May 5, 2026

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P.S. 60 ALICE AUSTEN SCHOOL IN STATEN ISLAND RECEIVES NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT’S READY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR AWARD

P.S.60 Alice Austen School is recognized for its dedication to emergency preparedness and community engagement

NEW YORK — The New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) is proud to announce P.S. 60 Alice Austen School in Staten Island as the 2026 “Ready School of the Year” award recipient. Led by Principal Donna Bonanno and all the staff from P.S. 60 in Bulls Head, Staten Island, they showed continued commitment to emergency preparedness and community engagement with the students. The school and staff consistently showed enthusiasm, creativity, and a strong grasp of preparedness concepts specifically with their 4th grade class. You can see photos from the event here.

This year marks the 17th anniversary of the award presentation. New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell and NYC Public Schools Deputy Chancellor of Operations Kevin Moran attended the event on Tuesday, May 5, to deliver remarks at the ceremony. Each year, NYC Emergency Management and NYC Public Schools present the “Ready School of the Year” award to a school that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to emergency preparedness.

Students brought their learning to life through a Weather Share Fair, where they presented natural disasters using a range of formats, including posters, skits, PowerPoint presentations, and original songs. Their ability to break down complex topics in an engaging and accessible way, speaks to both their understanding of the material and their confidence in sharing it with others.

They also made a thoughtful effort to extend their impact by inviting a neighboring school located in a flood zone to attend the event. This not only gave them the opportunity to showcase their knowledge but also ensured that the information reached students who may be more directly affected by these types of hazards. As part of this effort, they donated decorated 'Go Bags' to all visiting students, reinforcing preparedness in a tangible and meaningful way.

“We’re proud to celebrate P.S. 60 Alice Austen for showing what it means to prepare the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “Schools are where young people begin to learn how to take care of themselves and of one another. When students learn the importance of emergency preparedness, they carry those lessons home to their friends, their families, and their communities. You are never too young, or too small, to be ready for the unexpected.”

“Being prepared can help our youngest New Yorkers feel confident about helping their families during an emergency. Schools like P.S. 60 Alice Austen provide the students with incredible opportunities to take the lessons learned in school home to their families. And whether you build your family plan today, or prepare your Go Bag tomorrow, understanding the importance of preparedness is the best lesson of all,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell.

“Project-based learning empowers elementary students to connect classroom lessons to real-world experiences, helping them understand their role in their community. By engaging in hands-on projects, children develop critical thinking, responsibility, and a strong sense of contribution to the community that extends beyond the classroom,” said P.S. 60 Alice Austen Principal Donna Bonanno.

“While we hope our schools never face an emergency situation, preparedness education with our partners at the Emergency Management plays a critical role in keeping students safe,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels. “I’m proud to see P.S. 60, especially its brilliant fourth graders, recognized for their leadership and creativity in this work. Their Weather Share Fair brought learning to life, with dynamic presentations that made complex topics engaging and accessible. By welcoming a neighboring flood zone school and donating Go Bags, these students demonstrated not only what they’ve learned, but a true commitment to protecting and supporting others, which is what we stand for at New York City Public Schools.”

“Staten Island is no stranger to storms and extreme weather, which pose a threat to people’s safety, especially those who are underprepared. It is important for us to learn what it means to be prepared for a storm, including putting together a Go Bag and having a plan to get to safety,” said Staten Island Borough President Vitto Fossella. “We are very proud of the kids at P.S. 60 who learned how to be safe in a storm and have shown others, in interesting and impressive ways, how to be safe as well.”

“Congratulations to P.S. 60 on being named NYCEM's 2026 Ready School of the Year! Emergency preparedness is something that every person at every age should take seriously, and P.S. 60 has done an outstanding job teaching students how to think ahead and be ready in an emergency. I am proud to see a Staten Island school earn this recognition, and I thank the students, teachers, staff, and NYC Emergency Management for their commitment to keeping our communities safe,” said New York State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.

 

About Ready Schools and the Ready New York for Kids Program

In 2007, NYC Emergency Management and NYC Public Schools launched the Ready New York for Kids preparedness program by distributing 1.1 million Ready New York for Kids guides to the City’s public-school students along with classroom handouts for teachers. In 2009, the agencies started a pilot program in one Brooklyn school district, holding events at 14 schools and educating over 2,400 students over four months before going citywide by the end of the year. Since then, the Ready New York program has been conducting hundreds of events in schools throughout the five boroughs. 

 

About Ready Girl

Ready Girl is a superhero and emergency manager who teaches kids about emergency preparedness. She is part of the Ready New York for Kids’ program, a joint initiative between NYC Emergency Management and NYC Public Schools that is dedicated to helping educate young students about the importance of emergency preparedness. Since she burst onto the superhero scene in October 2015, Ready Girl has taken her message all over New York City, visiting hundreds of schools, community centers and youth organizations, and dropping in on local fairs. She has trained thousands of kids throughout the five boroughs, getting every New York City kid ready for any emergency. Visit NYC.gov/readyny to learn more about the Ready New York program. 

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