at 6PM / PS 217 Auditorium
Public Welcome / Open Meeting
Cornell Tech corporate co-location campus is open. Construction will be extended two additional years to complete the hotel and executive conference center building. RICC urges you to attend the Cornell Tech quarterly construction and community task force membership meeting tomorrow Tuesday, October 24th.
Please attend, voice concerns and stay engaged.
RICC's goal has been vigilance: making certain that Cornell fulfills its written and spoken promises, advocating for our community and sustaining communication with RIOC and stakeholders. In exchange for the 12.5 acres of land to build the Cornell Tech corporate campus on Roosevelt Island they made promises to the city and the community - your concerns matter.
RICC Board members (and RICC members!) continue to engage our elected officials, participate in tours of the corporate campus, and attend town halls to keep island concerns top of mind. We urge you to participate in quarterly Cornell Community and Construction Task Force Meetings.
Reminder, if you have concerns about Cornell Tech please contact community liaison Jane Swanson at Jane.Swanson@cornell.edu or (646) 220 1505 for immediate action. Jane Swanson's weekly community hours are Tuesday's 3-4 PM and Wednesday's 10-11 am at The Cafe on Cornell Tech's campus and she is available by appointment as needed.
Maybe this video from Roosevelt Island resident Nick Turner will remind you of your neighborhood grade school days. Mr. Turner shares this snapshot of a day in the life of Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.
Check out more information about Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217, including the October 21 Fall Festival
I’m Meg Ray, the Teacher-in-Residence at Cornell Tech, and I’m so excited to be here. I will be embedded at PS/IS 217, coaching teachers in computer science content, leading model lessons in the classroom, and providing other supports related to teaching computer science in elementary and middle school. You may know that PS/IS 217 was selected to participate in the Elementary Software Engineering Program (SEP Jr.), and I will help support that implementation, which provides teacher training, curriculum resources and other materials to the school. Cornell Tech’s Teacher in Residence is the only program of its kind in New York City....
Cornell Tech hosted a Roosevelt Island Community Update Town Hall Meeting last night at the Manhattan Park Theater Club.
Among the presentations included a review of the plan for the new campus and the construction progress to date by Cornell Tech Director Of Capital Planning Andrew Winters. Mr. Winters emphasized the intent of the campus design is to be open, attractive and accessible to the community. The campus will open in the summer of 2017.
Here's what Mr. Winters had to say.
Mr. Winters also answered questions from the residents attending on a wide range of topics including Sportspark (despite rumors to the contrary, Cornell Tech has no interest in taking over management operations of Sportspark)
and problems with the 911 emergency service to Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech is happy to help on improving the 911 emergency response for Roosevelt Island).
Also, Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt described the past and future partnership with Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.
Will post the full video of Town Hall with additional presentations and more questions and answers as an update within the next couple of days, if not sooner.
... In addition to hearing about some of the work going on in our school over the next few years, families will have the opportunity to work with Cornell Tech mentors and create computer games....
It's a very interesting discussion. Watch this video.
Ms Levitt noted during the April Scratch Educators Meetup talk (at the 17 minute 30 second mark) that she has had a difficult relationship with the PS/IS 217 Principal because of an expectation by the school that Cornell Tech would come with a financial investment to the school which Ms. Levitt said:
... was a fantasy...
adding:
... Every time I walk into the room and don't come in with dollars, its like I failed before I even sat down. Since I never come in with dollars, I'm pretty much always failing....
However, Ms Levitt added that the Principal was very happy with the April Hackathon and asked:
... Now we need a whole build out - what do we do on Monday?
Today, Cornell Tech announced what's next is a new partnership with Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217. According to this December 10 Cornell Tech press release:
Cornell Tech, New York City public school P.S./I.S. 217 and Councilmember Ben Kallos today unveiled a groundbreaking three-year program that will enable teachers at Roosevelt Island’s P.S./I.S. 217 to incorporate computer science (CS) activity across the curriculum. Every teacher in the K-8 school will receive professional development training, after which they will devise and implement CS lesson plans covering every student in every grade. The program is part of an ongoing partnership between Cornell Tech and the New York City Department of Education to make computer science instruction available to public school students.
