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M.S. 144 Michelangelo School |
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2545 Gunther Avenue Bronx , NY 10469 Phone: (718) 379-7400 Fax: (718) 320-7135 Map |
Principal: Katina Lotakis Parent Coordinator: Francine Honegan (347) 563-4944 |
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WHAT'S SPECIAL: Dedicated, nurturing principal; large playground; woodshop. DOWNSIDE: Rigid cafeteria environment. |
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Grade levels: 6 to 8 Class size: 25-30 Enrollment: 1066 Ethnicity %: 2 W; 68 B; 25 H; 3 A |
Reading scores:  Math scores:  |
District 11 Admissions: Neighborhood Neighborhood: Baychester More school data |
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With more than 35 years at the school, Principal Katina Lotakis has created an environment that both nurtures 6th graders and gives independence to older students in preparation for high school. She refers to a child's parent as his or her "mommy" or "daddy," but she can also be quick-witted when a child is ready to test her boundaries. Students often stop the principal to give quick updates on their lives, or request a time when they can speak with her privately. The school library, which was once used as a classroom, has gone back to its original purpose. Now, students benefit from an enriching environment that includes new books, laptop computers, and a full-time librarian. During lunch, students may play chess or Scrabble in the library, or they may play outside on a gigantic playground, even in winter. To give this large school more intimacy, students are placed in one of three academies, each overseen by an assistant principal, dean, guidance counselor, grade advisor, and school aide. Elective courses such as sewing and drama are available, as well as accelerated courses in preparation for the Regent's exam. The woodshop has a full range of electrical saws, sanders, and drills, and shop students make small wooden cars and bridges. At the time of our visit, the school had also organized a class comprising just one teacher and seven students -- children who had struggled academically and emotionally, but did not have special education needs. The principal told us that she had seen "tremendous improvements" with these students. In most classrooms, desks were arranged not in rows, but groups, and children were often encouraged to work together. We saw exciting teachers engaging well-behaved students. Class changes were orderly, and students we talked to assured us that their school operated well. "I like it here. It's not a bad school," said one 7th grader. In a few cases, we saw faculty members reverting to boring lectures. A teacher in one classroom, where desks were positioned in rows, paced up and down the aisles lecturing from a textbook. The principal assured us that this was not the accepted model and said she would discuss the matter with the teacher later. Security officers speak in gentle tones and quickly discern a problem. On the day of our visit, however, a playground fight broke out, a few stragglers took their time getting to class, and an assistant principal raged into a microphone during lunch. "Stop eating...you stop drinking, stop banging on the table," she shouted. "If I can't find the person, the whole table will be punished." Many students begin the school behind grade level, a challenge that requires particularly skilled teaching. One math teacher said only 15 to 20 percent of his students are on grade level, a problem he's preparing to confront by analyzing student data to pinpoint the areas where they are weakest. For many years the school has suffered from low test scores, a common occurrence in middle schools that lack "gifted" programs and enroll a high percentage of students poor enough to qualify for free lunch. Many MS 144 students also come from homes where parents work long hours in the nursing industry and have little time to help their children with homework. Like other middle school principals facing similar challenges, Lotakis says it's important to recognize seemingly subtle improvements, such as the declining numbers of students who receive the lowest ranking -- Level 1 -- on standardized tests. In 2004, 37 percent of 7th graders scored Level 1, but in 2005, the Level I figure for that same group of kids -- now in 8th grade -- had dropped to 14 percent. Students are required to wear uniforms. Kids we talked to told us that they liked this rule, because it frees them from worrying about color coordination in their school wardrobes. "It's easy -- black and white," said a cheery student. English as a Second Language: About 60 students receive ESL services. Some are enrolled fulltime in a classroom with other children learning English. Others attend regular classes, but receive help from an ESL teacher at times during the school day. Special education: Emotionally disturbed and mentally retarded students are educated in classes where one teacher and one teaching assistant oversee groups of no more than 12 children. There are also three "collaborative team teaching" classes, where general education and special education students learn side-by-side in a classroom with two teachers, one of whom is certified in special education. After school: Students are tutored and play sports Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday until 6 p.m. There are boys' and girls' basketball teams, as well as an academic program and classes in sewing and step dancing. A Saturday Academy offers test preparation and tutoring from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and serves breakfast. (Vanessa Witenko, September 2005) |
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Post Your Comment | |
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(student) Nov 12, 2009 |
