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Get Ready for Preschool!

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

The time has come for your little one to start preschool! This marks a new chapter in your child’s life and yours as well. A chapter certain to be filled with new adventures, friendships, increased independence and joy. But despite all of this you may find yourself asking, “Is my child really ready for this…and am I?”

Whether you plan to send your child to preschool starting next week, next fall or next year, there are some strategies you can start applying now to help make this transition a positive and successful one for all.

Proceed With Confidence

Feeling comfortable and having trust in the preschool that you will be sending your child to is essential. Take the time you need to tour different centers, meet the teachers and directors, spend time in the class and speak with other parents to hear their experiences.

Encourage Independence

Start to foster independence in everyday activities now like getting dressed, cleaning up and washing hands. You can even start to introduce daily chores around the house. The key to teaching these skills is to keep it fun! Make up songs to go along with them or if you are not that creative, search YouTube for some ideas. These everyday routines are a big part of preschool and it will prove to be very beneficial to help your child get familiar with them now.

Establish Routines

Children learn best with set schedules and routines. It removes an element of unknown and helps children understand time and expectations. It is especially important to establish, and stick with, morning and bedtime routines when your child starts preschool. A morning routine will help ensure your child starts the day off in a positive and productive way versus rushed or panicked. Self-care skills also promote increased independence. A nighttime routine is important for ensuring your child gets a restful night’s sleep so they have the energy and stamina needed to keep up in a busy class. It is never too early to start establishing these routines….so start tonight!

Sharing is Caring

Sharing, whether it be toys or attention, is a common theme in preschool. Have your child practice sharing toys with you and friends whenever possible. It is also important to help your child learn to share attention. Practice this at home by having your child wait a moment before you attend to a request. Starting with small increments, slowly build up their tolerance for waiting for your attention or for an item. If this goes well, you can start to work on encouraging your child to say “excuse me” or raise their hand to get your attention if you are busy or are talking with someone else.

Read, Read, Read

Set aside time every day for story time. This will be a part of your child’s day in preschool and a great way to teach new skills. Help your child develop a love for reading at a young age through keeping story time interesting and fun.

Educate

Take time to explain to your child what preschool is all about. A great way to do this is through books or short video clips. Engage them with the pictures and encourage them to ask questions. Listen to their concerns. Some great books about starting preschool include, “Preschool Day Hooray!” by Linda Leopold Strauss and “Maisy Goes to Preschool” by Lucy Cousins. Share your favorite memories of preschool and whenever possible, have your child observe their new class prior to their first day.

The Goodbye

Alright Moms and Dads, this is the tough one! When the first day of preschool finally arrives, you must keep the goodbye short and sweet. Create a fun goodbye ritual, like a secret handshake, that is special to you and your child and practice it leading up to the big day. But once you say that goodbye, muster up a smile and leave, even if your child begins to cry. Trust in the teachers to handle it. Chances are, by the time you step foot out the door, the only one crying is you!

By Allison Genovese, M.S. ABA, BCBA, LABA, Vice President of Early Childhood Programs for Realizing Children’s Strengths (RCS) Behavioral and Educational Consulting and Mini Miracles Early Education and Childcare Center (MMCC). She is also the mother of two children, ages 4 and 6 years-old. • rcslearning.org

Building Empathy, Equity and Excellence!

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

At the December Community Education Council 31 meeting, I spoke about our work revolving around Empathy, Equity and Excellence throughout the district. This work centers on diving deep in discussions about those often difficult and uncomfortable topics involving race, gender, and socio-economic status. These conversations can have us reflect on ingrained perceptions we may have from past experiences and relationships.

The work our District Leadership Team and community partners are engaging in is something that will foster collaboration and capacity building. Superintendent Anthony Lodico has led our efforts in partnership with Betsy Dubovsky, Executive Director of The Staten Island Foundation in securing over $800,000 in grant funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and other community partners for “Achieving Transformational Educational Outcomes.”

Staten Island District 31 was one of several school districts from across the nation competing for this grant, eventually beating out 2 other finalists from California. This work will partner our Staten Island District 31 Educators and Community members with the consulting firm FSG. FSG will develop a training and interactive deep analysis plan incorporating their “Systems Thinking” framework.

“Systems Thinking is not ‘thinking about a system.’ Instead, Systems Thinking is a framework and set of tools that help people observe and understand the interdependencies that exist within a complex system and focus on higher-leverage change strategies. It helps individuals consider the connections between inner (personal mental models) and outer (dynamics between stakeholders) change; elevate the importance of transforming relationships within a system; examine how the structure generates the behavior observed, and shift attention from reactive activity to addressing deeper sources of problems.” – FSG

This work will consist of community-member working groups, leadership training sessions and community engagement to help build on student outcomes regardless of race, gender or economic conditions.

