Carrol Gardens Street To Be Named For Late P.S. 58 Principal

CARROLL GARDENS, BROOKLYN — An upcoming tribute will remember the late principal of P.S. 58 and rename a section of the street in front of the school in her honor.

Friends of Giselle Gault McGee are invited to join in the tribute, at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 1 — McGee's birthday — on the corner of Carroll and Court Street, local blog Pardon Me For Asking reports. It will include a ceremonial co-naming of Carroll Street between Court and Smith as "Giselle McGee Way" for the principal, who died in 2017.

McGee had been principal at The Carroll School, found on Smith Street, and had pioneered French-English language programs for the city's schools, Parent Coordinator Joan Bredthauer wrote on the blog.

"Her warm leadership as Principal of PS 58 The Carroll School from 2006 to 2014 created an environment of positivity and collegiality that welcomed new ideas and encouraged meaningful parent engagement," Bredthauer said. "Shortly before her planned retirement, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The news was devastating to our school community."

McGee was one of three forerunners in the school system to launch a French-English Dual Language Program and grew the school from 330 to more than 800 students, Bredthauer added.

She also brought programs such as ballroom dance, chess, story-telling through ballet, opera, and “wildlife” visits from birds of prey, small mammals and reptiles to the school, she said.

"Giselle was a true people person, who bought a smile and compassion to everyone who crossed her path," Bredthauer wrote.

The tribute asks attendees to bring photos or written notes of remembrance for a display and to wear orange, McGee's favorite color. It will include a dedication ceremony for the street and a cookie swap, which will honor McGee's baking skills. Attendees can sign up to bring a batch of individually wrapped cookies or to help set up.

Read more about McGee on the blog here.