Students at Catholic schools across Brooklyn and Queens are heading back to class today, marking the official start of the school year under the Archdiocese of Brooklyn.

At St. Ephrem Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights, students will walk through the doors for the first time this morning. Public school students return tomorrow, so families all across the city are getting ready for the new year.

A big topic this fall: Cellphones. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new law now requires “bell-to-bell” smartphone restrictions in all New York public schools. That means students in public schools can’t use their phones during the school day, except for special reasons like health or emergencies.

Private schools are not part of that law, but many already have similar rules in place. At St. Ephrem, the school’s 2024–2025 handbook says students must turn off their phones and give them to homeroom teachers. If they don’t follow the rule, their phone can be taken away and they could face detention.

Beyond the classroom, safety is also a big focus this week. Transportation leaders are reminding drivers that it is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. Drivers must slowdown in school zones, stay alert for kids crossing, and keep their own phones down while behind the wheel.

The message as school begins: Fewer distractions in class and more attention on the roads, so kids stay safe and ready to learn.