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P.S. 186 Castlewood Home

the front of ps 186 elementary school

Who We Are

We are a 3-K through 5 city school with a suburban feel located in a neighborhood of garden apartments and the Queens County Farm Museum, the only working historical farm in New York City. Our "little school with a big heart" is home to about 350 students and 100 staff members. Our school is known for its warm, inclusive atmosphere that distinguishes us from many city schools. Castlewood is dedicated to helping students grow into culturally responsive, emotionally stable, academically proficient citizens as they engage in various, rigorous learning opportunities.  ​​
 
Read more about our unique history here
one male in a blue suit and one female in a dress posing in front of the American flag
principal wearing a crown sitting with student council group
students with principal eating pizza
student and principal mummy wrapping a teacher with toilet paper
Principal McLaughlin being hugged by ps 186 students
5 female adults in matching shirts standing with principal mclaughlin
principal mclaughlin standing outside hugging two female students
12 adults standing in front of a school building holding stop signs and wearing safety vests
Principal McLaughlin standing with 3 students and Darnell Weir at the Science Expo
Principal with 4 PTA members holding pumpkins
principal mclaughlin standing in the front of a smartboard with 4 adults looking at him
Principal McLaughlin and Assistant Principal Gerlach with community police officers
3 adults standing under a blue, black, and white balloon arch
assistant principal wearing spiderman dress with a teacher in wonder mom shirt
Assistant Principal Gerlach with ps 186 students surrounding her
AP Gerlach wearing black cat ears with 3 children in the cafeteria
two adult females wearing pink shirts for breast cancer awareness
assistant principal standing with two teachers behind a lion king jr sign
6 adult females wearing different variations of red white and blue
two females and one male adult along with a male student posing on the auditorium stage
5 children both male and female with an adult female standing in an office
Group of staff and student with Council Member Lee
3 adult females and 7 children wearing different red outfits or outfits with apples on them

Welcome to the new school year!

It is our pleasure to welcome everyone back for the new school year! We are all so very excited to have students back in our classrooms filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning. It is our mission at PS 186 to make every child feel welcomed, connected and part of our Castlewood family. Additionally, we strive to challenge each student to grow in their own academic and social capabilities. We can say first hand that at Castlewood we have great teachers who thoughtfully plan out their lessons and classroom activities that will fully engage your child on this year’s journey to the next grade.

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5 students and 2 teachers dressed in red holding paper lanterns in celebration of lunar new year
students coding on a computer
4 students sitting at a table on their laptops
one male and one female adult standing in front of a smartboard giving a presentation
2 students coding a Lego robot
3 boys wearing different variations of red white a blue outfits outside
two students building and coding a Lego robot
student playing on computer
group of students holding donation bags
2 female adults reading to 8 students
two students sitting on the floor building robot

Our School's Mission

In order to support all students, Castlewood will bolster instruction in all classrooms and ensure that every student acquires, and every parent/guardian understands, advanced literacy skills by creating equitable learning opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse students.  We will provide a welcoming and affirming environment by increasing our family events, having high expectations, rigorous instruction, inclusive curricula, and assessments through ongoing professional learning and support as well as creating a supportive social emotional environment.

School News

PTA Pie Pick Up!

For anyone who ordered from the Pie Sale please pick up your orders at Castlewood today! Tuesday 11/26/24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. outside by the ramp near the playground.
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12 adults male and female wearing matching blue shirts holding paper signs
Assistant Principal and Principal wearing holiday gear while caroling
Teacher with 2 children outside while caroling
Principal with 4 members of the PTA holding pumpkins
NYPD captain speaking with students
Children and Parent exploring a brain model during career day
The little school with the big heart