For Hempstead families, the school year began early Saturday at the district’s Parent Resource Center, where a wide variety of materials, support and activities were available for students and their parents.
The event, held at Jackson Annex Elementary in Hempstead, was a “reopening of the resource center,” said its director Tracey Williams.
The facility was previously housed at another school in the district but was recently moved to Annex Elementary. Williams said the resource fair was meant to “welcome the community back and let them know we’re here.”
The center takes a holistic approach to supporting families, which was evident in the attendees at Saturday’s event, Williams said. A mental health coach had set up a table, along with a healthy eating nonprofit and a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) mentoring program.
Juliana Montenegro, 10, of Hempstead, delivered a two-punch combination and a kick to a pad held by Darren Drain, 54, who runs Sensei Darren’s Bully Proof program in Hempstead.
Juliana enjoys doing karate and feels empowered by it, she said. “I want to go to school now,” Juliana said after participating in some activities.
The program, Drain said, works with middle and high schools to teach children empowerment and compassion, respect and conflict resolution.
“When you’re bullying, knowing how to push someone away or how to be confident is a big deal,” Drain said. “It’s not always just about fighting.”
Nearby, Valencia St. Louis, program coordinator for Morrison Mentors, highlighted the organization’s work to promote STEM education in underserved communities.
“We’re introducing grades K-12 to a variety of STEM topics,” St. Louis said, including video game design, 3D printing and coding. The goal is to get students in Nassau and Suffolk counties excited about these careers, she said.
Some of these occupations may lack ethnic and gender diversity, underscoring the need to educate younger students about opportunities in these fields, St. Louis said.
The Hempstead School District is predominantly attended by Latino families and has about 6,100 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The festival featured bouncy castles, a DJ, snacks and activities for parents, including voter registration in Nassau County.
Amma John attended the fair with her two children, ages 5 and 9. She said it is often difficult to get in touch with local resources.
“I often feel like we’re kind of isolated as parents on Long Island,” said John, 42, of Hempstead. “When it comes to community activities where people come together and offer services or talk about what’s available in the neighborhood, I don’t always find that.”
For Hempstead families, the school year began early Saturday at the district’s Parent Resource Center, where a wide variety of materials, support and activities were available for students and their parents.
The event, held at Jackson Annex Elementary in Hempstead, was a “reopening of the resource center,” said its director Tracey Williams.
The facility was previously housed at another school in the district but was recently moved to Annex Elementary. Williams said the resource fair was meant to “welcome the community back and let them know we’re here.”
The center takes a holistic approach to supporting families, which was evident in the attendees at Saturday’s event, Williams said. A mental health coach had set up a table, along with a healthy eating nonprofit and a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) mentoring program.
Juliana Montenegro, 10, of Hempstead, delivered a two-punch combination and a kick to a pad held by Darren Drain, 54, who runs Sensei Darren’s Bully Proof program in Hempstead.
Juliana enjoys doing karate and feels empowered by it, she said. “I want to go to school now,” Juliana said after participating in some activities.
The program, Drain said, works with middle and high schools to teach children empowerment and compassion, respect and conflict resolution.
“When you’re bullying, knowing how to push someone away or how to be confident is a big deal,” Drain said. “It’s not always just about fighting.”
Nearby, Valencia St. Louis, program coordinator for Morrison Mentors, highlighted the organization’s work to promote STEM education in underserved communities.
“We’re introducing grades K-12 to a variety of STEM topics,” St. Louis said, including video game design, 3D printing and coding. The goal is to get students in Nassau and Suffolk counties excited about these careers, she said.
Some of these occupations may lack ethnic and gender diversity, underscoring the need to educate younger students about opportunities in these fields, St. Louis said.
The Hempstead School District is predominantly attended by Latino families and has about 6,100 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The festival featured bouncy castles, a DJ, snacks and activities for parents, including voter registration in Nassau County.
Amma John attended the fair with her two children, ages 5 and 9. She said it is often difficult to get in touch with local resources.
“I often feel like we’re kind of isolated as parents on Long Island,” said John, 42, of Hempstead. “When it comes to community activities where people come together and offer services or talk about what’s available in the neighborhood, I don’t always find that.”
