Long Island

Education

ny-backtoschool2010-guide

Twenty-five seniors at Roosevelt High School got unusual academic promotions on the first day of school Tuesday: They all signed up for college.
The teens are enrolled in a program known as Smart Scholars, which is financed by software billionaire <a href="/topics/Bill_Gates">Bill Gates</a>. The program helps students obtain free college credit and tutoring while still attending high school. Roosevelt's students will be issued ID cards by <a href="/topics/SUNY_Old_Westbury">SUNY Old Westbury</a>, allowing them to use the college's library and tutoring center.
"We have to start thinking bigger," said Jeff Littwin, the seniors' English teacher and a department chairman, now in his ninth year at Roosevelt High.
To underline the point, Littwin asked students as their first homework assignment to come up with the names of three four-year colleges they'd like to attend next year.
Littwin's exhortation could well serve as a new slogan for Roosevelt. After eight years under state control, the 2,800-student system is making a renewed attempt to boost its academic performance. It has successfully balanced its books and rebuilt its schools. 
The academic push is focused on Roosevelt High School, which in January was placed on a list of the state's "persistently lowest achieving" schools. Since then, the district has brought in a new principal, Stephen Strachan, from <a href="/topics/Los_Angeles">Los Angeles</a> to run the 700-student school, retrained teachers, and begun planning for a potential expansion of class periods from 42 minutes to 50 minutes each. 
Then, too, there's the Smart Scholars program. With financial help from the <a href="/topics/Bill_%26_Melinda_Gates_Foundation">Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation</a>, about 60 juniors and seniors combined each year will take college-level courses designed by SUNY Old Westbury, but taught at the high school. Those who pass will be awarded up to 16 free college credits over two years. A similar program recently was launched at <a href="/topics/Freeport%2C_NY">Freeport</a> High School, in cooperation with the <a href="/topics/C._W._Post">C.W. Post</a> Campus of <a href="/topics/Long_Island_University">Long Island University</a>.
Roosevelt teens who entered the Smart Scholars program over the summer say initial training on such topics as surviving first-year college classes were often a revelation.
"In college, I learned, you can't expect professors to help the way teachers did in high school," said Luke Graham, 16, a junior. 
District officials see the push for college as a means of raising student expectations. Roosevelt could use the boost. 
Last year, only 59 percent of prospective seniors graduated on time after four years, compared with an Islandwide average of 86 percent. Roosevelt's graduation rate was down 2 percentage points from the year before, and only three other districts - <a href="/topics/Central_Islip%2C_NY">Central Islip</a>, <a href="/topics/Hempstead%2C_NY">Hempstead</a> and <a href="/topics/Wyandanch%2C_NY">Wyandanch</a> - fared worse.
Roosevelt has made substantial progress in other areas, however, with the help of extra state aid. In May, the state comptroller's office reported that the district was on track to end the fiscal year with a $4.2 million surplus - as opposed to a $7.9 million deficit recorded in 2008.
Moreover, Roosevelt has rebuilt all three of its elementary schools and erected a new middle school. Renovation of the 55-year-old high school will begin in August and be finished within a year, said Superintendent Robert-Wayne Harris. That will complete reconstruction of the district's entire physical plant - a $245.5 million school project that is the largest ever undertaken on the Island.

Nassau

LIROOS08

25 Roosevelt seniors get head start on college

Hard to tell who was happier about going back to school Tuesday morning: 11-year-old Sarakshi Sadana or her father, Arun.
Sarakshi was excited about having new contact lenses for her first day at Hauppauge Middle School. No more eyeglasses, so friends could now see her blue eyes. And moving up to middle school means new friends and new teachers, said Sarakshi, whose favorite subject is science.
As for Dad, well, "It will be nice now when it is 2 o'clock in the afternoon and her bedroom is not a mess," he said with a roll of his eyes as the two waited for the bus in front of their home on Valleywood Road in Commack.
Around the block, Joseph Ferreri, 43, was waiting with his three children for the same bus just a few minutes before 8 a.m.
His eldest, Samantha, also 11 and, like Sarakshi, eager to experience middle school for the first time, said she was excited about having new clothes and meeting new friends. But she did admit Tuesday morning was a bit rough, especially after being able to sleep in all summer. "It was hard to wake up," Samantha said.
Her brother, Joseph, 8, was catching a later bus for Pine Elementary School. "I'm excited to go back so I can see more of my friends and some of my familiar teachers," he said.
But the best thing about going back to school, he said, might be his new sneakers, a pair of black, low-cut Airwalks.
The youngest Ferreri, Alex, 6, appeared a bit sleepy-eyed as she clung to her father. She was to start her first day of first grade and also would catch the later bus with her brother. Her father seemed to think her chief concern would be staying awake for a full day of school.
For Pierre Leroy, 5, a new kindergarten student at Flower Hill Primary School in <a href="/topics/Huntington%2C_NY">Huntington</a>, the biggest thing was the bus. 
"He was so excited about taking the bus for the first time," said his mother, Sophie.
Each time a yellow bus would come near the driveway of their Park Avenue home, his father, Rodolphe, 37, said, "He would say, 'Is this my bus? Is this my bus?' "
As for the experience of school, Pierre is an old hand. He went to preschool and was used to being with teachers and other students in a classroom setting, his parents said.
They believed Pierre was more excited about starting soccer Wednesday and getting new cleats than actually starting school.
"For school, he was so relaxed," Sophie Leroy said. "I think I was more nervous than he was."
For preschool, Sophie said she had more control. She drove him to the school, watched him go into his classroom and could mingle with other mothers performing the same routine. 
"Now, I put him on the bus for the first time with someone I don't know and watch him drive away," she said. "For me, that was more emotional."

Suffolk

LIKIDS08

First-day anticipation for kids and parents

The music students at <a href="/topics/Westbury%2C_NY">Westbury</a>'s Powells Lane Elementary School played the <a href="/topics/Bob_Marley">Bob Marley</a> song with the lyric "every little thing gonna be all right" in the hallway for the first day of class Tuesday, and in this school, as in most across <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>, it seemed like everything was. 
"I like school, and I like learning," said fifth-grader Shania Hardy, 10, who moved along with the well-known "Three Little Birds" song. "I'm having a great time." 
It was a day of new beginnings across Long Island as the vast majority of Long Island's roughly 450,000 students returned to class Tuesday. And while district officials Islandwide reported a smooth first day, the 2010-11 year opened against a backdrop of considerable financial challenges as most districts reported shedding at least a few teacher positions this year, through layoffs or attrition - the most widespread job losses since the early 1990s. 
Teachers and other school employees still await word from Albany on when the state will start distributing federal funds meant to restore jobs - including $89.3 million for the Island. Distribution requires approval from the State Legislature, which has not said when it will come back into session. 
"Every day they wait it means a child is denied a class-size reduction," said Jeff Rozran, <a href="/topics/Syosset%2C_NY">Syosset</a> teacher union president and member of the state teacher union governing board. 
<a href="/topics/Huntington%2C_NY">Huntington</a> students returned to cramped classrooms as the district has been in turmoil following violence near the Jack Abrams School in <a href="/topics/Huntington_Station%2C_NY">Huntington Station</a>. The shooting of a teen near the school in July led the board to close the school and place fourth-grade students at the district's primary schools and grades 5-6 at Woodhull Intermediate School. 
Shari Harris, co-PTA president at the district's Washington Primary School, who has a first-grader at the school, said, "We're focused on making sure the kids are happy. The overcrowding and other issues have nothing to do with the kids. It's going to be a great year." 
Paul <a href="/topics/Bayer">Bayer</a> said he took his son, a second-grader, out of Washington. "We were thinking about pulling him out of the district at the end of the school year because of the education model, but the decision was cemented when we heard about the class sizes for this year," <a href="/topics/Bayer">Bayer</a> said outside Washington school, where his son caught the bus to his new private school. 
Washington officials said the day went smoothly. 
Jason Kessler, 11, a sixth-grader at Woodhull, said his first day was "fun" and he enjoyed "a new experience being in a new building," but noticed that classrooms are much smaller than those at Jack Abrams, where he went last year. 
His mother, Meryl Otis Kessler, said, "I had a little anxiety, but he had a great day. The priority is safety. The only other priority is learning, and you need a safe environment for that." 
<a href="/topics/Westbury%2C_NY">Westbury</a> school officials unveiled two new classrooms at Powells Lane Tuesday, one for English as a second language and another for special education. The $5-million project was part of a construction bond with no cost to taxpayers, said Superintendent Constance Clark-Snead. 
Special education teacher Andrea Wayne said now she won't have to share space with another class. "It's bright. It's airy," she said. "The kids are situated so they can learn from any point in the room." 
With John Hildebrand

