CAMPS & SCHOOLS AN ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
Turning A School Into A Family The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) Plainview elementary school recently held its third Family Shabbaton at the Glen Cove Mansion. Families checked in to the hotel on Friday afternoon and were treated to a Pre-Shabbat buffet. Each family was given a Shabbat gift basket, prepared with love by second grade parent Tara Stier. “I tried very hard to make the welcome baskets present a very warm, personal and thoughtful feeling. I wanted families to start off right from the lobby feeling very included and special,” said Stier. The theme of the Shabbaton was “The Gift of Shabbat,” which focused on what Shabbat brings to the family, and learning to appreciate the gifts that G-d has given.
see FAMILY on page 2B
Malka Halpern, Jewish Studies teacher and Shabbaton organizer with her family.
Free Talks About The SAT And ACT Ira Wolf lectures Feb. 2 and 3 at local Barnes & Noble
BY ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS editorial@antonnews.com
should arrive early since Dr. Wolf’s last two talks at Barnes & Noble had standing-room-only audiences. On Monday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, The talks will be helpful for juniors Feb. 4, Dr. Ira Wolf, the president of who will be taking the SAT this year, PowerPrep and the author of several and who want to know how to earn books including Barron’s best selling scores that are much higher than SAT book, will give two free talks at lotheir PSAT scores. Unfortunately, cal Barnes & Noble stores. Dr. Wolf will nearly one-third of all juniors in the give these talks, entitled “Everything country earn SAT scores that are lowYou Need to Know about the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests” at the er than their PSAT scores; for those Barnes & Noble store in Manhasset on who improve, the average increase Monday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and at the is less than 40 points. By contrast, in Barnes & Noble store in Carle Place on the talks Dr. Wolf will give students advice that can help them raise their Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 8:00 p.m. scores by 150 or 200 points, or more. These talks are appropriate for the All current sophomores and most parents of all eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh-grade students, as well as for current freshmen will be taking the PSAT in October, and now is the time the students themselves. Those who banner ad GVS jan 29 open house_Layout 1 1/17/2014 4:20 PM Page 1 are interested in coming to these talks for them to learn exactly what the
PSAT and SAT tests are all about and how and when to prepare for them. Dr. Wolf will also explain the role of SAT Subject Tests in the college admissions process, answering the questions: “Who should take these tests?” “When should they be taken?” and “How should students prepare for them?” In addition, the talks will be helpful for students who are considering taking the ACT, an exam that is being taken by an increasing number of students on Long Island. Dr. Wolf will explain the difference between the ACT and SAT and give advice that will help students decide whether the ACT is appropriate for them. No student has to take the ACT, but all students who plan to take it, must prepare for it.
see TALKS on page 4B
Poor Report Cards: What to Do The anxiety over report cards can be unsettling for any family. Parents often feel concerned, overwhelmed or even helpless. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is how the skills developed during the year will be your child’s foundation for the more difficult work ahead. If you have these concerns, what should you do if you are unhappy with your child’s report card? According to Dr. Raymond J. Huntington, co-founder and chairman of Huntington Learning Center, “Parents know their own children. If you believe your child could be doing better than his or her grades show, you owe it to yourself and your child to remedy the situation.” “More than current grades are at stake,” Huntington continues, “If grades are mediocre or poor, it means your child is not gaining valuable skills. This can come back to haunt children later. The skills children learn in school are like building blocks. If a skill is not learned adequately, future skills will suffer. When a child tries to build advanced skills on a shaky foundation of knowledge, there is likely to be trouble ahead.” Mediocre or poor grades can result from a variety of problems. Dr. Huntington offers the following suggestions for what to do when a child brings home a poor report card:
Examine the Situation Realistically It is important to remember that every drop in grades indicates that valuable skills are being missed. An effort should be made to learn and reinforce those missing skills. While this is being done, it is also important to identify and remedy the basic problem, so it does not continue to hurt your child’s education.
