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:
  1. Wonder.
  2. Exploration.
  3. Safety.
  4. Togetherness.
A navy West Q Elementary sign with a Q and heart emblem and the motto Be curious. Be kind. Be you.
West Q Elementary · PS 437Q

Mission & Vision

Why West Q exists, and where it is going

Our Mission

To create a school where children feel safe, known, and connected while building strong academic foundations through purposeful, hands-on learning.

Children working together around a table in a sunny classroom, under the words Be curious. Be kind. Be you.

Our Vision

Children who love coming to school, love learning, and leave West Q curious, confident, and ready for what comes next.

Core Values

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.

  • No. 1

    Love

    To know they are cared for

  • No. 2

    Safety

    To feel secure enough to take risks

  • No. 3

    Agency

    To have a voice and make meaningful choices

  • No. 4

    Competence

    To experience success & believe I can do this

  • No. 5

    Connection

    To know that they belong

Suzanne Sheerin, Interim Acting Principal of West Q Elementary

Principal · West Q

Meet the Principal

Suzanne Sheerin

Interim Acting Principal / Project Director

Dear Families,

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.

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.

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.

We’re just getting started, and I hope you’ll be part of what we build together.

Warmly,
Suzanne Sheerin

Contact West Q