As
we approach the end of an unprecedented year, I reflect on the past
eight months with a deep sense of gratitude and awe for the unwavering
commitment parents have shown to their
children and New York City. I always say parents are our partners in
everything we do, and at no point has that ever been more true than
throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Each of you has gone above and
beyond during this crisis, and your continued investment
and engagement in our school communities has been vital as we move
forward together.
As
a parent myself, I know how challenging it can be even in normal times
to feel pulled in different directions simultaneously. In this moment,
it seems as though society’s expectations
of parents has increased tenfold—and we need you to know we are here to
support you every step of the way. We are expanding every effort to
lift up and empower parents as our partners for the good of our children
and this city.
In
that spirit, I am proud to announce the launch of Parent University: a
new online platform that offers pre-recorded courses, live events, and
activities to help families connect
and support students at every grade band, in multiple languages.
We
know our families are busier than ever, and this platform is designed
to meet the ongoing needs of parents through a variety of on-demand
resources that harness best practices
across multiple subject areas and grade levels. We invite all families
across the five boroughs to create a free account and register for
workshops, attend events, access trainings, and more through the Parent University website.
There
are currently more than 95 courses offered through the program that
cover a wide range of topics. From reading strategies for students with
disabilities and help multiplying
fractions to learning how to use Google Classroom and preparing for PTA
elections, there is something on Parent University for everyone.
Parent University will also provide even more ways for us to share important
news, updates, and information with families. I am so excited that this
new platform will take our efforts
to communicate vital information to parents and guardians one step
further during this crisis and beyond.
Now
more than ever, it is critically important that we find creative new
ways to lift up our families and strengthen our school communities—and
that’s what Parent University is all
about. This crisis has demanded so much flexibility and patience from
you, and we are here to meet you where you are. Our commitment is to
empower parents as partners throughout the learning journey, and I hope
you will take time to explore the Parent University website, access resources, and register for an upcoming workshop.
The existing Roosevelt Island Southtown Dog run will soon be removed for the construction of Hudson Related's Riverwalk Building 9. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) plans a new replacement dog run to be located in Blackwell Park and opening before the current one is removed this winter.
The original location for the Blackwell Park Dog Run was a spot adjacent to Rivewalk 480 Main Street close to the East Waterfront Promenade. However, RIOC announced during its October 17 Board Meeting plans for a new Blackwell Park Dog Run location next to Roosevelt Landings 510 Main Street, a bit further north and again close to the East River Waterfront Promenade in the area surrounding the current sandbox
During the October 17 RIOC Board Meeting Public Session, former resident and always Roosevelt Island Dog Advocate Scott Piro, together with other Roosevelt Island dog owners and caregivers,
requested that the new Blackwell Park Dog Run be named for his dog Petey. According to Mr. Piro:
... I'd like to introduce you Petey, He is a 10 year old Lab mix. He's also an immigrant, he was rescued from a Tel Aviv kill shelter and immigrated to New York when he was five. He was an Island resident in 2015 until earlier this year. We are requesting that the new Dog Run be named after him - Petey's Dog Run.
The reason why is because I did more community service for the dog population on the island than anyone else I think ever. Now, I didn't do it alone. Mary Cuneen, Steve Noone, Fernando Vargas and there were other people at RIOC who helped me and I had a lot of help in the community some people who are here right now...
Following Mr. Piro's presentation, Roosevelt Island parent Rachel Dowling spoke expressing opposition to the Blackwell Park Dog Run location for safety reasons being so close to areas where children play.
According to an October 18 statement from Ms Dowling:
Once again the community is being blindsided by dog park construction plan that has not been vetted with Roosevelt Island Residents.
After an outcry from local parents about a half-baked plan to place the dog run on a slice of Blackwell Park that abuts the sprinklers and the small children’s playground, Hudson-Related and RIOC has agreed to locate the new dog run closer to the site of where it currently sits.
But somewhere along the line Hudson-Related reneged on that agreement and convinced RIOC to give up some of their land in the northeast corner of Blackwell Park, squeezing a dog park plan in an already congested area abutting the big kids playground, the basketball courts, and the pending bike path.
