This summer, while students were at home relaxing, playing and pestering parents, school officials, grounds workers and maintenance crews were hard at work getting things ready for the coming year. All that work resulted in a lot of changes and when students head back to school on Sept. 8 they can expect to see new faces, facilities and greener grounds.

- John F. Kennedy High School: After months of being in the spotlight because Principal Anthony Rotunno was said to have grabbed student-raised funds for non-student uses, leadership at JFK is starting anew. An interim acting principal, Lisa Luft, has taken over until officials find a permanent replacement for Mr. Rotunno.

- Kingsbridge Innovative Design School: KIDS, a new charter school focused on hands-on learning and development of the whole child, will open to elementary students on September 13. The school is full but is currently accepting applications for its waiting list.

- Manhattan College: After working as the director of counseling and health services at Manhattan College for four years, Michael Carey became the dean of students in August, according to a press release.

- PS 7: Students heading back to school in Kingsbridge are in for some big surprises. What was once a parking lot is now a large playground, complete with outdoor classroom space, a small track, student-designed murals, gardens and new play equipment. School officials are hoping to hold a grand opening for the play area in September and said it will be open to the public after school and on weekends. In addition, the school has a new leader, Principal Frank Patterson, who took over for Renée Cloutier.

- PS 24: In July, Principal Donna Connelly announced that two new programs had been added to the school’s curriculum. Students looking to take part in the arts or work on their language skills can now take theater or Spanish, available to all grades by semester.