The East Meadow School District, in partnership with The FREE Players, presented two enthusiastic and fun-filled performances of the award-winning Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. at East Meadow High School on Oct. 20 and 21.
The FREE Players are a talented group of individuals with developmental disabilities who have brought their enthusiasm to the stage for the past 15 years. The acting troupe, whose cast includes alumni of the district, has partnered with the East Meadow school community for several years.
District administrators, Board of Education trustees, members of SEPTA (Special Education PTA) and community members attended both weekend performances. Net proceeds from the performances benefited both The FREE Players and East Meadow School District’s SEPTA and SERCL.
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The FREE Players Present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.
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Homecoming Celebrations to Remember
Students, staff, administrators and members of the community recently gathered at W.T. Clarke and East Meadow high schools for their annual homecoming celebrations. To kick off each weekend, students at the schools decorated building hallways with spirit posters and streamers to showcase school pride. At W.T. Clarke High School, students gathered in the gymnasium for a pep rally the afternoon prior to the homecoming football game to ignite Ram spirit. Spirit was also on full display at East Meadow High School where students proudly wore their school colors.
Spurred on by their cheerleaders, the W.T. Clarke Rams took on Mineola in their homecoming game. During halftime, the homecoming parade made its way onto the field, led by the W.T. Clarke High School Marching Band and Color Guard. Local politicians, district administrators and members of the Board of Education accompanied the colorful class floats onto the field, each decorated with the theme of “video game apps.” Recognized during the procession were Homecoming King and Queen Kevin Chae and Shelby Frisa, who rode onto the field in a convertible to the delight of the community. Other members of the homecoming court included: Duke and Duchess Aaron Dawson and Ava Goncalves, Count and Countess Tristan Nagel and Taylor Rosenking, and Prince and Princess Fabio Rivera and Alexandra Stokum.
Throughout game time, participants mingled in front of a variety of booths and caught up on news about the new school year. The crowd was delighted with a Ram home victory by a score of 27-13.
For East Meadow High School’s homecoming celebration, the school hosted a parade down Carman Avenue which included floats with the theme “superheroes.” In addition, members of the homecoming court, cheerleaders and the marching band entertained the crowd. Following the parade, senior members of the high school chorus sang an a capella version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to kickoff the football game between the East Meadow Jets and Massapequa Chiefs.
During the halftime celebration, the community enjoyed performances by the cheerleaders, the Rockettes and the Jets Marching Band. Seniors David Carey and Danielle Jean were crowned homecoming king and queen and members of the court were announced and congratulated by the administration. The homecoming court included Dennis Caramante, Emily Fitzsimmons, Julian Paykert, Michael Petti, Carly Salzman, Megan Spindell, and Jaclyn Tortora. Unfortunately, the Jets fell to the Chief by a score of 38-29.
Each high school community will remember homecoming day as one filled with spirit and pride.
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FIRST MARKING PERIOD EXTENSION
Due to the interruption of school during the past two weeks, the first quarter marking period has been extended for all secondary students (grades 6-12) to Friday, November 16, 2012. Report cards will be mailed home on or about November 27, 2012.
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ACCESS Workshop Cancellation
The ACCESS workshop scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, 2012, has been cancelled.
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“The Odd Couple” Premieres at W.T. Clarke High School
Neil Simon’s popular Broadway and television hit “The Odd Couple” was presented at W.T. Clarke High School in the East Meadow School District. Under the direction of teacher Mark Kenny, the eight-member cast entertained audiences with comedic wit true to the original 1965 stage production.
In “The Odd Couple,” two mismatched roommates come together after the separation of news writer Florence Unger from her husband. The neat and uptight Unger, played by Ashley Fusco, turns the home life of otherwise slovenly and easygoing Olive Madison, portrayed by April Todaro, into a whirlwind. Throughout the production, the “friends and card buddies,” played by Angela Carey, Maggie Carter, Anna Cronin and Brittney Seck, treated the audience to comedic quips. Complications presented by a dinner date with the Costazuela Brothers, played by Javier Lopez and Riley Walsh, provided additional humor.
