http://www.lbeach.org Copyright 2013 Syntax Communications http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10857 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education held a regular meeting on May 14 at Long Beach Middle School. Prior to the start of the meeting, Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg joined board members, administrators and community members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of work on the middle school auditorium lobby. The school is undergoing extensive renovations as part of a districtwide School Preservation Plan approved by voters in May 2009. At the start of the meeting, Assemblyman Weisenberg presented the district with a grant for $125,000 to provide technology upgrades in the district. A previous grant for $100,000 secured by the assemblyman last year enabled the district to install 21st Century Learning Network equipment. The next order of business was a presentation by Dean Whalen of CS Arch and Robert Firneis of Savin Engineers, who outlined the award of bids for storm reconstruction work that must be done in buildings throughout the district. Superintendent of Schools David Weiss explained that the district facilities suffered $40 million in damage as a result of the storm. Working closely with FEMA representatives, the district expects to receive 90 percent reimbursement from the federal government, with the district and state expected to split the remaining 10 percent of costs. District representatives have been investigating grant programs as well. They have also met with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and worked with Sen. Charles Schumer’s office to help secure additional funding. The board questioned the presenters and heard comments from the public before unanimously approving the award of bids. For a copy of the presentation, visit www.lbeach.org. Among the other items on the agenda was a review of the proposed 2013-14 budget of $123,767,293, as approved by the Board of Education on April 23. The proposed budget carries a tax levy increase of 1.02 percent, which is among the lowest in Nassau County. Voters will be asked to vote on the proposed budget on May 21. Polling locations throughout the district will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit www.lbeach.org for more details. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10871 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Darling Gutierrez was chosen to participate in the 2013 Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute in Albany. Darling joined delegates from all over New York State. She was selected to represent Nassau County in leading the Pledge of Allegiance before the Mock Assembly in the State Assembly Chamber. In addition, she was nominated as Outstanding Student Delegate for Nassau, and was invited by Felix Ortiz, chairman of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, to the Somos New York Gala. Darling is a high honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a semifinalist in the Coca-Cola Scholars program. A leader in student government and community service, she has dedicated herself to making a difference in her school and local communities. Darling is the senior class vice president and a student representative of the Shared Decision Making Team. As vice president of Key Club, she has organized food and coat drives, prepared meals for families at Ronald McDonald House and participated in other community service activities. Darling also serves as president of her school’s ASPIRA chapter, a leadership integrity program that is dedicated to developing the educational and leadership capacity of young adults. She helped organized the annual ASPIRA Cultural Collision event and received the ASPIRA Award for Exceptional Service and the Circulo de la Hispanidad Award for students of Latino descent who achieve excellence in academics. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10877 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Click here to view the Enrichment Programs page. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10861 Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School juniors Nina Tassiello (left) and Hope Henry won awards in the Irish Cultural Society of Garden City annual writing contest. Nina earned a second-place prize and Hope won honorable mention. In this year’s contest students were asked to use the iconic photograph of eleven men having lunch on a steel girder during the construction of Rockefeller Center as a springboard for imaginative writing. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10814 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School was named one of the best public high schools in the nation in Newsweek’s 2013 List of America’s Best High Schools. The schools were chosen based on their ability to turn out college-ready graduates. The list is based on six components: graduation rate, college acceptance rate, AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student, average SAT/ACT scores, average AP/IB/AICE scores and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course. Long Beach High School was officially authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010. Since then the school has greatly expanded its college-level course offerings. Students can now choose from a selection of college-level courses offered in their junior and senior years. An estimated 600 students are currently enrolled in at least one International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement or Syracuse University Project Advance course at Long Beach High School. All of these courses are open to any student willing to rise to the challenge. This year the school expects to administer 790 IB and AP exams to 450 students. Over the past three years, the school graduation rate has reached new highs and the number of students receiving Regents diplomas with Advanced Designation continues to increase. Long Beach High School students continue to gain acceptance to top colleges around the country. “One of the top priorities of Long Beach Public Schools is to supply our students with the skills they will need to prepare for college and careers,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “We are proud to be recognized for our efforts by Newsweek as one of America’s best high schools.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10822 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT To the delight of family and friends, fifth-graders at East School in Long Beach danced the night away in their Spring Fling Dance Showcase, demonstrating the fancy footwork and teamwork they had mastered in the Dancing Classrooms program. Through ballroom dancing lessons, this innovative character education program has been encouraging the students to cultivate mutual respect, teamwork, collaboration and self-esteem, as well as teaching them to do a mean tango, fox trot and waltz. Students worked with Dancing Classrooms teaching artist Katie de Bruin, as well as their classroom teachers, health and physical education teachers, music teacher and FLES teacher, not only to master their dance steps, but also to learn the history and cultural significance of dances that originated in Latin America, Europe and the U.S. This year was especially challenging because the East School gymnasium, where they usually practice and perform, was undergoing repairs as a result of damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. Students and their teachers adapted by setting up makeshift practice areas in their classrooms, the music room and other spaces in their building. At the culmination of the program, the students hosted a Spring Fling ballroom dancing showcase at the Long Beach Middle School gymnasium, in which they demonstrated their knowledge and skill in the merengue, fox trot, rumba, waltz, swing and polka. At the end of the evening, each student invited one special guest from the audience to join him or her on the dance floor. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10828 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Jazz in many forms, from the Big Band era to more contemporary numbers, was interpreted in all its smooth, cool and smoking hot glory when the Long Beach High School music department hosted its annual Jazz Night. Student performers from the middle school jazz band, high school lab jazz band, high school select choir and high school jazz ensemble filled the auditorium with the music of Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Irving Berlin, Chuck Mangione and other jazz greats. Mike Carubia, who is a well-known jazz performer and composer also worked with the jazz ensemble, who performed his “Buffalo Wings” as one of their featured numbers. At Jazz Night, Carubia made a surprise appearance on stage to perform with the jazz ensemble for a lively rendition of Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good,” with Carubia and senior Jesse Klirsfeld as the featured soloists. Many of the evening’s selections, including “Feels So Good,” featured improvisational solo performances that highlighted the depth of the students’ understanding of this classic American musical art form. As another added surprise, seniors Russell Goetz, Jesse Klirsfeld, Matthew Birnbaum and teacher Michael Capobianco performed together in a melodic rendition of “My Funny Valentine.” At an opening reception, the high school commons area was transformed into a cozy lounge. Hors d'oeuvres prepared by students in Scott Brecher’s home and careers class were passed around to guests. Members of Friends of the Arts were on hand to welcome guests, and National Honor Society members volunteered their time as ushers. During a brief intermission, Friends of the Arts gave away raffle prizes and Long Beach’s own Halftime Howie and friend Benior presented a check for $1,500 to the Friends of the Arts Sponsor a Marching Marine program. Halftime Howie also sponsored a tuxedo giveaway for 30 lucky seniors. Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. Marino Bragino, III directed the High School Jazz Ensemble. He was joined by fellow directors Elizabeth Altbacker (Middle School Jazz Band), Michael Capobianco (Select Choir) and Zachary Rifkin (Lab Jazz Band) “Jazz Night was an amazing success,” said Mr. Bragino. “Working with Mike Carubia gave my students, as well as the audience, a unique opportunity to further expand their appreciation and understanding of jazz. Thanks to all who helped make this event such a success." http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10774 Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Members of the Long Beach High School National Art Honor Society visited Lindell School in Long Beach to help students paint ceramic hearts for Mother’s Day gifts. During a previous visit to the school, the NAHS members helped the Lindell students make the hearts. The hearts were brought back to Lindell after they were fired so that the younger students could put the finishing touches on their creations in time for Mother’s Day. With guidance from the NAHS members, the Lindell students painted the hearts with watercolors and finished them with a protective glaze. “The younger students were thrilled to have the high school students help them with their creations,” said NAHS faculty adviser Sue Presberg. “The high school students were equally thrilled to work with the younger children and visit with their past teachers.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10742 Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10514 Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Sarah Colletti, a Long Beach High School junior, won a third-place award at the eighth annual Locust Valley Film Festival on April 10. She entered the Music Video category, competing against 35 other entrants, from which 10 finalists were chosen. Eight other schools took part in the festival. All entries were reviewed by professional directors, editors, producers and educators in the fields of film and television. Sarah's music video, which she directed, filmed and edited, was based on the song "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. Actors in her video were fellow Long Beach students Alexandra Brodsky, Connor Duffy and Jon Muratori. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10689 Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Touched by the plight of Long Beach Public Schools in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the New York Chapter of the Bangladesh Medical Association made a $15,000 contribution to the school district. The money will be used to help Long Beach Middle School replace library books lost in the flood. Chapter President Dr. Masoom Qadeer and members at large Dr. Mujibur R. Majumder and Dr. Fazlul H. Yusuf visited Long Beach Middle School to visit with students and personally deliver the check. “Thanks to the enormous enthusiasm, hard work and participation of members of the BMANA New York Chapter, I am very pleased to be able to raise funds for the victims of Superstorm Sandy,” said. Dr. Qadeer. “Among our relief activities during and after the storm, we were very gratified to be able to donate money to Long Beach Public Schools to help with the rebuilding efforts of the middle school library. We wish the school much success in the future.” The BMANA is a non-political socio-cultural and philanthropic organization founded by Physicians of Bangladeshi heritage living in the U.S. The organization participates in activities to benefit others, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10690 Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Public Schools is pleased to host its annual District Art Show at Long Beach High School on Friday, May 17 from 4-8 p.m., and on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The artwork of elementary, middle school and high school art students will be on display for all to enjoy. All are welcome. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10634 Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT The auditorium became a stage for world dance as students in the Long Beach High School dance classes presented their spring recital. The recital consisted of dance numbers reflecting folk dances, traditional ballet and modern dance movements that students have been learning throughout the course of the year. In addition to numbers by historical choreographers Donald McKayle and Pearl Eileen Primus, the program also featured choreography, costume design and staging by students in the International Baccalaureate dance classes, and by dance teacher Christianne Donohue. Through their choreography, students were challenged to create movement that enhanced the rhythms, tempos and accents of the music. Each of the student choreographers wrote an artist’s statement, which was included in the program. Members of the Sound and Recording Club designed the dramatic lighting for the show. Dance classes at the high school, which include dance fitness, modern dance and IB dance, are offered through the Athletics, Physical Education and Health Department. The IB dance course, which was offered for the first time last year, integrates the study of dance performance, composition and analysis. During the course of the year, students explored dance styles from cultures throughout the world. In addition to gaining performance skills, they studied master choreographers from past centuries and learned to compose their own dances through a variety of improvisational techniques and creative projects. By exploring a wide variety of dance forms, from ballet to modern to folk dance, they acquired a well-rounded understanding of the significance of dance in every culture and the pattern of its development throughout the world. “I am so pleased to be presenting our second annual dance recital,” said Ms. Donohue. “My goal, as always, is to share dance as a true performing art to students, faculty and community members. The seniors of the IB dance program have created meaningful choreography. I invite you to watch as their visions become reality in a theatrical setting.” “I am proud of the accomplishments of our dance students,” said Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Arnold Epstein. “I look forward to seeing many more students benefit from Ms. Donohue's talent and expertise as the program grows.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10636 Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School has been ranked among the top high schools in the nation in the Washington Post’s ranking of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. America's Most Challenging High Schools ranks schools through the Challenge Index, an index formula determined by a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. A ratio of 1.000 means the school had as many tests as graduates. Long Beach High School achieved a Challenge Index of 2.186, an increase from a Challenge Index of 1.71 in 2012 and 1.228 in 2011. The list is designed to identify schools that have done the best job in persuading students to challenge themselves by taking college-level courses and assessments. Long Beach High School was officially authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010. Since then the school has greatly expanded its college-level course offerings. Students can now choose from a selection of college-level courses offered in their junior and senior years. An estimated 600 students are currently enrolled in at least one International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement or Syracuse University Project Advance course at Long Beach High School. All of these courses are open to any student willing to rise to the challenge. The number of tests administered for these college-level courses has been steadily climbing, from 340 in the 2008-2009 school year to 669 in 2011-2012. This year the school expects to administer 790 IB and AP exams to 450 students. Research shows that high school students who take college-level courses experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not avail themselves of the rigorous curriculum offered by advanced-level high school courses. “One of the top priorities of Long Beach Public Schools is to supply our students with the skills they will need to prepare for college and careers,” said Principal Gaurav Passi. “We are proud to be recognized for our efforts by the Washington Post as one of America’s most challenging high schools.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10602 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Heckscher Museum’s Best Young Artists Exhibit – The artwork of Long Beach High School students Laura Capozzi, Dan Chen and Caroline Obed was selected for the Heckscher Museum’s Best Young Artists exhibit. All-County Art Scholarship – Long Beach High School senior Natalia Podboraczynska was singled out to receive a scholarship award at the All-County Art Exhibition. She was one of 33 students from around the district whose work was chosen for this exhibition. The All-County Art Exhibition and Scholarship Program are sponsored by the Art Supervisors Association to showcase and support the creativity, talent and skill of student-artists. NCC Arts and Science Competition – Three Long Beach High School artists won awards at the Nassau Community College Arts and Science Competition. Dan Chen won an award of excellence for ceramics, Laura Capozzi received an award of excellence for photography and Ellie Cho earned honorable mention for drawing. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10605 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Proud family and friends gathered for a solemn ceremony marking the induction of 90 new members into the Long Beach High School Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society. These initiates, taken from the ranks of the sophomore and junior classes, were chosen based on their ability to meet the society's standards with regard to scholarship, leadership, character and service. They will join their fellow members in upholding these principles by contributing their time and talents to better their school and local community through volunteer activities, civic involvement and adherence to the highest standards of academics, morality and ethics. A candle lighting ceremony, officiated by NHS officers and faculty coordinator Nora Bellsey, highlighted the four ideals of the society. Each new member was asked to come to the stage to light a candle as a symbol of his or her commitment to uphold those ideals. Foreign language teacher Aime Rivera was chosen as this year's recipient of an honorary membership, in recognition of her dedication to her profession and to the students of Long Beach High School. The festivities included two vocal selections by the select choir, conducted by Michael Capobianco, as well as an instrumental performance by the chamber orchestra, conducted by Felicia Wilson. “This evening we celebrate, not just your grades, but the sum of you as human beings,” said Ms. Bellsey in her opening remarks. “Take responsibility for making something happen. You can make a difference.” “This was a year of challenges,” recalled Superintendent of Schools David Weiss, referring to the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. “Tonight is an opportunity for you to recognize your achievements and to challenge yourself to make a difference in the world. Set high goals and expectations for yourself during your years at Long Beach High School. Over the course of the year, under the leadership of officers Alex Blum, Scott Blumenfeld, Melanie Jasper, Natalia Podboraczynska, Shannon Romig and Ethan Sukonik, National Honor Society members have organized numerous community service projects, including a Zumba-thon for the American Cancer Society, March Madness for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and a Sponsor a Snowflake fundraiser to support local businesses after Superstorm Sandy. Members have also acted as ambassadors for the Give Kids a Smile program and volunteered countless hours as tutors, coaches and ushers for school events. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10566 Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Three talented Long Beach Public School musicians shared the stage with Joan Jett, as they performed at the City of Long Beach boardwalk groundbreaking ceremony on April 27. Pictured (l to r): Long Beach Middle School seventh-graders Andrew Buskey and Troy Morris who did a saxophone and guitar duet, Joan Jett, District Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson and Long Beach High School senior Jesse Klirsfeld, who performed the “Star Spangled Banner” at the opening of the ceremony. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10567 Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT In-Person Registration for voting in the 2013 School Budget and Board and Library Budget and Board elections will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in the Long Beach Middle School Lobby from 2 PM - 8 PM. Please bring proof of residency. You must be a US citizen, be 18 years of age and have lived in the Long Beach City School District for the past 30 days or more. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10541 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT After distributing hundreds of $1,000 prepaid debit cards to Long Beach elementary school families on March 1, representatives of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund returned to the Long Beach School District on April 22 to hand out gift cards to families who had been unable to attend the March event. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, through the support of Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliate BGC Partners, has committed to provide every family of a student enrolled as of Oct. 29, 2012 at Blackheath Pre-K, East, Lido, Lindell and West schools a $1,000 prepaid debit card to aid with post-Sandy rebuilding efforts. These five Long Beach schools are among 19 schools in Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey that were “adopted” by Cantor Fitzgerald in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. In total, $10 million has been pledged to help families with young children in these 19 schools. Long Beach Public Schools, with approximately 1,350 eligible families, has been the largest distribution to date. Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 of the company’s 960 New York employees in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. The mission of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which was formed in the wake of these attacks, is to provide direct aid and support to victims of natural or civil disasters or emergency hardships and to support the efforts or relief workers and relief organizations that provide aid to victims. No stranger to disaster and hardship, Cantor Fitzgerald has been reaching out to help others in need ever since that fateful day. “We have taken the knowledge gleaned from assisting our 9/11 community and applied it to families impacted by Superstorm Sandy, providing them with direct financial assistance,” said Edie Lutnick, co-founder and executive director of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and author of “An Unbroken Bond.” “We are grateful for the opportunity to assist these families and to help communities such as Long Beach to heal.” She added that Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners are matching all donations to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund for Superstorm Sandy assistance. “On behalf of our district and the Long Beach community, I thank Cantor Fitzgerald for this extremely generous gesture,” said Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “We also appreciate the extra effort that was made to return to help families who were unable to make it on the first distribution date.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10555 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Through their Senior Experience Fashion Show, students at Sanford H. Calhoun High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District raised $10,326 to aid in the Long Beach School District’s post-Sandy recovery efforts. Senior Experience students traveled to Long Beach with teachers Jason Elias and Ryan McSherry and Principal David Seinfeld on April 23 to present the donation to the Long Beach Board of Education. “Since Senior Experience has entered the curriculum, we have raised over $100,000 for global causes, such as Invisible Children and Reason 2 Smile,” said Calhoun student representative Kari Schaefer. “This year, after the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, we felt it was only appropriate to go local and support the Long Beach School District. As Calhoun students, none of us could possibly imagine what it would be like to go back to school, the place where we spend a majority of our time, with classrooms without any supplies or learning materials. The show wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful if it weren’t for all of the people who had attended and donated to such an important and close-to-home cause.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10556 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Seven Long Beach High School students competed in the Long Island Language Teachers Foreign Language Competition this year, with five of the seven earning top awards. In the Original French Poetry Level 3 category, Azza Ben Moussa placed first, Allyson Golden placed second and Alec Wall placed third, sweeping the category. Marc Pittinsky received an honorable mention in that category as well. In the French Essay Level 4 category, Samara Rynecki received an honorable mention. Haley Ricciardi and Ryan Silverman received certificates of participation. Students participated in the competition under the guidance of teacher Arlys Digena. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10557 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society welcomed 18 new members this year. At the ceremony, officiated by Long Beach Tri-M officers Jesse Klirsfeld, Jennifer Nash, Shannon Romig, Paula Servellon, and Rachel Weiss and Tri-M faculty adviser Felicia Wilson, new members were inducted into this international honor society that recognizes students for their academic and musical achievements. The evening program also included several musical performances by Tri-M members. Dana Berman and Alexandra Gruber performed a violin duet, Rachel Barkan sang “O del mil dolce ardor,” and Joseph Keiserman presented a vocal rendition of “Angel Eyes,” while Klirsfeld played “There Will Never Be Another You” on the trumpet. The wind ensemble and string quartet also performed. Honorary lifetime memberships were bestowed on Long Beach High School Vice Principal John Emmons, East School music teacher Michele Bennett, and parents Bari Klirsfeld and Maureen Romig. Each honoree was acknowledged for the vital role he or she plays in supporting music education in Long Beach Public Schools. The main goal of Tri-M is to inspire students to excel at music, leadership, character, academic achievement and service. Members act as goodwill ambassadors, performing at local nursing homes, school events and community functions. They also assist younger students in preparation for their NYSSMA solo evaluation performances. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10538 Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School junior Joanne Conklin was selected to attend the Students Inside Albany Conference on April 16. This conference, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York, is an intensive four-day training experience designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State, and to educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. Joanne heard from Albany insiders about how New York State government operates and how policy is shaped and enacted. She was also given the opportunity to attend Assembly and Senate sessions and to shadow Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and Sen. Dean Skelos. Joanne was selected for this honor through the joint efforts of Long Beach High School and the Long Beach League of Women Voters. According to its official website, the League of Women Voters of New York believes that educating and empowering the youth of our country is vital to maintaining a strong democracy. Through the League’s Education Foundation, the State League and many local leagues operate programs that provide students with the information, motivation and skills needed to become informed voters and engaged citizens. The State League’s primary youth program is Students Inside Albany. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10502 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, fourth- and fifth-grade students in the Long Beach School District’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity program embarked on a creative mission to help with their community’s recovery efforts through the Odyssey of the Mind’s Odyssey Angels program. After meeting with City Council members to assess the post-Sandy needs of their community, the students embarked on a project called “Messages That Matter.” Through their research, they determined that the Long Beach community needed to be better prepared to face future emergencies. They also discovered that Long Beach Public Library, which is a hub of community activity, was in need of funds to help with its rebuilding efforts. Through creative brainstorming, the students found a way to address both needs in the form of their Messages That Matter campaign. They put together an emergency supply kit list, which also included useful contact information and helpful advice about what to do before, during and after a disaster. Students rolled their messages up and placed them in empty recycled water bottles, which they decorated with handmade beaded bracelets. Then they held a community event on March 20 at the Long Beach Catholic School, where they distributed the messages in a bottle in exchange for donations for the library. Through their efforts, students were able to collect more than $2,000, which the library plans to use to purchase a new book drop. Library Director George Trepp said the new book drop will be inscribed with the Odyssey Angels team name in recognition of their valuable contribution to the library. The idea to participate in Odyssey Angels was actually an outgrowth of a hardship caused by the storm. Before Sandy hit, the LARC students had just begun to prepare for the annual Odyssey of the Mind competition, an international educational program that provides students with opportunities to apply their creativity to solve problems. Having missed so much preparation time as a result of the storm, it looked as if this year’s Odyssey of the Mind team might have to forgo entering the competition. Since at least one Long Beach team has qualified for the state level of competition for more than 25 consecutive years, the prospect of not being able to continue this legacy was devastating to the students. In the spirit of creative problem-solving, they refused to succumb to defeat. Working with coaches Beverlee Bertinetti, Caitlin Fuentes and Eileen Shannon, they discovered Odyssey Angels, a new charity group that was unveiled by Odyssey of the Mind last summer. Through Odyssey Angels, they utilized the teamwork, brainstorming and problem-solving skills they learned through Odyssey of the Mind to provide a valuable service for their community. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10483 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach elementary math teacher Kelly Beleckas has been selected to attend the 2013 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy on July 21-26 at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J. She was chosen from among 1,500 teachers across the country who applied for this program. The selection panel based their decision on her qualifications, dedication to inspiring students and overall commitment to enhancing the teaching profession. The Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy was launched in 2005 to provide third-through fifth-grade teachers with tools to enhance curricula, as well as an opportunity for them to network with other educators and help them discover innovative ways to teach math and science to their students. Over this time period, more than 3,600 teachers have attended the academy, impacting the lives of more than 230,000 students nationwide. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10484 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10470 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10471 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach students of all ages rolled up their sleeves to help make Long Beach a cleaner, greener place as they participated in Earth Day activities in their community and schools. The district’s School Business Sponsorship put together a team of volunteer workers to pitch in for the City of Long Beach’s Comeback Crew, planting greenery at the Park Avenue median at New York Avenue on April 20. On April 22, East School second-graders invited their parents to the school to join them for an Earth Day celebration that expanded their understanding of the natural world and the importance of recycling and preserving the earth. Assisted by parent volunteers, students circulated through nine different learning stations, at which they participated in a variety of activities designed to enhance their awareness of how they can help preserve the delicate balance of nature. Students planted seeds, decorated reusable shopping bags and made Earth Day posters. One of the more popular stations deliciously demonstrated the role that earthworms play in enriching the soil, as students made edible dirt from pudding, chocolate cookie crumbs and gummy worms. In acknowledgment of Earth Day at Long Beach Middle School, team 7-1 reached out to survival international.org to find out how they can help support Earth's most threatened tribe, the Awa. In science class, students learned about how deforestation has posed a great threat to the existence of this tribe the their way of life. In response to their inquiry, they were asked to write letters to Brazil’s minister of justice, the only person who can order the invaders out of the Amazon. They were also encouraged to recreate the hands that represent the survival of tribal peoples. Students brainstormed about how to use the stencil together with a few well-chosen words to make their petition. The photo of the student work will be emailed directly to the organization, and the letters will be mailed to the Minister in hopes that they will be part of the global movement to save our Earth and preserve the diversity of cultures that exist on our planet. Meanwhile at Lido School, under the leadership of the Students Against Destructive Decisions Club, students in grades K-5 celebrated Earth Day with activities inside and outside their classrooms. Kindergartners and first-graders decorated and displayed paper trees prepared for them by SADD members. Those in grades 2-5 wrote down their Earth Day wishes during lunch hour, which were then placed in an Earth Day box. Selected wishes were read during afternoon announcements for the rest of the week. SADD members also planted trees and flowers to beautify the courtyard outside their new cafeteria. Students worked under the guidance of SADD faculty advisers Shelly Cepeda and Marilyn Pilo. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10429 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT For the past seven years, Long Beach High School has been holding its prom at Chateau Briand in Carle Place. After discussing the special situation the school was facing in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and the hardships being endured by the people of Long Beach with general manager Joe Mandaro, owner Victor Scotto Jr. offered to donate the prom this year. Victoria Scotto of Chateau Briand set out to make every lucky senior girl at Long Beach High School feel like a princess for a night by hosting a Prom Dress Party on April 18. Long Beach High School senior girls who will be attending their prom were able to choose from a selection of new and gently used donated dresses, handbags and costume jewelry. There were also raffles and giveaways such as limousine rides, hair and makeup services, shoes, gift cards and accessories. Among the vendors contributing to this event were Estelle's Dressy Dresses, Bridal Reflections, the Dessy Group, Vivo Hair Salon, Tuxedo Park, Kiersten’s Jewelry of Holbrook, Men’s Wearhouse, Frippery Boutique, Thomas Knoell and Body Rock DJ. Bridal Reflections donated 150 dresses, and the Manhattan-based Dessy Group provided 50 gowns. Kiersten’s Jewelry and Frippery donated accessories, and Steve Madden delivered an assortment of shoes and handbags. Estelle’s provided accessories for the young ladies. Vivo Hair Salon made sure each girl left with an assortment of hair products, and also donated gift cards to be used on prom night. Ms. Scotto also received an additional 400 new and gently used dresses from individual donors. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10430 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School sophomore Ilana Blumenthal was chosen by the State Assembly of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island to take part in a special ceremony honoring Nassau County high school students who are working to create a more civil society. The ceremony took place at Hofstra University on April 18, which is Holocaust Remembrance Day. As a leader in the Oceanside Jewish Center’s junior congregation, Ilana educates teens and children about religious tolerance, showing them ways to eradicate and recognize bullying. She organizes events to promote these issues and is a driving force, leading by example in her interaction with others. She is also on the planning committee for the annual Yom Hashoah program at the Oceanside JCC. Additionally, she is a member of the Harriet Seifman inclusion committee, which helps to ensure that people with disabilities and allergies are able to attend, enjoy and participate in the services at the temple. This includes arranging for American Sign Language interpreters for the holidays as well as building a ramp to make the facility accessible to all. Ilana, who participates in the Talented Writers program at Long Beach High School, uses her pen to promote awareness and activism. Ilana was nominated for this honor by Long Beach High School teacher Rachell Koegel, who described her as embodying the traits of altruism and activism that she would love to see in all her students. “She lives what she preaches and on a daily basis stands proud in her heritage and is not intimidated to share her thoughts about her beliefs or the importance of her religion in her daily life,” said Koegel. “She is respectful of all people and does whatever she can to promote awareness and tolerance wherever she can.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10421 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Fender Music Foundation donated five electric guitars, two electric basses, a guitar amplifier and various other items to Long Beach High School. The Fender Music Foundation is a public nonprofit organization funded by people who want to strengthen the state of music education, people who believe music is an integral part of society and want to make music more accessible to everyone. For more information, visit www.fendermusicfoundation.org. This generous donation was arranged through the efforts of members of the newly formed non-profit, Friends of the Arts LBSD INC, who were able to establish a relationship with the Fender Music Foundation. In addition, Friends of the Arts President Bari Klirsfeld and her committee have reached out to several other music organizations that have responded in a very generous manor for Long Beach Public Schools. Friends of the Arts is also working to replace the Marching Marine uniforms that were damaged or destroyed in students’ homes during Superstorm Sandy. Please visit www.friendsoftheartslbsd.org to make donations. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10384 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT During filming of a CBS television special program, Long Beach graduate and REAL Change producer Liam Murphy visited Long Beach High School with Office Depot and Adopt-A-Classroom to donate $20,000 worth of school supplies, as well as provide teacher grants. Long Beach High School will be featured on a segment of the REAL Change program, which aired nationally CBS on April 23 on at 7:00 p.m., together with notable musical artists such as Quincy Jones, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus who recognized teachers who have inspired them. The REAL Change Artists for Education Project is a nationwide campaign focused on the importance of education in America to promote and to inspire people American to become involved in supporting education. The one-hour, prime time television network special, which aired on CBS on April 23 detailed stories of students and their teachers, who will share the challenges and hardships they have faced and overcome in their lives. The story of Long Beach and its schools, students and teachers in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy was part of that story. The special will also stream for a few weeks on the REAL Change website. Through May 31, anyone wishing to be part of the REAL Change movement can visit www.officedepot.com/realchange to make a donation. Office Depot will match all donations made during this period. Every dollar donated will go directly to aid the adopted classroom. Many Long Beach teachers have registered their classes for direct donations. For a video clip of Long Beach High school, visit http://www.liverealchange.com/real-change-productions-cbs-ny-news-report/ For the REAL Change web site, visit http://liverealchange.com/ For the Office Depot matching grant web site, visit http://www.officedepot.com/a/promo/pages/realchange/ http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10387 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Middle School chamber orchestra has commissioned a new piece of music composed especially for them. As part of this project, the composer, John Caponegro, visited the middle school to work with the students and their teacher David Lobenstein during a special session on April 10. “Mr. Caponegro is a renowned composer of orchestral music,” said Lobenstein, “His pieces are performed worldwide. This will be a unique educational experience for all students involved.” The piece, which is titled “Shadows Across the Moon,” will be performed at the spring concert on May 16 at the middle school. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10389 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Undeterred by setbacks caused by Superstorm Sandy, the Long Beach High School theater department was proud to present a musical production of “Footloose” on April 18-20. Although the storm delayed the opening of the show from February to April, it did not dampen the spirits of the young actors who showed amazing energy and jubilance despite the hardships many had faced in recent months. This tale of some courageous teens who revitalize the spirit of their town by rebelling against an oppressive ban against dancing provided an uplifting evening of entertainment for a community struggling to return to normalcy in the aftermath of Sandy. As the show opens, Ren McCormack (played by Joseph Keiserman) and his mother Ethel (Kelly Vargas) are bidding farewell to their native Chicago. After Ren’s father walks out on them, they are forced to live with relatives in the town of Beaumont — a place no one in Chicago has ever heard of. Thinking at first that he might find solace in small-town life, Ren finds himself at odds with the repressive atmosphere of the town, and especially at odds with the local minister, Reverend Moore (Russell Goetz). The good reverend, who wields considerable influence over his flock, had convinced the town to impose a ban on dancing after his own son and three other Beaumont teens were tragically killed in a car accident five years ago on their way home from a dance. Complicating life even further for Ren is a budding relationship with Reverend Moore’s headstrong and rebellious daughter Ariel (Alexandra Brodsky). Not only does Ren’s friendship with Ariel further set the reverend against him, but it also pits him against Ariel’s rough-and-tumble boyfriend Chuck Cranston (Christian Musto), who vows to take him down. It seems that the only friends he has made in Beaumont are Willard Hewitt (Max Tunney) and Mrs. Moore (Annie Gloeggler), who does her best to convince her husband that Ren is not the troublemaker that Reverend Moore makes him out to be. As Ren tries to adjust to his new life in Beaumont, he becomes increasingly frustrated with the oppressive atmosphere of the town and takes Ariel, Willard and their friends to a dance hall outside of town, where they all cut loose. Inspired by the enthusiasm he has reawakened in his new friends, Ren tries to petition the town council to lift the ban on dancing, but his petition is denied. After Ren later learns that the vote was rigged by Reverend Moore, he decides to pay the reverend a visit to try to convince him to open his heart and let go of the overshadowing pain that he has been harboring since his son’s death. After realizing how much misery he has been causing his town by holding so tightly to his own grief, the reverend finally announces that he thinks a dance might be a good idea — and “Everybody Cuts Footloose.” Their final musical performance marked a bittersweet moment for seniors Russell and Joseph, who have been sharing the Long Beach High School stage in various roles since freshman year. This show proved to be the most dramatically challenging for both young men, as they channeled the angst and pain of loss through their characters. This was the second time that Alexandra and Christian were paired romantically on the stage, although the roles both young actors played this year were much more serious than their comedic turn in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” After delivering a standout performance in the fall production of “The Odd Couple,” Max Tunney once again showed his comedic talent in his portrayal of the goofy but loveable Willard. Katherine Murphy, Kayla McAvoy and Anna Falvey, who played Ariel’s friends Rusty, Urleen and Wendy Jo, respectively, showed equal skill in their well-delivered comedic lines and melodic vocals, including a standout performance of “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Kelly and Annie, as the two loving mothers, also blended beautifully in a duet titled “Learning to Be Silent.” The entire cast’s outstanding vocals and energetic dancing combined with rocking orchestral accompaniment brought audiences to their feet for curtain calls each night. The show was directed by Christie Holub, in her first Long Beach musical, with Russell Goetz taking on the role of student director. Marino Bragino III led the smoking hot pit orchestra and Michael Capobianco brought the vocals to perfection as musical director. Marcus Quiroga once again dazzled with his creative and energetic choreography, and stage manager Taylor Barje and her crew deftly handled all the scene changes. Eric Krywe was the technical director and Kenneth Horgan was in charge of scenic design. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10356 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Nominations for the 2013-2014 inductions into the Long Beach High School Wall of Fame will be accepted through June 1, 2013. To nominate a candidate, please pick up a nomination form at any Long Beach public school, the Long Beach Public Schools Administration Office, the Athletic Office at Long Beach High School, or download a form at www.lbeach.org. The Long Beach High School Wall of Fame was conceived to honor present and former members of the Long Beach community who have made substantial contributions either locally or to the world at large, including contributions in the area of athletics. This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the district, nominations of historical figures, living and deceased, who have played a critical role in politics, cultural affairs, business and education, will also be accepted. Historical figures who have already been inducted to the Wall of Fame in previous years will not be considered. Please visit www.lbeach.org to view a complete list of the past inductees to the Wall of Fame. In 1996, the Wall of Fame was dedicated by the Long Beach Booster Club in cooperation with the Long Beach Public Schools to serve as an inspiration for the youth of Long Beach. Qualified candidates must have either attended Long Beach High School for at least two full years, or in lieu of such attendance, must have been associated with the Long Beach community for a period of no less than 10 years. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the district, the definition of qualified candidates was expanded to include historical figures who have had a lasting impact on the cultural, political, economic or educational development of the Long Beach community. Please detail specific achievements, dates worth noting, and any and all other supporting information, documentation, photographs, newspaper articles, testimonials and the like. Completed forms and all other supporting information should be sent to the Office of the Superintendent, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY 11561-5093 before Saturday, June 1, 2013. Any resident of the Long Beach School District, or district staff member who has been employed in the district for no less than five continuous years, may nominate a candidate for inclusion into the Wall of Fame. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10370 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Six Long Beach High School students earned top scores in the American Mathematics Competition. Their scores gained them recognition by the AMC as having exceptional mathematical talent. Michael Heiss, Hunter Rogoff and Frank Valdez finished in the top three of the 56 Long Beach High School juniors and seniors who competed in the AMC 12. Michael had the highest score, earning him the “Winner” designation. Hunter and Frank received the “Team” designation. Of the 66 Long Beach freshmen and sophomores who took the AMC 10, Jordan Torregrosa achieved “Winner” designation with the highest score in the school, while the other two top scorers, Andrew Klang and Eric Zeppa, earned the designation of “Team.” Students’ scores in both competitions were comparable to those of their peers across the nation. Long Beach High School administered the AMC to all students who were interested in rising to the challenge. According to the competition’s official website, AMC is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation's youth by challenging them to problem-solve mathematical concepts beyond the scope and sequence of their grade level, and by identifying, recognizing and rewarding excellence in mathematics. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examinations in secondary school mathematics containing problems that can be understood and solved with pre-calculus concepts. The main purpose of the AMC 12 is to spur interest in mathematics and to develop talent through solving challenging problems in a timed multiple-choice format. “What happens before and after the AMC can have lasting educational value,” said District Mathematics Director Cheriese Pemberton. “It is our hope that our students who participate in this competition will increase their interest in pursuing mathematical careers.” PHOTO Long Beach High School students Frank Valdez, Michael Heiss, Eric Zeppa and Andrew Klang earned the top scores in their school in the AMC 10 and AMC 12 math competitions. Absent from photo: Top scorers Hunter Rogoff and Jordan Torregrosa. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10331 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT There was a decidedly personal atmosphere at Lido School’s annual Career Day, as alumni, parents and local business people visited the school to share their experiences in fields as varied as music, cultural arts, sports, advertising, merchandising, pizza making, firefighting, law enforcement, recreation and web design. The event was even more meaningful for students because they already had personal connections with many of the presenters. Local surf instructor Cliff Skudin, who is a graduate of Lido School, returned to speak with students about beach safety and how he started his popular Long Beach surf school. Long Beach police officer Stephanie Marro spoke to students about her career in law enforcement. Todd Kaminsky, who grew up in Long Beach, told students about his career as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. During his presentation, he gave students many insights into the workings of the criminal justice system. Anthony Fallon of the Long Beach Fire Department is the father of a Lido student. He demonstrated how he and his fellow firefighters use equipment like heat sensors to help them rescue people from burning buildings. Priscilla Mistretta, whose daughter is a student at Lido School, demonstrated how she makes the “Magic of Macy’s” come alive. Over the years she has been involved in merchandising, marketing and advertising for this retail giant. Long Beach Middle School teacher Michael Lundwall, who is also a Long Beach lifeguard, spoke to students about how he works to keep everyone safe at the beach. Michael Cupani, who is the husband of Lido teacher Debra Cupani, told students how he makes a living as a street artist. Students even made a trip over to the middle school for a lesson in pizza making that was conducted by the district’s Nutritional Services Department. Other local business people who shared their talents included tax consultant Bob Brenner, who plays in a band on the side, and Web wizards Ian Danby and Mike Longworth of the CyberNet Place. Professional photographer Matt Mendelsohn, a Long Island native who now resides in Virginia, also shared his expertise with students. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10183 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT A Music Department Faculty Recital hosted by the Albion Central School District in Albion, N.Y. raised over $2,200 to benefit the Long Beach Public Schools Music Department. Albion's Director of Bands Mike Thaine, a college friend of Long Beach Middle School orchestra teacher David Lobenstein, contacted Mr. Lobenstein in an effort to direct funds to Long Beach's music department in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. “They have kids – just like we do – who eat, sleep and breathe music,” Mr. Thaine said. “Those kids went from playing, practicing and making music every day to nothing. And many of those same students’ homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, so there’s misfortune on so many different levels for them. In the midst of this chaos, music could have been their stability, their rock, but they didn’t even have that anymore.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10185 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Thanks to generous funding from Music Rising, the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation has been able to donate $18,430 worth of instruments to Long Beach Middle School to assist with the school's rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The donation included one 88-key digital keyboard, two baritones, two violas, one double French horn, one 3/4 tuba and two alto saxophones. “Our hearts go out to all of you in the Long Beach community as you heal from this tragic disaster,” said Tricia Steel, program director of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “We hope the donated instruments will help get the music program back on its feet so that students can once again enjoy the tremendous benefits of music education.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10186 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT As part of an annual tradition, members of the Long Beach League of Women Voters visited Long Beach High School senior history and economics classes to lead discussions about the importance of voting and civic responsibility. While they were there, league members helped 169 seniors register to vote. Those students who turn 18 before the respective dates of the school board elections and budget vote, primary elections and November elections are eligible to vote. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10194 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10152 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10141 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT After all they faced in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, it was a great tribute to the determination of Long Beach High School winter varsity athletes to have four players in three separate sports earn state honors. Senior Steven Sewkumar (left), who won the county wrestling title in the 113-pound weight class, went on to become an All-State wrestler who came in third in the 113-pound weight class at the state competition. For the second consecutive year, senior Nicholas Stoski and sophomore Max Willard were state qualifiers in swimming. Nicholas, who won the division title in the 100-yard breaststroke, finished 13th at the state competition. Maximilian, who finished second in the 500-yard freestyle at the county meet, went on to finish 11th at the states. Senior John Delahanty, a conference champion, finished second in the county in the pole vault. He finished 18th in the states with a 13-foot vault. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10143 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The district is hosting a Math Learning Academy for students in grades 3-8. As a result of unexpected challenges this year caused by Superstorm Sandy, many students are in need of additional support outside of the school day. The program is designed to provide students who are in need of after-school support with a supplement to their classroom learning in order to address basic math skills. Teachers in grades 3-8 recommended a few students per class who may benefit from the service. There are approximately 300 students enrolled in the Math Learning Academy in grades 3-8. “It is our hope that students will benefit from the supplemental services and maximize their potential on the upcoming 2013 New York State Math Assessment,” said Director of Mathematics Cheriese Pemberton. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10145 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Undeterred by the obstacles thrown in their way by Superstorm Sandy, Long Beach Middle School students came together in a spirit of community to bring Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” magically to life, just a few months after the originally scheduled date. Based on the classic French fairy tale, the musical tells the story of Belle, an intelligent young woman who longs to escape from her provincial French village, and the Beast, a once-handsome prince who longs to escape from the imprisonment of his monstrous body. Thrown together in the Beast’s enchanted castle, they learn to look beyond appearances to discover that true love has the power to free them both. The show was directed by Jean-Marie Marciano, with Lauren Diesu acting as assistant director. Scott Powers was the stage manager. Choreography was directed by Marciano and Jesse Scott. Brian Pross and Laura Swan were in charge of set construction. Tatiana Ramos was the prop master and Alexis Robinson handled lighting. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10104 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach School District was one of 307 school districts across the country and 14 in Nassau County to be recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. On March 18 the NAMM Foundation announced the results of its 14th annual Best Communities for Music Education survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. This is the third year in a row that the Long Beach City School District has earned this distinction. According to NAMM, the Best Communities designation recognizes collaborative, from-the-ground-up efforts of teachers, administrators, students and parents who continually work to keep comprehensive music education as an integral part of the core curriculum. The BCME survey is a nationwide search for communities whose programs exemplify a strong commitment to music education. Established in 1999, BCME recognizes and celebrates schools, their administrators, teachers, board members, parents and students for their support of music education and their efforts to ensure access to all students as part of the core curriculum. The BCME program requires each school and district to detail funding, staffing, commitment to standards and access to music instruction. Responses are meticulously reviewed by researchers at The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas (an affiliate of the University of Kansas) and the NAMM Foundation to calculate the designated districts and awarded schools. More than 1,600 students participate in the Long Beach School District’s 36 bands, orchestras and choral ensembles. Students in grades 5-12 participate in All-State, All-County, LISFA and NYSSMA festivals. One All-Eastern, two All-State and 53 All-County musicians were named in 2012-13. Eight were chosen to perform at the Long Island String Festival. The high school’s marching band participates every year in the Newsday Marching Band Festival held at Hofstra University. This year the marching band was invited to perform at the New York City Columbus Day Parade. Long Beach High School is one of only a handful of schools on Long Island that offers a guitar class as part of its arts curriculum, and the only guitar program in which students present a multi-act stage show at the end of the year. School groups also perform at various venues throughout Long Beach as a service to the community. The high school gives talented music students the opportunity to join the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Members tutor younger musicians and perform community outreach work. “This three-time honor is a well-deserved recognition that our community, district leaders, teachers and parents believe in music education and are assuring that it is part of a complete education for children in our schools,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the district’s director of comprehensive arts. “It holds us up as an example of community support and commitment to music education.” A copy of the survey can be downloaded for review at www.nammfoundation.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10091 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer today called on the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force to help reimburse local school districts such as Long Beach that are seeing greatly increased busing costs for students displaced by Superstorm Sandy. By law, school districts must provide busing to students that have been displaced up to 50 miles, but the districts are not receiving reimbursements for these significant costs, placing the burden on the children and local taxpayers. While the total costs are not yet clear, at least a dozen Long Island school districts have spent tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars each to provide additional services to the approximately 1,000 students displaced by the storm. Schumer called on the Task Force to find a way to reimburse school districts, like Lindenhurst and Long Beach, which are administering special transportation services to displaced students. The Long Beach School District has spent approximately $75,000 per month for the more than 150 students displaced by the storm, and although the number of displaced students has decreased since the storm, the district is still spending approximately $20,000 per month as of today. The district reallocated buses and routes to keep costs down, while at the same time providing full transportation services, and has spent approximately $170,000 more than it would otherwise on transportation to date. “It's important for students to get back to their schools, teachers and friends as soon as possible after a major disruption like Sandy, but local school districts shouldn't be left responsible for the costs of a national disaster,” said Schumer. "Congress passed legislation to reduce the impact of Sandy on local governments, and it makes perfect sense for some of the relief dollars to go to school districts to help them transport students affected by the storm. Otherwise the cost, which may be in the multi-millions, will be borne entirely by local taxpayers and could impact the education of every child in the affected districts." After Superstorm Sandy, over 1,000 students were displaced and in need of transportation services to pick them up and drop them off at school. Schools districts on Long Island have spent over $1 million on these post-Sandy services, and the final cost may be much higher. The school district's obligation comes from the McKinney Vento Assistance Act, which says that school districts must provide transportation to displaced or homeless students within a 50-mile radius of the district. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10093 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=10052 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9724 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT Great Neck North High School joined forces with Long Beach High School for a fund-raising concert featuring the songs from “Les Misérables” to benefit the Long Beach Public Schools Comprehensive Arts Department, which suffered huge losses of equipment, musical scores, pianos, and rehearsal rooms as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Coming together on March 23 in the North High School auditorium was a combined chorus of some 125 voices made up of North High’s Jazz Choir, the Long Beach High School Select Choir and Great Neck North High alumni, some of whom performed in North’s production of Les Misérables last year. Solos were performed by members of the Jazz Choir and numerous alumni. Audience members were not just viewers at this special event—they were invited to sing along on selected pieces. The singers rehearsed together the afternoon of March 23. The North High Music Boosters provided dinner prior to the concert. Great Neck North High School composer in residence Roger Ames and English teacher Jeffrey Gilden coordinated the event, with Dr. Janine Robinson, choral director, and parent Jeff Blye assisting on keyboards. Long Beach Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson and music teacher Michael Capobianco worked hand in hand with them to organize this cooperative endeavor between the two schools. The idea to do a fund-raiser for Long Beach grew out of a desire by North High music students to help their fellow musicians. It began with the Jazz Choir donating the money they usually raise to cover the cost of their annual trip to perform at Disney World. Under the guidance of fine and performing arts department chair Neil Saggerson and Mr. Ames, the idea took off. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9999 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Middle School Peace and Wisdom clubs joined forces for a special fundraising effort to help the middle school Bridge Program for special needs children. When the two clubs were brainstorming ideas for projects to commemorate Random Acts of Kindness Week, they didn’t need to look any further than their own building. After learning that the Bridge classroom had lost a tremendous amount of specialized learning materials and classroom accessories in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the students in the two clubs collaborated in an effort to raise money so that some of these much-needed supplies could be replaced. Club members posted information about what kinds of supplies were needed all over the middle school, and all week they visited the different cafeteria periods and asked for donations from the students and staff. Together they collected $344.45, which they presented to the Bridge class on March 20. Club members worked under the direction of advisers Tamara Richards and John Anfossi. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9952 Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9954 Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Middle school music teacher Elizabeth Altbacker was featured in a short film made by an organization called Project Noise. The film chronicled the story of how Altbacker’s personal and professional life was turned upside down by Superstorm Sandy. Undeterred, she pushed ahead in stride to give her students a chance to make music and heal. The filmmakers visited her school and her home, interviewed her, spoke with students, and toured the City of Long Beach to see firsthand the effects of the storm and how Altbacker and her students are coping with life after Sandy. “I went to the middle school the day after the storm,” said Altbacker. “There was mud everywhere, and so many of the instruments were ruined. I went to school here myself and I have been teaching here for 18 years. I remember when all these instruments were purchased. After the storm, I wrote to every music company I could think of and reached out to former students. I knew that I had to do whatever it took to put instruments in my kids’ hands again.” One of the companies that came through for Altbacker was Fender, who donated 24 instruments to the school. Fender contacted Project Noise to make this documentary to promote their donation and make other companies aware of the need to donate. Project Noise is a nonprofit that creates videos and media campaigns at no or low cost to organizations working to better the world, with the goal of amplifying the impact of nonprofits and raising awareness about critical social issues. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9891 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Four Long Beach High School culinary students received the opportunity of a lifetime when they were invited to cook with Executive Chef Ed Cotton, who was a runner-up on the seventh season of Top Chef. Cotton, who received his Associate of Occupational Studies from the Culinary Institute of America, has also appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef America as Cat Cora's sous chef. Matthew Birnbaum, Aleeyah Page, Alexandra Schustek and Julianna Zaharias traveled with family and consumer sciences teacher Scott Brecher to Manhattan’s Fishtail by David Burke, where Cotton is the executive chef. Cotton welcomed the students into his kitchen, where they donned chef coats to prepare two types of chowder and some homemade oyster crackers. Cotton worked with the students throughout the entire process, providing insight and education. The soup they prepared was served to restaurant patrons that evening. “It was exciting to be able to give my students a glimpse into the life of a real executive chef,” said Mr. Brecher. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9801 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Polish up your dancing shoes and get ready to shake up the town as the Long Beach High School Theater Department presents “Footloose” on April 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $10. For tickets, call 516-897-6500. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9786 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Five Long Beach High School students in the Talented Writers program won a total of 16 northeast regional poetry awards in the 2013 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. Julia Berkowitz, Emily Bromberg, Alexis Romano, Shannon Romig and Alec Wall each won awards for all of the entries they submitted, which is a first for the school. Emily and Alec, who won gold key awards, both went on to be judged at the national level of the competition. Emily won a Silver Medal in the national competition, given only to works demonstrating high honors on the national level. She has been invited to a ceremony in Carnegie Hall for students who are national medalists. Alec Wall was offered a full scholarship to attend a writing conference this June. 2013 Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winners from Long Beach High School: Julia Berkowitz • Honorable Mention Poetry Poppy • Honorable Mention Poetry Milk and Honey • Honorable Mention Poetry The Swan Emily Bromberg • Honorable Mention Poetry Cyanide • Silver Key Poetry Fireflies • Silver Key Poetry Coda • Gold Key Poetry 4:37 AM • Silver Key Poetry Medicated • National Silver Medal Poetry 4:47 Alexis Romano • Silver Key for her entire writing portfolio Shannon Romig • Honorable Mention Poetry The Pact • Silver Key Poetry The Scientist • Honorable Mention Poetry Ghost • Silver Key Poetry Hangover • Honorable Mention Poetry Who • Silver Key Poetry My Inner Treasure Alec Wall Gold Key Poetry: • You Left Us On A Thursday, • 8/30/12, • You Are Art • My Lip • Split Written by Rachell Koegel, teacher of Talented Writers and advisor to Fragments literary magazine http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9789 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT This year’s Varsity Winter Sports Awards Night turned out to be not only a celebration of victories on the field, but also a celebration of victories of the heart. The opening of the winter sports season coincided with the first day of classes after Superstorm Sandy destroyed much of Long Beach and left athletes without practice facilities, uniforms or equipment to start their season. Undaunted, Director of Athletics Arnold Epstein and his coaches and staff got right to work, and with the cooperation of neighboring districts, they were able to find space to practice. Most of their home games were played on the road this year, since all of the gymnasium floors in the district were destroyed in the storm. Many players were still displaced from their homes, traveling from all over the metropolitan area to attend classes and practices, and even those who were not displaced traveled many miles each day to practice at neighboring schools that had opened their doors to Long Beach. And through it all, the varsity cheerleaders kept everyone’s spirits high with their enthusiastic support. “This year more than ever, I want you to know how proud I am of you all,” said Epstein. “You are a great group of individuals, from the coaches and staff who worked so hard to make this season happen to the players who pulled together and supported one another to make it through these tough times.” Despite the adversity these teams faced, they managed to pull off some amazing accomplishments. The girls basketball, gymnastics, ice hockey, boys swim, boys track and girls track teams were all named scholar-athlete teams, with team scholastic averages of 90 or above. The boys swim team earned the division championship title, the girls basketball team made it to the playoffs, and the wrestling team was one of the first high school wrestling teams invited to compete at Madison Square Garden against the best college teams in the country. The girls gymnastics team received the Nassau County Officials Sportsmanship Award. Among the individual awards, Steven Sewkumar was an All-State wrestler who came in third in his weight class at the state competition. Swimmers Nicholas Stoski and Maximilian Willard and were state qualifiers in swimming. John Delahanty was a state qualifier in track. There were also 10 All-County, 17 All-Conference, four all-Division and two All-Class players named. In addition, Willard broke a school record in the 500-yard freestyle that was set in 1986, finishing with a time of 4:46.18. He then broke his own record a week later, posting a time of 4:43.46. Delahanty broke the school record in the pole vault with a 13-foot vault, a record previously held by Bill Muirhead. Boys basketball coach T.J. Burke was named the Conference AA-3 Coach of the Year. “This season was very different from any other season,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “From the start of the season, it was extremely hard. With no uniforms and no place to play, it was remarkable to see parents, coaches and team members come together under the leadership of Mr. Epstein to pull this season off. When you come out on the other side of this kind of adversity, it makes you stronger. My congratulations to all of the warriors in this room.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9753 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Touched by the losses sustained by the Long Beach High School athletics teams in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, a group of Farmingdale High School girls lacrosse players took it upon themselves to gather donations for the Long Beach Girls Lacrosse program. The Long Beach team received equipment such as sticks, goggles, cleats, balls, pinnies, socks and apparel. Included in the donated box of pinnies was a letter titled "26 Acts of Kindness." The pinnies were donated in memory of each of the 26 Sandy Hook victims. The Long Beach team will now wear these pinnies during practice all season to remember the children from Sandy Hook Elementary. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9754 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT On March 8, students from the Long Beach Middle School Math Club participated in the Math Olympiads tournament at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale. Competing against 20 schools, the Long Beach team, under the direction of teacher Grace Parisi, finished in fifth place. Students walked away with certificates, medals and a trophy. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9692 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Touched by the hardships faced by Long Beach High School Seniors in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Long Beach community, spearheaded by resident Steve Vaccaro organized an event called “Long Live Long Beach.” At this St. Patrick’s Day-themed celebration, 28 lucky seniors will win free tuxedo rentals. The event will take place on March 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the John F. O’Grady Post 1384 at 675 West Park Avenue in Long Beach. There will be Irish entertainment, food and beverages and a live radio broadcast on 1240AM WGBB from 7 to 8 p.m. A small suggested donation will support a variety of community outreach efforts. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9733 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT All Long Beach Public Schools will be in session on Monday, March 25 and Monday, April 1. These days do not appear on the district calendar as school days. March 25 will be Day 5 and April 1 will be Day 6. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9674 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Two Long Beach Middle School teams finished in first place in the regional Odyssey of the Mind competition on March 2. Their first-place finish earned both teams the right to advance to the state competition in Binghamton, N.Y. on March 23. Preparing for this year’s competition was especially challenging for these two teams, since their preparation time was cut from the usual six months to only two months in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. In addition to their first-place award, one team also earned two additional awards. They received the OMer Award, which is presented to a team for meeting and exceeding the goals of the 2013 Odyssey of the Mind creative problem-solving regional competition. They also earned the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award that recognizes exceptional creativity. The members of this team – Dane DePasquale, Kelly Gannon, Madison Gusler, Charlotte Kile, Savannah Kile, Mallie Littman and Carly Siegel – solved a problem titled “It’s How You Look at It.” This team went on to finish in third place at the state competition. The other first-place team of Talia Fernandez, Hanna Katz, Chrysalis Mandell, Shea McMahon, Jarrod Pine, Lindsey Rudtner and Hannah Zelinger solved a problem titled “ARTchitecture: The Musical.” They finished in seventh place at the state competition. The middle school teams, which consisted of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, prepared for the competition through the school’s OM Club, under the direction of faculty coaches Alyssa Mazurek and Lorraine Pross. Many of the middle school winners had qualified to compete at both the state and world finals in past years. For more than 25 years, the district has had at least one team qualify for the state finals. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides students with opportunities to apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and approximately 25 countries abroad participate in the program. The Long Beach students who participate in OM say that it teaches them to think outside of the box, be creative, practice teamwork, overcome fears and get along with others. They say they must also be committed to working countless hours, brainstorming, writing and practicing their scripts, and creating props and costumes to prepare for competition. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9676 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Great Neck North High School will be hosting a fund-raising concert featuring the songs from Les Misérables to benefit the Long Beach Public Schools Comprehensive Arts Department on Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m., in the North High auditorium, 35 Polo Road, Great Neck. There will be open seating. Doors will open at 7 p.m. The benefit concert will help the Long Beach Public Schools Music Department recover from huge losses of equipment, musical scores, pianos, and rehearsal rooms as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Performing the glorious music from Les Miz will be a combined chorus of some 125 voices made up of North High’s Jazz Choir, the Long Beach High School Select Choir (Michael Capobianco, director of choral music), and Great Neck North High alumni, some of whom performed in North’s production of Les Misérables last year. Solos will be performed by members of the Jazz Choir and numerous alumni. The audience will not just be viewers at this special event—they will be invited to sing along on selected pieces. Printed lyrics will be provided in the program. At North High, Roger Ames, composer in residence, and English teacher Jeffrey Gilden will be coordinating the event, with Dr. Janine Robinson, choral director, and parent Jeff Blye assisting on keyboards. The idea to do a fund-raiser for Long Beach grew out of a desire by North High music students to help their fellow musicians. It began with the Jazz Choir donating the money they usually raise to cover the cost of their annual trip to perform at Disney World. Under the guidance of fine and performing arts department chair Neil Saggerson and Mr. Ames, the concert began to take shape. The singers from North High and Long Beach will rehearse the afternoon of March 23, with the North High Music Boosters (a parent organization) providing dinner prior to the concert. The suggested donation for tickets at the door is $10 for adults and $5 for students. For those unable to attend the concert, but wishing to contribute to Long Beach’s Fine and Performing Arts Department, checks, made out to “North High School Extra Activity Fund,” may be mailed to Neil Sagggerson, North High School, 35 Polo Road, Great Neck, NY 11023. For more information, please contact Mr. Saggerson at nsaggerson@greatneck.k12.ny.us. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9653 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9662 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Common Core Learning Standards in Math On Feb. 22-23, Long Beach teachers participated in a Common Core math training session with Kim Sutton. The grade 3-8 mathematics workshop addressed the new Common Core Learning Standards. Teachers learned practical and meaningful strategies for getting to the heart of intensive math content with music, literature and hands-on activities. This in-service course, which focused on number sense and operations, included concepts such as the development and understanding of numbers, place value thinking, fraction fluency and positive reinforcement of basic concepts. Teachers also learned practical and meaningful classroom management strategies throughout the seminar. Collaborative Inquiry High school teachers are engaged in Action Research. This in-service course, taught by Director of Mathematics Cheriese Pemberton, gave teachers tools to increase student performance in Algebra and Algebra 2 & Trigonometry through data-driven practices. Participants engaged in collaborative inquiry to identify problems of practice, review literature about what works, and develop an action plan to address student needs based on research-based practices. Participants went on to administer a pre-test in order to establish baseline data and a post-test to evaluate the effectiveness of their action plan. There will be three interim assessments administered between the pre-test and post-test. In this ongoing project, participants will explore Brambrick-Santoyo’s data analysis system as a means of determining individual student growth. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9598 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Lido Elementary School students were so touched by the many donations of books and supplies they received after Superstorm Sandy damaged their school that they have decided to pay it forward. Students in grades 3-5 will be conducting a book drive to help the Mobile Library Bus Project of Northern Nicaragua deliver Spanish-language books to children in rural areas of Nicaragua, many of whom who have never even held a book before. To kick off their Pay It Forward project, Stacey Clark of the Mobile Library Bus Project visited Lido classrooms to show students how the mobile library staff and volunteers load bins of books onto the library bus and venture into the countryside surrounding the Miraflor and Esteli regions of Northern Nicaragua. At each site, children in pre-kindergarten to elementary school can browse and exchange books, as well as participate in other educational and recreational activities. Lido students will also be writing letters and making handmade bookmarks decorated with phrases like “Leer Es Divertido” (Reading Is Fun) and “Triunfando con Libros” (Being Triumphant with Books). To make their donation more personal, they will send the letters and bookmarks to the children in Nicaragua along with the books they collect. “After being helped by so many people themselves, our students were excited to be able to show other children that Lido cares,” said teacher Tova Markowitz, who helped organize the drive. “This is an extra-special project for Lido School, since Nicaragua is the home country of a number of our students.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9618 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT A team of 10 Long Beach Middle School seventh-graders participated in the Mathcounts chapter competition on Feb. 12, increasing their school’s placement from 11th place last year to seventh place this year. Last year was the first year students participated in the program. Mathcounts competitions are organized at four levels: school, chapter, state and national. Mathcounts is an accelerated math enrichment program offered to Long Beach Middle School sixth- and seventh-graders who excel in math. Through this program, students explore mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level. Pictured Kneeling (l to r): Blaise Derenze, Evan Garcia, Danielle Breen and Marina Meyer. Standing (l to r): Mathcounts teacher Kelly Honerkamp, Gabriel Wilkens-Vega, Logan Friedman, Liam Thornton, Jared Weissberg and Tristan Groh. Absent from photo: Jack Cruse-Mulhall. “These competitions can be quite challenging, but the real success of Mathcounts is in the challenges that students overcome as they problem-solve in mathematics,” said District Director of Mathematics Cheriese Pemberton. “Mathcounts spurs students to view mathematics as exciting, challenging, rewarding and fun.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9619 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT As an annual harbinger to the spring prom season, for more than a decade Long Beach High School seniors have been donning the latest in eveningwear to take to the stage for the Morning Madness Fashion Show. Students participate in this event each year to help the Parent Teacher Student Association raise money and awareness for the annual substance-free Morning Madness After-Prom Party in June. Since so many students were displaced by the storm, the PTSA was worried that attendance at the annual fashion show might be down, but a record number of seniors signed up to strut their stuff, modeling the latest prom fashions in the name of Morning Madness. Bolstered by the seniors’ enthusiasm, the PTSA managed to bring in a near record number of fashion show attendees to support this worthy cause. This year, more than ever, the PTSA is counting on proceeds from the fashion show to fund its annual Morning Madness Post-Prom event. Every year for the past 22 years, through a series of fundraising events, the PTSA has been paying for every high school senior to attend this all-night post-prom party, giving away a brand-new car and other prizes. But in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, they were not able to hold two of their biggest fundraisers. So they were counting very heavily on the proceeds from the Fashion Show to give this year’s graduating class – who has already faced such adversity – a morning of madness to remember. With the support of prom adviser Adriene Glassberg and choreographer Maria Perrone, Morning Madness committee chairs Betsy Glazer, Randi Andosca, Linda Birnbaum, Rhonda Healy, Linda Morgenstern and Ann Marie Scandole saw to every detail, making sure that this would be an unforgettable night for the seniors and their families. Before the show, parents and friends enjoyed an Aussie-style feast, donated by Outback Steakhouse of Island Park, as the high school string ensemble provided musical entertainment. While the seniors were busy backstage completing their transformations from typical teenagers to glamorous runway models, committee chair Glazer expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the night a reality. “Two months ago, we didn’t know if we would be standing here tonight,” said Glazer. “But with the support of the faculty and the help of more than 20 volunteers, we were determined to make sure that our seniors will have the night they deserve. Special thanks go out to our diamond sponsor Outback Steakhouse and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Rosenthal, as well as the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association, Long Beach Herald, Hon. Warren Vegh and Irene Rabinor.” Seniors Rob Delury, Paola Servellon, Michelle Skripko and Victor Tarantino acted as masters of ceremonies for the evening, announcing each couple as they paraded down the runway in glittering gowns and tuxedos. A record number of 160 seniors took part in this gala event. Gowns and tuxedos were provided courtesy of Runway Couture of Bellmore, Femmena Dress Boutique of Lynbrook, Bridal Reflections and Snider’s Formal Wear. Teacher Maria Perrone once again choreographed the show, including the surprise finale in which all 160 students gathered on the stage together, providing a spectacular photo-op for family and friends. Morning Madness is an alcohol- and drug-free all-night party that provides seniors with a fun, safe and absolutely free place to continue their celebration after the prom. The party, which is open to all seniors, features food, music and raffle prizes. The grand prizes, raffled off at the end of the evening, are a Netbook, a flat-screen TV and a brand-new car. Students must be present at the time of the raffle in order to be eligible to win these grand prizes – a powerful incentive to stay all night. Even after the success of the fashion show, which raised $9,000, the PTSA still has a long way to go to reach its fundraising goals to be able to make June’s Morning Madness Post-Prom Party a success. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation to Morning Madness is invited to contact the Long Beach High School PTSA at 516-897-2012. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9621 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT After weeks of planning and preparation, the Long Beach High School student body was ready to compete in the annual Class Olympics on March 1 in the high school auditorium, with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors battling it out against each another in events such as swimming, tube racing, musical chairs, dance battles and banner design contests. Each class was also judged on school spirit displays throughout the school, as well as the designs of their respective class t-shirts. The festivities included a themed dance competition that pit the Senior Spies against the Juniors Hit the Jackpot, Storytale Sophomores and Cirque Du Freshmen, plus a fun round of musical chairs that featured every class. All participants were proud to represent their classes in this annual show of school spirit, athletic ability, creative talent and teamwork. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9576 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT After a two-month delay, Long Beach High School Model Congress XVIII finally took place on the weekend of Feb. 22. This year’s event, which was originally scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 14, would have become yet another casualty of Superstorm Sandy, if not for the extraordinary efforts of the executive board of the Long Beach Model Congress. Approximately 250 students from seven neighboring districts assembled for two days of congressional-style debates, meals, entertainment and networking. Model Congress delegates from East Meadow, Herricks, Hewlett, Lawrence, New Rochelle, Oceanside and Seaford/Wantagh divided into committees to hammer out legislation dealing with a host of foreign and domestic issues. As members of the host district, Long Beach High School delegates chaired the committees and organized all the activities for the two-day event. Model Congress gives students a chance to engage in a role-playing simulation of the United States Congress. These schools get together eight times during the school year and debate various pieces of mock legislation just as an actual legislative body would. Awards are given for outstanding delegates, both in committee and in full session. “This year's executive board and delegates have worked extremely hard to make Long Beach Model Congress XVIII possible,” said adviser Matthew Hartmann. “The executive board and I struggled to find open and workable dates on the calendar that would afford us the time needed to plan and implement all the various components that go into such a weekend. They exhibited extraordinary leadership skills to make everything come together.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9577 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT After experiencing much hardship in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Long Beach elementary school families were happy to hear that the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, through the support of Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliate BGC Partners, would be providing them each with $1,000 to aid in their efforts to rebuild their lives following the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. Every family of a student enrolled as of Oct. 29, 2012 at Blackheath Pre-K, East, Lido, Lindell and West schools was invited to gather at the Long Beach Middle School gymnasium on March 1 to personally receive a $1,000 prepaid debit card. Fifty volunteers from the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund worked tirelessly throughout the morning to make sure that the check-in process and distribution of gift cards went smoothly for each and every family. These five Long Beach schools are among 19 schools in Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey that were “adopted” by Cantor Fitzgerald in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. In total, $10 million has been pledged to help families with young children in these 19 schools. Long Beach Public Schools, with approximately 1,350 eligible families, has been the largest distribution to date. “The commitment on the part of the leadership and employees of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners allows the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund to be philanthropic in the face of tragedy. We have taken the knowledge gleaned from assisting our 9/11 community and applied it to families impacted by Superstorm Sandy providing them with direct financial assistance. We are grateful for the opportunity to assist these families and to help communities such as Long Beach to heal,” said Edie Lutnick, Co-founder and Executive Director of The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and Author of “An Unbroken Bond”. She added that Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners are matching all donations to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund for Hurricane Sandy assistance. In each case, there was some connection between Cantor Fitzgerald and the community. For example, seven Cantor Fitzgerald employees live in Long Beach and were able to testify to the devastation left in Sandy’s wake. “We came out within weeks of the hurricane,” said Allison Lutnick, wife of Cantor Fitzgerald L.P. Chairman and CEO Howard Lutnick. “Volunteers working in teams of six inspected these areas, so we saw firsthand how much help was needed.” While waiting in line at the distribution site, many Long Beach residents shared their stories. Since many of his friends are still displaced, George Ramos, whose son attends Lindell School, was happy to connect with many friends whom he hadn’t seen for months. Charnell Briggs, who has two children at Lindell School, had opened her doors to her cousin Jasmine Rogers’ family. The extra money will help their families to carry on. Bonnie Salsone, the mother of triplets at Lido School who was recently widowed, lost everything in the storm and was very grateful to receive this extra support. The gift card she received today will be a big help to Laura Tuffy, who has two children at East School. She and her family have been living in a rental apartment while their home is being repaired, and trying to keep up with both rent and mortgage payments has been a struggle. Lisa Goldstein’s family had to be pulled from their home as floodwaters engulfed them. The house, which was totally destroyed, is being torn down. But life goes on, with a fourth-grader at East School, as well as a senior graduating from the high school this year. Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 of the company’s 960 New York employees in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. The mission of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which was formed in the wake of these attacks, is to provide direct aid and support to victims of natural or civil disasters or emergency hardships and to support the efforts or relief workers and relief organizations that provide aid to victims. No stranger to disaster and hardship, Cantor Fitzgerald has been reaching out to help others in need ever since that fateful day. “On behalf of our district and the Long Beach community, I thank Cantor Fitzgerald for this extremely generous gesture,” said Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “Dealing with this tragedy has been extraordinarily difficult for all our families, and having the extra responsibility of caring for young children makes this even harder, so we are especially grateful to receive extra help for them.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9523 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT String students from the Long Beach High School Tri-M Music Honor Society played at the Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Long Beach Medical Center on Feb. 10. Tri-M Community Service Vice President Shannon Romig organized the event. The performers were (l to r): Paola Servellon and Jennifer Nash on violin, Brandan Persaud on viola and Shannon Romig on cello. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9540 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9457 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT At the Feb. 26 meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education, Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito delivered a preliminary budget presentation in which he outlined the district’s tax levy calculations for next year and presented the Board with the preliminary parameters for developing a budget that carries a 0% increase in the operating budget. Mr. DeVito began by guiding the Board and audience through the complex formula that computes tax base growth factors, PILOT payments, tax exclusions, available carryovers and exclusions to arrive at the district’s maximum allowable tax cap under law. This year’s allowable tax levy cap for the Long Beach School District is 5.52%. Mr. DeVito then explained that, taking into consideration the hardships caused by Superstorm Sandy, the district had opted to increase the preliminary budget by 0.99%, the value of increase in the district’s mandated debt service. As a result, the budget presented for Board consideration keeps operations spending flat for the third year in a row. The budget must include an increase of approximately $5 million to meet mandatory expenses for state retirement contributions, teacher retirement, hospital, medical and dental coverage, as well as serial bond payments. One of the greatest expense increases is in the district’s required contribution to the teacher retirement system – a 44% increase in growth that results in a mandatory $9 million expenditure – a number that is tied to investment performance and must be funded by law. “The Board has asked us to deliver to them a scenario for a 0% increase in operating expenditures as a starting point for the budget development process,” said Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “There is still much work to be done. We are mindful of our taxpayers in the aftermath of the storm and the financial burden that this has placed on us all. This year, even more than in years past, it’s imperative that we exercise fiscal restraint and efficiency without losing sight of our fine educational and co-curricular programs – programs that we all want to continue to flourish.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9412 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Statement from David Weiss Superintendent of Long Beach Public Schools An article that was published in the 2/28/13 print and online editions of Newsday entitled “Long Beach School Families Get $1,000 Debit Cards” has incorrectly named Long Beach Middle School as one of five schools where parents of children enrolled will receive a $1,000 debit card from Cantor Fitzgerald. The donation is designed to aid families with young children in our community in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Due to the capacity of the facility, Long Beach Middle School will in fact serve as the site for the distribution of this generous donation; however, middle school parents will not be receiving this donation. Only parents of students enrolled in the four Long Beach elementary schools – Lido, Lindell, East and West elementary schools– and the Blackheath Pre-Kindergarten Center, will receive this donation. Lido School was omitted from the original article, but will also benefit from this donation. We apologize to our middle school parents and all others who were inconvenienced by this misunderstanding, which appears to be due to the distribution location. On behalf of our district and the Long Beach community, I thank Cantor Fitzgerald for this extremely generous gesture. When they approached us, they made it clear that while they would love to help ALL Long Beach families, due to the enormous impact this storm has had on so many people, this was not possible and that the best thing to do was to focus on families with the youngest children. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9417 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Shannon Romig has been named one of 250 finalists in the 2012-2013 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which recognizes high school seniors for academic excellence, community leadership and their desire to make the world a better place. Shannon and the other finalists have been invited to Atlanta for a Scholars Weekend on April 18-21. The finalists will be interviewed by a National Selection Committee representing outstanding leaders in business, government, education and the arts. After completing their interviews, a total of 50 students will then be designated as National Scholars and receive awards of $20,000 for college. An additional 200 students will be designated as Regional Scholars and receive awards of $10,000 for college. Nearly 110,000 high school seniors applied for this year’s competition. An International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, Shannon is senior class secretary/treasurer and vice president of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, in addition to being president of the Future Physicians Club and co-editor of her school’s award-winning literary magazine, Fragments. She is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society. A varsity athlete, Shannon has been named an All-Conference player in soccer and badminton. Shannon, who participates in IB dance classes, was named a Scholar-Artist in Dance. She is also a champion Irish step dancer who has received numerous medals at regional and national competitions. Shannon uses her dance talents to entertain at area nursing homes, children’s hospitals and camps for children with special needs. She has served as student chair for the Long Beach Relay for Life as well as the Cablevision Power to Learn Charity Champions program, raising funds to benefit Camp Anchor. She received the 2012 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2012 Nassau Region PTA Youth Humanitarian Award. “You are clearly a leader among high school seniors and we are confident you will find much success in college and beyond,” said J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, in a letter acknowledging Shannon’s finalist status. “In recognition of your achievements and accomplishments, I am very proud to welcome you to the Coca-Cola Scholars family.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9420 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Students from Lindell and West schools teamed up to read more than 255,000 minutes over the course of three weeks as part of their PTA Parents as Reading Partners celebration, whose theme this year was “Let’s Join Together and Read.” Lindell Principal Karen Sauter and West Principal Sandra Schneider each challenged their students to read a combined total at least 100,000 minutes per school. The students had no trouble meeting and exceeding the challenge, logging in at 255,157 minutes. At a special PARP assembly on Feb. 19, the top three readers from each grade at each school were announced. To reward them for their efforts, Ms. Sauter dressed as a cowgirl. This year Lindell and West Elementary schools combined to celebrate our PARP program. The winning classes won pizza parties and the top readers received gift card to Barnes and Noble, Tutti Frutti and Baskin Robbins. Since West School students are attending classes at Lindell School while their school is undergoing repairs from Superstorm Sandy, the two schools teamed up for their PARP celebration this year. PTA parents from Lindell and West schools combined forces to run the program, with approximately 750 students participating. PARP is a New York State PTA program that asks parents to read with their children for at least 15 minutes daily, while stressing the fact that reading can be fun as well as informative. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9374 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT On Feb. 24, REAL Change Productions, in partnership with Office Depot and the Adopt-A-Classroom program, visited the Long Beach High School classroom of Dr. Andrew Smith as part of the REAL Change Project. Long Beach graduate (1996) and REAL Change producer Liam Murphy has been working on this project for six years, connecting superstar celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO and Jason Mraz, with their hometown schools in an effort to give back to those who helped them get their successful start. Murphy and his family are Long Beach natives who have deep ties within the community. His father Jack taught at Long Beach High School for 30 years, his grandmother was a lunchroom monitor, and Liam is passionate in supporting his district, as well as schools in need throughout the country. Murphy visited Long Beach High School with Office Depot and the Adopt-A-Classroom program to donate $20,000 worth of school supplies, including 30 Samsung tablets, a printer, printer paper, notebooks, pens, pencils and folders to help rebuild and replenish supplies following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. In addition, Adopt-A-Classroom has pledged to donate $125 to every Long Beach teacher who registers with the Adopt-A-Classroom program. Murphy’s visit to Dr. Smith’s class was captured on film and will be incorporated into a REAL Change telecast. This prime-time nationally televised compilation show will air on April 23 at 7 p.m. on CBS. In addition to the Long Beach High School segment, the telecast will also feature several notable musical artists such as Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Miley Cyrus, Jason Mraz and Quincy Jones, as they visit their hometown classrooms and recognize a teacher who has inspired them. Starting March 1 and running through May 31, anyone wishing to be part of this special movement can visit www.officedepot.com/realchange to make a donation. Office Depot will match all donations made during this period. Every dollar donated will go directly to aid the adopted classroom. “We want people to know that you don’t have to be a rock star to make a difference,” said Murphy. “Anyone can make a difference by adopting a classroom.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9375 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Model Congress delegates Chris Lester and David Fuchs received honorable mention for their debating skills at University of Pennsylvania 16th annual High School Model Congress. A total of eight Long Beach delegates attended the event on Feb. 7-10, meeting with other student delegates from around the country to tackle the most pressing issues that face our nation and the world today. The Long Beach delegates worked for six months to raise the money to attend this event. They debated for four straight days and nights with some of the brightest minds in the country. “This is a tremendous honor for Chris and David,” said Long Beach High School teacher Matthew Morand, who accompanied them on the trip. “This was an especially big accomplishment, since we had only eight delegates when most schools sent between 30-50 delegates. All eight of our delegates represented Long Beach in a mature and professional manner.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9373 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT After seeing the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy, the Herricks High School music department reached out to Long Beach Middle School, a neighbor school on the south shore of Long Island, to help the Long Beach School District music department replace instruments ruined by flooding. To raise money for this worthy cause, Herricks High School students hosted a “Herricks Idol” contest. The show was a complete sellout, with the proceeds, totaling $2,500, going to Long Beach’s music department. Long Beach music teachers Dave Lobenstein and Doug Renoud were invited to judge the contest. In addition, Herricks High School Music Department, Tri-M Music Honor Society and Herricks Music Boosters organized a community instrument drive, collecting over a dozen instruments and other music supplies for donation to Long Beach Schools. “We extend our thanks to Anissa Arnold, director of music and performing arts of the Herricks School District, who helped organize this wonderful event to help with our recovery efforts,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the Long Beach School District director of comprehensive arts. “We are also very grateful to the Herricks Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Herricks Community for their efforts to help us replace so many lost instruments.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9342 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Link to: Transportation Mainpage High School and Middle School Bus Schedules - **Updated A.M. Departure Times** East School Bus Schedules - Beginning January 22, 2013 Lido Bus Schedules - Beginning January 22, 2013 Lindell & West Bus Schedules - Beginning February 20, 2013 Lindell & West Route 1 - Beginning February 27, 2013**NEW** Pre-K Bus Routes - Beginning January 14, 2013 Pre-K Bus Routes PM - Beginning January 14, 2013 Modified Transportation Schedule for Reopening (Out-of-District) - Updated January 7, 2013 Note: Late buses for Private and Parochial Schools start on December 3rd. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7909 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Dear Community Members, On Monday, February 25, Long Beach High School will be participating in an exciting media segment through the Real Change Project and a CBS Television production. Our district was selected for the Adopt-A-Classroom program and will be receiving a variety of donated supplies, including instructional technology tools, to help us rebuild and replenish supplies lost during the devastation of Super Storm Sandy. To capture this momentous occasion there will be a visible media presence at the high school throughout the day with filming efforts led by Long Beach graduate, producer and REAL Change Founder and CEO Liam Murphy. This taping will be part of a prime time, nationally televised compilation show, which will be airing on CBS on April 23 and feature celebrity appearances and schools across the nation who are part of this outreach movement. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Sincerely, David Weiss Superintendent of Schools http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9297 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 GMT When they read about the devastation left behind in Long Beach in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, student-athletes at Northport High School sprang into action. The Northport students were especially touched to hear about how hard-hit the Long Beach High School athletic department was, losing five of its six gymnasiums, as well as equipment and uniforms for most of its athletic teams. Teaming up with former New York Ranger Adam Graves, the students were able to raise $20,000 that will be used to help the Long Beach High School spring sports teams on the road to recovery. Northport High School student-athletes Tucker Ingraham, Sophie Hager, and Craig Ronan traveled to Long Beach to personally present the check to a group of Long Beach athletes at the Feb. 12 Long Beach Board of Education meeting. “We all play on Northport High School sports teams and understand just how valuable that experience is for young people,” said Tucker. “We strongly believe in students helping students and know that it could have been Northport instead of Long Beach that needed to recover. We are all in this together and should help each other when adversity strikes.” “I am lucky to be friends with Mr. Adam Graves, who taught me so much about giving to others,” added Tucker. “Adam and my dad team up to raise money for needy organizations and families, and have supported numerous efforts by Northport High School students, including our desire to want to help you.” “We are very grateful to the Northport student-athletes and Mr. Graves for all they have done for our student-athletes,” said Arnold Epstein, director of athletics, physical education and health for the Long Beach School District. “It is moments like this that have gotten us through the many dark days we have faced since the storm hit,” added Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9307 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Thirty-three Long Beach School District students' artwork will be displayed at the Art Supervisors Association All County Art Exhibition which will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2013, from 12 noon to 4:00 PM at Adelphi University's Ruth S. Harley University Center in Garden City. Click here for more information http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9319 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9285 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9255 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Members of the Long Beach High School National Art Honor Society paid a visit to Lindell School for a Valentine’s Day community service project. Working with third-graders in Jennifer Diamond’s class and fourth-graders in Sara Mayo's class, the high school students showed the younger students how to create and decorate ceramic hearts. The NAHS members hope to return in a few weeks after the hearts have been fired in the kiln to demonstrate how to add color to their finished products. “Everyone had a great time,” said art teacher and NAHS adviser Sue Presberg. “It was a terrific experience for both sets of students.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9257 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT At the Feb. 12 Board of Education meeting, Kenneth Graham, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, presented a report to the board about the district’s progress toward implementing the Common Core Learning Standards. The Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, adopted by the New York State Board of Regents in 2011, provide clear and consistent guidelines to ensure that schools are giving students the skills they will need to be ready for college and careers in a global economy. Mr. Graham began by explaining that these internationally benchmarked standards are focused and coherent, providing guidelines for rigor and application of instruction to align current curricula with 21st century college and work expectations. The Common Core standards, he added, are not entirely new. They are intended to build upon the strengths and lessons of previous state standards. With regard to mathematics, Mr. Graham said that under the Common Core standards, the focus of instruction has shifted, requiring students to build skills across grades, develop speed and accuracy, think fast to solve problems, and be able to understand and use the skills they learn in real-world applications. Teachers in all K-8 classrooms are currently teaching to the Common Core standards in mathematics. Implementation began with the rewriting of curricula, which took place over the summer. The district has also implemented the use of the enVision Math program, which is aligned to Common Core standards. In addition, students in grades 3-8 who need extra support services have been attending supplementary instruction through the Math Academy. Teachers have been receiving ongoing professional development, working with consultants and administrators, in grade-level groups and at teacher meetings. Mr. Graham went on to explain the shifts in ELA and literacy instruction that have taken place as a result of the adoption of the Common Core standards. Students are now expected to read as much non-fiction as fiction texts, learning about the world through reading. They are being asked to read more challenging material more closely and discuss and write about what they have read using evidence drawn from the text. They are also expected to increase their academic vocabulary. The implementation of the Common Core standards is being carried out in elementary classrooms throughout the district, beginning with phonics instruction in grades pre-K-1, using Letter People in pre-K classrooms and the Wilson FUNdations program in grades K-1. The Fountas and Pinnell benchmark assessment program has been implemented in grades K-5 to assess individual student progress, and all classrooms have been equipped with leveled reading libraries. Literacy blocks have been introduced, and all students are expected to develop a writing portfolio to help track and assess their progress. The elementary ELA curriculum has undergone revisions to meet the Common Core standards. Teachers continue to receive ongoing professional development. Mr. Graham pointed out that there have been recent gains in the percentage of students scoring at level 3 or 4 in ELA and math assessments, with most scores at or above the county average. With the implementation of the Common Core standards, the district has renewed its focus on moving more students toward mastery, with the goal of moving the district to the top third of the county. To view a copy of the presentation, which includes a list of resources for parents, visit the Board of Education page of www.lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9227 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT On March 5-6, Long Beach Middle School students who are enrolled in the MATHCOUNTS program will be participating in World Math Day. They will compete on-line with students from around the world in live math games. Each student will move up through five levels and can play a maximum of 500 games. The games involve basic arithmetic. In in order to win, students must demonstrate better and quicker fluency and automaticity than their counterparts. Students who outperform their counterparts from around the world will receive prizes, medals, trophies, and/or certificates. MATHCOUNTS is a national program whose goal is to inspire excellence, confidence and curiosity in U.S. middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Sixth- and seventh-graders at Long Beach Middle School who received a 4 or higher on the NYS math assessments participate in MATHCOUNTS as an enrichment class, exploring mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9208 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT To celebrate the successful completion of a unit of study about fairy tales and folk tales, East School second-graders in Susan Garcia’s class donned PJs and paper crowns for the Bedtime Ball. Students began the festivities with a Royal Award Ceremony, revealing their picks for most evil villain, most powerful spell, bravest character and most important theme. After decorating colorful paper crowns, which they wore to add a regal flair to the ball, students acted out their own fairy-tale theater renditions of “Little Red Riding Hood,” “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “Stone Soup.” At the end of each performance, students stopped to reflect on the morals and themes of the three tales. Then they broke into groups to play a fairy-tale card game, which tested their knowledge of the fairy tales they had studied. To prepare for the Bedtime Ball, students read a number of fairy tales, identifying common literary elements, themes and vocabulary. They also compared and contrasted tales from different countries. They used the knowledge they gained to write their own fairy tales, create alternate endings to existing fairy tales, and express their own opinions about fairy tales. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9209 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT For the past seven years, Long Beach High School has been holding its prom at Chateau Briand in Carle Place. However, due to hardships caused by Superstorm Sandy, it looked like many students would not be planning to attend the prom this year. “The prom committee polled Seniors after the holiday break about their plans to attend the prom,” said teacher and prom advisor Adriane Glassberg. “The results indicated that our prom attendance would be down, in part because of the financial aftereffects of Sandy.” After receiving the survey results, Ms. Glassberg called Joe Mandaro, the executive director of corporate and special events at Chateau Briand, to tell him that due to hardships caused by the storm, the school might not be able to make the guaranteed minimum number of attendees as specified in their contract. “Ms. Glassberg’s concerns ranged from the diminished amount of attendees they might have this year to the cost of the prom for each student,” said Mr. Mandaro. “I assured her that we were aware of the hardships that were being faced by everyone in Long Beach and that, upon her request, we would not hold them to a specific number of people this year. We also agreed to reduce the price to what she thought might be an affordable amount for the students who would want to attend, adding a consideration for any special hardships they might encounter.” Mr. Mandaro then met with owners Victor and Anthony Scotto, general manager Victor Scotto Jr. and controller Joe DiRico. They discussed the special situation the school was facing, their loyalty as clients, the ongoing stories of the cleanup and rebuilding of the area, and the overall financial and psychological hardships being endured by the people of Long Beach. As a family-owned and run business, Scotto Brothers wanted to ensure a memorable evening for every student in the Senior class. “We didn’t want to deny any students the opportunity to attend their prom because of cost,” explained Mr. Mandaro. “Of course, always being a community-minded company and being family people ourselves, the next thought flowed quite naturally -- why not donate the prom this year?" So Mr. Mandaro and Victor Scotto Jr. called Ms. Glassberg and Dr. Gaurav Passi, principal of Long Beach High School, to notify them of the good news that they would be donating the entire cost of the reception. A few days later, Mr. Mandaro and Mr. Scotto called again, informing the school that Pedestals Florist in Garden City Park, the house florist for Chateau Briand, would also donate their services for the night to ensure that the tables looked beautiful for the students. In addition, Victoria Scotto of Chateau Briand set out to make every lucky senior girl at Long Beach High School feel like a princess for the night, by hosting a Prom Dress Party on April 18. Long Beach High School Senior girls who are attending their prom will be able to choose from a selection of donated dresses, handbags, and costume jewelry. There will be raffles & giveaways such as limousines, gift cards and accessories. Among the vendors contributing to this event are Estelle's Dressy Dresses, Bridal Reflections, Tuxedo Park, Men’s Wearhouse, Frippery Boutique, Thomas Knoell and Body Rock DJ. This event, which is being mentioned on social networks such as Facebook, has an open door invitation for additional vendors to contact Ms. Scotto to volunteer their services for the Prom Dress Party. Ms. Scotto is also in the process of coordinating donations to assist boys who will be attending the Long Beach prom. “We are proud to play a role in helping the students of Long Beach High School celebrate this special milestone, and to give them happy prom memories, in spite of all the recent hardships they have faced,” said Mr. Mandaro. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9173 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Caroline Walsh has been named a finalist in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than 1 percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition qualified as finalists, based on their results in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT). She is now eligible to compete for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded in May. Caroline has contributed to the success of her school through academics, community service and the arts. A member of the National Honor Society, she has participated in various tutoring and community service activities. Caroline is also active in her school’s science research program and has won awards at regional and international science competitions. This summer she explored new fields of physics in a four-week residential program at Stanford University and also worked under professors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine studying cancer and diabetes. She entered her research paper in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search. Her love of acting has brought her to perform in musical productions at Long Beach High School and with the Long Beach Theatre Guild. She has also choreographed shows for the Long Beach Theatre Guild and the Spotlight Children’s Theater Academy in Long Beach. Among her other extracurricular activities, she is a member of Model Congress, the Forensics Club and the Leo Lions Club. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9144 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT The district is pleased to announce that its Hurricane Sandy recovery program was awarded a $25,000 grant from Target Corporation. Long Beach Middle School teacher Faithe Ferrante facilitated the application for the grant with support from famed actor and Long Beach alumnus Billy Crystal. The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help children learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage. “At Target, we are committed to serving local communities where we do business,” said Laysha Ward, Target’s president of community relations. “That’s why we are proud to partner with Long Beach Public Schools as we work to strengthen communities and enrich the lives of our guests and team members.” “Hurricane Sandy had a devastating impact on the Long Beach community, the students, their families and our staff,” explained Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “The storm impacted nearly every home in the community through flooding. All of the school facilities were damaged. We are very grateful to Target for their generosity and for the assistance we received from Billy Crystal in securing this grant, which will go a long way in aiding our rebuilding efforts.” “Billy Crystal has worked extremely hard to try to help our schools and community during these difficult times,” added Ferrante. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9145 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT On Feb. 7, Long Beach High School played host to the 100th National Issues Forum sponsored by Hofstra University. The forum was facilitated by Hofstra history professor Dr. Michael D’Innocenzo, who is co-director of Hofstra’s Public Policy Institute. After discussing the issues of immigration and the national debt in class prior to the forum, approximately 40 seniors in the high school’s IB History of the Americas classes broke into three focus groups to share their views on these two issues of vital national concern. The students worked under the guidance of several Hofstra democracy fellows, who have been assisting Dr. D’Innocenzo with the National Issues Forum. Each group was given the opportunity to discuss both topics. Students were encouraged to deliberate these issues in a nonpartisan, non-confrontational way, helping them gain a broader understanding about these two issues of great national importance. Through their participation in the forum, students also learned how the act of discussing different points of view in this manner can help them reach educated conclusions, which in turn can inspire them to engage in social action to effect positive change in their communities. National Issues Forums (NIF) is a nonpartisan, nationwide network of locally sponsored forums that invites citizens to engage in dialogue about important issues. They are rooted in the simple notion that people need to come together to reason and talk — to deliberate common problems. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9146 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Competing at the division meet at Great Neck South High School on Feb. 2, Long Beach High School sophomore Max Willard broke the school record in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:44.14, finishing second in the race. The old record of 4:46.18 was set in 1986 by John Farrell. This time was good enough to qualify Max for the state competition in Rochester on March 1-2. Max also qualified for states in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:47.17. A week later, at the county championships at the Nassau County Aquatic Center on Feb. 11, Max broke his own record in the 500, with a time of 4:43.46. He also lowered his state qualifying time in the 200, with a time of 1:45.83. “He had two great swims,” said coach John Skudin, “but the best is yet to come.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9147 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9158 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the district’s athletic department was especially hard-hit, losing five of its six gymnasiums, as well as equipment and uniforms for most of its athletic teams. Unexpected and welcome relief came from Friends of Port Rowing, a rowing club based out of Port Washington, raised $10,000 to help the athletic department on the road to recovery. Friends of Port Rowing is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 to give boys and girls in grades 7-12 the opportunity to participate in competitive rowing. Since its inception, the organization has also had a secondary mission of service to its community. In their founding year, crew members participated in an ergathon — the rowing equivalent of a walkathon — to raise money to buy their own boats. Last year, they initiated a "Row for Autism" regatta. This year, after witnessing the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, they were inspired to put their rowing talents to work to help Long Beach athletes. Approximately 75 crew members and 20 adults participated in an ergathon, rowing a combined total of 1 million meters (approximately 621 miles) in the course of the seven-and-a-half-hour event. Friends of Port Rowing made the connection with Long Beach Public Schools through Port Washington School District’s Director of Athletics Stephanie Joannon and Board of Education President Karen Sloan, who is also a Friends of Port Rowing board member. Joannon, who had been in touch with Long Beach Athletic Director Arnold Epstein, heard firsthand from him about the losses his teams had sustained. Having worked so hard to raise money for their own equipment, Friends of Port team members — many of whom are students in the Port Washington School District — were especially touched to hear about the Long Beach students’ overwhelming loss. “We always talk about giving back,” said Steve Panzik, a coach and executive director of Friends of Port Rowing. “As a coach, you want your athletes to learn life skills, ethics, teamwork and sportsmanship, and to extend a helping hand to teammates and opponents alike when they are down. How the Long Beach student-athletes have come together with their community to rebuild is inspiring. We hope that the money we raised will help them come back better than ever.” “We are so proud of our student-athletes who are members of the crew team,” added Joannon. “They took the initiative to step up to help fellow students from another school in their time of need. It is inspiring to see athletes from different shores reaching out to help one another.” “We congratulate our team for this amazing accomplishment,” said Sloan. “Most of the students who participated in the ergathon are Port Washington students, and therefore a proud reflection of our schools.” The Long Beach School District hosted a special reception to thank the Friends of Port Rowing for their generous donation. Accompanying student representatives of the rowing team were Joannon, Sloan, Friends of Port Rowing board member Ted Rosenthal, boys varsity rowing coach Darren Gary, and head girls varsity rowing coach Briana Pittman. Long Beach High School trumpeter Jesse Klirsfeld opened the ceremony with a heartfelt rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Long Beach student-athlete Adam Salvadori welcomed the rowing team and thanked them for their support. Epstein, Long Beach Superintendent David Weiss and Long Beach Board of Education Vice President Darlene Tangney also expressed their gratitude. “We’ve received many donations over the last few months,” said Epstein, “but the ones that mean so much to us are the ones that come from other students. We admire you for the work you do to help others.” “I extend our thanks to you for choosing Long Beach as the recipient of your services,” added Weiss. “For us, this recovery has been a marathon event. Celebrating moments like this have helped us move toward normalcy again. The efforts you have made on our behalf will help our athletes keep pushing to overcome the many obstacles they still face.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9108 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Camp Coleman in Merrick has generously offered to invite all fifth-graders from Lindell, East and West School to attend their annual end-of year trip free of charge. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9109 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School seniors Shannon Romig, Darling Gutierrez and Caroline Walsh have all been named semifinalists in the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which recognizes high school seniors for academic excellence, community leadership and their desire to make the world a better place. Of the nearly 110,000 applicants, only 2,200 are selected as semifinalists. After completing a secondary application, including essays, official transcripts and two letters of recommendation, all three girls hope to move on to be among 250 finalists named in mid-February. From this group, 50 students who will go on to become National Scholars, receiving awards of $20,000 for college. An additional 200 students will be designated as Regional Scholars and receive awards of $10,000 for college. Darling is a high honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society. Active in the music program, she is first violin in the chamber orchestra and participates in the annual high school musical production. A leader in student government and community service, she has dedicated herself to making a difference in her school and local communities. Darling is the senior class vice president and a student representative of the Shared Decision Making Team. As vice president of Key Club, she has organized food and coat drives, prepared meals for families at Ronald McDonald House and participated in other community service activities. Darling also serves as vice president of her school’s ASPIRA chapter, a leadership integrity program that is dedicated to developing the educational and leadership capacity of young adults. She helped organized the annual ASPIRA Cultural Collision event and has received the ASPIRA Award for Exceptional Service and the Circulo de la Hispanidad Award for students of Latino descent who achieve excellence in academics. Outside of school, Darling volunteers for the Stephanie Joyce Kahn Foundation, recording books on tape for hospital patients and the visually impaired. A member of the Adventuralists Club, Darling has helped to plant a high school garden and has volunteered for SPLASH, a grassroots organization that helps protect the South Shore estuaries of Long Island. An International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, Shannon is senior class secretary/treasurer and vice president of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, in addition to being president of the Future Physicians Club and co-editor of her school’s award-winning literary magazine, Fragments. She is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society. A varsity athlete, Shannon has been named an All-Conference player in soccer and badminton. Shannon, who participates in IB dance classes, was named a Scholar-Artist in Dance. She is also a champion Irish step dancer who has received numerous medals at regional and national competitions. Shannon uses her dance talents to entertain at area nursing homes, children’s hospitals and camps for children with special needs. She has served as student chair for the Long Beach Relay for Life as well as the Cablevision Power to Learn Charity Champions program, raising funds to benefit Camp Anchor. She received the 2012 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2012 Nassau Region PTA Youth Humanitarian Award. Caroline has contributed to the success of her school through academics, community service and the arts. A National Merit semifinalist and a member of the National Honor Society, she has participated in various tutoring and community service activities. Caroline is also active in her school’s science research program and has won awards at regional and international science competitions. This summer she explored new fields of physics in a four-week residential program at Stanford University and also worked under professors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine studying cancer and diabetes. She entered her research paper in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search. Her love of acting has brought her to perform in musical productions at Long Beach High School and with the Long Beach Theatre Guild. She has also choreographed shows for the Long Beach Theatre Guild and the Spotlight Children’s Theater Academy in Long Beach. Among her other extracurricular activities, she is a member of Model Congress, the Forensics Club and the Leo Lions Club. “On behalf of your local Coca-Cola bottler, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the entire Coca-Cola system, I salute you for your hard work and dedication,” said J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, in a letter acknowledging the students’ semifinalist status. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9067 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9016 Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Saturday Morning Enrichment classes, which were interrupted in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, resumed again on Saturday, Jan. 26. “Attendance was good,” said Lido Principal Brenda Young, who coordinates the program with Blackheath Pre-K Principal Cristine Zawatson. “The parents and children were very excited to learn that the program was back in full swing. Some did not expect to see the program operational this semester. Parents were humbled and appreciative that we were able to resume this program, helping to bring a sense of normalcy to their children’s lives as everyone works to recover from the aftereffects of the storm.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9008 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg secured $100,000 of funding from New York State for the district to install 21st Century Learning Network equipment. The funds were used to help fund a major technology project that will ensure that Long Beach Public Schools will be able to provide a highly robust network infrastructure to support the instructional and administrative network computing environments. On Jan. 31, district administrators, school board members and middle school students invited Assemblyman Weisenberg to visit the new middle school library media center, which has been equipped, through this grant, with the latest network technology. Sally Neumann, the district’s director of technology presented an interactive video to explain how this equipment will be used to support student learning in the future. “The ability to access, interpret and manipulate information is critical to providing students with a digitally rich 21st century learning environment,” explained Neumann. “Learning to live together and having dignity and respect for one another is what Long Beach is all about,” Weisenberg told the students. “I am proud of who we are and proud of the resources that we have equipped our schools with to help you become the leaders of tomorrow. I am also proud that I was able to help supply the funding that brought such advanced technology into this room.” “This technology will allow you to go online to research, communicate and become informed citizens,” said Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “When I first moved to Long Beach, I heard from everyone how Harvey takes care of Long Beach,” said Long Beach school board trustee Stuart Mininsky. “You are always fighting for us.” “We are forever grateful to Assemblyman Weisenberg for his dedication and commitment to the Long Beach community, to our children and to education,” added Long Beach School Board Vice President Darlene Tangney. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9010 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Students at Lindell and West schools gave the special people in their lives an unforgettable day of memories when they invited them to celebrate VIP Day. Since West School students are attending classes at Lindell School while their school is undergoing repairs from Superstorm Sandy, this annual Lindell School tradition was expanded this year to make West School families feel at home. For this festive celebration, students in grades K-2 asked a parent, grandparent or other Very Important Person to visit for the day. They presented a stage show, singing songs to show appreciation to their guests. The VIPs were then invited to visit the classrooms, where students proudly presented them with handmade awards and original stories to thank them for making a difference in their lives. At the end of the celebration, the children and their VIPs shared snacks, crafts and cozy reading time. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=9011 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8961 Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, fourth- and fifth-grade students in the district’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity program have embarked on a creative mission to help with their community’s recovery efforts through the Odyssey of the Mind’s Odyssey Angels program. To begin their project, the LARC students invited City Council members Fran Adelson and Len Torres to speak with them to gather information that will guide them in creating a community service project to fill a need that others might not have noticed, or to help a group that may have been overlooked. Students asked the council members about what was being done to help rebuild the boardwalk, the hospital, the library, the recreation center and local businesses. They questioned their guests about their personal experiences in the aftermath of the storm, and discussed ways the City Council is working to avoid destruction from future storms. They gathered information about how many people are still displaced and asked which areas of the city sustained the most damage. They also questioned their guests about what steps they are taking to enhance emergency communication and disaster response in the future. Students will use the information they gathered to design a creative solution to one of the challenges faced by the city as it continues its recovery efforts. Adelson and Torres extended an invitation to the students to attend future City Council meetings and continue their involvement with city government. The idea to participate in Odyssey Angels was actually an outgrowth of a hardship caused by the storm. Before Sandy hit, the LARC students had just begun to prepare for the annual Odyssey of the Mind competition, an international educational program that provides students with opportunities to apply their creativity to solve problems. Having missed so much preparation time as a result of the storm, it looked as if this year’s Odyssey of the Mind team might have to forgo entering the competition. Since at least one Long Beach team has qualified for the state level of competition for more than 25 consecutive years, the prospect of not being able to continue this legacy was devastating to the students. In the spirit of creative problem solving, they refused to submit to defeat. Working with coaches Beverlee Bertinetti, Caitlin Fuentes and Eileen Shannon, they discovered Odyssey Angels, a new charity group that was unveiled by Odyssey of the Mind last summer. Through Odyssey Angels, they will utilize the teamwork, brainstorming and problem-solving skills they learned through Odyssey of the Mind to help the Long Beach community recover. As the students compete with other teams throughout the nation, they hope to achieve victory for their team while providing a valuable service for their community. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8972 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT A total of 53 Long Beach students in grades 5-12 qualified to perform in the New York State School Music Association All-County Festival from Jan. 13-20. They joined a select group of musicians from all over Nassau County for a gala concert series at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts featuring select band, chorus, orchestra, vocal jazz and jazz band performances. Hundreds of students auditioned for this honor at the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festivals held last spring. There were 20 Long Beach High School students, 18 Long Beach Middle School students and 15 elementary students from around the district who participated in a variety of performances at the festival over the course of two weekends. For a complete list of the All-County participants, visit www.lbeach.org. An additional eight string musicians were selected to take part in Long Island String Festival Association concerts. They were recognized by LISFA as representing the highest quality string musicians at their grade levels. Superstorm Sandy forced the cancellation of the secondary concerts in November, but the elementary concerts should go on as scheduled on Feb. 10. Those chosen for the secondary concerts were Dana Berman, Alexandra Gruber and Jonathan Kapilian. Elementary concert participants were Jack Cruse-Mulhall, Claire Ezratty, Sydney Hoffman, Jack Libasci and Ally McHale. The Long Beach City School District was recognized as a 2011 and 2012 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8975 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Remediation and reconstruction work on the high school gymnasium, which sustained severe damage from Hurricane Sandy, will begin on Thursday, January 31. The work, which involves remediation of the gym floor and subfloor, will be conducted from Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This notice is to inform you that this remediation work involves removal of hazardous materials. Please be assured that these materials have been contained both before and after the storm and at no point have ever posed any threat to student or staff health. All necessary safety protocols will be followed throughout the remediation work. During this time, the gym will remain closed and will be completely contained and sealed off, prohibiting students and staff from accessing the building. All work will be performed in accordance with applicable law and regulations by licensed firms and workers, with oversight by an environmental consultant who will monitor the process along the way. Throughout the process, workers will be dressed in hazmat suits and debris will be disposed of in hazmat containers located on the east side of the building. The remediation, cleaning and follow-up testing portions of this project are anticipated to take 3-4 weeks to complete. As always, the safety and well-being of all of our students and staff is our top priority, and the steps we are taking and the environmental protocols we will be following ensure this. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8940 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After an exhaustive candidate search that began in October 2012, the Long Beach Board of Education convened for a special meeting on Jan. 29 to confirm the appointment of Kenneth Graham as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Mr. Graham currently serves as the district’s K-12 director of science. Mr. Graham has worked in the Long Beach Public Schools for 16 of his 17 years in public education. He began his career with the district in 1996, serving as a high school science teacher and cross-country/track and field coach. He left the district for one year, before returning in 2008 to take on the responsibility of heading the district’s science program. Under Mr. Graham’s leadership there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students enrolled in accelerated Regents Earth Science classes in eighth-grade. The number of high school students taking chemistry and physics – as well as AP, IB and college-level science classes – has also increased substantially and steadily under his direction. During this time he has supervised extensive curriculum revisions to the district’s K-6 science program. The award-winning science research program has continued to flourish under his direction. In addition to his administrative duties, Mr. Graham has continued an active role as an educator. He teaches online college courses in biology and environmental science. He has also facilitated numerous professional development courses for teachers in the district and has model-taught in many of the district’s elementary classrooms. Mr. Graham recently completed his doctoral work in educational leadership and policy at Fordham University and looks forward to his dissertation defense, scheduled for February. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in earth and space science at Stony Brook University. “The selection process was long and strenuous,” said Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “Along the way Mr. Graham made several presentations outlining his goals for meeting the Common Core Standards. He presented creative and hopeful ideas for our district.” “I’ve known Ken for many year,” said Board of Education President Roy Lester. “I can’t think of a better person to fill this position.” “I want you to fully understand how much faith I have in you,” added Board of Education Vice President Darlene Tangney. “One of your greatest strengths is the way you treat children. I have no doubt that you will continue to advocate for our children as you work with the superintendent to bring our district forward.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8933 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT At the Jan. 22 Board of Education work session, the district presented a report to the board dealing with the topic of student safety. The report focused on two major areas — physical safety and social-emotional safety. Physical safety dealt with protecting students from physical harm. The report outlined the utilization of highly trained guards from Summit Security to serve as the district’s on-site security force at all schools. It also touched on infrastructure improvements that were incorporated into the School Preservation Plan, including a new visitor management system with dedicated security stations in each building, security cameras throughout the district, interior motion sensors, a new key fob system for exterior door access and new interior doors with safety windows and uniform door locks. The district also has developed detailed district- and building-level emergency plans that are constantly tested and updated with drills and ongoing training for teachers. Emergency communication is achieved through the use of districtwide walkie-talkies, a PA system and cellphones. School personnel also set a tone for each school by welcoming students as they enter, while taking note of any unusual behavior. They also monitor hallways throughout the day and work to diffuse potential conflicts. In addition, school counselors and psychologists engage in numerous pre-intervention practices such as character education programs and peer mediation. They also develop multiple intervention strategies for at-risk students. The district also has developed an extensive program to ensure the social and emotional welfare of students, in an effort to enable them to feel emotionally safe while they are at school. In compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act, the district has developed a detailed set of protocols for dealing with student safety issues, including discipline and bullying. In addition, the district partners with parents and community organizations such as REACH and the Drug and Alcohol Task Force. At the middle school and high school level, a number of proactive measures are in place to provide extra support for at-risk students. Team teaching, which has proven very effective at the middle school, was expanded this year through grade nine. This allows teachers to provide additional support for students as they transition to the high school. Since instituting teaming in grade nine, student grades have improved, and there have also been fewer discipline issues. The final part of the presentation dealt with reporting on results of the school climate survey, soliciting student input about school climate. The survey revealed three areas of strength. Districtwide, students expressed high satisfaction with safety rules and norms, the social support they receive from adults and the support they receive for learning. Survey results indicated a need for improvement with regard to social-emotional security, social-emotional ethical learning and physical security. Students said they experienced a lack of emotional security as a result of bullying and teasing incidents. They also perceived a lack of fairness in the way they were treated and identified a need to feel less physically threatened in their school environment. The next steps the district will take will be to follow up on these survey results at the building level. Principals will solicit input from teachers, working to determine ways to make students feel safer with regard to social-emotional security. