Camps & Schools 2/15/23 edition is published by Anton Media Group. by antonmedia2023

AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL

FEBRUARY 15 – 21, 2023

THINGS TO DO ON WINTER BREAK Affordable education BOCES adult ed

Camp Blue Bay General Patch 3 1/4” Circle Patch Embroidered with Merrowed Edge

Offering one week sessions for girls in grades 3-11.

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Build skills. Create memories. Make new friends. Spend your summer at Camp Blue Bay.

2B FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023 • CAMPS & SCHOOLS

Meet the Future @ OPEN HOUSE March 18, 10 a.m.

Who is “the future you” going to be? We’ll help you find out. Our graduates leave with exciting, in-demand careers. We call it being futureproof. And we guarantee it.* Engineering and Technology With degrees in computer, electrical, mechanical and mechatronic engineering and electronic and mechanical engineering technology, you can learn what it takes to design, program and build robots and drones, electrical systems in planes, trains and cars, navigation systems, generators and other power-producing equipment. Management The career potential in the field of aviation management is limitless! Direct an airline’s customer experience or become an aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. Learn what it takes to run every aspect of an airport or airline—from marketing to production, safety, finance and more! Aviation Soar into the future and learn how to become a pilot, air traffic controller, dispatcher or aviation maintenance technician—professions that will be in high demand for decades to come. Our state-of-the-art flight simulator complex, air traffic control and aviation maintenance labs provide you the hands-on learning environment you need to succeed.

MeetTheFutureYou.com

*For eligible full-time students. See vaughn.edu for details.

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CAMPS & SCHOOLS • FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023

Affording Your Child’s Education

electing the “best” school for your child is not easy. A school where she will be challenged academically, supported emotionally, develop socially, and solidify her foundation for a lifetime of success. That’s a tall order for any school and the pressure to make the right decision is no longer reserved for the college choice, it starts as early as whether to enroll your child in public or private school from the very start. These are not simple questions to answer. It’s always going to be a personal decision for your family, shaped by your financial situation, your family’s values and the unique needs of your child. There are an overwhelming number of variables to take into consideration and with the stakes as high as they are, once you’ve settled in on the ‘best choice’ for your family, the last thing you want to struggle with is whether you can afford your child’s dream school. Affordability is a relative concept. Price and value are vastly different measurements. “People say to me, well how can you afford to send your kids to (Sacred Heart Academy) and I say, how can you afford NOT to?,” said Umberto Mignardi, a Sacred Heart Academy parent (2018 and 2023). Living on Long Island, many of us pay significant taxes to fund the public-school

Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead systems. Based on our geography, we do have the option of sending our child to the designated public school for “free.” Or with over 150 private schools to choose from, we might opt to identify a school outside of our immediate geography that is better aligned with our families’ priorities. Every decision we make, about schooling or otherwise, comes with a trade-off for a different option. There is no doubt that our children are our greatest assets so it makes sense for us to prioritize our time, talent, and investment in their schooling. That is not to say that families should go into debt or

risk the welfare of their finances at all costs. Instead, it means that saving and spending money for a private education means you can privode your child with an experience that is uniquely aligned with her strengths, goals, and your family’s beliefs. Smaller class sizes, enhanced academic opportunities such as AP and Honors classes, college preparation, leadership development, religious foundation, athletic opportunities and respectful, safe and enhanced learning environments are just some of the factors to consider when comparing a public school with a private option. After a careful review, if your family selects a path for your child that involves paying private tuition, the option is much more affordable than many realize. Yes, private schools are not subsidized by the Federal government in the same manner as public schools. They derive the majority of their funding through tuition, donations and development gifts. However, there are many financial options to explore that may ease the financial stress on your family. In fact, the schools themselves often offer significant financial aid and scholarships to their students in an effort to keep themselves within financial reach of the majority of students. These scholarships may be based on academic talent, performance on standardized testing, religious affiliation or

alumni/ae relationships. At Sacred Heart Academy, an all-girls college-preparatory Catholic high school, students have access to not only academic awards, but also to full-tuition awards such as the “Dear Neighbor” scholarship, which recognizes financial need, as well as pays homage to the core mission of the school. “We continue to prioritize our growing commitment to scholarship and financial aid...to be sure that the excellence of a SHA education is accessible to as many as desire it,” said Roger O’Donnell, a Sacred Heart parent (2015) and chair of the school’s finance committee. There are also ways to defer billing through payment plans, work with your employer to match contributions, explore faith-based scholarships through your Church or religious institution and hundreds of outside scholarships and grants for your family to explore. Individual families need to make the school choice that makes the most sense for them. Might sending your child to a private school mean you take fewer vacations, eat out less frequently, hold off on that new car or ask family members to contribute to school savings rather than buying gifts throughout the year? Without a doubt. Will it be worth it for your family? Undoubtedly. —Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead

Countryside Montessori School An Education Where Children Thrive Under the Guidance of Great Teachers in an Environment that Stimulates Creativity and Individual Potential!

