Washington School is Ready to Soar in 2023

Washington Primary School students and staff are enjoying the first full school week of 2023. The group hit the ground running last Tuesday when they returned from the winter vacation. It didn’t take long for everyone to get back into their daily routines.

“Washington Primary School is ready to kick off 2023 on a high note,” Principal Michelle J. Richards said. “Washington will continue to provide our students with interactive engaging learning experiences that build not on academic skills but enhance social emotional learning. Learning experiences will SWIRL throughout the day! Every learning experience incorporates the SWIRL approach; speaking, writing, interaction, reading and listening.”

Dr. Richards has been principal of Washington Primary School since July 1, 2018. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology at SUNY Albany and a Master of Science degree in childhood education at City University of New York-Lehman College. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in educational administration and supervision at St. John’s University. She studied for her state administrative certification at CUNY-Queens College.

“Our classrooms are buzzing with ‘Wonderful Washington Winners’ learning, discussing, interacting, and engaging with the new Reveal Math program,” Dr. Richards said. “This program allows students to solve real life situations to build math skills using various strategies. Students are also engaging with characters in the program to learn about STEM professions. Hands-on learning continues with our science program. Hermit crabs have arrived and our students will engage in learning about various habitats. Washington winners learn in various ways and our goal is to incorporate different learning styles into the learning process-tactile/kinesthetic, audio, visual and reading and writing.”

Dr. Richards began her career as a general education teacher in New York City. She worked at Public School 107x (2001-03) and Lewis H. Latimer School-PS 56K (2003-06). She later taught in Elmont at Gotham Avenue School from 2006-09.

At the time of her appointment in Huntington UFSD, Dr. Richards was an assistant principal in the Elmont School District since 2013 and an administrator there since 2009.

“Washington Primary School will continue to soar in 2023,” Dr. Richards said.

Washington School History

Washington Elementary School and its sister schools, Flower Hill and Southdown, opened in September 1954. All three were dedicated on Saturday, September 18, 1954 with School Board President Richard McCormack presiding. Washington’s was held at 2 p.m. Residents had an opportunity to tour each of the structures beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing throughout the afternoon.

Washington Elementary School, like its sister schools, originally consisted of 13 classrooms for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. While it was under construction, it was known as Whitson Road Elementary School, before School Board members later decided to name new elementary schools erected south of 25A after U.S. presidents. (Interestingly, this policy was ignored when Roosevelt Elementary School was demolished and replaced by Huntington Elementary School.)

During its early years, the parcel of land adjacent to Washington’s west boundary was a horse training and racing facility, with barns and tracks. Crowds turned out on weekends to watch horse races. The site was later sold to developers and now features traditional suburban housing.

During a meeting on January 7, 1958, the Huntington School Board approved the idea of adding a new wing to Washington, Southdown and Flower Hill schools at a combined cost of $800,000. Washington’s new wing housed classes for the first time on November 24, 1958.

When construction was finally complete, each building had 19 classrooms for grades 1-6, two kindergarten rooms (kindergarten was then offered in split morning and afternoon half-day sessions), two smaller music rooms, a combination gym/auditorium and a cafeteria, in addition to a main office, nurse’s office, faculty room and kitchen facilities.