FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 22, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 17
Carranza applauds outdoor learning at Corona school
BY DEAN MOSES
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
In an eff ort to promote the city’s new
outdoor learning initiative, Schools
Chancellor Richard Carranza visited P.S
143’s outside class in Hinton Park in
Corona on Th ursday, Oct. 15.
P.S 143 makes use of the neighboring
Hinton Park in order to teach students
about the importance of staying active,
especially during an era when COVID-
19 has forced many families into their
homes.
Th e fenced-off section of the park is
located directly across the street from the
elementary school, where cones, hoops
and other markers were set up for a relay
race.Th
e outdoor lesson was underway for
about 10 minutes when Carranza arrived
to observe the activity. Th e chancellor
waved, clapped and cheered on the young
students as they showed off , sprinting up
and down the grassland.
Much to the delight of the children
and onlookers, Carranza
even got involved with
the excitement, performing
a lap in the relay
by skipping in place
before darting along
the obstacle course,
mimicking the mini
athletes’ moves.
Aft er the class, a
press conference
was held in P.S
143’s playground,
where Principal
Justine Lucas welcomed
all attendees
to the school and
expressed her gratitude
for the ability
to use the outside
space in
Hinton Park. Soon thereaft
er, the chancellor took
to the podium where he
stressed the importance
of these activities.
“I am excited to be
here at P.S 143 to highlight
the wonderful outdoor
learning that we
Photos by Dean Moses
have. I haven’t seen it done any better
than what I just saw here. We have over
111 sites now that are utilizing outdoor
learning and it’s an integral part of how
we not only keep our students and our
staff safe, but also how we give our students
the opportunity to fl ex their muscles,”
Carranza said.
He concluded by emphasizing the value
of being able to spend time outside during
our lockdown age.
“By doing what they were supposed to
do and staying in the safety of their own
homes, it has made it possible for us to
have in-person learning like this. But that
also means that many children may have
been unable to explore the world around
them. Th at is why this program is so
important, not just to P.S 143, but to all
of the children of the city of New York.”
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