Catholic schools’ ‘touring Tuesdays’

Families interested in local Catholic elementary schools can visit the campuses, attend information sessions, and meet school officials as part of a regional “touring Tuesdays” offering.

Among those opening their doors for potential pre-K through eighth-grade students are St. Margaret of Cortona School at 452 W. 260th St., and St. John’s School at 3143 Kingsbridge Ave. Touring Tuesdays continues between 9 and 11 a.m.,  on, Jan. 7 and Jan. 28.

RKA hosts its annual color run

Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy on West 237th Street hosted its annual “Color Run” on Nov. 2, bringing together parents, students, and the community for a 1.2-mile fundraising foot race.

Runners wore white and were covered in rainbow-colored powder as they ran the course, turning their plain gym clothes into fun mementos of the day.

AmPark raises money, knowledge

AmPark Neighborhood School is preparing for the Scripps National Spelling Bee with its annual “Spellcheck” fundraiser.

Students were scheduled to take the Spellcheck quiz Nov. 15, with each correctly spelled word raising a small amount of money pledged by sponsors the students found.

Then it was off to qualify Nov. 21 for students in third, fourth and fifth grade, trying their hand at words from “crowd” to “dropsonde.” to qualify for the national bee.

The national bee takes place in June in Washington, D.C.

CUNY announces gift for Lehman

Lehman College received a $4 million grant from CUNY to support its Accelerate, Complete, and Engage program.

The ACE program supports eligible freshmen and transfer students in their efforts to complete their degree in four years. Doing it that fast can jumpstart careers or further education at the post-graduate level, according to CUNY.

Lehman expects to have 300 students benefit from the grant beginning in 2020.

P.S. 81 celebrated school spirit

It was spirit day at P.S 81 Robert J. Christen on Nov. 27, where students and teachers alike dressed up in their favorite school apparel and took part in raffles and games.

It was all part of a way to relax a bit right at the 5550 Riverdale Ave., school before the Thanksgiving break.

Record numbers moving to higher ed

The number of New York City students pursuing higher education is on the rise, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.

More than 48,000 students from the city’s 2018 graduating classes went on to either two- or four-year college programs, trade programs, or public service pursuits, de Blasio said.

The mayor credits his Equity and Excellence for All program for the increase, saying the program exposes students to college campuses and applications earlier in their academic careers.

Bronx science clinches debate spot

Bronx High School of Science students took part in the Horace Mann debate invitational, with six students from the Junior Varsity Public Forum Division earning spots in the Forensics League state championships.

Sophomores Emelia Nacos, Kalina Stoyavona, Skye Lam, William Wang, Ava Kawamura and Nora Smith will travel from the Bronx to Hofstra University in April to take part in the debating championships.

Bronx Science is one of 22 schools in the Bronx-Manhattan region that are part of the New York State Forensics League.