Free Animated Download of “Horton Hears a Who”

By Joan Oleck — School Library Journal, 2/29/2008 4:00:00 AM

An animated digital version of Horton Hears a Who! is available for free to teachers throughout March, thanks to the National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America celebration of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) 104^th birthday.  

The download, now available on Kidthing, (http://www.kidthing.com/neasreadacrossamerica/) brings the classic book to life with animation, narration, and sound effects. Librarians, teachers, and care givers can turn the sound off and read the book aloud—just like their parents did.

The first Read Across America took place in 1998. It’s sponsored by the NEA and many of the country’s leading literacy and youth groups to motivate children to read and generate new enthusiasm for reading. Geisel, who died in 1991, would have turned 104 on March 2.

Emily Ellison – Songs for Children – 3:30 p.m. at St. George Library

 On SUNDAY, MARCH 2nd at 3:30 p.m. Emily Ellison will be performing at the St. George Public Library, 5 Central Ave, Staten Island. (Across from the Municipal Parking Lot) Come sing along with her! She will bring her guitar, ukulele & djembe for a rollicking good old time family sing-a-long. Performance is free.For more information, call the St. George Library Center at (718) 442-8560or e-mail Emily Ellison, Music for Children emilymusicforkids@verizon.net

Understanding and Managing Difficult Behaviors in Children with Developmental Disabilities

FYI……

REMINDER……

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

10:00 am – 12:00 Noon

Parent to Parent NY, Inc. is hosting a workshop on:

Understanding  and Managing Difficult Behaviors in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Presented by Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA

*Does your child engage in aggressive, noncompliant, repetitive or other behaviors?

*What are some treatment options and how to know if they are working?

* What can be done at home?  What can the school do?

Institute for Basic Research

1050 Forest Hill Road

For more information contact Parent to Parent, NY, Inc. 718-494-4872

GED/ABE Programs Through the JCC – for Adults

The General Educational Development (GED) Program offers preparation for the GED (high school equivalency) examination. The Adult Basic Education (ABE) Program provides courses to adults who test below the GED level and need to improve basic reading and math skills before they qualify to move into the GED level. Special emphasis in both programs is given to the development of critical thinking skills, problem solving techniques, and career planning. Students 16 and above are welcome.

Jessie Schwartz, GED/ABE Coordinator 718-981-1500 ext. 202

Announcing our 373R Multi-Media Fair/Film Festival 2008

Attention all film makers. On June 13th we will have our 4th annual Film festival. Classes can enter projects, Students can enter projects. Prizes for Students will include ipod nano’s, and flash-drives and gift certificates for ToysRUs.  Prizes for teachers will include extra computers for their classrooms, ipods and cameras. Students working on projects with out teacher support will work closely with Ms. Broderick.  Classroom teachers who wish to compete for extra computers, cameras, and ipods will also be supported to a lesser extent by Ms. Broderick. (If you are competing as a teacher, you must spearhead the project) . To submit an idea you please fill out the proposal section of the flier or blog your proposed project here. All project must be proposed by March 15th  to enter.  All entries must be finished by May 30th to enter.

Link here to blog your idea: http://stufffromthelab.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/announcing-our-373r-multi-media-fairfilm-festival-2008/

THANK YOU FROM CITY HARVEST

 

To all the Students, Staff and Teachers at P.S. 373R:

Thank you for your food donation of 1,000 pounds in December 2007, which City Harvest distributed, free of charge, to community programs throughout New York City.

Now serving New York city for 25 years, City Harvest is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women and children. This yeark, City Harvest will collect 20 million pounds of excess food from all segmants of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporated cafeterias, manufacturers and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to more than 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet of 16 trucks and volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.

Thank you from all of us here at City Harvest, the agencies we serve, and the hungry New Yorkers that benefit from your generous contributions. We look forward to working with you in the future as we continue to fight hunger in New York.

Sincerely, Jilly Stephens, Executive Director at City Harvest

FREE WORKSHOP ON LINDAMOOD-BELL LEARNING PROCESS

 

The Staten Island Parent Resource Center Presents a FREE WORKSHOP on the LINDAMOOD-BELL LEARNING PROCESS. The guest speaker is Jennifer Egan, Director of the Lindamood-Bell Center.

Lindamood-Bell’s scientifically-based learning programs develop the underlying skills necessary for reading, spelling, comprehension, critical thinking and math. The discussion will focus on the sensory-cognitive processes that affect language and literacy development, including the learning difficulties associated with dyslexia, hyperlexia and Autism. (WEBSITE: www.lindamoodbell.com )

A LIGHT DINNER WILL BE SERVED TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH 2008 FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.

A LIGHT BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH 2008 FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M.

JEWISH BOARD OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES, INC. 2795 RICHMOND AVENUE, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10314

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED, CALL (718) 698-5307

homeworkNYC.org – New Website for NYC kids, K-12

www.homeworkNYC.org will give you help with any subject in the school curriculum: Math, Science, History, Government, Language Arts, Music & Art, Religion & Mythology, Geography and Health. www.homeworkNYC.org allows you to select the design for your own home page.