see CARDS on page 4B
One Visit Can Change Your Child’s Future
Open House: Wednesday, January 29 @ 9am RSVP 516-628-5176
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
FAMILY from page 1B The program included family Torah learning, separate parent and student games, and a family treasure hunt around the hotel. Parents enjoyed meeting and interacting with other parents from the school, and children were able to play with their peers. After lunch, “we hardly saw our kids at all because they were so busy having fun,” said Melissa Weinick, whose daughter Jordyn is in fifth grade and who attended all three Shabbatons. “This was the best Shabbaton yet. It was so nice to just be able to talk and connect with other HANC parents, and to chat with the teachers on a personal level. It was amazing that practically the entire Judaic Studies staff came with their families.” The Shabbaton culminated in a Melava Malka party after Shabbat, where Shabbaton participants were joined by other HANC Plainview families who did not spend Shabbat at the hotel. A performance by juggler and magician, Ned Gelfars was enjoyed by all. The evening ended with a buffet dinner and singing and dancing to the dynamic music of Israeli singer and songwriter Sandy Shmuely, who is a HANC Plainview staff member. “I hope to be able to come for the whole Shabbaton next year,” said second grade parent Suzy Bloom, who attended the melava malka, “You can just tell that everyone had so much fun.” — Submitted by The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
The Afrahim family checks in at the Glen Cove Mansion.
Shani Allweiss, second grade Jewish studies teacher, and Malka Halpern, fourth grade teacher, enjoy the entertainment Saturday night with their students.
Ari Tuerack balances on the shoulders of Ned Gelfars, juggler/magician.
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
| NEWS FROM HOLY TRINITY
IT’S ALL ABOUT
CHOICE!
Annual Blessing Of The Cars Last month, Holy Trinity High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) Club held their Annual Blessing of the Cars. This event was created by the school’s chaplain, Father Joseph Fitzgerald, to promote safe driving with the senior class as prom season approaches. Despite the threat of rain, over 60 vehicles were blessed, including Driver’s Education cars and school buses.
Looking for summer activities for your children and teens? With more than 75 choices, there’s something for everyone at Hofstra Summer Camps: academic enrichment, sports, arts, video game design, culinary arts, and much more!
Hofstra Summer Camps features: • •
Safe and reliable door-to-door transportation
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Experienced and dedicated professional staff, including NYS-certified teachers and Hofstra’s NCAA coaches
•
Beautiful 240-acre campus with state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor athletic, cultural and computer facilities
•
American Red Cross instructional swim program in Hofstra’s Olympic-sized pool
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Thrilling weekly special events like Harlem Wizards, carnivals and concerts
•
Registered nurses on site all day
Delicious catered lunch daily featuring dozens of fresh hot and cold choices
TALKS from page 1B
Join us at an OPEn HOUSE Sunday, January 26 and Sunday, March 30, Noon-2 p.m. David S. Mack Physical Education Center, North Campus
PRT-1113-10 Jan OH Ad ANTON conceptaltREV_Anton 1/3/14 3:42 PM Page 1 Ad HofCamp2014_Anton.indd 1
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For more information and to register, call 516-463-CAMP or visit hofstra.edu/camp.
1/6/14 1:00 PM
Dr. Wolf will also discuss the College Board’s Score Choice policy and how this policy should affect students’ plans. Parents who want to know more about the entire testing process and how these tests have changed and what they can do to help their children prepare are encouraged to attend, whether or not their children can join them. The talk will also cover a few of the most important test-taking strategies that Dr. Wolf covers in his books and that are taught to the students in PowerPrep’s courses. He will explain why learning these tactics is essential for anyone who wants to achieve his or her maximum potential on the PSAT, SAT, or ACT. Every
Explore…
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CARDS from page 1B
Portledge School, 355 Duck Pond Road, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 - www.portledge.org
Above: Father Fitzgerald conducts the blessing of the cars. year, students who master these strategies raise their scores by hundreds of points. Each talk will include a question-and-answer session covering all aspects of test preparation. In addition, Dr. Wolf will remain after the talks to answer questions individually. This is an excellent opportunity for all high school students and their parents to get valuable information about these important tests. Dr. Wolf, a nationally-known expert in test preparation, is the founder of PowerPrep, Inc., a company that helps students prepare for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests. For additional information about these talks or about PowerPrep courses, call Dr. Wolf at (516) 484-4468.