LISKUL08

New beginnings all over LI as classes resume

Powell Lane Elementary School

The Hampton Bays Middle School is barely 2 years old, a "green" building with a replica of a lighthouse above its entrance, evidence of the influence of its South Shore surroundings.
The man who helped launch the school is also a youthful newcomer of sorts: Lars Clemensen, 30, is the newly hired superintendent and one of the youngest school leaders on <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>.
As students across Long Island return to school this week - nearly 90 public school districts report back Tuesday - Clemensen is starting his first school year as top administrator. Classes in Hampton Bays begin Wednesday.
And Clemensen, like the middle school he helped develop, is clearly influenced by his hometown.
"I live in Hampton Bays. My family has lived in Hampton Bays for 30-plus years. Not only was this a job for me, but a strong Hampton Bays school system is a strong Hampton Bays," said Clemensen, adding about his new post, "I approach it with a great deal of humility. The world that I enter, the average age is 45-plus. That world has a lot of experience and a lot of wisdom. . . . At the same time, I bring a new perspective."
The Hampton Bays board of education named Clemensen superintendent in February, after narrowing the search to three candidates.
He signed a five-year contract at an annual salary of $170,000.
"Lars was able to have great support within the community and great support with our existing administrative team. They all share the same vision," said board vice president George Leeman.
Clemensen had been the middle school principal, named to that post in his mid-20s, and before that worked for <a href="/topics/Teach_for_America">Teach for America</a>, the program that provides teachers for low-income areas. He was an educator and executive director of the <a href="/topics/New_Jersey%2C_NY">New Jersey</a> region, which includes <a href="/topics/Newark">Newark</a> and Camden.
He attended Hampton Bays schools as a child, but his family moved to <a href="/topics/Texas">Texas</a> when he was in eighth grade. Throughout college at the University of Texas and at <a href="/topics/Seton_Hall_University">Seton Hall University</a>, where he got his master's degree, he continued to visit Hampton Bays. At the local beach one summer while he was working for Teach for America, he ran into then-superintendent Joanne Loewenthal, who asked him about working for the district.
Clemensen joined the school system in 2006, first as assistant middle school principal, and was named founding principal in 2008 when the new building opened. When the superintendent announced her retirement last year, he sought the position.
Wendell Chu, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> school district and past president of the <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> County Superintendents Association, said it might be unusual on Long Island to have such a young superintendent, but not uncommon in other parts of the state.
"The closeness of various different school districts in this area makes it easier to find people and for people to be mobile," said Chu, whose term as president expired in June. "You tend to see a lot more experienced administrators applying for superintendencies in our region."
Clemensen said he would never want to work anywhere else.
"If I was going to be a principal, it was going to be in Hampton Bays, and if I was going to be a superintendent, it was going to be in Hampton Bays," he said.
 

<h4>About Hampton Bays school system</h4>

Located: Town of <a href="/topics/Southampton%2C_NY">Southampton</a>
Students: 1,961 
Physical plant: Three school buildings and one administrative building
Annual budget: More than $43 million
Number of staff: 160 teachers, 100 additional staff
School team: The Baymen

LISUPE07

New Hampton Bays school chief attended district schools

lisupe

SCHOOL OPENINGS 
Eighty-eight Long Island districts start classes Tuesday, followed by 25 Wednesday, according to regional BOCES offices. Six more districts open Monday. There were five pre-Labor Day openings last week. 
&nbsp; 
ENROLLMENTS 
Public school enrollments in grades K-12 are expected to drop nine-tenths of a percent from last year, to 453,102. This continues a gradual decline that began five years ago. Demographers at Western <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> BOCES expect the trend to accelerate, with an additional 2.4 percent loss of enrollment over the next three years. 
&nbsp; 
DISTRICT FINANCES 
All Island districts open the year with voter-approved budgets. Most districts have held spending hikes to near-record lows, in response to a sagging economy and surprisingly large cuts in state financial aid. 
&nbsp; 
TEACHER CONTRACTS 
No strikes or other job actions are expected on opening days, according to regional representatives of the <a href="/topics/New_York_State_United_Teachers">New York State United Teachers</a> union. <a href="/topics/Sag_Harbor%2C_NY">Sag Harbor</a> and South Country are starting their third year without renewed teacher contracts, while teachers in four other districts and the <a href="/topics/Riverhead%2C_NY">Riverhead</a> Charter School are entering their second year without agreements. Teachers in 13 districts had contracts expire in June.

