On Friday, October 27, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz visited P.S. 238 in Midwood for a school-wide assembly celebrating the school’s innovative “Read—Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit” program, created by P.S. 238, Principal Harla Musoff Weiss and Literacy Coach Florence Florio.

“Read—Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit” was born when Florio was leaving Brooklyn and saw one of the “Fuhgeddaboudit” road signs, posted by Borough President Markowitz, which bid motorists goodbye as they leave Brooklyn. When faced with extraneous details in math word problems or their own writing, students are told to “Fuhgeddaboudit.” The “Fuhgeddaboudit” mantra helps students stay on course by reminding them to focus on the facts and leave out unnecessary details.

The “Read—Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit” idea has caught on at P.S. 238 and helps students get excited about reading. P.S. 238’s “Brooklyn Bookworms”, who have each read the most books so far this school year, were awarded certificates by Borough President Markowitz and their names were also posted on the “Read—Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit” sign that hangs in P.S. 238. Borough President Markowitz was proud to join the students of P.S. 238 as they continue on the road to becoming “Brooklyn Bookworms.”

Students also performed a specially choreographed cheer for the Borough President and sang a “Read—Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit” song. The school’s program for the event also featured Borough President Markowitz’s face superimposed on a superhero’s body flying over the Brooklyn Bridge. P.S. 238 was also decorated with dozen of student designed versions of Borough President Makrowitz’s “Leaving Brooklyn” signs, including “Brooklyn the Borough of Pizza.”

“To anyone who doesn’t think P.S. 238 is one of the best schools in Brooklyn and all of New York City, or who questions our children’s devotion to reading and learning," Borough President Markowitz said to the students, "I think there’s a word that you and I both like to use that we can all say together — Fuhgeddaboudit!"