Last night the RIOC board voted unanimously to push this plan through without any bid from contractors, stating that a vote when they next convene in early December would be too late to complete the work in time for the closure of the current Southtown dog park for the construction of another building.
This is an obvious move to strong arm the community into a plan we don’t agree with or feel comfortable with.
We are concerned about the obvious safety issues posed by a dog park at the children’s playground. Active children and dogs don’t always mix. As an example, my ten year old son had a terrifying experience last month at Riverwalk Commons when a dog got off his least and aggressively went after my son. While we were able to distract the dog before he could bite my son, my son was deeply traumatized by this experience. These are not events that we as a community should be inviting. Children have a right to play without fear.
Furthermore, the current plan essentially pens in the whole north end of the park, from the north basketball court to the children’s playground, cutting it off from the promenade, the trees, and the view of the water. It would create a drastic change to a space that is used by many members of the community.
We demand that RIOC suspend this plan and come up with something better. An interim dog park could easily replace the current park while plans are vetted and finalized in a way that takes the needs of the whole community to heart.
A petition drive has been started to oppose a Dog Run in Blackwell Park:
To be delivered to Susan Rosenthal , President of RIOC
We are concerned community members worried about the location for the new dog run next to the basketball courts and the big kids playground (and soon the bike path) at Blackwell Park. We are concerned about safety as well as the loss of open space. We feel that since so much space is being lost due to HR construction the dog park should be placed down there, where it won’t impede the passive enjoyment of the park, kids at play, and where it also is more likely to be maintained.
Roosevelt Island Mom and Dog owner Patty Fallone replied to Ms Dowling during the RIOC Board Public Session:
... I think the dog run can co-exist close to the playground as long as it is done properly.
In response to the Blackwell Park Dog Run opposition, Mr Piro writes:
I scouted the entire southern residential section of the Island in 2017 – and identified a dozen potential locations for a new dog run from which RIOC could choose. More than 50 members of the Island’s most active dog owners voted upon these selections and chose the triangular patch adjacent to 480 Main Street.
The dog community is happy with the current location and design of ‘Petey’s Dog Run,’ but some of us did feel the original spot was superior. Chief among its advantages are that it is flat, shaded and isolated. It’s inaccurate to describe it as ‘abutting’ the small children’s playground, as a recent WIRE story did. There is a paved path dividing the two spots – and at least 10 feet separate the two plots.
Planners of urban parks across the city see no hazards in placing dog runs and children’s playgrounds adjacent one another, as evidenced by existing multi-use parks in Carl Schurz Park (UES) and Riverside Park (UWS). St. Nicholas Park near Harlem positioned the dog run adjacent the barbeque area, and Cooper Park in Brooklyn places dog runs next to multiple sports fields.
There is nothing inherently unsafe about locating a dog run next to a children’s play area. The counterargument may be loud, but it is not rational.
and Roosevelt Island resident Sabrina Hermosilla adds:
I’ve been on the Island since 2006 and am a proud responsible human and animal parent.
As with all experiments in multiculturalism, Roosevelt Island residents often finds ourselves tasked with balancing the various and different needs of many different and equally important groups.
What brought my husband and I to this haven over 13 years ago was this desire to co-exist, this belief that we are better together, and that our unique needs and differences is what makes life here rich and rewarding. Over the past 13 years we have been fortunate to host all of our 11 nieces and nephews and have loved how welcoming this island is to children and families from all walks of life. No place is perfect, but we always felt safe playing with these children outside and showing to them how beautiful diversity can be.
Nine years ago we decided to add a dog to our family and the island truly came alive for us. We had already been on the Island for almost four years, but when we brought Tallula into our lives we met neighbors, people stopped (and stop) us on the street to see her, and we were able to volunteer at the hospital so Tallula could bring her joy to those who needed it most.
What surprised us the most was that while some people have a fear of dogs (which we obviously would avoid) the large majority of people, every age, every language, every social or economic status, were drawn to and loved to get some Tallula love. Having a dog not only helped us join our community and know neighbors (we still meet people who know Tallula whom we have never met!) but I truly believe offered a community good, she makes people smile.