GO TO www.homeworkNYC.org :

• Get one-on one live help by phone or online from librarians, teachers, and professional tutors – and quick answers to question from encyclopedias and dictionaries.
• Use the password “homework” to get access to databases from NOVEL (New York Online Virtual Electronic Library), including The New York Times and other national newspapers and magazines
• With a library card from any of New York City’s public libraries: Get access to more databases and thousans of articles, pamphlets, and books online.

www.homeworkNYC.org – powered by NYC’s public libraries

Grace Foundation Weekly Updates

GRACE UNIVERSITY – Monday, March 10th, 2008 7:30pm. 264 Watchogue Road, SI. TEL NO: 718-983-3800

SEXUALITY AND CHILDREN: YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES- A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.

Presenter:  Lorraine DeSantis, LCSW, SAS.  Please call the Grace office to register.

 

METLIFE WORKSHOP – Planning For The Future Of Your Child or Dependent with Special Needs.  Wednesday, February 20th, 6:30pm.  Ocean 3 Restaurant, 2481 Richmond Road, SI.  Please call Anthony Calabrese at 718-966-3281 to register.

 

MOTHER’S NIGHT OUT – Thursday, March 13th, 7:30pm at Jimmy Max.  $25.00 per person.  Please call the Grace office at (718) 983-3800 to register.

 CROP FOR AUTISM – Saturday, March 29th, 2008.  9:00am-9:00pm.  Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Church, 1641 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island.  $60.00 per person. See attached Registration form.  Please check our blog as of November 1, 2007 for updated info! www.gracecropforautism.blogspot.com

SOCIAL SKILLS – Classes are ongoing.  Registration is still being accepted.  Slots available for Tuesday PM classes. 

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

PRE-REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN FOR LITTLE LEAGUE – Little League will begin in the SPRING so get your paperwork in now so that we can determine if your child meets the eligibility requirements.

GYM PROGRAM – Began Saturday Oct. 13th.  9:30am-12:30pm.  P.S. 55, 54 Osborn Ave, Staten Island.  Please call Julie Larsen at 718-983-3800 for further information.

ASPERGER PARENT SUPPORT GROUP – Thursday, February 21, 2008.  7:30pm.

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

 

PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS –  Support groups are held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:00am at 264 Watchogue Road, Staten Island.  Please see attached flyer for dates.

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.

 

 

 

“The Velveteen Rabbit” – Literally Alive Children’s Theatre

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT HOPS THE DOWNTOWN EXPRESS

• What is real?  A question we often find ourselves pondering.  According to the Skin Horse, a main character in “The Velveteen Rabbit”, real is “love and love is real, truth in your heart, the joy that you feel. Sunshine, snowflakes, laughter and tears, smiles from friends you’veknown for years”.  The Skin Horse is one of the characters brought to life by Literally Alive Children’s Theatre in their musical adaptation of Margery Williams’ classic book “The Velveteen Rabbit”, which opens February 10 and runs through May 11 at the Players Theatre located at115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village. 
• http://www.literallyalive.com/shows/rabbit.html 
• The production begins with a giant 8 foot book of “The Velveteen Rabbit” on stage. As the lights dim, the book opens to reveal the nursery. Slowly the toys of the nursery come to life as they sing and dance their way in to the audience’s heart, explaining what toys are really doing while the rest of us are sleeping.  Of course the one dream that every toy has is to become “real” – it is the one thing that they wish for most – although no one can seem to explain exactly what “real” is.  As we follow the journey of the little velveteen rabbit, Pete, we watch him discover for himself what real truly is. 
• “The show has an old-fashioned charm to it, like the movie musicals of the  1940’s” says director Ian Thomas.  This adaptation, with book and lyrics by Brenda Bell and music by Mark McGee, has delightful musical numbers ranging from “Mates” where the two wild “real” rabbits (Zack & Jack) explain to the velveteen rabbit what friends are for, to the Irish lullaby, “Sweet Dreams”, sung by the Nana.  
• Together with lovely sets and costumes, the musical keeps the audiences eyes dancing and toes tapping. Prior to each performance, families may participate in an arts workshop.  Here the audience discovers how different art forms bring literature to life.  They discuss some of the movement from the show, ponder for themselves the meaning of real, hear a bit of the original story read by one of the cast members and create their very own bunny which is placed on the stage and some rabbit ears that they can wear during the performance. Coupled with the show, this two-hour experience adds up to an afternoon treasure for the entire family. 
• Literally Alive is a New York City based theatre company, now in its 8th season, that produces original musicals based on classic children’s literature.  The company took residence at the Players Theatre after a successful run of their musical “The Little Mermaid” last fall and plans to produce “Beauty and the Beast” this coming fall.
• “The Velveteen Rabbit” runs through May 11 on Saturdays and Sundays, with special holiday and school break matinees on Feb 20 & 21, March 21,and April 23 & 24.  The pre-show workshop begins seating at 11 am and the show is at 12 noon at the Players Theatre located at 115 MacDougal Street (between Bleeker and West 3rd).  Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children and there is a $5 additional charge for the child who takes the workshop.  Tickets can be purchased through theatremania.com or by calling 212-352-3101 or 1-866-811-4111.  Tickets may also be purchased at the box office (on the days of the show only) or at the Virgin Megastore in Time Square.  For more information on the production call: (212)-866-5170 or visit http://www.literallyalive.com.