It is important to remember that the difficulty that caused these poor What Is Really the Problem? grades may be a serious problem. Your child may have missed one or Is there a behavior problem? more important basic skills. It is vital Sometimes, bright students get bad that you get help for your child as grades for behavior related activities. soon as possible, before the probDoes your child hand in homework? lem gets worse. The summertime Is it correct and on time? Is your child provides the perfect opportunity for bored with schoolwork, and therefore is not paying enough attention? These children to strengthen weak skills are not excuses; they are symptoms of and prepare for the more advanced skills they will need in the upcoming different problems. You must identify the problem before you can remedy it. school year. The Huntington Learning Center is a nationally recognized Talk With Your Child leader in the field of improving a Why does your child think he or she child’s basic study skills through remediation and enrichment progot poor grades? Does he or she take grams. Students are given individual the situation seriously? How does he or she plan to do better? It is important attention by certified teachers using personalized programs tailored to that your child knows you take the improve skills in a child’s trouble situation seriously. Work with your areas. child to develop a plan that will help Huntington offers individual achieve better grades. Let your child know that you are supportive and that testing and tutoring in reading, math, study skills, writing and SAT/ you believe in his or her abilities. ACT preparation to students of all ages. Parents who want additional Talk With Your information, or who wish to discuss Child’s Teacher or Counselor a specific problem, are encouraged Your child’s teacher or counselor is a to call Huntington Learning Center professional educator. What are his or at 1-800-CAN-LEARN. — Submitted by Huntington her observations? What does he or she Learning Center recommend?
CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
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How To Bank Bucks For School BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
With average tuition at four-year private colleges topping $30,000 annually, more than 80 percent of today’s college students receive financial aid — which means paying for college is likely top-of-mind for the vast majority of the nation’s more than 25 million undergraduates and their parents. The competition to secure much-needed financial aid packages remains as fierce as the admissions process. Below are key tips in the quest for college financial aid — which unofficially kicked off earlier this month with the opening of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). • Apply ASAP. Many students and their parents don’t apply for FAFSA money because they assume their family earns too much to qualify. That’s a costly assumption. Billions of dollars from FAFSA — which includes everything from Pell Grants, to work-study opportunities, to Federal Stafford Loans, and more — are awarded to millions of students from all income brackets. Submitting a FAFSA doesn’t guarantee you’ll get financial aid, but not submitting one guarantees you won’t. And since FAFSA is first come, first serve, the sooner you apply, the better. FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa. ed.gov. It will likely take you about 90 minutes to complete. • Treat the hunt for scholarship dollars like a part-time job. Many students miss out on scholarship opportunities because they simply don’t put in the
time. Yet millions of scholarship dollars go unclaimed because students have not applied for the funds. There are thousands of niche scholarships available for those who aren’t necessarily at the head of the class: i.e. for left-handed students; women over 5’10; anybody under 4’10”, potato-industry boosters; and duck callers — it’s a big world out there. If you invest the same amount of time and effort into finding scholarship money that you did in putting together your college application, you might be pleasantly surprised at the scholarship options available to you. Visit your school’s guidance office and sites like www.cappex.com. Keep in mind that you can start banking scholarship money even before senior year. The more money you, the more flexibility you’ll have in choosing your school. • A college’s first financial aid package offer is negotiable. If your top school choice offers you a financial aid package, but it’s not enough, it’s alright to try to negotiate up. Unlike FAFSA offers, which are non-negotiable, financial aid packages awarded directly by colleges can sometimes be upped. Respectfully tell the financial aid office why you are a must have student or how your family’s financial situation may have changed to warrant more aid. The worst they can say is no. It’s also a good idea to get to know the financial aid office before you even apply. Stop by the office during a campus visit. That way they’ll know your face and story when they see your application. It might make the difference.