Two years ago we were blessed with a human child of our own. Watching him grow up in a household with animals and learn to respect, show compassion, and responsibility, is truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Animals and children have co-existed in harmony since our earliest times on this Earth, and offer such a rich opportunity for joint growth and enrichment.
Recently, I have been saddened to hear that a small, but vocal, group is using the long-overdue relocation of a dog park to stoke fears of disease, contagion, and violence between dogs and children. There are irresponsible dog parents / guardians who do not pick up their dog’s waste, true. Just as there are irresponsible human parents / guardians who do not manage their children sufficiently, allow them to litter food, plastic, balloons, etc.
However, we on this Island do not make policy, the few times RIOC allows us to have a say, we do not make policy from a position of fear or of the small minority of offenders. No, instead, I hope, we come together as a community that understands there are unique needs, that most children and dogs are well behaved and well cared for, and that both human and dog children deserve space on this ever-growing Island. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of dog parks and children’s parks being co-located, please, Roosevelt Island, let us not fall into the bitter, divisive discourse of these times, but instead find our shared community, and allow the dog park relocation to continue as planned.
I asked RIOC:
... Is RIOC reconsidering placing the dog run in Blackwell Park?
A RIOC Spokesperson replied October 23:
The safety of our residents and park users is always our main objective. We believe the planned improvements for the entire park is a thoughtful, safe design for all user groups and will address the concerns about the location of the dog park voiced at the Board meeting and in the referenced petition.
As indicated in our presentation during the Board meeting, this project is being bid for construction in two phases. The dog park is included in the first phase of work. The second phase includes improvements of the basketball courts, play areas and paths. The second phase is in design now and will be issued for contractor pricing next Spring.
The design for the entire park incorporates industry best practices for dog runs. The dog park is completely fenced and has a series of two self-closing gates to enter. The first gate allows dog users to enter the vestibule with their leased dog. The second gate allows users to enter the pen for either large or small dogs and take the dog off leash upon entering the pen. The pen will be well shaded and is located at the perimeter of the park. There is dense planting outside the fence to provide a visual barrier between dogs and other park users.
All of these elements combined provide a safe experience for children using the park, large dog owners, small dog owners and residents enjoying a walk along the promenade. We realize that design, like art, is subject to personal taste but we try to put forth solutions that appeal to most.
In response to concerns voiced at the Board meeting, we’ve taken another look at the plan and decided to eliminate the vestibule entrance from the park. A revised plan with a single point of access to the vestibule from the promenade will be provided to the contractors. We feel once all of the planned improvements are complete, all of the user groups will be able to safely coexist in Blackwell Park.
RIOC Assistant VP Of Capital Planning & Projects Jonna Carmona-Graf reported to the RIOC Board of Directors and RIOC President Susan Rosenthal during the October 17 Board meeting on plans for the Blackwell Park (Part 1)
According to the Roosevelt Island Parents Network:
Dear Roosevelt Island Parents and Caregivers,
This month we wish to celebrate "Love" in RIPN's free event " Craft with Kids". We would like to welcome you and your little one and encourage them to "Make their very own Greeting card".
Date : 2/16/2019
Time : 10.30 - 11.30 am
Venue : Lounge, 475 Main Street
December 9th Open House Information (Open to all grades)
Garden School is hosting an Open House on Saturday, December 9th from 9:00 to 11:30 AM for all families interested in all grades of the school. No RSVP is necessary, children are welcome and light refreshments will be served.
We encourage families from all grades interested in Garden School’s core program (not UPK/PK For All) to attend a presentation at 9:00 AM on the school and its educational and enrichment programs. You will hear perspectives from school administration, faculty, parents and alumni. A Q & A period will be followed by a tour of the campus and facilities.
December 9th Merit Scholarship Exam Information (Open to grades 5-9)
The same morning as the Open House, we will be offering the annual Merit Scholarship Exam on Saturday, December 9th. The Merit Exam and the scholarships are eligible to both new incoming and current Garden students presently enrolled in grades 5-9 ONLY (entering 6-10 in 2018). Pre-registration either using the online form below or by downloading and faxing the form below is required by December 6th at 4:00 PM.
