FREE Family-to-Family 12 Week Education Program at NAMI Staten Island

The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Staten Island presents a Family-to-Family Education Program for parents, siblings, spouses, teen-age and adult children and significant others of folks living with serious mental illness.

The course will cover infromation about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and major depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder; coping skills; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care around worry and stress.

Classes Start: Monday, September 8, 2008

Fr. Dominic Epifanio Parish Center at Holy Rosary Parish, 85 Jerome Avenue, South Beach 7:00-9:30 p.m.

Offered free of charge by NAMI Staten Island. Registration required -Classes limited to 20 persons. Contact NAMI Staten Island to register (718) 477-1700 or namistatenisland@aol.com

PS 373R Welcomes New Principal Ilene Goldstein-Harnett

To All Parents/Guardians in the PS 373R Family;

 

          As PTA president, I wish to welcome Ilene Goldstein-Harnett to our school as our new principal. I was on the C30 committee and I wish to tell everyone how fortunate we are to have her come aboard. Her combination of years of experience and her dedication to our children will be an asset to our school and I am looking forward to a very productive year.

 

I met with her on 7/24 for an informal “get to know you” meeting which was very productive. I am sure that we have forged the beginning of an excellent working relationship, and many of our goals for the upcoming year will be eagerly addressed and met.

 

We face many challenges in the year ahead and I am confident that together, the parents, teachers and administration will achieve many important results. Again, welcome Ilene and the best of luck in your new position.

 

Regards,

John Scarso PTA President

WANTED: Vice President for the PS 373R PTA

WANTED:   Vice President needed for the PTA

 

If any parent/guardian is interested in the position of Vice president, please contact John Scarso at 718-986-8856. We need your help.

Community Forum – Learn How the Attorney General’s Office Can Help the Staten Island Community

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo Invites you to attend a COMMUNITY FORUM. Learn how the Attorney General’s Office can help the Staten Island Community.

Co-Hosted by:

• New York State Senator Diane Savino 
• New York State Assemblyman Matthew Titone
• Staten Island Borough President James P.Molinaro
• New York City Councilmember Michael McMahon

Come hear a discussion of ISSUES that affect you every day: Health Care, Internet Safety & Consumer Protection.

Where: Brighton Heights Reformed Church 320 St. Marks Place, Staten Island, NY 10301

When: Wednesday, August 6th @ 1p.m.

Please RSVP (212) 416 8839 Visit their website: www.oag.state.ny.us

Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Staten Island

Sponsored by the NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities

Come to the meeting of the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Staten Island.

When: Thursday, July 31, 2008 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Location: Behavioral Sciences Building (Bldg. 28) NYS Institute for Basic Research, 930 Willowbrook Road, Staten Island, NY 10314

Topics:

• NYC Department of Education and other Resources for Children with Disabilities
• Picnic Planning

Speaker: Anne Marie Caminiti, Director of Parent to Parent, NY Inc.

RSVP: Anne Gordon (718) 494-5122

BOX TOPS Sweepstakes – Win 1,000 Bonus Box Tops!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to: http://www.boxtops4education.com/Default.aspx and sign in as PUBLIC SCHOOL 373R ROBERT RANDALL SCHOOL and you can click onto the the Betty Crocker Brownie Sweepstakes to win 1,000 Box Tops for our school! One school will win each week until August 10th!

Right now, hundreds of your favorite products are carrying 2 Bonus Box Tops—plus the regular Box Top—for triple the earnings, or 30¢, on every package! Be sure to take advantage of this limited-time earnings opportunity to stock up on the things you need—and earn extra cash for your school at the same time.

Look for double Bonus Box Tops on these and many more brands, now through September at stores near you:

• Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix
• Betty Crocker® Fruit-Flavored Snacks
• Betty Crocker® Potatoes
• Betty Crocker® Warm Delights® Desserts
• Cheerios® Cereals
• Chex Mix® Snack Mix
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch® Cereals
• Cookie Crisp® Cereals
• Country Hearth® Bread
• Green Giant® Giant Bites™ Vegetables
• Hamburger Helper® Mix
• Nature Valley® Granola Bars
• Old El Paso® Taco Kits
• Pillsbury® Ready-to-Bake!™ Cookies
• Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel™ Pastries
• Pop Secret® Microwave Popcorn
• Reese’s® Puffs® Cereal
• Suddenly Salad® Mixes
• Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt
• Yoplait® Trix® Yogurt

GRACE Weekly Update

THE GRACE FOUNDATION

 264 WATCHOGUE ROAD

 STATEN ISLAND, NY 10314

TEL NO: 718-983-3800

FAX NO: 718-983-3858

 

 

HOOPS AND KICKS FOR AUTISM – Friday, July 25, 2008. 3:00pm-9:00pm

St. Joseph/St. Thomas Gym, 50 Maguire Avenue, Staten Island. 