District 31 is honored to be awarded this competitive grant opportunity. This will allow our District to build upon our work, increasing Empathy, Equity and Excellence in our school community. Our District was already engaged in work that aligned with the objectives of the Carnegie grant, incorporating the $150,000 Chancellor Carmen Farina provided to support our work focused on the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

In October, Superintendent Anthony Lodico chaired our first meeting of the Empathy, Equity and Excellence working group. The group is comprised of students, educators, parents and community members. Matthew Lattimer, Conciliation Specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice is facilitating the discussion for the group.

This monumental work will expand from the planning committee and working group to a 3-day workshop in late January into February. The workshop will bring together approximately 75 Staten Island stakeholders representing parents, students, teachers, principals, and community and faith-based organizations. The workshop will focus on promoting opportunities for Pre-K through grade 12 students in our community. The event will be co-led by facilitators from FSG, PolicyLink and the Systems Leadership Institute, three nationally recognized organizations that will help our community dig into key aspects of leadership development and creating sustainable change.

We are looking forward to building on this exciting work!

Click on the links below to learn more about the initiatives.

Carnegie Corporation of New York
https://www.carnegie.org/

FSG
https://www.fsg.org/areas-of-focus/systems-thinking

Staten Island Foundation
http://www.thestatenislandfoundation.org/

My Brother’s Keeper Grant for Family and Community Engagement – District 31
http://www.nysed.gov/schools/my-brothers-keeper

By Community Education Council 31 President Michael Reilly.

Fabulous February– Fun is in the Air!

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

February may be short on days, but there’s no shortage of themes for this versatile month– from Groundhogs to Valentines to Lunar New Year to Presidents– it’s packed with topics all month long!

Additionally, this year is the XXIII Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, so if your family is interested in sports, geography, politics,TV, competitions, or just plain good old entertainment, here is a built-in conversation-starter for 17 days and beyond! The United States has approximately 240 athletes competing in the games, ranging from familiar sports such as figure skating and hockey, to sports we usually only see televised at Olympics time, like biathlon, luge, bobsled, and curling. Opening ceremonies are February 9. Go Team USA!

Don’t forget February’s much-anticipated Winter Recess when public schools in New York are closed from February 16^th until 25^th. What will you do with the kids for 10 days to keep the cabin fever at bay? Well, you’ve come to the right place for ideas and suggestions. Flip through the ads in this issue of Staten Island Parent and you’ll see that there’s tons of fun crammed into the 58 square miles that is Staten Island. Try something new (see insert) or go with an old favorite. As always, our public library branches have programs for all age groups—including yours! If you want more, check out the family calendar beginning on page 51 and online at siparent-com.go-vip.net and you can fill the winter break with fun without ever leaving the Island!

Try Something Different

A break in the usual routine is the perfect time to try something new. Here’s a few ideas:

• Channel your Inner Willy Wonka! Schedule a tour of a chocolate factory, History of Chocolate movie, samples & goodie bag. $4 per person. Supreme Chocolatier, 1150 South Ave (see ad on page 18 of our February issue)

• Yoga is for Everyone! Kids’ Valentine Event and Winter Break specials. 5 Boro Power Yoga (see ad on page 28 of our February issue)

• Think Tank! Annual Triathalon Event at Mathnasium’s Bulls Head location on Saturday, Feb 10. Free, fun-filled math activities for grades 2, 3, 4, & 5. (see ad on page 38 of our February issue)

Add a Splash of Culture!

These S.I. organizations have special offers for the February break:

Greenbelt Nature Center • 700 Rockland Ave. • 718-351-3450
School’s Out: We’re In! Free program on Feb. 20, 21, 22 & 23
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art • 338 Lighthouse Ave. • 718-987-3500
Free program for students on Feb 21, 22 & 23
Staten Island Children’s Museum • 1000 Richmond Terrace • 718-273-2060
Free admission on Cool School Holiday, Feb. 19
Staten Island Museum • 1000 Richmond Terrace • 718-727-1135
Free admission for kids on Feb. 21-25
Staten Island Zoo • 614 Broadway • 718-442-3100
Kids Fun Days on Feb. 21 & 22

If your spirit animal is more the hibernating type, embrace it! Hunker down in your “den” and plan a day of nesting with the kids. There’s no need to sacrifice fun– siparent-com.go-vip.net/winter has lots of ideas for winter-themed crafts and indoor games, kid-friendly recipes, and kids’ jokes (Q. What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? A: Frostbite. Ok, we know it’s corny, but it’s sure to give a 5-year old a good laugh!).