• A proven system celebrating 100 years of practice, research and worldwide recognition. • Our fully equipped spacious classrooms offer the most enriched curriculum available for 18 months - 6 years. • Fully affiliated with the American Montessori Society since 1998. • Early drop-off / Extended day available.

Low Teacher Student Ratio

Classes Start Second week in September. German Lessons Since 1897

After-School Program

Call to find out about our SUMMER CAMP

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• No previous German necessary • Minimum age: 6 years • Low tuition • Locations: Manhattan (Mondays) Garden City (Tuesdays and Fridays)

354 Lakeville Rd, Great Neck 516-466-8422 www.CMSGN.com

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for more information email: kidslearngerman@aol.com or go to german-american-school.org

Spacious NEW Playground

4B FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023 • CAMPS & SCHOOLS

Center For Science To Host Nature Week During February Break

he Center for Science will be hosting ‘Nature Week’ at its Dinosaurs! Exhibit in Rockville Centre during February school break. Children will enjoy creating their own nature arts and crafts projects that they will be able to keep and take home. Nature Week will be open starting Saturday, Feb. 18, and continue on 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 and 26 (Closed on Wednesday, Feb. 22). Tickets are $12 for children ages 2-13, $15 for children and adults ages 14 and up and $12 for seniors over 65. Each ticket includes entry to the exhibit along with participation for nature crafts. Tickets are available for purchase at the door. “The Center for Science is always offering innovative educational experiences for families on Long Island. Among our exhibit’s dinosaurs and live animal displays, children and their parents will engage in activities while learning about nature,” said Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, executive director of The Center for Science. The Dinosaurs! and Live Animals Exhibit gives visitors a unique and up-close-andpersonal experience where they will learn how animals adapt and survive, which is demonstrated through a unique intermixing of dinosaur models and an assortment of live animals that include owls, emu, golden

Pachycephalosaurus pheasant, goats, snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and more. Located on Tanglewood Preserve, The Center for Science also has miles of wonderful nature trails where families can further explore the wonders of the natural world. As a science and STEM

AN AMAZING

SUMMER CAMP

EXPERIENCE STARTS @HOFSTRA

education-focused not-for-profit organization, CSTL is dedicated to providing people of all ages with a place to engage in both formal and informal learning. For more information, please visit, www.cstl.org. The Center for Science (CSTL) is a notfor-profit organization with a mission of

encouraging science learning and literacy. CSTL offers programs for people of all ages and utilizes inquiry-based learning as its foundation for program development. For more information about CSTL visit www. cstl.org. —The Center for Science

It’s never too early to plan for summer. Hofstra Summer Camps is open for registration! A favorite of Long Island families for more than 30 years, Hofstra Summer Camps provides campers in grades K through 12 with full access to state-of-the-art classrooms, computer and science labs, acres of professional-grade athletic ﬁelds, and so much more. Learn more about Hofstra Summer Camps by visiting hofstra.edu/camp or call 516-463-CAMP.

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CAMPS & SCHOOLS • FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023

Balentine Appointed As New York Tech Provost

erry Balentine, D.O., has been appointed provost at New York Institute of Technology, adding to his existing role as executive vice president. He had been serving as interim provost since March 2022. Reporting to New York Tech President Henry C. “Hank” Foley, Ph.D., Balentine will continue to evaluate new opportunities for university growth and expansion, especially in the area of faculty research, as well as oversee strategic resource allocation, among other responsibilities. “Since he assumed the role of interim provost nearly a year ago, Balentine has proven to be an effective, resourceful, and collaborative academic leader, dedicated to students, faculty, and staff, as well as to New York Tech’s strategic vision,” Foley said.

Balentine first joined the university in 1992, as an adjunct faculty member at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM). In 2009, he was named chair of the emergency medicine division within the Department of Clinical Specialties and in 2010, was appointed faculty associate in the Center for Global Health. In 2014, he became vice president for medical affairs and global health, later taking on the role of dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. During that time, NYITCOM grew its research output in several areas and added the university’s first Ph.D. program, a combined Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)/Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biological and Medical Sciences. Most recently, he served as interim

provost, chief operating officer, and executive vice president. Foley appointed Balentine as co-chair of New York Tech’s long-term strategic planning initiative in 2018, setting in motion a planning process to develop a Strategic Three-Year Action Plan to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the university. Balentine’s distinguished career has included serving as chief medical officer and executive vice president of St. Barnabas Hospital and Healthcare System in the Bronx, and as a hospital medical director, emergency department director, and residency director. “I am honored and excited to continue my work at New York Tech and work with our faculty, staff, and students to build on our tradition of education, innovation, and

