Mayor Michael Bloomberg teamed up with Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Ronald Richter to unveil a newly renovated courtyard at a Brownsville school.
The courtyard will be shared between P.S. 41 Francis White, and FirstStepNYC, a new birth-5 center set to open in the building this September.
“Preparing all of our students to be college and career-ready is a long journey, and for the students it serves, FirstStepNYC will be just that – a first step towards that goal,” said Walcott. “The close partnership between the birth-5 center and K-8 school will support children and families as they transition from one phase of their educational path to the next.
“The renovation of this courtyard will strengthen that relationship by providing a communal space for the school and early childhood center to support student learning at various ages,” Walcott went on. “As we’ve delivered a remarkable transformation in our schools, we’ve made significant strides in closing the achievement gap. The shared courtyard and FirstStepNYC project reflect our unrelenting commitment to continue that work.”
The interior is a state-of-the-art learning environment, sporting a play area, nature center and literacy corner, allowing the hundreds of children that will enroll in the program during the first five years alone to gain a well-rounded education during their formative years.
Parents of participants will be heavily involved in the program; FirstStepNYC aims to empower families in order to create a culture of involvement.
The site will also feature a cutting edge Childhood Leadership Institute, where over 1,000 educators will be trained, supported and developed, enabling the educators to effectively cater to early childhood talent.
The renovation was made possible by support from Major League Baseball and the New York Mets.
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