"YOUR Youth and Family Resource "
Supporting Our Children & Strengthening Our Community
Volume 7- Issue 2 - April/May Double Issue
News & Updates: "Spring Has Sprung"
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**Attention: ALL Township School Districts**
 PLEASE submit information regarding YOUR school's upcoming, town-wide programs for us to help promote.
Town of Smithtown
Global Youth Service Day 2019
A Day of Service at Sweetbriar Nature Center - April 13th

Check Out Video Highlights Below....Unbelievable!!!
Town of Smithtown's Global Youth Service Day 2019 was a tremendous success, thanks to over 70 Youth Bureau volunteers who donated their time to beautify Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown! 

The rain didn't slow down our volunteers on April 13th! Some volunteers spent the morning raking and putting down new mulch and flowers at the entrance of the center. Other volunteers spent their time spreading new gravel on the path and inside the Butterfly House.  Additional volunteers spent time painting Kindness Rocks and sorting-decorating Easter eggs for the Sweetbriar Nature Center's Spring festival on April 20th.

The Smithtown Youth Bureau would especially like to thank the Varsity and Junior Varsity baseball teams from Smithtown High School West - they were instrumental in this Spring cleanup! Also, a big thank you to Town Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo and Suffolk County Legislator, Robert Trotta - who both spent time supporting our volunteers.

Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world!!! The Smithtown Youth Bureau is happy to be an official Global Youth Service Day Partner for 2019 (our 10th GYSD town-wide event).

There were 95 countries participating this year, with 50 events scheduled in the United States...
...Town of Smithtown being one of them.

Thanks to all who participated, putting Town of Smithtown on the World-Wide Map of 2019 GYSD events.

***Check out the video trailer for the official Town GYSD video to come...


*** Official Town of Smithtown GYSD video coming SOON!!!
Youth Bureau Celebrating National Library Week at RJO Intermediate School
Save the Date! Don't Miss It!!
Summer Bash and Pool Party - July 15th 2019

Our Annual Summer Family Favorite!

Watch Your Emails For Registration Notification...
This Program Will Fill FAST !!!
**Attention Parents: It's Gonna Be a GREAT SUMMER!!!

Keep a look-out for notification of REGISTRATION for OTHER

Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau SUMMER Programs!!!

Upcoming Programs include THREE "transition" programs:

College Preparation Boot Camp - Strategies to make the most out of your college experience
Date to be set. Weekday evening 6:00PM - 7:30PM - Smithtown Library System (Branch to be announced)
Some of the topics include:
  • Tips and suggestions on how to safely connect with NEW people in this different environment
  • Campus safety and regulations
  • Campus departments and services to know about
  • Etc.
 
Let’s Get Ready for Middle School - Organizational Skills Program for MS students
Date to be set. Weekday evening 6:00PM - 7:30PM - Smithtown Library System (Branch to be announced)
Program includes games and activities for students to learn the importance of organization and time management.
Attention will be on learning the skills needed to become better at organizing their time and their belongings.
Some of the topics Include:
  • Time management strategies and how to incorporate them into your daily life
  • Using lockers and student agendas efficiently
  • Organizing your work space
  • Etc.


Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten - For parents of children entering kindergarten
Date/Time to be set. - Smithtown Library System (Branch to be announced)
Helpful tips and strategies to make your child's entrance into kindergarten as successful as possible, and LEAST stressful for them AND
for parents and guardians!
Some of the topics Include:
  • Creating routines and following directions
  • Encouraging resilience, problem-solving and coping skills
  • Parent challenges and concerns
  • Etc.


Plus... The Return of our social skills program...

Understanding Feelings & Friendships - Based on the Second Step Curriculum for elementary age.
Date to be set - To be held at the Horizons Center Community Room - Horizons Center, 161 E. Main Street, Smithtown
Fosters respect; acceptance; active listening and conflict resolution.
Register your elementary age child for a fun, engaging series where they can:
  • Explore their emotions
  • Better understand interactions with others
  • Learn how to develop healthy friendships


Other programs as well. Keep checking your emails for registration!
Student Leadership Highlights!
The Youth Bureau is available to support the efforts of student leadership and community service groups.

Schools...Let Us Know How the Youth Bureau Can Support
YOUR Student Leaders!


Town of Smithtown is here to assist with your group's
student-led, service projects!!!

Youth Bureau Annual Partnership for
Leadership Education- This year...
"Empathy"

RISE Program at Smithtown High School East...
Annual Rotating RISE event for Interact Clubs
held at Smithtown HS East this year!

The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau presented “The Empathy Connection” to Interact Club students from various school districts at the 2019 RISE event held at Smithtown High School East.
The Smithtown HS East Interact students and their club adviser, Christina Giangrandi did a fantastic job organizing this event! 

This interactive program focuses on how to C ommunicate with Empathy in order to improve connections with others.

