The line stretched around PS 160 in Jamaica, Queens, and down the block at the UFT’s First Book giveaway on June 1. The incentive: 40,000 free books.

For many people, civics is synonymous with social studies. But the UFT's teacher working group on civics education feel strongly that the lessons of civics are applicable in every classroom.

More than 2,000 middle and high schoolers from New York City public schools went to the UFT’s prom boutique on May 10-11 at the union’s Bronx borough office where they picked out dresses, shoes, jewelry and accessories for their proms and graduations – and took them home for free.

The UFT presented $5,000 Albert Shanker Scholarships to 180 seniors from public high schools throughout the city and also honored eight graduate students on May 14 at a reception and ceremony in Shanker Hall at union headquarters in Manhattan. The ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the annual $1 million scholarship awards celebration.

The UFT’s sixth annual 5K run/walk took educators and students from the smartboard to the boardwalk on May 11, as participants laced up their sneakers for a jaunt along the shore at Coney Island.

At the annual showcase designed to promote the accomplishments of the newly renamed UFT United Community Schools Initiative, the spotlight was on PS/IS 184 in Brownsville, Brooklyn.