Jerry Balentine, D.O. research,” Balentine said. A graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Balentine completed his internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Philadelphia and his emergency medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he also served as chief resident. He earned his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. —New York Institute of Technology

Capatriti Teams Up With Nassau BOCES Capatriti, the “Honest Olive Oil” Company is teaming up with Nassau BOCES’ Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center (Barry Tech) to offer students a unique opportunity to create the next national digital ad commercial for the company. “Capatriti is proud of its long-standing commitment to Long Island and we are happy to help foster and recognize the potential in the arts in our backyard,” said Themis Kangadis, CEO of Capatriti. “We are excited

to work with the next generation of entrepreneurs, and are confident Barry Tech students will rise to the occasion. We look forward to seeing their short film.” Through March 2023, a group of four students will intern and collaborate with Capatriti’s marketing agency, Wonder Integrated Group (WonderINgroup) to create a short film that depicts Capatriti in a fun and engaging way. Students were given a list of criteria they should consider when creating

their films, including: Capatriti’s honesty in its ingredients, production and quality control methods, and the company’s Long Island roots and tradition of giving back locally. “Partnering high school media students with companies like WonderINgroup to work on the Capatriti brand reinforces the skills they are learning in the classroom,” said Robyn Cavalieri, video production and digital filmmaking teacher, Nassau BOCES. “They have a chance to get inspired

by professionals in their field of study. A seed gets planted and it grows into real life experiences that they will take with them into their future endeavors.” At the close of the program, Kangadis will give students a tour of the Capatriti facility and be involved in the presentations of the final commercial. There is the potential for the commercial to be aired across digital channels and beyond. —Capatriti

There’s something for everyone! Photography, science, swimming, football, and much more!

2023 SUMMER

Other athletic and academic programs available.

CAMPS

C HA M I NA DE H I G H S C H O OL | 340 Jackson Ave., Mineola, NY 11501 | www.camps.chaminade-hs.org 238613 M

6B FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023 • CAMPS & SCHOOLS

Three Things That Are Not So Boring Over Winter Break

BY CHRISTY HINKO

chinko@antonmediagroup.com

his year feels fast-moving and tiring already. Maybe because it is the first full year where most kids and adults are finally back to some normalcy in their schedules and routines. Winter break is almost welcoming if you are lucky enough to snag a few days of respite in conjunction with the kids school schedule. Want to make the most of your winter break and avoid complete and utter boredom? Here are a couple of ideas to consider to make the most of your kids’ winter break next week.

Visit Your Favorite Hometown Spots

If you are like most people, our busy schedules and constant pressure to be on and moving and going and doing often do not include some of the cool and fun things that are available right in our own backyards. We often forget what it is like to be a tourist in our own hometown. Many of the neighborhoods have walkable downtowns, candy or toy shops, a specialty bakery, micro-museums and historical societies, amazing nature trails and so much more. Put a plan in place to visit a few of your favorites next

Visit the Long Island Curling Club (www.licurling.org) to find out more about the local sport and its offerings. week. Make time to appreciate the “little” things and support local business, many of whom are your own neighbors. These places and things will remind you of how fortunate you are to live in such on such a vibrant and bustling island. Make a parent-kid meet-up out of it. Invite a few parent-friends with their kids. You may find a new appreciation or experience at the places you have loved for so long.

Learn Something New

If the COVID quarantine has taught us anything, it is probably that you are never too young or too old to learn something new. We had spent countless hours in sheer boredom on most days trying to reignite some old

hobby passions and also hop online to learn something new. The libraries around Long Island took clear advantage of this captive audience to bring you crafting classes, ukelele lessons, cooking demonstrations and language learning workshops, all via the internet to keep our brains engaged and our skills sharp. Many of these “pandemic” explorations turned into new businesses for many of our neighbors, including new restaurants, candlemaking, bakeries and tutoring services. Some hobbies to consider while you are on winter break next week are: • Painting • Ceramics

• Jewelry-making • Crocheting or knitting • Die-cutting on a Cricut machine (available at some libraries across Long Island, for loan) • Mahjong or chess • Play a new instrument (you can start with a YouTube video, sign up for classes at the local music shop or enlist the help of a private music tutor who will come to your house) • Try a new sport, like pickleball or curling (yes, there are actually leagues and local teams) • Learn to speak another language (the local libraries have several highly rated language learn apps and databases available for self-guided study) You will never know what you are interested in of you don’t give something a try. Try it. It could give you and your kids something of a bonding experience or develop a hobby passion in common.