Published by Anton Community Newspapers KARL V. ANTON, JR. • Publisher, 1984-2000
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ANGELA SUSAN ANTON • Publisher MICHAEL CASTONGUAY • President & COO FRANK A. VIRGA • EVP of Sales & Operations JOHN OWENS • Editor in Chief EDITH UPDIKE • Managing Editor JOE SCOTCHIE • Editor TOMMY VON VOIGT • Creative Director IRIS PICONE • Classified Manager JOY DIDONATO • Circulation Manager
Portledge School, 355 Duck Pond Road, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 - www.portledge.org
132 East Second St., Mineola NY 11501 Phone: 516-747-8282 • Fax: 516-742-5867 advertising inquiries: advertising@antonnews.com circulation inquiries: subscribe@antonnews.com editorial submissions: editorial@antonnews.com © Long Island Community Newspapers, 2014
CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
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Online Activity Can Influence College Admissions BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
Students applying to colleges should be very careful about what they post about themselves online on social networking sites. A recent study shows that an increasing number of college admission officers are checking online sites and the information they are discovering is impacting their admission decisions. Results from Kaplan Test Prep’s survey of college admissions officers show that schools are increasingly discovering information on Facebook and Google that negatively impact applicants’ acceptance chances. While the percentage of admissions officers who took to Google (27 percent) and checked Facebook (26 percent) as part of the applicant review process increased slightly (20 percent for Google and 26 percent for Facebook in 2011) from last year, the percentage that said they discovered something that negatively impacted an applicant’s chances of getting into the school nearly tripled — from 12 percent last year to 35 percent this year. Offenses cited included essay plagiarism, vulgarities in blogs, alcohol consumption in photos, things that made them
“wonder,” and “illegal activities.” In 2008, when Kaplan began tracking this trend, only one in 10 admissions officers reported checking applicants’ social networking pages. “Social media used to basically mean Facebook. But the underlying trend we see is the increase in use of Google, which taps into a social media landscape that’s proliferated to include Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, blogging and other platforms — and teens today are using all of these channels,” said Jeff Olson, vice president of Data Science, Kaplan Test Prep. “Additionally, we’re seeing
a growing cultural ubiquity in social media use, plus a generation that’s grown up with a very fluid sense of privacy norms. In the face of all these trends, the rise in discovery of digital dirty laundry is inevitable.” Olson noted, “With regard to college admissions, the traditional application — the essays, the letters of recommendation — represent the polished version of an applicant, while often what’s found online is a rawer version of that applicant. Schools are philosophically divided on whether an applicant’s digital trail is fair game, and the majority of admissions officers
do not look beyond the submitted application, but our advice to students is to think first, Tweet later.” Kaplan’s survey also found that only 15 percent of colleges currently have rules regarding the checking of applicants’ Facebook or social networking pages — a percentage that has remained fairly consistent over the past few years. Of schools that do have a policy, 69 percent said the policy prohibited admissions officers from visiting applicants’ pages — still leaving the vast majority of admissions officers with the flexibility to act at their own discretion. Students can learn more about how to better safeguard their digital footprints at www.kaptest.com/ socialmediatips. Far more common than the use of social media to evaluate applicants is its use in recruiting potential students. Kaplan Test Prep’s survey found that 87 percent of colleges use Facebook for this purpose (up from 82 percent two years ago); 73 percent use YouTube (up from 56 percent); and 76 percent use Twitter (up from 52 percent). College admissions officers have not, however, embraced Google Plus — only 9 percent are using it to recruit prospective students.
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
Markham Achieves Youthful Dreams
Named to Paul Taylor Dance Company BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
opportunity. “I am thrilled that I am still able to work with the dance department (at Holy Trinity) and help inspire new dancers to enter the field.” Mrs. Murphy is very proud of her former student. “She is an excellent role model for young dancers, exemplifying how dedication and discipline is a pathway toward achieving your goals.” Following high school, Ms. Markham majored in Dance at Hofstra University. During her college years, she trained at The Taylor School and attended the Company’s Summer Intensive Program. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2004, she danced with the Amy Marshall Dance Company, Stacie Nelson and The Dance Theater Company. She joined the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company in the summer of 2008.
