Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are enjoying a great start to 2017.

Check out the events and news you can use below.

Sincerely,

Joan McKeever-Thomas
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Saturday, Jan. 21: There will be a free concert and film screening presented by the Stop Bullying Project at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Family Life Center, 59 Wright St., on Staten Island. There also will be food and speakers. For more information, see the flier »

• Tuesday, Jan. 24: Come to a workshop about how to advocate for your child with disabilities at 1050 Forest Hill Road on Staten Island from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about communication skills, the special education system and your rights as a parent. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by emailing SIPTP@aol.com. See the flier »

• Wednesday, Jan. 25: The Department of Education will host a Pre-K for All community event from 3 to 5 p.m. at 1000 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island. Learn about the pre-K application process, which is open now for children born in 2013. You also can meet representatives from district schools on Staten Island. See the flier in English and Spanish »

• Tuesday, Jan. 31: You're invited to a free workshop about repairing your credit from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the St. George Library, 5 Central Ave., on Staten Island. This is a free event. There will be door prizes and refreshments. It is the first in a series of financial literacy workshops that will be held each month this spring. See the flier »

• Wednesday, Feb. 1: Come to a workshop for parents of children with disabilities called "Communicating Without Words" from 10 a.m. to noon at 281 Port Richmond Ave. on Staten Island. During the workshop, you will create visual supports to help children understand and follow routines. To register, email familyconnect@ucpnyc.org.

News you can use

• Pre-K applications are open: Pre-K applications for the 2017-18 school year are open until Feb. 24. To learn more and apply, visit the admissions website »

• Free career training and job placement program for young adults on Staten Island: If you are between the ages of 18 and 24, live on Staten Island's North Shore and have a high school diploma, you are eligible for READY, a free continuing education program offered by the City University of New York's College of Staten Island. The program includes job training for positions like pharmacy technician and computer technician, internships and job placement assistance. Find out more »

• Paid mentoring program for New york City Housing Authority residents in Stapleton: If you are between the ages of 16 and 24 and live in the Stapleton Houses, you're eligible to join Next Steps, a mentoring program with benefits like Metro cards, day trips, stipends and more. See the flier »

• Free anger management classes for parents on Staten Island: Enroll in free anger management classes to be held on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Feb. 10 to April 7. The classes are free for Staten Island parents and include Metro cards and refreshments. They will be held at 358 St. Marks Place. To register, email institute@fotmnyc.org. See the flier »

• Free parenting class on Staten Island: Enroll in free parenting classes to learn about supporting your child, encouraging healthy lifestyles, bereavement and more. The classes are free and include Metro cards and refreshments. They will be held on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 8 to May 3, at 255 Westwood Ave. To register, email institute@fotmnyc.org. See the flier »
  
  The same parenting classes also will be offered on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. at 230 Broad St. from Feb. 6 to May 1. See the flier for Monday classes »

• Camp at the Intrepid Museum for children with developmental disabilities: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan offers a weeklong camp for children with developmental disabilities, including autism, for one session in the spring and two sessions in the summer. The deadline for the spring session, which runs from April 10 to 14, is Jan. 31. The cost of this program, including all materials and snacks, is $50. For more information, see the flier »

• Affordable mental health care for children on Staten Island: New York City's Early Childhood Mental Health Network provides mental health services in English, Spanish and other languages to children up to the age of 5 and their families. The Staten Island clinics accept Medicaid and other insurance and will work with all families to ensure access to services. See the flier »