The Heart of the Three Village Community
Posts Tagged ‘Teens’
Welcome to the Teens & Tweens Department!
Starting June 1, we are welcoming 6th graders into our new Teens & Tweens Department!
We have a program for tweens and teens to get acquainted with the department, learn about the library, and receive community service credit for attending! This includes exploring Teen & Tween spaces in the library, programming (community service and “just for fun”), reading challenges, volunteering, and more. We’ll also be asking the Teens & Tweens what they’d like to see us offer.
This class is designed for incoming 6th and 7th Graders, but all who are going into Grades 6 – 12 in the fall are welcome.
There are 3 options:
Sunday, June 1, 2025, 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Click here to register.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Click here to register.
Monday, June 30, 2025, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Click here to register.
Questions? Email teens@emmaclark.org
Grief Programs for the Community
For Parents
Talking About Tragedy and Coping with Grief for Parents
Presented by the Response Crisis Center of LI
Tuesday, February 25, 2025. 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Learn age-appropriate ways to talk about personal, communal, and global tragedy with children and teens, while also holding space for your own emotions.
This workshop will include:
- Cross-cultural bereavement practices
- Common cliches
- Damaging terminology
- Societal impact of tragedy on a community
Includes a Q&A. Plus, the Library’s SBU Social Work Intern Stephanie Szabo will assist and speak with attendees during and after the program.
For Teens (Grades 7 – 12)
Contending with Grief
Presented by the Response Crisis Center of LI
Saturday, March 1, 2025. 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Learn how to cope with personal, communal, and global tragedies, including:
- Ways grief manifests and how it can change over time under different circumstances
- How to hold space for yourself as you grieve
- How to interact with peers who are mourning
- How community-wide tragedies can impact people in all different ways.
Includes a Q&A. Plus, the Library’s SBU Social Work Intern Stephanie Szabo will be available to assist and speak with attendees during and after the program.
Click here to register. Open to Grades 7 – 12. Teens will earn community service credit for attending.
***If you would like to speak with the Library’s SBU Social Work Intern on another day, please click here for more information.
Winners Announced for the 10 Year Anniversary of the Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest
Setauket, NY – March 7, 2024 –
It’s been a decade of delightful talent and creativity! Emma Clark Library and the family of the late Helen Stein Shack have been showcasing junior high and high school students in our Three Village community since 2015 through an annual contest. The Library has recently revealed the winners of the 10th annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest:
First Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Danny’s Birthday by Elizabeth Wright (9th grader at Gelinas Junior High School)
First Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Billy the Unusual Giraffe by Julia Hou (10th grader at Ward Melville High School)
Second Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Our Trip to Estonia by Juni Een (Homeschooled 8th grader)
Second Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Sleepless Saturday by Claire Sloniewsky and Justine Bushman (both 11th graders at Ward Melville High School)
Each of the winning entries has their own unique artwork and storylines geared towards young children. Danny’s Birthday by Elizabeth Wright is a charming story with bright watercolor and pen drawings of a dog named Danny and all of his friends. Billy the Unusual Giraffe by Julia Hou uses a positive reframing technique, told in a simple manner for children. A giraffe discouraged by his short neck soon realizes all the things he can do with it, rather than its limitations. Our Trip to Estonia by Juni Een teaches children about another country & culture through watercolor and pen illustrations and easy text for children. A collaborative book, Sleepless Saturday by Claire Sloniewsky and Justine Bushman, has delicate drawings and tells the tale of two cats looking for the sun, which has gone missing! Will they find it?
Contest winners will be celebrated at a private awards ceremony on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Each First Prize award recipient will receive a $400 scholarship, and each Second Prize award recipient will receive a $100 scholarship. For those that are a collaborative effort, the prize money will be split between the author and the illustrator. The newly bound books – made into hardcover by the Library – will have the honor of being added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection, and winners will also receive copies of their books to cherish in their own home libraries. Light refreshments will be served at the reception, generously donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop and Level Up Kitchen Library Café. Past ceremonies have had Library Board members, teachers and top school district administrators from Three Village, as well as elected officials from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Town of Brookhaven, all in attendance to honor the winners.
Emma Clark Library is thrilled to celebrate this beloved milestone for the community.
The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens in grades 7 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Each entry could be the work of a single author/illustrator or a collaborative effort of an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.
This award is given in memory of Helen Stein Shack by her family. As a teacher, Mrs. Shack was committed to the education of children, and she especially loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to Emma Clark Library where, even in retirement, she kept current with the latest children’s books. The Library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack who have established a substantial endowment with the Library to cover the cost of the prizes.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
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Annual Library Contest Showcasing Creative Junior High and High School Students in Three Village
Setauket, NY – October 10, 2022 –
Nine years and counting…Emma Clark Library hosts the Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Contest for junior high and high school students, and the annual competition begins this month. Three Village students in grades 7 – 12 are asked to create a picture book for children. The winning teens receive a substantial monetary prize, are recognized at a special ceremony, and have the honor of their original books added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection.
Students in grades 7 – 12 who live in Three Village are invited to showcase their creative artistic and writing talents, whether it be individually or collaboratively with a friend, in creating a children’s picture book by the contest deadline in January. Once the artwork and text are judged, winners are announced in March, and there is a ceremony in the spring honoring the winners and their original books. In addition to Library Trustees and staff, in the past, teachers and top school district administrators, as well as representatives and elected officials from New York State, Suffolk County, and Brookhaven Town, have all been in attendance at the event.
