BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | Tribeca elementary school P.S. 150 — a school that at one time was in danger of relocating to Chelsea — has just won the National Blue Ribbon Award.
The award, administered by the U.S. Dept. of Education since 1982, is for schools that have “overall academic excellence” or “progress in closing achievement gaps” among students, according to the U.S. D.O.E.’s website.
“I really find this a Cinderella tale,” Wendy Chapman, current P.T.A. member and former co-president for two years, in a phone interview.
Chapman was one of the many parents who fought to keep P.S. 150, a pre-K through 5th grade school, open at 334 Greenwich St. after the city D.O.E. announced a plan to relocate it to Chelsea in April of 2013. The city cited the costs of running a school with only one class per grade.
“We banded together to save our school,” said Chapman, whose three children all attended P.S. 150 with the youngest currently in the fifth grade. “Winning the Blue Ribbon award, an academic achievement, is all the more sweet.”
Sweets were on hand on Oct. 1 as the school celebrated the award with blueberry muffins.
P.S. 150 is the only elementary school in Manhattan to be awarded the honor this year and is one of 17 elementary schools that received the award in New York State.
Chapman credited Principal Jenny Bonnet for her effort to fill out the involved application. “She’s a great principal,” she said.
“The good news is P.S. 150 is alive and kicking,” said Chapman. “It’s a very special school.”