LIPRIM07

Long Island back-to-school primer

In the Half Hollow Hills school district, fewer students will be able to get professional arts training this year. 
In <a href="/topics/Wyandanch%2C_NY">Wyandanch</a>, elementary school classes could be larger - some by as much as 25 percent. 
And students in <a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> already are missing teachers who have been let go. 
"It just makes school that much harder," said C.J. Thomson, 16, a junior at <a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> Memorial High School who is upset over the recent layoff of a favorite math teacher. "I struggle in math, and she broke it down in ways that I could understand." 
Across <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> - in districts rich, poor and middle-class - students returning to class this week will be dealing with the fallout from the greatest financial challenges local school districts have faced in two decades: challenges that in some districts have led to teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, fewer class choices, reduced summer school, fewer sports teams or shortened kindergarten hours. 
The cutbacks - the most widespread since the early 1990s - came in response to unexpectedly high cuts in state operating aid, coupled with mounting pressure to offer taxpayers relief by capping local property taxes that provide more than 70 percent of school revenues. 
And local educators warn the situation could get worse: Federal stimulus money that has provided a substantial share of school revenues since the onset of the Great <a href="/topics/Economic_Recession">Recession</a> - $106.7 million this year alone - is due to run out in June. That is, unless an increasingly reluctant <a href="/topics/U.S._Congress">U.S. Congress</a> eventually agrees to an extension. 
Already, dozens of districts have trimmed services. <a href="/topics/Central_Islip%2C_NY">Central Islip</a>, for example, opens this week with kindergarten classes shortened from full-day sessions to half-day - a move affecting about 550 youngsters. 
Sports teams cut 
Connetquot has eliminated 11 ninth-grade sports teams that previously enrolled up to 130 players. <a href="/topics/North_Babylon%2C_NY">North Babylon</a> has eliminated five of 10 teams in its seventh- and eighth-grade program, along with four ninth-grade teams. <a href="/topics/North_Babylon%2C_NY">North Babylon</a>'s move potentially affects 150 to 180 players in all, though older teens will be allowed to try out for the junior varsity. 
Half Hollow Hills, one of the Island's most affluent districts, recently cut back on the number of students allowed to take professional training at a regional BOCES performing arts school. Consequently, five local families were informed that their teens, who had hoped to enroll in the arts school as juniors this year, will have to wait until they're seniors instead. 
One parent, Karen Isaksen Taylor, said her daughter, Johanna, 15, broke down and cried when she got the news. The teen aspires to a career in dance and had hoped the extra year of professional training would help her win admission to a competitive college program. 
"I can't tell you how devastating it was," the mother added. 
The neighboring <a href="/topics/Wyandanch%2C_NY">Wyandanch</a> district, one of the Island's neediest, recently laid off 15 teachers. As a result, district officials warn that elementary class sizes could jump from 22 students to more than 28, making it more difficult to prep youngsters for state tests. 
"Classrooms are going to be too cluttered, which hurts a lot," said Cathy Chandler, a <a href="/topics/Wyandanch%2C_NY">Wyandanch</a> mother of five who recently joined a local protest march against state aid cuts. "A lot of the kids need one-on-one help." 
For students and educators, the loss of young teachers and the services they provide has cast a shadow over many upcoming school openings. 
"Really, there's nothing we can do," said Ashley Walker, 16, a high school junior in <a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> who was disappointed when the district laid off 37 teachers in June, after district and union officials failed to agree on contract concessions. Walker and other students opposed the layoffs at school board meetings last winter. 
Teacher representatives also voice regret over job losses. 
"It's been tough," said Barbara Hafner, the teacher union president in <a href="/topics/West_Hempstead%2C_NY">West Hempstead</a>, where a dozen teacher jobs have been shed. "Students are going to get the short end, because now they have fewer class choices and larger class sizes." 
A Newsday survey found the Island's 124 school districts planned to shed more than 1,400 teachers and other staff this year through layoffs or attrition, though some could be rehired later this month or next, through a last-minute infusion of federal jobs money. 
"Well, we're hoping <a href="/topics/Barack_Obama">President Obama</a>'s money will come in, and we can save some jobs," said Therese Rogers, the union chief in <a href="/topics/Levittown%2C_NY">Levittown</a>, where about 13 teachers are out of work. "Everybody is very upset to see a colleague out of a job." 
In at least 10 districts, teachers have agreed to givebacks - including partial pay freezes in some - to help preserve jobs. 
Some districts not cutting 
Smaller payrolls do not necessarily translate into fewer services for students. Newsday's survey found at least 33 districts planned no program cuts at all - in part, because job losses were offset by an accelerating enrollment decline. 
But economic pressures are prompting questions at school board meetings over whether districts are doing enough to curb salary increases - the biggest factor in school costs. Newsday's survey, which obtained detailed salary information from 45 districts, found the median pay increase for teachers was 5 percent - more than triple the current inflation rate. 
"We're going into tough times, and it doesn't look like there's much new money ahead," said Andrea Vecchio, an <a href="/topics/East_Islip%2C_NY">East Islip</a> taxpayer activist who advocates cuts in school salaries and employee benefits. "Some real givebacks are the least they can do." 
Deals struck in better times 
School officials respond that they are negotiating lower raises than in the past - even partial freezes in some cases. They add, however, that many districts still are paying contractual increases agreed upon several years ago when the economy appeared to be humming. 
"Contracts don't always open when you want them to," said <a href="/topics/William_Johnson">William Johnson</a>, superintendent of <a href="/topics/Rockville_Centre%2C_NY">Rockville Centre</a> schools and a former president of the State Council of School Superintendents. 
In any case, continued economic troubles and political upheavals in Albany are forcing local school leaders to rethink some long-held assumptions about the level of financial support they can expect from the state - and also from their own taxpayers. 
"The year we're entering is probably the most difficult we've faced in 20 years," said Gary Bixhorn, a regional policy analyst and chief operating officer for Eastern <a href="/topics/Suffolk_County%2C_NY">Suffolk</a> BOCES, headquartered in <a href="/topics/Patchogue%2C_NY">Patchogue</a>. "Three or four years ago, all this would have been virtually unthinkable. 
"And it could have been even worse," Bixhorn added, "had the federal government not stepped in with the extra money. But you have to wonder how many times this can be repeated." 
One jolt came last month, when legislators finally agreed on a state budget that was 125 days late and that closed a deficit gap, in large part, by cutting school aid. <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>'s state operating aid is expected to drop this year by about $198.2 million - or 8.2 percent - though losses will be partly offset by $89.3 million in new federal jobs money. 
What especially surprised many was the failure of state lawmakers to add any money to the package originally proposed by Gov. <a href="/topics/David_A_Paterson">David A. Paterson</a> in January. <a href="/topics/Lawrence%2C_NY">Lawrence</a> Levy, executive director of the nonpartisan National Center for Suburban Studies at <a href="/topics/Hofstra_University">Hofstra University</a>, said he couldn't remember such an outcome in 30 years of watching Albany politics. 
Suburban schools might get a bigger share of aid next year, Levy said, if Republicans recapture control of the State Senate in November. But he acknowledged political volatility and taxpayer unrest make predictions difficult. 
"Once legislators have tasted blood in cutting school aid," Levy quipped, "they may realize that it doesn't turn them into vampires."

LISKUL05

LI schools cutting spending as they begin new year

liSKULjp009

In the ongoing debate over whether to cap Long Island's school taxes, taxpayer groups point to Massachusetts as an shining example while school groups counter by citing California as an abysmal failure.
In 1980, Massachusetts imposed statewide property tax caps under a referendum known as Proposition 21/2 because it set the annual limit for taxes at 2.5 percent. Its math and reading test scores now rank as the nation's highest.
California passed Proposition 13 in 1978 that limited raising property tax to no more than 2 percent a year as long as the property was not sold. Now, its test scores rank among the lowest two or three states, along with <a href="/topics/Alabama">Alabama</a> and <a href="/topics/Mississippi">Mississippi</a>. 
Long Island school officials contend the effect of tax caps in New York would more likely resemble California than Massachusetts. "Massachusetts is very different from New York - it doesn't have the high level of poverty," said <a href="/topics/William_Johnson">William Johnson</a>, superintendent of Rockville Centre schools. 
The percentage of children in Massachusetts living in poverty is 16 percent compared with 19 percent in California and 20 percent in New York, according to the <a href="/topics/National_Center_for_Children_in_Poverty">National Center for Children in Poverty</a> at <a href="/topics/Columbia_University">Columbia University</a>, which drew on census data. 
Analysts point out that Massachusetts schools also benefitted from increased state aid to municipalities - and thus, indirectly to school districts - to compensate for insufficient revenue from local property taxes.
The push for tax caps in New York became a topic of debate this summer when state Attorney General Andrew M. <a href="/topics/Andrew_Cuomo">Cuomo</a> launched his gubernatorial campaign by announcing he would push for a 2 percent cap on annual increases in property taxes. 
The restriction would apply to all local governments, but its impact would be greatest in school districts, which account for about two-thirds of property taxes. 
Cuomo notes that this state's property taxes are among the highest in the country. And he asserts that residents "will vote with their feet and leave" if taxes keep rising. A big win in November could strengthen Cuomo's bargaining position with State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who questions the 2 percent limit but insists he can work with Cuomo.
Among the <a href="/topics/U.S._Republican_Party">Republican</a> candidates, Rick Lazio favors a 2.5 percent cap while <a href="/topics/Carl_Paladino">Carl Paladino</a> favors outright cuts in taxes. 
School representatives insist tax caps would inevitably widen the spending gap between rich and poor schools and they offer this example: Say, District A and District B both have $100 million budgets. District A is affluent, so state aid provides only 20 percent of its revenue. District B is poorer, so state aid provides 60 percent of revenue. 
Now, suppose both districts want to raise next year's spending by a modest 1 percent, or $1 million. With property tax increases capped at 2 percent, District A, which gets $80 million from taxpayers, can raise $1.6 million - more than enough to meet its goal. District B, which gets $40 million from its taxpayers, can raise only $800,000, and winds up $200,000 short.

LICAP05

School tax cap debate eyes California, Massachusetts

Commack High

Anthony James watched as the new kindergartners - sporting ribboned pigtails, crooked baseball caps and backpacks half their body size - stepped off their buses Wednesday for the first day of class. 
All around him at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville were other parents who had followed behind the buses, - cameras in hand, tears in their eyes, often needing reassurance. 
But James, 45, was more excited than concerned. His daughter Imani, 4, was about to step into the classroom of Jill Wood, the same teacher he had 41 years ago. 
"She was a nice teacher, always paid a lot of attention to her students," he said. "I had a big crush on her." 
Wood, 63, has been teaching in the district for 42 years. She said she remembers James as a sweet little boy. "It's very exciting," she said of teaching Imani. "You come full circle." 
Wood said her love of teaching has never waned. Yesterday she awoke at 4:30 a.m., her mind racing. 
"You think of all the different things you want to do, you wonder, 'What kind of kids am I going to have this year?' " she said. "It's still exciting for me." 
Her 4- and 5-year-old charges were a mix of excitement and hesitation when they arrived, eyes darting around in wonder as they clasped the hands of waiting teachers who led them past nervous parents and into the building. 
"Once they get in there, they're fine, but you can always call during the day to check on her," Principal Pauline Collins told one parent who worriedly watched her daughter walk away. 
James said he wasn't worried after seeing how excited his daughter was to start school. And he already knew that Imani's teacher would make her feel at ease. 
James said he and a friend from that kindergarten class had made a bet years ago about whose kids would end up in Wood's class. His friend won, James said. "He beat me to the punch, but I'm glad she still got in there," he said.