In preparation for the performances, Mr. Kenny guided the cast through the rigors of rehearsal in the aftermath of “Sandy.” With 10 days of official rehearsal time lost to the storm, the actors and stage crew did not miss a beat. “The actors should be congratulated for their work without my direction, even on days off, while they met in the homes of cast mates who had power to practice their lines,” Mr. Kenny stated. “Their good humor through all of this makes this play a true comedy.”
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An Exercise in Democracy
East Meadow students in Lisa Molloy and Kristi DeLace’s third-grade classes at Parkway Elementary School learned about the democratic process in a social studies unit, which focused on the electoral versus the popular vote, the definition of a delegate and the process by which adults cast official ballots. Each student was also assigned a state and asked to research the number of delegates and points of interest to be included on a colorful poster.
The third graders newly acquired knowledge was then applied to the election of the class representatives during a mock election. Brian Surless and Stephanie Giles, the Republican candidates, were seeking the position of class president and vice president against Democratic candidates Daniel Burnside and Jake Barker. Prior to Election Day, the candidates delivered speeches to their peers and participated in a debate on topics including anti-bullying, school lunches, academic assessments and school beautification.
The democratic process was then put into practice as each student delegate held up his or her state poster and proclaimed their state’s number of electoral votes and the Democratic or Republican candidate who would receive their vote. With a blue or red crayon, the delegate then colored in his or her state on a large map placed on the white board. The students were also asked to cast their ballots in a popular vote. “Remember to vote for who you think is best for the class,” Ms. Molloy told the students. “It’s a candidate’s ideas that are important.”
Republicans Brian Surless and running mate Stephanie Giles were elected President and Vice President of their class, having acquired 321 electoral votes, while Democrats Daniel Burnside and Jake Barker received 217 electoral votes. The two winners also received a 22-16 victory in the popular vote.
Not only did the class election teach students about the democratic process, it also honed their research and geography skills.
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East Meadow High School Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner for Local Seniors
More than 250 senior citizens gathered at East Meadow High School for the 32nd annual Key Club and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Thanksgiving Dinner. Under the supervision of the East Meadow Kiwanis, students prepared and served the meal, as well as provided live entertainment for the seniors.
Conducted by director Stephen Engle, the East Meadow High School Jazz Ensemble played a number of big band swing tunes, including a lively rendition of Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood,” before the meal was served. High school student Kristina Shafranski sang the National Anthem and student Katie Oppido performed a vocal solo as part of the show.
The meal was prepared earlier in the day by Kiwanis chefs and co-chairpersons Mitchell Allen, Dr. Frank Saracino, Mitchell Skoller, and Joan Saracino. Outside of the kitchen, student volunteers worked through the morning to transform the gym into a festive dining hall with decorative table settings.
Other East Meadow student groups involved in bringing the event to fruition included the Woodland and W.T. Clarke Middle Schools’ Builders Clubs and Bowling Green Elementary School’s K-Kids.
As dessert was served, Key Club President Ola Krol and FBLA Co-Presidents Alison Furman and Anxhela Mile thanked the seniors for attending and wished them all a happy and healthy holiday season.
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District Art Show Information
Due to the disruption of school created by "Sandy", the District Art Show has been postponed and will be rescheduled in the near future.
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Pre-Kindergarten Program
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Researching Problems and Finding Solutions
The W.T. Clarke Middle school seventh-grade Honors Science Research Program hosted a panel of residents, government officials, and local industry and non-profit representatives to discuss issues facing the Long Island community. Under the direction of English teacher Cindy Dale and science teachers Donna Delvecchio and Wendy Wansor, the panel provided the 65 honor students the opportunity to hear firsthand about health and safety problems and issues impacting the community and world at large. “The panelists opened up the students’ minds, demonstrating a variety of innovative work and problems their organizations deal with in our community each day,” Assistant Principal Linda Lynch commented.