Beginning in January, every teacher at the school will meet with a CS education consultant to learn specific ways to introduce students to coding and the broader digital universe. The consultant will work specifically with 4th-8th grade teachers to design actual lesson plans. Similarly, Cornell Tech Senior Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt will work with K-3 teachers to incorporate computational thinking with the school’s youngest students. The program will also partner with the Museum of the Moving Image to design two lessons for Grades 4-8 focused on game design and digital media. This teacher education is in addition to a six-week introduction to CS that every P.S./I.S. 217 program teacher has already received.
“Cornell Tech is thrilled to expand its partnership with P.S./I.S. 217 as part of our broader commitment to enriching tech education for New York City public school children,” said Cornell Tech Dean Dan Huttenlocher. “Helping teachers learn creative ways to incorporate computing into their classrooms benefits not only our students but our city.”
“This is a great opportunity for P.S./I.S. 217 to integrate computer science into all its classrooms and expand students’ horizons,” New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said. “As New York City brings computer-science education to all students by 2025, we will continue to partner with Cornell Tech and other higher education and community partners in this critical work.”
“We want teachers to have the computing content knowledge to be able to to help students become digital creators. We think this starts with building teachers’ expertise and comfort and then moving with them into developing curriculum and teaching strategies,” said Diane Levitt, Senior Director of K-12 Education at Cornell Tech. “Cornell Tech’s innovative vision and public/private partnerships give us a unique platform from which to transform K-12 computer science teaching and learning in New York City, and across the nation.”
The program, part of an ongoing three year effort to embed CS in every class at the school, will also give P.S./I.S. 217 parents the unique opportunity to partake in their children’s education. As part of the launch, Cornell Tech and P.S./I.S. 217 will co-host an event this evening to lay out for parents the program’s vision and plan. Parents and their children will then participate in a coding workshop where they will design a holiday-themed game, giving parents a first-hand sense of how accessible computer science can be when creatively incorporated into a curriculum.
“Helping our teachers integrate computer science into their curriculum is critical to preparing our students for the careers of tomorrow,” said New York City Councilmember Ben Kallos. “The close relationship between Cornell Tech and P.S./I.S. 217 not only benefits the Roosevelt Island community but also serves as a model for how public and private institutions can work together.”
“To succeed in today’s world, all our kids need access to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education – that’s what STEAM stands for,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Starting with computational thinking and coding in elementary school is a great idea. While we have a long way to go to update our schools in terms of hardware, software, and training for staff, partnerships like this one play an important role in filling the gaps. I’m excited to see Cornell Tech investing in the P.S./I.S. 217 school community, and I look forward to a successful Family Coding Night.”
This program is the latest effort by Cornell Tech to extend its mission – developing pioneering leaders and technologies for the digital age – beyond its own campus to a deep engagement with New York City’s public schools. Cornell Tech operates from the premise that every public school student should have the content, skills and strategies to building something digital and personally meaningful.
Since winning the city’s applied sciences campus competition less than four years ago, Cornell Tech’s work has already impacted over 2200 students and 170 teachers. Last summer, Cornell Tech hosted two summer programs – NYC Generation Tech and Coding Off the Grid – for New York City middle and high school students, building skills in computer science, entrepreneurship, design and more. The school also created and hosts the To Code and Beyond conference, a series of twice yearly invitation-only events convening educators, nonprofit leaders, policymakers and funders to share best practices and address challenges in K12 tech education. To Code and Beyond is co-sponsored by the NYC Dept. of Education, Google, and CSNYC.
The Wall Street Journal reported today on Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 teacher training initiative.
Here's what happened at the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 April and October
Hackathons earlier this year.
UPDATE 12/11 - Here's video of the December 10 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech PS/IS 217 Start Up Jam.
Part 1 - PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman briefly describes partnership with Cornell Tech and introduces NYC Council Member Ben Kallo who talks about importance of Tech education and praises Roosevelt Island PTA for advocating on behalf of PS/IS 217.
Part 2 - Presentation by Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt.
Part 3 - PS/IS 217 parents question Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt on Cornell Tech plans for PS/IS 217.
After the presentations, parents and kids went to the PS/IS 217 computer labs to learn coding together.
Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA representative Erin Olavesen reports on this week's programs and services at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217.
School Tour for Prospective Families - 8:45am, Tuesday, December 8
Have friends or neighbors with pre-schoolers considering 217? Invite them to the tour!