LITEAC02

Kindergartner has same teacher dad had

Amityville

Schools opened their doors Wednesday in Amityville, the first district on Long Island to kick off the new school year. 
Officials were surprised at how many students entered those doors. Enrollment figures unexpectedly surged, Superintendent John M. Williams said. The district, which last year served roughly 2,800 students at five schools, has had steady enrollment the past few years, he said. But this year, that is expected to increase by 200 to 250 students. At Northeast Elementary alone, kindergarten classes swelled by more than 65 students to 217. 
"That's a big jump, especially for kindergarten," Williams said. As a result, he said, class size will increase from 16 to 23. 
Northeast Principal Pauline Collins said some of the rise in enrollment may be due to an influx of Latino families or because some families can no longer afford private school. But she said she's also been working hard to promote programs and events at the school and believes good word-of-mouth is finally paying off. 
"I'm really not surprised," she said. "We're doing a lot of great things here and parents are learning about them." 
A teacher should be able to handle 24 students, Collins said, noting enrollment figures were similar a few years ago. "They've had a honeymoon period for the last few years," she said, noting there may be a need for more playground and cafeteria aides, she said. 
The district, which lost $1.3 million in state aid this year, trimmed 10 staff positions, including five teachers, Williams said. "We can't continue to make these kinds of cuts." 
One way to strengthen the district is by having an extended school year, he said. Instead of the usual 180-day year, Amityville has 187 days, necessitating the early start. Amityville was the only local district to open Wednesday, according to Nassau and Suffolk BOCES. Baldwin, Jericho and Elwood start Thursday. Most districts begin classes after Labor Day.

LISKUL02

Amityville schools first on LI to open their doors

Northeast Elementary School

Nonprofit groups serving <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a>'s neediest families say donations of backpacks, notebooks and other essentials to annual school supply drives are dwindling in the face of skyrocketing demand. 
"This is probably the worst year we've ever seen," said Ken Mangan, founder of Every Child's Dream in <a href="/topics/Sayville%2C_NY">Sayville</a>. 
Mangan's group usually gives out about 1,000 backpacks with supplies a year. But this year, it struggled to reach 600, he said. 
"This is definitely driven by people concerned by the economy, by their jobs," he said. "The $100 checks have turned into $25 checks, if anything." 
The <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> <a href="/topics/Coalition_for_the_Homeless">Coalition for the Homeless</a> stopped taking new requests for school supplies from families three weeks ago. Last year, the coalition gave out 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies. This year, with most schools opening next week, it only has 500. "The requests have grown every year, and this is a year we are not able to accommodate all the requests we've received," said executive director Greta Guarton. 
While statistics show <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> has fared slightly better than the nation in terms of <a href="/topics/Unemployment">unemployment</a>, the region still has suffered under the economy's sour trajectory. 
A record number of Long <a href="/topics/New_York_Islanders">Islanders</a> received food stamps in March, according to state figures, and the number of welfare recipients in the region this year has risen to levels not seen since 1999. The number of homeless families locally has risen by double-digit percentage points over last year. 
John Theissen of the John Theissen Children's Foundation in <a href="/topics/Wantagh%2C_NY">Wantagh</a> said he typically tries to find sponsors to buy clothing and supplies for 200 children, but so far only about 100 children have been sponsored. The foundation usually helps an additional 200 children with supplies; to do that this year, it will have to use its credit card. "In the past, I would take on more and more kids, and I haven't been able to do that this year," he said. 
Many schools circulate detailed lists of supplies that students will need during the school year. Students are requested to bring the supplies to school early in the year, sometimes on the first day. 
Some school districts address the issue of supplies for needier students by suggesting that parents send in a few extra. 
<a href="/topics/UJA-Federation_of_New_York">UJA-Federation of New York</a>, which distributed 2,522 backpacks on <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> this year, said it managed to keep pace with increased demand by working on its drive year-round. 
Jon Stepanian, of <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> Food Not Bombs, which is in the middle of its school supply drive, said his group has managed to collect about the same amount of supplies as last year, but increased demand means that won't be enough. "I would say already we've given out half of what we gave out total last year, and this has only been the first two days," Stepanian said. 
At Pronto of <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> in <a href="/topics/Bay_Shore%2C_NY">Bay Shore</a>, organizers began giving out school supplies in plastic bags because they ran out of backpacks the first day of distribution, although a company did donate boxes of drawstring bags on Tuesday night. 
Ruth Reyes' three children received school supplies from Pronto Wednesday for the coming year in the <a href="/topics/Brentwood%2C_NY">Brentwood</a> school district. Reyes, 32, a single mother, seemed visibly relieved. 
"It's not that it's expensive, but with three children and maintaining a house, it's hard," she said through a translator. 
The struggle to provide this year has distressed Mangan. "It breaks my heart," he said. "It's nice when you can get them the supplies. But when you can't get them the supplies, it really hurts." 
If you want to donate school supplies: 
<a href="http://www.nsch.org">Long Island Coalition for the Homeless</a> 516-742-7770 
<a href="http://www.ecdream.org">Every Child’s Dream&nbsp;</a> everychildsdream@gmail.com 
<a href="http://www.prontolongisland.org">Pronto of Long Island</a> 631-231-8290 
<a href="http://www.lifnb.com">Long Island Food Not Bombs</a> 631-223-4370 
<a href="http://www.jtcf.org">John Theissen Children’s Foundation</a> 516-679-5098 
Items requested include: Backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, glue, rulers, scissors, protractors and calculators.

