The Great Neck News, Friday, December 26, 2014
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G.N. schools offer community classes in winter When it’s cold outside, take a class inside with the Great Neck Public Schools Community Education Program at Cumberland. Stay active throughout the winter months in one of the many exercise and dance classes, including Basic Ballet, Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Fit, Body Workout, Aerobics and Line Dancing. Water Exercise is also offered three
times a week at the South Middle School pool and numerous art and craft courses such as Paint Like VanGogh, Printmaking, Stone Sculpting and Jewelry Making are available at facilities equipped with all that is need to hone your skills. Get ready for spring training in Talking Baseball: History and Memories. Or, perhaps, a course on Supreme Court Decisions will peak your interest. Both of
these courses, new this past fall, and their instructors, have quickly become favorites. Get your game on in Canasta, Mah Jongg, Bridge and Chess. Learn to speak one of seven languages, ranging from beginner to advanced levels or join the Cumberland Chorus, Singing for Fun or Piano. For K–12 students, Beginner through
Advanced Chess is offered, as is PSAT/ SAT/ACT test preparation and Driver Education. The schools are also hosting a Parent/Child Pottery class on Wednesday afternoons. Registrations are currently being accepted for winter classes that begin on Monday, Jan. 12. Call (516) 441-4949 or e-mail gncontinuinged@greatneck.k12. ny.us for information.
E.M. Baker students learn to ‘pay it forward’
Assisting with iPads
Reading to younger children
Sorting through donations
Making thank-you notes for staff members
Fifth-graders at the E.M. Baker School are being challenged to “pay it forward” and make their mark through activities that give back to the school and the community. The project kicked-off with a “Choose Kind” assembly held at the beginning of the school year. The next major event was “Habits for Life (H4L) Day,” held on Dec. 16. The goal of the Day was to raise student’s awareness about the many ways they can help others and turn their ideas into actions. As an introduction for H4L Day, students saw three videos about paying it forward
Photos by Jeff Barlowe and Christopher Lynch
and choosing kind. For days prior to H4L Day, students, faculty, and staff contributed toys, clothing, toiletries, and food. On H4L Day, fifth-graders sorted through the donations that would go to help support local food pantries, Midnight Run and a local children’s hospital. Additionally, fifth-graders made art/craft projects to beautify the school, read to younger children, assisted custodians and teachers and made thank-you cards for staff members, among other activities. A follow-up “Reflection Project” asked students to write an
essay, make a poster, or do a visual project about the things they learned as a result of experiencing H4L Day. They were asked to incorporate such information as: the community service activities they participated in and how they felt about them, why these activities were important, and future ways that they can “pay it forward.” H4L Day was made possible through the efforts of fifth-grade teachers Anne Alexandrou, Michelle Bell, Tara Georges, Kazu Hoshino, Christopher Lynch, Nicole Peres, Debra Silverman and Tina Tomasello and teaching assistant Ivy Miller.