How You Can Learn More About (And Apply To) The New Middle School At Caton Avenue & E. 7th Street

When the new M.S. 839 opens this September at 713 Caton Avenue, at the corner of E. 7th Street and Caton, it will offer 100 sixth grade seats in a school that’s meant to alleviate overcrowding in other area schools – and M.S. 839’s principal is now hitting the neighborhood to talk to students and parents about the incoming site.

To help parents and their children determine whether 839 is the right fit for them, the principal, Michael Perlberg, recently sent the above informational pamphlet to principals and other leaders in District 15, including Councilman Brad Lander, whose office kindly passed it on to us. The principal is also planning on meeting with families who are interested in learning more about the school that will eventually house students in 6th through 8th grades. Dates for those meetings have not yet been set, but you can check M.S. 839’s website for updates.

The middle school will be located in the same K437 building at 713 Caton Avenue as the upper grades (third through fifth) of PS 130 and a District 75 program.

If you’re interested in learning more about M.S. 839, here’s what you’ll need to know:

• All current fifth grade students who attend school, or reside, in District 15 – which includes parts of Kensington, as well as Windsor Terrace, Park Slope and a sliver of Fort Greene – are welcome to apply to attend school at 839.

• To apply, you’ll need to request a new middle school application from your elementary school and select 839 on the form. Students will be selected via a random lottery.

• To attend an informational session with 839’s principal, contact your elementary school parent coordinator. You can also sign up for announcements from the new middle school by visiting its website, and you’re welcome to contact the school by emailing MS839K@gmail.com.

We’ll continue to fill you in on the details about what the school will be like as we get them, but here’s what we know so far:

• Each grade in MS 839 will have about 100 students and offer an interdisciplinary curriculum with an infusion of arts, music, language, and technology coursework.

• There’s the possibility of a Spanish and/or Mandarin language program, depending on interest.

• Students, teachers and the community will have the opportunity to propose clubs. Potential clubs include: coding and technology, chess, yoga, law and justice, rock band, robotics, and more.

• Possible sports for boys and girls include: basketball, cross-country, soccer, volleyball, and flag football. Co-ed teams could include cycling and ultimate frisbee.

• Each teacher will serve as an advisor to a small group of students, which will meet daily and serve as a key contact between the school and families.

What do you think? Are you planning on applying for this school? What are you hoping it will be like? What do you think it will mean for the area?