SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Pictured In Photo: Annetta Lee, Natasha Naveed, Noel Aly, Lisa La Spina, Selma Albin, Janet Kennedy, Assistant Principal, Jeanne Fish, Principal, Cherie Lang, Hillary Stackpole, Dell Coe (Photo Courtesy of Hillary Stackpole)

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz awarded a special commendation to the staff of Gerritsen Beach’s P.S. 277 (2529 Gerritsen Avenue) in a ceremony last week.

According to a press release, the school’s Parent’s Association wanted to recognize the staff for their efforts in providing relief to the children and community of Gerritsen Beach following Superstorm Sandy. So they reached out to the beep and asked him to surprise the school’s team at a morning assembly, and he honored them for their terrific work providing comfort to the community kids.

Sheepshead Bites would also like to extend a salute and warm-hearted congratulations to the staff of P.S. 277 for all their excellent work throughout the trying days of Superstorm Sandy.

This is a paid announcement from the Hebrew Learning Academy Charter School, a public elementary school in Community District 22, 1340 East 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11210.

HLA is now recruiting students for the 2013-14 Academic Year!

75 kindergarten spaces available with limited space
through fifth grade!

Hebrew Language Academy Charter School
 A Public Elementary School in Community District 22

located at 1340 East 29th Street • Brooklyn, NY 11210 • 718-377-7200

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Apply for your child NOW!

• Open Houses Scheduled every Tuesday!
• HLA is a dual language public school with rigorous academic instruction in grades
• Grades K through 5: Hebrew and English Language Instruction, Enriched Math for High Performing Students
• Israeli Culture and History, Chess Instruction, Community Service
• Two Teachers in Each Class
• Extended School Day and School Year

IMPORTANT DATES!!

• Application is due April 1, 2013
• Lottery will be held on April 11, 2013
• Opening Day for Students will be in August 2013

Please visit our website to download an application at WWW.HLACHARTERSCHOOL.ORG

APPLY TODAY!!

Hebrew Language Academy Charter School – A Public Elementary School in Community District 22, 1340 East 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210, (718) 377-7200

The above is a paid announcement by The Hebrew Language Academy Charter School. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

Source: richiebits/Flickr

Take that 30-something Park Slope stroller mommies! Sheepshead Bay kicks your ass when it comes to raising children, if you believe the study done by the Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York.

According to a News 12 Brooklyn Report, Sheepshead Bay ranked second in Brooklyn neighborhoods, behind Bay Ridge and just ahead of snooty Park Slope.

The study weighed factors that positively impact a child’s well being including the adult employment rate, median income and levels of child poverty.

But not included in the study is the fact that we’ve also got great parks, a strong school district and a slew of kids-related services. Are you a parent? What makes Sheepshead Bay so great for child-rearing?

Source: brooklynpubliclibrary.org

Midwood’s Kings Highway Library (2115 Ocean Avenue) is Brooklyn’s busiest branch, thanks in a large part to its Russian-speaking clientele, according to a report by the New York Daily News.

The library’s position as Brooklyn’s number one hotspot for book worms is backed by some impressive numbers. They boast a yearly circulation of 1.3 million with 50,000 people enrolled in its various programs, many taking advantage of its free English-as-a-Second-Language classes.

The varied programs the library offers, ranging from a Russian-language computer class to an English conversation club, cater to the large immigrant community that keeps the establishment busy all day. The Daily News highlighted what attracts Russian immigrants to the branch:

“Russian people love to read,” said librarian Svetlana Dubinsky, noting their top picks are translations of Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts and Nicholas Sparks potboilers, and Cecelia Ahern romance novels. The classics are for youngsters.

“They come in with their grandkids and say, ‘I want my grandson to read Dostoyevsky because that’s what I read,’” she explained.

While the Russian speaking base makes up a large majority of the library’s patronage, they do a good job reaching out to all cultures. The immigrant friendly atmosphere have drawn in Ukrainians, Chinese and Mexicans, with their Chinese-language collection sporting high popularity.

The library has also become a valuable resource to immigrant moms looking to improve their English and provide a welcoming educational atmosphere for their children:

“I am trying to learn English by being at the library,” said Sumaira Bano, an Urdu speaker from Pakistan.

Ukrainian immigrant Lidiya Ilchuk, 32, brings daughter Sofiya, 6, for help with math and checks out books for the Public School 199 first-grader to read at home, two per day.

“This is her education,” the Midwood resident said.

This is a paid announcement from the Thinking Tree Learning Center, located at 2620 East 18th Street, 2nd Floor, Office #2, Brooklyn, NY 11235.

Thinking Tree Learning Center has come to Sheepshead Bay!

With a focus on education and success, backed by New York State-certified teachers, Thinking Tree is the right place for your child.