The kindergarten application period is from December 7 to January 15. Find more information about the process and apply online on the NYC Department of Education website.
Prospective families are invited to learn more about PS/IS 217 at our upcoming tours. Join us on December 8th at 8.45am or December 14th at 6.00pm. Please RSVP to eolavesen@gmail.com.
We're looking forward to meeting you and sharing all that's happening at our school.
Tuesday Parents Workshops
Please join us on Tuesday, October 20 for one of three parent workshops:
"Science Connections: Connecting Parents to Fun Science Resources",
"Math Games",
"Models in Science."
All workshops will be held from 7:50–8:25am. Students may be sent to breakfast while you attend. Flyers have been sent home with more information prior to each workshop. Workshops are open to all 217 families.
We look forward to parenting with you during this Parent Engagement Activity!
Community Board 8 G&T Education Forum at PS/IS 217 - December 14, 6pm
Education Forum on the Gifted and Talented Program at PS 217, Monday, Dec. 14: school tour at 6:00 pm and program at 6:30 pm.
Learn about the G&T test, the G&T curriculum, school choice and options for students.
Bring your questions about the G&T test and how the curriculum differs from the regular curriculum of PS 217, and other topics.
Speakers:
Daniel Hildreth, Enrollment Director, New York City Department of Education
Mandana Beckman, Principal, PS/IS 217
G&T curriculum educators at PS/IS 217
Parents of students enrolled in the G&T program
Program sponsored by Roosevelt Island Residents Association, Roosevelt Island Committee and Youth and Education Committee of Manhattan Community Board 8, PS/IS 217 and the PTA of PS/IS 217.
For more information, please contact Jeffrey R. Escobar, Chair of the Roosevelt Island Committee of Community Board 8 and President of RIRA at jeffrey.escobar@gmail.com. Visit http://bit.ly/1Pa12oQ.
217PTA Roosevelt Island Annual Christmas Tree Sale
Shop with Amazon and Make Money for 217!
Getting ready to do some holiday shopping? Whenever you shop at the online retailer Amazon go to their website by using our link (HERE) - click on our link BEFORE you add items to you cart! It's hard to tell if you're in the right spot because Amazon does not give any signs that you've used the affiliate link. If you enter Amazon through the link before adding items to your cart and check out within 24 hours, the PTA will receive at least 4% of your total purchase. Bookmark it! Share the link with friends and family! Help 217's PTA expand our reach with more funding.
FREE Family Event: Computer Coding With Cornell Tech - December 10
Amalgamated Bank Supports 217
Amalgamated Bank made a $1000 contribution to our general fund. This isn't the first time Amalgamated has stepped up to support our school. In October, Amalgamated sponsored a booth at the Halloween Carnival and had their Roosevelt Island team along to help our kids build with Construction Kids. Thank you Amalgamated Bank, as well as, Albert Salas, Roosevelt Island Branch Manager, and his team for supporting our students!
PTA General Meeting & 217 Safety Meeting - Wednesday, December 16
Save the date for our next PTA General Membership Meeting - it will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 8:35am in the auditorium.
We need your participation! Topics of discussion will include:
Updates from 217 Administration
Updates from PTA board members on Fundraisers including the Annual Fund Donation Drive, Christmas Tree Sale, Pajama Drive
Upcoming events including Spirit Day, January Dance, and Annual Auction
Treasurer's Report - do we have enough money to keep our programs?
PTA meeting will begin with 217 SAFETY MEETING presented by our School Safety Team and Assistant Principal Jenn Allen. Join us to learn about:
An overview of the General Response Protocols (GRPs)
Tips for Internet Safety/Cyber Bullying Awareness for Parents
Update on 217 safety campaigns (i.e. completing the evac bags)
After School Survey Follow Up
Thank you for taking the PTA After School Programming Survey. We appreciate the feedback, and understand just how important having more choices for after school activities at 217 is to your family. Due to limited after school PTA volunteers, the only offering next semester will be Bricks4Kidz. The PTA is continuing to evaluate and pursue programming options for Fall 2016.
Please continue to be a part of this discussion by attending our upcoming PTA meeting at 8:45am on Wednesday, December 16th.
