NYC Sentinel

While covering the New York City public school system’s first day of classes early Wednesday morning, the NYC Sentinel staff overheard a wide range of opinions and ideas about the coming school year. Here’s a collection of the most memorable quotes from teachers, parents and students:

“It feels good to be a fourth grader.”
– Jasmine Pigott, 9, P.S. 17, Henry David Thoreau School, Queens

“A lot of the teachers are younger now and rush past some of the subjects. But a lot of it has to do with the parents, too. It doesn’t stop at school. You have to go home and do your part.”
– Sammie King, father of a second-grade student Mekhi; P.S. 17, Henry David Thoreau School, Queens

“I hope there is a nice teacher. I’m happy because all my friends are going to the same class. It’s, like, not changing.”
– Santiago, 9, student; P.S. 69, Jackson Heights, Queens

“I tell him he could be a Chinese rock star.”
– Karina Krepp, parent, about her son, who is attending a dual language English-Mandarin Chinese elementary school; P.S. 184, Shuang Wen School, Manhattan

“I don’t believe in forcing kids into being a doctor, lawyer or engineer. I still groom her into the way she wants to be, with limited control, instead of telling her.”
– Ken Mak, on his daughter, Cadence, 4, after he dropped her off at P.S. 184, Shuang Wen School, Manhattan

“A lot of the parents in today’s economy are working parents. Some are working two, three jobs, so when kids come in you are not only a teacher. You are a mommy, a daddy, a doctor and, you know, it’s hard.”
– Michelle Katz, fourth-grade teacher; P.S. 7, Kingsbridge School, Bronx

“I am excited about school. I am excited to meet my new teacher, but I know in the middle of the school year I am going to be like, I don’t want to be in school anymore.”
– Lilly Green, 10, fifth-grade student; P.S. 312, William Penn School, Brooklyn

“It’s kindergarten. It’s the first day. We’re looking forward to everything. He’s my baby. I have a 16-year-old, so … it’s been a long time since the first day of school.”
– Caty Rodriguez, 37, with her son, Dylan Geigel, 4; P.S. 4, Duke Ellington School, Harlem