Here's another idea from across the road

[Chris_Wendt]

On Friday I took the day off and joined a throng of seniors at the Seaford Manor school. We enjoyed refreshments provided by the PTA and entertainment performed by the students. Then we visited classrooms where we did crafts and other activities with our grandkids.

I don't want to over-estimate the crowd, but I had to park two blocks away from the school, and the GP Room was standing-room only. There were quite a few grandparents with Wantagh decals on their cars.

I posted this here, in this section, as it relates very much to communications, and getting a budget passed, which Seaford managed to do this year, despite organized opposition.

You know Seaford, where they still have Full-day Kindergarten...
...despite a year on austerity?

Yeah, THAT Seaford!

Chris Wendt

[lilly]

Jun 4, 2012 11:57:44 GMT -5 Chris_Wendt said:

You know Seaford, where they still have Full-day Kindergarten...
...despite a year on austerity?

lolol

Won't see that in Wantagh... just press articles in the patch about sports teams.

[lynch]

Overcoming Jealousy - A Daily Challenge
Overcoming jealousy is easier said than done! Whether it is a conscious word or a thought in the back-of-your-mind, jealousy is something we all struggle with daily. Sometimes those little thoughts that creep into our minds don't seem like jealousy… but are they?

"It's not fair that Steve gets more vacation time than I do."
"Kelly's children are so well behaved. I wish mine were obedient, so I'd look like a better parent."
"Derek just got a new SUV. I wish I could have one!"
"Meredith got that promotion at work when I deserved it!"
"Daren's biceps are perfect. I'm going to work out until mine look just like his."

What is jealousy? According to Webster, the word jealous means "resentful and envious, as of someone's success, achievements, advantages…"

[Chris_Wendt]

Mr/Ms Lynch, respectfully, I am not sure I understand the connection between jealousy, overcoming jealousy, and the Seniors' Day in Seaford.

In my working career, in the private sector, a high value is placed on "best practices"...investigating them, sharing them, and further developing and further sharing those results. This is one key reason real corporations have Boards of Directors whose members are from other corporations and who can illuminate for management the best practices of other companies and other industries for consideration and adoption, and vice-versa.

It seems to me that often in the public sector (meaning schools) best practices generate jealousy cleverly masked under "Not Invented Here" syndrome and justified by:

• "We don't need that, here..."
  
• "We can't afford to do that, here..."
  
• "We don't have time for that sort of thing, here..."

Seaford is certainly not the be-all and end-all of public school districts. However, Seaford has a few programs worthy of consideration for adoption in Wantagh, and possibly even for articulation between Wantagh and Seaford.

92% of kindergartners in NY State attend full-day kindergarten. That 92% includes 100% of the kindergartners in Seaford and ZERO percent of the kindergartners in Wantagh. Wantagh parents should be highly jealous of Seaford (and of most of the rest of the elementary schools in our state) about that, and should demand that the Wantagh Board of Education do something to overcome that jealousy, i.e. institute full-day kindergarten, here.

Seaford's Seniors Day (a/k/a Grandparents Day) is just a real good idea which I chose the share, here, but not to generate envy or jealousy. I and other Wantagh grandparents have grandchildren in Seaford, and enjoyed the day very much. Whether or not Wantagh does this will not impact me at all. It may help sell some future Wantagh budget, when some selling is needed.

Seaford's (Elementary) History Club and their Revolutionary War encampment is a standout program, and should generate professional envy if nothing else, here in Wantagh. However, attending to that would be the responsibility of the Social Studies Department Chair and at least one of the Elementary principals and his/her PTA.

I was not joking when I talked about the future possibility of Wantagh and Seaford collaborating on a re-enactment or encampment, with kids from different buildings representing different components of the Revolution, such as the British, the Colonists, the French allies, and the Hessian mercenaries. But that is just my vision, and I am not the Social Studies Chair, or a building principal, or, a PTA member any more.

I am not writing out of jealousy. My grandchildren are getting a great education over in Seaford. I wanted to share some ideas and programs from Seaford that could possibly better the experiences of someone else's grandchildren, here in Wantagh. But it certainly ain't up to me to make it happen.