Bricks4Kidz After School Program Season 2 Registration
We open registration for Bricks4Kidz Spring Semester 2016!
register for 12 classes - January-March - your fee would be $360, and you will have an opportunity to sign up for 11 more classes (April-June) later.
register for 23 classes - January-June - get a 10% discount for signing up till the end of the school year, pay $620 instead of $690.
Please fill out registration form available HERE and submit it along with your payment into PTA mailbox by Friday, December 18 if you would like to register for Bricks4Kidz classes in January.
217 Middle Schoolers Partake in a Pizza Making Cultural Event
Many thanks to Ciro Casella, owner of the San Matteo Pizzeria, and his special chef, Daniele Sellami, who taught 217 Middle Schoolers and their parents how to cook Italian pizza following the traditional recipe. We thank RIRA's Adib Mansour and Lynne Strong-Shinozaki for sponsoring this wonderful cultural event at our school!
We are grateful to the island Boy Scouts leader Geoff Kerr, who has been running Roosevelt Island Christmas tree sales for the past 39 years (!), and are working on continuing this tradition after he announced his retirement 2 weeks ago.
Please bear with us as 217PTA is finalizing the sales details; this will be the very first year when we are organizing this sale on our own and with a very short notice.
Thanks to the PTA Board members Corinna Kell, Taryn Merkl and Nathalie Chetrit's quick response (and tireless work over Thanksgiving break!), we are planning to have the trees available for you to purchase on the island (Motorgate Plaza) during three Saturdays leading to Christmas - December 5, 12 and 19. The sale will be held during Saturday Green Market hours (9am-3pm).
Tuesday Parent Workshops - December 1, 7:50-8:25am
Please join us on Tuesday, December 1st for one of three parent workshops:
How to Practice Your Instrument Efficiently in 10-15 Minutes a Day
Teaching Efficient Addition Strategies
How to Obtain an NYC ID Card and Access the Historical and Cultural Institutions with your Student
All workshops will be held from 7:50–8:25am. Students may be sent to breakfast while you attend. Flyers have been sent home with more information prior to each workshop. Workshops are open to all 217 families.
We look forward to parenting with you during this Parent Engagement Activity!
Middle School Pizza Making Workshop - December 1, 6pm
Middle School students of PS/IS 217 and parents make pizza with Chef Ciro Casella. FREE and all ingredients included. Learn about Italian culture and food. Tuesday, December 1 at 6:00 pm at PS/IS 217 cafeteria. Sponsored by RIRA.
Friday Popcorn Sale - December 4, Dismissal
Our last popcorn sale was a great success, save the date for next one - Friday, December 4 at dismissal!
School Tour/Education Forum on the G&T Program at 217 - December 14, 6pm
Education Forum on the Gifted and Talented Program at PS 217, Monday, Dec. 14: school tour at 6:00 pm and program at 6:30 pm.
Learn about the G&T test, the G&T curriculum, school choice and options for students.
Bring your questions about the G&T test and how the curriculum differs from the regular curriculum of PS 217, and other topics.
Speakers:
Daniel Hildreth, Enrollment Director, New York City Department of Education
Mandana Beckman, Principal, PS/IS 217
G&T curriculum educators at PS/IS 217
Parents of students enrolled in the G&T program
Program sponsored by Roosevelt Island Residents Association, Roosevelt Island Committee and Youth and Education Committee of Manhattan Community Board 8, PS/IS 217 and the PTA of PS/IS 217.
For more information, please contact Jeffrey R. Escobar, Chair of the Roosevelt Island Committee of Community Board 8 and President of RIRA at jeffrey.escobar@gmail.com. Visit http://bit.ly/1Pa12oQ.
217PTA Christmas Tree Sale - December 5, 12, 19
We are grateful to the island Boy Scouts leader Geoff Kerr, who has been running Roosevelt Island Christmas tree sales for the past 39 years (!), and are working on continuing this tradition after he announced his retirement 2 weeks ago.
Please bear with us as 217PTA is finalizing the sales details; this will be the very first year when we are organizing this sale on our own and with a very short notice.
Thanks to the PTA Board members Corinna Kell, Taryn Merkl and Nathalie Chetrit's quick response (and tireless work over Thanksgiving break!), we are planning to have the trees available for you to purchase on the island (Motorgate Plaza) during three Saturdays leading to Christmas - December 5, 12 and 19. The sale will be held during Saturday Green Market hours (9am-3pm).
