It was Jennifer Ramos who felt nervous as she dropped her son Jayden off for his first full day of school.
“This is a big step for me and him,” said Ramos, preparing to say goodbye to the kindergartner at P.S. 229 in Woodside on Monday, September 9, the start of the year for the city’s public schools.
“I think I’m a little more nervous than he is because this is a whole day without my son,” she added.
Some P.S. 229 parents were also anxious about whether they prepared their children for the academic year ahead.
“I wanted them to do more reading if they had time, but all they wanted was to play video games,” said Woodside resident Armen Baltaian about his kids getting ready for school during the summer.
The summer was a mix of outdoor activities and academics for Alison Ulmschneider’s children.
Ulmschneider, who has kids starting the seventh grade, third grade and kindergarten at P.S./M.S. 207 in Howard Beach, said they had summer reading and each one came home with a list of books.
“They have to keep going with their education,” she said. “They get too used to being home and they lose what they learn.”
Lisa Singh, the parent of second grader Ashvin at P.S. 232, also in Howard Beach, was happy that even though the family vacationed during the summer, her child had to do book reports.
“He gets something to do and he’s not just playing video games or watching TV,” she said.
Ashvin, however, said he was sad that he had to trade his summer fun for classroom time and wake up early for class.
At P.S. 46 in Bayside, however, some of the students were glad to get back to class.
“I liked everything. I have the best class and the best teacher,” first-grader Peyton Jean-Jacques, 6, said after class let out on Monday.
Cayla Hogan, 6, also a first grader, said “there are so many new things in first grade,” but that her favorite part of school was recess.
Parents and kids rushed to school for the first day of classes at P.S 229 in Woodside.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre)
A mother says goodbye to her daughter as they part in front of P.S. 229.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre)
Crossing guards are back on the job, helping kids to stay safe.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre)
Isabel Williams and her mother, Jennice, were excited for the first day of kindergarten at P.S. 229.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre)
Friends Cayla Hogan and Peyton Jean-Jacques, both 6, started first grade.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan)
Sabrina Flores, 6, leaped into mom Paola’s arms at dismissal after a good first day of school.
(THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan)
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
-With additional reporting by Liam La Guerre, Maggie Hayes and Melissa Chan