LISUPP02

LI school supply donations down, need way up

school supplies

Kindergarten doesn't start for another couple of weeks, but parents should be getting their children ready for the big day now. Long Island experts suggest a dozen ways to help your child - and yourself - make the transition to formal education as easy as A, B, C. 
1. Go shopping together Involve your child in choosing his backpack and packing it with school supplies. Perhaps let him pick a new outfit to wear the first day of school. Let your child know you'll label his jacket and backpack with his name, so if he misplaces anything, he won't fret, suggests Louise Grazia, director of the Kiddie Academy of <a href="/topics/Brightwaters%2C_NY">Brightwaters</a>. Use a calendar to count down the days to opening day. 
2. Read books about kindergarten to your child Snuggle with your child and read stories such as "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood Books, $16.95), which tells of a raccoon mom who kisses her child's palm before school and tells him to put it to his face when he misses her or gets lonely. That's the book that Grazia reads to preschool children at her learning center to help them transition to kindergarten. 
3. Make several trial runs If your child isn't waking at the time she'll rise for school, start setting her alarm for the right time a week beforehand. On a few days, park your car at the bus stop, and then do a trial run, suggests <a href="/topics/Joseph_%28designer%29">Joseph</a> Famularo, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/Bellmore%2C_NY">Bellmore</a> school district. Wake her, dress and eat breakfast, then walk to the bus stop. Drive her to school from there in your car, so she gets used to the trip the bus will make. On arrival, let her play on the same playground she'll use during recess. "The more they have a mental picture of where they're going, the less anxiety they'll have," Famularo says. 
4. Be positive Talk about how much he'll learn and how much fun he'll have. No matter how emotional you might be, don't let your child pick up on it. "It's more of a transition for the parents," says Famularo. "Often they project that onto the child." If your child sees you crying or upset, he'll think, "Maybe I should be crying." 
5. Attend all orientations Most districts have a day before the first day of school when they invite kindergartners and their parents to meet their teachers, introduce themselves to other students in their class, and even take a short ride on a school bus. "On the day itself, then there's less of a sting," says <a href="http://www.newsday.com/topics/Joseph_%28designer%29">Joseph</a> Rella, deputy superintendent of the Comsewogue School District in <a href="/topics/Port_Jefferson_Station%2C_NY">Port Jefferson Station</a>. If your district doesn't have such an orientation, see if you can make a trip to the school with your child one day while his teacher is setting up the classroom. 
6. Communicate specific concerns You might want the teacher to know that your child tends to get tired at about 10 a.m. or that, if the teacher seats her in the back of the room, her mind will likely wander. "We listen hard to the parents when they talk to us," Rella says. If there are any health or allergy concerns, be sure to talk to the school nurse before Day 1. 
7. Arrange for your child to sit with a friend on the bus There will likely be other children from the block or neighborhood on the same bus. Call the parents of one you know and arrange for their child and yours to know they'll sit together on the first day. If your child doesn't want to board the bus, don't give in, Grazia warns. "If they cry and you don't put them on the bus, then they're going to think that every day they cry they're not going to have to get on the bus," she says. What you could do is follow the bus to school. Tell your child, " 'I'll follow the bus the first day, just to make sure you get there safely,'" she suggests. 
8. Choose a transitional object Send a picture of Mom and Dad in your child's backpack or lunch box, or let her bring a stuffed animal or other object from home to help her still feel connected to you. 
9. Volunteer Some schools enlist parents to volunteer to help kindergartners at lunch during the first few days of school, opening milk cartons, helping them find seats, and more. Call your PTA to see if you can help. Volunteering would give you a chance to see the school in action, and even to catch a moment with your child (unless you think seeing you midday might reignite any separation anxiety). 
10. Put "meet-the-teacher" night on your schedule Rest assured that you will soon know your child's teacher's expectations for the school year. Many schools have this back-to-school session within the first couple of weeks after school opens. The teacher will answer many questions you may have and usually will be available before and after the session to talk to you. Find out whether your child's teacher has e-mail or even a Web page for the class where you can see lesson plans and topics for each week, suggests <a href="/topics/John_Williams">John Williams</a>, superintendent of schools for the <a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> school district. 
11. Greet the returning school bus If you can, be there when your child gets off the bus the first day. Congratulate her on a great start. 
12. Talk about the school day What did you do? What did you learn? Did you meet anyone new? What's your teacher like? Some families ask about the best part and worst part of the day, to find out what might have been upsetting. "I think the best time to do it is at the evening meal, when you have some uninterrupted time," Williams says.

Things to Do

Family

LSKIDSMAINWEB26

Kindergarten looms: 12 tips to help your child adjust

lsKIDS

When it comes to lunch sandwiches, children are creatures of habit. But it's the rare child who doesn't crave a little variation now and then. The hidebound peanut-butter partisan might accept apple butter in place of grape jelly. The turkey devotee might appreciate a slice of avocado. The tuna exponent might go for a wrap instead of a traditional sandwich. 
 For the start of school, 2010, we sought sandwich-shaking-up advice from three <a href="/topics/Long_Island%2C_NY">Long Island</a> lunch-making parents who are also professional chefs. 
 Talkin' turkey 
 Turkey is the go-to sandwich meat in Lauren Chattman's <a href="/topics/Sag_Harbor%2C_NY">Sag Harbor</a> kitchen. A Newsday columnist, Chattman is the author of many cookbooks including "Cake Keeper Cakes" (Taunton, $17.95), "Panini Express" (Taunton, $18.95) and the upcoming "Cookie Swap!" (Workman, $14.95). Chattman's daughters Eve and Rose bring their lunch to school every day, and that means that their mother "is making sandwiches every morning." 
 "What's great about turkey," Chattman said, "is that it's so bland, it pairs well with other things," particularly cheese or another, saltier meat. 
 While she usually does not cook her own turkey, Chattman insists that it be roasted in the store she buys it from. "Otherwise it has this slimy texture," she said, "and doesn't seem entirely like meat." 
 &nbsp; 
 TURKEY HERO ON FOCACCIA 
 In this sandwich, a little bit of salty cured meat raises the turkey to hero level. A hearty bread, such as this focaccia roll, is crucial here so that the sandwich can stand up to the dressing. 
 Focaccia roll or panino roll 
 Lettuce or baby spinach 
 3 to 5 slices roast turkey 
 1 to 2 slices Genoa salami or 3 to 4 slices pepperoni 
 Vinaigrette or Italian dressing 
 Split the roll and top one half with greens. Add sliced turkey, a little salami or pepperoni and then drizzle with the dressing. Top with second half of roll. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 TURKEY, AVOCADO AND CHEDDAR 
 Chattman likes avocado because it adds moisture to a turkey sandwich without making it soggy. 
 3 to 5 slices roast turkey 
 2 slices 7-grain bread 
 Half a small avocado, sliced 
 1 to 2 slices Cheddar cheese 
 Place turkey on a slice of 7-grain or whole-grain bread. Top with thinly sliced avocado, Cheddar cheese and another slice of bread. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY 
 Chattman's kids love cranberry sauce and, not surprisingly, it is a natural for turkey sandwiches. 
 3 to 5 slices roast turkey 
 2 slices whole-wheat bread 
 1 to 2 tablespoons cranberry preserves (find them with jams and jellies) or cranberry sauce 
 Place turkey on a slice of bread. Top with cranberry preserves and then another slice of bread. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 Crrr-unch 
 It's all about peanut butter when Mitch SuDock makes sandwiches for his 9-year-old daughter Jessica, a 4th-grader at Solomon Schechter Day School in <a href="/topics/Jericho%2C_NY">Jericho</a>. "And let's get one thing straight," said the chef of Mitch &amp; Toni's in <a href="/topics//Albertson,_NY">Albertson</a>, "it has to be crunchy peanut butter." 
 Jessica isn't a huge fan of whole-wheat bread, but SuDock has had great success with sandwiches made with white whole-wheat bread. ("White" wheat has a lighter taste than conventional wheat and thus whole-wheat bread made from it tastes very similar to regular white bread.) 
 He also recently introduced Jessica to Nutella, the hazelnut-chocolate spread that is a lunchtime favorite in <a href="/topics/Europe">Europe</a>, and Nutella-based sandwiches have become a special treat. 
 &nbsp; 
 PEANUT BUTTER, HONEY AND BANANA 
 2 to 3 tablespoons peanut butter 
 2 slices white whole-wheat bread 
 1 to 2 tablespoons honey 
 1 banana, thinly sliced 
 Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, honey on the other. Cover the honeyed slice with thinly sliced banana and then top with peanut-buttered slice. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 PEANUT BUTTER AND APPLE BUTTER 
 This sandwich is a favorite not only of Jessica, but of her father. "We eat this all the time at the restaurant. If we have some granola around, we'll throw it into the sandwich for crunch." 
 2 slices raisin or nut bread 
 2 to 3 tablespoons peanut butter 
 1 to 2 tablespoons apple butter 
 2 to 3 tablespoons granola (optional) 
 Spread one slice of raisin bread with peanut butter, another with apple butter. If desired, sprinkle some granola on the apple butter, then close the sandwich. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 NUTELLA AND MARSHMALLOW 
 This is a special-occasion sandwich that works hot or cold. 
 2 to 3 tablespoons Nutella 
 2 slices whole-grain nut bread 
 Mini marshmallows 
 Spread Nutella on one slice of bread then cover with mini marshmallows. Place this and a second slice of bread in the toaster oven until the marshmallows begin to brown. Place second slice of bread on top of the first and eat immediately, or cool down and pack for lunch. Makes 1 sandwich. 
 &nbsp; 
 Tuna three ways 
 It's not surprising that tuna is a popular sandwich filling at the home of Michael Meehan, chef at the <a href="/topics/Smithtown%2C_NY">Smithtown</a> seafood restaurant H2O. Not only is dad a fish-o-phile, but it's one protein that his food-allergy-prone wife and red-meat-avoiding daughter, Heather, 16, will eat. (Sons <a href="/topics/John_Henry">John Henry</a>, 10, and Jesse, 6, eat pretty much everything.) 
 Meehan, who lives in <a href="/topics/Aquebogue%2C_NY">Aquebogue</a>, looks for tuna that is labeled "dolphin safe," which means that a third party has ensured that the tuna producer followed established practices for avoiding harming dolphins while fishing for tuna. "Chunk light" is his tuna of choice. 
 &nbsp; 
 TUNA-HUMMUS-CUCUMBER WRAP 
 2 to 3 tablespoons hummus 
 1 whole-wheat tortilla 
 Thinly sliced cucumber, about 2 inches worth 
 Roasted red pepper, cut into strips 
 Half of a 5-ounce can of tuna 
 Spread hummus over the center of the tortilla, top with cucumber, pepper strips, then well-drained tuna. Fold opposite sides of the tortilla over to partially cover the filling, then roll up wrap. Makes 1 wrap. 
 &nbsp; 
 NO-MAYO TUNA SALAD 
 1 (5-ounce) can of tuna 
 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
 Fresh lemon juice 
 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill 
 4 slices cracked wheat bread 
 Drain tuna very well, then mix with olive oil. Add lemon juice to taste and then fresh dill. Spread on bread. Makes 2 sandwiches. 
 &nbsp; 
 TUNA SALAD WITH A KICK 
 1 (5-ounce) can of tuna 
 1 to 2 tablespoons finely minced celery 
 1 to 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 
 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 
 4 slices whole-grain bread 
 Cherry peppers, thinly sliced 
 Combine well-drained tuna with celery, mayonnaise and mustard. Spread on whole-grain bread then top with thinly sliced cherry peppers. Makes 2 sandwiches.