Christina Lynch Markham, a graduate of the Holy Trinity High School Performing Arts program in 2000, had her high school dream become a reality when she recently was appointed to the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Under the direction of Mrs. Catherine Murphy at Holy Trinity, Christina recalls that until she attended Holy Trinity, she didn’t realize that dance “could be a career.” “I came to Trinity as a ‘competition dancer’…Mrs. Murphy cultivated the artist within me that I never knew was there. She taught me that dance is an opportunity to express myself… there is meaning behind every gesture, turn and leap.” Ms. Markham has generously given back to her high school alma mater by returning as a choreographer for the school’s yearly dance PRT-1113-10 Jan OH Ad ANTON half pagecaR 1/3/14 3:44 PM Page 1 concert and is thankful for the At right: Christina Lynch Markham
Pre-nursery through Grade 12
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Excel.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2014 9:30 am - 11 am Open Classroom and Information Session Pre-nursery through Grade 12
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
Scholarships For Veterans BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., has awarded scholarships to three Long Island veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and are now enrolled at Nassau Community College. “It is incumbent upon the Long Island business community to assist our veterans as they transition into civilian life,” said Meyer Suozzi English & Klein, P.C. Managing Attorney, Lois Carter Schlissel. “It is essential that we help them complete their education by providing tuition assistance so that they can compete for jobs in this very difficult economic climate.” Gregory Carlisle, a West Babylon resident, grew up in Copiague and Amityville. He says his neighborhood was plagued by gangs and drug trafficking, but he promised himself that he would create a better life for himself. Corporal Carlisle served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and upon his return to Long Island, enrolled at Nassau Community College. He is a business major and will pursue an accounting degree at St. John’s University. He plans on becoming a CPA. He also plans to pursue a master’s degree in education and a second master’s degree in counseling so that he can one day open a youth center that will provide a safe place for children to learn and stay off the streets. The center he says will prepare these youngsters for life and shape tomorrow’s leaders. Joshua Rivera is a resident of Massapequa. He graduated from East Meadow High School in 2006 and served in the U.S. military from 20072011. He served in Iraq from June of 2008 until June of 2009. Corporal Rivera spent the early years of his life in various foster homes in the New
York City area. He was adopted at the age of 14. He says he is grateful to all those who cared for him and appreciates the variety of cultures, ethnic backgrounds and religions that he was exposed to. Rivera played football in high school and enrolled at Nassau Community College immediately after graduation, but soon realized he wanted more from his life and decided to enlist. While his adopted parents did not initially support his decision, he says they came to understand his strong desire to serve his nation, make a difference and give back to his community. Corporal Rivera hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. He says he loves children and someday hopes to have a large family of his own. Juana Quijano is a single mother of three children ranging in age from 7-10 years old. Corporal Quijano, a Garden City resident, served in the military from 2002 until 2012, including a tour of duty in Iraq from 2007-2008. Corporal Quijano says she is proud of her service to her country, which she says made her mentally and physically stronger. She says that her time in uniform has taught her to be loyal, honest, brave and courageous no matter what the circumstances. She hopes to pursue a career as a clinical social worker, working with veterans and helping them to address the issues that shape and complicate their everyday lives. She would like to help them deal with relationship and personal or family problems, which for many have been caused by PTSD and other ailments contracted while in the service. She says her helping her fellow veterans would create a sense of satisfaction because they need to understand that they are not alone.
