Second-grade students in Michelle Comiskey’s class at Meadowbrook Elementary School held a videoconference with second graders from Oswego BOCES #21 to compare their “monsters,” a project that centered on the use of verbal instructions and how those instructions were conveyed and carried out between the two schools.
During a previous videoconference, each school shared directions on how to make a monster. Some of the Meadowbrook students’ directions included using four pink triangle eyes, four protruding ears, four arms, a pair of wings, and six legs. The directions conveyed by the Oswego school included using three balloon heads, four plastic cup arms, two paper plate legs, and two plastic cup feet.
Each school created a monster based on the other school’s instructions. During the second videoconference, the students discussed the similarities and differences between their monsters.
To further reinforce the students’ communication skills, the videoconference ended with a question-and-answer session that focused on the kinds of sports the students like to play.
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Meadowbrook’s Monster Mash
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EMHS Student Selected as HOBY Ambassador
East Meadow High School sophomore Katrina Bamba has been selected as a 2011 Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership ambassador. Katrina will participate with other teens at the HOBY Conference in the spring of 2012. This conference brings tomorrow’s leaders together with today’s recognized leaders in business, government, education and other professions to discuss present and future issues.
Katrina was selected through a rigorous process that included input from faculty, students and administrators. She impressed the panel with her poise, confidence and genuine concern for others.
Katrina is a very conscientious student who is involved in many extracurricular activities that she enjoys and values. Among them are the Pre-med Club, Environmental Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Model Congress, Science Honor Society and Math Team. An accomplished swimmer, she is also on the EMHS swim team as well as a year-round team at the Long Island Aquatic Club.
With her affinity for science and a desire to help others, Katrina is looking forward to a position in the medical field in the future. She credits her parents and her love of learning as her inspiration and motivation.
East Meadow High School is proud to be represented by such a mature, intelligent and sincere young woman.
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Linking the Common Core State Standards
On November 8, the East Meadow Union Free School District conducted its second Superintendent’s Conference Day, which continued the theme from September of “Linking the Common Core State Standards.” Workshops were held in each of the district’s buildings throughout the day.
At the Leon J. Campo Center, Heinemann Staff Developer Debbie Clemence and Coordinator of Literacy and Funded Programs Dr. Maria Casamassa facilitated a Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) workshop. The LLI program, designed by authors Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, has been a focus for staff development for the district’s elementary reading teachers and intervention assistants. The LLI program is a small-group, supplementary intervention program intended for young students who need assistance with reading and writing. It is designed to bring these students up to grade-level performance in as few as 18-24 weeks. LLI is a powerful, research-based early intervention program that can prevent literacy difficulties before they turn into long-term challenges.
At Woodland and W.T. Clarke Middle Schools, staff and administrators worked with renowned middle school educator Nancy Doda throughout the conference day to cultivate learning communities and to create effective curriculum and methods of instruction.
Teachers throughout the district unpacked the Common Core State Standards and created units of study that align with the standards. The teachers in the high schools also worked with the district directors and coordinators on the Common Core State Standards.
Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Cindy Munter said, “As I visited the schools on Superintendent’s Conference Day, it was very exciting to be part of conversations with teachers as they discussed aligning the curriculum to the Common Core State Standards. The standards provide a clear and consistent understanding of what children are expected to learn in order to be college and career ready. In addition, the day afforded the teachers an opportunity to collaborate and think about various instructional strategies that are both rigorous and robust, incorporating 21st century skills.”
In addition to workshops addressing the Common Core State Standards, Executive Director Alane Fagin of CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services) conducted a presentation at W.T. Clarke High School entitled “Creating a Safe School Climate and Community: What Educators Need to Know.” Ms. Fagin provided information about bullying and cyberbullying prevention, sexting, and Internet safety to staff and administrators.
Superintendent’s Conference Day was once again a great success, providing teachers from across the district with new and innovative ideas to infuse into their teaching for the 2011-2012 school year.
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All-State Student Musicians
Congratulations to our 15 All-State Student Musicians from W.T. Clarke and East Meadow High Schools on their outstanding performances at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, N.Y.