Garden School, in the independent tradition, affirms the primacy of learning.
We empower every student in our educationally diverse community to meet responsibly the challenges of everyday life by promoting academic achievement, personal development and social involvement.
We further believe that by recognizing each student’s individual identity, Garden School fosters the self-worth necessary to succeed.
A message was posted on the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network last Friday expressing concern that a homeless shelter or halfway house may be opening at Coler Hospital
without the Roosevelt Island community being informed. The message was forwarded to me with request to find out what was going on.
I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal if there was any plan to open a homeless shelter or halfway house at Coler Hospital. Ms. Rosenthal replied:
I reached out to my contact at Coler and was told no such plan exists.
I also asked Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos about the matter. Mr. Kallos said that they are reaching out to the appropriate NYC agencies for more info.
This was the message posted on the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network last Friday:
Dear RI Parents' Network,
We are writing to share information which has come to our attention with you because it may be of interest or concern to you. We have learned that the organization Barrier Free Living, bflnyc.org, will be opening a homeless shelter or halfway house on the premises of Coler Hospital by January 2018, if not earlier. Apparently, this shelter will provide residence and services to a population that may include ex-convicts, and possibly violent and/or sexual offenders, and substance abusers. As far as we know there has been no public information disseminated to our community. However, this is not a mere rumor. We were informed of this by a professional who works with this population and is having his/her position transferred to the new site in January.
We have left messages for the following people and agencies to acquire information about this issue and receive official confirmation:
Barrier Free Living
Coler Hospital
City Council Member Ben Kallos
RIRA President Jeffrey Escobar
RIOC President Susan Rosenthal
NYC Department of Housing
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
As of this writing, we have not received any response. This is particularly disturbing given some of these individuals are our elected officials.
We have also notified the following news agencies and requested that they investigate the issue:
NY Times
NY Post
NY Daily News
NY1 News
The Wire
We hope this information is of value to you and we welcome your involvement in the effort to get to the bottom of this matter.
More info on Barrier Free Living available from this 2014 Mission video
The LIC Post reported on October 2 about Long Island City residents frustration with not being told of a homeless facility being opened in their neighborhood. According to the LIC Post:
... Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D- Long Island City) said she was “outraged and disappointed” upon learning last week that the Best Western at 38-05 Hunters Point Ave. was “yet another hotel in Queens” to become a homeless shelter.
“I do not feel that our community was given adequate notice, nor time to prepare for this development,” Nolan wrote in a Sept. 29 letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio.”My office received no information as to which company will be managing the shelter, nor for how long the shelter will be operating.”
Similarly, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said he was disappointed that his office and the community did not have a say in or knowledge of the decision.
“While we can never demonize the homeless, many of which are children, I share in my community’s frustration of the process by which this decision was made,” Van Bramer said in a statement....
The Roosevelt Island Parents' Network is celebrated the third anniversary of it's RI Moms on the Move program. Saskia Dux shares these photos and reports.
Dear all,
The RI Parents' Network launched its RI Moms on the Move (RI MoM) program three years ago. Congratulations to all! Since June 27, 2014 we met regularly at the Tram kiosk, went for a walk, exercised, had picnics, went to playrooms and enjoyed each others company while watching our children play and grow up together.
Thank you to every mom and dad who participated in these fun gatherings and came to RI MoM despite rain, crying babies, unfinished laundry, sleep-deprivation and other challenges of parenting and life. If you never made it, please join us Thursday! Pregnant moms, moms of children of all ages, daddies and other caregivers are all welcome.
Special Thank you goes to Paulina Mansz, an Island mom of two who started the exercise part three years ago and made us sweat and laugh every week as our fitness coach. She has moved to Washington but thanks to many other volunteers the RI MoM program has been continued! Thank you all for your volunteered time and for bringing so much joy and friendship into our group!
To all: Please join us Thursday, July 06, 2017 for a celebratory picnic on the occasion of a 3 year anniversary of the RI MoM program.
We will meet at 9:30am at the Tram kiosk and go for a walk. Afterwards we will continue with some exercise and the picnic. Please bring a blanket/mat for you and the kids, some toys to share and something to eat and drink.
