Queens' Newest School Celebrates Its First-Ever Day Of Classes

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — As New York City's 1.1 million schoolkids strapped on their backpacks for the first day of school Thursday morning, the parents and students of P.S. 398 in Queens were celebrating something a little different — its first day as a school.

Parents and their preschoolers and kindergartners flocked to the 34th Avenue block where Woodside meets Jackson Heights to become the founding families of P.S. 398, the borough's newest school.

"The schools in Jackson Heights are very overcrowded, so this is very overdue," said East Elmhurst resident Sophia Rini as she dropped off her daughter for her first day of kindergarten.

"One of the exciting things about being a founding family is we're going to have a strong voice," Rini added.

(Keep up with news in Jackson Heights by subscribing to Jackson Heights-Elmhurst Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Excitement and anxiety intermingled as families let go of their children's hands and took iPhone photos of them in front of a banner that said "GRAND OPENING" in red block letters.

Jackson Heights resident Rocio Orellana said her kindergartner was nervous to start a new school. Luckily, a friend from her preschool at 82nd Street Academics was joining her at P.S. 398.

The $62 million school will have 462 students from preschool to fifth grade once it hits full enrollment, according to the School Construction Authority.

This year, its only students are preschoolers and kindergartners.

Pemba Sherpa and Mingma Lama said they're happy the school is so close to their Jackson Heights home.

Their preschooler flashed a peace sign in front of P.S. 398 as they snapped a few photos to mark the occasion.

"Every time we pass by here, he's like, 'This is my new pre-K!'" Sherpa said.