Moving forward, the students will work in small teams to identify, test and propose a solution to a problem based on the panel discussion. The students will then enter their research projects in the Christopher Columbus Awards competition, a national STEM contest now in its 17th year. The program challenges students to identify a problem in their community and to apply the scientific method to create an innovative solution to the problem. Last school year, W.T. Clarke Middle School fielded three teams that reached the semifinal round.
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Woodland Middle School Students Dedicate Mural to Nassau County Legislature
Nassau County Legislator Norma L. Gonsalves, the county legislature’s acting presiding officer, recently attended the unveiling of a mural created by the Woodland Middle School Art Club under the direction of art teacher John Healy. The mural will be dedicated on Dec. 8 at a public meeting of the Legislature and will hang in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola.
The mural’s theme, “One Person, One Vote,” depicts the grand façade of the Legislature’s county seat, a large American flag, and the Nassau County Legislature seal. Dr. Healy explained that in order to create the mural, a photo of the building was projected onto a canvas and then traced and painted by the student-artists. “I am so proud of these exceptionally talented students,” Dr. Healy stated. “I hope that everyone who visits the Nassau County Legislature will enjoy this mural for years to come.”
For 20 years, Dr. Healy’s Art Club students have participated in this program. Recent murals created by students are currently featured at the Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union and the Nassau County Firefighter’s Museum, housed in the Cradle of Aviation Museum. After the dedication of the most current mural, the Art Club students will start work on a painting for the American Theater Dance Workshop, a dance repertory company in New Hyde Park.
Legislator Gonsalves congratulated the art students on their vision and design. “As a former Woodland Middle School teacher, it was great to see the wonderful talents of these students,” she stated. “I look forward to seeing the mural hang in the building of the Nassau County Legislature for many years.”
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Revised 2012-2013 School Calendar
As you are aware, the recent storm necessitated that our schools be closed for a significant number of days. In order to regain valuable instructional time and in order to preserve state aid levels to our district, the 2012-2013 school calendar has been revised. Tuesday, February 19th, Wednesday, February 20th, Thursday February 21st and Friday, February 22nd will now be regular school days for ALL students and staff. Monday, June 24th and Tuesday, June 25th will now be Superintendent's Conference/Staff development days for professional staff ONLY. Please be informed that should inclement weather necessitate additional school closings, the 2012- 2013 school calendar may need to be further revised.
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Journey into Native American Culture
Fourth-grade students at Barnum Woods Elementary School were immersed in Native American culture and traditions as they participated in a two-day program called “Journeys into Native American Territory.”
Educators Uaian Bruno and Maddi Cheers run the popular traveling museum that highlights the tributes, cultures and customs of the Eastern Woodland and coastline native people. The goal of the program is to help dispel stereotypes about these first Americans and to discuss who they are today and what their hopes are for the future.
The students began their journey by watching a short documentary about traditional culture, survival, customs and first encounters with the Europeans. Cheers explained that Native Americans judge others by what they give away to others, and that there are actually 13 thanksgiving celebrations a year. Working together is also an important prescription for survival, she told the students. “It took a whole community of people for the Native Americans to survive,” she remarked.
The students were then broken up into groups to attend workshops that focused on Native American games, stories and artifacts. Cheers described the history of lacrosse and demonstrated how the natives created games that later trained them for life.
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Middle School Students are “Terrific Kids”
At the November Board of Education meeting, select students from Woodland and W.T. Clarke middle schools were honored as Terrific Kids for the months of September, October, and November. Through the program sponsored by the East Meadow Kiwanis, students are recognized for their character, citizenship and perseverance. Each of the district’s Terrific Kids was presented with a certificate of achievement, presented by Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo and East Meadow Kiwanis President Debbie Kirsh.
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East Meadow High School Presents “Daddy’s Girl”
The East Meadow High School Theatre Guild received rave reviews for its weekend presentation of “Daddy’s Girl,” a comedy written by Gary Ray Stapp. The 13-member cast took the stage in three separate performances for the East Meadow community from December 13th through the 15th, drawing laughter from the play’s comedic chaos and zany characters.
