Local Schools Place at First D27 Soap Box Derby

District 27’s schools were off to the races at the first-ever Soap Box Derby Race and Family Day on Saturday, May 9 at Forest Park, and some local schools even placed!

Students, families, schools, community partners, and local agencies gathered for a day centered on STEM, teamwork, creativity, and community pride. Despite the rainy weather, the event drew an incredible turnout, with families coming out to cheer on students. Students from across the district, including from several Rockaway/ Broad Channel schools (P.S. 47, Scholars’ Academy, P.S. 42, P.S./M.S. 183, P.S. 197, M.S. 53, P.S. 253 and KAPPA VI) designed, built, and raced their soap box cars at this event.

Johan Guzman, the driver from P.S. 66 – The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, took first place and will be traveling to Akron, Ohio, to represent Queens in the International Soap Box Race. P.S. 64 – The Joseph P. Addabbo School, won second place, while Rockaway’s own Scholars’ Academy earned third place, and P.S./M.S. 183 took fourth place.

The Soap Box Derby was made possible with the support of the schools, principals, students, families, volunteers, community partners, NYPD, FDNY, NYC Parks, Queens Public Library, YMCA, NYCPS FACE, School Facilities, Con Edison, and Senator Addabbo’s office.

District 27 Superintendent David Norment is looking forward to making this an annual event. “Today was about more than a race,” Norment said. “The District 27 Soap Box Derby reflected what we value most as a district: student opportunity, teamwork, creativity, community, and joy.”