School Snapshot

Principal: Karen Hambright
Student population: 369
% receiving free or reduced lunch: 96%
2010-2011 CFK Program hours (students x hours per student): 9,019

School Story

When Lara Steensland became a kindergarten teacher at P.S. 243, also known as the Weeksville School, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, she knew there would be many challenges. What she had never predicted, however, was the severity of the budgeting shortfalls she would face. Lara's budget for the entire 1993-1994 school year was $171, or about $12.43 per student. From this, she was expected to buy classroom supplies, teaching materials, books and visual aids, and provide health and nutritional education.

To help fill the funding gap, Change for Kids began sponsoring P.S. 243 in May 1997, providing the entire kindergarten class the resources they needed. Available supplies were those that students in other schools might take for granted -- drawing paper, paint, books, learning games, science kits, audio tapes, and more -- but for P.S. 243's 120 kindergarten students, the materials represented real change.

Since 1997 CFK has continued to provide essential school supplies, while expanding programming to include a thriving volunteer tutoring effort as well as a fitness and nutrition program that completely altered the bad habits of the students, teachers, and staff and transformed them into a proud, healthy, and active community.

CFK Programs

Literacy

Story Pirates: serves more than 120 students
One-on-One Tutoring: weekly tutoring with the neediest first through third grade students
Pearson ABC Book Program: 50 students and families receive books

Healthy Living

Fan4Kids: increased programming by 170% for all kindergarten through third grade students

Classroom Support

School Supplies and Book Donations: hundreds of dollars of donations each year
Technology Support: computer donations and IT support
School Beautification Days: literacy murals and classroom organization

Greatest Needs

Music and Visual Arts Program: there is currently no Music or Art teacher on staff
Expanded Tutoring: with additional volunteers we can increase the number of students we serve

Contribute to P.S. 243 »

Did You Know?

P.S. 243 is located in one of the oldest free black communities in the country, and Weeksville has been home to many well-known artists, actors, writers, and musicians, like June Jordan, Jay-Z, Chris Rock, and Mos Def.