"We're doing something to help everybody, you know, it's not just for us, it's for everybody here," said Savion Santana, a student at the school.
The kids at West Prep may not feel as festive in February as they join more than a million other students in school on days that had been scheduled for winter break, now altered because of super storm Sandy.
Outside p.s. 199, we found parents who had invested lots of money in non-refundable vacation plans.
"When I first heard I was like, uh-oh, we're supposed to be going to Mexico', but we still plan on going," said Sandy Cohen.
State law requires 180 days per year, but Sandy closed schools for a week, adding make-up days.
"I welcome it because I would like for my daughter, personally I'll say, to not miss the remaining days of the school year," said Terri Watson.
Catherine Bruck, bought insurance for her winter break vacation and could change the plans.
"I think there are a lot of people who are going to be out of money and was lucky enough not to be," she said.
Teachers are not required to cancel pre-paid travel plans.
"To date, for us, no one has expressed that they couldn't be here, so we're going to have full instruction as a regular school day for every day that we have to be here," said Principal Roberto Padilla of West Prep.
But absenteeism could be an issue, during what was meant to be a weeklong winter break.
---
