Back-to-school season tests family routines

September means back-to-school season, light jackets and the start of a new academic year.

By late August, the countdown has begun for schoolchildren. I remember looking out at the ocean from the beach during childhood vacations and wishing summer would never end. Many children in Sunset Park feel the same way. As the sunsets come earlier, preparations for the new school year begin.

New clothes and uniforms replace the floats, swimsuits and beach toys, while backpacks and school supplies return. For parents, the cycle brings the stress of a new beginning, the cost that comes with it and the planning required for an entire school year.

Leticia has a son and a daughter in school. Her daughter is nearly a teenager, "which requires more attention in many ways. At 12, the homework is more demanding, and there is less rest for a mother when you are doing the work of being a mom," Leticia said.

"I hope they don't give me so much homework this year," said Ernesto, who is entering sixth grade. He was shopping for the new school year near Industry City with his sister and his mother, Rita.

"We came to Marshalls to start putting together their wardrobes for school," Rita said. One of her biggest challenges is keeping up with the children's homework and the work at home. "All these new clothes become old in no time, and you have to wash and organize things constantly. Parents don't have time to get bored. Although it is true that the time they spend at school is time I have for myself."

The work that goes into a child's education is also shared with teachers and other school staff. Emma oversees attendance at P.S. 24 on 38th Street.

"It is very important to maintain good attendance for school-age children," she said. For Emma, one of the greatest achievements for parents is helping children develop discipline around homework and punctuality. Those habits can continue through secondary school, college and working life. "In the end, it is a matter of organization."

Evelin was shopping with her youngest daughter, the youngest of six children. "She is going into fifth grade. School gets more difficult." In Evelin's view, it is good for children to understand that vacations end "and that they have to face responsibilities. I think going back to school prepares them for that and makes them more aware."

Mar Alvarez is the administrative lead at P.S. 958 on Fifth Avenue. If anyone understands organization, it is her: administrative work is vital to a public school.

"I almost suffer more than the students during back-to-school season," she told the Sunset Post with a laugh. "In a way, everything nobody knows falls under my responsibility. I can't afford not to know, because many families depend on me and on the guidance I give them."

Coordination between schools and parents, as well as strong organization within the institutions themselves, is one of the most discussed issues among families each school year. Everyone wants their children to thrive, but families may not always recognize how much support school-age children need at home.

Stephany is a parent coordinator at P.S. 172 Beacon School of Excellence, 825 Fourth Ave., a Sunset Park public school recognized with a National Blue Ribbon award. She said one of the biggest back-to-school challenges is the waitlist.

"Our elementary grades are full. What parents do is sign up for New York City public-school waitlists through MySchools," she said.

According to Stephany, the school's curriculum focuses on applied mathematics and, especially for younger children, on teaching independence. That requires teachers who can help children develop their social skills.

Erminia is the mother of two girls who attend the school. "I recommend it because the teachers make sure to spend the time they need with each child," she said. "They work hard to help every student reach the same level."

Her daughters are 8 and 6. "We are left wishing for a much longer summer," Erminia said. "The older one wants more vacation. The younger one is already ready to go back to school."

For Jade, a staff member at P.S. 169 who spoke with the Sunset Post during a break, returning to school after a hot, humid New York summer also helps children stay focused and away from other problems in the street.

"Children have to go to school," Jade said. "It is how parents and children take on their responsibilities while allowing children to grow freely."