Brrrrr! It’s colder than a polar bear’s nose outside! Are you and the crew brave enough to brave the outdoors? Below is a list of places you can get to within two hours for a “cool” day trip to make the winter break a memorable one – not far enough to experience a climate change, but so much fun you’ll forget about the cold.

Indoor Entertainment/Activity Centers:

Woodbridge Community Center (approx. 4.5 miles from Outerbridge Crossing) See ad page 25
Woodbridge, NJ • (732) 596-4000
One-stop family entertainment center, featuring ice skating, roller skating, batting cages, and more.

iPlay America (approx. 26 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
Freehold, NJ • 732-577-8200
Featuring indoor rides, attractions, boardwalk games and one of NJ’s largest arcades.

Crayola Factory (approx. 60 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
Easton, PA • 610-515-8000
Explore and learn all about crayons and coloring, plus do art projects and see live demonstrations.

RPM Raceway (approx. 7 miles from Bayonne Bridge)
Jersey City • 201-333-7223
Go-kart racing for drivers 4′ tall and up, plus arcade and billiards.

Insectropolis (approx. 50 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
Toms River, NJ • 732-349-7090
View and touch beautiful and bizarre exotic insects from all over the world.

Legoland Discovery Center
A Lego-themed indoor family entertainment center for kids age 3-10 with rides, Lego build-and-play zones, a 4D cinema and a gift shop.
• Plymouth Meeting Mall, Phila., Pa. • 208-513-1429 (approx. 75 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
• Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers, N.Y. • 866-243-0770 (approx. 40 miles from Goethals Bridge)

GlowGolf (approx. 38 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)
Garden City, NY • 516-747-3682 Glow-in-the-dark mini golf and laser maze center in Roosevelt Field Mall.

The Funplex (approx. 30 miles from Bayonne Bridge)
East Hanover, NJ • 973-428-1166
Indoor amusement park with rides, bumper cars, Go-Karts, video/arcade games, and laser tag.

Palisades Center Mall (approx. 50 miles from Goethals Bridge)
West Nyack, NY • 845-348-1000
A four-level shopping center offering over 200 stores, 15 sit-down restaurants, a bowling alley, ice rink, the world’s tallest indoor ropes course, and more.
Ski Resorts & Indoor Waterparks:

Camelback Mountain (approx. 92 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Tannersville, PA • 570-629-1662
Snow tubing, skiing, Aquatopia Indoor Water park, and other adventure rides.

Coco Key (approx. 62 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
Mount Laurel, NJ • 877-494-2626
Indoor waterpark and resort for all ages plus an arcade.

Great Wolf Lodge (approx. 92 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Scotrun, PA • 800-768-9653
Indoor waterpark and resort for all ages plus characters and activities for kids.

Kalahari Indoor Water Park (approx. 99 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Pocono Manor, PA • 877-525-2427
America’s largest indoor waterpark at 220,000 square feet, featuring water slides, spa, wave pool, lazy river, and toddler play area.

Mountain Creek (approx. 72 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Vernon Township, NJ • 973-827-2000
Resort featuring skiing, snow tubing, snowboarding.

Rocking Horse Ranch (approx. 88 miles from Bayonne Bridge)
Highland, NY • 800-647-2624
Resort featuring indoor waterpark, horseback riding, mountain tubing, exotic wildlife exhibit, organized family activities and more.

Sahara Sam’s Oasis (approx. 70 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
West Berlin, NJ • 856-767-7580
Indoor waterpark and resort with rides and attractions for all ages, plus an arcade.

Museums:

American Museum of Natural History (approx. 16 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge or approx. 1 hr, 10 min by SI Ferry & subway)
New York, NY • 212-769-5100
One of the world’s largest museums, features 45 exhibition halls, planetarium, IMAX theatre, library, and over 33 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains, and human cultural artifacts.

Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey (approx. 25 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Teterboro, NJ • 201-288-6344
View historic aircraft, air and space artifacts, photographs, fine art and an extensive model collection.

Dimenna Children’s Museum (approx. 15.5 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge or approx. 1 hr, 10 min by SI Ferry & subway)
New York, NY • 212-873-3400
The children’s wing of the New York Historical Society is targeted toward children ages 8–13 and uses interactive exhibits to make history fun.