FeedMe

Food and Drink

FDCOV26.WEB

Back to school sandwich recipes

fdCOV26jcw

Josephine Connolly-Schoonen does some of her best work in the supermarket. As a professor of family medicine at Stony Brook and the director of the university's dietetic-internship program, it is the registered dietitian's job to familiarize herself with the nutritional particulars of what American families are eating. 
She also has to make lunch for three school-age children. 
Connolly-Schoonen, who lives in <a href="/topics/Miller_Place%2C_NY">Miller Place</a>, buys her groceries at Super Stop &amp; Shop in South <a href="/topics/Setauket%2C_NY">Setauket</a>. We joined her and her two younger kids, Anna, 12, and Martien, 8 (Jan, 14, was off at soccer camp) for a stroll up and down the aisles. 
 CHECKING LABELS 
The pace was leisurely, as Connolly-Schoonen is a devoted label-reader. "Even if you think you know what the ingredients are, you need to check the label," she said, "because formulations change." The label for Silk soy milk, for example, no longer states that it is made with organic soy beans, and so she has switched to Nature's Promise. (The only way to ensure that soy products are not made with genetically modified soy beans is to buy organic.) 
 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 
Connolly-Schoonen looks for smaller fruit varieties such as Gala apples, clementines, baby bananas or cut-up melon. The fruit needn't be fresh, but if it's a packaged product, it must be devoid of added sugar. Mott's "no-sugar-added" applesauce and Dole pineapple packed in juice (not in light syrup) make the grade. 
Anna likes red peppers so much she'll eat them on their own, but celery, cucumbers or carrots must be accompanied by a little container of dressing. Connolly-Schoonen stays away from light dressings that invariably contain more sugar and salt than regular. She likes Nature's Promise ranch dressing, which has no added sugar and is made with expeller-pressed Canola oil. 
 SANDWICH FIXINGS 
Connolly-Schoonen tries to steer children toward whole-wheat breads, and cautions their parents to read the labels: A bread whose label proclaims "multigrain" or some other evocative phrase is not whole wheat unless the first ingredient listed is "whole-wheat flour." 
On sandwiches, Connolly-Schoonen uses a little bit of regular Hellmans' (no carbohydrates, nine ingredients) as opposed to light (1 gram carbohydrates, 16 ingredients) or low-fat (2 grams carbohydrates, 16 ingredients, including high-fructose corn syrup). Reading the label, she recently discovered that Grey Poupon Dijon mustard contains sugar; she switched to Maille. 
PB&amp;J sandwiches are enjoyed by all three children. Connolly-Schoonen buys an all-natural peanut butter that has no added salt or sugar. As for jelly, it is full of sugar. Connolly-Schoonen does not recommend artificially sweetened foods for most children, so she looks for jellies, jams and preserves that at least contain only sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup. 
 CEREAL FOR SNACKING 
Connolly-Schoonen gives her kids a snack at lunch, but no dessert. "If you pack a sandwich and chips and cookies," she says, "they may eat the chips and cookies and not the sandwich." 
Cereal is a favorite snack. While Connolly-Schoonen's top choice would be along the lines of Cascadian Farm's Purely O's (only five ingredients, only whole-grain flours and 1 gram of sugars), she'll go as far as Kashi's Heart to Heart (many more ingredients, 5 grams of sugar, but no high-fructose corn syrup or food coloring). Her rule of thumb with cereals and snack bars is to limit sugar to 5 grams for each serving and to shoot for 3 grams of fiber. She and her kids split the difference by mixing the cereals. (Ditto for yogurt, with Connolly-Schoonen trying to use more Stonyfield low-fat plain yogurt, and her kids trying to use more vanilla.) 
 CRACKERS AND CHIPS 
With crackers, she looks for high fiber and no hydrogenated, or trans, fats. Again, read the labels. The first ingredient in Nabisco Multigrain Premium Saltine crackers is white flour. They contain no fiber and the 1.5 grams of fat is hydrogenated cottonseed oil. "Crackers and chips don't have to be low-fat," Connolly-Schoonen says. "My rule of thumb is 3 grams of fat per 100 calories, and if it's more than that, it has to be a good fat - olive oil or Canola." 
 AND TO DRINK 
On this subject, Connolly-Schoonen is adamant: no juice. "The research is clear," she says, "early introduction of juice contributes to weight problems and establishes a lifelong preference for sweet drinks." She also steers clear of plastic bottles, and thus the Schoonen kids drink either water packed in a stainless-steel Thermos or cans or small glass bottles of seltzer or sparkling water. 
 LUNCH BY THE NUMBERS 
Here are a couple of Connolly-Schoonen's nutritional rules of thumb: 
Sugar Look for condiments and dressings with no added sugar. With cereal or snack bars, limit sugar to 5 grams for each serving. 
Fat When buying crackers or chips, limit fat to 3 grams for every 100 calories. If it's higher than that, it should be a particularly healthy fat, such as Canola or olive oil. 
Fiber Grain-based products - breads, cereals, crackers - should contain at least 2 or 3 grams of fiber. 
AVOID&nbsp;AT&nbsp;ALL&nbsp;COSTS 
Connolly-Schoonen is flexible on many nutritional fronts, but these are deal breakers: 
High-fructose corn syrup This corn-derived sweetener is typically a marker for a highly processed product. 
Artificial food colorings These are unnecessary, and new research suggests they may be problematic. 
Trans fats or hydrogenated fats Trans fats are associated, over time, with development of chronic illnesses such as <a href="/topics/Asthma">asthma</a>, heart disease and <a href="/topics/Diabetes">diabetes</a>. 
'Licensed-character' foods Whether it is Dora the Explorer ice cream or Pokémon macaroni and cheese, these products establish "an inappropriate relationship with food, encouraging eating for reasons other than hunger."