The program can be scheduled for your school.
Contact Karen Aldrich for further information: kaldrich@smithtownny.gov
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S mithtown HS East Interact Club, RISE event participants, and the Youth Bureau's Empathy Connection workshop. Several sessions were provided that day.
The Youth Bureau has been helping to mentor members of the Smithtown DECA Club, getting them ready for their annual competitions and will be sponsoring students for their annual etiquette dinner .
The Youth Bureau was invited to speak with the Hauppauge High School Interact Club about leadership and community service opportunities and how we can support their projects.
We look forward to working with them and supporting their activities!!!

Student Leaders in Action...
Kings Park Interact Club
Recently, the Youth Bureau was on hand to assist the KP Interact Club with their luncheon/swearing in of club officers by sponsoring group, Commack-Kings Park Rotary; and at the club's recent student leadership event .  

The Commack-Kings Park Rotary donated dictionaries to third graders in Kings Park and Commack Schools -
KP Interact students personally prepared each of hundreds of dictionaries with Rotary stamps and stickers!

Thank you Susan Portnoy, KP Interact Club Adviser and all student members for welcoming YB staff.

It's a pleasure working with you!

Babysitting Skills
&
Basic Employment
Readiness
Available at ALL Township Middle Schools



Hauppauge Middle School Students enjoyed the Smithtown Youth Bureau's Babysitting Program for four weeks this March. The students enjoyed this hands on program learning about safety, interactive play, and caring for young children. 

Program topics include:
 
  • Hands on experience w/ RealCare Babies
  • New Babysitter Skills
  • How to connect w/ children through play
  • Babysitting safety
  • Finding a Babysitting Job, etc..

For information about bringing this program to your school, please contact:



Middle School
Study Skills
Program Update
Available at ALL Township Middle Schools




Middle School students throughout the Town of Smithtown have been learning valuable Study Skills through the Youth Bureau's three week interactive program!

Program topics include:

  • Note Taking
  • Time Management
  • Stress Reduction
  • Test Taking Tips
  • Etc

Study Skills will be available again in the Fall.

For information about bringing this program to your school, please contact:

Safe Routes To School Program
(S.R.T.S)

Youth Bureau SRTS Program and Commack High School S.A.D.D. Students attend
Red Watch Band Training at Stony Brook University

Saturday, May 4, 2019
HS And MS Student Volunteers Needed
Smithtown Historical Society Spring Farm Festival
(Noon - 4:00 PM)
With...
"Little Fish" Scuppet Show (Large Scale Sculpted Puppets!)
@Brush Barn: 1:00PM and 2:30PM Shows
*Smithtown YB Volunteers will be assisting at the Festival AND Little Fish plays!!!
Smithtown Historical Society Spring Farm Festival
Have Children? Don't Miss It!!!
Saturday , May 4th

Join them as they celebrate everything the farm has to offer!

Children's Games - Crafts - Pony Rides - Petting Zoo - Sheep Shearing

Skills Demonstrations Including:
Spinning and Weaving - Woodworking - Pottery - Wool Dyeing

Historic Barn & Carriage House open to view

Adults $5 Children $3

239 Middle Country Road, Smithtown
631-265-6768

HS AND MS Student Volunteers needed!!!


Volunteer opportunities for HS AND MS students to help present the scuppet show; “Little Fish” at the Smithtown Historical Society on May 4th.
   Community Service Credit Provided!!!
 
***Anyone wishing to actually participate in the scuppet show needs to attend ONE rehearsal, for at least ONE hour.

The rehearsal dates are: April 2nd and April 30 th  4:00PM – 8:00 PM    AND   May 3 rd  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM  at the Smithtown Historical Society Brush Barn.

Volunteer Positions include:
  • Six (6) Middle School students for presentation assistance and to serve as ushers

  • Six to Fifteen (6-15) High School Students for presentation assistance and have minor lines/participation in the show
 
The story of Little Fish is through the eyes of the fish suffering from nitrogen pollution living in Millers Pond. The performance incorporates large scale sculpted puppets (scuppets) of each species of fish , asking nitrogen to go on a diet for the health of the pond.   The fish , along with nitrogen take their quarrel to the Millers Pond elders.

Susan Buroker , a local art teacher and artist will directing this production.    Please email the her with the volunteer position you are interested in. First come first served. Limited openings. Register Immediately!

  Susan Buroker:   sburoker@optonline.net    Provide her with the following information…
  • Your full name
  • Contact email
  • School & Grade
  • Volunteer Position you are interested in


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Want to March in a MEMORIAL DAY PARADE???
Volunteers Young & Old(er) are invited to march in the Smithtown Memorial Day Parade:
Monday, May 27 th
 
Group meeting place will be  at the Old Dairy Barn on Singer Lane, Smithtown at 11:30 AM.
Parade will start at Noon. We will be walking with the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau Banner down Main Street in Smithtown. A community Service certificate will be provided. 

