Spreading the wealth in Seaford

The Seaford Wellness Council has earmarked $8,000 of a grant it has received from Nassau County for various programs that will benefit the community’s youth.

In December, the Wellness Council was notified that the $10,000 grant it received in 2015 was renewed for another year. The money will come from the Nassau County Youth Board, and must be used for programs and services for children and teens in 2016.

At their March 29 meeting, members of the Wellness Council outlined the use of 80 percent of that money for 10 initiatives.

The organization will give a combined $2,700 to the two elementary schools for educational programs. The Seaford Manor School will host Mad Science on May 2. There will be two assemblies — one for students in grades K-2 and the other for grades 3-5. The theme of the program will be Fire and Ice, and expert scientists will conduct experiments for the school’s 400-plus students.

The Seaford Harbor School will welcome children’s author and illustrator Christopher Soentpiet. He will visit the school in June and talk to students about how he creates his books, which focus on history, geography and cultural studies. The South Korea native will host a seminar comprising 45- to 60-minute workshops for Harbor’s nearly 600 students.

The Council will spend $750 for tree saplings that will be distributed to fourth-graders at the two schools. Students will receive planting and tree care instructions. Ken Nersesian, vice president of the group, said that this would teach them responsibility while they do something good for the local environment.

Supporting older students in the Seaford School District, the Wellness Council will continue its support of the high school robotics team with a $750 contribution. It will also give $1,000 to the drama club. Another $350 will go to the high school for the creation of an Athletic Leadership Team.