Opening in September 2009, Grant Avenue Elementary School plans to create a safe and nurturing environment for children while welcoming parents to monthly education workshops and informal chats with the administration, said Principal Kristin Erat, a graduate of the city's Leadership Academy which trains new principals. In 2009, the school will have three kindergarten and three 1st grade classes. A grade will be added each year until the school serves a K-5 population of 450 students.

Erat expressed the importance of creating a school culture focused on safety, trust, strength, and success for every child. "When students trust, miraculously that's when their strength really comes out," she said. To help create an environment, where students feel comfortable to express themselves, while respecting their fellow classmates, all students will have small group advisory meetings at least twice monthly. One staff member will meet with five students to discuss the school's "community standards," such as respect. Erat explained that kindergarteners would talk about how to share crayons, or how to give eye contact to a classmate who is talking as a way to show respect. Erat would like the staff member to stay with the same group of children until they graduate.

Creating a welcoming environment for parents is an important goal for Erat. Every Friday families will be invited to sit in the classroom during the last period of the day and play math games with their children. Additionally, each month the principal will host morning coffee conversations with parents. "Mostly, I just want to be available," said Erat.

The school will be located in the CIS 166 building, which is closing due to poor performance, and will share the building with two other schools: Bronx Early College Academy for Teaching and Learning, a 6-12 school, and Science and Technology Academy: A Mott Hall School, which serves grades 6-8.

ESL: The school will offer a Transitional Bilingual ESL program, which allows students to speak in their native language (Spanish at this school) and slowly transition into English only instruction.

Admissions: Students zoned for PS 35 or PS 90, can choose to attend the Grant Avenue Elementary School. (Vanessa Witenko, March 2009, telephone interview)