Here’s advice on getting ready to return to school from local administrators
Much like local elementary, middle and high schoolers, the administrators of the Highland Falls – Fort Montgomery Central School District enjoy summer too.
While they don’t get as many vacation days as their students do, they’re making sure to take some time for fun this summer. That said, they’re also gearing up for the school year ahead.
This week, local educators helped The News compile something of a ‘to-do’ list at this point of the summer.
Rachel Adelstein, principal of the Fort Montgomery Elementary School, directed her remarks to the parents of her buildings pre-k, kindergarten, first and second grade students.
“To strengthen fine and gross motor skills, kids can play with play-dough or putty, paint, water play (think about filling a cup with water and teaching kids to explore using droppers, squirters, food coloring, etc),” she said, “and gardening and planting are so fun to do together!”
Adelstein, herself the mother of two young sons, was also thinking about a summer learning lesson all families need to do.
“In terms of safety and awareness, please teach your children your cell phone number and address,” she said. “You can make it a fun game, or turn the number into a song to help kids memorize it. When I’m driving with my boys around our town, I ask them to give me directions to get home. It helps them become more aware of our area and their surroundings.”
But most of all, for the district’s littlest kids, she said “let them play!”.
“Above anything, spend time watching them, and let them invite you into their play and imagination,” she said. “Sometimes, I just listen as my boys build their own Lego city, or create a new game to play outside. I love learning how their mind works. Get to know your kids in new ways!”
Yashira Maldonado, principal of the Highland Falls Intermediate School — third through eighth grade students — encourages families to do things together in the summer.
“Spending time building experiences is the best way to support a student in the summer,” she said. “Go on a hike, explore our local community and take in the good weather.”
She especially wants her older students to get outside.
“I know our older students tend to want to stay inside,” she said to parents. “I would encourage families to gently push them to go out and enjoy the season!”
Maldonado also suggested reading, drawing and journaling as a great way to infuse academics into every activity.
Sitting at his new desk at O’Neill High School, Assistant Principal Thomas Brietfeller says he and the whole administrative team at JIO hopes that both ninth through twelfth graders and their families are having a happy and healthy summer break.
“We hope that your break is being spent enjoying your time with family and friends and beating the heat of these summer days,” he said. “And as we begin to reach the middle of the summer, we want to remind all students of their summer assignments for any honors, AP or college level courses. We encourage our students to begin working on these assignments now so that the last few weeks of summer can be spent relaxing or reading a good book before the beginning of school.”
He added that he and Principal Robin Haberman look forward to seeing all of their students when the new school year begins.
Beth Hordines is the director of Pupil Personell Services for the HF-FMCSD and works with students of all ages. Her words of wisdom hold true for every age of student.
“My advice is to spend time outdoors as a family,” she said, “with activities like walking, swimming, bike riding or playing catch. As a mom, those are some of my best memories.”
She also suggested that children spend time reading — “every day” — and keeping a personal journal, using pictures or words.