Break Out the Composition Notebooks
Back to school is here. Talking about my adopted grandmother and giving you Queens-based educational resources for the kid in your life, whether you're a parent, tia, or part of someone's village.
My almost nine-year kicked off fourth grade today. His brother is starting 3-K on Monday. Mami and Papi are rejoicing…finally, consistent childcare (until one or both bring home COVID or Fifth’s Disease or the flu and then it’s Lord of the Flies).
Vickie had the best style. I would go on to wear this geometric shift dress in high school.
Growing up, back to school meant going to one of the last remaining Woolworth’s in Queens with Vickie, my landlady and the woman I adopted as my grandmother, and purchasing whatever my little heart desired. She couldn’t say no to me. A widow with no children of her own, when my mother brought me home, only to be quickly abandoned by my father, Vickie went out of her way to be part of the village that would raise me. She was in her early 70s when I was born and despite her stoic demeanor reenforced by her German-Dutch heritage, she was enamored, never hiding her love for me in her actions, but unable to say the words unless I said them first. She was my most favorite person and I was hers.
As I grew, crayons were traded in for Trapper-Keepers. Wide-ruled upgraded to College-Ruled. Vickie never rushed the process as I mulled over what color notebook would match the persona I’d start school with that year. Should I go with a green composition notebook portraying a fun-loving Karina or keep it classic with black and white marble? Vickie, a retired Bell Atlantic admin in the engineering department, who got the job after beating out all the men who took the same test (one of my favorite stories she would tell me), wanted me to have the best but only if I committed to doing my best. After completing the supply haul, we’d walk to Jahn’s for grilled cheese sandwiches with a coffee for her and an apple juice for me.
Today, the school supplies voyage is removed from my life, at least for now. The PTA of my fourth grader’s school purchases school supplies in bulk saving parents time and money. I did do my best Upper West Side mom impersonation and purchased new L.L.Bean backpacks, monogram and all. Those bags can get knocked around and I the reflective material on the straps for winter nighttime walks back from school are a nice add-on.
For additional educational resources in Queens, check out my list below:
Hall of Science
Do the math and see if a membership works for your family but this place is our go-to for killing two hours. A membership pays for itself by our second visit. My oldest will linger at the microscopes while the youngest enjoys the pre-k center where he can play with wooden trains and lit up Magna Tiles. We go early, bring lunches, eat them in the cafeteria before going for a walk in Flushing Meadows Park, even when it’s biting cold.
Queens Public Libraries
Libraries are a safe haven. We need more of them, opened longer hours, with better paid staff. Sign up for the Queens Public Library newsletters so that you’re on the up and up of all their programming. We love a good Drag Queen Story Hour.
Tip Top Brain
For those of you in need of homework help (division is taught so differently now) or if your child need a little extra help, Tip Top is a great tutoring center. They are a little pricey but my oldest has developed more confidence with math and the tutors are wonderful.
Alley Pond Environmental Center and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Interacting with nature doesn’t mean having to go upstate. Both Alley Pond Environmental Center and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge offer a ton of free or low cost programming for kids. The one downside is traveling there as both parks are really only accessible via bus or car.