WE would like to invite you all to our next free "Craft with Kids"series by the RI Parents network on this Saturday 05/13. There are so many ways to show your love to your Mother and they are never enough!!! We are making picture frames from ice cream sticks
and we will be decorating them. Lets have a morning with our toddlers bringing our creativity and love together for the most Special person: "MOTHER " !!
There will be a memorable picture taken to fit inside your frame as well !! You can bring or add your own pictures as well:)) We are inviting all dads too to come along with their little ones and make a last minute surprise for Mothers Day;)
We will invite each family to make an extra frame for Seniors and they will be distributed at the Senior Center during their Mother's Day event.
Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Ben Kallos presented former Roosevelt Island Parents' Network (RIPN) Coordinator and organization founder Eva Bosbach with a NYC Council Citation for her exemplary community service in helping to bring additional Pre-Kindergarten seats to Roosevelt Island.
Council Member Kallos presented the Citation to Ms. Bosbach
Whereas, a great city is only as great as those persons who give exemplary service to their communities, whether through participation in voluntary programs, through unique personal achievement in their professional or other endeavors or simply through a lifetime of good citizenry;
and
Whereas, such service which is truly the lifeblood of the community and the city so often goes unrecognized and unrewarded; now, therefore be it
Resolved, that as duly elected members of the New York City Council, we recognize that in
Eva Bosbach
we have an outstanding citizen, one whom is worthy of the esteem of both community and the great City of New York.
Council Member Kallos recounts the efforts made by Ms. Bosbach and the RIPN to bring greatly needed additional Pre- Kindergarten seats to Roosevelt Island.
In response to receiving the NYC Council Citation, Ms Bosbach responded:
Thank you to all the active parent volunteers, our partner organizations, and our elected officials who in a team effort made the RI Parents' Network so successful! I wish my successors Cecilia Chen and Sangeeta Joseph our full support in further growing our network so we can continue to enjoy this unique community in New York and make it an even better place to live for families and all residents.
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Holiday Craft", a "Family Safety Craft", and the "On Roosevelt Island WE..." Crafts.
Thank you to all who participated in our Valentine's craft on Saturday. The children and family made beautiful heart-shaped cards
for their own family as well as for the Senior Center, which were then hung on heart-shaped chains
to make special decorations for their Valentine's Day and the celebration of Black History Month.
Thanks to Neha and Cecilia for designing and leading the craft, and thanks to Barbara for proposing the project of connecting children and seniors in our community.
There will be two Black History Month Celebrations, Monday Feb. 20th 1-4pm, and Tuesday, Feb. 21st 6:30pm-8:30pm, in the Senior Center. Anyone in the community is welcome to join!
Valentine's days is soon approaching. Please join us in celebrating Valentine's Day at this wonderful monthly craft event with our little ones.
We will be using tissue paper to make collages.
We will let the child use their imagination and make the tissue paper into garlands or cards. These can be also be used for decorating your house, window or front door .
All the supplies are provided and you can take home the finished item.
We will also be making a heart garland for our friends at the Seniors Center to celebrate Black History Month.
Come and spend Saturday morning with your child making some lovely art together.
We still remember the excitement of welcoming the New Year of 2017, but do you know that, another New Year celebration is just around the corner? Jan. 28 is the first day of Lunar New Year, and this year will go as: cock-a-doodle-dooooooo!
Please join us with your children for the next event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network: "Lunar New Year - It's a Rooster!". We will make a small rooster and a Chinese lantern. The craft will take place on Sunday, Jan. 29th, 2017, from 11am-12pm, on RI (location upon RSVP).
If you will not be able to attend but would like to make some craft at home, here's some online resources you can use (our crafts will be designed based on these too):
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "Spring Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Family Safety Craft", a "Holiday Craft" and the "On Roosevelt Island We... Craft".
Thanks to all of you who made our 6th workshop in the Parents for Parents series "Choosing a Kindergarten" possible!
Approximately 30 Roosevelt Island parents attended our Sunday October 23 workshop and 10 parents presented as speakers at the panel discussion and answered questions. The videos of the workshop are now available below.