Nominate Your Teacher for The Big Apple Award!
The Big Apple Awards celebrates and recognizes teachers who inspire students, model great teaching, and enrich their school community.
NOMINATION DEADLINE: Monday, January 18, 2016
Who can I nominate?
Nominees should be current, full-time teachers at New York City district schools, charter schools, or teaching full-day Universal Pre-Kindergarten at a NYC Early Education Center (NYCEEC).
Who can submit a nomination?
Anyone can submit a nomination for a current teacher — students, families, teachers, administrators, community members.
I'm ready to nominate! What information will I need to submit?
Your name and a valid email address;
Basic information about your nominee (including their name and school);
A statement on why your nominee should be considered for the Awards.
Why nominate a teacher?
Recipients will receive a classroom grant for their students and schools. While continuing to teach at their school, recipients will spend the 2016-17 school year representing teachers citywide as members of the Chancellor's Advisory Group.
Please note that you may nominate more than one teacher for this award.
Cornell Tech/217 StartUp Event - Thursday, December 10, 6:30-8pm
217PTA Helps Roosevelt Island Garden Club Start Organics Recycling Program
This past Saturday, November 28th NYC Compost Project hosted by Big Reuse started an Organics Recycling program at the Saturday Farmer's Market under the helix, with the mission of "Rebuilding Our Soil, Neighborhood By Neighborhood".
Instead of sending organics to landfills via AVAC, Island residents will be able to drop off kitchen scraps at an organics collection station at the Saturday Farmer's Market. The scraps will go to a local composting site under the Queensborough Bridge on Vernon Blvd. The compost created will also be used locally for street trees, parks, and urban gardens.
Island leadership, avid RI composters, the PTA of PS 217, the RI Girl Scout troops and the RI Garden Club are all excited to help welcome this program to Roosevelt Island. If you would like to help out as a volunteer, please contact Big Reuse or email rigardenclub@gmail.com.
An Update from Mr. Solow!
Many 217 students miss our veteran Music Teacher Mr. Solow,
who has retired this year. We have contacted him, and are excited to share his update with you!
Retirement is great. Staying busy by learning Chinese and teaching private students and keeping the house clean. And walking to stay in shape. Principal Beckman is inviting me to work one day a week with the music teacher and hopefully get everyone in shape to make wonderful concerts that I know they all can do.
I really miss everyone and will see all of you soon.
Thanks to contributions to the PTA General Fund, PS/IS 217 3rd Graders were able to spend 10 weeks with Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance learning West African Dance. The culmination of those weeks was a performance in our auditorium
We're looking forward to current and prospective families joining us on December 10th. In addition to hearing about some of the work going on in our school over the next few years, families will have the opportunity to work with Cornell Tech mentors and create computer games.
Early this morning, approximately 70 Cornell Tech graduate students visited Roosevelt Island to teach coding classes to about 60 PS/IS 217 middle school students. According to a Cornell Tech spokesperson:
Cornell Tech grad students will head to Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 to teach coding classes to middle schoolers for its second "Hack Roosevelt Island" day. The student volunteers will work with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on spooky, Halloween-themed coding projects using the coding language, Scratch.
Led by 70 accomplished engineering, health tech, connective media, and MBA students from all over the world, Hack Roosevelt Island Let's Code RI will help show that coding can be easy and fun for kids. Through the games, kids will learn useful computational thinking methods that they can use in a variety of classes and situations.
with the help of a Cornell Tech student Jason Hershman.
Olivia said that she really liked her game and its fun to play. Displaying a true entrepreneurial spirit, Olivia added that she would like to sell her games:
... to everyone across the world....
PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman learned to code Scratch too.
Our middle school students had an amazing time designing their Halloween themed games. Thank you Diane Levitt, Cornell Tech mentors and the staff from the Museum of Moving Image for planning this event for our student.
More from the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Cornell Tech Halloween Hackathon from the Twitterverse.
Task Force Member Christina Delfico asked Ms. Swanson about previous announced Cornell Tech feasibility study on Roosevelt Island pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge.
