PS 676 welcomes inaugural class of sixth graders, by Nathan Weiser

PS 676 held a back to school meet and greet with teachers and staff on the first day of September where students received brand new supplies for the upcoming school year.

This is the first year that PS 676 has a sixth grade in its transition to becoming New York City’s first Harbor Middle School. The sixth graders who came got to do a tour of their new school.
According to parent coordinator Marie Hueston, Redemption Church and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield provided the school supplies. Backpacks, crayons and pencil cases that were filled with stationery were available to everyone in the school, and anyone that could not attend could make arrangements to pick up the supplies next week.

The school promoted this back to school event on social media. Many more people attended than when they had this event last year. The first day of school is not until September 8.
Red Hook Initiative had their after school program in the school yard and interested participants got to sign up. They had books that people could take and a wheel that kids could spin.

The after school program offers many activities for middle school students including art, photojournalism and TikTok dance.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center had a table with flyers and lots of information so people can be informed about their rights. One of their flyers had information about the AmeriCorps program.

Pioneer Works had a table with upcoming events that they are having. On September 14, they are having their last community lunch of the summer from 12:30 to 1:30.
Pioneer Works partnered with FIG, which is a food justice program that aims to transform the food system. The chef for this event is Naomi Santos, who is the executive chef at CENA.
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has donated supplies in the past, also had a table. They were giving away masks and had information about an end of summer event on September 17.

The end of summer event will be at 124 Bush Street. There will be food, music and resources. At 1:00 there will be a community led march against gun violence, at 2:30 there will be a school supply giveaway and at 3:00 there will be free braided ponytails and haircuts for kids.

The NYC Infant Safe Sleep Initiative had information on their program that was started under Mayor de Blasio and has continued. They go to hospitals and schools and help people around the city.
They aim to prevent sleep-related infant injury deaths and address long-standing disparities to promote and protect the health and well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable New Yorkers. They aim to close the black/white infant mortality gap by empowering communities.

Nathan Weiser