a blank slate media special section • january 10, 2020
24 Guide to Schools & Education • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020 $'9(5725,$/
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020 • Guide to Schools & Education
Undeterred. Dance in a program that’s in the same class as the Joffrey Ballet School, work alongside NASA engineers, study Criminal Justice courses that link to John Jay College, or enroll in a Nursing degree that is ranked among the best in the city. Queensborough offers more than 40 programs that reflect the diversity, interests and strengths of our community. Here, students of every ability, life experience, background and circumstance are building their capabilities and fulfilling their dreams. With more campus tours, information sessions and now, on-the-spot admissions, Queensborough makes going to college super easy. At Queensborough, the possibilities are infinite. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR SPRING 2020! Visit www.qcc.cuny.edu/nassau TODAY!
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26 Guide to Schools & Education • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020
The benefits of music instruction for young learners
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any children are introduced to music instruction at school. After being introduced to band, chorus and various instruments, students may be eager to explore music. Young students are often introduced to the recorder or ukulele in the early grades and then given the opportunity to join primary bands as they move through elementary school and into middle school. Some children also may want to supplement school music lessons with private music tutors, who can provide more in-depth instruction. Parents considering making a commitment to music instruction may find that kids benefit from being
involved with music in many ways, some of which may be surprising. · The New England Board of Higher Education says several studies show that consistent music education improves vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. Emerging evidence points to an area of the brain that controls both musical ability and language comprehension as being more closely related than previously thought. · Music education may help young children learn words and how to pronounce them, as learning to play music enables them to process the many new sounds they hear from others.
· Researchers have discovered a strong relationship between participating in school arts and academic success as demonstrated by students’ grade point averages, according to the National Association for Music Education. · The relationship between music and academic performance has been studied for decades. As far back as 1988, studies have been conducted about the benefits of music education. An analysis of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 demonstrated a significant correlation between participation in school music groups and achievement in math and English. And a 1996 study published in Nature found first graders who participated in special music classes as part of an arts study program saw their reading skills and math proficiency increase dramatically.
· Introducing music lessons to young children can have profound effects on their social development. Music fosters greater trust and cooperation, as well as a sense of community and belonging. · Another benefit of music education is it allows children to harness their creativity and express it in a healthy way. · The music instruction company Music U says children with developmental disorders and mental health issues might be able to unlock their potential with music. Music therapy has been shown to affect significant change in children with autism-spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, attachment disorders, cerebral palsy, and more. Music instruction both in and out of the classroom can be a benefit to young learners.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020 • Guide to Schools & Education
HTA Members Work Together Ior School and Community Herricks Teachers’ Association Members Celebrate School Related Professionals
431 3FDPHOJUJPO %BZ GBMMT PO UIF third Tuesday of each November, often during American Education Week. HTA members hosted a brunch and sweet-treat dessert tables for the SRP members in every building in the Herricks School District. This is just one way in which the HTA recognizes its SRPs.
School Related Professionals, SRP’s, are the dedicated support staff who make public schools run smoothly. SRPs help educate, transport and feed Proud HTA secretaries the students, and keep children safe in school. They are the bus drivers and attendants, aides, teaching assistants, cafeteria workers, secretaries, health services personnel and custodians. SRP Recognition Day acknowledges the contributions of SchoolRelated Professionals in helping to educate the whole student. NYSUT’s 90,000 SRP members perform a variety of key roles in schools, working as bus drivers, school nurses, custodians, secretaries, food service workers, teaching assistants and aides +HUULFNV 7HDFKHUV¡ $VVRFLDWLRQ
Herricks Teachers’ Association Members Help Grant Children’s Holiday Wishes
For the past ten years, HTA members from the High School and Middle School have been taking part in the Nassau County Department of Social Services’ Holiday Gift Program. This year, they
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Working together for our students and with our community
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32 Guide to Schools & Education • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020
S Tips for studying abroad
tudy abroad programs can change students’ lives, opening their eyes to other cultures and helping them to make memories that last a lifetime. Study abroad programs also may inspire a love of travel that students will foster for the rest of their lives. Students who have enrolled in or are considering enrolling in study abroad programs can make their experiences overseas more memorable if they take some time to prepare for life abroad before boarding the plane. Learn about your host country. Students who can successfully assimilate into their host countries may get more from their time overseas than those who do not. Studying a host country’s customs and history is a great way to learn about life there before your plane touches down. If the native language in your host country is different than your own, do your best to learn the language. While you won’t become fluent overnight, learning some basic words and phrases can make your time overseas go more smoothly and increase the chances that you develop meaningful relationships with locals. Enthusiastically leave your comfort zone. Daily life might be vastly different in your host country than it is at home. Rather than dwelling on the differences between life overseas and life at home, embrace this chance to leave your comfort zone. Approach cultural differences with enthusiasm instead
of skepticism, even trying local cuisine you might otherwise not experience back home. Get out of the dorm. Study abroad programs include the word “study” in their titles, so students should recognize they will still need to devote time to their schoolwork. But during your down time, embrace chances to get out of your dorm room or apartment to soak in your host city. If your host country is in Europe, where traveling between countries tends to be simpler than in other regions of the world, learn about neighboring countries and do your best to visit some during your time overseas. Disconnect from your devices. Whether or not life at home is dominated by devices, use your time overseas to disconnect so you can fully experience your host city and country. Don’t miss out on the sights and sounds of your host country by spending too much time using your tablet or smartphone. Keep a journal. One of the best ways to commemorate your time abroad is to keep a daily journal. You will no doubt enjoy many unique experiences while overseas, and keeping a daily journal is a great way to ensure you remember each of those experiences and all the people you meet along the way. Study abroad programs can benefit students in myriad ways, and a few simple strategies can ensure young men and women make the most of their time overseas.