Ms Swanson reported that Cornell Tech raised the subject with the NYC Department of Transportation during the Bloomberg administration in 2013, but at that time the Bloomberg administration was not interested in pursuing a feasibility study due to its scale, complexity and cost.
Ms. Swanson added that Cornell Tech is:
... very much in favor of this.... Providing pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge is something that we support very much....
and:
... we would love this idea to pursue it but it probably is a long shot... never say never and we are open to all sorts of different ways of approaching it....
Here's the discussion.
From 1919 to 1955 there was vehicle and pedestrian access from the Queensboro Bridge to Roosevelt (then Welfare) Island. According to Neil Tandon writing for the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS):
... The Elevator Storehouse, opened in 1919, housed an elevator that transported cars and people from the Queensboro Bridge down to the present-day Tramway Plaza. In addition, it contained storage space and a reception ward for the island's Metropolitan Hospital. The building, whose main lobby was on its top floor, was nicknamed the upside-down building and was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not for its peculiar design. With the opening of the Welfare Island Bridge, the building closed in 1955 and was demolished in 1970....
The NY Times reported on Roosevelt Island pedestrian access to Queensboro Bridge in 2007:
... a spokeswoman for the city Department of Transportation, raised doubts about a passageway that would have to be nearly 135 feet high.
''It's not feasible,'' she said. ''They'd have to remove a lane of traffic to put in an elevator.''
With an average of about 180,000 vehicle crossings a day, the Queensboro is one of the city's busiest bridges, and according to Ms. Sarlin, eliminating a lane for an elevator would hamper traffic. A stairway could not be installed because people with disabilities could not use it, she added, noting that such a change would also cause security problems. Further, she said, since the facade of the bridge has landmark status, altering it would present a problem....
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer described how her interest in the NYC Tech Scene began. She recounted the fight between former NYC Council Member Christine Quinn and Council Member Bill deBlasio (now the Mayor) for NYC Council Speaker. Ms. Brewer supported Mr. deBlasio, he lost, resulting in Ms Brewer appointed to the Technology Committee by Speaker Quinn, which at the time was a terrible committee to be on. Times have changed.
Cornell Tech's Jane Swanson reviewed the progress made on commitments made by Cornell Tech to the Roosevelt Island community.
Cornell Tech Director of Capital Planning Andrew Winters describes the Roosevelt Island campus plan and current status of construction including use of Roll On Roll Off Barging.
Finally questions and comments from residents including:
Proposed LIC real estate development that includes pedestrian bridge connecting Roosevelt Island to LIC,
Safety issues caused by construction trucks speeding on Roosevelt Island's Main Street,
Air quality monitoring,
No AVAC Garbage Removal planned for campus
Funding source assistance for Roosevelt Island organizations
The last speaker was Roosevelt Island Community Coalition (RICC) Co-Chair Ellen Polivy. Ms. Polivy thanked Cornell Tech for addressing and meeting the requests from the Roosevelt Island community.
Roosevelt Island Youth Program Partners with Cornell Tech to offer exciting Coding off the Grid Program
It is Roosevelt Island Youth Program Beacon's pleasure to introduce a new and exciting opportunity for rising 7th Graders to work in collaboration with Cornell Tech this summer! July 20th-31st, Cornell Tech and the Roosevelt Island Youth Program's Beacon and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development will offer students entering 8th grade in the fall an optional 2-week program called "Coding off the Grid" that combines computer science and natural sciences. The program has been developed by the American Museum of Natural History and will be led by Ms. Kelly Huang, science teacher at PS/IS 217. Students will spend time outdoors observing birds and the natural environment, and indoors in the computer lab learning to code their observations. No prior knowledge is required for this class.
The program will last three hours every day for 2 weeks, starting at 9:00am and ending at 12:00pm, so students will be able to participate in other Beacon summer activities during the rest of their days. Coding off the Grid includes two field trips to the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, on July 21st and 31st. At the conclusion of the program, Cornell Tech will host a tech high school fair for all participants and their families. There will be no charge for participating.
If you know of a 7th or 8th Grade student in our area who may be interested in this program, please contact the Beacon Office to receive an application at (212) 527-2505 or email us at RIBeacon@gmail.com.
