Freeport 4th-graders 'adopting' cops

In Freeport, kids are getting to see police officers in a different light.

The district's five elementary schools - Archer Street, Bayview Avenue, Caroline G. Atkinson, Leo F. Giblyn and New Visions - are introducing fourth-graders to the police in a program in which each class "adopts" a Village of Freeport officer for the year.

In total, 36 officers are volunteering for Adopt-a-Cop by corresponding with classes via periodic letters and visiting classes each month to discuss their jobs and answer questions.

"Some children think police only interact with the community in negative ways," said John Woodward, a New Visions teacher who coordinates the program at the school. "This reverses some of the TV stereotypes and gets kids out of a cops-and-robber mentality."

The program was initiated in the mid-1990s by Woodward's brother Michael, who is Freeport's recently retired chief of police. During their visits, officers share reasons why they might assist children - such as helping to recover stolen bicycles or helping kids lost in an unfamiliar neighborhood - and display the different equipment they might use on the job.

The culminating event is a spring demonstration at the Freeport Recreation Center in which the fourth-graders get an up-close look at police helicopters, rescue equipment, and vehicles damaged in a car crash.

"This increases the comfort level of children with us and shows them that we're here to help and they can trust us," said Police Chief Miguel Bermudez.

ELMONT

Prediction Marathon

More than 150 students at Stewart Manor Elementary School mixed fitness and math last month during a Prediction Marathon, in which they estimated how long it would take them to run from the school grounds to nearby Stewart Manor Country Club less than a mile away.

Sixth-graders Andrew Aleksa and Sydnie Jaime exactly predicted their running times of 4:45 and 9:25 minutes, respectively. Students also raised more than $3,000 for the March of Dimes by soliciting sponsorships from family and friends.

GLEN HEAD

E3 Day

North Shore Middle School students recently learned the importance of drug prevention, tolerance and community involvement during a second annual E3 Day, which stands for: "Everyone Matters, Everyone Cares, and Everyone Learns."

Activities included creating homemade holiday cards to be mailed to U.S. troops overseas, a chamber choir performance at the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center, and a math-a-thon in which kids solicited sponsorships to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Principal Marc Ferris spoke at a schoolwide assembly and encouraged the students to perform random acts of kindness at their homes and in school.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

New library center

Chestnut Street Elementary School unveiled a new library media center last week that includes an "extensive collection" of hardcover books and an interactive whiteboard, school officials said. In addition, students can now check out books and teachers can access the library's book collection via an online database.

The center - which was funded through a variety of state and federal grants - also includes access to videoconferencing equipment as well as Apple iPod Touches and iPads.

COUNTYWIDE

Giving thanks

Dozens of schools throughout Long Island celebrated Thanksgiving last month with programs and activities designed to teach students the importance of giving back.

In Roosevelt School District, all five schools sponsored food drives and assembled food baskets that were distributed to local families. The district's Washington Rose Elementary School also hosted a "candy drive" in which leftover Halloween candy was sent to U.S. troops overseas, while the high school's culinary classes prepared a Thanksgiving dinner that was sent to local shelters.

In Bethpage, first-graders at Charles Campagne Elementary School made headbands and beaded necklaces inside a life-size tepee in the school's all-purpose room, while students at Lynbrook's Kindergarten Center dressed as pilgrims and ate cornbread and stuffing.

Hicksville Middle School's Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapter donated 319 food items to Island Harvest.

ISLANDWIDE

Business symposium

More than 400 Long Island students learned about the importance of community activism and professional success last month during a "Believe Symposium" coordinated by Long Island Elite, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering local business professionals.

The symposium included 50 Long Island chief executives who hosted workshops and spoke about their personal experiences. Keynote speakers were Craig Pinto, a philanthropist who holds the Guinness World Record for field goals kicked to raise awareness for celiac disease, and Rohan Murphy, an international power lifter who lost his legs at birth.

Participating high schools were Baldwin, Bridgehampton, East Islip, East Meadow, Glen Cove, Lindenhurst, Massapequa, Middle Country, Northport, Patchogue-Medford and William Floyd in Mastic Beach.