PRESTON’S PROJECT P.R.E.P. WAS A SUCCESS
Preston High School’s Project P.R.E.P., a four-week summer enrichment program for rising seventh- and eighthgraders,
has offi cially ended for the summer. Throughout the month, the prepsters experienced several workshops
on various subjects to explore new interests. The Italian workshop provided the basics of the Italian
language while becoming immersed into the rich history and culture of Italy. During the video production
workshop, the students took control as they recorded their own footage and edited it to create a video introducing
themselves to each other. The engineering workshop taught the principles of aerodynamics with
paper airplanes and a doll bungee drop. To ensure success on the upcoming TACHS exam, the students also
practiced necessary reading and math skills. Because the program was in-person, the students were able to
interact and make connections with each other after so many months of online and hybrid learning. They were
challenged to learn new skills and work together with others on group projects. Preston High School’s Reach
for Excellence program was developed to prepare ambitious middle school students for high school success
by enriching their academics and allowing them to explore possible career interests.
From left, Isabella Rodriguez, Victoria Timpone and Vicnnerys
Peralta as they enter the world of video production.
Summer DeJesus prepares for her doll bungee
drop. Photos courtesy Preston HS
MURAL UNVEILED FOR LATE FIREFIGHTER
Members of the FDNY stand beside a art mural of the late Sam Marquez, a former member of the Fire Department
who passed away on July 16, 2020. Photo Aracelis Batista
PONCE BANK
CELEBRATES REOPENING
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, AUG. 6-12, 2021 BTR
BIRCH FAMILY SERVICES ENJOY
SUMMER FUN
The children at Birch Family Services Pelham Bay Early Childhood Center
celebrate summer with s’mores and campfi re fun. The children built a
mini campfi re, sang songs and created and enjoyed s’mores.
Joram takes a break from his day
to enjoy s’mores that were roasted
over a campfi re.
Jacob enjoys some s’mores that
his class made.
Ponce Bank recently held a reopening ceremony showcasing
its fully transformed bank branch in Riverdale.
The bank branch is located at 5560 Broadway. The
Riverdale bank branch now features Ponce’s new retail
banking model with new technologies that brings the
future in banking directly to the community and to its
customers. These advancements are part of Ponce’s
system-wide upgrades incorporating their new retail
banking model which was developed at the Ponce Bank
test lab, which was run during the spring and summer
of 2019 in its East Harlem branch.as a data platform
that provides free PonceFi Wi-Fi to customers and enables
tablet-based services.
COOKIE WITH A COP AT
E. TREMONT MCDONALD’S
Sam DeLuca, owner of the McDonald’s at 3660 East Tremont Avenue Mc-
Donald’s, teamed up with the NYPD’s 45 Precinct for a successful “Cookie
with a Cop” community event. Children and parents were able to speak
to the offi cers, sit in the cop car and sound the siren.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., joins Ponce Bank offi cials to celebrate the reopening of its newly modernized Riverdale
branch.