In its commitment to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, the Eastport-South Manor Central School District hosted its “Respect For All” event in the Jr.-Sr. High School’s library media center on March 19.
The highly attended social-emotional learning event lent families within the district the opportunity to become more informed on new schools of thought.
Special Guest and author Jack Berkemeyer presented “Understanding Adolescents,” through which he counseled parents on how to improve their relationships with their children during the 10-15 age range where many complications often arise.
Berkemeyer touched on gaming and cellphone use, puberty and an adolescent’s undying need for consistency and accountability.
DASH Family Service League, South Oaks Hospital of Northwell Health, Response Crisis Center and Rise Life Service were also in attendance, representing just a few of the many local resources available beyond the school system.
Parents also bought their children free ID cards through the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and library cards through the Center Moriches Library at the event.
Two days later, Dayton Avenue Elementary School students sported brightly-colored socks for “Rock You Socks Day,” which itself commemorates World Down Syndrome Day.
March 21 signals the annual occasion where flashy socks are flaunted, a reference to the karyotype of a Down Syndrome chromosome resembling mismatched socks.
Dayton Avenue Elementary School students recently used their voices to showcase their acceptance of and admiration for all their disabled classmates.
Nico Calabria and Joven Booker, para-athletes from the Bionic Project, visited the students to define “disability” as a means to help stress the virtue of raising awareness and practicing inclusion.
“We are asking the students to consider what they can do today to make Dayton Avenue more inclusive,” said Dr. Shelita Watkis, Dayton Avenue Principal.
Watkis qualified the assembly as a successful call to action.