Hell’s Kitchen students return to high school
BY DEAN MOSES
They’re back — again. Once
more students could be
seen lugging backpacks on
their journey back into the educational
system. March 22 marked
the fi rst time high schoolers have
been back on school grounds
since November. Even so, for
many of them, it was business as
usual.
With their backs leaning on
the railings of Urban Assembly
Gateway School for Technology
in Manhattan, they scoured social
media one last time on their cellphones
while others rummaged in
their bags for a last-minute snack
or soda.
Still, what is old is new again,
and the young scholars were excited
to be back despite the early
arrival time of 8 a.m.
Alex Modragon is one high
schooler who is relieved to be off
the computer screen and back in
the classroom.
“Actually, it feels great to come
back. You know it’s kind of diffi
cult to work remotely, so that’s
why I am really happy to come
back,” Modragon said, who will
be attending in-person classes fi ve
days a week.
Students outside the Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology in Hell’s
Kitchen on March 22, 2021.
Since January, teachers have
been eligible to receive the
COVID-19 vaccinations. For
many students and families, this
provides a load off their minds
during the enrollment process.
Modragon is confi dent that school
is safe, saying: “I just can’t wait to
be back.”
It wasn’t just students who
were happy to be back. In celebration
of the big return, the United
Federation of Teachers (UFT)
hosted a back-to-school press
conference with other educators
to show their support of high
school classes reopening for inperson
learning.
UFT President Michael
Mulgrew gathered with educators
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
by the main entrance of 439 West
49th St., the campus area for Stephen
T. Mather Building Arts &
Craftsmanship High School, The
Business of Sports School and
The Urban Assembly Gateway
School for Technology, in Hell’s
Kitchen.
“It’s been a long road and diffi
cult year, to say the least. But as
always, the people who dedicated
their lives to helping children
have always been there to make
sure that they remain safe and
we keep educating children in
this very diffi cult time,” Mulgrew
said. “Hopefully, now, all schools
are open again and we hope to
stay that way for the rest of the
school year.”
Kirk Schneider, math teacher
at the Urban Assembly Gateway
School for Technology, eagerly
watched his students lineup to
gain entry back into the school.
This simple act has been a longawaited
moment for Schneider.
“We are excited to be back.
This is what we do best. We
wanna make sure that it is safe
for staff and students. We want
to be in-person and the kids want
to be taught in-person. We are
excited to do the thing we were
meant to do, and that’s teach kids
in-person,” Schneider said.
Inflatable balloons spelled
out “Welcome back” but before
the high schoolers were given
access to the building, their
temperatures were taken at the
doors, after which they were sent
to wait in the cafeteria prior to
beginning the fi rst school day in
months.
Flatiron eatery campaign serving up big help
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
There’s still time to support local
restaurants by participating
in theFlatiron/23rdStreet
Partnership’sTakeout Flatiron campaign.
The campaign encourages New Yorkers
to support Flatiron and NoMad restaurants
by ordering takeout meals via pick-up or
delivery. Since Feb. 8, 524 entrants have
submitted their takeout receipts totaling almost
$15,000 spent at these eateries. Each
entry is eligible to win monthly dinners for
a year from local restaurants.
The campaign will fi nish on March 31.
“We are grateful to everyone who
has supported our local dining establishments
this winter by participating
in Takeout Flatiron,”saidJames
Mettham, Executive Director of the
Flatiron/23rdStreet Partnership.“The
start of spring brings with it the promise
of hope and rejuvenation for so
many Flatiron and NoMad businesses.
With that said, business is still far from
pre-pandemic levels at New York City
restaurants, so we encourage New Yorkers
to patronize them as much as possible
in the months ahead.”
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
To enter the contest, participants can
email screenshots or pictures of their
takeout and delivery receipts totakeout@
flatirondistrict.nyc, and users of the
Seated dining app can also enter the
contest when they order takeout from a
district restaurant and upload their receipt.
Takeout customers are eligible from any
of the Flatiron District’s 195 food and
beverage establishments, including Cote
Korean Steakhouse,Obicà Mozzarella
Bar,Scarpetta,maman NoMad,Tacombi
El Presidente Flatiron,Milu,Upland,Hill
Country Barbecue Market,Honeybrains,
and more.
The fi rst two dinner winners were
randomly selected on March 1 among the
February entries, and they received 12
gift cards to select Flatiron and NoMad
restaurants for a monthly meal on the
Flatiron Partnership, valuing at $595 for
each winner. The fi nal two winners will
be drawn on April 2 among all of the remaining
entries — there will be no repeat
winners but patrons are welcome to enter
every time they order from a restaurant
within the district.
For more information, visit FlatironDistrict.
NYC/TakeoutFlatiron.
4 March 25, 2021 Schneps Media