FDINTROWEB27

A nutritionist's school lunch tips

fdMAINshopping

<a href="/topics/Cow_Harbor%2C_NY">Cow Harbor</a> Kids 491 Main St., <a href="/topics/Northport%2C_NY">Northport</a> 
In a strip mall shared with a pizzeria, <a href="/topics/Cow_Harbor%2C_NY">Cow Harbor</a> Kids has items outside and in. On a recent visit, a size 3T Baby Gap rain slicker was $10.80, and a toddler's romper with "A Day at the Zoo" on the front was $4.80. The store has a rack of Abercrombie and other name items for tweens; pairs of Abercrombie jeans, for instance, were $4.80 each. Don't miss the room devoted to boys. The store has racks of suits and party dresses. Cow Harbor Kids sells items such as a Little Tikes seesaw for $25 and a <a href="/topics/Graco_Inc.">Graco</a> stroller for $90. Owner Helga Bagatais says she tries to check safety standards but can't verify every item. 
<hr> 
Gigi's Kids 48 W. <a href="/topics/Montauk%2C_NY">Montauk</a> Hwy., <a href="/topics/Hampton_Bays%2C_NY">Hampton Bays</a> 
This year is the 10th anniversary of Gigi's Kids. Clothing sizes include newborns to 14/16. Gap jeans sizes 8 or smaller are $6 to $7; bigger sizes are $9. Zip-up hoodies are $8 for older kids, $6 for younger. Newborn onesies are $1. The store peddles clothes without stains or holes. "It's a whole recycle thing," says Monika Straka, who owns Gigi's Kids with Debbie Girgenti. Part of the store sells brand-new toys. Over the past 10 years, Straka says, 1,600 people have brought clothing or other items into the store on consignment. 
<hr> 
Kidstuff for Less 290 N. Wellwood Ave., <a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> 
On a main <a href="/topics/Lindenhurst%2C_NY">Lindenhurst</a> street with on-street parking, Kidstuff for Less is a bright, airy store with four ceiling fans whose blades are painted in primary colors. The carpet has green, red and blue crayons on it. Baby equipment for sale includes swings, dressers and cribs (employees check the Internet for any safety recalls, says owner Sandra Satzinger). Clothing for children younger than 2 must still have the tags on it. The store focuses on clothing up to size 7/8. "We found that after that size, the kids are really particular with the clothing," Satzinger says. The store also gets Step 2 and Little Tikes liquidations and buys samples from a European supplier. 
<hr> 
Once Upon a Child 1089 <a href="/topics/Hicksville%2C_NY">Hicksville</a> Rd., <a href="/topics/Seaford%2C_NY">Seaford</a> 
The box-shaped store is in a strip mall. Some of the finds during a recent visit included Levi's jeans for girls, $4.40; a bathing suit for an 18-month-old, $2.40; a fleece from <a href="/topics/Children%27s_Place">Children's Place</a>, $5.40. Rack upon rack of clothing is marked at such prices. Clothing up to size 2T has never been worn; the store doesn't usually accept used clothing for infants, says manager Kathleen Wilson.

ny-edb2s2009-shopping

Back-to-school shopping at second-hand stores

exliKIDSconsignment

TIP Disposable 1/4-cup (4-ounce) containers are available at most restaurant supply stores, and come in handy throughout the school year for dips, snacks, sauces, and more. 
LUNCHBOX TRAIL MIX 
Healthy fats and carbohydrates keep kids full and energized, and just a little bit of colorful chocolate makes them feel as if they're eating a treat. 
2 tablespoons mini M&amp;M's 
1/4 cup salted peanuts 
1/4 cup dried fruit bits 
1/2 cup puffed wheat or rice cereal 
1/4 cup mini marshmallows 
Combine all ingredients. 
Makes 5 servings 
Nutritional analysis for each serving: 104 calories, 3 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 44 mg sodium 
<h4>RED PEPPER HUMMUS AND VEGGIES</h4> 
Serve with carrot and celery sticks. 
1 clove garlic 
1/2 cup bottled roasted red pepper, drained and rinsed 
1 (15.5-ounce) can low-sodium or organic chick peas, drained and rinsed 
1 tablespoon tahini (or natural style peanut butter) 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 
1/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste) 
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
1. Mince garlic in the food processor. Add the roasted pepper, chick peas, tahini, lemon juice, cumin and salt and puree. 
2. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a slow steady stream. Makes 8 servings (each about 1/4 cup) 
Nutritional analysis for each serving: 91 calories, 2 g protein, 7 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 109 mg sodium 
<h4>CINNAMON APPLES</h4> 
These treats may be made 1 to 2 days in advance and refrigerated. 
1/4 cup raisins 
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts 
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 
4 crisp apples 
1 wedge lemon 
1. Combine raisins, walnuts, 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon and a pinch of the nutmeg. 
2. Remove the core from the apples and peel the top halves. Fill the center with the raisin-nut mixture. Rub the outside with the lemon wedge and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon and nutmeg. 
3. Coat a glass pie plate or baking dish with cooking spray: place the apples (with space between them) in the dish. Add 1 tablespoon of water to the dish. Microwave until fork tender, about 6 to 7 minutes. Makes 4 servings 
Nutritional analysis for each serving: 146 calories, 1 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 4 mg sodium

News

FDMARGE26.WEB

3 Simple healthy lunchbox treats

fdMARGE

Elena Wilson already knows what she'll be wearing on her first day of eighth grade: a high-waisted skirt with yellow ruffles and a black "Sugarlips" tank top. The 12-year-old in the Harborfields School District will be at the height of back-to-school fashion, as both pieces are on this year's "must-have" list for girls. 
For boys, the 2010-2011 school year brings neon-colored <a href="/topics/Nike">Nike</a> sneakers, a continuance of the <a href="/topics/Bermuda">Bermuda</a>-shorts-below-the-knee trend, and sweatshirts with "monster" faces. 
Though the start of school is still a month away, shopping has begun in earnest as stores - from the big box stores such as Target to smaller boutiques such as Delia's - have launched sales meant to bring in the traffic. Elena shopped at the <a href="/topics/Walt_Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> Mall recently with a group of nine girlfriends who left lugging bags from <a href="/topics/Macy%27s">Macy's</a>, Aéropostale, Butter, Abercrombie and Delia's. Here's some of what was inside their bags and what else kids will be seeing on the racks: 
HIGH-WAISTED SKIRTS: The skirts have a thick, black, belt-like waistband, and the material below varies from floral prints to ruffles. Dresses are also sold in this style, with a shirt attached. "They're dressy, but not too dressy," says Jenna Kaufman, 11, of Huntington. 
SUGARLIPS: These sleeveless undershirts come in basic black as well as bright colors such as turquoise and pink. "They fit your body and they're soft," Jenna says. 
CONVERSE: Neon-colored sneakers with a double row of laces are in, says Kaitlin. The more "obnoxiously colored" the better, she says. Some also have a "double tongue" that can be folded over to show a pattern. 
BERMUDA SHORTS: These are retaining their place as the go-to bottoms for boys. Usually worn with long graphic T-shirts. 
VOLCOM STRIPED SWEATSHIRT: The hood can be zipped all the way in the front to form a mask with mesh at the eyes and mouth for $60 at Lester's in Huntington Station. 
WACKY PACKAGES T-SHIRTS: What's old is new again - Wacky Packages on T-shirts for boys, from 10againclothing.com. "Mice Krispies" and other parodies sold at Lester's stores for $27.90. 
NIKES: Neon colors are in - orange, blue, red and combinations of them all. Customize your own pair of Nikes at <a href="/topics/Nike">Nike</a>.com for $115. 
JOHNNY CUPCAKES: These T-shirts come in a variety of styles; this one is the baseball crossbones; $35.99 at johnnycupcakes.com. 
JEGGINGS: These leggings look like blue jeans, but they're soft and stretchy. "They're really comfortable, and they're really stylish," says Kaitlin Shore, 15, a soon-to-be 10th grader from Huntington. 
ROMPERS: One-piece outfits that look like shorts and a shirt combined; often look like a dress. 
GLADIATORS: These sandals have straps that wrap up the leg, either to the ankle or up the shin. 
UNDER ARMOUR: <a href="/topics/Under_Armour%2C_Inc.">Under Armour</a> was known primarily for keeping kids warm during fall and winter outdoor sporting activities. But <a href="/topics/Under_Armour%2C_Inc.">Under Armour</a> also has T-shirts that have become fashionable for boys, says fourth-grader Eric Werbitsky of Huntington. 
LEBRON JAMES: The James No. 6 jersey is the hot sports shirt; runners-up are teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Jerseys are $44.99 at nbastore.com; Lester's in Huntington Station has a T-shirt with all three for $36.