East Meadow High School
Andrew Hochler, Trumpet, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble
Adam Cooperberg, Bassoon, Symphonic Band
Louis Pollenz, Trumpet, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble
Stephan Stanzione, Symphonic Orchestra
Aya Terki, Cello, String Orchestra
Jonathan Tilles, Trombone, Wind Ensemble
Anson Wang, Bb Clarinet, Symphonic Band
W.Tresper Clarke High School
Wei-Ming Koh, Bb Clarinet, Wind Ensemble
Alexandra Leonardo, Flute, Wind Ensemble
Jordi Lotito, Violin, Symphonic Orchestra
Patricia Luecken, Trumpet, Symphonic Band
Eric Ratner, Trombone, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble
Kevin Sarmiento, Violin, Symphony Orchestra
Sarah Shaiman, Soprano, Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Daniel Wang, Violin, String Orchestra
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East Meadow’s Terrific Kids
At the November Board of Education Meeting, select students at Woodland and W. Tresper Clarke Middle Schools were honored for their academic achievements and/or citizenship for the months of September, October, and November. Each of the district’s Terrific Kids was presented with a certificate of achievement and a bumper sticker, sponsored by the East Meadow Kiwanis, and presented by the Board of Education, Kiwanis President Mitchell Allen, and Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo.
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A Young Artist Exhibition
The East Meadow Union Free School District held its biannual art exhibition at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center on November 29. Student artwork was showcased from all of the district’s buildings and included the budding artists in first grade up to the more accomplished artists in twelfth grade.
Among some of the works displayed were “Doodle 4 Google” (doodles are decorative changes to the Google logo), self-portraits, three-dimensional sculptures, pastels, photography, computer graphics, collages, watercolors, and printmaking.
Special thanks to Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Cindy Munter, Director of Music and Art Abby Behr, Art Chairperson Heather Anastasio, and Coordination/Program Lisa Schampier.
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Bowling Green’s Terrific Spellers
Fifth-grade students at Bowling Green Elementary School participated in their annual spelling bee in December 2011.
Each fifth-grade class sent two class champions to the school contest. The competition, under the direction of reading teachers Ellen Kelter and Jennie Re, was fierce as the students competed for the title of “Grade Five Spelling Bee Champion.”
Bowling Green’s runner-up was Matthew Percoco, with Ahmed Rauf taking the title of champion. Ahmed will continue on to the next level of competition, the Long Island Semifinals of the Scripps Howard News Service Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to all of the participants in this year’s contest.
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Woodland Sponsors Clothing Drive
The PTA and Spirit Committee at Woodland Middle School sponsored their annual clothing drive. Together, they collected over a ton of wearable and used clothing, shoes, belts, handbags, stuffed animals, and plastic toys, all of which will be donated to the less fortunate.
Each home base at Woodland participated in the drive, and the home base that collected the most bags of items won a bagel breakfast. Congratulations to the students in Karen Schmidt’s class for capturing this honor.
This is the sixth year that the PTA and Spirit Committee have collaborated on this wonderful drive.
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Exploration Through Education
Third-grade student Argonauts in Debra Berger’s class at Bowling Green Elementary School are exploring basic physics with scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as part of the Jason Project’s “Exploration Through Education Program.”
The students are learning about velocity, speed, acceleration, and momentum based on Newton’s Laws of Motion on Earth and on Mars. The curriculum incorporates technology and state-of-the-art tools which meet the Common Core State Standards.
All of the students are inspired and motivated to become future leaders in the science field through the authentic analysis of data and exploration. “I tell my parents what I learn every day in class. They think I am making it up because it sounds like middle school work and not work for third graders!” said student Saniya Gaitonde.
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Meadowbrook Holds Its First Spelling Bee
Meadowbrook Elementary School held its first-ever spelling bee on January 6, 2012. Five student representatives from each fourth and fifth-grade class participated in an intense competition as their fellow classmates sat in awe of the difficult words being spelled.
After approximately 45 minutes of rigorous competition, it was down to two of the school’s top spellers. Fifth grader Kaylin Anest captured the title of runner-up, while Shayan Huda, also in fifth grade, was named the Meadowbrook Spelling Bee Champion with the winning word “behemoth.” When Principal Susan Hyde asked Shayan the secret of his success, he replied, “I studied a lot!”
Shayan will go on to the county level of competition on March 24 at Hofstra University.
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Partners in Education
Earlier this school year, Woodland Middle School art teacher and Art Club advisor Dr. John Healy was awarded a $1,500 grant from NEFCU, which was used to purchase art supplies for the Art Club.
To thank NEFCU for their generous donation, Art Club students completed a beautiful art mural entitled “Partners in Education,” which depicts Long Island with headshots of students in the club. This special piece was commissioned for NEFCU and will be formally dedicated at the NEFCU office building in February 2012.
In December 2011, NEFCU CEO Ed Paternostro and Vice President for Marketing and Community Relations Valerie Garguilo visited Woodland to view a preview of the mural and meet the students in the Art Club as well as Dr. Healy and Principal James Lethbridge.
