Park Avenue Elementary School fourth graders have named one of the four peregrine falcon chicks who recently hatched in a nest box atop the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The students in science teacher Maria O’Brien’s classes entered a competition to name one of the chicks.

There were nearly 200,000 votes cast from third through sixth graders across Rockland and Westchester counties to name the four falcon chicks, and out of 10 finalists Park Avenue School students received 23% of the votes with the name Estrella. The rest of the chicks will be named Beakoncé, Jet and Taylor Swoop.

Principal Rosa Taylor said that a falconer will visit Park Avenue School in the next few weeks to provide a demonstration to the students. In addition, the bridge will be lit up in blue and red, the district’s colors, in recognition of the school.

Date Added: 5/30/2024