I would like to thank all our speakers for their time and expertise in presenting about school choices available to Roosevelt Island parents:
Irena Durkovic and Chris Warsing spoke about Roosevelt Island's own PS/IS217 general education and G&T program, Michal Melamed introduced the Gifted and Talented program (G&T) as part of the NYC public school system and also informed parents about the Special Music School and the Charter schools later in the workshop.
Three parents introduced three unzoned school options for Roosevelt Island parents: Pamela Stark the Ella Baker school, Magda Orlicka-So the Tribeca Learning Center, and Jax Schott Midtown West, including information about the Individualized Education Program (IEP), which was supplemented through Nina Lublin in the audience, and through materials sent in by Sarah Birnbaum.
In addition to the G&T program at our local public school PS/IS217, two other district wide G&T programs were introduced: Aiesha Eleusizov presented about PS11 and Arshi Saeed about PS77, the Lower Lab school.
Firuza Mukhamadieva could not be present at the last minute, but she kindly offered to answer your questions via e-mail about the city-wide G&T program at the NEST+m school, the district wide G&T program at PS111, and the Hunter placement for Kindergarten and high school. Adele Ganly for the St. Stephen of Hungary school and Kippi Rai-Spraggon for the Success Academies were also not able to attend in person but kindly offered to answer your questions via e-mail. You can contact me with questions about the city-wide G&T program at PS334, the Anderson school, and also if you would like to get in touch with any of the speakers.
Special thank yous go to Janine Schaefer and Girl Scout Troop 3244 & 3245 for designing our flyer this year, and to Heart Sugiyama, Megumi Shinkawa and Ryan Ashley for videotaping the event so that parents who are interested but were not able to attend can watch it online later.
Thank you all and Happy Halloween weekend!
Eva
Here are the videos of Roosevelt Island Parents' Network 2016 Choosing A Kindergarten workshop courtesy of Heart Sugiyama and Megumi Shinkawa. There are 8 videos of various lengths in the playlist. Individual videos can be seen here.
to the 6th workshop in the free "Parents for Parents" series by the RI Parents' Network, on the topic "Choosing a Kindergarten", this Sunday, October 23rd, 4-6pm. This is a panel from RI parents for and with RI parents about elementary school choices for RI families.
Please RSVP with the full names of everyone attending to eva.bosbach@gmail.com until Thursday, October 20.
This event is hosted by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network, the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation, Main Street Sweets & Eats and the Girls Scouts of Roosevelt Island. Special thank you to Janine Schaefer and Girl Scout Troop 3244 & 3245 for designing our flyer this year!
The RI Parents' Network's RI MoM Yoga is back! Once or twice a month, in addition to our regular RI MoM exercise on Tuesdays (thank you Saskia!) Island mom Maiko Akiba will be teaching free Family Yoga
for the RI Parents' Network. Maiko is a Japanese Yoga teacher certified both for adult and for kids yoga and will be leading the exercise with basic Hatha Yoga suitable for moms with children of all ages. Children of age 3 and older are welcome to participate in the yoga exercises.
The next RI MoM Family Yoga will take place on Thursday, October 20, starting with the walk at 9:30am
and continuing with yoga and play time indoors at 10am. The walk will be kindly lead by Sayuri.
Please RSVP to Maiko at maikoakiaki1119@gmail.com until the night before (October 19) if you would like to join and let her know the age of the children joining. Yoga location provided upon RSVP. Space is limited and in the order of RSVP.
Please bring a Yoga mat or a towel for yourself and a blanket for your child, as well as some toys to keep the little ones busy in the community room. A few pictures from our last yoga gatherings are attached.
We hope everyone had a smooth school start and is getting settled into the daily routines. You and your little (and bigger! :) ones are invited to the next event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network!
"Halloween craft"
will take place on Saturday, October 22nd, 2016, from 10-11 am. Location on RI will be provided upon your RSVP.
The children will be making pumpkins and Dracula heads on paper plates.
Those can be used as window art or as a main door decoration during the Halloween celebrations. The children will create pumpkins with glue and color the paper plates using their imagination to bring a Dracula to life by adding different shapes cutouts. Also we will have masks ready for the children to decorate and take along for dress-up.