Fundraiser to benefit Families with Children with Autism. Please see attached flyers. For additional information  please contact Frank DeCandido at 718-317-0946. hoops-and-kicks-flyer

 

LET’ CREATE DRAMA – “Kids Act For Kids” Yard Sale & Fundraiser to benefit the Grace Foudation.  Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27.  10:30am-4:30pm.

                                                               79 Chesebrough Street (weather Permitting).

 

GRACE FOUNDATION PICNIC – Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

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

See attached flyers for details. save-the-date

  

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.

Group will not meet during July and August. 

 

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.

 

BOWLING (AT SHOWPLACE) (141 East Service Road -off Victory Blvd.)

Sundays, 10:00am – 11:30am.

 

GYM PROGRAM – 9:30am-12:30pm.  P.S. 55, 54 Osborn Ave, Staten Island.

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

 

LITTLE LEAGUE – 10:00am-12:0pm at Great Kills Little League. Please call the Grace office 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.

Channel 11, 10:00 pm news. July 18, 2008- Response to comments made by Michael Savage

NAA New York Metro on WPIX – Channel 11, 10:00 pm news. July 18, 2008. Response to comments made by Michael Savage.

The disparaging comments on Autism made by Michael Savage, Radio Talk Show Host, drew outrage from the media and advocates for families affected by Autism. Sabeeha Rehman was interviewed by WPIX CW11 and was asked to explain what Autism was, and her reaction to the comments.
Watch the video clipping of the news segment 

-John Scarso, P.S. 373R PTA President 718-442-1631

Art Sought for Upcoming Book about Autism

The creators of “Artism: Art By Those With Autism!” seek submissions for their follow-up book: “Artism Anew”. The project is being orchestrated by Karen Simmons, founder of Autsim Today and “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs.” Debbie Hosseini will curate at co-author the book.

Send all art submissions for consideration to Debbie Hosseini c/o Artism Today, P.O. Box 630, Carpinteria, CA 93014. Keep copies as materials will not be returned. Send high quality TIFF or PNG files of artwork to artism@autismtoday.com

Submissions must be received by August 15, 2008. For more information, visit www.artismtoday.com, call 805-259-6879 or e-mail artism@autismtoday.com

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED 2008-09 CONTRACTS FOR EXCELLENCE PLAN

Meeting Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 @ Petrides 715 Ocean Terrace, SI, NY

The Department of Education today announced dates and locations for the second round of public hearings concerning New York City’s proposed 2008-09 Contracts for Excellence school funding plan. Parents, educators, and other New Yorkers are invited to attend and comment at the hearings, which will be held in all five boroughs. The majority of new State education aid is subject to the provisions of the State’s Contracts for Excellence. Under State law, Contracts funds must be distributed to certain schools and spent in six specific program areas—class size reduction, time on task, teacher and principal quality initiatives, middle school and high school restructuring, full-day pre-Kindergarten, and model programs for English Language Learners. The provisions also require that funds go to students with the greatest need and supplement, not supplant, previously funded programs and personnel. An updated Contracts plan will be posted online at: http://www.nyc.gov/schools/AboutUs/BudgetsFairStudentFunding/ContractsforExcellence 

 

The first round of public hearings concerning the Contracts for Excellence were held in June. The upcoming public hearings will again give parents, educators, and other New Yorkers an opportunity to comment on the revised plan, which will include proposed spending of school-based Contracts for Excellence funds. The Department of Education (DOE) will use the feedback in finalizing its Citywide Contracts for Excellence Plan. The public may comment on any aspect of the plan, including:

 

§        How schools are planning to spend their discretionary funds within the six allowable program areas;

§        How the DOE is allocating targeted Contracts funds to schools;

§        How the DOE is allocating funds for school support services;

§        The Class Size Reduction plan; and

§        The public comment process itself.

 

The schedule for each hearing is as follows:

 

6:00 p.m. – Doors open; speaker sign-up begins

6:30 p.m. – Hearing begins; presentation of proposal

6:45 p.m. – Public comment begins

8:30 p.m. – Hearing concludes