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8951 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, EasyBib, a free automatic bibliography and citation maker, hosted an event called Rebuilding Our Schools: A Fundraiser for Schools Affected by Hurricane Sandy, bringing New York’s vibrant educational technology community together to help. Through the coordination of the American Association of School Administrators, EasyBib was fortunate to be partnered with Long Beach Public Schools and Brooklyn’s PS 279 Herman Schreiber School. Long Beach Public Schools was one of the hardest-hit districts in New York. Serving approximately 3,800 students grades pre-K to 12, it had to consolidate seven schools into three buildings and deal with mass displacement for all. “Hurricane Sandy had a devastating impact on the Long Beach community, the students, their families and our staff,” shared Long Beach Superintendent David Weiss. “The storm impacted nearly every home in the community through flooding. All the school facilities were damaged.” Long Beach School received a generous donation from EasyBib to aid with its recovery efforts. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8914 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Sophomore Lily Hornung was chosen to represent Long Beach High School at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar in June. She will meet with 120 other “HOBY Ambassadors” from all over New York State to participate in a series of activities designed to help them identify and develop their individual leadership strengths. Lily was chosen for this honor because she demonstrated outstanding leadership potential in school and community activities. An honor roll student, Lily is also captain of the JV basketball team and plays on the JV softball team. She is involved in student government and also plays in the chamber orchestra. Sophomore Jamie Demerest was selected as an alternate in the program. Jamie is also an honor roll student, is vice president of the sophomore class and is involved in student government. She is a four-year varsity swimmer, and participates in Athletes Helping Athletes. Jamie also plays in the high school band. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8915 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, donations have been streaming in to Long Beach Public Schools, carrying with them best wishes for a speedy recovery from the ravages of the storm. Long Beach alumnus Matt Hughes, who is currently a student and employee of New York University, was deeply touched by the devastation that he witnessed upon returning home after the storm. To do his part to help, he organized a holiday raffle with his coworkers, raising $880 for Long Beach Schools. Lido Elementary School recently received a visit from Long Beach residents Laura Simon Billy Romm, owner of Billy's Beach Cafe. The two brought notebooks and other school supplies for students. Commack residents Gina Ocello and Cathy Schulman personally delivered boxes of books that were collected by fifth-graders at Burr Avenue School in Commack, and sorted by the Burr Avenue Girl Scout troop. These acts of kindness are helping the girl scouts earn a community service badge. Students at Hewlett Elementary School in Hewlett sponsored a bake sale to raise money for Lido Elementary School. An organization called SecretSandy.org contributed toys to children in the district. This Secret Santa-type site collected toys for children in Sandy-torn areas. Bus driver Kenneth Brooks and administrative assistant Kaja Gula-Thomas volunteered to make the drive to New York, bringing back a busload of toys, which were distributed to children of district employees who were affected by the storm. Cassidy Koch, a 12-year-old girl scout from California, has organized a campaign to help Long Beach Sandy victims. To help with immediate needs she sent 20 boxes of 16 boxes of supplies, clothing, shoes and batteries. To help with long-term rebuilding efforts, she hopes to launch a program called "read a book, send a book," encouraging people to read a book and then donate it to Long Beach Schools. Through her efforts she hopes to complete her Girl Scout Silver Award. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8919 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Please check the calendar link on the Comprehensive Arts page for other upcoming events. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8925 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8908 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After Superstorm Sandy swept through Long Beach Public Schools, administrators went to work inventorying losses. Upon discovering that many books in school and classroom reading libraries had been destroyed by the devastating floods, they went to work soliciting donations to replace the lost books. Among the most generous donors was Scholastic, who responded immediately with a donation of 38,000 books to replace books lost in the middle school library as well as in classroom libraries in West, Lido and East schools. Among the donated books, supplied through Scholastic’s Book Grants program, were Leveled Reading Libraries containing multiple copies of the same titles. East School Principal Sean Murray and Joshua Anisansel, director of English language arts, made the trip to pick up the books from Hope NYC, a Scholastic affiliate in Jamaica, Queens. The district received further help from local resident Steven Donenfeld, the owner of Approved Moving and Storage of Brooklyn, who donated his company’s services to transport the books. Mr. Donenfeld is the husband of East School secretary Gail Donenfeld, so he was especially motivated to do whatever he could to help in the wake of the disaster. Scholastic has pledged to donate one million books and other teaching resources to schools and libraries in the hardest hit areas of the tri-state region. Scholastic is working with nonprofit organization Kids in Distressed Situations to help distribute the million books to the schools and libraries that need them the most. “The educators, parents and caregivers who are helping children in our hard-hit communities throughout the region are true heroes,” said Richard Robinson, Scholastic’s chairman, president and CEO. “All of us at Scholastic are committed to getting these books, lesson plans and other learning materials into the affected communities as soon as possible in the hope that we can provide support for our young people as they return to schools that need extra resources.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8828 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School seniors Matt Firpo (left) and Jack Fagan have been selected as two of Long Island Baseball Magazine’s Top 100 Public High School Seniors. They will be featured in the inaugural issue of the magazine, which will be published in February 2013 and at http://www.libaseballmag.com. Jack and Matt are co-captains of the varsity baseball team. Jack, who pitches and plays shortstop, had a batting average of .339 in the 2012 season, with 19 hits and 13 RBIs. Matt, who is a catcher and outfielder, had a batting average of .233, with 10 hits and 11 RBIs. “Jack and Matt are extremely dedicated players. They are the hardest workers on the team,” said varsity baseball coach Jason Zizza, who nominated these two deserving student-athletes for this award. “Our student-athletes were ecstatic to hear about this honor, especially during this difficult time after Hurricane Sandy.” “I would like to congratulate Jack and Matt and Coach Zizza on this special recognition,” said Arnold Epstein, director of athletics, physical education and health. “In the time he has been at the helm, Coach Zizza has instilled our players with renewed pride in our baseball program.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8834 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After Superstorm Sandy devastated the south shore of Long Island, the Glen Cove High School student government decided to reach out to help Long Beach Public Schools by organizing the City 2 City fundraiser, collecting $2,000 to help Long Beach families. The high school held Coin Wars, pitting one grade against the other in a friendly competition to collect the most pocket change to help their Long Beach counterparts. In addition, they collected toys, books and school supplies, and also donated the proceeds from their recent dinner theater production of “Little Women.” With the money they raised, totaling $2,000 so far, they purchased gift cards that can be distributed to Long Beach families in need. They also organized involved the Glen Cove elementary schools a chain link sale by asking students throughout the district to donate one dollar to add a link to a blue and white paper chain — the Long Beach school colors — filled with good wishes for a speedy post-Sandy recovery. Still in the works are a bracelet fundraiser and a Zumbathon. To make the gift more personal, the students traveled to Long Beach High School with their adviser Jason Bieder and Principal Dr. Joseph Hinton to deliver their gifts in person. Waiting to greet them were a dozen Long Beach student government representatives and other school leaders, who gratefully accepted their donations and shared stories about their experiences in the aftermath of the storm. They also presented the Glen Cove students with a plaque acknowledging their generosity. “Since Glen Cove and Long Beach are the only two cities on Long Island, we felt a special bond with Long Beach,” said Glen Cove High School student council representative Paulo (says Paolo in caption) Coelho. “Many Glen Cove teachers also live in Long Beach. After Hurricane Sandy, it seemed like the right thing to do to show them that we care.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8816 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After seeing news reports of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy on Nassau County’s south shore, student government members of Ward Melville High School in the Three Village Central School District went into action, organizing a drive to collect more than 40 boxes of books, games and classroom supplies for Long Beach Public Schools. On Jan. 7, student government representatives boarded a bus with adviser Cristina Amato and assistant adviser Annette Goldberg and headed out to deliver the supplies in person. “I grew up on the South Shore, so this project held a special place in my heart,” said Goldberg. “As soon as Sandy hit, we contacted Long Beach Schools to see what we could do to help.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8817 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT When Long Beach resident Brian Finegold heard about the flood damage caused to Long Beach Public Schools in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, he reached out to learn what he could do to help. When he found out that many classroom rugs had been ruined, Finegold, who owns All About Floors, a flooring and carpet store in Bethpage, offered to donate six new area rugs to keep students warm and comfortable as they sit in reading circles in their rooms. “We lost all of our classroom rugs, in addition to library and reading room rugs, as a result of the storm,” said Lido School Principal Brenda Young. “We are grateful to be the recipients of Mr. Finegold’s generosity.” Many classroom rugs still need to be replaced in schools though out the district. Anyone wishing to make a donation to help with this effort can click on the hurricane relief donation button on www.lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8818 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Long Beach High School students in the Athletes Helping Athletes program teamed up with Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy to present a lesson in teamwork and resilience to Lido School fifth-graders. While waiting for their special guest to arrive, the high school students took a little time to chat and bond with the fifth-graders. Long Beach High School varsity athletes Matt Firpo and Adam Salvadori had the pleasure of introducing Murphy to the fifth-graders, who gave him an enthusiastic welcome. “I’m from the South,” said Murphy. “So I know what it’s like to live through the devastation of a hurricane. I am happy to see you all doing so well. When you face challenges in your life, you have to persevere. Sometimes you get frustrated with your situation, but if you rely on family and friends, that will help you through the rough times.” After answering questions from the audience, Murphy had a game of catch with Firpo, who is the captain of the varsity baseball team. Both players exhibited exceptional skill. Murphy stayed behind to pose for pictures with the students and autograph keepsake Mets signs. To the fifth-graders, he wrote, “Continue to persevere and rely on family and friends in time of need.” His note to the high school athletes read, “We are humbled by the work you do and the wisdom you impart to the youth of your community.” Through Athletes Helping Athletes, Long Beach High School students participate in the Student Athlete Leadership Team program, presented by the New York Mets and Sharp Electronics. SALT training empowers student-athletes to hone their citizenship and decision-making skills and to serve as role models to younger students. The members of the Long Beach High School Athletes Helping Athletes participated in a three-session SALT training program at Molloy College that focused on life skills, sportsmanship and civility. They learned how to engage with others in a group setting, deliver motivational messages and lead discussions using problem-solving scenarios. Having received this training, students will begin visiting all of the fifth-grade classes in the district to speak with the younger students to encourage teamwork and promote positive and healthy lifestyle choices. Over the course of several visits to the same class, the athletes develop a bond with the younger students, serving as positive role models for them to emulate. Students work under the guidance of adviser Lynn Tenaglia. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8783 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After Superstorm Sandy made the classrooms at the Blackheath Pre-Kindergarten unusable, students had been attending classes in a makeshift space created for them at the Lindell School cafeteria. As winter began to set in, pre-K students and teachers were happy to make the move to three classrooms in the north wing of East School on Jan. 14. This move also gave the program enough space to resume the afternoon session, which had been suspended in the aftermath of the storm. “The East School students and staff have been so welcoming to us,” said Blackheath Principal Christine Zawatson. “It’s a pleasure to see our students and teachers back in a real classroom setting again. They have been remarkable in adapting to all the challenges we have faced since the storm. I also want to thank the people in our buildings and grounds and technology departments who did such a great job of preparing these classrooms for us. We started classes fully equipped with computers, Smart Boards, books and supplies.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8785 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8741 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT When the cheerleaders of Jackson High School in Massilion, Ohio saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, they were moved to take action. They were particularly struck by the fact that the Long Beach School District lost five of their six gymnasiums. Equipment and uniforms for most of the district’s athletic teams were also lost. With the support of Jackson High School Principal Monica Myers, they joined forces with their longtime rival, the Hoover Vikings in North Canton, Ohio, to organize Project Sandy, raising $6,000 to help the Long Beach School District’s athletic program recover from this tremendous loss. The Jackson cheerleaders learned about the plight of Long Beach High School through Long Beach resident Diane Skudin, who grew up in Ohio. She shared the story of the damaging storm with her lifelong friend Eileen Ivan, who lives in the Jackson School District, and whose daughter Meghan is captain of the Jackson cheerleading squad. The Jackson school community had already been eager to help Sandy victims in some way, so when they heard about the plight of Long Beach Schools, they decided that this would be the best way for them to make a difference. Turning their fundraising efforts into a friendly rivalry between Jackson and Hoover provided added motivation for both schools. “We have over 27 teams at Jackson High School, and Hoover is a similar size,” said Myers. “More than one-third of our students actively participate in our athletics program, so we understand the pain this kind of loss must have caused.” The Jackson cheerleaders organized a one-day drive called Candy for Sandy, collecting donations from fellow students on Nov. 30 in return for a small bag of candy. They also distributed collection buckets to all of their elementary schools. The Hoover cheerleaders organized an event at their school called the Two-Day Raise, collecting money on Nov. 29 and 30, awarding t-shirts and other prizes in exchange for donations. Both schools continued collecting donations when they met for a hockey game on Nov. 29. Equally matched in generosity as they are in athletic ability, the two schools tied in their fundraising efforts. Both schools also involved local businesses, soliciting at least an extra $1,000 to help the Long Beach athletics program. Along with their generous check, the two cheerleading squads reached out in friendship to the Long Beach cheerleaders, sending letters and photos from Project Sandy. The Long Beach cheerleaders created a collage with all the letters and photos, which is now on display in the high school commons for all to see. “The Long Beach Athletic Department is extremely grateful to the school communities of Jackson and Hoover,” said Arnold Epstein, the Long Beach School District’s director of athletics, physical education and health. “The actions of these students and the adults who supported them in their endeavors demonstrate to us what wonderful and giving communities Jackson and Hoover must be." http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8774 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, donations have been pouring into Long Beach Public Schools from schools around the country, carrying with them good wishes and heartfelt support for a speedy and complete recovery from the damage caused by the storm. Two donations, one from a middle school in Massachusetts and another from a middle school in Rhode Island, were delivered in person by representatives of those schools, whose students were touched by news reports of the devastation in this seaside community. Furnace Brook Middle School is located in Marshfield, Mass., just outside of Plymouth. Student council advisers Lauren Higgins and Janet Landry said that because they also live in a seaside community, Furnace Brook’s students – who had seen video footage of Sandy events – felt a special empathy for the plight of Long Beach students. “When they came to us asking what they could do to help, we started making calls,” said Higgins, who thought of Long Beach because her son, whose wife is from Long Island, was recently married at the Allegria Hotel on the Long Beach boardwalk. After contacting the Long Beach School District and learning of their needs for school supplies and supplies for the nurse’s offices, Higgins reported back to the student council members who launched a letter writing campaign, reached out to their elementary schools and wrote letters in their local paper. Through their efforts, they collected more than 90 boxes of supplies, including index cards, pencils, notebooks, tape dispensers, staplers, library books, rubber gloves, band aids, hand sanitizer and a host of art supplies. With the cash donations they received, Amazon gift cards were purchased to replace classroom rugs that were damaged in the storm. With the help of fellow teacher Ed Tibbitts, Higgins and Landry made the trek by ferry across the Long Island Sound to deliver the supplies along with the good wishes of students throughout the Marshfield District. Before returning home, they toured through Long Beach, videotaping signs of the recovery efforts so their students could witness the progress that has been made since the storm hit on Oct. 29. Meanwhile, at Tiverton Middle School in Tiverton, R.I., a similar story was unfolding. Student council adviser Loveanne Pauls, who grew up on Long Island, reached out to friends still living in the area to locate the schools that had the greatest need. After contacting Long Beach Public Schools and hearing of the district’s plight, she reported back to her student council members, who immediately set to work organizing a bake sale, a Hats On Day and a Dress Down Day. They raised a total of $750 to help the Long Beach recovery efforts. They also collected dozens of boxes of books and school supplies, which will be distributed to Long Beach students along with handmade cards from the Tiverton students filled with good wishes. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8718 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT A group of five Long Beach Middle School music students who lost violins in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy received a welcome surprise when Leonora Knight and the Piscano family donated five Carlo Robelli violins and five $25 Sam Ash gift cards to the district to replace the lost instruments. Knight, who is a graduate of Long Beach High School and a former classmate of Long Beach band teacher Doug Renoud, was happy to help when she heard about the loss. Knight made a special trip to Long Beach Middle School to deliver the instruments and meet the students who will be benefiting from her family’s generosity. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8719 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Writers and editors of the Long Beach High School literary magazine Fragments have won top honors at four major national and state scholastic press competitions. At the national level, Fragments earned the title of Highest Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, making it the top ranked high school literary magazine in New York State. This is the third consecutive year that Fragments was designated as Nominated for Highest Award, but the first time that the publication has earned this top honor. Fragments also received a Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, a First Place with Special Merit Award from the American Scholastic Press Association, plus a Gold All New York Award, as well as a Gold Overall Award for originality, from the Empire State Scholastic Press Association. In addition, the Fragments staff also received a total of 29 awards in the ESSPA competition, including a Gold All New York Award and a Gold Overall Award for originality, plus a total of five gold, five silver, ten bronze and seven honorable mention awards in individual categories including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, specialized content, artwork/illustration, cover design, layout, photography and use of type/image. Individual Gold awards went to Eileen Kelly for both cover design and layout, Alexis Romano for photography, and Sophie Torres and Lauren Librizzi for specialized content. Silver awards were earned by Rebecca Spodick for artwork/illustration, Grace Smith for fiction, and both Emily Charleson and Spodick for specialized content. Bronze awards were received by Alexa Salazar and Michelle Bello for artwork/illustration; Scott Blumenfeld for photography; Haily Hamias and Roxette Romanes for poetry; Kelly for use of type/image; Salazar for nonfiction; and Eric Antorbeza, Charleson and Ambrose Plante for specialized content. Receiving honorable mention awards were Spodick for both artwork illustration and photography, Ethan Sukonik for artwork/illustration, Romano for poetry, and Plante and Julia Sevilla for specialized content. Students edit and write for Fragments as part of the high school’s Talented Writers program, taught by Koegel. In addition, staff members put in countless after school hours editing the publication. Submissions are also accepted from students in a number of other writing and art classes offered at the high school. Over the years, Fragments writers, editors and artists have consistently won top awards at national and state competitions for their work. “Our students are outstanding writers who are dedicated to their craft and take risks to create works that are not always popular,” said Koegel. “It is wonderful for them to be applauded by writers and teachers of English who recognize their outstanding skills.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8695 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In an annual tradition, a group of 15 graduates of the Long Beach High School Class of 2012 returned to their alma mater to share advice with this year’s juniors and seniors about how to best prepare for college life, touching on everything from academics to dorm life. Even though their experiences with roommates, class sizes and dining hall food varied considerably, most students agreed that academics are more rigorous at college. The alumni urged the younger students to take advantage of the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, SUPA and other college-level courses offered at the high school to help them prepare for the academic demands of college. Many agreed that the first semester of college was challenging, but when they employed the organizational and study skills they learned in high school and planned their class schedules well, they were able to get their coursework done and still have time to get involved in sports, clubs and campus social life. They said that getting involved in activities outside of the classroom actually helped them make friends and better acclimate to college life. “The workload at college is much different,” admitted David Henry. “I pretty much coasted through high school, but when I got to Monroe I had to apply myself to keep up with my studies. The extra effort paid off. I made the Dean’s List my first semester.” The alumni advised seniors to keep an open mind during the college selection process. “New Paltz was not my first choice, but it ended up being a great school for me,” admitted Rebecca Spodick. “As you go through the process of choosing, don’t get stuck on one school.” “Don’t pigeonhole yourself,” agreed Eileen Kelly. “Villanova was not even on my radar when I first started applying to schools, but I really love it there now.” “Consider costs very carefully,” added Alexa Salazar, who is attending one of the state-subsidized colleges of Cornell University. “Don’t dismiss public colleges. The money you save on public school tuition can be applied to your graduate studies.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8672 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Long Beach High School theater department gave new meaning to the phrase “The show must go on!” When the storm swept through Long Beach in the last days of October, it left a swath of destruction in its path, closing Long Beach Public Schools for an unprecedented two weeks. It looked at first like their production of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” which was originally scheduled for Nov. 15-17, might be one more casualty of the storm. But the theater department was able to regroup to reschedule the production on Jan. 10-12, giving the Long Beach community a welcome dose of laughter and entertainment to relieve the post-Sandy stress. In acknowledgment of the recent passing of Jack Klugman, who played Oscar in the popular TV version of “The Odd Couple,” the students dedicated this production to his memory. Four decades after its 1965 Broadway debut, this classic comedy of a slob and a fussbudget who try to live together "without driving each other crazy" still carries the same punch. The curtain opens as Oscar Madison, played by Russell Goetz, holds his weekly poker game with buddies Murray (Christian Musto), Roy (Victor Tarantino), Speed (Max Tunney) and Vinnie (Matthew Mowery). With the living room strewn with debris, cigar smoke filling the air and nothing but stale moldy sandwiches to eat, Oscar admits that since his divorce from Blanche, he has been feeling a domestic void in his life. Enter Felix, played by Joseph Keiserman, who has become dramatically pseudo-suicidal upon finding that his wife Frances has thrown him out for being too much of a perfectionist. After talking Felix down from his ledge of hysteria, Oscar offers what he thinks is a perfect solution to both their dilemmas — he invites Felix to move in with him. As Act Two opens, it is apparent that the two divorcees have already started getting on each other’s nerves. As they prepare to entertain Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon (Anna Falvey and Alexandra Kapilian) — two fun-loving British women from their apartment building — Oscar arrives late, the roast is burned to a crisp and Felix is feeling maudlin and sentimental about his failed marriage. The lighthearted and giggly sisters, who arrive ready to be entertained, are quickly reduced to tears as Felix shows them pictures of Frances and the children. Oscar, who has reached his limit, finally asks Felix to pack his bags and get out. As the next scene opens, Oscar and his buddies are once again gathered around the poker table lamenting the loss of their good friend Felix. But all is not lost, for in the end, Cecily and Gwendolyn, who find Felix charmingly irresistible, invite him to come live with them. The curtain closes before we learn if Felix manages to drive them crazy also. Joseph and Russell, who have shared the stage together in more than a half dozen productions, channeled the slob and the fussbudget with perfect balance. Christian, Matt, Max and Victor made everyone believe that they grew up playing poker in one of the outer boroughs. And just when you thought you couldn’t take any more of Oscar and Felix’s bickering, Anna and Alexandra burst into the room like a fragrant breath of springtime. The show was directed by Vanessa Krywe and Christie Holub. Russell Goetz was the student director. Eric Krywe offered his talents as the technical director. Kenneth Horgan was in charge of set design and lighting, with Bryan Tripptree serving as lighting assistant. Taylor Barje served as the stage manager. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8686 Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8634 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Public Schools seeks school district residents to serve on the district’s 2013-14 Budget Advisory Committee. The Budget Advisory Committee offers members an opportunity to provide input into the development of the 2013-14 operating budget for Long Beach Public Schools. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please contact the office of the District Clerk at 516- 897-2108 before Jan. 18. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8603 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT January 9, 2013 Dear Parents/Guardians We are moving! While Lindell School has opened their hearts and home to our Blackheath families, we are happy to announce our relocation to classrooms in East School. In addition, we will resume our PM Session from 11:30AM - 2:30PM, AM Session will continue on the current times of 8:15AM – 11:15AM. Most Pre-K classes will utilize shared space. This change will begin Monday, January 14, 2013. Transportation schedules will be posted on the web at lbeach.org. We look forward to our new “home” at East School! Sincerely, Cristine Zawatson Principal http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8607 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT After Hurricane Sandy hit Long Island, Long Beach High School Spanish teacher Francis Ventura had been sharing stories of the Long Beach community’s plight with her sister, Wendy Cruz, a bilingual teacher at Brandenberg Elementary School in Irving, Texas. When Cruz passed those stories on to her students, they were so touched that they decided to do what they could to lift the spirits of their Long Beach counterparts. They wrote letters, made a video, collected school supplies and books, and even donated their lunch money — $7.75 in quarters — to help Long Beach recover. Ventura, who had been donating her time to help in the Long Beach recovery effort, was touched by the generosity of her sister’s students. She shared the letters with her high school Spanish students, who were so moved that they plan to send a thank you video and letters to show their appreciation to the young philanthropists. “Me siento muy triste — me duele el corazón,” said one note, which means, “I feel very sad — my heart aches for you.” Another note simply said, “I’m sorry for the Sandy y’all had!” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8582 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Public School students in grades K-2 were exposed to a unique hands-on science experience when the BioBus rolled into town. This high-tech science lab on wheels is equipped with research-grade scientific equipment that allows students to explore the world around them and make their own discoveries with the guidance of professional scientists. When they climbed aboard the kid-friendly bus, they entered a new world where they were able to unlock some of the mysteries of the natural world through hands-on interaction with microscopes and other equipment. Before entering the BioBus, students circled its exterior, marveling at the solar panels, wind turbine and rooftop garden that provide eco-friendly power. Inside, students used a digital hand-held microscope called a MiScope to examine objects such as hair, fabric and skin magnified hundreds of times on a video screen. Students were also able to study the movements and cell structure of microcrustaceans called Daphnia by using scientific-grade microscopes. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8583 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Although they will not be able to return to their home school until early spring, West School students and staff completed one more leg of their long journey back to their home school after Hurricane Sandy. When Sandy swept through Long Beach, the superstorm caused some damage to all schools in the Long Beach public school system, but West School was one of the hardest hit. When classes resumed on Nov. 13, West School was still not ready to receive students back, so these students doubled up with students at the district’s East School. Although students and staff shared many new learning experiences and made new friends at East School, conditions there were crowded. Since Lido Elementary students, who had been doubling up at Lindell School, were able to return to their home school on Jan. 2, more space was freed up at Lindell School. So West School students and staff packed up their supplies and prepared for one more temporary move further west, bringing them just a little bit closer to home. Lindell Principal Karen Sauter and her staff made sure their new guests received a warm welcome on their first day, creating signs and planning special activities to make their West School friends feel at home. This latest pairing of resources also opened up the opportunity for some unique learning experiences for all. For example, Lindell kindergartners in Tracy Polete’s class invited Leslie Blankopf’s class to join them for a reading celebration called “Pigs, Pancakes and Pen Pals.” The students in the two classes, who had actually exchanged pen pal letters earlier in the year, were thrilled to finally meet one another. After reading “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” together, they shared a breakfast of pancakes, made pink construction paper pigs and participated in writing exercises together — a positively perfect lesson in the letter “P,” which also stands for perseverance. “There is a silver lining here,” observed West School Principal Sandra Schneider. “Students are making new friends and teachers are working with colleagues and sharing ideas to create new learning opportunities for their students. Throughout this difficult time, students and staff at East and Lindell schools have been very generous with their space and their resources.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8588 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8552 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT On Jan. 2, with post-Sandy restoration work completed on most of their building, Lido Elementary students were finally able to return to their home school at the Long Beach School District’s Lido Complex. After the Oct. 29 storm caused flood damage to their school, Lido Elementary students had been attending classes at Lindell School while each classroom at the Lido Complex underwent thorough cleaning, sanitizing and restoration work. Students and teachers returned to their classrooms, delving into their studies with renewed enthusiasm “Everything went like clockwork on our first day back,” said Principal Brenda Young. “We are all happy to be home at last. I am very proud of the way our students, parents and staff adapted to the challenges that we faced over the past few weeks. I am also very grateful to the students and staff of Lindell School and to Principal Karen Sauter who welcomed us so warmly while we were displaced from Lido School.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8526 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Applications are available from any music teacher and must be returned by January 14, 2013. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8532 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Although four Long Beach High School fall varsity teams made it to the playoffs this year, their real victories in the wake of Hurricane Sandy proved to be victories of the heart. It was with this in mind that all 10 teams came together at Fall Sports Awards Night to acknowledge their accomplishments, but more importantly to celebrate their unity and perseverance in the face of adversity. Coaches told stories of teammates scattered across the tri-state area reaching out to come together to somehow make it to the playoffs, providing hope and inspiration to a community sorely in need of both. “I am in awe of all of you,” said School Board President Roy Lester. “You have endured the worst conditions to go out there and continue to win under such tough circumstances.” With players earning four individual county championship titles, the boys badminton team finished the season with a 12-2 record. The football team started the season with five wins in a row — their longest winning streak since 1986. They finished with a 5-3 record, winning a spot in the playoffs and bringing their community together after the devastation of Sandy to cheer them on in their playoff game against Carey. “I admire the courage and commitment of these players,” said Coach Martin. “We always teach our players to overcome adversity on the field, but they also overcame many adversities this year in their personal lives. I am proud to be a Marine.” The boys soccer team made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years with a 7-6-1 record and ended up surmounting many storm-related obstacles to finish third in their conference. The girls soccer team finished the season with a 6-6-2 record, just missing a spot in the playoffs. The girls swim team had a 5-4 record, finishing fourth in the county and second in their division. They also won the Joe Farrell Invitational. The boys volleyball team also qualified for the playoffs. Scattered around the state, the team managed to come together after a 10-day hiatus to beat Great Neck in the first round of the playoffs. Ending last season with a 4-10 record, the girls volleyball team finished strong this season with a record of 10-4. They beat the reigning conference champ to finish third in their conference this year. Proving to be equally dedicated to their academics, the boys badminton, boys cross-country, girls cross-country, girls soccer, girls swim, girls tennis, boys volleyball and girls volleyball teams all earned scholar-athlete status, with team averages above 90 percent. Many fall athletes also won individual awards. There were three State-Qualifiers, seven All-County, four Honorable Mention All-County, 15 All-Conference, one Academic All-Conference, six All-Division, two All-Class and one Unsung Hero named. Five players won individual county championship titles. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8534 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Applications are available from any music teacher and are due back by January 11. Click Here to View the NYSSMA Page. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8480 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Winter Concert, featuring performances from the orchestra, chamber orchestra, men’s choir, select choir and chorus, went off as originally scheduled in spite of the disruptions caused by Superstorm Sandy. Under the baton of Felicia Wilson, the chamber orchestra opened the show with four pieces, including the holiday traditional “Ukrainian Carol.” Following was the men’s choir, conducted by Michael Capobianco, who harmonized on the Billy Joel doo-wop classic “The Longest Time.” Mr. Capobianco remained on stage to conduct the select choir through a pair of winter-themed chestnuts, including Frank Loesser’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Returning to a classical theme, Ms. Wilson took her post again, this time to lead the orchestra through a trio of songs that included Haydn’s Symphony No. 63 in C. The chorus and Mr. Capobiano closed the show with five songs, highlighted by the traditional spiritual “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.” The concert ended with rousing applause from the audience, who were appreciative of the tireless efforts made by the students and staff to perform at such a high level after having missed so much school and practice time following Superstorm Sandy. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8487 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT This year, students at Lindell and Lido elementary schools joined forces to present a joint winter concert, singing and dancing to traditional and modern holiday tunes. Both school populations had been joined together at Lindell School since Hurricane Sandy caused the temporary closure of Lido School. Although the circumstances that teachers and students found themselves in were not always ideal, they used these extraordinary circumstances as an opportunity to participate in many joint learning opportunities. “Everyone had a jolly, jubilant time,” said Lindell Principal Karen Sauter. “This concert was a fantastic way to share the holidays with our new friends.” “We are also happy to see that through this shared adventure, many Lindell and Lido students have formed new friendships along the way,” added Lido Principal Brenda Young. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8488 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach eighth-graders finally returned to their home school on Dec. 17, after spending the past few weeks at Long Beach High School due to the ongoing flood remediation at the middle school. The sixth- and seventh-graders had returned to their middle school classrooms just after Thanksgiving. The Long Beach Middle School complex, which has been under major restoration and remodeling since last year, suffered significant damage after Superstorm Sandy. While remediation and repair work was being done, all middle school students attended classes at Long Beach High School, just a few blocks away, until the reopening of the school in mid-November. The return of eighth-graders to the middle school signaled a major step in the return to normalcy post-Sandy. All staff members were well-equipped with information about room changes to help the eighth-graders get reacquainted. Although conditions at the high school were crowded while they were there, the eighth-graders reaped an unexpected benefit from their temporary move: They received a taste of high school life that should better prepare them for their official move to the school in September as freshmen. “I’m glad we are all here again and students can focus on their classwork in the comfort of their home building,” said Vice Principal Keith Biesma. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8489 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Middle School will be holding a "Winterfest Music Concert" on Thursday, Feb. 14th, 7:30 pm at the middle school auditorium. Performing groups will include the jazz band, chamber orchestra and selected vocals. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8491 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT In addition to the customary high school orientation program, Long Beach Middle School eighth-graders received an unexpected opportunity this year to prepare to be successful in high school, compliments of Hurricane Sandy. When the superstorm swept through Long Beach, it caused flooding that forced the temporary closure of Long Beach Middle School. While restoration work was being completed at the middle school, students in grades 6-8 temporarily attended classes at the high school. High school students and staff joined forces with their middle school visitors to turn adversity into opportunity by planning special activities to help middle school students interact with their older peers. Under the direction of Vice Principal Dr. Timothy Piciullo, various high school club officers met to create team-building activities to help teach the eighth-graders the skills, habits and attitudes that will translate into success when they officially enter the high school as freshmen in September. The upperclassmen visited 13 different eighth-grade classes, working with them to enhance their leadership and communication skills and share study tips that will lead to academic success. They talked about the importance of sports and clubs, and led the younger students in team-building exercises. They also discussed the high school anti-bully pledge and spoke frankly with the eighth-graders about the importance of combating bullying by being an “upstander” instead of a bystander. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8581 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT In this season of peace and goodwill, the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools must be cognizant of the incredible generosity and benevolence shown by so many of the District’s employees, alumni, community members, and charitable strangers who have given so much in this uniquely difficult time. The efforts made to help the schools recover after Hurricane Sandy went above and beyond what is required by contract, loyalty, or even the best of human nature. Mere words could never express the gratitude that the Board feels for this unprecedented generosity. The effects will be felt by our children throughout their school years and beyond. The example set by so many is the best lesson ever taught in our schools. It is with heartfelt thanks that the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools extend to all involved its best wishes for a joyous, peaceful, and healing holiday season. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8441 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Theatre Dept. will present Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" January 10-12, 2013. Tickets are $8.00 at the door. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8442 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Long Beach School District was able to open three school buildings to continue the education of all our students. Thanks to the cooperation of staff, parents and students since then, we have been successful in that effort. We have been actively restoring the remainder of our buildings that were severely damaged in the storm. We are estimating that the total damage to the District facilities, to our equipment and instructional materials, along with the cost of restoring schools in the immediate aftermath of the storm, will cost the District approximately twenty million dollars. The District is insured to the maximum available to us for hazard and flood under the New York State Insurance Reciprocal. The policy limits payment per occurrence. Therefore, despite damage to all our school buildings, insurance payments are capped at approximately one million dollars. Additional insurance coverage for our construction projects and our contents will max out at approximately five million dollars. We anticipate, based on the experience of other districts that have had similar emergencies that FEMA will cover 75% of what insurance does not cover. However, as with other insurance programs, there are many requirements we will need to meet to maximize that payment. We are also watching the political situation in Washington and Albany regarding funding for Hurricane Sandy relief. Final percentage payments from each level of government have yet to be determined. In the past, New York State has supported districts by paying fifty percent of what insurance and FEMA combined do not pay out to districts. While this is what we anticipate the funding plan to be, we realize that the state budget places restrictions on available funding. We have been in regular contact with state officials to make the case for Long Beach. If past history holds, and FEMA covers 75% of what insurance does not cover, and the state covers the additional 12.5%, the District will likely have an exposure of $2.5 million to $4 million. The District will continue to actively lobby New York State to help cover as much, of this cost as possible. The Friends of Long Beach has begun an active campaign to solicit donations from the corporate world. The group is seeking to leverage contacts that Long Beach residents may have with businesses, foundations and other funding sources to help close the gap between the costs covered by insurance, FEMA and state aid, and the actual costs of restoration incurred by the Long Beach School District. To find out more visit Friends of Long Beach NY on Facebook. In the meantime, we are very grateful for the help and support of community members and staff who have been making efforts to raise money and provide donations to help meet the District’s needs. The support has been tremendous, and has touched all of us. Donations can still be made directly to the Long Beach School District on a link from LBeach.org. Thank you. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8381 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:00:00 GMT On the evening of Dec. 12, Long Beach High School hosted an IB Information Night, giving students and parents detailed information about the high school’s International Baccalaureate diploma program. This comprehensive two-year academic program is designed to prepare young people to meet the academic demands of college while motivating them to become thoughtful, caring and active citizens. Classroom instruction is designed to encourage students to be inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, risk-takers and communicators. In addition, students who are not IB diploma candidates can elect to take any number of individual IB courses and receive certificates of credit by taking the IB exams. Long Beach High School became an IB World School in 2010. “Long Beach High School is one of just eight schools on Long Island to offer the International Baccalaureate diploma program,” said Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi during his opening remarks. “IB a globally recognized program of excellence.” Dr. Passi was joined by IB coordinator Dr. Andrew Smith, who broke down the main differences between AP courses and the IB program. With AP courses, students take individual college-level classes that end with a standardized exam administered by the College Board. Students who elect to earn an IB diploma must successfully complete one class from each of six key subject areas, with three of the classes at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). HL courses are taken over a two-year span, beginning in the junior year, with exams administered at the end of senior year. SL courses are taken over a one-year span. To earn an IB diploma, students must also take a Theory of Knowledge course, write an original 4,000-word essay and complete 150 hours of community service in the CAS component of the program, which stands for creativity, action and service. Dr. Smith noted that just 30 percent of students in the United States are able to graduate from college within four years. “The IB program will help turn the tide on that startling statistic by preparing students to do the work that will be required of them at the university level.” “Think about your own jobs and what you do every day,” Dr. Smith implored of the audience. “You communicate, you write, you think. Those are some of the key skills you need every day in the workforce, especially in a competitive workforce like we have here in New York. The IB program will help your children develop the skills they will need to be college- and career-ready.