Juana Quijano
Joshua Rivera
Gregory Carlisle
Center For Social Skills Forming Winter Groups BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
Good social skills are critical to successful functioning in life. While socialization may come naturally for some children, for many this is not so. However, just as academic subjects can be taught and reinforced, social skills can be as well. The Long Island Center for Social Skills (LICSS), located in Port Washington, helps children acquire the necessary skills to become more socially competent, as well as self-confident. Cara Greene, LCSW, Director of LICSS, believes that all children can
develop the social competencies that help them become happy, well adjusted and confident. “Our focus is on enhancing social and emotional development while providing social skill training for those with social disabilities.” LICSS programs are for those who are typical or have learning disabilities, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotionally handicapping conditions and others who show social incompetencies. If your child appears lonely, feels left out, has no one to play with at recess or lunch; is rarely called for a play date;
complains that “no one likes me,” or “everyone is mean to me,” or “they always tease me,” etc; has repeated conflicts or acts aggressively toward other children; has difficulty with competition and losing, he/she would benefit from programs at LICSS. Long Island Center for Social Skills training groups provide engaging, dynamic and fun activities that facilitate peer interactions while enhancing social skills. Groups are formed based on age and functioning level, and include social skill training groups, ADHD groups, Asperger’s and NLD Groups, Kid Control-Anger
Management groups, and parenting groups. Skills are introduced and reinforced through developmentally appropriate structured activities, performance feedback, video vignettes, cooperative games, role play, modeling and interactive discussions in a safe, no pressure environment that fosters self-esteem. LICSS also offers individual, family and group counseling. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact Cara Greene, LCSW, Director, at 516-816-1285. Information can also be found at www.licsocialskills.com
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
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Financial Aid Awareness Month Learn about higher education opportunities BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) has designated January “New York State Student Financial Aid Awareness Month”— a period during which students and families can learn about and apply for financial aid opportunities available to help them pay for college. HESC, New York’s student financial aid agency, is coordinating the statewide campaign, entitled “Start Here Get There,” to inform and educate students and families about college financial aid and promote the completion of the most important tool in securing that aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). StartHereGetThere.org lists local events, organized by geographic region of the State, where New Yorkers can learn about financial aid programs and receive hands on assistance with their FAFSA application at workshops staffed by financial aid administrators from colleges throughout the state. The site also provides a step-by-step tutorial for completing the FAFSA, college and financial aid planning information, informative videos, helpful tips and tools, as well as information about federal, state and college sponsored aid, including grants, such as New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and other scholarships, loans and work study programs. “Students are more focused and successful at college when they and
their families have a complete understanding of their financial aid options and their bottom-line college costs,” said Kathy Crowder, HESC’s senior vice president for Communications. “Completing the FAFSA is the first step to obtaining federal, state and institutional financial aid, not only for needy families, but for any student planning to attend college in September.” “More than one and a half million college-bound students nationwide do not to fill out a FAFSA because they mistakenly think they don’t qualify for financial aid,” added Jackie Pascariello, director of Financial Aid at Stony Brook University. “Yet, a third of these students would qualify for a Pell Grant of up to $5,645– that’s money that doesn’t have to be paid back – and, more than half of those not filing would have qualified for a low-cost federal loan that is not dependent on financial need.” Together with volunteer financial aid administrators from area colleges, HESC is co-hosting workshops on Long Island to provide one-on-one professional assistance with FAFSA completion at each event. HESC is offering FAFSA assistance on their toll-free hotline at 1-800-8081790, open noon to 5 pm Mondays through Thursdays through Feb. 25. Web chat and email assistance at FAFSAhelp@HESC.ny.gov are also available to help with FAFSA or financial aid questions. To find an event near you, chat online or to learn more about the college financial aid opportunities available, visit StartHereGetThere.org.
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CAMPS & SCHOOLS - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - JANUARY 22 - 28, 2014
Using Chores To Teach School and Study Skills Cleaning
BY DR. RAYMOND J. HUNTINGTON editorial@antonnews.com
Cleaning the kitchen or bathroom can be a science experiment waiting to happen. Use all-natural cleaning products, such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice and do some research with your child on how they work and how they differ from chemical cleaning products. Find recipes for homemade cleaners online.
If your household is like most, there are many day-to-day duties that must be completed. While tasks like laundry and doing dishes may seem tedious for children, research conducted by the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development shows that “involving children in household tasks at an early age can have a positive impact later in life.” Without a doubt, chores foster a good attitude about working hard and being responsible and have many other important benefits. Here are several suggestions to help your child build valuable skills while contributing around the house:
Feeding pets Caring for and feeding the family pet teaches your child about commitment, being relied upon and keeping to a schedule. It also reinforces the lesson that your child’s actions have consequences. Have your child develop a chart to keep track of feedings, or take things further and bring him or her along to veterinary appointments so he or she can learn about your animal’s health.