Got jealousy?

Thanks for writing what you did, 'Lynch'. You got my attention, in a good way.

Chris Wendt

[lynch]

Won't see that in Wantagh... just press articles in the patch about sports teams.[/quote]

Mr. Wendt
This is the comment that I was referring to. My apologizes for not being clearer.There is a need not just a want for full day kindergarten and I get that. What I dont get is the constant jealousy over what the sport kids are doing. Whether it is awards that our kids are given that people do not want to see or articles in the paper. These kids work very hard and it is not east to juggle everything they do and keep up with their grades. A response like that gives a perception to the reader that oh woe is me.I cant have what I want so why should anyone else. It wasn't meant for what you wrote just the response.

[Chris_Wendt]

Thanks for your reply. I come from the era of the "letterman's sweater" and I would not be the person I am today without the many and serious benefits of high school sports.

As with many things in life, when resources, especially money, are tight, there is 'competition' for those resources, and in Wantagh, that competition or stress is often between 'sports' and 'arts' and/or 'music'. It is certainly appropriate for parent and other community advocates of art and music to jealously pursue a larger share of the available money resources. They would not be very effective advocates if they were not passionate and outspoken on behalf of their cause(s).

It is important to remember that the beneficiaries of those advocates' jealous pursuit of funding and programming in art and music are also the children of our school district.

Best,

Chris Wendt

[wantagh90]

To All -
Forest Lake has a VIP Day (used to be called Grandparent Day) and the VIPs are entertained and each class has refreshments (Class Mom's are the PTA) and some classes do an arts & crafts project, too.
Forest Lake is a Feeling - Glad to see one of our schools has such a wonderful program.

[lilly]

I find the charge of jealousy, rude and over the top - it's just inappropriate. And, I only know of one person who posts on this board that continually accuses Wantagh people of being selfish, out for their own, etc. (and now jealous?) yet can't find the cajones to do so in person. Maybe that person has reincarnated herself into "lynch". Hopefully, the moderators will investigate.

For the record, nowhere did I attack sports kids. I would never, ever attack ANY type of kid.

You really just need to look on the patch or in the Citizen to see Wantagh's press coverage. Often, the focus is on sports. Talk in the town that Wantagh is all about the sports isn't exactly new news either, that has been going on for years. Wantagh does have a strong heritage in sports. The BOE recently broke another strong Wantagh heritage of providing for all types of kids. Budgets, BOE decisions and broken promises back those statements up.

And yes, to add insult to injury, the BOE doubled the PR budget against an overwhelming majority vote by the BAC not to do so. BAC votes usually run the way of put the $ in things that directly affect the kids, not BS fluff.

Should lynch/whomever you are not like what I say, you have two choices 1) IGNORE or 2) take it up with the BOE where the blame & glory rest. But don't take it out of context, vilify or twist things around into something it is not.

As for FL's grandparents' day, that's another good idea which should be shared amongst the 3 elementary schools. I've always thought the kids & community would benefit from more info sharing between the administrators, whether that be curriculum, best practices, etc.

[lynch]

I thought this board was for opinions thoughts etc. so why have the administrators check out posts every time there are any differences in opinions. not rude just reading some posts like sick of seeing sports kids getting their awards ect. It gives the perception that there is much jealousy.I actually have no problem saying anything in public but the comments are always posted here My child is a sports child and i take it personally.always advocate for your child but leave other kids out
of it. Just my opinion you are entitled to yours as I am mine
Also I have been a Lynch my entire life.

[Chris_Wendt]

Wantagh90 advised:
"Forest Lake has a VIP Day (used to be called Grandparent Day) and the VIPs are entertained and each class has refreshments (Class Mom's are the PTA) and some classes do an arts & crafts project, too.
Forest Lake is a Feeling - Glad to see one of our schools has such a wonderful program."

I am glad to hear this, also.

However, this further begs the question, what about Wantagh El' and Mandalay? Can anyone provide additional info? Or how about the High School and MS? (I know that the HS has an inter-generational dinner/dance which is also a terrific annual event).

Thanks for the response!

Chris Wendt