Last year’s Grand Prize winners were Matthew Blumenthal (Grades 7 – 9 category) and Amelia Grant and Anna Grant (Grades 10 – 12 category). The public may view previous year’s winning entries at emmaclark.org/picturebookaward.
Contest Details: The contest is divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group. Each entry can be the work of a single author/illustrator or can be a joint effort between an author and an illustrator. The picture book entries must be their own original work (both artwork and text).
How to Enter: Those in grades 7 – 12 may obtain an Official Entry Form in-person in the Library’s lobby or online at emmaclark.org/picturebookaward starting October 18, 2022. Included with the form are the contest procedures & guidelines. They should bring their completed picture book, along with a completed Official Entry Form, to the Children’s Department by the contest deadline, January 31, 2023.
Prizes and Winner Information: Each of the First Prize award recipients will receive $400, and each of the Second Prize award recipients will receive $100 (in the event that a winning entry is a collaboration, the prize will be shared). Winning entries are bound, made into a hardcover book, and added to the Library’s shelves. Additional copies of the winning books will also be available for purchase by family and friends. Winners and their families will be invited to an awards ceremony on Monday, April 24, 2023. All entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
The Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award is given in memory of Helen Stein Shack by her family. As a teacher, Mrs. Shack was committed to the education of children, and she especially loved literature written for them. She was a frequent visitor to Emma Clark Library where, even in retirement, she kept current with the latest children’s books. The Library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack who have established a substantial endowment with the Library to cover the ongoing cost of the prizes.
Please note: A maximum of one entry will be accepted per individual. Entries may be a collaboration of no more than one author and one artist/illustrator. Entrants must live within the Three Village Central School District. Emma Clark employees, trustees, and members of their household are not eligible to enter. For a complete listing of the rules, visit emmaclark.org/picturebookaward.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
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8th Annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award Ceremony Back In-Person at Library
Setauket, NY – April 13, 2022 –
Emma Clark Library board members & staff, the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, local elected officials, representatives from the Three Village Central School District, and guests from the community gathered on Tuesday evening, April 12th to honor the winners of the eighth annual Helen Stein Shack Picture Book Award:
First Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): Pete the Penguin Goes to the Library by Matthew Blumenthal (9th grader at Murphy Junior High School)
First Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): The Raccoon Jug-Band written by Amelia Grant and illustrated by Anna Grant (Homeschooled 10th and 11th graders)
Second Prize (Grades 7 – 9 category): The Big Carrot by Julia Hou (8th grader at Gelinas Junior High School)
Second Prize (Grades 10 – 12 category): Mareld by Ammella Een (Homeschooled 12th grader)
Library Director Ted Gutmann, along with the family of the late Helen Stein Shack, presented all of the winners’ books – bound and added to the Library’s Local Focus Collection – along with $400 checks to first prize winners Matthew Blumenthal (9th grader at R.C. Murphy Junior High School) and Amelia Grant and Anna Grant (10th and 11th graders who are homeschooled) and $100 checks for second prize winners Julia Hou (8th grader at P.J. Gelinas Junior High School) and Ammella Een (12th grader who is homeschooled). Senator Mario Mattera, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Legislator Kara Hahn, Supervisor Ed Romaine, and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich were all in attendance to present certificates to the winners from New York State, Suffolk County, and Brookhaven Town, respectively.
Many of the speakers discussed the wonderful talent and bright futures of these winners. Assemblyman Steve Englebright remarked, “We get a preview here, actually, of the future. And because young people who dare to dream, and in this case, put those dreams to paper and make it into art and literature, that is the future and it is reassuring.” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine commented, “We have some authors here this evening who are young in age, but wise in experience.”
Library Board President Deborah Blair, Vice President Christopher Fletcher, Treasurer Carol Leister, Secretary Dave Douglas, and trustees Orlando Maione and Suzanne Shane were there to congratulate the winners. Three Village Central School District Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Kevin Scanlon, Murphy Junior High Principal Brian Biscari, Murphy Junior High English Chair Jessica Metrio, and Murphy Junior High School Librarian Betsy Knox, and Ward Melville High School Librarian April Hatcher were all in attendance.
Guests enjoyed special treats donated by The Bite Size Bake Shop, a local Three Village-owned business. Ward Melville High School teen volunteer Raymond Lang photographed the event.
The Helen Stein Shack Book Contest called for teens in grades 7 through 12 who live in the Three Village Central School District to create a children’s picture book. Each entry could be the work of a single author/illustrator or a collaborative effort between an author and an illustrator. The contest was divided into two grade categories, grades 7 through 9 and grades 10 through 12, with one First Prize Winner and one Second Prize Winner selected from each group.
Senator Mario Mattera commented, “You accomplished something so incredible, and I just want to say congratulations to all the winners.”
The Library is grateful to the children of the late Mrs. Shack, who have established a substantial endowment with the Library to cover the cost of the awards as a tribute to their mother and her commitment to passing along the importance and joy of reading for generations to come. Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich mentioned that Mrs. Shack not only created a legacy of her family members, but also the legacy of the books that come out of this contest.
Mrs. Shack’s son, Ed Taylor, spoke about a milestone in their family this past year – the birth of the first great grandchild of the late Helen Stein Shack. “She’s going to be sitting on our laps, and we’ll be reading her the books that were inspired by this competition that’s in the name of this little girl’s great grandmother, who she didn’t get a chance to meet, but who she’ll have that connection through these books…we thought we were giving a gift to the library, but the library really gave us a gift.”
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
The Heart of the Three Village Community
