ABOUT
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The name West Q reflects both where we are and who we are. It honors our home in Western Queens and represents the commitments that guide our school:
Wonder. Exploration. Safety. Togetherness.
MISSION & VISION
Our Mission
To create a school where children feel safe, known, and connected while building strong academic foundations through purposeful, hands-on learning.
Our Vision
Children who love coming to school, love learning, and leave West Q curious, confident, and ready for what comes next.
Our Core Values
Our core values are rooted in what we believe every child needs in order to learn and grow: to be loved, to feel safe, to have agency, to develop competence, and to feel connected.
Love
To know they
are cared for
Safety
To feel secure enough to take risks
Agency
To have a voice and make meaningful choices
Competence
To experience success & believe I can do this
Connection
To know that
they belong
Meet the Principal
Suzanne Sheerin
Interim Acting Principal / Project Director
Dear Families,
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Building West Q has been the opportunity of a lifetime. After more than 20 years in education, I was given the rare chance to take everything I’ve learned and build something new from the ground up.
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For me, that starts with belonging. I grew up between Ireland and a small town in Pennsylvania and have spent most of my adult life here in Queens. These very different places have shaped how I think about community and what it means to feel at home somewhere.
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I want West Q to be a place that takes learning seriously without taking the joy out of it. A place where children are known, families feel welcome, and everyone has a place.
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We’re just getting started, and I hope you’ll be part of what we build together.
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Warmly,
Suzanne Sheerin