UPDATE JANUARY 2009: According to two teachers and the parent coordinator who talked with Insideschools.org at a District 1 school fair, students at PS 134 can participate in a daily after school program hosted by the community organization, Henry Street Settlement, at the school. Pre-kindergarteners also have the option of being in an after school program that runs until 5 p.m. every day and is run by PS 134 teachers.

The school also has a community garden, with the help of the Hester Street Collaborative. It hosts "Dirt Days" for students who wish to volunteer in the upkeep of the garden after school or during the weekends.

The PTA president who was also present added that new facillities in the school building include an expanded library, and a dance studio complete with a ballet barre and licensed dance teacher.

REVIEW 2003: PS 134 is a small school on the Lower East Side, housed in the same building as two other schools: PS 137 and a District 75 program for students with severe disabilities. The school shares the auditorium, library and many other facilities with the other schools in the building.

Administrators twice agreed to meet us, but, unfortunately, both times requested that we leave after we asked to visit classrooms. We were unable, therefore, to get much of a first-hand look at students and teachers.

What we can say is that while the school is clean, with shiny floors and bright blue hallway trim, classroom doors are kept tightly shut, creating a closed atmosphere in the school. On our way out, as we walked by doorway windows of classrooms, we saw small classes and what appeared to be orderly lessons.

The principal, Loretta Caputo, has been at the school for five years. She seems to have a top-down rapport with teachers and other administrators. We observed her giving stern directives to office staff and administrators on both of our brief visits.

The school has two classes on each grade. Two English as a second language teachers serve the school's large Chinese-speaking population. There are two self-contained special education classes and two "inclusion" classes, where special education students are integrated with general education students. PS 134 has an after school program in collaboration with the nearby Henry Street Settlement, a venerable community organization. (Deborah Apsel, November 2003)