 Please register by  May 13 th by email: Stacey Sanders ssanders@smithtownny.gov

Provide the following information…
Your full name
Contact email
School & Grade

Did You Know There Are...
Eight Dimensions of Wellness!!!
Highlight of the month: EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
     Emotional Wellness involves the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges, cope with life’s stressers and enjoy life. This includes knowing our strengths as well as what we want to get better at, by ourselves and with the help of others. The objective of this session is to learn coping strategies, such as yoga and meditation as a way to deal with emotions, stress and anxiety.
     Progressive Muscle Relaxation is one of the activities that can be used as a coping strategy when someone is feeling stress or anxiety. For this type of relaxation a script is read and followed by the participants to tighten and then relax all the muscles in the body, starting at the feet and working your way up to the face.  Click link:

Overall wellness is being in good physical and mental health.  There are eight aspects or dimensions of ourselves that we can work on to improve our wellness. Each component is interrelated so that by improving one area, in turn the other areas of our lives improve as well.  For example developing our physical health impacts our emotional and social health.

This program focuses on how to develop each dimension, with the goal being to improve ourselves, one dimension at a time... to develop wellness of our whole self.

For information about possibly bringing this program to your school, please contact:

Janine Marc-Anthony in the Youth Bureau: jmarc-anthony@smithtownny.gov

Or Kelly DeVito in Horizons Counseling & Education Center: kdevito@smithtownny.gov
Recent "Sticker Shock" volunteers.
Project sponsored by the Town of Smithtown's...
Horizons Counseling & Education Center; Youth Bureau, and the Town's
Youth and Community Alliance
(Article in this issue...)
News from Town of Smithtown
Horizons Counseling and Education Center
This past March local teens in the community had the opportunity to participate in two events that focused on preventing underage drinking.
The first event, a Pizza Box Top Project , was held on March 8, 2019. The project was done in collaboration with Main Street Pizza in Kings Park, MeMa’s in Commack; Mamma Sabaro’s in Hauppauge; and Buona Sera in Smithtown .

-Approximately 1,900 stickers were adhered to carry out bags from the pizza parlors.
The second event, a " Sticker Shock was completed on March 15, 2019 at Bullyeye Beverage in Smithtown See photo in this issue of volunteers in action!.

-Teens placed 1,600 stickers on cases of beer.
The prevention messaging stickers are traffic light stickers that stand out on the carry out bags and beer cases for all to see, and provide a strong reminder that... - “Your actions matter! Preventing underage drinking is everyone’s responsibility.”

The goal of these student projects is to bring attention to the issue of underage drinking and the adults who provide alcohol to minors.
Issues with Substance Use/Abuse?
There is Help Available...

The Town of Smithtown
Horizons Counseling and Education Center

Individual & Family Support Services

The first step is an assessment.  
The assessment process consists of a series of 2-3 appointments, geared toward the collection off information which will identify the individual's issues, needs, strengths and service recommendations, if applicable.

If the assessment shows that treatment is appropriate, an individualized service schedule will be developed and the process of healing and recovery can begin.

  For details, click here

Adolescent, young adult & adult prevention, treatment, and educational services for drug and alcohol related problems

Horizons Counseling and
Education Center
For further information about these services email:
631-360-7578
Visit the Horizons Web Site to see program details:
Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps!

Join the hundreds of Other Local Youth and Families as registered...

Town of Smithtown Volunteer Corps Members

Apply here to become a Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps member!

Get Early Notification about
Community Service Opportunities
&
Fun Family Programs

Continue reading here for more information.

Does your group/agency
Need Volunteers? 

The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
promotes volunteerism and fosters
positive social and leadership opportunities for youth and families
throughout the township.

The Youth Bureau is interested in partnering with local groups and organizations to promote volunteer opportunities for youth and families in the community.


For more information - click here
Town of Smithtown
Youth Bureau | 631-360-7595

Town of Smithtown Horizons Center
161 E. Main Street, Smithtown NY 11787





The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau offers ongoing town-wide
youth development, prevention and intervention programs
for youth and families


Study Skills - Time Management - Organizational Skills - Anger/Emotional Management
Positive Action - Second Step -Why Try, etc. (Research-based Prevention Programs)
Parent Skills Group (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) - Guiding Good Choices (Parenting young children)
Upstander Revolution: A Bullying/Cyber Bullying presentation - Eight Dimensions of Wellness (SAMHSA)
Healthy Family Communication - Leadership/Youth Empowerment and Community Service Opportunities
Bicycle Safety Rodeos/Road & Biking Safety Programs - Babysitting Skills/Basic Employment Readiness
Mentoring - Intergenerational Programs - Opportunities for Healthy Family Interaction, etc.

Inspire - Learn - Grow  

Visit our Web Site: www.smithtownny.gov/youthbureau 
Friend us on Facebook: Smithtown Youth Bureau Facebook Page  Page  

Important Links...