by Maya McFadden The New Haven independent
Patricia Krenshaw and granddaughter Jynesis score a blue bag — just what the rising Fair Haven School fourth grader was hoping for. The duo gave Jynesis’ father a break this summer and spent every day together going to the beach and lots of carnivals.
Grandfather-grandson duo Broks and De’Ari heard music rumbling from Bowen Field as they were on their way to enjoy a day of fishing together.
They decided to check out what was going on — and wound up picking up a brand new book bag, new pencils, and five notebooks at the public school district’s annual back to school rally.
That New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) rally took place at Bowen Field at 175 Crescent St. Thursday afternoon. The first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 28.
The event brought together 50 local organizations to connect NHPS families with different support services they can make use of throughout the school year, from dentists to afterschool programs.
Families were also given reminder after reminder to get their kids to school every single day. While handing out book bags filled with supplies, district staff told students to always listen to their teachers and to “make sure y’all be good in school, education is important.”
Families lined up outside the field before the event’s start at 2 p.m. Gates were officially opened at 2:15 p.m. after the mayor, superintendent, and Office of Youth, Family, and Community Engagement staff marched into to the event with a local marching band.
The three-hour event encouraged families to start preparing for the start of the school year and enjoy the remainder of the summer season.
Grandfather Broks and rising fifth grader De’Ari picked up a host of new school supplies Thursdayto get De’Ari started for the year.
De’Ari said he’s excited to move up a grade, but he’s not excited to have what he fears will be more strict teachers. He most looks forward to recess, he said.
Broks said he will miss getting the time this summer to take De’Ari fishing. Nevertheless, after stopping by the rally, the two headed off to hopefully catch another bluegill fish.
Grandmother Natasha Moore, 52, attended Thursday’s event for her second year in a row because she said it helps connect her with new opportunities and show her two grandkids, for whom she is the legal guardian, that the school year is approaching.
Moore and several other parents said they look forward to the start of school, which helps them to return back to a routine. This year Moore’s grandkids Grey and Emir Alston are headed into Pre-k4 and second grade at Barnard.
Moore noted that the rally helps provide her with materials for not only her kids but to have for the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), which she is very active in.
As a grandparent raising her grandkids, Moore said it’s a challenge starting all over again, but she sees the difference in their learning now that she is able to be hands on and active with the school. “If no one is there to show they care, they’re going to think ‘why should I?’ ” she said.
She concluded that once school starts she plans to get a “summer break” of her own for about three weeks before she gets back to working daily with the school’s PTO.
At Thursday’s celebration, Mayor Justin Elicker also shared his excitement for his family to get back into the school routine for the year. He said that his own kids along with the thousands in the district will soon return to another safe place for them in the city where school staff go above and beyond to care for students. He added that he looks forward to helping the district to build on its progress in decreasing absenteeism. He asked that parents do all they can to get their kids to school daily because “we can’t teach to an empty seat” and noted that if they are having any troubles doing so to reach out to NHPS to get support.
Bridgete Dlamini, a mother of three NHPS students, came to Thursday’s celebration for her family’s fourth year to kick start their back to school shopping planned for the next two weeks.
Dlamini’s second, fifth, and seventh graders all attend Roberto Clemente, which she said she is a great school for her family thus far. She heard about the event from her students’ teachers. The family walked over to Bowen Field Thursday from their home near Whalley and Sherman.
While Dlamini picked up supplies and book bags for her kids, her fifth grader Maysson was able to stay cool and entertained in the mobile gaming truck.
“I’m ready for them to start school so we can have some structure again,” Dlamini said.
While her seventh grader Madisson said she looks forward to a fresh start at school this year with new friends and better grades, she said she isn’t excited about the return of Yondr pouches. Meanwhile Dlamini said she loves the district-free phone storage cases because her daughter and other middle schoolers are often too interested in scrolling on their phones and being in inappropriate group chats.
One of Dlamini’s biggest obstacles for this school year, she said Thursday, is the district’s bus transportation. She said her three kids’ bus stop is at an unsafe corner that she has told the district about and hasn’t gotten a response to as of Thursday.
Rather than having her seventh grader walk her two siblings from the corner of Sherman and Whalley Avenue where they live to the intersection at Goffe and Orchard Streets, Dlamini said she will likely have to Uber them to and from school daily.
“There’s so many people rushing and not paying attention like the Kia Boys stealing cars,” she said. “Someone’s kid at the bus stop will get hurt.”
She was told by NHPS staff Thursday when the issue was brought up that she must directly show up to the transportation office rather than making the several calls she has already.
She was excited to learn about the city’s Via NHV transportation service at Thursday’s rally and is considering using that until her bus issue is resolved.
Madisson concluded Thursday that she looks forward to finding a better friend group this year for seventh grade and getting a better grade in math and band. “I’m going to stay out of trouble and I finally get to join the dance team,” she said.
NHPS Youth and Family staffer Danny Diaz estimated a total of 2,500 attendees at Thursday’s event. He also emphasized the importance of the first two days of school and attendance as a whole for families. “That first Thursday and Friday are two of the most important days of the school year. When you start off with two absences off the back you’re immediately missing out on learning,” he said.
NHPS staffer and event organizer Darrell Brown thanks Cedric Robinson and team for making event happen.
Mom Bridgete Dlamini worries about bussing situation for kids Madisson, Maysson, and Melody, but excited to return to Roberto.
At Thursday’s back to school rally.
Grandmother Natasha Moore excited for grandkids Grey and Emir Alston to go back to school to give her a “summer break.”