Neighborhood kids head back to school

This morning at PS 516, families lined up on 43rd Street to check in with school staff before students moved to the St. Michael’s parking lot/school blacktop. There, children lined up with their new classes to say goodbye to their parents, greet old friends, and meet their new teachers in a familiar first-day ritual.

For many parents, the summer provided the opportunity to take trips and visit family, but they see the new school year as an opportunity for their children to develop bonds in the classroom.

“I hope the kids make good and strong connections with their new teachers,” said Ana Martinez, a therapist and mother of two. “Building community is a very important part of the learning experience.

Dismissal at local public schools begins at 2:20 p.m., easing families into the afternoon routine. For many, the next big milestone is afterschool. The Center for Family Life, which serves PS 516 and other neighborhood schools, begins its programming on September 15 and will run daily until 6 p.m.

At Sunset Park High School, afterschool is already underway, with more than 30 activities available and a free hot supper served between 3:15 and 3:45 p.m.

On the school menu for lunch today at PS 516 is apple-glazed chicken, butternut squash mac & cheese, roasted broccoli, a salad bar, and a rainbow bar for dessert, part of the citywide free meals program for all students.

Behind the scenes, funding remains a critical piece of the story. This year’s city budget included $21 million to launch 5,000 new afterschool seats at 40 schools across the five boroughs, the first step in a plan to create 20,000 seats by 2027. Statewide, Governor Hochul has also directed $100 million to expand free and low-cost afterschool options in high-need communities, including Sunset Park. Federal dollars, briefly frozen over the summer, were released following public pressure, though the future of that funding stream remains uncertain with cuts still on the table in Washington.

Council Member Alexa Avilés, who represents Sunset Park, joined with other southern Brooklyn elected officials over the summer to push for restoration of afterschool funding when long-standing providers faced sudden cuts. Local leaders say that advocacy helped secure commitments in this year’s budget to protect and grow afterschool seats.

And for families not quite ready to let go of summer, the Sunset Park Pool remains open through Sunday.