Cornell Tech Director Of K -12 Education Diane Levitt discussed summer program for PS/IS 217 students on the study of birds with the American Museum of Natural History, including learning how to code in Python language, during June 8 meeting of CB 8's Roosevelt Island and Education committees.
Here is the picture we took with Mayor DeBlasio following the Cornell Tech Ground Breaking:
Mandana Beckman, Ursula Fokine , Instructional Coach, Jennifer Bartolino , AP Students: Felicia Einhorn, Principal for A Day & Elyes Bouchik, Assistant Principal for a Day
Here's what Mayor de Blasio said about PS/IS 217 during his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB 8) Youth & Education (Y&E) Committee will be meeting tonight to discuss an issue of great importance to Roosevelt Island - an update on the Cornell Tech / PS/IS 217 Partnership. You're invited.
Meeting Date:
Monday, June 8, 2015 - 7:00pm
Meeting Location:
PS/IS 217
645 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY, Auditorium
New York, NY
Introductions
Update by Principal Beckman, PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island and Diane Levitt, Senior Director K-12 Education for Cornell Tech on partnership with PS/IS 217.
Old/New Business
Final Update on 2nd Teacher/Aide in the classroom
Future Meeting Dates:
July & August: Should there be any meetings?
September: To Be Determined
Hattie Quarnstrom-Figueroa and Debra Teitelbaum, Co-Chairs, Youth & Education Committee Jeffrey Escobar and Laurence Parnes, Co-Chairs, Roosevelt Island Committee
More on PS/IS 217 Cornell Tech Partnership at previous posts.
Last Friday, April 17, Cornell Tech graduate students visited Roosevelt Island, the future home of their campus beginning in 2017, to HACK ROOSEVELT ISLAND with PS/IS 217 students
and Roosevelt Island Seniors by teaching coding and computer literacy workshops within small groups and on an individual basis.
On Friday, April 17, over 30 Cornell Tech graduate students taught coding and computer literacy workshops to local middle school students and senior citizens on Roosevelt Island to show that computing can be fun and easy for New Yorkers of all ages at “Hack Roosevelt Island.”
Tied to the observance of Earth Day, volunteers from Cornell Tech’s Master’s programs practiced coding games related to the environment and computer graphics with 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students from PS/IS 217 using the python platform Codesters.
“We’re thrilled to partner with PS/IS 217 to give students the opportunity to learn about computing by building digital projects,” said Cornell Tech Sr. Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt. “This is just one step in our commitment to bring K-12 technology education to Roosevelt Island and across the city. We look forward to working with the community to build on this event and create more tech opportunities over the next few years.”
Following the Middle School workshop, volunteers worked with adults at the Roosevelt Island Senior Center on general computer literacy and basic online and Internet skills. Seniors practiced finding recipes, travel suggestions, health tips and other vital information, including how to use Google Maps and general Internet safety and best practices.
“It was great to see students and senior citizens interacting with technology and learning skills that they will be able to use for many years,” said Miwa Takaki, Cornell Tech MBA student and lead student organizer for Hack Roosevelt Island. “Opportunities to volunteer with the Roosevelt Island community are part of what makes being a student at Cornell Tech so special and one of the reasons that I look forward to staying in the city after graduation.”
Cornell Tech is committed to developing K-12 education and other community engagement initiatives on Roosevelt Island, the home of its future campus, set to open in 2017. Friday’s event was an additional step towards fulfilling Cornell Tech’s promise to the city, with more programming to be created over the next few years.
I spoke with Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt and MBA student Miwa Takaki following the PS/IS 217 portion of Hack Roosevelt Island. Ms Levitt explained that the PS/IS 217 students created digital games using the Python programming language.
Ms. Levitt then assisted me with the interview of Ms Takaki who is graduating from Cornell Tech and going to work for Ebay in NYC. Ms. Takaki is an example of the type of student envisioned for Cornell Tech by Mayor Bloomberg when he first proposed the idea of a NYC computer graduate engineering school in December 2010. Ms. Takaki is from the West Coast and came to NYC for the type of collaborative education provided by Cornell Tech and upon graduation is staying to contribute to the NYC Tech scene.
Hack Roosevelt Island then continued at the Roosevelt Island Seniors Center. Cornell Tech's Jane Swanson and Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member, and Coder himself, Ben Kallos had some introductory comments.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
