How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style

How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style
San Jose Mercury News (CA)
August 27, 2008
There are general timetables for children’s developmental milestones. Some children who do not attain the scheduled milestones are diagnosed with a learning disability — a neurological disorder that causes difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information. Have your child’s learning difficulties identified early, so he can begin to receive help early enough to maximize benefits.

Read on…. http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10296634

Sign Up for the PS 373R Box Tops for Education Program

Help us earn Box Top Dollars for our school! Link onto the website and sign on to earn great deals for our school – you can even earn them when you shop online! http://www.boxtops4education.com/AboutBoxTops/

Sign up for PUBLIC SCHOOL 373R ROBERT RANDALL SCHOOL and start earning!

GRACE Foundation WEEKLY UPDATE

THE GRACE FOUNDATION

 264 WATCHOGUE ROAD

 STATEN ISLAND, NY 10314

TEL NO: 718-983-3800

FAX NO: 718-983-3858

 

GRACE FOUNDATION PICNIC – Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

12:00pm-5:00pm.  Goodhue Center, 304 Prospect Ave (Entrance on Lafayette Ave)

 

PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS -  Support groups are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:00am at 264 Watchogue Road, Staten Island. Next group meets on September 9th, 2008. 

 

ASPERGER PARENT SUPPORT GROUP - Thursday, Sept 18th, 2008.  7:30pm.

264 Watchogue Road, Staten Island, NY.  Please call the Grace office at 718-983-3800 to register.

 

 

SOCIAL SKILLS - Classes will begin the week of September 7th.  Registration is now being accepted.  Please call Julie Larsen at 718-983-3800 for additional informaton. 

 

RECREATION PROGRAMS – If anyone is interested in our Recreation Programs please call Julie Larsen at 718-983-3800. 

 

BOWLING - AT SHOWPLACE located at 141 East Service Road -off Victory Blvd.

Sundays, 10:00am – 11:30am.

 

GYM PROGRAM - Saturdays. October – June.   P.S. 55, 54 Osborn Ave, Staten Island.

Please call Julie Larsen at 718-983-3800 for further information.

Session 1 -   9:15am-11:15pm

Session 2 - 11:30am-  1:30pm 

 

 

LITTLE LEAGUE -  TEMPORARILY CANCELLED DUE TO MAINTAINENCE ON THE FIELD. We will update you as soon as possible to let you know when Little League resumes.  Please call Julie Larsen at 718-983-3800 to register.

 

SWIMMING – Saturdays 2:30pm-3:30pm and Mondays 5:30pm-6:30pm.  Please call the Grace office at 718-983-3800 to register. No Swimming on July 5, 2008.

 

————- FYI————–

 

Metdesk Metlife Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids –

“PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILD OR DEPENDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS” 

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008. 6:30pm.  Ocean 3 Restaurant, 2481 Richmond Road, SI, NY.  Complimentary dinner will be served.  Please call Anthony Calabrese to register at 718-966-3281.

 

EVOLUTION DANCE COMPANY (Forest Avenue) – Dance Classes for children with special needs – Sundays.  Ages 3 and up.  Call Lisa for information at 718-909-2542.

 

AMERICAN KARATE OF STATEN ISLAND – Specializing in Assisting Children with Special Needs.  Call 718-761-7366 for additional information.

 

CALLA KARATE – Specializing in Assisting Children with Special Needs.  Call 718-720-2509 for additional information.

 

 

 

Daily Candy NYC – Brazilian Day Festival and Kid’s Catch & Release Fishing

HEAR
Brazilian Day Festival
What: All-day fiesta features live samba music, deep-fried pastries, and colorful costumes.
Why: Blame it on Rio.
When: Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Sixth Ave., b/t 42nd & 56th Sts.; 46th St., b/t Madison & Seventh Aves.

CAST A LINE
Catch and Release Fishing
What: Children ages 5+ can bring in a live one in the Harlem Meer.
Why: It’s reel good.
When: Thru Oct. 15. Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, at E. 110th St., b/t Lenox & Fifth Aves. (212-860-1370).

Mommy Poppins Back to School Guide

Mommy Poppins has a page with great Back to School Ideas for your family:

http://mommypoppins.com/NYC-classes-and-after-school-activities-guide

They have snack ideas, menu-planning, shopping for the kids and many more great ideas!

