SPECIAL PROGRAMS
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Both classes and enrichment offerings for a
variety of learners across the grades, include:
-Foreign language
instruction
-Hands-on science laboratory
THE NATURE, SHAPE, and DENSITY of LIQUIDS
A 4th grader is demonstrating how displacement and density affect both the floating and the sinking of an underwater "squid", with the Cartesian diver bottle he created in the Science Class. Submarines utilize the same principle to enable them to dive, and, subsequently, re - surface !!
-New Visions (Library
Power)
-Class computer stations
-Computer Laptop Carts: Wireless Internet Access
-Teachers' College Writing Project
-Before School Enrichment Program
-Stock Market Game (via
the
Internet):
The Stock Market Game ("S.M.G."), offered under the auspices of the National Council on Economic Education, is utilized as an interactive, motivational and inter-disciplinary tool by my Class 5 - 311 at our Belle Harbor School. In an interactive, on-going Simulation, students are grouped into four teams to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in a team agreed upon portfolio of stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE); the American Stock Exchange (ASE); and/or the National Association of Securities Dealers Quotations (NASDAQ).
Students read, digest and apply the internet
publications of major news organizations
-The New York Times
-Bloomberg Radio: 1130 WBBR-AM
-CBS Marketwatch.
Goal of the S.M.G.: Most important, our students learn the value and limitations of money, and how important it is to make financial decisions properly.
Standards Addressed: New York City Board of Education Standards (Mathematical: M4, M7, M8), (Language Arts: E1c), and Technology are addressed.
-Before // After School Chess Clubs:
"The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthed by it..."
The Belle Harbor School Chess Club and Chess Clinic has completed its third season at P.S. 114Q. Under of guidance of Chess Instructor Ron Gerson, the Club meets Mondays, after school; and Thursdays, before school, for instuction, match play and end - game analyses. (Standard M7: Mathematical Communication). We thank both our Parent Teacher Association (for their generous support) and our school Administration (for their encouragement of our Club members).
"In learning chess, students DO develop self-confidence..."
THE P.S. 114Q CHESS
CLUB, by Matthew C., Class 5-501
The Belle Harbor School - P.S. 114Q Chess Club is instructed by Mr. Ron Gerson semi - weekly: After school, on Monday; Before school, on Thursday. Chess is a game of *SKILL* that is played by two opponents on a chessboard. Each player has 16 pieces. The goal of chess is to checkmate your opponent's King. With a conscientious instructor at the helm, any child who attends either session of our Chess Club is guaranteed to develop into an experienced chess player: In fact, two Club alumni, we have been told, have gone on to city-wide competitions !!! Bravo!
At the beginning of each session, Mr. Gerson
demonstrates special advanced chess techniques, for example:
"Castling: Queen Side"; "Discovered" Check; "Double Check"; "Pawn
Promotion"; "Forking with the Knight"; and "Stalemate". (All moves
can be used either offensively OR defensively.) After the lesson, our
Club divides into pairs for some neat "match play" competion. Chess
Club Parent Mrs. Peithman spends extra time with our Chess Club
"novices".
The Clubs will conclude with "round robin" tournaments, to be offered
in late April 2003; with Club members eligible to partake in the
"Human Chess Game" that is to be played at the conclusion of the
Fifth Grade's "Renaissance Festivale", in early June.
I have learned so much, from attending the
Chess Club, in just a few short weeks! The Club Instructor, Mr.
Gerson, and our Chess Club Parent, Mrs. Peithman, make our Chess Club
BOTH educational AND fun !!!!
BY: IAN C., Class 3-301
As we all know, there are two Chess Clubs: Session A", on Mondays (after school); and, Session "B" (before school, on Thursday mornings). Session "B" is that Chess Club that I attend: It is a big success !! That's right!
With BOTH Mr. Ron Gerson as our Chess INSTRUCTOR, AND Mrs. Cynthia Peithman as our Chess PARENT, we all get better, each and every week ! My fellow chess players and I are hoping to become future chess champions.
You will NOT believe the advanced moves that we are learning; yet, it is total fun. remember, we meet every Thursday morning, at 7:30 A.M. sharp: See you then !!
STANDARDS
(M7) and (M8) Mrs. Kuffner
facilitates the early morning enrichment activity, "Math
24"
-New Visions: Our Library Power Program
(Librarian: Mrs. J. Manas)
Our Belle Harbor School Library continues to be an extremely busy place! Students eagerly enter our library with their very own computerized library cards to check out books and periodicals, access information, search the World Wide Web and engage in small group and class projects. (Our lower grades maintain their own personalized book bags that were completed as a family project.) (Standard E3B: Participate in group meetings)
The Library maintains "Open Access", at various times during the school day.
Current projects include: A collaboration
with Grade 4, "Illustrating and Publishing Our Memoir Books";
researching endangered species will enable the Third Grade students
to produce their very own "Endangered Species Shirts"...Some other
third graders are continuing with their Author Study. They Have
recently welcomed Georgia O'Keefe to their Gallery.
Upcoming eagerly anticipated notable events at our Library
include:
May 2003: Guest Author to visit grades K - 3;
June 2003 : 4th Grade Publishers' Party
Finally, we are happy to note that our school has recently received a Power Book computer projector which will enable staff and students to receive enhanced computer instruction and Internet training. Mr. Gerson's After School Chess Club and Chess Clinic will also utilize the Power Book to develop chess insruction at the Belle Harbor School as an educational tool in developing higher order thinking skills (Standard M8: Long term mathematical project).
Under the graceful guidance of Gym Instructor Dianna Zwirn, P.S. 114Q has recently implemented an after-school "Dance Club", for interested P.S. 114Q students....Talent abounds!
The enthusiastic Dance Club members learn jazz and ballet techniques, while incorporating elements of choreography. Club members then improvise, using their individual talents and ideas to perform their own "piece"!
Parents and siblings will be invited to to view a "Grand Finale", featuring individually - produced showcased dances!