CBE After School Center Starts The Year Off Right

The early returns are in, and let’s just say that the CBE (Congregation Beth Elohim) Kids After School Center at PS 39 is an immediate success. The program, which offers a wide variety of instructional classes and recreational activities (everything from yoga and sewing to swimming and cooking) was expecting maybe 50 signups in its pilot phase this term. However, the response was “healthy,” to say the least, with 85 kids enrolled and surely more to come next term.

Painting class, Tuesdays, first period

PS 39 Dad Gary Raheb leads Friday drumming classes

Advisory committee member Alex Marshall (yes, the same busy man who just published a book, noted in a previous post) says that the program will continue to grow and expand in the coming semesters, with even more cool class choices. He tells us that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from both parents and students, and the committee will continue to keep a close eye on the program to keep it running smoothly.

Sewing class, Fridays, first period

For more information on PS 39’s new afterschool adventure, contact CBE Kids After School Director Bobbie Finkelstein here, or PS 39 Parent Coordinator Karen Herskowitz here.

~Ron Sklar, Reporter at Large

The Brooklyn Rooks: Checkmate in 2012-13!

We can’t wait to see the PS 39 Chess Team’s next move for the new school year. Last year was a hard act to follow; the team participated in the nationals in Nashville, and third grader Jeremy Rodriguez won the title of co-national champion in the under 900 section.  Parent and team coordinator Beth Kleber tells us that the national competition is no picnic: it’s three grueling days of intense competition, yet Jeremy won every game he played. This year, we have several top returning players, plus a great new crop of members for this year’s co-ed team. The Rooks are already off to a great start, taking first place in the under 700 section in this past weekend's Right Move chess tournament at Riverbank State Park.  The chess team and club are great confidence builders for vets and newbies alike, so stay tuned for reports on upcoming tournaments as the Brooklyn Rooks take on the 2012-13 chess challenge.

-Ron Sklar 

PS 39 Reporter-at-large

Let’s Fight For Our Right To After-School Activities

Committee Forming Now to Ponder After-School Program

How much would you love your kids to participate in a karate or ballet class after school? How about cooking or a foreign language? Even math?  These dreams could be realized as early as this spring as we form a committee to start the brainstorming of a PS 39 After-school Program.

Alex Marshall (aka The Tall Guy), is heading up the After-School Program Exploratory Committee

Alex Marshall (dad of first-grader Max) is heading up the exploration. However, easy does it with a dream this big. Instead of overwhelming everyone with dozens of choices, we will investigate a workable pilot program and then build from there. We’re also going to seek advice from area schools that have had success with similar after-school program start-ups.

A call is going out for volunteers to help make this a reality (we need brain-stormers and movers/shakers. You know who you are.).

In the meantime, a survey is in the works to sample the wish lists of PS 39 parents (“survey says…!”).  Once a consensus starts to form, the structure will be built from there.  Get your pencils sharpened, and look for that survey soon.

“There is kind of a chicken and egg challenge,” Alex says of getting this party started. “People tend to participate once these programs are up and going, but they are hard to offer unless we have some idea that people will participate.”

That’s why it’s up to us to step up right away and give that little extra effort for extracurricular!

To get involved, contact: Alex Marshall.


 -- Ron Sklar, PS 39 Reporter at Large