Dear parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists,

Welcome to a new and exciting school year! I'm excited to continue work with you this year supporting Staten Island schools.

Remember to register for the UFT Staten Island parent conference. It promises to be a wonderful day for Staten Island parents to network, learn about everything from bullying to stress management, and find valuable community resources.

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
• Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Location: New Dorp High School, 465 New Dorp Lane on Staten Island. Directions »

Register now »

There will be workshops, food, and the chance to network with fellow parents, guardians, grandparents and education activists. You can download and distribute the brochure in English or in Spanish. This is a free event, and we're asking attendees to bring a shelf-stable food item to donate to Project Hospitality.

Check out more upcoming events and news you can use below.

Sincerely,

Joan McKeever-Thomas
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Wednesday, Sept. 27: Are you the parent of a child with a disability or health issue? Come to a training for a Support Parent Program and learn how you can help other parents dealing with similar challenges. The training will be at 10 a.m. at 1050 Forest Hill Road on Staten Island. To RSVP, email mfegeley@ptopnys.org. See the flier »

• Wednesday, Sept. 27: The Jewish Board invites you to a workshop about financial literacy for parents of children with disabilities from 10 a.m. to noon at 1765 South Ave. on Staten Island. For more information or to RSVP, call 718-698-5307.

• Friday, Sept. 29: Come to a Planned Parenthood mobile medical unit between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 10 Richmond Terrace on Staten Island for screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections including HIV, birth control, cancer screenings, health insurance enrollment and more. These services are available to all, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status. See the flier »

• Thursday, Oct. 5: Parent to Parent of New York State invites parents of children with developmental disabilities to a workshop on the Medicaid Waiver Program from 10 a.m. to noon at 1050 Forest Hill Road on Staten Island. This program offers benefits to children with developmental disabilities below the age of 18 based on diagnosis, not income. Registration is required. To RSVP, call 718-494–3462 or email jluppino@ptopnys.org. See the flier »

• Friday, Oct. 6: The Jewish Board invites you to a workshop about early childhood literacy for parents from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1765 South Ave. on Staten Island. For more information or to RSVP, call 718-698-5307.

• Tuesday, Oct. 17: Come to a parenting workshop about talking to your child about unhealthy relationships from 10 a.m. to noon at 126 Stuyvesant Place on Staten Island. Experts from the Joe Torre Foundation will provide practical tips and information for parents to help their children avoid and leave abusive relationships. For more information and to RSVP, email Janeira Bencosme-Gil at janeirab@fjcnyc.org.

• Friday, Oct. 27: The Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council will hold a family resource and transition fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd., Building 1P. Meet with representatives from local agencies that provide services for children, teens and adults. And, attend workshops about finding services for your child. Breakfast will be served, and childcare will be available. For more information, call 718-983-5276 or email contactsiddc@siddc.org. See the flier »

News you can use

• Take a free early childhood parenting class on Staten Island: The Jewish Board will offer free Circle of Security parenting classes geared toward parents of children under the age of 5. These classes are designed to help parents understand and support their children's emotional needs in early childhood. The class will run on Thursdays from Oct. 12 to Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at Osgood Head Start, 16 Osgood Ave. on Staten Island. It will also be offered on Mondays from Jan. 8 to March 5, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. George Library, 5 Central Ave. on Staten Island. To register, call 718-698-5307, ext. 501287, or email jmorales@jbfcs.org. For more information, see the flier in English or in Spanish.

• Youth groups at the Jewish Board Family Services Center: The Jewish Board invites boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 12 to join youth groups that meet weekly to build friendships and empowerment. Both groups enjoy free activities like crafts and bowling for the boys, and art and shopping for the girls. There is also a group for young men between the ages of 13 and 26 to learn career skills like resume building and leadership. To find out more, call 718-698-5307. Or, see the fliers for the boys groups and the girls group.

• Free anger-management classes for parents on Staten Island: Enroll in free anger-management classes to be held on Mondays from noon to 2 p.m. from Nov. 6 to 27. The classes are free for Staten Island parents and include MetroCards and refreshments. They will be held at Mariner's Harbor Library, 206 South Ave. To register, email institute@fotmnyc.org. See the flier »

• Get early childhood support on Staten Island: The Early Childhood Direction Center at Staten Island University Hospital offers education, resources and events for parents of young children. Check out the center's September newsletter »

• Respite groups for children and adults with disabilities: Person Centered Care Services holds respite groups for people with developmental disabilities to connect, socialize and support each other. There are four groups, separated out by age, starting at age 4 and continuing up to ages 21 and over. The groups are held at 150 Granite Ave. on Staten Island. For more information, contact Casandra Molina at cmolina@pccsny.org. See the flier »