Dear Families and Colleagues, 

This is an exciting week in New York City! One of our hometown teams, the New York Knicks, is competing on basketball’s biggest stage—and it’s a moment our entire city can rally around. Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10, as part of NYC’s Blue & Orange Day, I invite our students and staff to wear orange and blue to celebrate our city.  

This is also an opportunity for learning. As a former math teacher, I appreciate how deeply math is woven into sports like basketball.  

From the arc of a free throw—a lesson in parabolas—to efficiency ratings, shooting percentage, assists, and triple doubles, basketball is full of real-world math in action. For example, in the NBA Finals, history shows that when a team builds an early series lead—such as going up 2-1—their chances of winning the championship typically rise to roughly 70-80%. Every possession, every rebound, every shot changes those odds.  

Sports also open doors beyond the court. They expose students to a wide range of career pathways—from sports media to analytics, from coaching to physical therapy to health and fitness. It’s another reminder that the skills we build in our classrooms can take students in many directions.  

Whether on the court or in the classroom, success is about teamwork, persistence, and smart thinking. Let’s show our spirit—and let’s go Knicks! 

In partnership, 

Kamar H. Samuels 
Chancellor