66 The Queens Courier • back to school • august 22, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶back to school Photo by Dominick Totino Photography Ralph Potter, general manager of Vallo Transportation; Denise Pisapia, CEO of Vallo; Sarah Hinkle, assistant coordinator of children’s services at Queens Library; Linda DeSabato, president of Vallo; Dwayne Ifill and Manuel Enriquez of Vallo LOCAL COMPANY SPONSORS SUMMER READING BY MELISA FERARI [email protected] For the second summer, Vallo Transportation has teamed up with Queens Library to host a summer reading program. Whitestone youngsters were able to enjoy various activities like story time and craft programs. Linda DeSabato, president of Vallo Transportation, read stories to local pre-school and young school-age children and continued with a craft activity and refreshments. DeSabato was proud to attend the programs and donate new children’s books to the library. “It brings me great joy to be able to continue supporting the library and have this opportunity to personally engage Whitestone kids and their families through the wonders of reading,” she said. To learn more about free summer reading programs, or to sign up, visit www.summerreading.org. Photo Courtesy Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. CELEBRATING SCHOOL’S SUCCESS BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] Although P.S. 122 in Astoria was facing big changes a few months ago from the Department of Education, the students showed they can excel beyond the average city scores. On August 13, Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. celebrated students, teachers and Principal Pamela Sabel for their hard work in earning high scores on the new state standardized tests. The students scored 71 percent at or above proficient in math and 69.7 percent at or above in English Language Arts (ELA). P.S. 122 accomplished scores close to 40 percent more than both the city and state scores. Vallone also presented Sabel with a city council citation in recognition of the school’s success. EARLY CHILDCARE/NURSERY The Samuel Field Y offers dynamic Early Childhood programs for ages 2 through 5. Children will be sharing stories, gaining independence, learning how to make choices, socializing, growing and making new friends. The programs are innovative, educational, academic, enriching and exceptionally sensitive to the needs of young children and their families. The Early Childhood Programs of the Samuel Field Y, are at both sites, the Little Neck site, 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, and at the Bay Terrace Center, 212-00 23rd Avenue. They are now accepting enrollment for Universal Pre- Kindergarten, Nursery School, Not Quite Nursery, and Child Care Programs and Nursery Camp 2014. Learn more about the schools and their philosophy by scheduling a visit. Contact Iris Shaw, Samuel Field Y, at 718-225-6750 ext 246 or Brad Richman at the Bay Terrace Center, Bayside, 718-423-6111. AFTER SCHOOL DAY CARE The Samuel Field Y provides a diverse array of programs and services designed to meet the needs of children of all ages, stages and ability levels. At their Little Neck site, they offer a safe, supervised, and stimulating after school program for children in kindergarten through 7th grade. This program is designed to offer an educationally based program led by outstanding professionals during after-school hours, where homework help and structured activities - such as art, cooking, and sports - are prioritized. The Y also offers a wide variety of programs for children with learning or developmental disabilities. Transportation from a number of local schools in the District 26 area is available. For further information, contact the Samuel Field Y at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Andy Gavora, 718-225-6750 ext. 261, or for Special Needs, contact Robin Topol at ext. 259. Nutritional tips for packing school lunches Parents know kids can’t concentrate when they’re hungry. But did you know that what children eat - especially in school lunches - can also affect their ability to focus, learn and behave well in the classroom? Packing your children’s school lunches is a great way to manage their nutritional intake and help feed their ability to learn. Keep these tips in mind as you’re packing your child’s nutritious lunches this school year: • Brain-building foods: Research supports the ability of certain foods to enhance cognitive function. Foods like fish and nuts, which contain brainbuilding omega-3 fatty acids, can support focus. So tuna fish salad not only supplies protein, but is also brain food. From pistachios and almonds to walnuts and peanuts, a serving of nuts not only contains healthful fats, but also a healthy dose of fiber and vitamin E. • Fill-them-up foods: “Empty calories” are empty for several reasons, including how quickly they can leave children feeling hungry again after they’ve dined on nutritionally poor calories. Foods that are high in protein and fiber, such as a sandwich of deli meats on whole grain bread, can help kids feel full longer and provide them with nutrient-rich calories. • Liquid power: Sugary sodas are notorious sources of empty calories. One can of regular soda, sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, packs about 150 calories, adding up to the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of table sugar, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Consider packing lunches with more nutritionally valuable beverages like skim milk or water. Skim milk is low in calories and contains calcium and potassium. Water, of course, contains no calories at all and is the best source of hydration. • The choice is yours: Making sure kids get the nutrition they need while providing the great taste they love can be a challenge. A classic sandwich can achieve both if you choose ingredients wisely. • Kid-friendly presentation: When it comes to packed lunches, a great presentation could be as simple as having one or two favorite lunchboxes on hand and allowing your child to choose which one he would like to carry today. Or, it could be as inspired as creatively arranging a sandwich and sliced veggies to mimic a smiling face when he opens his lunchbox at school. Remember, kids love color, so providing a colorful mix of foods can be very appealing to them. It also gives you the opportunity to incorporate the concept of a rainbow of nutrition, and the value of eating foods from all colors in the spectrum. With the right recipe of creativity, fun and nutritious foods, parents can be confident they’re packing school lunches that will keep kids full and happy throughout the school year. Courtesy BPT Photo courtesy BPT
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