I'm attending this school and I dislike it with a passion. especially that stupid rule about "no hoodies" what on earth is a hoddie going to do to us??????? All of these stupid rules just shows that SOMEONE has wayyyy too much time on their hands ! |
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(school staff) Jun 29, 2009 |
The principal continues to harass staff so great teachers and guidance counselors have left. I was one of them. |
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kaijiera119 (alumnus) Dec 19, 2008 |
"I MISS 144 I WENT THERE FROM 2000-2003 AND ILL ADMIT I WAS ONE OF THERE WORST STUDENTS THEY TRIED TO GET RID OF ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT ILL ADMIT THE STAFF WAS SO LOVING AND CARING AND MS LOTAKIS WAS THE BEST PRINCIPAL SHE WAS TOUGH BUT ALSO CARED AND IF IT WAS FOR HER AND THE TEACHERS I WOULDNT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY I WOULD SAY MY CLASS WAS ON OF THE WORST THE SCHOOL EVER HAD BUT I STILL TALK TO MY FRIENDS AND WE ALL ALWAYS SAY THE SAME LIKE DANG I MISS 144 THOSE WERE THE BEST SCHOOL YRS OF MY LIFE I EVEN HAD A DREAM THAT I WENT BACK THERE AND WAS HELPING MRS. LOTAKIS WITH SOME PAPER WORK...LOL ANYWAY 144 WAS A GREAT SCHOOL FOR ME EVEN THO I PUT THE TEACHERS THROUGH HELL THEY STILL WERE THERE 4 ME" |
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| Apr 21, 2008 |
"MS 144 is a nice school, but the rules now are very strict," writes a student. "What kind of rule is 'You shouldnt wear sweaters'? Either way it's a great school. People say that it's bad. There are a lot of fights but it's on you if you want to have an education or want to fight. To me MS 144 is a good school." (April 2008)
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| Mar 20, 2008 |
"Since 2003, 50 percent of the staff has left," writes a teacher. "That certainly doesn't paint a positive picture of the school." (March 2008)
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| Apr 17, 2007 |
A recent graduate writes that fighting is common among students and that many students do not take their schoolwork seriously. "Weapons are more likely to be seen than an average over an 80 at MS 144," he writes. (April 2007)
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| Dec 22, 2006 |
A senior at the school complains that "there are a lot of fights, gangs, and weapons; students curse, yell, and disrespect the teachers;" and there are many pregnant students. This student praises the school's step team and writes that "the teachers work hard and do their jobs." (December 2006)
Principal Katina Lotakis responds: " We are having a wonderful productive year. Our new Academy structure has enabled everyone to feel that they belong. We have advisory each week and the students report that they feel loved! Our Quality Review states that MS 144 is a 'warm, friendly, school where it is great to work and learn.' We have had exceptionally few serious suspensions and the community has been praising us about the school. I would hope that if a student feels this way that they would come to see me. ... I always listen to what the student's perceptions may be."
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| Nov 4, 2005 |
"That school taught me a lot thanks to all of my teachers and helping me in what ever I needed to do," writes student Krystal. "People take things for granted but that school taught me a lot." (October 2005)
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| Jun 30, 2005 |
"This school was great," writes a former student, Derek Spaulding. (June 2005)
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| May 31, 2005 |
Student Niqualla writes, "I think that MS 144 is a very good school. There are bad kids in the school, but they just like to run their mouth and talk crap, but when it comes down to the real thing they back away. I think that there are many good teachers in MS 144." (May 2005)
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| May 23, 2005 |
Kimberly, a former student, writes: "I think the school is very good. I wouldn't say 'great,' because it's not." (May 2005)
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| May 5, 2005 |
A student, who began attending MS 144 in March 2005, writes: "[My old school] was a lot of fights and arguments and so on. ... I'm in 144 now and my parents don't regret it one bit. I think if students mind their business nothing will go wrong." She adds: "Ms. Lotakis improved 144 by giving us academies. I'm from the Opportunity [academy]. I support my school with all my might!" (April 2005)
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| Feb 28, 2005 |
Lisa, a student, writes that she has not seen any improvement in the school since she began attending. She writes: "There is still excessive violence and cursing throughout the halls. Every period there are several people cutting [in] the hallways." She adds that the administration implemented a dress code, but that it "hasn't helped a bit" and that if anything, "fights have increased since then, and students still don't wear [the uniform]." "I think my school can do much better," she concludes. (February 2005)
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| Dec 22, 2004 |
Adina, a former student, writes: "Many people make the school out to be a bad place but actually it's not once you get inside...I went there and it was the best experience of my life."(November 2004)
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| Aug 4, 2004 |
Elizabeth, an alumna, writes: "I went to MS 144 for 3 years. I ... had a fun time there. The work was easy and so was the tests. All the teachers was doing they job and doing it well." (August 2004)
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| Jun 22, 2004 |
"I think this school is a disgrace," writes a parent. "They could do a lot better." (February 2004)
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| This page was last updated on Nov 30, 2009. |