Intrepid Air, Sea & Space Museum (approx. 14.5 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge or approx. 1 hr, 10 min by SI Ferry & subway)
New York, NY • 212-245-0072
Climb aboard the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, see the space shuttle Enterprise and the world’s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine. The Anchors Aweigh Family Tour is recommended for ages 5-12 years old, with adult.

Liberty Science Center (approx. 7.5 miles from Bayonne Bridge)
Jersey City, NJ • 201-200-1000
Interactive science museum and learning center featuring multiple exhibits and the largest IMAX Dome theater in the United States.

New York Hall of Science (approx. 20 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge or approx. 1 1/2 hrs, by SI Ferry & subway)
Queens, NY • 718-699-0005
Featuring over 450 interactive displays that explain science, technology, engineering, and math, plus a 60,000 square foot outdoor Science Playground and Rocket Park.

New York Transit Museum (approx. 8.5 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)
Brooklyn, NY • 718-694-1600
Collection of vintage subway cars and retired buses, as well as other bridge, tunnel, and railway artifacts and memorabilia.

Newark Museum (approx. 12 miles from Goethals Bridge)
Newark, NJ • 973-596-6550
Museum featuring planetarium, creative play, interactive galleries, science exhibits, fire museum, art collections and more.

Please Touch Museum (approx. 80 miles from Outerbridge Crossing)
Philadelphia, PA • 215-581-3181
Highly interactive exhibits for purposeful play, with a collection of over 25,000 toys as well as toddler zones, a carousel, and imagination playground.
Wildlife Appreciation:

Bronx Zoo (approx. 35 miles from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)
Bronx, NY • 718-220-5100
The largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and one of the largest in the world, at 265 acres of park lands and natural habitats.

Turtle Back Zoo (approx. 25 miles from Goethals Bridge)
West Orange, NJ • 973-731-5800
Featuring a multitude of animals, aviary, butterfly tent, shark and sting ray touch tank, endangered species carousel, treetop adventure course, mini golf and more.

Not-Too-Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

Isn’t it ironic that Dental Health Month falls on the same month as Valentine’s Day? This year, mix in some savory with your sweet treats. You’re sweet enough already! Here are some festive foods for your February 14 celebrations that won’t break your dentist’s heart.

Heart-Shaped Roasted Beets and Potatoes

Ingredients:
3 large potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
3 large beets, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2-4 cloves of garlic, grated
A sprinkle of cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut potato and beet slices into hearts and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. If desired, toss in the scraps as well.
2. Toss until vegetables are well coated, then transfer them to a sheet pan and spread out into a single layer. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking for even browning.
3. Remove the mixture from the oven, toss with parsley, season to taste, and serve hot.

From tablespoon.com

Heart-Shaped Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
watermelon
fresh lychees
raspberries
strawberries

1. Peel lychees. You can substitute for melon balls if you can’t find fresh lychees.
2. Wash strawberries and raspberries and cur strawberries lengthwise.
3. Slice watermelons and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts.
4. Mix fruit in a bowl and enjoy!

From adesignerlife.net

Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

Ingredients:
pizza dough, pre-made
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
pepperoni (as much as you like)
1 tablespoon cornmeal (optional)

1. Separate pizza dough it into 4 equal parts, and shape it into hearts. They don’t have to be perfect!
2. Use a small cookie cutter to make pepperoni-shaped hearts.
3. Top dough with sauce and cheese, and then the pepperoni hearts. If you put some cornmeal on your baking sheet your pizza won’t stick.
4. Bake in a 450-degree oven for 12 minutes until the crust is set and cheese is bubbling.

From melo-drama.com

New York State Constitutional Convention…Yes or No?

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

On Tuesday, November 7^th, New Yorkers will head to the polls and vote Yes or No to the following question, “Shall there be a convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?”

Every twenty years New York voters have the opportunity to authorize a convention of delegates to create amendments to the state constitution.

The proposition will appear on the back of the ballot. Voters will have to flip that ballot over to cast a Yes or No vote. There is a pending lawsuit that is waging an effort to mandate the New York State Board of Election to place the question on the front of the ballot.

Recent social media posts have erroneously stated that if a voter leaves the question blank it will be counted as a Yes. This is FALSE. Only actual Yes and No votes will be counted.

If the proposition receives more No votes in November, the process ends. If the proposition passes with a majority of Yes votes, a State Constitutional Convention will move forward.

The first step requires the election of delegates on November 6, 2018. There would be 3 delegates elected in each of the 63 New York State senate districts and 15 statewide delegates, for a total of 204 delegates.

