 |
|
|
|
Archer Students Celebrate Special Person’s Day with Breakfast,
Hugs and Smiles
FREEPORT,
N.Y., Nov. 26, 2007
Barbara Behrens/Felicia Febrizio
Third-grader
Christopher Bustamante ran over to his father, Nano, with a
smile as big as Texas and a plastic favor bag filled with candy.
He wrapped his little arms around his dad’s neck and
giggled with excitement that his "special person" was
with him to share a glimpse into his school day. |
 |
|
Christopher and his dad were two of
more than 300 people who filled the Archer Street School gym for
its Special Person’s Day celebration. More
than 30 tables beautifully decorated in a fall palette welcomed members
of the community as the children shared with them a bagel breakfast,
as well as some hugs and lots of smiles.
"This is a great day, a way of getting parents involved and a way
of celebrating friends and family," said Lisette Santiago,
school psychologist.
After breakfast the children brought their special persons to their
classrooms to show them what they have learned during the school
year.
"It’s very interactive," Santiago added. "There’s
a real sense of caring." |
 |
Third-grader Christopher Bustamante gives his
dad, Nano, a big hug during the Special Person’s Day celebration
at Archer Street School. |
It’s all about family for these brothers,
Kevin Trujillo, grade four, and Emerson, grade two, who brought their
parents, Carlos and Yanira, to the event. |
Second-grader Jasmine Brown gets a kiss from her mom, Wendy, as they
sit down to breakfast. |
|
The event ties into National
Education Week, during which schools are encouraged to open doors
to parents and involve them in their child’s learning experience.
"We highly encourage parent involvement because we
know that children do better in school when their parents are involved," said
Paula Lein, principal of Archer.
The program also underscores the importance of character
education. This month, the children are learning the value of respect.
"Today, our special
persons will show respect for the children and the children will
show respect to their special persons," Lein said. "It’s
a mutually beneficial celebration. They come, they celebrate and
they walk away feeling good."
Freeport Public Schools
is a diverse, innovative district on Long Island’s South Shore serving about 6,750 students in
grades Pre-K through 12. The district and its eight schools take
pride in having the region’s only magnet schools of choice,
a longstanding and award-winning classroom English/Spanish Dual Language
Program, and a high school where students excel in competitions that
include the regional Academic Challenge, Odyssey of the Mind and
Future Problem Solving International. The district’s New Visions
School of Exploration and Discovery has been named a National Blue
Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its high student
performance and engaging curriculum.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