Take A Staycation

When it comes to winter break, you may not have the time, budget or desire to put together a dream getaway. That does not mean that you have to remain confined to the house with the kids, sitting on the couch

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CAMPS & SCHOOLS • FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023

BOCES Adult Ed Students Complete Coursework

Danfords Hotel, Marina, and Spa in Port Jefferson (www.danfords.com) in front of the TV being bored out of your minds. Plan a staycation. What does that mean? It means grab the calendar and map out small short day trips that do not require packing suitcases, boarding the dogs and having your mail transferred. Day trips will help you have a plan for getting out of the house all or most days of the week-long school vacation. A fun staycation idea also is to book a local extended-stay hotel, Airbnb, VRBO or other accomodations on the island, even if it is only four miles from your house and you feel like you have escaped the doldrums of winter. There are some great boutique hotels on Long Island including ones in Port Washington, Roslyn, Port Jefferson and Garden City. Whatever you choose to do on your welldeserved winter break, have fun and be safe.

Nearly 50 students in the Nassau BOCES Intensive Support Program (ISP)—part of the agency’s Adult Education Program— celebrated the completion of their coursework in a safe, socially-distanced ceremony. These students were presented with their certificates of achievement by administrators from the Adult Education Program, which is housed at the Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center in Westbury. The goal of the ISP is to prepare students for employment in their chosen fields. Courses incorporate intensive training in a variety of essential trades, including automotive technology, building maintenance, food service, pet care, stock and inventory, and direct care. Each course includes a component in employability skills training. Job placement specialists work closely with students throughout the semester to arrange appropriate job placement and provide support services. “Perseverance is the word that comes to mind when I think of this cohort of graduates,” says Brad Slepian, adult education assistant principal. “This group started their studies right before COVID shut down the Island. Yet they all found their way back, completed their respective courses and are career-ready for jobs in their selected fields. We’re really proud of them.” Seven students successfully completed the Automotive Technology program: Sebastian Cruz (Westbury), Henry Hey

Adult students celebrate the completion of their coursework in the Nassau BOCES Intensive Support Program, part of the agency’s Adult Education Program. (Merrick), Anthony Mack (Bayside), Jack Maloney (Massapequa), Thomas Prestigiacomo (Farmingdale), Christopher Tsafas (Baldwin) and Dimitrias Xenias (Levittown). Three students earned certificates in Direct Care: Nicolette Ferrier (Valley Stream), Francesca Ramos (East Meadow) and Kaitlin Selfridge (Massapequa). Five students successfully completed their studies in Food Service: Ty-Shawn Gaines (Uniondale), Zion Hutchinson (Massapequa), Christelle Joseph (Valley Stream), Christopher Leroux (Baldwin) and Wendy Pineda (Hempstead). Ten students earned ISP certification in Maintenance: Gregory Feil (East Rockaway); Julian Cruz, Jose Estrada and Esdras FloresBenavides (all from Farmingdale); Dylan Silva (Franklin Square); Sebastian Abreu and Xaivier Hernandez (both from Freeport); Gerard Romaine (Lawrence); Gustavo Guevara (Massapequa); and Matthew Gaudioso (Williston Park). Eight students earned certificates of

completion in the Pet Care program: Ashley Kretzmer (Farmingdale); Rashad Henry (Floral Park); Ethan Bellomo (Hicksville); Kristin Galioto (Massapequa); Courtney Kohn (Roosevelt); Francine Segovia (Valley Stream); Genesis Cortes (Westbury); and Angela Horvatin (Williston Park). Four students earned ISP certification as porters: Antonio Ulloa (East Rockaway); Kyle Benkert and Nicholas Galante (both from Massapequa); and Cooper Gindele (Merrick). Nine students successfully completed the Stock and Inventory program: Christian Cardace and Kwesi Jean-Francois (both from Baldwin); Andrea Floriani (Farmingdale); Kylie Sandorfi (Lynbrook); Salvatore Worgul (Merrick); Thomas Glynn (Seaford); Michael Rudolph (Wantagh); Jordan Crawley (Westbury); and Matthew Bakshi (Woodmere). Visit www.nassauboces.org/adulted to learn more about the program. —Nassau BOCES

Looking for a Summer Program for your child with a learning difference? Learn more about Winston Prep Long Island Summer Program that provide students with learning differences a unique, individualized learning environment to enhance their academic skills and foster independence. Dates: June 30 - July 28, 2023 Contact: Tina Sarnicola, lisummerprogram@winstonprep.edu For more information about Winston Prep schools and programs, visit winstonprep.edu. Scan QR code to learn more about the Long Island Summer Program

FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2023 • CAMPS & SCHOOLS

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