Consumer Reports Back-to-School Guide for Parents

Consumer Reports has a great Back-to-School page on their website: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/resource-center/back-to-school-guide/

They have information on the following topics:

• Back to School Health Tips
• Dealing with Sleep Problems
• Lead in Lunchboxes
• Tips for packing a healthy school lunch
• Depression in Children
• And much more…

Summerstage August 2008

Thursday, August 14th at  7:00 p.m.: Two trailblazing Latino rock bands in a very special evening concert: Los Lonely Boys and  Los Lobos

Los Lonely Boys is comprised of brothers Henry, Jojo, and Ringo Garza, who have been performing together since singing back-up for their father. They call their music “Texican Rock n’ Roll,” a spicy blend of rock, blues, soul, country, and tejano. Los Lonely Boys have performed with legends such as Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, and Carlos Santana and they won a Grammy award for their single, “Heaven.”

Los Lobos, with 20 albums and countless singles to their credit, remains one of the most innovative and popular rock bands of all time. Famous for their live performances, they have toured extensively with Bob Dylan and with The Grateful Dead.

 

Friday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m.: South American beats from Argentina and Uruguay mixed with house, trip-hop, and lounge sensibilities:  Bajofondo & Osunlade

Bajofondo, from South America, skillfully mixes traditional music styles from Argentina and Uruguay with house, trip-hop and lounge sensibilities to create what critics have dubbed “tango electronic.” This is music to dance to, and their live performances include strikingly original projected video imagery.

Yoruba priest and musician Osunlade has amassed a global legion of faithful fans through his spiritually-based compositions, and as a prolific house music producer and the founder of Yoruba Records. He has worked with artists such as Patti Labelle, Roy Ayers ,and Cesaria Evora and has remixed countless artists from every genre. His discography is extensive and impressive with over 50 releases to his credit, the latest of which is Elements Beyond.

 

 

Saturday, August 16th at 3:00 p.m.: A whole day of home-grown bands that have garnered an international reputation: Battles, Black Dice, and Gang Gang Dance

Battles ignores the rules of tempo and timing, creating an abstract and timeless blend of instrumentation, computerized beats, and manipulated voices to craft a uniquely organized sound. In 2006, the band released their debut album EP C/B EP, a collection of obscure EP releases. Their new full length album, Mirrored, has attracted international acclaim.

Black Dice formed at the Rhode Island School of Design a decade ago and have released two albums: Broken Ear Record and Manoman. Now based in Brooklyn, the sonic groundbreakers push the limits of experimental sound in rock music by focusing on only a few notes per song mixed with doses of distortion.

Gang Gang Dance is a much-revered leader in the NYC indie-rock scene, known for crafting haunting minimalist collages of sound. The band surreptitiously utilizes tribal influences, techno instrumentation, and the power of silence to evoke a frenzied mood of anticipation. GGD has performed with Sonic Youth, Massive Attack, Black Dice, and TV on the Radio.

 

Sunday, August 17th at 3:00 p.m.: A powerful program of Brooklyn-based soul and funk masters with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Menahan Street Band, and Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens

Sometimes called a female James Brown, the Brooklyn-based “Queen of Funk” Sharon Jones has been performing since the 1970s. Starting out singing in churches and talent shows, Ms. Jones has spent her life perfecting her trademark combination of soul and funk. Her band, the Dap-Kings, who recently toured with Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson, is chock full of masterful musicians. City Parks Foundation was an early supporter of the multi Grammy-nominated Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, who headlined in 2006 at Historic Harlem’s Jackie Robinson Park, through the organization’s free CityParks Concerts series. Her latest album with the Dap-Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights, released last October, is a powerful retro throwback to the 60’s.

Funk and soul continue to pour out of Brooklyn with the birth of the Menahan Street Band. The Menahan Street Band shares members with Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, the Budos Band, and El Michels Affair (also veterans of Central Park SummerStage). They produce an irresistible brand of music that has been described as classic, yet raw groove.

Whether from the church pews of Alabama or Brooklyn, or on her cutting-edge funk singles, Naomi Shelton is renowned for her cathartic brand of soul. And while wrenching your heart, she also gets your feet dancing. Her funk classic, “Forty-First Street Breakdown,” is one of the most sampled snippets for DJ’s looking for real soul.

