Garden City Park School Principal Welcomes School Board to 2013

Garden City Park School Principal James Svendsen welcomed the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Board of Education to his school building Monday night first pointing out the new windows and lighting in the gymnasium.

“I worked on it all summer,” he quipped.

The board of education begins each new calendar year by changing its meeting locations to each of the individual schools, conducting an annual building tour.

In his welcoming address, Svendsen noted that the students at the school are working on various educational projects, such as Mrs. Salerno’s second grade class where math was being taught with the Envision program using the Smartboard, while a fifth grade class was reading novels and working on ELA concepts in small groups and another class were completing charts on various non-fiction articles. Svendsen said that in kindergarten, teachers are “challenging their young ones with the sounds and words of writing while primary grades are using iPads with their lessons and in sixth grade, students are working on scaled drawings and proportions as part of differentiation of instruction and both third grade classes are writing about their trip to Safety Town.

“I’m always impressed by how much our students know about the Smartboard and technology and how comfortable they are using it,” he said. “Having a Smartboard in so many rooms has enriched our instruction tremendously and in a very positive direction as we prepare our children for the future.”

Last year the school added Smarttables and this year iPads to some rooms.

“With all of our technology and as great as it is, nothing will ever replace a great teacher,” the principal said.

Next week the school will be starting “Read-o,” its new reading incentive program to encourage reading at home. The students will read books and complete projects and complete a “bingo” or “Read-o” card in preparation for the school’s annual read-aloud week in June. Garden City Park will hold it’s annual “Responsible TV Watching month” in their health and wellness week, starting the character building program with “Goodness Grows Garden City Park,” and and all-math day on March 14.

The school is also participating the in Penny Harvest, collected three boxes of hats and mittens for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, planning a diabetes walk and St. Jude’s Math-a-thon.

“I’m very proud of the faculty and staff of this school,” Svendsen said. “They are dedicated and hardworking teachers and support staff, aides and custodians who expend their gifts and use their natural talent and skills to make a difference in the lives of our children. I’m also very appreciative of the parents for their support, confidence and presence. The interest that they take in their children is crucial for achieving success. More than anything though I’d like to thank the children who make each and every day one that is exciting, moving, valuable, challenging and enjoyable.”

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