Please RSVP by 20 October to: eva.bosbach@gmail.com. Please let us know if you can bring books about Halloween for the story time or for our little kids book shelf during the event.
Neha will be leading our Halloween craft (thank you Neha!). Another thank you goes to Natalia for the design and generous sponsoring of the supplies for the pumpkin craft! Last but not least thank you Cecilia for hosting us.
As always, you have craft event ideas you would like us to include in the "Crafts with Kids" series, or if you have other ideas for activities of the RI Parents' Network or would like to get involved, please get in touch with me.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "Spring Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Holiday Craft" and the "On Roosevelt Island We... Craft".
The next free RI Parents' Network RI Moms on the Move (RI MoM) walk, exercise, chat and play will take place tomorrow, Tuesday October 11 2016, starting at 9:30am at the Tram kiosk.
Join us for some exercise, chat and play!
We will meet at the tram kiosk at 9:30am and go for a walk (weather permitting).
Afterwards (around 10:00 am) we will go indoors and continue with some exercise,
Due to popularity of the event we opened a second bus
Image From Nechama Duchman
so that 28 families with over 90 people in total were able to join for the fall fun.
Image From Nechama Duchman
Here are some pictures from our visit to the Outhouse Orchards farm. Families could enjoy apple picking, hay rides, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze.
Image From Nechama Duchman
A big thank you to Nechama and Rabbi Zalman, of Chabad of Roosevelt Island, for partnering with the RI Parents' Network for this event and inviting all Island families to join! The following feedback received from one family upon return says it all:
"We enjoyed the apple picking trip very much. Thank you so much for letting us all join! Our son turned 1 this Sunday and it was a very special birthday. It was great to escape the city without a car. And we have not seen an American school bus from the inside before. That was really fun. The apples we picked up taste so good. Much better than the ones that one can buy in a shop!"
Image From Nechama Duchman
We look forward to seeing you at our next event! :)
Families with children of all ages are welcome; most probably the most exciting age would be 2+.
Weather permitting we will meet at 9:30am by the bus stop between 425 and 455 Main Street. Bus will be $12 per seat, children under the age of 7 should be on a parent’s lap or in a booster or car seat.
We are going to go to Outhouse Orchards, about 1h 15min from Roosevelt Island. The farm offers apple picking, hay rides and a corn maze. Each family will be responsible for their own cost once we get there.
Image of 2014 Roosevelt Island Apple Picking Trip From Nechama Duchman
Please pack a lunch and snacks; picnic tables will be available for us to sit down and eat.
We should be ready to leave about 1:00-1:15, getting us back to Roosevelt Island before 3:00pm.
Thanks to all who already RSVPed for our Family Apple Picking Trip this Sunday! We have 24 families registered as of now. The seats are filling up and will be on a first come first served basis since we will not be opening another bus.
We hope you are all heaving a lovely summer! You are invited to another event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network.
Join us for "Back to School Craft" on Saturday, September 3rd, 10:00-11:00 am. We will confirm the venue upon your RSVP.
It is back to school time and all our kids are super excited to be back in school. It is the first time for many of our little ones and their moms and dads. This month craft is all fun and learning. The kids get to create their own school bus and take it home! We will have bus shapes, squares and circles cut outs, as well as scissors and crayons ready.
Toddlers can use our pre-cut bus shapes, older children can cut out the bus by themselves and decide on the length and exact shape of it. Children can add their own faces and their friends' faces as well. They can add the name of their school and decorate the bus if they wish. Let's make our school bus colorful and fun! Let's help our little ones have a smooth and safe ride to school :).
Neha will be leading our Back to school craft, designed and generously sponsored with supplies by Natalia. Thank you Neha and Natalia! Another thank you goes to Cecilia for hosting us.
If you have craft event ideas you would like us to include in the "Crafts with Kids" series, or if you have other ideas for activities of the RI Parents' Network or would like to get involved, please get in touch with me.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Cecilia, Natalia, Neha and Eva
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "Black History Month Craft", "Spring Craft", "St. Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft", a "Holiday Craft" and the "On Roosevelt Island We... Craft".
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