FREE Fun Family Events in Staten Island August 2008

• Back to the Beach Festival Saturday, August 16, 2008 (718) 816-2133 Midland Beach, Sea Turtle Circle, Father Cappadaonno Blvd. at Jefferson Ave. 12-9 p.m. “Yesterday’s Dream”, “Barbara Harris & the Toys”, “Brooklyn Horns”, “Bronx Wonders” Tribute to the Belmonts, “Simply the Best” Tribute to Tina Turner All new games and rides on Baseball Field, Live Music, Flea Market 9 p.m. FIREWORKS
• Back to the Beach Festival Sunday, August 17, 2008 (718) 816-2133 Midland Beach, Sea Turtle Circle, Father Cappadaonno Blvd. at Jefferson Ave.  12-9 p.m.”Circle of Friends”, Tuesdays at Eight”, “Big Frank & the Healers”, “Brooklyn Keys”, The Passions” All new games and rides on Baseball Field, Live Music, Flea Market (Fireworks RAINDATE)
• BBQ Pit Master Training Class – Saturday, August 16, 2008 Richmond Town, Staten Island (718) 351-1611 ext. 245
• NYC Department of Education: Back-To-School Fair Saturday, August 16, 2008 Central Park East 98th St. & 5th Ave. 10a.m. to 3 p.m. FREE MUSIC, Food and FUN!
• Summer Streets – Saturday August 16 & 23rd from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. BIKE WALK & RUN! www.nyc.gov/summerstreets
• Starlight Concert – Thursday, August 14th, Conference House Park, 8-10 p.m. “Diva Express”, “Parkside Symphony”
• Starlight Concert – Thursday, August 21st, Silver Lake Park, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. “The Four Pops”, “Vince Vaccaro” Tribute to Bobby Darin
• Thursday, August 28th END OF SUMMER CONCERT AND FIREWORKS 6:30 p.m. Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier “Project 19″, “Joe Bonnano & the Godsons of Soul” 8:30 p.m. FIREWORKS

PS 373R Welcomes GUEST POST by Writer Heather Johnson: “Caregiving Tips for Families with Special Needs”

Caregiving Tips for Families with Special Needs

 

Families with members with special needs face a host of challenges on a daily basis.  Whether it’s an adult or a child that suffers from a malady it affects the entire family and providing the proper care is the family’s responsibility.  There are times when frustrations will run high but you need to stay grounded as tough as it will be.  Care givers need to do just that – give care!  Here are some tips for you to consider when you feel you’re in a rut:

 

1. Make sure your whole family receives care.  It’s important that nobody in your family feels neglected due to the level of care you provide the member who needs it the most.  You need to balance out the attention that everyone receives.  If everyone feels loved then it will make everything run smoother.
2. Make sure you take care of yourself as well.  It can be such a difficult job to care for whoever has special needs that you may start neglecting your own needs.  Keep up your personal health through exercise and keep your mind in tune by staying current with your hobbies and personal interests.
3. Make the family member with special needs feel important.  It can be easy to treat people with special needs like charity cases.  You need to empower them and make them feel strong.  Celebrate milestones and encourage them to keep striving for improvement.  Just as we celebrate children’s first words or steps we need to continue marking achievements.
4. Learn all you can about your family member’s condition.  As much as you want to help and will help care for your family member it’s imperative that you know as much as you can about the condition at hand.  Talk with doctors and ask as many questions as you can.  Go online and find out what people in your position provide for care in the home.  This will help you make the right decisions and will ultimately make everyone’s life in your home better.
5. Seek support.  Join a support group and you’ll be able to find out what other people in your shoes do to ensure you’re providing the best care you possibly can.  Don’t be afraid to discuss your issues or concerns with practical strangers.  Don’t limit your involvement to just concerns; be sure to share your success stories as well.

 

 

 

By-line:

 

This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of best colleges. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com. heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com

 

Play! Run! Walk! Bike! Breathe!…at SUMMER STREETS!!

Summer Streets presented by The City of New York and the New York City Department of Transportation begins this weekend. For three Saturdays this August, take pleasure in nearly 7 miles of car-free streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park.

Play! Run! Walk! Bike! Breathe!…at SUMMER STREETS!!
August 9th, 16th and 23rd from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Lafayette Street – 4th Avenue – Park Avenue – 72nd Street – Central Park with connections to Harlem and the West Side Greenway.

Choose a route as long or as short as you’d like, or just come to relax in the new space.

It’s a whole new way to see NYC streets!
For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/summerstreets.
Watch the Summer Streets video on YouTube or download it from the Summer Streets website.

Summer Streets is for cyclists, joggers, skaters and strollers of all ages and abilities. This is not a race. We encourage everyone to be courteous during Summer Streets and most of all have fun!

Participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and fill up with NYC tap water at the water stations at the rest stops.

Need a helmet? NYCDOT will be conducting helmet fittings and distribution at 24th Street and Park Avenue from 9:00 am – noon on all three Summer Street Saturdays. Supplies are limited, you must be present to be fit for and receive a helmet.