All curricula are based on the New York State Department of Education requirements. We formulate a customized curriculum for each child based on their weaknesses and strengths. We prepare your child for the city and state standardized exams.

We also have tutoring services to improve your child’s performance and help them exceed expectations as a student. We provide a fun learning environment for children and use positive reinforcement to enhance the child’s desire to learn.

Schedule your child for a free assessment today!

We are also having a Spring Recess mini-camp from March 27 to April 2. Children will participate in fun activities, trips, sports, and homework completion for any assignments due after the break. For more information, visit Thinking Tree’s website.

Thinking Tree Learning Center, 2620 East 18th Street, 2nd Floor, Office #2; (718)-872-6767.

The above is a paid announcement by Thinking Tree Learning Center. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

Source: P.S. 254

The teachers and students at P.S. 254 Dag Hammarskjold School really really want music class. They want it so bad that they’ve decided to enter to win the “Power A Bright Future” grant from Clorox.

The money would be spent on a music class for all of the students once a week. So far, the school ranks at number 61 in the votes.

Here’s what the school writes in their grant entry:

Our school is located in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, New York. We serve approximately 700 children in Pre-K to Grade 5. We have a very diverse student population with many being English-Language Learners. Due to an ever shrinking budget, our school has a severely limited music program. The music teacher is here only 2 days a week and a majority of the students are left without music.

The Clorox Grant will enable all of our students to have music at least once a week. We can promote respect and celebrate each other’s traditions and customs through a comprehensive music program. Young children are especially sensitive to music that communicates feelings, emotions, and pleasant imagery. This grant will greatly impact our students by promoting self-esteem, and developing a deeper cognitive awareness through exploring, sharing, and identifying cultural similarities and differences. Musical instruction has proven to positively influence student achievement in all curriculum areas. It has also proven to be a very effective incentive for children to work hard. Music is a universal language that fosters self expression. Without the children knowing it, they will be learning while having fun. It is a win-win situation.

Visit the website to vote for P.S. 254 or text 1164pbf to 95248. Remember, it’s for the children.

Kingsborough Community College (2001 Oriental Boulevard) was named one of the 10 best community colleges in the nation, and is in the running to win $1 million if they take home the number one ranking from The Aspen Institute.

The Aspen Institute put Kingsborough on their top 10 list after examining such factors as graduation rate, diversity, job placement and a variety of other criteria.

“I’m so excited,” said Kingsborough President Regina Peruggi, who told the New York Daily News that it is “recognition for the kind of hard work that’s been done at this institution for years.”

Kingsborough was the only school from New York State to make the list. In October, Aspen officials will visit each campus of the selected schools to determine which of the institutions will have an extra $1 million added to their budgets.

Peruggi stated that, if Kingsborough wins, she’ll spend the money on student scholarships and teacher development.

Source: Boris23 via Wikimedia Commons

Two former Coney Island residents have decided to set up a museum with a big Coney Island influence in Torrington, Connecticut.

Stuart and Jane Grodin retired from teaching and moved up north, where they kept a summer home for years.

The educators have a great interest in creating a space where children can learn through play.

The Grodin’s took some of their favorite parts of living and teaching Coney Island and hope to bring those experiences into the creation of the museum.

“[Coney Island] is still there and it still has most of the famous places,” said the Grodins to Register Citizen. “Like Nathan’s.”

As the museum’s plan develops, some ideas include film presentations and interactive, hands-on exhibits, something the couple probably took away from their time in Coney Island.

The new museum will be called KidsPlay. It does not yet have an opening date.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development offers residents of New York the opportunity to earn a robust housing education in an extremely convenient manner.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation seeks to inform New York City owners of residential buildings and tenants about laws, services, and projects pertaining to housing. The department’s Public Education Unit offers free podcasts, online courses, and videos regarding topics such as residential safety, housing lotteries, and housing code violations. You can watch or listen from your computer at home!

The unit is excited to announce its three most recent podcasts, with many more to come:

- The HPD Housing Code Violations podcast- educates the public on why housing preservation and development professionals write violations and how they can be cleared.

- The No-and-Low Cost Home Energy Saving Tips podcast- teaches homeowners and tenants how to conserve energy and lower their bills.

- The Healthy Homes podcast- tells participants how to avoid conditions in the home that can be detrimental to the health of residents.

Check out these podcasts online, and see what you think of them.

The Public Education Unit also teaches in person classes in person classes on health concerns pertaining to homes. Topics include mold, pest management, bed bugs, and carbon monoxide. Classes are offered at 100 Gold Street in Manhattan. If a group of 20 is gathered, instructors can travel to the location of your choice.

To learn more about this opportunity, or if you have any questions or inquiries, call (212)-863-8830, or email poe@hpd.nyc.gov. You can also subscribe to receive e-mails from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development with information about housing education classes by visiting the NYC HPD E-mail Update Subscription Center.