In “Daddy’s Girl,” the audience is introduced to Maudie’s Diner proprietor Benard Muloovy (played by Jason Toledano), whose deceased wife Maudie (played by Rachel Steiner) takes up residence as a talking portrait on the diner’s wall. She enlists the services of an angel named Michael to reunite Benard with their long-lost daughter, Elizabeth. The chaos begins as Michael delivers two Elizabeths, and Benard must decide which woman is his daughter. During the production, the audience is also introduced to a host of amusing individuals, including a Ph.D student with problems communicating, an elderly duo, a “motorcycle mama,” and Darlynn, a woman who has spent 25 years trying to attract Benard’s attention.
Full of twists and surprises, East Meadow’s production of “Daddy’s Girl” will be remembered for many years to come.
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Message from the Superintendent of Schools regarding Newtown, CT
Click here to view the message
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Meadowbrook Elementary Student Advances to Regional Spelling Bee
Student Kevin Cheng is the winner of Meadowbrook Elementary School’s second annual spelling bee. The winning word was “haughtiness,” and now the fifth-grader will advance to the regional spelling bee at Hofstra University. The second-place winner was Yuktha Chiguripati, also a fifth-grade student.
Meadowbrook’s spelling bee was a preliminary contest for fourth- and fifth-grade students in conjunction with the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C. School spelling bee coordinator Valerie Kasper explained that the contestants studied vocabulary words from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and materials provided by the E.W. Scripps Company.
Kevin attributes his success in the school contest to “studying a lot.” Yuktha credits her spelling abilities to her family, stating, “My mother helped me with every word.”
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Students Collect Toys for John Theissen Children’s Foundation
The holiday spirit was strong at Woodland Middle School in the East Meadow School District as sixth-grade students joined John Theissen, executive director and founder of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, in collecting toys for needy children. During his visit to Woodland, Mr. Theissen explained the importance of his cause and the reasons behind the development of this significant community resource.“Donations are down 35 percent this year, so I am happy that you are helping the foundation fill this need during the holiday season,” Mr. Theissen told the students.
Since its inception in 1992, the John Theissen Children’s Foundation has collected over 550,000 new toys for sick and underprivileged children in 185 hospitals and child care facilities throughout Long Island. The foundation also donates therapeutic and recreational equipment, fulfills wishes and helps families with medical expenses.
Teacher Barbara Rooney, who assisted teachers Jana Alfarone, Gail Larsen and Brenda Marino with the student toy drive, reminded the students that many more children on Long Island are in need after Superstorm Sandy. “Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives, we forget that others need help,” she said to students. “Let’s make this a successful toy drive for the children on Long Island.”
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East Meadow’s Anusha Syed to Represent the District at the Annual HOBY Leadership Conference
The East Meadow School District is pleased to announce that sophomore Anusha Syed has been chosen to represent the district at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference this spring. This forum brings together tomorrow’s leaders with today’s recognized pioneers in business, government, education and other various professions to discuss present and future issues.
Anusha was selected through a rigorous process which included an evaluation by a panel of faculty, students and administrators who were impressed with her poise, confidence and dedication to charitable and civic activities.
In addition to being a superb fundraiser and outstanding citizen, Anusha is also a seasoned orator. She has been invited to participate in and host a variety of community events, the most memorable being the emcee for the 2010 Leadership Breakfast hosted by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.
It is no surprise that Anusha aspires to holding a political office. In the meantime, the East Meadow School District is proud to have this civic-minded young woman represent the district at the HOBY Leadership Conference.
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Intel Semifinalist
Congratulations to East Meadow School District’s Intel Semifinalist Anson Wang!
Anson’s project titled “Regulation of Memory Protein PKMzeta in Alzheimer’s Disease” studied the levels of PKMzeta in the brain tissue of deceased subjects who previously suffered from Alzheimer's Disease in comparison to those who died of natural causes. The district wishes Anson luck as he awaits for an announcement naming the finalists in the National Intel Science Talent Search.
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