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Welcome to Friends Academy, an extraordinary college-preparatory Quaker school for children age 3 through twelfth grade. Since 1876, Friends Academy has been educating some of the finest students on Long Island. Today’s research-rich parents make it a priority to consider all of their child’s educational options by comparing online profiles, studying school websites, and touring classrooms and campuses. They know that Long Island options include not only their local public schools, but also parochial and private schools. One of the finest private schools in New York state, Friends Academy blends an outstanding academic program with its Quaker mission of equity, integrity, and service. This unique education allows Friends Academy to attract an incredibly diverse community of students from over 50 school districts across Long Island.
Friends Academy students experience: • An unparalleled college prep program that sends its graduates to the finest universities in the U.S. • Small class sizes, where students receive individualized attentionThe most diverse, well rounded and academically prepared student body on Long Island • A welcoming community of scholars, artists, athletes, coders • Master teachers who care deeply about each student • Quaker values of integrity, equity, and service that are woven throughout a rigorous academic program • A beautiful 65-acre campus that rivals college campuses • Outstanding Sports and Performing Arts program & facilities • Advanced Robotics and STEM curriculum
Call the Friends Academy Admissions Office at 516-393-4244 to learn more or attend one of the school’s upcoming Open Houses. Find out how your child can join the unequaled Friends Academy community and be prepared for the finest colleges and a career and life beyond school. RSVP at www.fa.org/admissions or call 516-3934244 to experience Friends Academy for yourself at the following Open Houses: Students in Grades 6-12 Tuesday, January 14th at 8:30 am. Students, age 3 through Grade 5 Thursday, January 16th at 8:30 am. All are welcome!
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020 • Guide to Schools & Education
33
Internet safety tips for students T
he classrooms of yesteryear are distant memories. Gone are chalkboards, which have made way for smartboards. Even textbooks are slowly being phased out in deference to online curriculums. Modern classrooms are outfitted with digital devices that connect students to the internet. Each of these changes might surprise parents who haven’t stepped foot inside a classroom in decades. A 2017 report from Common Sense Media said that children up to age eight spend an average of two hours and 19 minutes every day on screen media. Children between the ages of eight and 12 spend an average of four hours and 36 minutes on screens. Much of that time is spent online. The internet can be a useful tool for students, who can go online when working on school reports. Some students even communicate online with their teachers, while others play interactive learning games that can supplement lessons taught in the classroom. But the internet also puts students at risk of falling victim to online predators. The internet also keeps students in constant contact with their peers, which can be
troublesome for students who want to get away when they get home at night. These reasons and more are motivation enough to encourage students to practice good digital citizenship and follow these safety tips when online. Exercise caution with photos and videos posted online. These images, even when posted harmlessly, can weigh on a student’s reputation. They may even impact acceptance to schools or career opportunities in the future. Always think before posting, as content remains in cyberspace indefinitely. And remember, many schools screen for inappropriate content. Sending harassing or inappropriate material to others may result in disciplinary action. Recognize the threat posed by online predators. The Crimes Against Children Research Center says one in five teenagers in the United States who regularly uses the internet has received unwanted sexual solicitations through the web. In addition, 25 percent have been exposed to unwanted pornographic material online. Students need to be aware that not everyone on the internet is an upstanding citizen.
Keep personal information private at all times. The service eMarketer says that 75 percent of children are willing to share personal information online about themselves and their families in exchange for goods and services. Students need to be better educated about protecting their passwords, ages, addresses, and other personal information.
Stop cyberbullying before it starts. Students can be educated about the correct way to use the internet and how to report cyberbullying. Students also can take pledges to never make others feel uncomfortable online. Online safety is a growing concern for students, but there are ways to keep kids safe.
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34 Guide to Schools & Education • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, January 10, 2020