The new fine motor skills enhancement program in Northport and East Northport kindergarten classrooms is a hit for students and staff alike. Students in every building received push-in occupational therapy services focused on building fine motor skills, such as pencil holding and coloring in the lines, once per week for 10 weeks. 

Occupational therapist Robyn Mikulas visits each kindergarten classroom throughout the district, working with students on engaging projects that can appear like arts and crafts or games, but serve as a means to identify those who may need additional support with fine motor skills. Activities range from using small tweezer like tools to pick up small objects to placing small beads on a string.

“Having these reminders and an extra adult in the room who is an expert in this field to push in has been tremendous for the students’ writing, for their coloring, for their cutting and pasting - all of their mechanics,” said Pulaski Road Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer McCabe. 

Northport-East Northport school district’s newly expanded third grade string orchestra program is embracing the support of their involved parents. To ensure students are practicing their instruments at home, the district has invited parents to learn and play alongside their children four times per month. 

Expanding the string orchestra program had been a hope of the district for over 16 years and was made possible following the district reorganization last year. Student musicians are often limited in their at-home practice due to parents not knowing how to play. By opening up lessons to parents, the hope is that they will be able to reinforce the skills built in class while home.  

Enrolled third graders each received a violin and parents were offered a discount to purchase or rent one from local vendors, or if they already have an adult size violin, they could bring their own.  

The students learn either before school or during recess with teacher Veronica Kiss and their parents are invited to join them either after school on Tuesdays or on Saturdays, four times per month. Parents do not need to know how to play the instrument prior to attending and the group is a mix of first-time musicians and experienced players. The program had significant interest and ultimately students were chosen by lottery as participation was limited. 

“It was worth the wait because of the joy we saw in the parents and the kids,” said NHS Orchestra Director Michael Susinno. “It’s one of the few opportunities for parents to come in and witness learning first hand. They loved it.” 

 

During the months of November and December, Fifth Avenue Elementary students were asked by the school’s SHARE and Student Leadership Clubs to help brighten the holiday season for families in need. Each student was given a paper gift to color at home, as well as asked to do a chore to earn money in order to donate to the school’s Holiday Gift Giving Program. This year, the staff, students, and families of Fifth Avenue raised over $1,100 to purchase gifts for families in need.
On Friday, December 10th,  students in SHARE and Leadership Club took a trip to Target to purchase gifts. The children worked in groups to brainstorm ideas, compromise about gift decisions, and stick to their budgets. The students were able to purchase several exciting gifts for families in need. 

Great job students, and thank you to Student Leadership Advisors, Dr. FitzSimmons and Mrs. Maldari, and SHARE Club Advisors, Mrs. Theofield & Mrs. Fisher for their support!