Graduation

It’s that time of year again, when our youngsters graduate from the various plateaus in their education.

Looking back, my very favorite graduation in our family was my daughter’s ceremony up from kindergarten. Unforeseen buttons unleashed tears of joy that were out of my control. My emotions seem to go berserk as I realized with utter clarity how fast the time was going. One day she was born, and then far too soon she was graduating into the first grade. It seemed so huge to me at the time. Everyone thought I had “lost it” as I struggled to gulp down tears that kept on coming while at the same time trying to sing our family’s rendition of “You are my sunshine,” our favorite song, and our contribution to the festivities.

I wasn’t wrong with my emotional vision. The time has passed so swiftly and now its college graduations for her crowd that seem to have come about in no time since high school graduation. How could it have happened so quickly? They have to be too young still for this ceremony but they aren’t. The years have passed and here we are again, thrilling in their achievements, their growth and their futures.

As you attend your own children’s commencement ceremonies and celebrations, keep in mind how quickly it all goes and revel in the enjoyment of the stages as they are marked. The film gets speeded up it would seem and the older we get the faster it all seems to be moving.

How fortunate we are to be seeing our children grow, expand and achieve. Being parents through the stages of our children’s lives as they move from decade to decade and level-to-level is an achievement not only for them but for us as well.

June is a wonderful month. It’s usually quite beautiful and it’s a time of year of great weather and long days. It’s when schools let out and summer begins and for us here in NYC it marks the need for our children to find summer programs to not only have fun participating in, but also to challenge them and keep the intellect alive.

Hopefully all of you either have figured that out already or are in the process. Keep in mind that there is still space available in the myriad of options for your child or children and that summer should not be totally “time off.” Great programs are in every borough.

On a final note, there are families in need all around us, from our neighbors still impacted by the effects of Super Storm Sandy to our neighbors in Moore, Oklahoma who have experienced the devastation of a mega tornado. Reaching out with money, clothes, and other forms of help is just what neighbors should do when tragedy strikes.

I’m on vacation for a time this month and I can’t wait. We all need time to relax and to “just be.” Wishing you all a happy month and good times for all your families. Thanks for reading!

Relevant Directory Listings

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St Andrew Avellino School

<p>St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy, voted “Best in Boro” by qns.com, is a home to students ranging from Nursery through 8th grade. We offer a safe and nurturing learning environment and a family-oriented community where students of all faiths and backgrounds can excel academically, socially and emotionally.</p> <p>The St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy Advantage: Engaging and challenging lessons created by experienced and passionate faculty that encourage critical and creative thinking. Traditional teaching approach and educational programs that adheres to New York State common-core curriculum and is accredited by Cognia. Early Childhood foundation in academics, emotional literacy and faith. High-school level Regents classes for advanced learners. Support services for learning differences. Hands-on science experiments in a STEM lab. Art, music, robotics, and physical education classes. Catholic faith formation from religion classes, weekly church liturgies, and Christian service projects. Wide range of programs and extracurricular activities (music, clubs, sports) that cater to the students’ diverse interests and needs.</p> <p>Excellent Student Outcomes: Above average standardized New York State test scores every year. Graduates attend and succeed at prestigious high schools (Regis, Chaminade, Bronx High School, Stuyvesant, and Townsend Harris) and Catholic high schools in Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island.</p> <p>Graduating classes receive an average of $250,000 in Catholic High School scholarships.</p> <p>Financial assistance is available for families that qualify. Early morning drop-off and afterschool care are available.</p>

Sylvan Learning Center

<p>We know how hard you're working to help get your child's skills and grades up. If you aren't seeing a difference, turn to Sylvan. They can help you get beyond the symptoms and find out what's really going on. Sylvan offers support in reading, writing, math, and SAT Prep. Their assessments pinpoint exactly where to focus to make the biggest difference and their teachers are experts in today's teaching methods. They can guide your child through his or her own learning plan, so you see a change quickly. You aren't in this alone! Sylvan is here for you. Call them today.</p> <p>Your Child Is Unique. With Sylvan, You’ll Get Personalized Tutoring to Match. </p> <p>If you’re like most Sylvan families, you don’t believe that education should be “one size fits all.” You want learning to be personalized to your child’s talents and needs.</p> <p>At Sylvan, it is.</p> <p>You’ll find the right program for exactly where your child is in the educational journey — whether you want help catching up, honing skills, taking on advanced classes or getting ready for big college dreams.</p> <p>At Sylvan Learning of Mineola, they’re focused on building academic confidence, igniting intellectual curiosity, and inspiring a love for learning – all of which make a big impact in school and in life.  This school year, you don’t have to go it alone. Getting tutoring support from Sylvan’s education experts can help immensely! Think: Less pressure on you, less frustration at home and more success in school! Their caring teachers are experts at encouraging and motivating kids to learn, grow and flourish. They’ll help your child not only grasp tough concepts, but also improve self-esteem and spark a desire and eagerness to learn. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></strong></p>

Manhattan Charter School & Manhattan Charter School II

<p>Having two small public elemen­tary schools educating children in grades Kindergarten through Fifth is certainly appealing to parents.  Here, much emphasis is placed on the importance of an intimate school culture and learning environment.  They are committed to offering a well-rounded education designed to help students develop critical thinking and problem solv­ing skills. This means that there are never more than 25 students in a class, and that all students receive weekly French, Art, Physical Educa­tion, and Technology instruction, in addition to daily Music instruction all beginning in Kindergarten. "We pride ourselves on delivering chal­lenging, standards-driven instruc­tion and fostering a culture of high expectations. We are dedicated to demonstrating that all children, regardless of race or economic sta­tus, can succeed when given equal access to quality education." Both schools offer free afterschool.  Visit <a href="http://www.manhattancharterschool.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.manhattancharterschool.org/&source=gmail&ust=1632498940569000&usg=AFQjCNHW4OtNCKMQM-sdVjrtRWjATPkx8Q">www.<wbr />manhattancharterschool.org</a> to learn more.</p>