Parents, students, and teachers gathered on Saturday to check out the wealth of academic and recreational options available to Brooklyn kids.
More than 700 gathered in Williamsburg’s MS 126 for Schoolfest, an annual sampling of the many offerings of public and private schools and after-school programs.
“We showed by example what is possible for the children,” said Susan Anderson, the head of the group Town Square, which organized the event. “We wanted to make the connections so that the children can have the best possible education.”
Schoolfest is held in the winter, when many parents and kids are weighing enrollment options for the next school year.
Participants included Gym Park, a group that teaches tumbling and parkour, a form of acrobatic walking that is like skateboarding without a skateboard, a soccer club, and the chess organization Chess NYC.
The board game outfit runs chess tournaments and classes throughout the city, but is especially known for training the checkmate champs at IS 318, whose king-capturing team has won several national tournaments.
“Especially in elementary schools, chess is the perfect blend of fun, sport and academics,” said director Russell Makossky. “We want to get as many kids as possible involved.”