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Exploring the Lives of Native Americans and Settlers
The fourth-grade teachers at Parkway Elementary School have been working with an AUSSIE consultant on a unit that explores Native Americans and settlers. The curriculum they have written, which is linked to the Common Core State Standards, employs mathematics, science, social studies, creative writing, and ELA. Computer teacher Maria Crayne-Leftwich also developed a Wikipedia page on Native American legends to assist the students with their assignments.
Fourth-grade students had the opportunity to videoconference with the Cleveland Museum of Art on the subject of Native Americans and settlers. After viewing landscape art, they deconstructed the artwork into small details, using their imaginations to tell a story. The students also viewed old photos and computer-generated images of Native Americans, settlers, and their habitats, and discussed the differences between log cabins, teepees, long houses, and wigwams.
The museum provided materials to be used during the videoconference such as beads, buttons, cloth, leather, fur, corn, beans, and feathers. By working in small groups, each student took on the role of either a settler or a Native American and traded or bartered these items without speaking because of the language barrier.
The Parkway students enjoyed their trip back in time and can’t wait for their next videoconferencing adventure!
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Woodland Students Take A Stand Against Cyberbullying
Woodland Middle School received a $2,000 grant from Cablevision for its role in encouraging students to go online and sign the Power to Learn “Delete Cyberbullying” pledge. The pledge drive was part of a year-long program which featured a series of activities to raise awareness among students and parents about the risks associated with online bullying. Power to Learn is Cablevision’s nationally recognized education initiative and is dedicated to integrating technology into the classroom.
The check was presented to Principal James Lethbridge and Assistant Principal Patricia Graham by Cablevision’s Power to Learn Manager of School Relations Martha Turner. Mr. Lethbridge and Ms. Graham gratefully accepted on behalf of the school.
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray was in attendance and praised the students for their commitment to take a stand against cyberbullying. She spoke about the potential consequences of online bullying and said, “Students today are coming of age in a technological world and need to be taught that cyberbullying can have serious, lasting repercussions.”
Congratulations to the Woodland students for taking part in this important project!
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Think About It
Students at Meadowbrook Elementary School enjoyed “Stories of Substance,” a special assembly through the PTA Cultural Arts Program that used drama, humor and music in a creative and powerful way to effectively educate students about making healthy choices. The performance was written and performed by young adults and developed from actual stories in the community.
Through the skits, the students learned about the importance of having good manners and respecting one another, the differences between being a bully, a bystander and an upstander, the consequences of spending too much time playing video games, and inappropriate texting. Each skit ended with the phrases “Think about it” and “What would you do?”
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Approved 2012-13 Calendar
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Kindergarten Registration
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QUEST Students Cast Their Votes
Fifth-grade QUEST students at Parkway Elementary School explored the natural wonders of the world through “The New 7 Natural Wonders of the World,” an initiative that united the global population in selecting the greatest geological phenomena on earth. From 28 finalist “wonders,” hundreds of millions of people worldwide cast their votes to decide which would be the seven greatest wonders of the world.
The QUEST students created and shared PowerPoint presentations that informed Parkway’s third-grade students about these awe-inspiring places with fascinating facts, creative typography, and gorgeous photographs. Some of the geological formations presented were waterfalls, caves, canyons, and volcanoes.
Of the 28 finalists, the seven natural wonders are: Amazon Basin, Puerta Princesa Underground River, Iguazu Falls, Ha Long Bay, Komodo National Park, Table Mountain, and Jeju Island.
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East Meadow’s Terrific Kids
At the February 16, 2012 Board of Education Meeting, select students at Woodland and W.T. Clarke Middle Schools were honored for their academic achievements and/or citizenship for the months of December, January, and February. Each of the district’s Terrific Kids was presented with a certificate of achievement and a bumper sticker, sponsored by the East Meadow Kiwanis. The Board of Education, Kiwanis President Mitchell Allen, and Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo presented the certificates to each student.
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Mural with a Message
Nearly 50 fifth-grade students in the Parkway Elementary School Art Club, under the direction of art teacher Franceska Baer, have created a beautiful mural composed of 144 painted and glazed tiles. The mural ties in with the school’s character education program and is entitled, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?”
Each student in the club was assigned more than one tile to paint. Once completed, the mural was assembled and glazed by Ms. Baer.
With the goal of creating a mural every year, this is the second mural project that the Parkway Art Club has completed. Last year, the students created a tile mural welcoming all to their school, complete with mascot – the Parkway Bear. Next year’s project is in the discussion phase, and different media are being examined.
Special thanks are extended to Parkway’s custodial staff for hanging the mural, which is located in the 300 wing.
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