At the completion of the delegate election, the convention will convene on April 2, 2019. Each delegate will receive an annual salary of $79,500, equal to that of a New York State assembly member. Total delegate salary would cost the state approximately $16 million.

In addition, the delegates will hire staff and set their salaries, as well as purchase necessary equipment and meeting venues. Some have estimated the overall costs to fall between $50 and $150 million for the constitutional convention. The most recent constitutional conventions resulted in state legislators, their staff members and politically-connected individuals elected as delegates.

The current constitution allows elected officials, judges and other government employees to double dip, collecting the $79,500 delegate salary in addition to their regular government salary. State laws also allow the delegate salary to be factored into pension calculations for these members. During the convention, elected delegates will propose amendments to the State Constitution.

Proponents believe this is the best option to enact reforms to combat alleged corruption in Albany. They hope to restrict state legislator’s outside income and implement ethics reform that has been gridlock. A constitutional convention could also result in eliminating a state legislative chamber, streamlining the legislative process. The current legislative make-up includes 63 state senators and 150 assembly members. Supporters believe a convention could potentially remove unfunded mandates, which place financial burdens on local municipalities. Additionally, they believe it could provide savings in the government pension plans.

Opponents believe the high costs of conducting a convention and having state legislators as delegates, will hinder any chance of positive changes. There are concerns that opening the books on every law can negatively impact environmental conservation, public education, and labor protection laws. Opponents maintain that the right for workers to organize unions, worker’s compensation protections and previously negotiated state pension obligations can be in jeopardy. The most recent constitutional conventions were seen as mere duplications of previous legislative sessions, resulting in little change.

If the constitution convention moves forward and the delegates propose amendments, it is anticipated that voters will consider adopting the amended New York Constitution at the polls on November 5, 2019.

Please remember to exercise your right to vote on November 7, 2017!

By Community Education Council 31 President Michael Reilly

Library Card Sign-up Month

October 28, 2019 By Michelle Yannaco

“A library card,” says the American Library Association, “is the most important school supply of all.” September marks not only the start of a new school year. It is Library Card Sign-up Month, which began in 1987, when Secretary of Education William J. Bennett said “Let’s have a national campaign…every child should obtain a library card – and use it.” It is an observation still honored by the ALA and public libraries throughout the country.

Libraries today offer a broad array of free materials, services, and activities. These are just a few of the great reasons to make the library an integral part of yours and your child’s life.

Movies & films – Today’s libraries offer a great selection of mainstream movies and television series as well as educational, independent, and foreign films on DVD for children and adults alike.

Music CDs – Music is the universal language. Your can check out pop, rock, and country CDs and even introduce your kids to a great selection of classical, jazz, blues, international music and more.

Computer software & games – For today’s video game obsessed youth, the array of children’s educational computer software and games found in libraries is a welcome. You’ll also find teen and adult video games, instructional and reference software, and productivity software ranging from Microsoft programs to graphic design.

Periodicals – Newspapers, magazines, and special interest periodicals are available for both in-library use and for check out.

Books, audio books, and ebooks – In addition to large collections of print fiction, non-fiction and reference books, libraries offer audio books on CD and typically carry unabridged editions. Many libraries now offer ebooks as well in many different formats.

Computer & Internet use – Nearly all libraries today offer free computer access for browsing the Internet as well as basic word processing programs to Excel, PowerPoint, and more.

Inter-library loan – If your library or local branch doesn’t carry a particular book or item you’re looking for, most now have inter-library and reciprocal loan programs. So your library can request the material from another library for you, or you can use your library card at other libraries in nearby communities.

Online catalog – Nearly all libraries have their own websites with access to their complete catalog. You can browse or search for materials from home to determine availability. If the item you want isn’t available, you can usually reserve it or request inter-library loan right from your computer.

Special events – Libraries offer a wide array of programs, events, and activities. These may include children’s story times, computer classes, enrichment programs, book discussion groups, used-book sales, author events, children’s and teen movie and craft events, and much more.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF LIBRARY BRANCHES AND HOURS IN STATEN ISLAND

By Kimberly Blaker, a lifestyle and parenting freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in more than 200 newspapers, parenting and women’s magazines, and other publications throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Get Ready for Preschool!

Proceed With Confidence

Encourage Independence

Establish Routines

Sharing is Caring

Read, Read, Read

Educate

The Goodbye

Building Empathy, Equity and Excellence!

Fabulous February– Fun is in the Air!