LSKIDSMAIN04.WEB

The hottest fashions for back-to-school

lskidsmain28

If your child has allergies, one of the most important people for you to get to know in your child's school is the school nurse. 
"That's crucial," says <a href="/topics/John_Williams">John Williams</a>, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/Amityville%2C_NY">Amityville</a> School District. "That's got to be early, early communication, before you start school. If your child is a new entrant, you should arrange to speak with that school nurse even before school starts." 
In-person chat 
Meeting face-to-face is better than talking on the phone, says Sheryl Goffman, deputy superintendent of the <a href="/topics/Mineola%2C_NY">Mineola</a> school district. Talk first to your pediatrician, to have him or her outline suggestions for prevention as well as what the protocol would be in case of a reaction at school, Goffman says. If there's medication involved, the school needs a prescription from the doctor in order for the nurse to administer it. 
Find out if the school already has allergy procedures in place. Some schools have peanut-free tables in the cafeteria for children who have peanut allergies, for instance. 
Make sure all emergency contact information is up-to-date, and any medical equipment you provide the school - such as an EpiPen - is in working order and any allergy medication hasn't expired, says Joseph Famularo, superintendent of the <a href="/topics/Bellmore%2C_NY">Bellmore</a> school district. 
The school nurse has an obligation to make sure anyone who deals with your child directly knows what's going on. The nurse has to balance family rights to privacy versus school professionals' need to know. "Sometimes it's a fine line," Williams says. 
Consider talking personally to the principal and your child's teacher as well as the nurse, even though the nurse will likely fill them in. "As a parent of a young child especially, you would want to have that contact," Goffman says. 
&nbsp;Written instructions, too 
Provide anything you can about your child's allergies and treatment protocol in writing as well as verbally. The child's medical file is separate from the cumulative record file, Williams says. "You hate to think this way, but God forbid anything should happen, you want to make sure you told the school," Williams says. "If you tell someone, that's good. If you tell someone and follow up in writing, it's better."

HSNURSE25

Steps to protect your allergic child in school

0KOQYNMC.JPG

Back to school 2010

Newsday

Most Popular

Latest videos

Education video slot

The best friends, who are known at South Side High School as the "Dynamic Duo," are among Newsday's 2026 Extraordinary Seniors.

'They are both perfection in their own right, but together they are extraordinary'

Nick Cannon, host of the Wild 'N Out Live show at Barclays Center, visited Roosevelt High School on Friday.

'Excited about entertainment'

12-year-old Cesar Albarracin Guncay, a 6th grader in Sag Harbor, died during a rafting field trip in the Poconos after the raft overturned in the river.

'Cesar was a cherished member of our school family'

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland speaks to actor Gary Sinise about the Wantagh Union Free School District partnering with his foundation to raise money for field trips to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, as well as a commemorative 9/11 statue in front of Wantagh High School.

'To make sure those students never forget'

Sign up for The Classroom newsletter

Education Newsletter Widget

The Hofstra University professor is being investigated for calling a colleague's proposal for new Jewish Studies courses "word salad."

Free speech group demands LI college drop harassment investigation against professor

Education Article Bottom Module

One is an altar server. Another is a Lion Heart Award recipient, while another is an after-school tutor. Get to know the more than 130 top seniors from high schools across LI. Also, see this year's valedictorians.

Meet Long Island's Class of 2026 salutatorians

One is a Sacred Heart altar server. Another is a Lion Heart Award recipient, while another is an after-school tutor. Get to know the more than 130 top seniors from high schools across LI.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Nassau County and most of southwestern Suffolk for Thursday.

LI school district sets early dismissal today due to heat advisory

"Times are hard and gas prices are high, and food prices are high, and people still dug into their pockets to give back, which means a lot," the school's principal said.

Middle school raises more than $15G for Make-A-Wish Foundation

See this year's valedictorians, salutatorians, and more.

Complete coverage: Long Island 2026 high school graduations

Selected from dozens of Long Island students, the 10 seniors distinguished themselves through their resilience, compassion and commitment to make a difference.

A chimpanzee attack survivor, a football player turned cheerleader and more: Meet 10 Extraordinary Seniors

Education Video Playlist

Sara Lopez Garcia recorded an address to her class from her native Colombia. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Never underestimate your strength'

Chaminade twins John and Joseph Gomes were named valedictorian and salutatorian, a first for the all-boys Catholic school in Mineloa.

Twins make val and sal history

Jesse Findling, of Massapequa Park, made a stop at his alma mater on Monday. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'He just followed his dream'

A federal judge approved an agreement this week to phase out the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, Plan. The move could affect millions of borrowers. Newsday's experts break it down.

'A lot of uncertainty'

The East Meadow school district is asking taxpayers to vote yes on a $71.5 million capital improvement bond. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'It's good for the school district'

Dental professor Ira B. Lamster said the break with Stony Brook University was unrelated to the funding he received from Epstein. Newsday investigative reporter Joshua Solomon has more.

$100G grant from Epstein

A new report says the risks of AI in education are greater than the benefits. NewsdayTV spoke with a panel of experts on the topic.

A look at the risks of AI in education

It's been 40 years since the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Long Islanders remember where they were on Jan. 28, 1986.

'We had no idea what would transpire'

Under Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget proposal, Long Island districts would see a 3.8% increase in state aid. However, some districts would see modest decreases. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'I'm concerned for the kids'

Gov. Hochul unveiled plans for her state budget proposal, including no new state taxes, a 4.3% increase in school aid and no taxes on tips. NewsdayTV political analyst Joye Brown has more.

'You can make historic investments'

Each semifinalist will receive $2,000 and their school will receive a matching amount. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'I'm ecstatic'

Mamdani made universal child care a cornerstone of his campaign. NewsdayTV's Macy England talks with experts on how his plan could impact Long Island.

'I think it's an awesome idea'

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

Extraordinary Seniors: Seniors Alex Banilower and Luke Schauf

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed stops by the iconic Jamesport Country Store, your go-to destination for vintage antiques, vibrant local art, and charming homegrown goods.

Out East: Take a step back in time at the Jamesport Country Store

The lack of formal reporting requirements is part of a statewide effort to keep kids in homes and out of the child welfare system, advocates say. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn and Newsday investigative reporter Payton Guion have more.

Jor’Dynn Duncan missed 40 days of school before her death. Her district wasn't required to flag it.

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland chats with LGBT Network President David Kilmnick and Newsday features reporter David J. Criblez about Long Island's 2026 Pride Month celebrations.

Pride Month: Parades, concerts, and more 2026 celebrations

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Yaphank Deli to try their "chip bag sandwich."

Trendy Bites: It's a bag of chips ... it's a sandwich ... it's the chip bag sandwich! 

NYU researchers are surveying the Eastern box turtle population to better understand how they are faring against habitat destruction, roadways and global warming.`

Turtle-sniffing dogs searching LI woods to help protect a species

Dennis Arfa, the architect of the Piano Man's record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden, was inducted on Saturday into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook. NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano reports.

Billy Joel inducts longtime collaborator into LI Music Hall of Fame

Giants players spoke Monday at mandatory mincamp about learning the new system and coming together as a team under new head coach John Harbaugh.

Giants coming together as a team at mandatory minicamp

Recently passed state auto insurance reforms could help lower car insurance rates as much as 10% for New York drivers, according to some estimates. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

NYS takes crack at lowering auto insurance premiums. Here's what that means for LI.

Newsday food writer Erica Marcus helps make a strawberry crunch ice cream at Coyle's Ice Cream in Islip.

Making ice cream at Coyle's in Islip

Long Island Trending Bar

Newsday is highlighting the passionate, engaging and innovative educators of Long Island with its Teacher Spotlight feature.

Teacher Spotlight

High School Sports

Residents in LI's more than 120 school districts weighed in on board candidates, budgets and propositions. See how your district voted. For additional information, read our article here.

2026 School Vote

App Nativo Ad Unit Slot

Education - megaslot

Follow Long Island school district news from Nassau & Suffolk  including rankings, budgets, test scores and educator pay. 

Most Popular

Latest videos

Stay logged in.