Picking up clutter Make time each day for your child to pick up his or her bedroom or around the house. Try setting a timer and challenging your child to see how much he or she can accomplish in five or 10 minutes. Learning to understand how long different tasks take will help your child become better at budgeting his or her time — for homework as well as timed tests and assignments at school.
Cooking Helping in the kitchen is an excellent way to put math concepts into action, including fractions (using measuring cups and spoons, for example), addition (when counting ingredients, measuring and more), multiplication (when doubling a recipe), and telling time and temperature. Older children can learn about chemistry from the changes that foods undergo during
the cooking process. Preparing menus and grocery lists — Planning your family’s weekly menu and making an accompanying grocery list requires many different skills. Children must think ahead about what they want to eat, other commitments each evening (such as soccer practice or club meetings), and what ingredients they will need to cook the meal. Planning and managing a project — dinner in this case — are skills they will use again and again.
Organizing As any busy parent knows, there is much to keep track of in a
household. Ask your older child to help organize the pantry, a closet or another area of the home, developing a reliable organizational system. You could also put your child in charge of collecting and sorting the mail every day, maintaining the family calendar or filing papers, bills and other important documents in the family filing cabinet. Organizational chores emphasize the importance of having a designated place for everything. Students who are organized are more likely to avoid misplacing their homework and being tardy and later will better understand how to manage multistep assignments and projects.
Age-appropriate chores teach responsibility, work ethic, organization and time management — and they even help children build self-esteem as they gain the satisfaction of seeing tasks through to completion. Chores can also reinforce school skills such as math, reading, critical thinking and more. With all of these benefits, assigning chores takes on new meaning. Not only will you gain extra hands around the house, your child will be learning and growing as a person and student. Dr. Raymond J. Huntington and Eileen Huntington are co-founders of Huntington Learning Center, which has been helping children succeed in school for more than 30 years. For more information about Huntington, call 1-800 CAN LEARN.
Staying Connected To School During Long Absences BY ANTON NEWS STAFF
editorial@antonnews.com
Illness can touch any life, without warning, causing severe upheaval and distress. Now, thanks to a new program at Nassau BOCES, the disruption that comes with extended illness does not need to affect a student’s education. The new HomeBound Program is designed for students suffering extended illness that prevents them from regular attendance at school. Students who need to be away from
the classroom for as little as 10 days and up to an entire year now have a viable option to continue their education online. The HomeBound online classroom provides four hours of instruction per subject every week, enabling sick students to continue their education, completing all state requirements and avoiding the potentially catastrophic interruption of failing courses and being held back. “Formerly, homebound students were provided only the minimum state requirement of two hours of tutoring per week, per subject,” says
Judith Hynes, principal of specialized and virtual schools. “Often times these students would wind up repeating the grade or dropping out altogether. With the HomeBound Program, these same kids can be part of a class and function as contributing students. They deserve an education like everyone else. The program gives them that, with the flexibility of doing the work on their own time without losing ground.” Online classes are taught by New York State certified instructors who teach the precise coursework
students are missing in their home schools. Each student is also provided with a BOCES liaison, acting as a conduit connecting student, parent, online teacher and school district. The liaison provides guidance and structure, keeping both students and parents abreast of student progress, and up-to-date about what’s happening in their school district. Students complete their work on time, meeting all state requirements. They even have the opportunity of taking their Regents exams at home, if necessary.
Congregational Day Nursery School Time to Register for 2014-2015 School Year! Class Sessions 3’s
Tuesday-Friday 9am-11:30am or 12:30pm-3:00pm
4’s
Monday-Friday 9am-11:30am or 12:30pm-3:00pm
Young 5’s
Monday-Friday 9:00am-11:30am (Child must be 5 years old by January 2015)
2’s Full-Separation Program
Tuesday & Thursday 9:15am-11:15am or 11:45am-1:45pm Wednesday & Friday 9:15am-11:15am
1845 Northern Blvd., Manhasset NY 11030 516-365-9616 Director - Joyce Domanico congons9616@gmail.com
109677
Congregational Day Nursery School