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Fewer screens, more smiles we were already seeing about how distracting devices can be, not just for students, but Six months after Gov. Kathy for adults, too.” Mitchell said that OceansHochul’s “bell-to-bell” phonefree schools law took effect ide began preparing students statewide, administrators and months before the policy took mental health professionals at ef fect, holding g rade-level Oceanside High School say the meetings last June to explain change is reshaping student expectations and address concerns ahead of the life in ways that go new school year. far beyond academUnder the policy, ics. students are T h e l aw b a n s required to store student use of phones in their smartphones and lockers during the other personal academic day. The i n t e r n e t - e n abl e d ban also applies to devices throughout smartwatches, earthe school day in buds and similar public and charter devices. s ch o o l s. D ev i c e s While some must be stored teachers previousfrom the opening ly e x p e r i m e n t e d bell to dismissal, with phone pouchwith limited excepes or classroomtions for students specific rules, with medical Mitchell said the needs, individualized education pro- BRENDON MITCHELL statewide mandate brought consisteng rams and emer- Principal, Oceanside cy. “Before, it was gencies. High School almost a ‘choose At Oceanside your own advenHigh, Principal Brendon Mitchell said the ture’ depending on the classtransition has been smoother room,” he said. “Now the than many initially expected expectations are uniform, and — and the benefits are increas- that consistency has been really helpful for both staff and ingly visible. “This is bigger than us — students.” Changes are evident not this is New York state law,” Mitchell said. “But it aligned o n l y i n c l a s s r o o m s , b u t very closely with the research CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
By ABIGAIL GRIECO
agrieco@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Island Park Public Schools
They’re big on responsibility Kindergarten students at Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School, in Island Park, were honored at a school assembly for demonstrating the character trait of responsibility. The honorees — from left, Noah Sullivan, Giovanna DiPiano, Joseph Field, Milani Paulino, Sunny Bergen and Carmine Simeone — were among two students selected from each class to receive the monthly character trait award, which recognizes qualities including respect, compassion, honesty, loyalty — and this month, responsibility.
The topic was women’s heart health By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Wearing red and armed with blood pressure cuffs, health professionals at Mount Sinai South Nassau marked last Friday with a Go Red Day celebration aimed at raising awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States. The event, held in the hospital’s atrium, brought doctors, nurses and community educators together to spotlight prevention, early detection and the oftenoverlooked ways in which heart disease affects women differently than men. Free blood pressure screenings and educational demonstrations were offered throughout the morning.
“Heart disease is still not on most women’s radar,” said Dr. Pilar Stevens-Haynes, the hospital’s director of noninvasive cardiology and board president of the American Heart Association on Long Island. “Women tend to fear breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, but cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of women.” According to the American Heart Association, one of every three women who die each year succumbs to heart disease, compared with one of every 31 who dies from breast cancer. Since 1984, more women than men have died annually from heart disease, and 90 percent of women have at least one risk factor. Stevens-Haynes emphasized the importance of knowing personal health numbers — particularly blood pressure — and understanding that women’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
nstead of eyes down on a screen, they’re connecting. By disconnecting from devices, we’ve actually become more connected as a school.