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8408 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recognized Long Beach High School seniors John Delahanty and Mollie Medrano with Zone Awards. This award is given to students who exemplify and demonstrate an understanding for the New York State Learning Standards for Health and Physical Education by: exhibiting a physically active and healthy lifestyle; demonstrating sportsmanship, character, civility and citizenship; exhibiting exceptional achievement in physical education class; and achieving a high level of fitness on an approved fitness test. Physical education teacher Lynn Tenaglia nominated them for this honor. They were recognized at a reception for all the Nassau County Zone Award winners on Dec. 10 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8380 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School has officially named Jennifer Nash as the valedictorian of the Class of 2012. Carlo Sevilla has been named the salutatorian. An International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, Jennifer is a member of the National Honor Society and editor-in-chief of the Newspaper Club. The secretary of the Long Beach chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Jennifer plays in the orchestra and chamber orchestra and has participated in the NYSSMA Music Festival for the past six years, earning both All-County and LISFA music honors. She has been a member of the varsity swimming and diving team, as well as a County Championship qualifier, since the seventh grade. Outside of school, Jennifer swims on the Long Beach Aquatics youth team. In addition, she is a Town of Hempstead ocean lifeguard and has served as an assistant in the water safety instruction program at the City of Long Beach recreation summer camps. Her volunteer service includes fundraising for Relay for Life and working with the Long Beach Polar Bears to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is also a member of the Adventuralists, a club that focuses on environmental projects in Long Beach. Also an IB diploma candidate and a member of the National Honor Society, Carlo received a certificate of excellence in Spanish from the Foreign Language Honor Society. A member of the Asian Culture Club, he performed in the Hope for Japan Talent Show to raise money for the Red Cross Japan Relief Effort in 2011. Active in the theater program, Carlo showcases his musical and dance talents every year in the high school musical productions. He also plays on the varsity badminton team. Outside of school, Carlo has volunteered his time to the Long Beach Leos and at the St. Mary’s Summer Festival. In addition, he worked during the summer as a secretary for a Westbury interior maintenance and design company. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7881 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT After a rigorous application process, Long Beach High School senior Russell Goetz has been selected to perform at the 2013 National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference on April 7. He will be one of a select group of 350 students from 11 Northeastern states to sing in the All-Eastern Mixed Chorus at the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts in Hartford, Conn. This is one of the highest honors bestowed on high school music students. To be considered for the All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, a student must have performed in his or her state’s 2011-12 All-State music festival, must be a member of his or her school’s corresponding ensemble group, and must to have received an endorsement from the school’s principal or superintendent and ensemble director. Student applications are then reviewed by a council of state music association presidents before being passed on to selection committee members, who make the final determinations. Among his many musical accomplishments, Russell is a two-time All-State musician and eight-time All-County musician. He was most recently chosen to perform with the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the 2012 New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference in Rochester, N.Y., held from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. He also was a featured soloist at a performance of the 2011 All-State Jazz Ensemble for state legislators in Albany last year. Russell is a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He performs in the select choir, chorus, men’s chorus, band, jazz band and wind ensemble, and is the drum major for the marching band. Also active in the theater department, Russell has played leading roles in high school drama and musical productions, and will serve as student director of both productions this year. In 2009 Russell toured Europe, singing with the American Music Abroad program. In 2010 he attended the Crane School of Music summer program for voice and choral studies. A scholar-athlete in badminton and tennis, Russell is the varsity badminton team captain and was named a 2010 and 2011 All-County Champion. “This is truly a great honor for Russell and for the Long Beach School District,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the district’s director of comprehensive arts. “Although we have had dozens of All-State musicians named over the years, it has been approximately 25 years since the last Long Beach student has qualified for the All-Eastern Conference.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7996 Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT We are saddened to hear about the tragedy that occurred today in a Connecticut school. Earlier today we checked all buildings to verify that existing safety procedures were being followed. In an effort to ensure that all the members of our school community are properly protected we also contacted our security company and our health and safetyconsultant to discuss additional measures we can take throughout our buildings. We will continue to meet withstaff to implement possible additional safety measures. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8280 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8257 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT All eighth graders will return to the middle school on Monday, December 17th. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8262 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT After taking inventory of their losses in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, administrators of Long Beach Public Schools set to work soliciting donations to replace vital learning tools, such a textbooks, that were ruined in the floods that tore through the school buildings on this hard-hit barrier island. Long Beach Middle School was one of the district buildings that sustained considerable flooding damage. Many of the textbooks that were left in lockers the Friday before the storm were destroyed. Books that traveled home with students did not fare much better, as many homes in the area also suffered considerable flood damage. One of the corporate donors that came to the rescue was Big Ideas Learning, publishers of the Big Ideas Math series used by Long Beach students in grades 6-8. Hearing of the district’s plight, the company donated dozens of boxes of replacement workbooks, making it possible for middle school students to continue their math studies without further interruption. Another generous contribution came from Pearson/Prentice Hall, publishers of “Earth Science: The Physical Setting,” which is the Regents review book used by eighth-grade accelerated science students. Through the cooperation of company representative Shelly Newmark, 100 new workbooks were delivered to the district to help these students continue their efforts to excel in science. “This particular loss was especially hard to accept, since we had just purchased new review books from Pearson/Prentice Hall this year,” said Director of Science Kenneth Graham. “When I told Shelly of our situation, she went right to work to try to help us out.” “We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of aid that we have received in the aftermath of this terrible storm,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “New supplies from community members and from around the country have been arriving every day to fill the real and specific needs of our hard-hit schools.” To help alert potential donors of specific needs, the district has set up a special link on its website, www.lbeach.org, that says “Hurricane Relief Donate Here.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8251 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT When fourth-grader Jack O’Reilly of South Salem, N.Y. viewed TV footage of the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused in Long Beach, N.Y., he was moved to do something very few 10-year-olds would do. In lieu of presents at his 10th birthday party, Jack asked all his schoolmates at Meadow Pond Elementary School in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District to bring in school supplies for students in Long Beach Public Schools. The response from Jack’s school was impressive. With the help of his friends, he was able to collect dozens of boxes filled with backpacks, notebooks, glue sticks, pens, pencils and other supplies, which he and his family personally delivered to East Elementary School in Long Beach. He was greeted by East School Principal Sean Murray, teacher-in-charge Sharon Weiss and fourth-graders Timothy Hardy and Kevin Lopez, who thanked him for his generosity. In return for his kindness, Jack asked one simple thing of his counterparts at East School. “In the future,” he said, “when you see another school that needs help, please remember to ‘pay it forward.’” Timothy replied that he already had a plan in the works to donate holiday presents to local kids in need — a statement that put a smile on young Jack’s face as he saw the seeds of kindness spreading even faster than he had expected. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8252 Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT It has been said that art has healing powers. After Hurricane Sandy devastated the City of Long Beach, the school district’s elementary art students were asked by art teachers Denise Collins and Stephanie Kornacki to create artwork that captured what Sandy would look like if she were someone we could actually see. This proved to be a very personal work of creation for the young artists, since Sandy caused damage to many of their homes, forced the temporary closure of Lido and West elementary schools and decimated the art studios of those schools in the process. The students rose to the occasion, producing a startling series of images that captured the fury, majesty and destruction of this very powerful force of nature. From these very personal and very original works of art, the elementary art studios put together a very special exhibit titled “Let the Healing Begin…Through Art,” which opened at Gentle Brew Coffee of Long Beach on Dec 8. “Allowing our students to personify Sandy gave them an outlet to express their personal feelings in the wake of a disaster that hit very close to home,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, director of comprehensive arts. “The result was a series of thought-provoking, introspective and incredibly imaginative drawings. I would like to extend our thanks to Matt Luyster of Gentle Brew for collaborating with us to host this exhibit.” The exhibit will be on display at Gentle Brew Coffee, 151 East Park Ave. in Long Beach through the end of December. Anyone wishing to help Lido and West schools restore their art studios in the wake of Hurricane Sandy can visit www.lbeach.org and click on the button that says “Hurricane Relief Donate Here.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8204 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT As representatives from Long Beach City Hall prepared their annual commemoration of Pearl Harbor Day, they called upon the Long Beach High School music department to fill an important void. It was discovered that their regular bugler would not be able to perform “Taps” because he had lost his instrument in the recent flood. Hearing of their dilemma, senior Jesse Klirsfeld gladly stepped in to volunteer. His heartfelt rendition of this traditional bugle call brought a tear to the eyes of those gathered to honor the memory of all those who lost their lives on this infamous day. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8205 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Staff and students at Long Beach Public Schools have been faced with many challenges since Hurricane Sandy devastated the Long Beach community and left some schools temporarily out of service. At Lindell School, which will be housing both Lindell and Lido students through the end of the year, they have been making lemonade from lemons by embracing the new collaborative learning opportunities that this situation has presented. For example, several fifth-grade classrooms are using co-teaching methods to make the most out of the limited resources, combining forces for their Writers’ Workshops and math instruction. During a recent Writers’ Workshop session, Lido students in Debra Cupani’s fifth-grade class joined Edith Guzman’s fifth-graders at Lindell School for a lesson in historical fiction writing. Students worked in small groups with both teachers to research historical facts, map out their story ideas, develop their characters and settings and write convincing dialogue. “After taking Ms. Guzman’s Writers’ Workshop in-service courses, it has been a pleasure to be able to work with her in an actual classroom setting,” said Cupani. “Since many of my classroom books were destroyed by the flood, we are also happy to be able to share her books and other supplies. This experience has shown us all that if we support each other, we can accomplish anything, anytime, anywhere.” “Ms. Cupani’s expertise and teaching style have been the highlight of our shared math sessions,” added Guzman. “Our students have been adjusting and responding positively to the integration. We are truly becoming a family. Our new motto is ‘Say yes to lemonade!’” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8207 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Guidance Department hosted a special Financial Aid Night to give parents of graduating seniors a step-by-step guide to navigate through the array of forms and formulas needed to maximize aid and defray the ever-growing cost of college. College Financial Aid Consultant Barry Fox explained how to compute college costs, reviewed the financial aid process, discussed ways to qualify for various federal and state financial aid programs, and walked parents through the steps to determining a needs analysis. He wrapped up his presentation by giving parents step-by-step instructions for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly referred to as the FAFSA form) that all students who are interested in receiving any type of financial aid for college must complete. Parents also received information about the CSS/Financial Aid Profile that many colleges also require, along with useful links to free scholarship search engines. There was also a special Spanish-language presentation conducted by Ruth Pavon, assistant director of financial aid for Molloy College. She discussed college choices with parents and gave them useful ideas for maximizing the funding they receive for post-secondary education. Although the financial aid process can seem daunting at first, parents left the evening armed with much useful advice about how to pay with less pain. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8208 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT At the Nov. 27 meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education, the district announced an amended vacation schedule for the 2012-13 school year. In order to make up for those school days lost in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Long Beach Public Schools will be holding classes on Feb.19-22, 2013. These days had previously been designated as winter recess days. Classes will also be held on March 25 and April 1, formerly designated as spring recess days. The spring recess days of March 27 and March 28 have been designated as possible snow make-up days. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7976 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT FEMA may provide financial assistance and, if necessary, direct services to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy, have necessary expenses and serious needs and are unable to meet such expenses or needs through other means such as insurance. FEMA may provide temporary housing, replacement, permanent or semi-permanent housing construction, or other needs caused by the disaster, including medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage, and other expenses that are authorized by law. Apply online by visiting www.fema.gov or by phone by calling 1‐800‐621‐FEMA (3362). Please have the following information ready: pen and paper; your Social Security number; a description of your losses that were caused by the disaster; and your insurance information. The extended deadline to file an application for FEMA assistance is Jan 28, 2013. For more information call the FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit www.fema.gov/help-after-disaster. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8010 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT I am very pleased to announce that all Middle School students, including the 8th grade, will return to the Middle School on Monday December 17th. The Lido Elementary will return to their own building on Wednesday, January 2nd and West School students and staff will be moving to Lindell School on Monday January 7th. High School students will report to classrooms on Monday using their pre-Hurricane schedule (with the exception of physical education). Eighth grade students will ride to school on the Middle School buses. All bus times and bus routes will be five minutes earlier than they were this week. Schedules are posted on http://www.lbeach.org/departments/transportation http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8276 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:00:00 GMT Superintendent’s Update 12/14/12 In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Long Beach School District was able to open three school buildings to continue the education of all our students. Thanks to the cooperation of staff, parents and students since then, we have been successful in that effort. We have been actively restoring the remainder of our buildings that were severely damaged in the storm. We are estimating that the total damage to the District facilities, to our equipment and instructional materials, along with the cost of restoring schools in the immediate aftermath of the storm, will cost the District approximately twenty million dollars. The District is insured to the maximum available to us for hazard and flood under the New York State Insurance Reciprocal. The policy limits payment per occurrence. Therefore, despite damage to all our school buildings, insurance payments are capped at approximately one million dollars. Additional insurance coverage for our construction projects and our contents will max out at approximately five million dollars. We anticipate, based on the experience of other districts that have had similar emergencies that FEMA will cover 75% of what insurance does not cover. However, as with other insurance programs, there are many requirements we will need to meet to maximize that payment. We are also watching the political situation in Washington and Albany regarding funding for Hurricane Sandy relief. Final percentage payments from each level of government have yet to be determined. In the past, New York State has supported districts by paying fifty percent of what insurance and FEMA combined do not pay out to districts. While this is what we anticipate the funding plan to be, we realize that the state budget places restrictions on available funding. We have been in regular contact with state officials to make the case for Long Beach. If past history holds, and FEMA covers 75% of what insurance does not cover, and the state covers the additional 12.5%, the District will likely have an exposure of $2.5 million to $4 million. The District will continue to actively lobby New York State to help cover as much, of this cost as possible. The Friends of Long Beach has begun an active campaign to solicit donations from the corporate world. The group is seeking to leverage contacts that Long Beach residents may have with businesses, foundations and other funding sources to help close the gap between the costs covered by insurance, FEMA and state aid, and the actual costs of restoration incurred by the Long Beach School District. To find out more visit Friends of Long Beach NY on Facebook. In the meantime, we are very grateful for the help and support of community members and staff who have been making efforts to raise money and provide donations to help meet the District’s needs. The support has been tremendous, and has touched all of us. Donations can still be made directly to the Long Beach School District on a link from LBeach.org. Thank you. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8278 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8150 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT “S” is for Sandy: Staff, students and parents of the Blackheath Pre-K School are proving that it hard to keep a good program down. After Hurricane Sandy rendered the buildings of the Pre-K School on Blackheath Road beyond repair, the program was relocated temporarily to Lindell School beginning on Nov. 28. Both morning and afternoon classes are meeting during the morning session in the Lindell Cafeteria. Teachers have been models of resilience and resourcefulness, providing a safe, nurturing and orderly learning environment. Students proved to be equally resilient, getting quickly back into their routine of story circles, learning their letters, coloring, playing with building blocks, sharing and socializing. “We are thrilled to be able to promote some new ‘S’ words for our students and families: ‘supportive, sensational, sincere and sympathetic,’” said Principal Cristine Zawatson. “The children bring ‘sunny smiles’ to our new classrooms, which spells ‘success’!” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8107 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT After Hurricane Sandy forced the postponement of Long Beach High School’s November production of “The Odd Couple,” the school’s theater department is proud to announce that the show has been rescheduled, with performances on Jan. 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Four decades after its 1965 Broadway debut, this classic Neil Simon comedy of a slob and a fussbudget who try to live together "without driving each other crazy" is sure to provide a healthy dose of post-Sandy laughter for the storm-ravaged Long Beach community. Tickets are $8 and are available at the door. To reserve tickets, call 516-897-6500. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7793 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8086 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Public Schools took one more step toward full recovery after Superstorm Sandy, as Long Beach Middle School opened its doors to returning sixth- and seventh-graders on the morning of Dec. 3. Long Beach Middle School students had been attending classes at the high school since Nov. 13 while the middle school underwent restoration work after Superstorm Sandy. Eighth-graders are expected to join them back at the middle school on or around Dec.19. After the storm hit and damage assessments were completed on all buildings, the work of remediation and restoration began. Under the supervision of an environmental consultant, anything that came in contact with water was disposed of or sanitized. A restoration firm was brought in to clean and sanitize all rooms and their contents, according to strict environmental standards. The three buildings that sustained the least damage — Lindell School, East School and Long Beach High School — were fully restored when classes resumed on Nov. 13. The Lido Complex and West School sustained more extensive damage. Beginning Nov. 13, Lido Elementary School students have been housed at Lindell School, West School students have been attending classes at East School and middle school students were temporarily moved up to the high school. Lido elementary students should be able to move back to their building the first week in January. West School, which sustained the most extensive damage, will not be ready to receive students back until sometime in March. Pre-K classes, which had been suspended since the storm, resumed on Nov. 28, housed temporarily at Lindell School. Pre-K students who previously attended both the morning and afternoon sessions will both attend during the morning session as restoration work continues around the district. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8057 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT GentleBrew Coffee of Long Beach is featuring a display of artwork by students from all four Long Beach elementary schools. The Exhibit, titled "Let The Healing Begin...through Art" will be displayed through December. Please stop by at 151 East Park Ave. with your friends and family to support our young artists. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8058 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT Two weeks after Hurricane Sandy swept through Long Beach, Long Beach Public Schools resumed classes on Nov. 13, with the Lindell, East School and Long Beach High School buildings fully operational for the start of school. Not wasting any time, students and teachers got right back to the business of learning. At East School, East and West School students and staff joined forces to create some unique learning opportunities for students. On Nov.16, Susan Garcia's second-grade class at East School hosted Amy Goldenberg's second-grade class from West School for a writing celebration. Students from both classes shared personal narratives that they had begun before the storm. In the days after school re-opened, students completed their work and took the opportunity to share their writing with an audience of their peers. Students went through all the steps in the writing process, including drafting, revising, and editing, before publishing and sharing their work. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8019 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT We will resume Pre-K on Wednesday, November 28th at Lindell School. At this time, we will be operating the program for both AM and PM students during the morning times of 8:15 AM until 11:15 AM. All registered students will be able to attend this program. Busing location times have been posted to the transportation page. Please note there will be no alternate bus stops at this time. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7940 Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT After Hurricane Sandy swept through Long Beach, flooding most of the barrier island, many homes and schools in the district sustained considerable damage. Not only did many students find themselves temporarily displaced from their homes and home schools, but they also found that school supplies, notebooks and binders—in school lockers and at home—had been destroyed by the storm. Hearing of their plight, organizations far and wide came to the rescue to donate thousands of backpacks full of supplies and hundreds of boxes of binders, paper, pencils, pens and other supplies. These essential classroom tools will be distributed to students in all schools throughout the district. Robert Firneis of Savin Engineers worked to secure 1,300 supply-laden backpacks from fellow contractors, architects, engineers, consultants and friends to help outfit students in grades K-12. Savin is the construction management firm in charge of implementing capital improvement projects that are part of the district’s ongoing School Preservation Plan. Mr. Firneis, who is the project manager for the job, was so taken by the devastation in the community that he put out a call for help through the network of professionals who are working with Long Beach Public Schools to complete the School Preservation Plan. In the wake of the storm, the Chatsworth Elementary School PTA in Larchmont, N.Y. also sprung into action, collecting a van full of book bags, school supplies, socks, hats and gloves, as well as $450 in Amex gift cards to be distributed to families hardest hit by the storm. Tucked inside each backpack, Long Beach students were happy to find personal notes from their Chatsworth counterparts wishing them a speedy recovery from the storm. The project was inspired by PTA member Katie Fitzgerald, who has fond memories of summers spent on the Long Beach shores. Ms. Fitzgerald has maintained close ties to her childhood vacation home through her sister Christine Farrell, who lives in Long Beach and also works for Long Beach Public Schools. The Southgate Elementary School in the North Colonie Central School District in Loudonville, N.Y. sponsored a collection drive called “Kids Helping Kids.” They reached out to the Long Beach School District the day after the storm and started collecting according to Long Beach posts about the supplies that were needed by the community. The delivery, which included bottled water, school supplies, cleaning supplies, hats, gloves, books, toys and blankets, arrived to Lindell School on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Lindell students are now in the process of writing thank you notes to their new friends from Southgate. Adam Croan, marketing director of School Bags for Kids, arranged for his organization to donate 104 backpacks full of supplies for children in the district. School Bags for Kids supplies backpacks full of supplies to children in need throughout the world. For every backpack purchased at schoolbagsforkids.com, a backpack full of supplies is donated to children in need. Another 1,000 book bags outfitted with notebooks, markers, pens and pencils were donated to the district by the Brooke Jackman Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports literacy and self-esteem for underprivileged children. After Hurricane Sandy, the foundation began to send backpacks to Long Beach and some of the other hardest hit communities in the metropolitan area. Long Beach Regional Catholic School also received 1,000 backpacks from this organization. In addition, the district gratefully accepted a donation spearheaded by Staples. The company procured approximately $10,000 worth of school supplies, including 2,500 Avery binders, 720 packages of Staples filler paper, 2,000 pencils, 3,000 pens, 3,000 highlighters, 3,000 lined Post-It pads, 10,000 label pads and 10,000 note tabs, all of which will be distributed to students in need. This donation was arranged through the resourcefulness of Long Beach Middle School teacher Melanie Scott and Rich Goudis of Herbalife, with the cooperation of Jana Frasier, regional sales director of Staples Advantage. “So many of our students lost so much in the storm,” said District Director of Social Studies Sean Hurley, who has been organizing the distribution of the donated supplies. “Receiving these supplies brought smiles to the faces of so many students. It was gratifying for us as we reopened our schools to have so many organizations reach out to fill an urgent need and to let our students know that others cared.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7983 Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Hurricane Sandy hit Long Beach especially hard, damaging the homes and personal property of many families and closing district schools for a record 10 days. When classes resumed, teachers and administrators went to work seeking help to replace essential supplies so that students could return to the business of learning. Anyone who has ever taken a higher-level math class knows that a graphing calculator is an essential classroom tool. Worried that many of his students might have lost their graphing calculators in the storm, Long Beach High School math teacher David Prince posted a series of projects on DonorsChoose.org called "Hurricane Sandy Calculator Recovery." DonorsChoose.org is an organization that allows teachers to post projects that require funding. Outside benefactors then contribute to the projects they deem worthy. Within four days, the Hurricane Sandy Recovery projects raised $1,769 from donors all over the country--enough money to purchase a classroom set of 30 TI-84 graphing calculators. To view the projects, visit http://www.donorschoose.org/project/hurricane-sandy-calculator-recovery-in-l/917493/. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7957 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7913 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Before Hurricane Sandy rolled into town on Oct. 29, Long Beach Middle School seventh-graders were gearing up to begin construction of their second annual Field of Honor—a field of commemorative flags recognizing both veterans and those currently serving in the military—that was to be on display in front of the district administration building on Lido Blvd. from Nov. 7 – Dec. 7. After the superstorm flooded most of the barrier island, leaving the City of Long Beach without water, gas or electricity and closing schools for two weeks, it seemed like it might be an impossibility to erect the Field of Honor this year. But due to the determination and resourcefulness of Social Studies Director Sean Hurley, Middle School Principal Dr. Michele Natali, teachers Joseph Hoffman and Lauren Behan, the Creagh family, Grace and Kerry Hoffman and Patricia and Lauren Natali, the Field of Honor was erected on Nov. 7 as scheduled. It will remain on display through Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day) to serve as a symbol of perseverance and bravery of those who sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms, but also as a symbol of the perseverance and bravery of the residents of Long Beach as they work to rebuild this island community that has been so severely damaged. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7920 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT First-grade classes at Lido School hosted a learning celebration called “Snacks and Stories.” Parents were invited to class to share literacy and math lessons with their children, finishing up with an autumn-themed craft activity. The lessons acquainted parents with the Fundations reading program that is used in first-grade classrooms. Teachers also demonstrated some of the creative math techniques that they are using to align curriculum with the new Common Core learning standards introduced by the state. “We have found it very beneficial to invite parents into the classroom to share these learning experiences with their children,” said Principal Brenda Young. “Once parents see the techniques being used in the classroom, it makes it much easier for them to become engaged partners in their children’s education.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8036 Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Superintendent's Message Nov 21 We are continuing the careful environmental clean-up of the Lido Complex. The process is methodical and designed to ensure that all environmental hazards are remediatedor eliminated before it is reoccupied by staff and students. Because of the thorough nature of the cleaning, the process is slow. Based on the timetable provided to us by our restoration contractors, we will be moving the 6th and 7th grades to the Lido Complex on December 3rd. This will provide immediate relief to the crowding at the high school. We will know better on that date when we will be able to make additional moves, since this is now all one large jigsaw puzzle. At the high school the pool is now available foruse. We have also returned some of the space on the first floor (metal shop, wood shop, weight room) of the high school for instructional use. We are looking to open the photo lab and life skills rooms early next week. We will restart our Pre-K program on Wednesday November 28thas a morning program only. We will not be able to operate both the morning and afternoon until more space becomes available. Blackheath parents will be notified of the changes on Monday.Afternoon students will be invited to participate in the morning program in classes led by the previous teachers. Our winter athletic program at the high school has resumed. We will also be starting middle school winter season I. Details are available from the athletic office. I am recommending to the Board of Education at our Tuesday meeting that we meet our mandated school year by adjusting our calendar to open school on February 19. 20. 21, 22, March 25, and April 1. March 27 and 28 would be designated as possible snow make-up days. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7906 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7884 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT During a field trip to Philadelphia on Oct. 25, a group of 50 Long Beach High School students were able to gain some firsthand perspective about the history lessons they had been studying in their AP Government and IB History of the Americas classes. Recent classroom lessons included discussions about the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the presidencies of George Washington and John Adams. The trip allowed the students to visit some of the historical locations where many of the events they had been studying had actually taken place. The first stop on the trip was Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed. This was also the location where delegates from the United States held the Constitutional Convention and created the Constitution of the United States. Next, students were able to step inside Congress Hall, where the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate met from 1790 until 1800. It was here that President George Washington was sworn in for his second term of office and where he willfully transferred presidential power to our second president, John Adams. Congress Hall was also the site where the Bill of Rights was debated and voted on by our founding fathers. While in Philadelphia, students also went to the National Constitution Center, where they were able to tour the museum and participate in many interactive activities, including taking a presidential oath of office and voting in a mock election. Other stops on the trip included the Liberty Bell and the gravesites of Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross. They were also lucky enough to visit an 18th century printing house to gain a better understanding of how Benjamin Franklin and other printers from his day operated printing presses and distributed written works. Students were accompanied on the trip by teachers Jonathan Bloom and Jennifer Quinn. “This trip allowed our students to gain a greater appreciation for our founding fathers, who left us with a representative democracy that allows us to exercise all the basic rights and freedoms that we still enjoy today,” said Mr. Bloom. “The experiences they shared will serve them well as they continue their studies of American history and government.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7887 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Thursday, November 22, 2012 12-4 PM M’s Family Restaurant (Formerly Stone Turtle) 4160 Austin Blvd. Island Park, New York 11558 Owner: John Manzo The John Manzo family and friends will be offering a FREE Thanksgiving Dinner to all community members who have been affected by the storm. This offer is extended to any relief workers, volunteers, adjusters, etc. who are assisting our families through this catastrophe. RESERVATIONS ARE MANDATORY. THERE WILL BE SEVERAL SEATINGS. To make a reservation, please text John at 516-661-6427 or stop by! Seating will be in either the main restaurant or heated tents. If you would like to volunteer and help with serving, please text John at 516-661-6427. Let’s try to get some normalcy back in our lives. Be safe! http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7860 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7878 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach first-graders are becoming experienced storytellers, using skills they are learning in the Writer’s Workshop. The Writer’s Workshop launched this year with a unit on writing personal narratives. In Donna Braunhut’s first-grade class at East School, students were asked to bring in photos and other objects that serve as reminders of special times in their lives. Using their special objects as tools, each student paired up with a buddy, sitting face to face on the floor to tell their story. Using a technique call story-stretching, they counted one detail of their stories on each finger of their hands. After recounting their stories verbally, they returned to their desks to ‘stretch out’ their stories in writing. To culminate the unit, students continued to revise and edit their writing until their stories were complete. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8116 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Lindell students in Maria Parada's third-grade class and Mildred McCarthy's fifth-grade class worked together to complete a literacy project. The third-graders read a Halloween-themed book and summarized it for their fifth-grade buddies. Together, the students discussed and wrote about the different story components, assembling all the information on a scarecrow cutout and then coloring the cutout together. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8112 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Medical Center conducts an interdisciplinary drill each year for the purpose of testing standards and protocols relating to specific public health issues. This year’s drill related to alcohol and drug overdoses. On Oct. 5, a group of 11 Long Beach High School theater students helped the hospital add a dose of realism to the drill by posing as a group of teenagers who witness the accidental overdose of a friend at an unsupervised house party. A simulated patient, which was controlled electronically by a LBMC staff worker, was used as the drug overdose victim. Members of the Long Beach Police Department, Long Beach Fire Department, and Long Beach Medical Center’s Emergency Department and Medical Education Department ran through all the emergency protocols that would be used to respond to an actual overdose. The Long Beach students were invited to attend a debriefing after the drill concluded. When asked what impressed them most about the drill, they mentioned how professional and focused the EMS staff remained as they attended to the patient, even as a very realistic simulated fight broke out around them. They also praised the highly coordinated effort among the emergency department staff. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7879 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT High/Middle Bus Routes A.M. High/Middle Bus Routes P.M. Route #1 Morning (3 busses) Route #1 Afternoon (3 busses) Depart: 8:30 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 High School Blue Point Parking Lot NY & Park NE Georgia & Park SW Delaware & Park NE Minnesota & Park SW Minnesota & Park NE Delaware &Park SW Georgia & Park NE NY & Park SW Blue Point Parking Lot Arrive: High School 9:00 a.m. Route # 2 Morning (2 busses) Route #2 Afternoon (2 busses) Depart: 8:30 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 p.m. High School Grand & Walnut SW Lafayette & Olive NE Lindell & Walnut SW Washington& Olive NE Washington & Walnut SW Lindell & Olive NE Lafayette & Walnut SW Grand & Olive NE Arrive: High School 9:00 a.m. Route #3 Morning (2 busses) Route #3 Afternoon (2 busses) Depart: 8:40 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 p.m. HS Laurelton & Walnut SW Magnolia & Olive NE Magnolia & Walnut SW Laurelton & Olive NE Arrive: High School 9:00 Route #4 Morning (3 busses) Route #4 Afternoon (3 busses) Depart: 8:40 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 p.m. High School Riverside & Pine NW Riverside & Pine NW Arrive: High School 9:00 am Route #5 Morning (1 bus) Route #5 Afternoon (1 bus) Depart: 8:40 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 p.m. High School Biarritz & lido SW Biarritz & lido SW Townhouse& Lido SW Townhouse & Lido SW Glenwood & Lido SW Glenwood & Lido SW Sharen & Marginal Sharen & Marginal Arrive: High School 9:00 Route #6 Morning (2 busses) Route #6 Afternoon (2 busses) Depart: 8:40 a.m. (2 busses) Leave: 2:50/3:30 p.m. High School Monroe & Walnut SW Monroe & Olive NE Arrive: High School 9:00 a.m. Route #7 Morning (1 bus) Route #7 Afternoon (1 bus) Depart 8:40 a.m. Leave: 2:50/3:30 High School National & Walnut SW Riverside & Olive NE Edwards & Walnut SW Edwards & Olive NE Riverside & Walnut SW National & Olive NE Route #8 Morning (2 busses) Route #8 Afternoon (2 busses) Depart: 8:35 a.m. Leave High 2:50/3:30 High School Pacific & Park NE Pacific & Park NE Roosevelt & Park NE Roosevelt & Park Ne Neptune & Park NE Neptune & Park NE Franklin & Park NE Franklin & Park NE Lincoln & Park NE Lincoln & Park NE Lincoln & Walnut SE Lincoln & Walnut SE Franklin & Walnut SW Franklin & Walnut SW Neptune & Walnut SW Neptune & Walnut SW Roosevelt & Walnut SW Roosevelt & Walnut SW Pacific & Walnut SW Pacific & Walnut SW 0 0 1 253 1446 Syntax 12 3 1696 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7854 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT November 19, 2012 Dear Parents/Guardians: The families of the Long Beach community have been affected by Hurricane Sandy in many different ways. Everyone is working hard to recover from their own experiences and move forward. During this difficult time you, as well as your children, may be struggling to cope with the feelings you may be having. Some reactions are to be expected. There are a number of resources available to help guide you in helping your children through this. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has prepared “Parent Guidelines for Helping Children After a Hurricane”. To view a copy of this document click here. If you continue to have concerns or questions with regard to reactions you are seeing from your children, or you yourself need support, please do not hesitate to call the building social workers, psychologists, or me personally at 897-2202. We are here to assist you in any way we can. Sincerely, Sabrina Cantore Executive Director, PPS http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7847 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Superintendent's Message November 16 6 pm Despite the challenges this was a very successful week of school. We had more students back than we expected, and we were able to restart the learning process for them. Our planning is stillone week at a time.Our priority is to relieve some of the crowding issues, particularly at the high school. Before proceeding with any changes, we are waiting for an facilities availability timetable from our restoration contractors.We will use that information to developour plans to move forward.My thanks to parents, students and teachers foryour patience and cooperation. We will be making someminor modifications to the busing locations to move some stops off of Park Ave. and to cancel some of the stops within walking distanceof the high school. We will maintain adults on all our out of district runs and on our in-district elementary runs only. We have added a paypal donation form to lbeach.org to accept credit card donations. If you know anyone or any corporation interested in providing support, they can go directly to that page or to sandy@lbeach.org to contact us directly. The Driver Education Program in canceled until the curfew is lifted. Pre-K will not start up again until after Thanksgiving. We have not yetdetermined a location forit. The district interactive calendar is being updated. There is concern about making days up. No final determination has been made. We arerequired to have 180 days of school, and based on our calendar we are currently shy seven. Changes will be announced after Thanksgiving. MENSAJE DEL SUPERINTENDENTE -- 6 de Noviembre, 6 pm A pesar de todos los retos que enfrentamos, tuvimos mucho éxito esta semana. Asistieron más estudiantes de los que esperábamos, y pudimos empezar de nuevo el proceso de instrucción. Estamos planeando semana por semana. Nuestra prioridad es aliviar ALGUNOS DE LOS PROBLEMAS DE FALTA DE ESPACIO, particularmente en la escuela secundaria. Antes de proceder con cualquier cambio, estamos esperando por un Horario de Disponibilidad de nuestros edificios, calculado por nuestros contratistas de reconstrucción. Usaremos esa información para desarrollar nuestros planes para continuar nuestro progreso. Les doy las gracias a los padres, estudiantes y profesores por su paciencia y cooperación. Vamos a modificar algunas paradas de autobuses para eliminar las paradas que se llevan acabo en Park Avenue y para cancelar algunas paradas desde donde se puede caminar a la secundaria. Mantendremos supervisores adultos solamente en todas las rutas fuera del distrito y las rutas de las escuelas primarias dentro del distrito. Hemos agregado un formulario de donación PayPal a lbeach.org que acepta donaciones por tarjeta de crédito. Si conoce algún negocio, compañía o individuo que quiera apoyarnos, pueden ir directamente a esa página o a sandy@lbeach.org para ponerse en contacto con nosotros directamente. El Programa de Educación de Conducir está cancelado hasta que quiten las horas de queda. Pre-K no comenzará de nuevo hasta después de Acción de gracias (Thanksgiving). Aún no hemos determinado un sitio para el programa. Estamos poniendo al día el calendario interactivo del distrito. Algunas personas están preocupadas por los días que hemos perdido y como compensar por ellos, pero aún no se ha determinado como. El Estado requiere 180 días de instrucción, y basado en nuestro calendario actual nos faltan siete días. Los cambios en el calendario serán anunciados después de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving). http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7833 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:00:00 GMT The Long Beach City School District is pleased to announce that Governor Cuomo has signed an executive order to extend the due date for school taxes by 21 days for residents in participating districts. The district is authorized to participate in this effort and believes an extension for its residents who have been trying to regain normalcy after Hurricane Sandy is of critical importance. The legislation is pursuant to Section 925-a of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. The new deadline for the receipt of school taxes for Long Beach Public Schools will be Dec. 4. Payments are due to the Receiver of Taxes by 5 p.m. on the deadline date. If you have any questions regarding this extension, please contact Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito at 516.897.2090. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7826 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, students and staff of the Long Beach Public Schools resumed classes on Nov. 13, two weeks after Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the barrier island. The three buildings that sustained the least damage — Lindell School, East School and Long Beach High School — were fully operational for the start of school. All students will be attending classes in these three buildings until after Thanksgiving. Lido School students will be traveling to Lindell School, West School students will be going to East School and middle school students are temporarily moving up to the high school. Students who have been displaced by the storm traveled from all over the metropolitan area to return to classes. Buses ran smoothly on the first day, with a modified transportation schedule for students still residing within the district and new routes established to transport those students who are temporarily living outside of the district. To help displaced students return to school, the district transportation department established special pickup points at centralized locations in Island Park, East Meadow, Farmingdale, Freeport, Nassau Community College, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roslyn and Wantagh. Staff members rode with students on every bus traveling within or from outside of the district to ensure that everyone arrived safely to the correct school. Attendance was higher than expected under the circumstances, with some classes achieving perfect or near perfect attendance. Many students and staff members went to great lengths to return to Long Beach for the start of school. For example, Gregory Dentice, a Long Beach High School senior who is currently living in Manhattan with relatives, took the Long Island Rail Road to Lynbrook, where he transferred to a shuttle bus to take him to the Long Beach train station. Many of his fellow students had gone through similar lengths to return to school. At all three schools, children were greeted by the familiar faces of their principals and teachers, who joined forces to help them get down to the business of learning, whether they found themselves in familiar surroundings or were adjusting to a new location. Students and staff at all three buildings made sure that those who were not attending their home schools received an enthusiastic welcome. Through a master feat of scheduling, accommodations were made for all classes so that students would have continuity of instruction during this transition period. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7772 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT A new transportation emergency call center has been established to provide transportation information. For emergencyor special transportation routing information, please call 897-2132. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7794 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT To All My Long Island , Queens, NJ and Staten Island Friends...... ANYONE who truly cannot afford to have a "hurricane tree" removed from their property can call Shepherd's Heart Disaster Response Ministry. They drove all the way from AL (and Milwaukee) to help. They will remove your tree for FREE. The cell# is 205-296-3714. PLEASE get the word out... they are literally driving around looking for people to help. Removimiento gratis de árboles caídos para familias necesitadas A todos mis amigos de Long Island, Queens, New Jersey y Staten Island…..CUALQUIER PERSONA que verdaderamente no pueda pagar por remover un árbol derribado por el huracán puede llamar a Shepherds’s Heart Disaster Response Ministry. Ellos vinieron manejando desde Alabama (y Milwaukee) para ayudar. Removerán su árbol de gratis. El teléfono celular es #205-296-3714. POR FAVOR avísenle a todos los que puedan sobre esta oferta. Están literalmente conduciendo por las calles buscando a gente a quien ayudar. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7741 Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT After a five-game winning streak at the beginning of the season had virtually assured the Long Beach High School varsity football team a berth in the Nassau County playoffs, Hurricane Sandy swept through the barrier island, ruining their uniforms, equipment and playing field, and scattering at least half of the team to temporary housing all over the state. At first it seemed like the storm, which had damaged many of their homes and possessions, would also dash their playoff chances, but the team rallied together and through an extraordinary effort, they were able to overcome these seemingly insurmountable obstacles to face the Carey Seahawks in Franklin Square on Saturday, Nov. 10 in the Nassau County quarterfinals. On the day after the storm hit, Long Beach administrators, coaches and 20 players met to do whatever they needed to do to get the team ready to play. After quarterback Adam Salvadori and running back J.P. Forkin helped Coach Scott Martin reach out to their absent teammates and found that many could make it back for the game, the coach made the call to go ahead. Director of Athletics Arnold Epstein was able to arrange for the team to practice at Hofstra. An anonymous donor came through with new uniforms and equipment. Students and staff at Sewanhaka’s H. Frank Carey High School also rallied to support the Marines’ efforts. “I called Arnie Epstein on Monday to find out how the staff, the students and the community were doing,” said Matt McLees, the Sewanhaka district’s athletic director. “As soon as Arnie gave me the go-ahead that they were ready to play, our goal was to do everything possible to make this a special day for Long Beach.” Carey High School established a Long Beach High School Scholarship Fund, collecting donations at the gate, contributing the gross proceeds from the concession stand and selling raffle tickets to raise funds. MSG Varsity also stepped up to the plate, donating the proceeds from the sale of “Unity Game” T-shirts to the fund. The Carey varsity cheerleaders made nearly 500 blue ribbons (the Marines school color), which they distributed to the fans. They also gave game sweatshirts and scarfs to the Marines cheerleaders. D’Anna Pizzeria of Elmont delivered 20 free pizzas to the team after the game. Carey High School staff also worked to overcome their own obstacles to make their field ready to play. The nor’easter that followed Hurricane Sandy on Wednesday left a blanket of snow on the already wet field, so maintenance crews had to put in hours of work to make the field ready for the game. Long Beach fans came from far and wide, filling the stands to cheer their valiant team on, but in the end, a playoff victory was not in the cards for this determined team, as the Seahawks racked up a 35-13 victory. But the Marines achieved a much bigger triumph that day, giving hope to a battered community and serving as a shining example of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Three other Long Beach High School varsity teams also managed to come together to participate in playoff games. The Boys and Girls Volleyball teams won their first round playoff games. The girls swimming team finished Swimming finished fourth in the County. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7756 Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Directions to Out of District pick up sites 11/13 East Meadow (revised Nov.13th) Eisenhower Park, Parking Lot 8 (by the golf driving range) From Meadowbrook Parkway: Take exit M3W toward Stewart Ave. Keep left at the fork and turn left onto Stewart Ave. Drive 0.5 miles, cross Merrick Ave into the park (Stewart Ave. turns into Park Blvd). Turn right into the parking lot. From Hempstead Turnpike: Turn North on Merrick Ave. Travel approximately 1 mile. Turn right onto Park Blvd. (into park). Turn right into the parking lot. From Old Country Road: Turn south on Merrick Ave. Travel approximately 0.8 miles. Turn left onto Park Blvd. (into park). Turn right into the parking lot. Farmingdale Ellsworth W. Allen Town Park (45 Motor Ave, by Stop & Shop) From RTE 135: take exit 7E, Hempstead Turnpike. Travel 1.1 mile, turn right onto Merrits Rd. Travel 0.5 miles, turn left onto Motor Ave. Travel 0.3 miles, turn left into the parking lot. From RTE 110: turn west onto NY-109 W Fulton St. Travel 1.1 miles, turn left onto Main St. Travel 0.1 miles, take first right onto Motor Ave. Travel 0.4 miles, turn right into the parking lot. Freeport Freeport Police Station (40 N. Ocean Ave, just north of Sunrise Highway) From Meadowbrook Parkway: Take Exit M8W-Sunrise Highway- NY27 West. Travel 1 mile, turn right onto South Ocean Ave. Travel 225 feet, lot is ahead on the right. From the West: Travel East on Sunrise Hwy to Ocean Ave. Turn left, travel 225 feet, lot is ahead on the right. Island Park (former)Stone Turtle Restaurant (4160 Austin Blvd, by Lincoln Orens Middle School) From the North: Travel south on Austin Blvd. Pass Long Beach Auto Parts and Trafalgar Blvd., and then turn right into the parking lot. From the South: Travel north on Austin Blvd. Pass Pancho’s restaurant and Audobon Ave, and then turn left into the parking lot. Nassau Community College Shelter This bus is for students at the shelter only. Oceanside Oceanside Jewish Center (2860 Brower Ave, south of Oceanside HS) From the North: Take Sunrise Highway to Oceanside Rd. Turn south onto North Oceanside Rd. Travel 1 mile then turn left onto Davison and then a slight right onto Brower Ave. Entrance is 450 feet ahead on the right. Proceed to the back of the parking lot. From the South: Take either Atlantic Ave. or Waukena Ave. to Brower Ave. From Waukena Ave, travel 0.6 miles, turn left into entrance. Proceed to the back of the parking lot. Rockville Center Rockville Center Recreation Center (111 N. Oceanside Rd., North of Sunrise Hwy) From Sunrise Hwy: Turn north onto North Oceanside Rd. Travel 300 feet to the first driveway on the right. Roslyn Christopher Morley Park (500 Searingtown Rd., just north of the LIE) From the LIE: take exit 36N, Searingtown Rd. Turn North onto Searingtown Rd. Travel 0.3 miles, turn right into the parking lot. From RTE 25A-Northern Blvd: Turn South onto Searingtown Rd. Travel 1 mile, turn left into the parking lot. Wantagh Wantagh Park (King Road, just off of Merrick Rd, near the Wantagh Parkway) From the East: Take RTE 135 south to Merrick Rd West. Travel 1.2 miles on Merrick Rd. Turn left onto Woodland Ave (which is next to the Wantagh Parkway entrance). Immediately turn left onto King Rd (entrance to the park) travel 0.6 miles into the park, turn right into the first parking lot. From the West: Merrick Rd to Woodland Ave. Turn right onto Woodland Ave (which is just before the Wantagh Parkway). Immediately turn left onto King Rd (entrance to the park) travel 0.6 miles into the park, turn right into the first parking lot. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7721 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:00:00 GMT We are looking forward to welcoming your children back to school Tuesday morning. Our staff has workedthrough the weekend to ensure that they will have a safe and productive day. I need your help. The district isunable to accomodate cars dropping students off at the buildings and the city is not able to accomodate additional vechicular traffic. There are many large repair vehicles and lane closures in the city, and emergency vechicles need clear access. We have created bus dropoffs that are on the lbeach.org web site.Neptune and Lindell will be closed northbound from Park Ave. There is still debris on sidewalks on the streets near our schools Please help us by using the bus shuttles we have set up. The best shuttle will be the Freeport Police Department toavoidoverloading the NYS police checkpoint. Administrators will be at all the bus sites. POR FAVOR NO MANEJEN SUS AUTOMOVILES A LA ESCUELA! Estamos entusiasmados por darle la bienvenida a nuestros estudiantes el martes por la mañana. Nuestros empleados han trabajado durante el fin de semana para asegurar que tengamos un día seguro y productivo. Necesito su ayuda. El distrito no puede acomodar automóviles trayendo estudiantes a los edificios de la escuela, y la ciudad no puede acomodar tráfico vehicular adicional. Hay muchos vehículos de reparación y carrileras cerradas en la ciudad, y los vehículos de emergencia necesitan acceso. Hemos creado paradas para los autobuses cuya lista está en la página web lbeach.org. NEPTUNE AND LINDELL ESTÁN CERRADOS HACIA EL NORTE DESDE LA AVENIDA PARK. Todavía hay despojos por las calles cerca de la escuela. Por favor ayúdennos y usen los autobuses que hemos organizado. La mejor parada está situada en el Departamento de la Policía de Freeport para no sobrecargar la barrera de la Policía Estatal. Habrá administradores del distrito en todas las paradas de autobús que aparecen en la lista. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7722 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:00:00 GMT The Board of Education will be meeting at 6:00 PM in the Long Beach High School Library, 322 Lagoon Drive, Lido Beach, New York. It is anticipated that the Board will move into Executive Session to discuss matters related to personnel and legal issues. The meeting will reconvene in the Long Beach High School Auditorium at 7:30 PM. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7723 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Oct. 23 meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education featured a special presentation about the efforts that the district has made to comply with the Dignity for All Students Act, at both the elementary and secondary level. The presentation was conducted by Superintendent of Schools David Weiss with the assistance of the district’s building administrators. New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act took effect on July 1, 2012. The Dignity Act expands the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to encompass an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people including different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity and sexes. The Board of Education has revised the district’s Code of Conduct to reflect the changes in state law. In addition, schools have established specific employee training programs to promote a positive school environment that is free from discrimination or harassment and to discourage and respond to incidents of discrimination or harassment on school property or at school functions. The building principals have been designated Dignity Act coordinators. The presentation went into great depth to define bullying and to address the supports the district has in place to promote the social and emotional learning of all students. It also outlined the procedures that were put in place to ensure effective prevention, assessment and interventions to deal with acts of bullying. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8037 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Parents of Long Beach Middle School students attended a math workshop that provided them with many useful tools to help their children meet the new Common Core standards. The Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics adopted by the NYS Board of Regents in 2011 provide clear and consistent guidelines to ensure that schools are giving students the skills they will need to be ready for college and careers in a global economy. The workshop, which was conducted by Director of Mathematics Dr. Cheriese Pemberton, gave parents a program overview, explaining what kind of changes in instruction were brought about through the Common Core and what the district is doing to be sure that students are ready to meet these new challenges. Dr. Pemberton outlined the assessment system that the district uses to examine data, assess how each student is progressing toward meeting benchmarks, and provide interventions when needed. Parents were given sample math questions to help them understand the kind of work their children are now being asked to do. “We no longer just supply students with a formula and ask them to plug in the numbers,” said Dr. Pemberton. “Students are now being asked more often to reason problems out for themselves. If they approach a problem that they do not immediately know how to solve, they are encouraged to keep trying to reason it out. This is very different from the math classrooms we grew up in.” The workshop concluded with a tutorial to acquaint parents with the Big Ideas Math Program that is used in Long Beach Middle School classrooms. This program, which was developed with the Common Core standards as its foundation, uses a balance of autonomy of discovery and direct instruction to guide students toward math competency. Dr. Pemberton showed parents how to use the online component of Big Ideas Math to help their children complete homework, prepare for tests, and extend their learning outside of the classroom. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8111 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Student Bus Routes for those residing out of district 1. Eisenhower Park - parking lot 8 - inside of the park SW corner - bus departs at 7am, return for drop-off between 4:15pm and 4:35pm 2. Ellsworth W. Allen Town Park (Heisser Ln and Motor Ave, Farmingdale) - bus departs at 6:45am, return for drop-off between 4:30pm and 4:50pm 3. Rockville Centre Recreation Center - 111 North Oceanside Rd - bus departs at 7:10 am and returns between 4:15pm and 4:35pm 4. Oceanside Jewish Center – 2860 Brower Avenue, Oceanside NY – bus departs at 7:15am and returns between 4:15pm and 4:35pm. 5. Freeport Police Department – 40 N. Ocean Ave (just north of Sunrise) - bus departs at 7:10am, returns between 4:15pm and 4:35pm 6. Stone Turtle Parking Lot – 4160 Austin Blvd. – Island Park – bus departs at 7:25 am, and returns between 4:15pm and 4:35pm 7. Christopher Morley Park - 500 Searingtown Road, Roslyn - bus departs at 6:45am, return for drop-off between 4:45pm and 5:05pm. 8. Wantagh Park, Wantagh – bus departs at 7am, return for drop-off between 4:15pm and 4:35pm 9. NCC Shelter - 7:10am, bus returns between 4:00pm and 4:20pm this bus is only for those students at the shelter 10.From the Atlantic Beach Club buses depart at 7:15am Directions to Out of District pick up sites for Tuesday, November 13th East Meadow Eisenhower Park, Parking Lot 8 (Merrick Ave. south of the Aquatic Center and Safety-Town) From Meadowbrook Parkway: Take exit M5 to Hempstead Turnpike East. Travel 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Merrick Ave. Travel 0.2 miles. Turn right into the parking lot. From Hempstead Turnpike: Turn North on Merrick Ave. Travel approximately 0.2 miles. Take the first right turn into the parking lot. From Old Country Road: Turn south on Merrick Ave. Travel approximately 1.6 miles. Turn left into the parking lot. Farmingdale Ellsworth W. Allen Town Park (45 Motor Ave, by Stop & Shop) From RTE 135: take exit 7E, Hempstead Turnpike. Travel 1.1 mile, turn right onto Merrits Rd. Travel 0.5 miles, turn left onto Motor Ave. Travel 0.3 miles, turn left into the parking lot. From RTE 110: turn west onto NY-109 W Fulton St. Travel 1.1 miles, turn left onto Main St. Travel 0.1 miles, take first right onto Motor Ave. Travel 0.4 miles, turn right into the parking lot. Freeport Freeport Police Station (40 N. Ocean Ave, just north of Sunrise Highway) From Meadowbrook Parkway: Take Exit M8W-Sunrise Highway- NY27 West. Travel 1 mile, turn right onto South Ocean Ave. Travel 225 feet, lot is ahead on the right. From the West: Travel East on Sunrise Hwy to Ocean Ave. Turn left, travel 225 feet, lot is ahead on the right. Island Park (former)Stone Turtle Restaurant (4160 Austin Blvd, by Lincoln Orens Middle School) From the North: Travel south on Austin Blvd. Pass Long Beach Auto Parts and Trafalgar Blvd., and then turn right into the parking lot. From the South: Travel north on Austin Blvd. Pass Pancho’s restaurant and Audobon Ave, and then turn left into the parking lot. Nassau Community College Shelter This bus is for students at the shelter only. Oceanside Oceanside Jewish Center (2860 Brower Ave, south of Oceanside HS) From the North: Take Sunrise Highway to Oceanside Rd. Turn south onto North Oceanside Rd. Travel 1 mile then turn left onto Davison and then a slight right onto Brower Ave. Entrance is 450 feet ahead on the right. Proceed to the back of the parking lot. From the South: Take either Atlantic Ave. or Waukena Ave. to Brower Ave. From Waukena Ave, travel 0.6 miles, turn left into entrance. Proceed to the back of the parking lot. Rockville Center Rockville Center Recreation Center (111 N. Oceanside Rd., North of Sunrise Hwy) From Sunrise Hwy: Turn north onto North Oceanside Rd. Travel 300 feet to the first driveway on the right. Roslyn Christopher Morley Park (500 Searingtown Rd., just north of the LIE) From the LIE: take exit 36N, Searingtown Rd. Turn North onto Searingtown Rd. Travel 0.3 miles, turn right into the parking lot. From RTE 25A-Northern Blvd: Turn South onto Searingtown Rd. Travel 1 mile, turn left into the parking lot. Wantagh Wantagh Park (King Road, just off of Merrick Rd, near the Wantagh Parkway) From the East: Take RTE 135 south to Merrick Rd West. Travel 1.2 miles on Merrick Rd. Turn left onto Woodland Ave (which is next to the Wantagh Parkway entrance). Immediately turn left onto King Rd (entrance to the park) travel 0.6 miles into the park, turn right into the first parking lot. From the West: Merrick Rd to Woodland Ave. Turn right onto Woodland Ave (which is just before the Wantagh Parkway). Immediately turn left onto King Rd (entrance to the park) travel 0.6 miles into the park, turn right into the first parking lot. Student Bus Routes for those residing in district Syntax has the revised sites and they are on the web http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7702 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Dear Parent: We are anticipating that the early morning care and after school care programs will commence on Wednesday, November 14th. We will post a confirmation on this web site by Tuesday evening. If your child was attending one of the programs in our school facilities prior to Hurricane Sandy, the following will be the new designated sites: East/West School Students will be at East School Lido/Lindell Students will be at Lindell School Parents are to drop off and pick up the children at the designated sites. The following fee structure will be in effect: Early morning care: 7-9 AM - $6 dollars per day After care: 3:30-5:30 PM - $11 dollars per day. (We will return to our normal after care hours (6:00) once the curfew has been lifted. The Department of Youth and Family Services for the City of Long Beach will be providing services at both the Lindell and East School sites. In addition, the Barry and Florence Friedberg, JCC will have services available at their West Walnut Street facility as well as the Lindell site. Circulo de la Hispanidad will continue to provide their after-school program at East School. For further information and registration please contact one of the following: Youth and Family Services: Lindell school site- Ms. Mary Louise Banks @ (516) 641-6766. East school site- Ms. Danella Farr @ (516) 782-7836 Johanna Mathieson-Ellmer @ (516) 456-9902 email: jmathieson@longbeachny.org Mr. Hector Maldonado @ (516) 852-3228 Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC: Ms. Fran Berg @ (516)642-8701. Ms. Andrea Tannenbaum @ (516) 987-0380 e-mail: aatbaum@aol.com. Ms. Elizabeth Connolly @ (516)732-7352 e-mail: elicon@verizon.net Ms. Roni Kleinman @ (516) 431-2929 e-mail: RNKleinman@gmail.com Circulo de la Hispanidad: East school site: Ms. Sari Vayda @ (516) 698-2993 e-mail: sarivayda@yahoo.com We will be sending registration information home with your child on Tuesday. Please return completed applications if you would like your child to be included in any of these programs. Thank you. Click Here to View the Registration Form Estimados Padres: Anticipamos comenzar el miércoles 14 de noviembre los programas para cuidar a los niños temprano por la mañana y después de la escuela. Si su hijo(a) estaba participando en estos programas en nuestras escuelas antes del huracán Sandy, los nuevos sitios son los siguientes: Los estudiantes de las escuelas East/West estarán en la Escuela East. Los estudiantes de Lido/Lindell estarán en la Escuela Lindell. Los padres deben traer y recoger a los niños en los sitios nombrados. Los costos serán los siguientes: Cuidado temprano en la mañana: 7 – 9 am - $6 dólares al día Cuidado después de la escuela: 3:30 – 5:30 pm - $11 dólares al día (Volveremos a nuestras horas normales [hasta las 6:00] cuando hora de queda (curfew) sea eliminada). El Departamento de Servicios para Jóvenes y Familias de la Ciudad de Long Beach proporcionará los servicios en ambas escuelas Lindell y East. Además, el Centro Barry y Florence Friedberg, JCC tendrá servicios disponibles en su facilidad de la calle West Walnut como también en la escuela Lindell. El Círculo de la Hispanidad continuará proporcionando su programa de la tarde en la Escuela East. Para más información y para registrarse, por favor comuníquense con las siguientes organizaciones: Servicios de Jóvenes y Familias (Youth & Family Services): En la escuela Lindell – Ms. Mary Louise Banks, teléfono 516-641-6766. En la escuela East – Ms. Danella Farr, tel.# 516-782-7836. Johanna Mathieson-Ellmer, tel. #516-456-9902, correo electrónico jmathieson@lbeachny.org. Mr. Hector Maldonado, Tel. #516-852-3228. Barry and Florence Friedberg JCC: Ms. Fran Berg, tel. #516-642-8701. Ms. Andrea Tannenbaum, Tel. #516-987-0380, correo electronic aatbaum@aol.com. Ms. Roni Kleinman, Tel. #516-431-2929, correo electrónico: RNKleinman@gmail.com. Círculo de la Hispanidad: en la escuela East: Ms. Sari Vayda, tel. #516-698-2993, correo electrónico: sarivayda@yahoo.com. Pronto mandaremos información sobre la registración con su hijo(a) el martes. Por favor devuelvan el formulario completo si desean que su hijo(a) sea incluido(a) en uno de estos programas. Gracias. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7696 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT The Board of Education will be meeting at 6:00 PM in the Long Beach High School Library, 322 Lagoon Drive, Lido Beach, New York. It is anticipated that the Board will move into Executive Session to discuss matters related to personnel and legal issues. The meeting will reconvene in the Long Beach High School Auditorium at 7:30 PM. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7718 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT November 11th Superintendent's Message We have been working on our bus schedule. You will find the revised in-district bus schedule posted.Private & Parochial routs will begin running on Tuesday using the original schedule. It is VERY IMPORTANT that students take the bus. Administrators will be at all the pickup and drop off points. We will also have additional adults on every bus to ensure children get where they need to go safely. The schools and the city are not able to handle a high volume of vehicular traffic safely. Buses can travel slowly and safely through the city, and stay out of the way of repair trucks and emergency vehicles, only as long as the number of cars are low. The roads around schools are still filled with debris,, making it inadvisable for anyone to be parking and then walking to the front entrance of schols. We are asking the area around the schools be free of cars. In addition to pickups on the barrier island, from Point Lookout through East Atlantic Beach, ournew external bus schedule calls for pickup/drop off: Eisenhower Park (East Meadow); Ellsworth W. Allen Town Park (Heisser Ln and Motor Ave, Farmingdale); Rockville Centre Recreation Center; Oceanside Jewish Center - 2860 Brower Avenue, Oceanside; Freeport Police Department - 40 N. Ocean Ave (just north of Sunrise); Stone Turtle Parking Lot - 4160 Austin Blvd. - Island Park; Christopher Morley Park - 500 Searingtown Road, Roslyn; Wantagh Park - King Rd just off of Merrick Road near the Wantagh Parkway; Farmingdale HS Shelter (relocated from Levittown Shelter) only for those students at the shelter; NCC Shelter - only for those students at the shelter. Times will be posted shortly. For those families planning on driving their students to Long Beach: Please do not drive through Long Beach - Use the following drop-off/pick-up sites: From the Middle School buses depart at 8:30am From the Atlantic Beach Club buses depart at 8:30am We have established an email for people wanting to support us through volunteer effort or donations. The email address is sandy@lbeach.org Building Status Please see my November 7th messages for initial storm damage information at each site. The Transportation Depot will house a transportation command center, so that parents can call if there are any problems. It will be manned in the morning during pickup and in the afternoon during dropoff. We have all our pumps powered and working, so we will be able to refuel all our vehicles. Lindell School, East School and theHigh School are now all powered by LIPA. We are keeping the generators as backups on site. All the buildings have heat and potable water. All will have hot water on Tuesday.We are completing the abatement necessitated by the flooding. Our restoration contractors are currently in the Lido Complexand we anticipate it being available for students on November 26, after the Thanksgiving break. We anticipate that West Schoolwill be available sometime after the winter break. The Blackheath Pre-K Center and the Administration buildingwill be condemned. We will relocate the Pre-K students after the Thanksgiving Break. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7695 Sat, 10 Nov 2012 22:00:00 GMT The November 3rd SAT or SAT Subject test at LBHS has been rescheduled for December 15th. Any student who was already registered for the November 3rd SAT or SAT Subject Test is currently rescheduled to take the exam on December 15th at LBHS. Educational Testing Services (ETS) will send you a confirmation email and postal letter confirming your rescheduled exam. This December 15th date is ONLY for students who were already registered for the November 3rd exam. Students currently registered for the December 1st SAT/SAT Subject Test are still registered for the December 1st exam. Students who were originally scheduled for the November 3rd date can not take the SAT on December 1st. Spanish Translation 10 de noviembre 8 a.m. La nueva programación para la evaluación del SAT o SAT de asignatura del 3 de noviembre. El examen de SAT o SAT de asignatura del 3 de noviembre en la escuela secundaria de Long Beach(LBHS )ha sido reprogramado para el 15 de diciembre. Cualquier estudiante que ya estaba registrado para el examen de SAT o SAT de asignatura del 3 de noviembre está reprogramado para tomar el examen el 15 de diciembre en LBHS. Los servicios educativos de evaluación ( Educational Testing Services (ETS) )le enviarán una confirmación por correo electrónico y carta postal confirmando la nueva programación de su examen. Esta fecha 15 de diciembre es sólo para los estudiantes que ya estaban inscritos para el examen del 3 de noviembre. Los estudiantes actualmente inscritos para el examen de SAT o SAT de asignatura del 1 de diciembre siguen registrados para el examen de 1 de diciembre. Los estudiantes que fueron programadas originalmente para el día 03 de noviembre no pueden tomar el SAT el 1 de diciembre. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7686 Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7691 Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT November 10th Superintendent's Message We have four teams competing in county athletic playoffs. It has taken tremendous coordination to bring these groups of students together from diverse locations. This is the issue we will face on Tuesday, when we begin classes. We have located all our staff and 2500 of our students. They are now all entered into our calling/email system with the additional contact information we have received by the web form and phone. I want to thank everyone for their cooperation. And a special thanks to the many people reaching out to our students, including the Franklin Square community. We have been working on our bus schedule based on that information and hope to post it tomorrow. It is VERY IMPORTANT that students take the bus. We will have adults on every bus to ensure children get where they need to go safely. The schools and the city are not able to handle a high volume of vehicular traffic safely. Buses can travel slowly and safely through the city, and stay out of the way of repair trucks and emergency vehicles, only as long as the number of cars are low. The roads around schools are still filled with debris,, making it inadvisable for anyone to be parking and then walking to the front entrance of schools. We are asking the area around the schools be free of cars. In addition to pickups on the barrier island, from Point Lookout through East Atlantic Beach, our draft schedule calls for pickup/drop off on Tuesday in East Meadow, Farmingdale, Garden City, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Oceanside, Roslyn, and Massapequa. Our staff met on Friday, and we have worked on the transition to our temporary school structure. Elementary students will have their own teachers, middle school classes their own teams, and high school students their classes. School will operate for a full day, from 9 to 3:30, which will allow families to get to school bus stops together. We have established an email for people wanting to support us through volunteer effort or donations. The email address is sandy@lbeach.org The generosity of numerous individuals is helping the district through this difficult time. We hope to soon be able to recognize the many individuals and businesses who have come forward to offer equipment, clothing, food, and numerous other resources. We are very grateful for the donations of clothes, but have accepted all we need at this point. We are trying to coordinate the support we are getting, so that our priority needs are met. We have already had donations of school supplies for 2000 students and backpacks filled with school supplies for 1000 students. And our football team was fully equipped to compete in the playoffs. To rebuild the schools we are looking for groups to "sponsor a classroom" (to rebuild first floor classrooms in the elementary and middle schools that were flooded), participate in a scholarship fund (for currently enrolled students who graduate from LBHS -- for students currently in PreK to 12), purchase library materials through Follett, sponsor classroom "leveled libraries", as well as financial support for our students and staff to rebuild. We have a need to replace the stage at Lindell Elementary School, and our three elementary, a middle school and a high school gym floor. We have families who have been displaced from their homes. The unusual need we have is support for families and staff who lost their cars in the flooding. We would welcome opportunities for our older students, now across Long Island, to find student appropriate part-time employment while they are in school. Building Status Please see my November 7th messages for initial storm damage information at each site. Administration and communications. We will be housing 897-2000 back in district by Tuesday. Phones have been working at Lindell and the HS, and we have working phones and internet there. The Transportation Depot has a trailer for use by our dispatch team. We are running fiber and a generator to the site to power it and give it phones and complete access to our network. Lindell School now has power, fire alarms, and the ability to provide food. Electricity is being powered by a generator and heat through a portable boiler. We will be able to use the Auditorium, but not the stage. However, we had a setback today when the City of Long Beach sewage plant ran into electricity issues. We have been told that this situation should be fixed shortly. When the Board of Health was in to inspect last week we did not have hot water in the kitchen. We do now. They will be back to inspect on Tuesday. Therefore, while we will be serving food, there will be no hot food preparation until we get approval. East School now has a generator. We have cleaned the building. The Gym will not be available for are use until the floor is repaired. Like Lindell, there are issues again with the city sewage plant. They expect these to be cleared up after LIPA makes repairs. Heat will be supplied through a portable boiler which will be in the front of the building. We are working on the electric system. After putting the generator online, we have become aware of issues that need to be fixed before we can power up the entire school. The High School has electricity. We are working on the other systems. Our biggest area of concern at the high school is our hot water system, which is fueled by natural gas. We need this fully operational for cooking and for use in bathrooms. We will need to get Board of Health clearance. The athletic area will be closed for the time being. The gym floor will require replacement. The Lido Elementary School, Pre-K Center, and Middle School Complex were flooded, including the new library-media center and the gym areas. There is no power, heat or fire alarms. It has working sewage. We are waiting for LIPA to restore power so that we can repair the boilers. Our restoration contractors are currently in the building and we anticipate it being available for students on November 26, after the Thanksgiving break. West School is uninhabitable. Our restoration has begun by our environmental consultants. We anticipate that the facility will be available after the winter break. There is no power, heat, fire alarms, or potable water. The Blackheath Pre-K Center will be condemned. We will relocate the Pre-K students after the Thanksgiving Break. Spanish Translation 10 de noviembre, 5 pm MENSAJE DEL SUPERINTENDENTE Tenemos cuatro equipos compitiendo en los semifinales atléticos del condado. Ha tomado tremenda coordinación poder reunir estos grupos de estudiantes desde diferentes localidades. Este es el problema que vamos a enfrentar el martes cuando comiencen las clases. Ya hemos localizado a todos nuestros empleados y 2500 de nuestros estudiantes. Están programados en nuestro sistema de llamadas y correo eléctronico con la información adicional de contactos que hemos recibido a través del formulario de la red y por teléfono. Quiero agradecerles a todos su cooperación, y gracias especialmente a tantas personas que han ayudado a nuestros estudiantes, incluyendo la comunidad de Franklin Square. Es MUY IMPORTANTE que los estudiantes tomen el autobús. Habrá adultos en cada autobús para asegurar que los estudiantes lleguen a su destino con seguridad. Las escuelas y la ciudad no pueden manejar un alto volumen de tráfico sin peligro. Mientras no haya mucho tráfico, los autobuses pueden viajar despacio y sin peligro por la ciudad sin interferir con los vehículos de emergencia y los camiones de reparación. Las calles alrededor de las escuelas todavía están llenas de despojos, haciendo poco aconsejable estacionar y/o caminar cerca de las entradas a las escuelas. Rogamos encarecidamente que no haya automóviles en las áreas alrededor de las escuelas. Además de las paradas en la isla, desde Point Lookout hasta East Atlantic Beach, nuestro horario provisional para el martes incluye paradas (para ir y venir de las escuelas) en East Meadow, Farmingdale, Garden City, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Oceanside, Roslyn and Massapequa. Nuestros empleados se reunieron el viernes, y hemos trabajado en la transición de nuestra estructura provisional. Los estudiantes de escuelas primarias tendrán sus propios maestros; los de escuela intermedia sus propios grupos, y los estudiantes de la Secundaria sus propias clases. La escuela funcionará el día completo, de 9 a 3:30, lo que permitirá que las familias vayan juntas a las paradas de los autobuses escolares. Hemos establecido un correo eléctronico para quienes quieran apoyarnos como voluntarios o con donaciones. La dirección es Sandy@lbeach.org. La generosidad de numerosas personas está ayudando al distrito en esta situación tan difícil. Esperamos pronto poder reconocer a los muchos individuos y comercios que han ofrecido equipo, ropa, comida y muchos otros recursos. Agradecemos enormemente las donaciones de ropa, pero hemos aceptado todo lo que necesitamos hasta el momento. Estamos tratando de coordinar el apoyo que estamos recibiendo para prioritarizar nuestras necesidades. Ya hemos recibido donaciones de materiales escolares para 2000 estudiantes y mochilas llenas de materiales escolares para 1000 estudiantes. Nuestro equipo de fútbol americano estaba completamente equipado para competir en los semifinales. Para reconstruir las escuelas, estamos buscando grupos para “patrocinar un aula” (para reconstruir aulas en el primer piso de las escuelas primarias e intermedia que se inundaron); participar en un programa de becas para estudiantes PreK – 12 grado matriculados en el presente; para comprar materiales de biblioteca a través de Follet; patrocinar el reemplazo de bibliotecas en las aulas que fueron destruidas; y apoyo económico para ayudar a los estudiantes y empleados a reconstruir. Necesitamos reemplazar el escenario de Lindell, de las tres escuelas primarias, la escuela intermedia y el piso del gimnasio de la secundaria. Tenemos familias que han sido desplazadas de sus casas. Necesitamos apoyo y ayuda para familias y empleados que perdieron sus automóviles en la inundación. Agradeceríamos oportunidades de trabajos a tiempo parcial apropiados para los estudiantes mayores que puedan trabajar después de la escuela. ESTADO DE LOS EDIFICIOS: Por favor vean mis mensajes del 7 de noviembre acerca del daño inicial de la tormenta en cada edificio. Administración y comunicaciones: Tendremos de nuevo 897-2000 en el distrito para el martes. Los teléfonos y internet están trabajando en Lindell y en la secundaria. La estación de Transportación tiene un remolque (tráiler) para el uso de nuestro equipo de distribución. Estamos dirigiendo cables y generador a este sitio para que tenga electricidad para teléfonos y nuestra red de comunicación. El edificio de Lindell tiene electricidad, alarmas de incendio, y la habilidad de proporcionar comida. La electricidad viene de un generador y la calefacción por un caldero portátil. Podemos usar el auditorio pero no el escenario. Tuvimos un contratiempo hoy cuando la planta de drenaje de la Ciudad de Long Beach tuvo problemas de electricidad. Nos han dicho que esta situación debe resolverse pronto. Cuando la Junta de Salud vino a inspeccionar la semana pasada no teníamos agua caliente en la cocina, pero ahora sí tenemos. Regresarán a inspeccionar el martes. Por consecuente, aunque vamos a servir comida no podremos preparar comida caliente hasta que recibamos la aprobación de los inspectores. La Escuela East ahora tiene un generador. Hemos limpiado el edificio. El gimnasio no se puede usar hasta no reparar el piso. Como en Lindell, hay problemas con la planta de drenaje. Se espera resolver este problema después que LIPA haga reparos. Habrá calefacción por un caldero portátil situado al frente del edificio. Estamos trabajando en el sistema eléctrico porque después de activar el generador encontramos problemas que deben ser arreglados antes de poder restaurar electricidad a todo el edificio. La Escuela Secundaria tiene electricidad. Estamos reparando otros sistemas. Nuestra preocupación principal es el sistema de agua caliente que trabaja con gas natural, el cual tiene que funcionar completamente para cocinar y para el uso en los baños. Necesitamos la aprobación de la Junta de Salud. El área atlética estará cerrada por ahora, y el piso del gimnasio tiene que ser reemplazado. La Escuela Primaria Lido, el centro de Pre-K y el complejo de la Escuela Intermedia fueron inundados, incluyendo el nuevo centro de biblioteca/media y el gimnasio. No hay electricidad, calefacción ni alarmas de fuego. El drenaje sí funciona. Estamos esperando que LIPA restaure la electricidad para reparar las calderas. Los contratistas que trabajan en la restauración están en el edificio y anticipamos que esté disponible para los estudiantes el 26 de noviembre, después de las vacaciones de Thanksgiving. La Escuela West no está habitable. Nuestros asesores ambientales han comenzado la restauración. Anticipamos que el edificio estará disponible después de las vacaciones de invierno. No hay electricidad, calefacción, alarmas de incendio ni agua potable. El Centro Blackheath-PreK no se podrá reparar. Relocarizaremos a los estudiantes de PreK después de las vacaciones de Thanksgiving. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7688 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:00:00 GMT We will be able to power the high school on Tuesday, whether or not LIPA provides us with electric power. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7653 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT What is the status of the school buildings? On Tuesday, November 13th, the district will reopen Lindell, East, and the High School.The district expects to reopen Lido and the Middle School sometime after the Thanksgiving break. A detailed description of the impact of the storm on our buildings is described in the November 7th New link on the lbeach.org web site. Where will my child(ren) go to school next Tuesday? Three of our six buildings will be open. East and Lindell will function with a normal school day schedule (9 to 3:30) and a full day schedule. High School and Middle school students will be housed at the high school, for approximately two weeks, and also function on a 9:00 am to 3:30 pm schedule. The district expects to reopen Lido and the Middle School sometime after the Thanksgiving break. West School will be opened after the new year at the earliest. East/West students will attend East. Lindell/Lido students will attend Lindell. MS and HS students will attend the HS. Where will my child(ren) go to school on Monday, November 26th when the MS and Lido complex reopens? The district expects to reopen Lido and the Middle School sometime after the Thanksgiving break. At that time, five of our six buildings will be open and functioning with a normal school day schedule. When this occurs East/West students will attend East. Lindell students will attend Lindell. Lido students will attend Lido. MS students will attend the MS. HS students will attend the HS. What about the Pre-Kindergarten program at Blackheath? The pre-kindergarten program is suspended until after Thanksgiving, when we expect to reopen it in the Lido Complex, as a planned part of the school facilities improvement project. Are the reopened buildings safe? Absolutely. No building can be reopened until a safety determination can be made, and schools cannot open without power, heat, working fire alarms, and potable water. We have environmental consultants working closely with the District. Any restoration work will be completed before students occupy buildings. Will transportation to school be offered? Yes, there will be transportation routes for families who may be living within the district right now. There will also be key shuttle points identified that are out of the district for families who are not currently residing within the community. Specific bus route information will be posted on the lbeach.org website by Sunday, November 11th. Will I be able to drop my child off at school? We are strongly discouraging parents from driving children to school. There are many emergency vehicles in the City and we do not want to interfere with their functioning. Please use one of our drop off points. There will be adult supervision at these locations. What about start/end times for school and for transportation pickups and drop-offs? All of these logistics are being worked out now, and will be announced on Sunday, November 11th on the district’s website and in other forms that may be available to us. Will food be offered to students? Lunch will be provided for free to students for the first two weeks back. We expect that full food service operations will be in place beginning November 26th. Will there be any before/after care services for families? We do not yet have any details on these services, but it is our hope that we coordinate aftercare services for families shortly. Am I allowed to send my child(ren) to Long Beach Public Schools if I am currently residing outside the district? Yes, of course, and we are making every accommodation to assist families to have their children come back to school here. Should I consider enrolling my child(ren) in another school district? That is a question best informed by your individual situation. If you have been displaced from the community and are currently domiciled out of the district, you are welcome to have your child(ren) return to school here. But you also have the legal right to register your child(ren) with the school district in which you currently reside. You can have Nassau BOCES assist you in waiving paperwork requirements such as immunization records that may have been lost. It should also be remembered that it is our expectation that five of our six schools will be back online shortly after the Thanksgiving break and operating under a normal full day schedule. The option to enroll your child(ren) in another district should not be prompted by any misgivings over perceived limitations in length of the school day or the resources available to students. We will be fully functioning in 5 of 6 schools. EN ESPANOL November 9th 5 pm Q&A 9 de noviembre 17:00 Q & A ¿Cuál es el estado de los edificios escolares? El martes, 13 de noviembre, el distrito volverá a abrir Lindell, Este, y la escuela secundaria (HS). El distrito espera reabrir Lido y la escuela intermedia(MS) algún momento después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. Una descripción detallada del impacto de la tormenta en nuestros edificios se describe en el enlace del 7 de noviembre en la página web de lbeach.org. ¿A qué escuela irá(n) mi(s) niño(s) el próximo martes? Tres de los seis edificios estarán abiertos. Este y Lindell funcionarán con un horario de jornada escolar normal (de 9 a 3:30) y un horario de día completo. Los estudiantes de la escuela secundaria(HS) y la escuela intermedia (MS) se alojarán en la escuela secundaria (HS), durante aproximadamente dos semanas, y también funcionarán en un horario de 9 a 3:30 de la tarde. El distrito espera reabrir Lido y la escuela intermedia (MS) algún momento después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. Los estudiantes de Este / Oeste asistirán a Este. Los estudiantes de Lindell / Lido asistirán a Lindell. Los estudiantes de MS y HS asistirán a la HS. ¿A que escuela ira(n) mi(s) hijo(s) el lunes, noviembre 26, cuando la escuela intermedia (MS) y el complejo Lido abra de nuevo? El distrito espera reabrir Lido y la Escuela Intermedia (MS) algún momento después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. En ese momento, cinco de nuestros seis edificios estarán abiertos y funcionando con un horario de jornada escolar normal. Cuando esto ocurra Los estudiantes de Este / Oeste asistirán a Este. Los estudiantes de Lindell asistirán a Lindell. Los estudiantes de Lido asistirán a Lido. Los estudiantes de MS asistirán a la MS. Los Estudiantes de la escuela secundaria (HS) asistirán a la HS. ¿Qué pasa con el programa de Pre-Kindergarten en Blackheath? El programa de pre-kindergarten se suspende hasta después de Acción de Gracias, cuando esperamos que reabra en el Complejo Lido, como parte prevista del proyecto de mejoramiento de las instalaciones escolares. ¿Son los edificios reabiertos seguros? Por supuesto. Ningún edificio puede ser reabierto hasta que no se determina la seguridad del edificio, y las escuelas no pueden abrir sin energía eléctrica, calor, detectores de incendios, y agua potable. Tenemos consultores medioambientales trabajando en estrecha colaboración con el Distrito. Cualquier trabajo de restauración se completará antes de que los estudiantes ocupen los edificios. ¿Se ofrecerá el transporte a las escuelas? Sí, habrá rutas de transporte para las familias que puedan estar viviendo dentro del distrito en estos momentos. También habrá puntos clave de transporte identificados que están fuera del distrito para las familias que no residen actualmente en la comunidad. La información específica para la ruta de autobús se publicará en la página web lbeach.org el domingo, 11 de noviembre. ¿Podría llevar a mi hijo a la escuela? Estamos firmemente desanimando a los padres que quieren llevar a los niños a la escuela en coche. Hay muchos vehículos de emergencia en la ciudad y no queremos interferir en su funcionamiento. Por favor, use uno de nuestros puntos de entrega. Habrá supervisión de un adulto en estos lugares. ¿Qué pasa con las horas de inicio / fin de la escuela y la recogida y dejada de transporte? Todos estos movimientos se están elaborando ahora, y será anunciado el Domingo, 11 de noviembre en la página web del distrito y en otras formas que pueden estar disponibles para nosotros. ¿Se les ofrecerá comida a los estudiantes? El almuerzo será proporcionado de forma gratuita a los estudiantes durante las primeras dos semanas. Esperamos que las operaciones de servicio completo de alimentos comiencen el 26 de noviembre. ¿Habrá algún servicio de atención antes / después para las familias? Todavía no tenemos detalles sobre estos servicios, pero tenemos la esperanza de que coordinemos servicios de seguimiento para las familias en breve. ¿Puedo enviar mi hijo (a) a las escuelas públicas de Long Beach si estoy actualmente residiendo fuera del distrito? Sí, por supuesto, y estamos haciendo todo tipo de acomodos para ayudar a las familias para que sus hijos regresen a la escuela aquí. ¿Debería considerar inscribir a mi(s) hijo (s) en otro distrito escolar? Esa es una cuestión que debe contestarse según su situación individual. Si usted ha sido desplazado de la comunidad y actualmente se domicilia fuera del distrito, le invitamos a que traiga a su hijo (a) a la escuela aquí. Pero usted también tiene el derecho legal de inscribir a su(s) hijo (s) con el distrito escolar en el que usted reside actualmente. Usted puede tener la ayuda de Nassau BOCES con el trámite de papeleos, tales como registros de vacunas que pueden haber sido perdidos. También hay que recordar que es nuestra expectativa de que cinco de nuestras seis escuelas estén de nuevo en línea poco después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias y funcionando con un horario normal de día completo. La opción de matricular a su(s) hijo (s) en otro distrito no debe ser impulsado por las dudas sobre las limitaciones observadas en la duración de la jornada escolar o los recursos disponibles para los estudiantes. Vamos a estar en pleno funcionamiento en 5 de 6 escuelas. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7685 Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7646 Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Progress Despite the weather we are making substantial progress towardsopening three buildings onTuesday morning. Most of the work currently underway is inside. since we already do not have power, the power outages impacted others because of the nor'easter had no impact on the cleanup effort. No additional damage was sustained to any of the buildings. The portable generators and boilers noted in yesterday's update are in the pipeline, and arrival is anticipated shortly. It is also possible that LIPA will be restoring electric service to the high school prior to Tuesday. We have restored our fibers connections to East School, Lindell School, and Transportation. That should provide us with telephone,internet and network service at Lindell. Web Buddies Our biggest issues at the moment are logistical. Communication inside Long Beach is difficult. We are not able to establish our land lines or man them yet. Our best vehicle is this web site. However, many people inside Long Beach do not have access to the web. Therefore, I am asking you toeither get or be a WEB BUDDY. If you are in LongBeach, find someone who can check the webin the evening and send you a text of pertinent information. If you are outside of Long Beach, please become a web buddy for someone still here. Transportation For next week we will transporting to Long Beach from Nassau County at select locations. As we better identify where students are, we will be establishing more convenient routes.We are using the information parents supplied us to organize our routing. Expect a posting Monday with details. We will try to have it earlier if we are able. Please note that none of our buses sustained damage. We will be utilizing our entire fleet, with most of the buses picking upoutside of Long Beach We will be setting up shuttles from the entrances to Long Beach. We have been asked by officials to limit traffic into the area and we are not equipped to handle pickups and drop offs at schools. We will provide adults on our buses. These details will be finalized and posted on the web along with the routes. We will be running buses inside Long Beach. We will also be transporting to and from private and parochial schools. Times and stops are likely to be different than prior to Hurricane Sandy, please check back Monday evening for the information. We will try to have it earlier if we are able. Donations and Contributions We will be establishing a number of funds for donations and contributions. We DO NOT NEED more clothing of student school supplies at this time. We will be establishing an email address to contact us regarding donations and for queries about how to help our school and our students. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7644 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT Any Girls Varsity Swimmers who qualified for counties can take a bus from the high school at 4 pm on Friday. Boys Volleyball will play at 4:45 pm on Friday, November 9th at Herricks HS Varsity Football plays at Carey H.S., Sat., Nov. 10, 12 p.m. Girls Volleyball will be Saturday, Nov.10, 11 am at South Side High School. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7642 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:30:00 GMT I know that there is a lot of frustration about our inability to provide definitive plans for the opening of school. All of our facilities sustained damage during the storm. We have prioritized the buildings based on a detailed damage assessment, and have environmental and restoration contractors working 24/7 to bring them back online. In order to open schools we need to have power, heat, fire alarms, potable water, working sewage and the ability to provide food. Our current plan is to have three locations operational by Tuesday and six locations available after the Thanksgiving break. We are developing plans to educate all of our K-12 students first in three buildings, and then in six. Here is the current status of our buildings: The Administration building will be condemned. We have instituted our disaster recovery plan regarding our financial systems and critical files. At the moment there is no location in the district with working phones and only one with Internet-accessible computers. That location is without heat. We have received a donation of office trailers and expect delivery Friday. Our Transportation Depot took 8 feet of water. It is currently unusable. Our buses all survived unscathed, but we have no electricity and are now trying to bring the fuel pumps, including our CNG pumps, online. Our transportation department is currently working out of school buses. We have received a donation of office trailers and expect delivery Friday. West School is currently uninhabitable. Restoration has begun by our environmental consultants. We anticipate that the facility will be available after the winter break. There is no power, heat, fire alarms, or potable water. Lindell School took water in the lower level and Auditorium only. Lindell School now has power, fire alarms, working sewage and the ability to provide food. Electricity is being powered by a generator and heat through a portable boiler. However, the City of Long Beach is waiting for Nassau County to give a go-ahead for potable water. East School took water in the lower level and the gym only. We have cleaned the building. It has working sewage. We will be powering it with a generator and heat through a portable boiler. These have not yet been delivered. We are also waiting for Nassau County to give a go-ahead for potable water. Fire alarms require electricity and need to have fire marshal clearance. Our restoration contractors are currently in the building 24/7. We are planning to have the building available for elementary students on Tuesday, November 13. The High School took water on the first floor and the gym/locker room area. The pool is clean and working. We are in the process of cleaning the building in areas damaged by the storm when windows blew out. Our restoration contractors are currently in the building 24/7. There is no power, heat or fire alarms. It has working sewage. We are currently powering our computer system with a generator. We will be powering the building with a larger generator through the Office of Emergency Management and heat through portable boilers. These have not yet been delivered. We are also waiting for Nassau County to give a go-ahead for potable water. Fire alarms require electricity and need to have fire marshal clearance. We are planning to have the building available for high school and middle school students on Tuesday, November 13. The Lido Elementary School, Pre-K Center, and Middle School Complex were flooded in various locations, including the new library-media center and the gym. There is no power, heat or fire alarms. It has working sewage. We are waiting for LIPA to restore power so that we can repair the boilers. Our restoration contractors are currently in the building and we anticipate it being available for students on November 26, after the Thanksgiving break. The Blackheath Pre-K Center will be condemned. We will relocate the Pre-K students to the new Pre-K Center at the Lido Complex after the Thanksgiving Break. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7616 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:00:00 GMT On November 6th ONLY We have been requested by local officials NOT TO DRIVE THROUGH LONG BEACH to allow emergency vehicles clear access to the roads. There will be no parking at Lindell. Please meet our shuttle buses at one of the following locations: Long Beach buses will pick staff up at Freeport Railroad Station 8 AM pickup with a return at 12:30 12:30 pm pickup with a returnat 3:30 PM Oceanside Railroad Station 8 AM pickup with a return at 12:30 12:30 pm pickup with a returnat 3:30 PM Long Beach Middle School parking lot 8:30 AM pickup with a return at 12:15 12:30 pm pickup with a returnat 3:00 PM Through Long Beach StartingNickerson Beach(north side) at 8:30 running down Park on north side to Lindell Starting Atlantic Beach Town Hall (south side) at8:30, down park on south side to Lindell http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7543 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT West School students invited their parents to join them for a fun night of math and science discovery at Math Uniting Science and Technology Night, better known as MUST. Using games and hands-on activities, participants were invited to explore the wonders of geometry, symmetry, chemistry, the five senses, computers, volcanoes and more. Families explored a host of scientific and mathematical principles by creating geometric shapes with toothpicks and gumdrops, mixing up bodacious bubbles, creating patterns and symmetry on a computer, and making mosaics and symmetrical masks. They also created their own scents, mixed up a gooey liquid-solid slime called Oobleck, and played carnival games that sharpened their math skills. At dozens of estimation stations, students tried their hands at estimating the number of gumballs, erasers and other objects found in the many containers that filled a table in the cafeteria. Those who came closest to the actual number walked away with the contents of the container at the end of the evening. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8039 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT Storm Emergency Information Superintendent’s Announcement as of Sunday 2 PM School will be closed Monday October 29th. All activities and use of school buildings are canceled for Monday. We will make decisions about further cancellations on a day-by-day basis. Please check back daily. Stay safe! http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7453 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:00:00 GMT First-grade classes at Lido School hosted a learning celebration called “Snacks and Stories.” Parents were invited to class to share literacy and math lessons with their children, finishing up with an autumn-themed craft activity. The lessons acquainted parents with the Fundations reading program that is used in first-grade classrooms. Teachers also demonstrated some of the creative math techniques that they are using to align curriculum with the new Common Core learning standards introduced by the state. “We have found it very beneficial to invite parents into the classroom to share these learning experiences with their children,” said Principal Brenda Young. “Once parents see the techniques being used in the classroom, it makes it much easier for them to become engaged partners in their children’s education.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8108 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Storm Emergency Information Superintendent’s Announcement as of Saturday 6 pm We continue tomonitor the weather and to planwith local authorities. We will keep you updated as information becomes available. Long Beach specificinformation still has too many variables for us to make a definitivedecision about our schedule for this coming week. At this time it is advisable for parents to make plans in the event that schools are closed on Monday and/or Tuesday. In the event of cancellations, we will be utilizing our regular channels as outlined on page 41 in the district announcement section of our printed school calendar. Any announcement will be placed on the web. Impacted parents will also receive notice via the Parentlink phone & email system. The first priority is always safety. The following sites will provide you with safety information and with information to share with your children about storm safety: http://www.longbeachny.gov http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/hurricane http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/OEM/hurricane/prepare.html We are tracking the storm based on information from the National Weather Service. Much of this information, along with excellent maps and graphs, are available at http://www.noaa.gov. I recommend these for use by you and your children. There is a lot to learn there. Please check back at this site for updates. You can anticipate an update at this time on Sunday evening. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7450 Sat, 27 Oct 2012 18:00:00 GMT Superintendent’s Announcement as of Friday 6 pm We are monitoring the weather and planning accordingly with local authorities. We will keep you updated as information becomes available. At the moment, the information has too many variables for us to make an informed decision that will ensure the safety of our students and maintain the continuity of instruction. Please check back at this site for the latest information. You can anticipate an update at this time on Saturday and Sunday evenings. In the event of cancellations, we will be utilizing our regular channels as outlined on page 41 in the district announcement section of our printed school calendar. Impacted parents will also receive notice via the Parentlink phone & email system. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7449 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Four Long Beach teachers collaborated on designing a field guide for a third-grade field trip to the Nike Environmental Center in Lido Beach. Teachers Perry Bodnar, Jen Diamond, Linda Fuller and Christine Toppi designed activities to promote scientific inquiry in the adjacent salt marsh and create literacy connections both prior to and after the field trip experience. Before the trip, students read the book “A Day in the Salt Marsh” by Kevin Kurtz. While in the salt marsh, the students conducted scientific experiments, including osprey watching, viewing invertebrates under the microscope, identifying plants and learning about the significance of salt marshes. The third-graders worked with Mr. Bodnar and students from the Nike Alternative High School Program to conduct their experiments. Nike students Alisa Bryant, Jose Diaz, Amber Evans, Cynthia Manzannares and Cara Milch spent the morning guiding their younger charges on a 1.5-hour tour. There were two touch stations set up inside the building. This allowed students to explore living marine organisms collected from local waters under a microscope. They also worked to identify samples of preserved marine organisms. Outside on the boardwalk, students used spotting scopes to observe local bird life. They also went into the marsh to observe marsh grasses and raccoon tracks and learn about the marsh ecosystem. Upon returning to their classrooms, the third-graders completed a journal activity titled “Marsh Memories.” They were asked to reflect on their knowledge of marshes before and after the field trip and then discuss questions for further investigation about marshes. Throughout the course of the school year, all third-grade students will have the opportunity to go on the field trip and visit this valuable natural resource. PHOTOS: Assisted by students from the Nike Alternative High School, Long Beach third-graders conducted experiments at the Nike Environmental Center. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7435 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT On Oct. 24, students at Lido School in the Long Beach School District received a special visit from award-winning children’s author Brian J. Heinz. The visit began with an assembly at which Mr. Heinz told stories about the experiences he had while researching his books. He also spoke about the process of writing and publishing a book. At the conclusion of the assembly, Mr. Heinz conducted writing workshops for fourth- and fifth-graders, leading them in the writing of descriptive narratives. The students learned how to create an outline and build a story from it. Books written by Mr. Heinz include “Red Fox at McCloskey Farms,” “Cheyenne Medicine Hat,” “The Alley Cat” and “Nanuk: Lord of the Ice.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=8113 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT In honor of Make a Difference Day, high school students in the International Baccalaureate diploma program rallied fellow students to participate in a schoolwide Day of Service on October 22. Activities included a walkathon, food drive, book drive, pizza sale and other activities to serve their school, benefit local charities, and show respect to troops serving overseas. Make a Difference Day, which is officially celebrated on Oct. 27, is the largest national day of community service. The main event of the day was a walkathon to honor the memory of 21-year-old Long Beach graduate and star lacrosse player Corey Lovrich, who died in May after a battle with colon cancer. More than 200 students circled the high school pond sporting blue T-shirts that read “Long Beach High School: Together We Make a Difference.” All proceeds from the walk will go to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. High Schoolers also teamed up with Blackheath Pre-K students to organize a food drive to benefit the Long Beach Food and Friendship INN, collecting hundreds of cans of food for this local charity. A group of approximately 30 IB Dance students also visited the Pre-K Center to read books to the preschoolers and lead them in dances inspired by the books. Ninth-graders also attended a special assembly to learn about the important role our service men and women play in serving our country. They will be writing letters to servicemen and women to express their thanks. They will also be collecting candy and other items to send to troops who are stationed overseas. A group of IB diploma candidates organized a month-long book drive, collecting books through homeroom classes. The books will be distributed to local elementary students. Another group of IB diploma candidates organized a schoolwide coat drive. Several other activities took place throughout the day. An after-school pizza sale raised money for the Long Beach Medical Center, and World Service Kits were distributed to encourage students to collect specific items for those in need. The Day of Service is just one of many special outreach projects that IB students plan to orchestrate throughout the year as part of the Creativity, Action and Service requirement of the IB diploma program. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7408 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Long Beach High School hosted the Dig Pink Volleyball Tournament on Oct. 13. A total of eight varsity teams from Long Island, Queens and Manhattan participated, raising $3,000 for Columbia Breast Cancer Research. St. Francis Prep of Fresh Meadows defeated Kellenberg of Uniondale in the finals to earn the Dig Pink crown. The event was organized by Long Beach volleyball coach Kerri Rehnback. “It takes a lot of work to organize a tournament like this,” said Arnold Epstein, director of athletics, physical education and health. “I know we all appreciate the efforts of Coach Rehnback, our student-athletes and their parents. It brought pride to our community to be able to bring so many student athletes together for such a worthy cause. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7411 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School was one of only 10 schools to receive a Students United for Safe Schools grant from Child Abuse Prevention Services, a Long Island organization dedicated to preventing bullying and child abuse. Under this grant, CAPS will pilot a Safe Schools initiative at Long Beach High School that uses a holistic approach to reducing bullying by changing peer norms and school culture, providing student and staff training, and offering ongoing support and consultation. Finally, the school’s participation in the grant will help develop and introduce new messages about bullying and cyberbullying behaviors to positively reframe the issues and challenge misperceptions. This initiative will also provide the school community with tools and strategies to effectively implement New York State’s new anti-harassment and discrimination legislation, the Dignity for All Students Act. “We are very excited to work with CAPS to ensure that Long Beach High School provides a safe environment that supports learning for all,” said Vice Principal Dr. Francine Newman. Dr. Newman, who applied for the grant, will be working closely with CAPS to administer the SUSS program at Long Beach High School. This is just one example of the district’s ongoing effort to support the social and emotional learning and development of students, from Pre-Kindergarten through high school to motivate them to engage in learning, promote positive peer relationships, develop self-direction and collaborative skills, get along in a pluralist community, avoid risky behaviors, and to find help when feeling sad or hopeless. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7370 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Marines Marching Band's performance at the Newsday Marching Band Festival @ Hofstra will be streamed LIVE on msgvarsity.com for anyone who cannot attend the performance on Tuesday, Oct. 23. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7363 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT On Oct.18, by a vote of 336-97, Long Beach voters passed a capital reserve referendum to allow the Long Beach Board of Education to expend $5.6 million from the district’s Capital Reserve Fund. This money will be used to cover the costs associated with the reconstruction of an area of Long Beach High School affected by the collapse of a suspended carport ceiling back in April. The work includes repair of the carport ceiling area, as well as general construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work being performed in the immediate vicinity of the carport area. Voter approval is required to expend funds from the Capital Reserve Fund. This fund, which is similar to a savings account, provides the district with the ability to set aside monies to fund capital improvements and emergencies. Since these funds have already been set aside for capital projects, funding the work through the capital reserve fund will not result in a tax increase. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7315 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Ask any Long Beach student in grades 3-5 what SPIRIT means and they will tell you it stands for Specialized Program Integrating Research, IB Principals and 21st Century Technology. Ask them what SPIRIT looks like and they will tell you that it looks like students working collaboratively using the latest technology to conduct and present research that will help them become thoughtful, caring and active citizens of the global community. Each unit of inquiry in the SPIRIT program has a central idea intended to build an enduring understanding of one or more of the principles of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile—ultimately creating students who are inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, risk-takers and communicators. In one such lesson conducted last year in a pilot version of the SPIRIT program, students learned how to use varied sources of research, evaluate the reliability of those sources, and write bibliographies using APA citation styles. After gathering information about the ocean, biodiversity and cultural diversity, students worked in small groups to create websites, SlideRocket presentations and VodCasts to present their newfound understanding of these topics. As the pilot program was expanded this year to all grade 3-5 classrooms, one of the first units of inquiry shared by students throughout the district dealt with the central idea that research helps us explore new knowledge that can lead to “international-mindedness.” Students shared their understanding of what international-mindedness means to them—using words like respect, kindness, understanding, inquiry, open-mindedness and peace. They reinforced their learning by working in groups to make posters depicting their ideas. International-mindedness is an essential component of the IB program worldwide. Students will have an opportunity to connect their learning and research with this concept throughout their years in the SPIRIT program. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7322 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7330 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7282 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT A bright and sunny afternoon welcomed 70 participants who came out to support the Long Beach High School Surf Club’s Sixth Annual Beach Cleanup on Oct. 13. Surf Club members were joined by local surfers, International Baccalaureate diploma candidates and members of the community as they collected trash on the beach park at National Blvd. in Long Beach. Some of the trash will be repurposed by art students at the high school to create collages. “This is a way for Long Beach students to give back to the community--both with the beach cleanup and through the creation of art using some of that discarded material,” said club advisor and surfing team coach Andrew Smith, who is also the high school IB program coordinator. Within an hour the participants, wearing protective gloves, had accumulated dozens of bags of trash and debris. Art teacher Nora Bellsey was in charge of defining what refuse will be recycled by art students. The City of Long Beach will dispose of all the unusable waste material. The Surf Club was formed to bring together students who love surfing, but also to share a commitment to protecting and preserving our local oceans and shorelines, and to raise community awareness about environmental concerns. The Quiksilver Foundation and the Long Beach Surfers Association sponsored the event and provided the collection bags and t-shirts. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7295 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students had three unique opportunities to get an inside look at the production of the presidential debate at Hofstra University: meeting with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews; touring the debate site the day before the debate; and stepping inside the C-SPAN Campaign 2012 Tour Bus on the day after the debate. On Oct. 10, juniors and seniors from the IB History of the Americas class traveled to the Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University to see a presentation by political analyst and host of MSNBC’s Hardball Chris Matthews, titled “A Political Insider’s View of Washington.” In the presentation, Matthews spoke about the election and upcoming debate and entertained questions from the audience. Long Beach High School was one of only five schools invited to attend. “It was a great opportunity for our students to hear a major political pundit express his views on the election,” said teacher Dr. Andrew Smith. “One of our students, Daniel Hanson, had an experience he will never forget—he asked a question in front of the entire audience and Chris Matthews responded!” On Oct. 15 (the day before the debate), a group of 19 AP American Government students were invited to tour the debate venue and media room at Hofstra. They began their tour at the spin room and media-filing center, where they tried on the journalists’ seats for size. They were then escorted into the debate room, where the stage was set for the town hall debate. A security officer gave them insight into the amount of preparation it had taken to ensure that President Obama and Governor Romney would be safe and secure. As mementos of their adventure, students were given goody bags filled with banners, t-shirts and coffee cups emblazoned with the official debate logo. They will be using the knowledge they gained from this experience to help them run their own mock campaigns for each of the presidential candidates in the weeks leading up to the election. “My students agreed that it was the best field trip they had ever been on,” said teacher Jennifer Quinn. “We were so fortunate to be so close to history in the making. This is what American government is all about!” On Oct. 17 (the day after the debate), the C-SPAN Campaign 2012 Tour Bus visited the Long Beach High School campus to demonstrate to students how C-SPAN produces and broadcasts its news segments. C-SPAN representatives Doug Hemmig and Matt McGuire showed students how to conduct research using the C-SPAN video library and explained the reporting and filming techniques that C-SPAN uses to ensure that their reporting is neutral and unbiased. “We have to be sure that we are simply delivering the message, not creating the message,” explained Hemmig. A total of 60 students were able to visit the trailer in one of four 30-minute tours. The invitation was extended to students in the Photo/Video, Music in Our Lives and Studio in Theater classes, as well as to the students who produce “The Morning Show,” Long Beach High School’s own morning announcement extravaganza. This event was made possible through a partnership with Cablevision’s MSG Varsity media creation program. "Touring the C-Span TV production bus, our students were able to truly "feel" what our democracy is all about,” said teacher Eric Krywe. “The fact that the debates were so close to us at Hofstra University added to their excitement. Through this experience, students were fully engaged in learning about the issues of this year’s election. Many of the students exited the bus ready to vote in November, or in another four years once they're of voting age." http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7297 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Senior Justin Gottuso was named one of 3,100 Outstanding Participants in the 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program. He can count himself among an elite group who scored in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans who requested consideration for this scholarship when they took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, commonly known as the PSAT. This competition was established in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising Black American high school students. In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society, Justin plays in the jazz band, the marching band and the wind ensemble. He is also a member of the varsity volleyball and track and field teams. Outside of school, Justin is a member of the Long Beach Leos Club and served as a student ambassador in the Give Kids a Smile dental screening program at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. He also works as a volleyball instructor in the City of Long Beach Recreation Department. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7312 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7256 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT In a fun and educational celebration of reading, students in grades K-2 at East School grabbed their favorite stuffed animal, climbed into cozy pajamas and headed back to school with their parents to enjoy an evening PJ Party. The theme of the evening was “Nursery Rhymes Rock.” While the children cozied up to read nursery rhymes and do crafts with their teachers in the gymnasium, parents headed off to the cafeteria to attend a workshop about Common Core Learning Standards, conducted by Principal Sean Murray. At the parent workshop, Mr. Murray explained how parents can help their children adjust to the shift in expectations brought on by the Common Core. Students are now expected to read more non-fiction texts, obtain knowledge in different disciplines through reading, challenge themselves with more complex texts, form judgments after reading texts and make arguments in writing using evidence found in texts. To help at home, parents can read more magazines and newspapers with their children and engage in discussions and questioning about the articles they read. To increase writing and vocabulary skills, they can do something as simple as writing thank you notes and shopping lists or authoring books together. Perhaps, he explained, the most important job of parents is as role models. Parents should read often with babies and children of any age, let their children see them reading and share new words to increase vocabulary. This is just one example of the district’s ongoing commitment to engage parents as educational partners, working together with teachers and administrators to help every child reach his or her full potential. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7218 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach City School District residents will have the opportunity to vote on a capital reserve initiative, which will determine how to fund the reconstruction of an area of Long Beach High School affected by the collapse of a suspended carport ceiling back in April. Although the work is underway, a community referendum must still be held to allow the Board of Education to use existing funds from the Capital Reserve Fund. What is the scope of this work? Repair of the carport ceiling area, as well as general construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing are being performed in the immediate vicinity of the carport area, including the main entrance, lobby, gym entrance and locker room. Why has the work begun already? In the interest of the health and safety of students and staff, the district continued with the demolition of the carport ceiling structure to avoid another unforeseen ceiling collapse. In addition, we needed to begin rebuilding the carport ceiling in order to protect the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems from the elements. If the repairs at LBHS have already begun, what are we voting on? The Oct. 18 vote is merely to authorize the Board to pay for the work through the Capital Reserve Fund. By law, voters must authorize use of this particular fund through a special referendum. What is the Capital Reserve Fund and how does it differ from the regular school budget? The Capital Reserve Fund is separate from the annual operating budget and similar to a savings account. It provides the ability to set aside monies to fund capital improvements and emergencies for which the district might otherwise need to issue new bonds or pay for through the annual operating budget. Will the work associated with this Capital Reserve Fund vote increase my taxes? No. Since the funds have already been allocated to the Capital Reserve Fund, the district does not need to raise new taxes. What happens if voters defeat the Oct. 18 initiative? If the initiative is defeated, the district would pay for the work through the unencumbered fund balance, part of which is generally used to lower projected tax rates each year. Why is it better to pay for the work through the Capital Reserve Fund? For all of the reasons mentioned in the previous three answers, and because maintaining strong financial reserves, overall, contributes to the long-term fiscal health of the school district. Furthermore, maintaining a fund balance protects taxpayers against large spikes in costs that may be out of the Board of Education and district’s control. It also contributes to a solid financial rating, which allows the district to secure favorable interest rates in the event that future borrowing is needed. How do we know we are getting the best price on the work? Projects such as these are competitively bid to ensure that the best price is secured from the most responsible bidder. How much money is currently in the Capital Reserve Fund? There is approximately $7 million currently in the Capital Reserve Fund, $5.6 million of which voters will be asked to authorize on Oct.18, exclusively for the work identified on the ballot. This work is summarized in the introduction to this Q&A and in the first answer at the top of this page. Was the carport structure destroyed as a result of an error on the job during the renovation of LBHS? No. Two different engineering firms assessed the carport, which was built in the late 1960s, and reported that it was not in full compliance with building codes at that time (this was determined based upon the use of certain materials to secure the grid upon which the ceiling was constructed). Based on this, both firms determined that the carport collapse was not a result of renovations that were being performed at the high school. Is the roof collapse covered by insurance? While the district may be eligible to receive minor compensation for ancillary damages, this work is not subject to an insurance claim. Since the carport construction was not in compliance with the building codes, insurance coverage is voided. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations has expired for the district to pursue any legal action against the original builder. What is the location and polling hours for the Oct. 18 vote? East School during the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7102 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Initiative would use reserve funding to repair carport ceiling at no additional cost to taxpayers The Board of Education has approved a capital reserve initiative to cover costs associated with the reconstruction of an area of Long Beach High School affected by the collapse of a suspended carport ceiling back in April. The Board has opted to utilize existing funds in its capital reserve. Since these funds have already been set aside for capital projects, the work will not result in a tax increase, but voter approval is required to expend these funds. A community referendum is set for Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 at East School between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7185 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT The girls varsity soccer team used their home game against Carey on Oct. 1 as an opportunity to raise money and awareness for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sporting pink socks on their feet and pink ribbons in their hair, the girls raised $250, which was donated by members of both teams, for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. “I was proud to have my team and the Carey girls support the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk,” said coach Tara Wesselhoft. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7220 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT A visitor to any ELA classroom at Long Beach Middle School will witness students actively engaged in reading activities centered around small-group discussions. These conversations encourage students to understand the texts they are reading on a deeper level, draw their own conclusions, clearly express their ideas and ultimately draw parallels to their own life experiences. One such discussion occurred in an eighth-grade ELA class taught by Dena Hopper and Brendan Scully. The class had been working on a unit of study that explored the big question, “What makes art powerful?” By delving into both fiction and non-fiction works, students explored the impact of various forms of art, such as writing, fine art, music and dance. Students read and discussed a magazine article about artists who had used their art to change the world. They also read a short story about a boy who begins to regain use of his crushed hand and leg by creating art assigned by an itinerant teacher who is a Vietnam veteran. This story opened up a window of discussion about the power of art to transform the lives of both the student and the teacher. After reading and discussing an assortment of other texts, the students will be asked to create a self-portrait that reflects their own unique perspective on the world. This type of student-centered learning is essential to helping students meet the new challenges of the common core learning standards. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7201 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7153 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7168 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT The LBHS Marines Marching Band had the honor of performing in the New York City Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 8. The band is made up of 220 students, including a horn line of 150, a percussion section that is 30 strong, and a 45-member color guard. To highlight the Long Beach School District’s 100th anniversary, the band marched with a banner highlighting this accomplishment. Students work under the direction of band director Marino Bragino III and assistant director Zach Rifkind. “We have been one of the largest bands on Long Island for many years,” said Bragino. “I think they selected us based on our unique size and visual potential.” The Marines have also been chosen as the closing band for the 50th Annual Newsday Marching Band Festival at Hofstra University on Oct. 23. Those interested in attending the event can obtain tickets through the high school music office, at 516-897-6500. “I would also like to thank our new parents organization, Friends of the Arts, who has partnered with the music department to bring the community together to support the success of our program,” added Bragino. (Photos courtesy of Steven Stutts, LBHS Class of 2006) http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7109 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT After successfully enlisting students to complete a mural project this summer at Georgia Park in the west end of Long Beach, art teacher Denise Collins hopes to continue to put student volunteers to work completing displays for vacant storefronts. Collins is a Long Beach resident who teaches art at Lindell and West schools. The project began when Rick Hoffman and Gabrielle Tomicick, two members of the West End Neighbors Association, contacted Collins to ask her if she would be willing to enlist students to work on a mural at Georgia Park. When she realized the scope of the project — a 40-foot mural — Collins contacted her friend Ron Rundo. A professional muralist whose daughter attends West School, Rundo gladly volunteered to help supervise the project. After reaching out to her students, and also rounding up neighborhood children who were playing at the park, Collins was able to get more than 30 children involved in the project. With many eager hands helping out, they finished the entire mural in about a week. “Ron was a wonderful teacher,” said Collins. “Not only did the children have the satisfaction of using their talents to make a lasting contribution to their neighborhood, but they also learned so much about the mural process from him.” This project was a natural fit for Collins, who has been helping her students form community connections with their artwork for some time. Her West School students have been involved in creating holiday window displays for Rose and Eye in the west end of Long Beach. They also have their artwork on display at the Diner by the Sea. Her Lindell students maintain a rotating display of artwork at the Long Beach railroad station. Collins is looking forward to collaborating with the West End Neighbors Association to involve even more local students in window display projects during the course of the year. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7134 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7075 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School seniors Shannon Romig and Russell Goetz have both been recognized by the Scholar-Artist program, sponsored by the Long Island Arts Alliance in cooperation with Newsday. Shannon was named a Scholar-Artist in dance. Russell has been recognized with an Award of Merit in music. The Scholar-Artist program recognizes talented students in the fine and performing arts. Shannon was one was one of only 20 Long Island students to be named a Scholar-Artist. Russell was one of 20 to receive an Award of Merit. This is the second year in a row that a Long Beach High School student has received recognition from this program. Shannon and Russell were invited to a kickoff event at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts on Sept. 20 for a welcome reception, dinner and photo shoot, giving them an opportunity to meet with representatives from the arts programs of local colleges. They will also be honored at an end-of-the-year reception at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Shannon was nominated for this honor by Long Beach High School dance teacher Christianne Donohue. Russell was nominated by chorus teacher Michael Capobianco. As part of the application process, they were required to submit an audition tape and write an essay about how their involvement in the arts has shaped their lives. An International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, Shannon participates in IB dance classes at Long Beach High School. She is also a champion Irish step dancer who has received numerous medals at regional and national competitions. A school leader, Shannon is senior class secretary/treasurer and vice president of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, in addition to being president of the Future Physicians Club and co-editor of her school’s award-winning literary magazine, Fragments. She is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society. A varsity athlete, Shannon has been named an All-Conference player in soccer and badminton. Active in community service, Shannon uses her dance talents to entertain at area nursing homes, children’s hospitals and camps for children with special needs. She has served as student chair for the Long Beach Relay for Life and for the Cablevision Power to Learn Charity Champions program, raising funds to benefit Camp Anchor. She received the 2012 President’s Volunteer Service Award and the 2012 Nassau Region PTA Youth Humanitarian Award. Russell is a two-time All-State musician and an eight-time All-County musician. He was a featured soloist at a performance of the All-State Jazz Ensemble for state legislators in Albany. Russell is a member of the National Honor Society and Vice President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He performs in the select choir, chorus, men’s chorus, band, jazz band and wind ensemble, and is the drum major for the marching band. Active in the theater department, Russell has played leading roles in the high school drama and musical productions, and will serve as student director of both productions this year. In 2009, Russell toured Europe, singing with the American Music Abroad program. In 2010, he attended the Crane School of Music summer program for voice and choral studies. A scholar-athlete in badminton and tennis, Russell is the varsity badminton team captain, and was named a 2010 and 2011 All-County Champion. “We are proud that our students have received Scholar-Artist recognition in both dance and music this year,” said Principal Gaurav Passi. “Shannon and Russell are both talented and dedicated students who have brought pride to their school and community through their commitments to the arts.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7089 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7052 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT With the Marines posting victories in their first three games of the season, spirits were especially high as fans filled the stands at Veterans Memorial Field to cheer their team on to a 38-7 homecoming victory over the Westbury Green Dragons. The Marines scored three times in the first half. Chris Parler scored the first of his two touchdowns from the Dragons’ 45, with five minutes to go in the first quarter. In the opening drive of the third quarter, Adam Salvadori scored on a 29-yard drive. The Marines’ fourth goal came on a 5-yard touchdown by Obe Isaac. Finally breaking through the Marines’ relentless defense, Westbury’s Shalike Merchant scored a 5-yard touchdown with 4:41 left on the clock. The homecoming carnival, sponsored by the High School Student Government Organization, attracted crowds of young and old alike. Volunteers from many Long Beach High School clubs provided homemade food and deserts, as well as entertainment including a pie toss, a wheel of fortune, face painting, a photo booth and other carnival games. All-State vocal musicians Joseph Keiserman and Russell Goetz presented a rousing duet performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” bringing the fans to their feet before the start of the game. The cheerleading squad led off the halftime festivities with a lively dance routine that entertained the crowd and inspired the athletes. Homecoming King Victor Tarantino escorted his lovely Queen Harli Weitz around the track, waving regally to the cheering crowd. Then the marching band took to the field to wow the fans with their fancy footwork and precision playing in a routine entitled “Long Beach Megahits.” The crowd was impressed to learn that the band will be strutting their stuff this year at the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, and again at the Newsday Marching Band Festival at Hofstra University on Oct. 23. In a longstanding Long Beach homecoming tradition, members of the Long Beach Bulldogs youth football program charged across the field at lightning speed in the annual Bulldog Dash before the football team returned to the field for the second half. Homecoming weekend was capped off with a ceremony on Saturday morning to induct four new members to the Long Beach High School Wall of Fame. This year’s inductees were Howard Apple (Class of ’63), Barbara Bernstein (Class of ’66) Richard Evrard (Class of ’74) and Ronald Stonitsch (Class of ’67). http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7054 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT This year’s four inductees to the Long Beach High School Wall of Fame – Howard Apple, Barbara Bernstein, Richard “Ricky” Evrard and Ronald Stonitsch – had varied high school experiences and pursued diverse careers after they graduated. But as all four made their acceptance speeches at the Sept. 29 ceremony, a common thread appeared. They all attributed their success to a community that supported them and a group of caring teachers who taught them valuable lessons that stayed with them throughout their lives. A graduate of the Class of 1963, Apple went on to enjoy an illustrious 27-year career with the FBI. He was honored with the FBI Director’s Award of Excellence, the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for his outstanding work on Indian reservations and the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators Award of Merit. After retiring from the FBI, Apple began a company to fight Medicare fraud, saving the Medicare Trust Fund more than $2 billion. “Growing up in Long Beach is like having your own version of the show ‘Cheers’,” said Apple. “Everyone knows your name. It’s a place you can come home to. Everybody take care of one another.” Bernstein graduated from Long Beach High School in 1966, where she was best known for her involvement in the theater program. During her professional career, she managed programs in the field of low-income housing, job training, at-risk youth services and criminal justice. For the past 23 years she has served as the executive director of a nonprofit agency that has served over one million people in need of critical health, housing and human service assistance. In recognition of her distinguished record of community service, she was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame. “Long Beach High School gave me my educational foundation,” said Bernstein. “I learned that I didn’t have to be the best, I just had to be my best. And I learned that in doing so, my enthusiasm could encourage others to be their best.” A graduate of the Class of 1974, Evrard excelled in athletics, playing on the football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse teams. He was offered a full scholarship to play football at Rice University. Upon graduation, he became a national director of the NCAA Volunteers for Youth program. He went on to complete a law degree in 1983, after which he worked for the NCAA as an enforcement representative and director of legislative services. In 1992 he joined a leading law firm specializing in the field of NCAA rules, ethics and sports law. “The lessons I learned on the playing fields of Long Beach stayed with me my whole life,” said Evrard. “Work together as a team and you will achieve success.” He thanked the teachers who believed in him and the coaches like Tony Piazza who changed his life. Stonitsch, who graduated in 1967, was one of the most accomplished track and field and cross-country athletes in Long Beach High School history, finishing in fifth place in the 1966 cross-country state championships, setting a county record in the mile and becoming a Long Island Champion in the two-mile and a state champion in the mile. He went on to become a three-time NCAA National Champion in cross-country and track and MVP of the 1971 Penn Relays. He worked for 33 years for the New York Department of Labor, where he helped advise businesses and promoted programs to benefit jobseekers. He also served for 33 years as a cross-country and track coach at Vassar College. Stonitsch gave special thanks to his coach Irv Gold, saying, “If it wasn’t for Irv Gold, I wouldn’t have gone to college.” “This wall is a testament to the Barrier Island,” said Board President Roy Lester. “This says something about this community that so many accomplished people came out of it.” “We welcome you back to a renewed Long Beach Public Schools,” said Superintendent David Weiss to the honorees and their guests. “With the work that is being done around the district as part of the School Preservation Plan, there is a new sense of pride in our facilities, our schools and our young people. We hope that after coming home today, you will be inspired to come back often to celebrate what our students are accomplishing today.” To illustrate some of those accomplishments, High School Principal Gaurav Passi introduced seniors Shannon Romig and Jake Brown. Shannon, who is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, spoke about how she hopes to one day follow in the footsteps of today’s inductees. Jake, who plays football, hockey and lacrosse, spoke about the inspiration the Wall of Fame offers to him as he reads the names of all those who have made Long Beach great. Summing up the sentiments of the day, Board of Education Trustee Dr. Dennis Ryan said, “Your achievements serve as big footprints left for our students to follow on their own pursuit of excellence.” A time-honored homecoming tradition that began in 1996, the Wall of Fame is presented each year by the Long Beach Booster Club in cooperation with Long Beach Public Schools to serve as an inspiration to the youth of Long Beach. The Wall of Fame was conceived to honor present and former members of the Long Beach community who have made substantial contributions either locally or to the world at large, including contributors in the area of athletics. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7058 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6991 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6992 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6993 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6994 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Come cheer on the Long Beach High School Marching Marines as they perform in the Columbus Day Parade in New York City - Fifth Ave. on Monday, October 8, 2012, at 12 noon. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6997 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT It was a proud day for 92-year-old Long Beach resident Thomas Robert Elliott as his family gathered around him to share his joy when he accepted a degree he had waited seven decades to receive—his high school diploma. The youngest of 15 children, Elliott was orphaned at age 10, supporting himself with odd jobs until he was old enough to join the army, serving in both the U.S. and Europe. After the war, he made a successful career for himself in the millinery textile industry. His work took him all over the world and made it possible for him to help all three of his children go on to earn graduate degrees, even though he himself had never completed high school. Elliott was finally able to achieve his lifelong dream of receiving a high school diploma through a New York State program called Operation Recognition. Through this program, veterans who served in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War can receive a high school diploma if they were honorably discharged from military service and currently reside in the state of New York. The ceremony, which took place at the Long Beach High School library on Sept. 21, began with a stirring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” performed by senior trumpeter Jesse Klirsfeld. Then student government officers Ashita Patel and David Velez, both seniors, bestowed upon Elliott one of the Long Beach High School medals that is traditionally worn by seniors on graduation day. They also invited him to join them as a member of the Class of 2013 at their high school graduation ceremony in June. Superintendent of Schools David Weiss congratulated Elliott as he presented him with his official diploma. Board of Education trustees Patrick Gallagher and Dr. Dennis Ryan also extended their congratulations. “Thank you all for going through so much trouble for me,” said Elliott with a tear in his eye. “I am very grateful to receive this honor.” When asked about his plans for the future, the unstoppable high school graduate quickly responded with a twinkle in his eye that he plans to attend Harvard Law School as soon as he completes his bachelor’s degree. This ceremony marked the kickoff to the district’s annual Field of Honor, a field of commemorative flags recognizing those who have served our nation, which will be on display in front of the administration building from Nov. 7 through Dec. 7. Last year, the Long Beach Middle School seventh grade teamed up with the Kiwanis Club to erect the district’s first Field of Honor, which has now become an annual event. To sponsor a keepsake flag to display as part of the Field of Honor, please visit www.lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6959 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT A video that was produced in the high school Photo/Video class will be airing on Wed., Sept. 26, on Cablevision Channel 18, from 4-7 p.m. The video highlights the LBHS African American Club and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. Senior Michael Fitzsimons directed and edited the video and sophomore Brian Horne was the host. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6968 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6825 Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School was a recent recipient of a $1000 Safe Teen Drive LI grant given by the Allstate Foundation. The school will use this grant to fund activism work that encourages responsible and smart driving by their students. Allstate spokesperson Allison McMahon presented the grant check to the high school at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education. “In the spring of last year I wrote a grant application for the Allstate Safe Teen Drive LI Program,” said Vice Principal Timothy Piciullo. “The members of the Students Against Destructive Decisions club (SADD) plan to use the funds to help heighten awareness in our school about the dangers of various behaviors such as speeding, texting and drinking while driving.” Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. It is a startling fact, but not surprising when you consider that crash rates are the highest for drivers who are 16-19 years old. The Allstate Foundation’s Safe Teen Drive LI program aims to truly reduce teen crashes in Nassau and Suffolk counties. “We believe activism projects and events in every high school on Long Island will increase public awareness on this social epidemic,” said Allstate spokesperson Allison McMahon, “and perhaps act as the reminder or light bulb for a young driver who may be about to make a bad decision behind the wheel.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6942 Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT It was a fine fall day on Sept. 12 as Surfers Healing Surf Camp hosted a special day of wave riding at the Lido West Town Beach in Lido Beach. Students in the Long Beach High School Life Skills program were among several different school groups to participate in this annual event. Assisted by Surfers Healing instructors, the students set off on longboards to ride the waves and experience the healing powers of the ocean as their families and teachers cheered them on. Fifteen members of the Long Beach High School surf team volunteered at the event, coaching the participants and handing out medals. Surfers Healing is a national organization founded by Izzy Paskowitz that hosts day camps at the beach where children with autism and their families can be exposed to the therapeutic benefits of surfing. Sharon Snyder and Bob Kolonkowski are the local coordinators of Surfers Healing, which has been partnering with the Town of Hempstead to host local surf camp events for approximately 10 years. As educational as it is fun, surfing can challenge participants to overcome fears, build trust, establish relationships, enhance gross motor skills and listen to directions. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6912 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Please come and cheer on the Long Beach Marines Marching Band when they perform at the 50th annual Newsday Marching Band Festival on Tuesday, October 23 at Hofstra University. Tickets are $10.00 at the gate, but can be purchased in advance for $8.00 (cash or checks made out to "cash") through the high school music department and the "Friends of the Arts" organization. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6907 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT To recognize the NYS Dignity for All Students Act, which took effect July 1, students at Lido School staged a dual celebration of Bully Prevention Week and Constitution Day, which culminated in the signing of a constitution of cafeteria rules and rights. Throughout the week, classroom discussions focused on the meaning of U.S. Constitution, as well as the importance of the six pillars of character that form the core values of the school: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. During the culminating event, which coincided with Constitution Day, students drafted their own constitution outlining the rules and rights of students in the lunchroom. Each grade marched in solidarity against acts of bullying, before returning to add their signatures to their school pledge. By the end of the day, all students in the school had vowed to honor four simple rules: clean up after themselves, use their indoor voices, stay seated while eating and respect other students and staff. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6895 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Senior Caroline Walsh was named one of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. As a semifinalist, she will have the opportunity to compete for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships to be offered next spring. Caroline was among the 1.5 million juniors who entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, commonly known as the PSAT. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To be eligible to advance to the finalist stage of the competition, Caroline will be required to submit a detailed scholarship application with information about her academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors, and awards. Scholarship award winners will be selected from among the finalists, who will be announced in February. Caroline has contributed to the success of her school through academics, community service and the arts. As a member of the National Honor Society, she has participated in various tutoring and community service activities. Caroline is also active in her school’s science research program, and has won awards at regional and international science competitions. This summer she explored new fields of physics in a four-week residential program at Stanford University and also worked under professors at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine studying cancer and diabetes. Her love of acting has brought her to perform in musical productions at Long Beach High School and with the Long Beach Theatre Guild. She has also choreographed shows for the Long Beach Theatre Guild and the Spotlight Children’s Theater Academy in Long Beach. Among her other extracurricular activities, she is a member of Model Congress, the Forensics Club and the Leo Lions Club. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6897 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Seniors Joseph Keiserman (left) and Russell Goetz have been selected to perform in both the All-State Mixed Chorus and the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble at the 2012 New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference, which will be held in Rochester, N.Y. from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. Both young musicians have elected to perform in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. This is the second year in a row that both students earned All-State honors. They will perform at the renowned Eastman Theatre under the direction of nationally prominent conductors. This is one of the highest honors bestowed on high school music students in New York State. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor at solo evaluation festivals held across the state last year. To acknowledge their accomplishment, while paying homage to the memory of 9/11, the Long Beach Board of Education invited Russell and Joseph to perform a special rendition of “Proud to Be an American,” at the Sept. 11 board meeting. Their performance brought tears to the eyes of many in attendance. Russell, an eight-time All-County musician, had the honor of singing with fellow All-State jazz vocalists last year at the state capital. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society and performs in the high school jazz ensemble, select choir, chorus and wind ensemble. He has also played leading roles in the high school’s drama and musical productions and will serve as student director of both productions this year. Joseph is an 11-time All-County musician, having been selected to perform in the symphony orchestra, mixed chorus and vocal jazz ensemble. He performed last year in the All-State Symphony Orchestra. He has also earned the honor of being selected to perform in the Long Island String Festival. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society and performs in the select choir, chamber orchestra and concert orchestra. He has played leading roles in the high school’s drama and musical productions and was the student director of both productions last year. Joseph is also studying musical theater at the Long Island High School for the Arts. Joseph and Russell are pictured with chorus teacher Michael Capobianco. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6845 Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT In an annual Town of Hempstead tradition, participants gathered on the town beach in Point Lookout at 7:30 a.m. to pay homage to those who lost their lives on 9/11. This year, two Long Beach students—high school trumpeter Chad Marsh and middle school drummer Brandon Small—were invited to perform “Taps,” along with trumpeter Peter Meyer Jr., a Long Beach graduate who is now a student at SUNY Maritime College. As the ceremony began, the color guard came to attention, as Point Lookout Lido Fire Chief James Walsh, escorted by lone drummer Small, presented a carefully folded American flag to six fellow firefighters. They in turn unfolded the flag and raised it on the flagpole, escorted by Walsh and Small. First hornist Marsh played “Taps” as the flag was lowered to half-mast, while Meyer echoed him on the second horn. After a moment of silence, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” as the color guard, drummer and horns marched off. “Every year, Long Beach Middle School sends a trumpeter to play ‘Taps’ at the Memorial Day service presented by the Point Lookout Lido Fire Department,” said middle school band teacher Elizabeth Altbacker. “Due to this relationship, Peter Meyer Sr., former captain and current chairman of the color guard for the Point Lookout Fire Department, contacted me to request a bugler and field drummer to participate in this year's Town of Hempstead 9/11 memorial. Chad and Brandon were proud to honor this request. It was a special honor to have Peter join us, as he is a former student of mine and the son of Captain Meyer.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6811 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT At their August 27, 2012 business meeting, the Board of Education approved a capital reserve initiative to cover costs associated with the reconstruction of an area of Long Beach High School affected by the collapse of a suspended carport ceiling in April of 2012. The Board has opted to utilize existing funds in its capital reserve; since these funds have already been set aside for capital projects, the work will not result in a tax increase. Voter approval is required, with a community referendum set for Thursday, October 18, 2012 at East School between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. “Following a comprehensive review of Long Beach High School after the April ceiling collapse, structural engineers and the district’s architects and construction manager determined that we had to begin rebuilding the carport ceiling now to protect our mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure,” said Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “Given the fact that we have sufficient money in the capital reserve to complete this work, and it will not carry an additional cost to our taxpayers, we are asking for their approval to use funds from this reserve.” The capital reserve is separate from the annual operating budget and similar to a savings account. It provides the ability to set aside monies to fund capital improvements and emergencies for which the district might otherwise need to issue new bonds or pay for through the annual operating budget. Since the funds have already been allocated to the capital reserve, the district does not need to raise new taxes; however, by law, a public vote must be held. There is approximately $7 million currently in the capital reserve, $5.7 million of which voters will be asked to authorize on Oct.18. This would support the complete demolition and rebuilding of the suspended carport ceiling as well as general construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work in areas in the immediate vicinity, including the high school main entrance, lobby, gym entrance, and locker room. Since this work must be completed before the winter, construction has already commenced. Voters will simply be asked to authorize the Board of Education to fund the work through the capital reserve. School officials had considered utilizing undesignated fund balance reserves normally set aside for containing the tax impact of the annual operating budget and emergency expenditures. While utilizing fund balance would also not carry a tax increase, if used now, the Board’s ability to apply fund balance to contain the tax impact of future operating budgets would be affected. Since the capital reserve is established for facilities projects such as these, the Board determined it to be the most fiscally prudent method of funding the necessary work. Jill Sanders, a CPA with Cullen and Danowski, LLP who serves as the external auditor for the Long Beach School District, concurs with the Board’s decision. “Maintaining strong financial reserves, including a responsible fund balance, contributes to the district’s high Moody’s Investment Services rating,” she remarked. “Long Beach’s most recent bond rating of Aa2 is equivalent to a high credit score for an individual and bodes well for the district’s ability to secure favorable interest rates on any future borrowing. It also shows that Long Beach school officials have acted responsibly relevant to the district’s finances.” Back in 2009, voters approved a $98.9 million school preservation plan that addresses various long-term facility needs at every district school, including substantial renovations and an addition at Long Beach High School. Approximately $6.2 million of the plan was funded by cash on hand while the remaining $92.7 million was supported through a long-term bond issue. The work identified in the capital reserve vote was not part of the original preservation plan and built-in contingencies are not designed to support the scope of this work. In an effort to save money, Long Beach school officials will enact more streamlined polling procedures for the Oct. 18 referendum, similar to procedures used in the district’s special Board of Education runoff election held in June 2012. While a regular vote/election costs the district approximately $40,500, by using East School as a centralized polling location, the district estimates the Oct. 18 vote will cost approximately $5,000. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6753 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Homecoming will take place on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, with the Marines facing off against Westbury. Festivities will begin with a carnival at the Middle School gymnasium beginning at 6:30 p.m., featuring food, games and activities for children of all ages. Game kick-off is 7:00 p.m. at Veterans Field at Long Beach Middle School. The weekend’s festivities will be capped off on Saturday, Sept. 29 with the Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at Long Beach High School. This year’s honorees are Howard Apple (Class of’63, Barbara Bernstein (Class of ’66), Richard Evrard (Class of ’74) and Ronald J. Stonitsch (Class of ’67). All are welcome to attend. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6754 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT When students returned to classes on Sept. 5, they found new and improved facilities awaiting them, including new windows at East School and new interior doors at East, West and Lindell. At the Lido Complex, work is drawing to a close on the completion of the additions, which include new classroom space, library media centers and administrative offices. Work has also been proceeding on the high school addition, which is expected to be completed in late fall. A total of 42 students in the Class of 2013 have declared themselves as International Baccalaureate diploma candidates. Seven new college-level IB course offerings are available at the high school this year. Team teaching, which has been used successfully in grades 6-8 , has been extended through the ninth grade this year. After a year of exploratory studies of the middle school curriculum, the district has submitted an “Intent to Apply” to the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 6-8, the first step in the three-year application process. The program’s goals are consistent with those of the IB program, which aim to develop young people who are inquirers, knowledgeable, well-balanced, principled, thinkers, open-minded, caring, risk takers, reflective and communicators. Several presentations are scheduled throughout the year to acquaint parents with the MYP. A video illustrating what an MYP classroom looks like can be found at www.lbeach.org. All elementary students in grades 3-5 will be participating in S.P.I.R.I.T., which stands for Specialized Program Integrating Research, IB Principles and 21st Century Technology. This program integrates skills taught in a traditional library program with 21st century technology skills in order to develop students who have the ability to access and utilize information. In June 2012, the district adopted a revised code of conduct that is in compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act, a New York state education law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship and character education. The principals of each school and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Vincent Butera have been designated as Dignity Act coordinators. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6740 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT Dear Long Beach Public School Community, All of our schools will be ready to open on Wednesday September 5, 2012. Construction workers and clean up crews will continue to work over the next several days to ensure that our buildings are safe and clean for students and staff. Air quality test results confirm that our building spaces are safe for use. Best wishes for a wonderful school year! Michael DeVito, Esq. Chief Operating Officer http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6686 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT Meeting Time Change Notice http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6669 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT The United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners soccer team took time out of their pre-season preparations on Saturday, Aug. 11 to serve as instructors at the Long Beach Soccer Club Skills Clinic. The clinic was hosted by the Department of Athletics at Veterans Memorial Field at Long Beach Middle School. The Mariners players and coaches organized drills and competitions for children ranging in age from 6 to 12 while teaching the fundamentals of soccer and sportsmanship. Approximately 50 Long Beach youth attended the clinic. “It was a great experience for everyone involved,” said Mike Smolens, head soccer coach at USMMA. “The participants learned some soccer and had fun, and our players had a great time giving back to the community.” “The USMMA athletes did a wonderful job of interacting with the Long Beach students,” said Arnold Epstein, director of athletics, physical education and health. “The warmth and enthusiasm they showed made the clinic a great experience for all. I am sure our youngsters will remember this special event for some time.” The Long Beach Soccer Club strives to provide developmental and competitive soccer for community children ages 4-19 in a safe and nurturing environment. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6633 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Extended School Year Program for Students with Disabilities once again teamed up with Surf for All to provide students in grades K-12 with a unique summer learning experience. With the aid of specially trained surf instructors, the students have been setting off on longboards to ride the waves and experience the healing powers of the ocean as their families and teachers cheer them on. In addition to having fun, the children who participate in the program experience multiple educational benefits. Surfing helps them take a step toward independence, challenging them to overcome fears, build trust, establish relationships, enhance gross motor skills and listen to directions—many of the same skills they develop every day during their regular classroom instruction. Surf for All is a local not-for-profit organization launched by brothers Cliff and Will Skudin and Long Beach resident Jim Mulvaney to help people with special needs, ranging from autism to diabetes, through surfing. When asked to describe her surfing experience, Long Beach student Josmin Lopez said, “My wave was awesome.” After catching a few good waves, Christian Garces added, “I like surfing.” “It was fun,” concurred Max McCarthy. “This is the highlight of our summer, when you guys come down to surf,” said Cliff Skudin after the students presented him with handmade thank-you notes to express their gratitude. Surf for All is just one of the many recreational, enriching and practical learning activities offered to students in the Extended School Year Program for Students with Disabilities. In addition to their regular summer classroom instruction, students have taken trips to Baldwin Bowl, C-Town and the Long Beach Movie Theater. They were also able to participate in swim sessions at the high school pool. This comprehensive approach to summer learning helps students maintain the skills they acquired over the course of the traditional school year. “We are pleased to be able to provide our students with many enriching summer activities while giving them a fun way to practice and maintain all the skills they learned during the school year,” said Sabrina Cantore, the district’s executive director of special education and pupil personnel services. “We are especially grateful to the Skudins, who have been volunteering their time and talent to the children in our summer program for four years now. It has been a phenomenal experience for our students and their families.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6624 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6596 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT Maccabi USA Sports for Israel (MUSA) hosted its East Coast tryouts for the Maccabi USA National Badminton Team on Aug. 13 at Long Beach High School. The tryouts attracted approximately 15 high school and adult players from Long Island, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Chicago, all hoping to earn a spot on the team that will represent the U.S. at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel on July 17-30, 2013. Final selections for the 2013 games will be announced the third week of September. MUSA provides unique cultural opportunities through its sports programs. The World Maccabiah Games is the world’s third largest international sporting competition, bringing together more than 7,000 athletes from approximately 60 countries to compete in more than 35 different sports. “These games are held every four years in Israel, and teams also compete every two years in the European Maccabi games, so we are always looking toward the future for every sport,” said Ken Schwartz, USA badminton chairman of the19th World Maccabiah Games. “High school badminton in the New York/Long Island area, with its rich tradition, gives us a great feeder program for these kids during their high school years and beyond. We will have world-class coaches for each level. No doubt that the kids who qualify will return as better players, but more importantly, as better people.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6586 Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6591 Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6578 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT The district’s Summer School program provides a structured environment for the most at-risk students in grades 6-12 to extend their learning, gain necessary credits to ensure graduation and receive effective intervention and enrichment opportunities. In addition to offering students the opportunity to prepare for Regents exams and obtain class credit, the program also strives to help students learn how to be more responsible and engaged learners. The program focuses on providing additional structure and personal attention to help students develop positive academic habits. The small group setting allows the staff to connect with students on a more direct and personal level, creating an atmosphere that fosters learning. To encourage further support for students, teachers and administrators maintain close and frequent contact with parents. “Over the past few years, we have strived to re-envision summer school as a place to improve student learning well beyond the six-week program,” said Summer School Principal Dr. Andrew Smith. “We try to help students change their behaviors to become more interested, invested and involved in school to help them succeed in fulfilling the ultimate goal of earning a Regents diploma.” Last year, with the help of summer school instruction, the high school increased its 2011 graduation rate from 89% to 92%. The district expects to achieve continued gains through the 2012 summer school program. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6569 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach School District has been chosen to host the 2013 Special Olympics Spring Games South, which will take place on Sunday, May 5 at Long Beach Middle School and the Long Beach High School pool. The event is expected to draw more than 500 athletes, ages 8 and up, from all over Long Island. The games will consist of a full range of aquatics and track and field events. Committees are now forming to help with athlete and volunteer recruitment, awards, food and fundraising, as well as the planning of the opening ceremony and Olympic Village activities. For more information, call the Long Beach Public Schools athletics office at 516-897-2069. The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continued opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, fellow athletes and community. Through their participation in Special Olympics, New York athletes gain confidence and build a positive self-image, which carries into the classroom, the home, the workplace and the community. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6570 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT Sixteen graduates of the Class of 2012 have officially become the first Long Beach High School students to earn International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas. Heidi Abrego, Karl Oskar Ahr, Michelle Bello, Emily Charleson, Rachel Convertino, Jacqueline Cook, Andrew DiGiorgio, Liam Fitzpatrick, Aditi Gupta, Eileen Kelly, Roxette Romanes, Alexa Salazar, Angela Sevilla, Matthew Sheehan, Jane Smyth and Sophie Torres joined the ranks of a select group of 25,000 students nationally and 50,000 globally who have completed this demanding program. Long Beach High School became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010. The IB Diploma Program is a comprehensive two-year academic program that is designed to prepare young people to meet the academic demands of college while motivating them to become thoughtful, caring and active citizens. Classroom instruction is designed to encourage students to be inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, risk takers and communicators. Students who are not IB diploma candidates can elect to take any number of the 21 individual IB courses offered at Long Beach High School and receive certificates of credit by taking the IB exams. To receive an IB diploma, students must successfully complete a rigorous list of requirements over two years, including a total of three high-level and three standard-level IB courses, one each in English, foreign language, history/individuals and society, mathematics, science and the arts or electives. Students must also complete the IB Theory of Knowledge course. They round out their IB diploma requirements by submitting an in-depth extended essay and completing at least 150 hours of community service over two years. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6534 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT The district bids a fond farewell this year to 31 staff members who have amassed an astounding 767.5 collective years of service to the district. Through their commitment, dedication and service, they set an outstanding example for peers and students alike. NAME BUILDING POSITION YEARS OF SERVICE Abraham, James Brand, Denise Butler, Margaret Christianson, Geri Cody, Carolyn Cruz, Julieta Feld, Susan Fuller, Laura Gilbert, Leslie Gowens, Daniel Gubenko, Anne Hannon, Kevin Jacobs, Marjorie Kane, Terence Katz, Jill McDonald, Eileen Mines, Reginald Mininsky, Colleen Mininsky, Stewart Morici, Louise Murphy, Ellen Nickelsberg, Jane Osnato, Lauren Pilar Neill, Maria Rubin, Judith Saginiaro, Francine Siegel, Stephen Tonzillo, Robert Yavorcik, Laura Young, Teri Zubrin, Madeleine Bus Driver Elementary Teacher Mathematics Teacher Elementary Teacher Music Teacher Food Service Worker Special Education Teacher Elementary Teacher Mathematics Teacher Science Teacher Elementary Teacher Director Nutrition Services Special Education Teacher Special Education Teacher Mathematics Teacher Secretary Elementary Teacher Sr. Typist Mechanic‐Plumber Secretary Teaching Assistant Elementary Teacher Music Teacher Elementary Teacher Teaching Assistant Reading Teacher Business Education Teacher Bus Driver Teaching Assistant English Teacher Secretary 29 21 32 25 28 10 29 24 15 24 24 4.5 32 40 32 24 24 23 17 33 16 20 34 12 31 33 34 26 16 33 22 http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6528 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Friday, July 27th, 2012, at 5:00 PM in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. The Board will reconvene for a regular meeting at 6:00 PM at the same location. You may reviewThe Agenda for thismeeting http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6496 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT Maccabi USA Sports for Israel (MUSA) will be hosting its East Coast tryout for the Maccabi USA National Badminton Team on August 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Long Beach High School. The tryouts are expected to attract approximately 25 high school and adult players from around the New York/Pennsylvania area. Spectators are welcome to attend at no charge. Tickets are not needed. The high school is located at 322 Lagoon Dr. West, but due to a construction detour, visitors should use the entrance at 322 Blackheath Road. MUSA provides unique cultural opportunities through its sports programs. Those who qualify will be representing the United States at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel on July 17-30, 2013. This is the world’s third largest international sporting competition, bringing together more than 7,000 athletes from approximately 60 countries to compete in more than 35 different sports. “These games are held every four years in Israel, and teams also compete every two years in the European Maccabi games, so we are always looking toward the future for every sport,” said Ken Schwartz, USA badminton chairman of the19th World Maccabiah Games. “High school badminton in the New York/Long Island area, with its rich tradition, gives us a great feeder program for these kids during their high school years and beyond. We will have world-class coaches for each level. No doubt that the kids who qualify will return as better players, but more importantly, as better people.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6493 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT Senior John Anfossi qualified to represent New York state in the long jump at the 2012 USATF National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships, which will take place on July 23-29 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md. John qualified for the nationals at the Region 1 Championships with a jump of 6.30 m. He is pictured in an earlier long jump event at Long Beach High School. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6494 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 5:30 P.M. in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Board will vote to go into executive session to discuss pending and proposed legal matters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6462 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach School District is deeply saddened at the loss of one of our high school students. We were informed that Christopher Cuzzo passed away on July 6th. We extend our sympathies and condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time, and our counselors are on hand to help any students and staff with grief brought on by this tragedy. Our counselors are available at the Drop in Center at Lindell School on Tuesday July 10th and Wednesday July 11th from 11:30am-2:30pm in Room 111. In addition, our counselors will be available throughout the summer. Please contact our PPS Office at 897-2200 to schedule an appointment. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6432 Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6414 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT Three Long Beach High School athletes earned All-State honors in the spring varsity season. Senior Matthew Barry and junior Ethan Bogard made it to the semifinals in doubles in the state tennis championships. Before qualifying for states, Barry had a 13 and 0 regular season in second singles. Bogard went 13 and 0 in the regular season in third singles. Senior David Henry finished fourth in the triple jump at the NYS Public High School Track and Field Championship, breaking his own school record with a 46'7 ¾” jump. This performance qualified him for the NYS Federation meet, where he finished in second place, competing against the top students in public and private schools throughout the state. Henry also qualified for states this year in the winter track and field season. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6420 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT Aditi Gupta, a graduate of the Long Beach High School Class of 2012, has been accepted to the Hofstra University 4+4 B.S.-B.A./M.D. dual degree program. Through this highly selective program, Gupta will automatically matriculate into the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, upon successful completion of her undergraduate degree. Gupta is a high honor roll student, a National Merit Commended Student, an AP Scholar and an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate. Active in the science research program, she received highest honors at the 2011 Long Island Science Congress. She is also a member of the Long Beach Medical Center’s Future Physicians and is a volunteer at Peninsula Hospital and Nassau South Urgent Care. In addition, she is co-editor-in chief of the yearbook, a member of her high school’s chamber orchestra and select choir and a prizewinning Irish dancer. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6421 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT At its annual reorganization meeting, the Long Beach Board of Education appointed two members to the Board and elected its officers for the 2012-2013 school year. After newly elected trustee Stewart Mininsky and incumbent Darlene Tangney were sworn in, board members unanimously elected Roy Lester to serve as president of the board. Ms. Tangney was then unanimously elected to serve as vice president. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6422 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT Fifth-graders all around the district looked back with nostalgia and ahead with confidence as they attended promotion ceremonies marking their successful completion of elementary school. The ceremonies included fond recollections of shared experiences and lessons learned along the way, musical performances and slideshows. Recognition awards were given to students for their individual accomplishments, followed by the presentation of promotion certificates. Each school had its own theme: East School celebrated a “Bucket Full of Wishes,” West School students were “Rocking on Toward The Future,” Lindell’s theme was “Looking Forward” and Lido School chose Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” School Board President Dr. Dennis Ryan reminded students about the importance of being wrong. “Too often in school the emphasis is about being right. It’s important to learn from your mistakes and admit when you are wrong. A little humility is good.” Superintendent of Schools David Weiss described school years as a journey full of obstacles to overcome. “It’s a long trip full of hurdles, potholes and rivers to cross. Today is a day to look back and see how far you’ve come, take a deep breath and prepare for the next leg of your expedition. Use the summer well -- stay in shape, read and explore new things. And remember to stay safe. When you are riding your bikes and skateboards, always wear a helmet.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6385 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:00:00 GMT A proud group of 282 eighth-grade students at Long Beach Middle School marked their transition to high school with a moving-up ceremony on June 20, which took place this year at the high school gymnasium, providing a fitting segue for the soon-to-be freshmen. The festivities began with a rendition of the national anthem performed by members of the Eighth-Grade Vocal Workshop. In his opening remarks, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss congratulated the students on their accomplishments thus far. “I believe that Long Beach Middle School teachers and staff have prepared you well for the academic demands of high school,” he said. “The school has also taught you the value of perseverance. I have faith that you will do great things as a class when you enter Long Beach High School.” Long Beach Middle School Principal Dr. Michele Natali, Board of Education Vice President Roy Lester, Long Beach High School Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi and Long Beach Middle School student government president Justin Weissberg also delivered congratulatory remarks, looking back on the graduating class’s achievements to date and looking forward to the bright future that awaits them. To complete the festivities, students were presented with certificates that recognized their promotion to high school. The principals, superintendent and members of the Board of Education congratulated the graduates as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6386 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the annually required Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Education of Long Beach Public Schools will take place on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 5:30 P.M. in the Lindell Elementary School auditorium, 601 Lindell Boulevard, Long Beach, New York. A regular meeting will immediately follow the Reorganization Meeting. It is anticipated that the Board will vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel following the regular meeting. The agenda for this meeting will be posted in a timely manner. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6369 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Darlene Tangney was officially declared the winner of the fifth seat on the Long Beach Board of Education in a rare run-off election held on June 26. Results were announced at a special Board of Education meeting, which convened at 8:05 p.m., immediately after the polls had closed. The special vote was called after the district’s annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election concluded on May 15 with the two incumbent trustees, Ms. Tangney and Gina Guma, each garnering 1,618 votes. Prior to the run-off, trustee Guma announced she would not seek re-election, effectively making Trustee Tangney the de facto winner of the seat. However, state law required that the district hold the run-off election, regardless of this fact. In light of the uncontested run-off, district officials implemented changes to normal polling procedures in order to limit the cost of the election, reducing expenses from the usual $40,515 for a regular election to only $1,825 for the special run-off election. Cost savings were achieved by decreasing the polling hours, using only one polling location rather than the usual eight locations, replacing voting machines with paper ballots, and forgoing the use of BOCES Election Services. While BOCES Election Services would have provided significant reimbursement aid had a traditional revote been held, the cost would have still been significantly more than the revised format. Limiting the size of legal ads and reducing the number of election clerks used to conduct the election resulted in additional savings. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6382 Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Public Schools Spanish Is Fun Club is a cultural immersion program open to all students in grades K-5. Each of the four elementary schools in the district has its own branch of the afterschool club. Members engage in creative exercises that improve their Spanish fluency and vocabulary while enhancing their understanding of the Spanish culture. Club meetings are coordinated by teacher Diana Armada, and teachers Doris Castro, Michelle DeJesus, Lina Onufrock, Claudia Canner and Soribeth Milito supervise the workshops with the assistance of cultural consultant Rosa Maria Goeller. Among the special activities that took place this past year were a chocolate tasting workshop, a piñata workshop and a family mobile workshop. This last workshop focused on learning about directions, using the school and the community as a central location. In addition to its afterschool workshops, the Spanish Is Fun Club sponsored three special family workshops for students and their parents. The first focused on a traditional Spanish celebration of spring known as “La Verbena de la Sardina.” The second explored the traditions of the “Feria de Sevilla,” a weeklong celebration that includes parades, bullfights and the official folk dances of Seville, called sevillanas. At this workshop, participants experienced authentic sevillanas performed by teachers and students from the Flamenco Studio at Círculo de la Hispanidad in Long Beach. The third workshop introduced students and their parents to some of the traditional customs surrounding Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, which commemorates the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. This last workshop took place after school during regular club hours. “The reaction from the community and the parents has been overwhelming. They can’t wait until next year,” said Vivian Fiallo, Director of World Languages and ELL Programs. “Kudos to our teachers, parents and especially to our students who have so lovingly embraced their desire to learn the language, customs and culture of the many Spanish-speaking countries around the world.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6358 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT One of the Long Beach City School District’s key educational goals is to support social and emotional learning and development by creating a school culture where trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship thrive. After using these six pillars of character as their guiding principles throughout the year, students took time to reflect on all they had learned during the district’s annual Character Education Celebration. Lindell School held a Habits of the Heart Pageant. Each grade chose a different pillar to highlight, creating posters and writing essays that highlighted the meaning of the trait. In keeping with the pageant theme, each grade also crowned one special teacher as a representative for one of the six pillars. At West School’s Character Rocks Concert, students gathered together to celebrate the six pillars with a karaoke-style sing-along. Representatives from each grade recited inspirational words that expressed their sentiments about good character. They concluded the celebration with a slide show chronicling the school’s recent multicultural day, which was a celebration of diversity and the commonalities we share with other people around the globe. The Lido School Chorus performed at a character education assembly, singing “I Make My Own Sunshine,” “Reach,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” The songs reflected the school’s philosophy that all children are valued. The entire student body embraced the music as a celebration of the school’s character education mission. At East School, students spoke about the lessons they had learned on what it means to be a “bucket filler,” which is a metaphor for encouraging kind and considerate behavior. Each class appointed representatives to recite examples of what it means to be a bucket filler. They encouraged their fellow classmates to speak up when someone is being bullied, help and encourage others, be a great friend, be helpful, share and help those in need. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6360 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT The high school gymnasium was filled to capacity as proud family members waited for the high school wind ensemble to strike up the first chords of “Pomp and Circumstance,” signaling the start of the 89th Annual Commencement Ceremony. Cheers erupted as the members of the Class of 2012 made their way down the center aisle, preceded by board members, administrator and teachers, all dressed in ceremonial graduation robes. For the first time this year, Island Park Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rosemarie Bovino and Board President Diana Caracciolo joined the procession to honor the first cohort of Island Park students to graduate from Long Beach High School. This year also marked another first, as the first group of International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidates marched down the aisle wearing their IB stoles. After senior Jessica Fernandez performed a heartfelt rendition of the national anthem, Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi asked everyone to remain standing for a moment of silence to honor the students and faculty that have been lost by the Class of 2012, including classmate Leo Patrick Vann, Jr. and teachers Daniel Bobis, Kevin Lawler, Dennis Sullivan, Ernesto Guandique and Corey Lovrich. He also acknowledged retiring school board trustee Gina Guma and retiring teachers Jill Katz, Les Gilbert, Terry Kane and Marjorie Jacobs. Dr. Passi went on to praise the graduates for their accomplishments and acknowledge the importance of this auspicious milestone. “It is not uncommon to feel joy, pride and sadness as we stand at the crossroads of life, one complete chapter coming to a close and another new beginning on the horizon,” he noted. “As you leave the comforts of our school, you should remember that it is not just what you do that matters, but how you live. I encourage you to develop your own moral compass and trust it; take risks and dare to fail. Surround yourself with people who make you better than you thought you could be, and remember that the most important thing you can do is to lift the human spirit at every opportunity you get.” Board President Dr. Dennis Ryan began by thanking the community for their support of public education. He congratulated Superintendent David Weiss on his first year of leadership in the district, and also thanked Dr. Passi and the high school staff for all their hard work in attending to every detail of the ceremony. He went on to give the graduates a few simple words of advice. “Smile more. Remember that learning is a lifelong adventure. Also remember that there is no penalty for being early—time is precious. Log off and take time to talk to people face to face. You do not need 687 friends. The friends you make today will be your lifelong friends. And finally, remember that Long Beach is your home. You will always be welcome here.” In one of the most touching moments of the ceremony, Student Organization President Gavin Enright acknowledged the passing four years ago of classmate Leo Vann, and welcomed Leo’s mother Kalesha Thomas to the stage to receive an honorary diploma. “Leo’s ability to light up a room was remarkable, and we know he’s watching this ceremony right now with his own cap and gown in hand,” Gavin told Ms. Thomas. Salutatorian Jane Smyth drew the inspiration for her address from Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince,” who traveled the universe meeting interesting characters who each helped him gain wisdom about the true importance of friendship and happiness. “Beyond that,” added Jane, “high school has been a process of unknowing. I have abandoned assumptions and have become comfortable with not understanding the world around me. I stand here humbled, curious and eager to carve away at, and perhaps someday understand, some tiny puzzling aspect of this baffling world.” Reflecting on the journey that awaits them, Valedictorian Jonathan Klus addressed his fellow graduates with a mixture of concern and hope. “As we reach this critical time in our lives, we hold in our hands the opportunity to do something amazing,” he began. “Our generation is going to collide head-on with the problems of the 21st century, and I know that we will find a way to meet those challenges. We represent the future of our community and the future of America. If we pursue those issues that we are passionate about and remain true to ourselves and honest and hardworking, then we will succeed in improving the world.” Mr. Weiss acknowledged the diversity and connectedness of the Long Beach School community, bringing together many distinct neighborhoods in Long Beach, Lido Beach, East Atlantic Beach and Island Park, each with its own unique character and each making its own vital contribution to the greater Long Beach. “The students you see before you today exemplify this spirit, excelling in music, theater, creative writing, academics, science research and athletics—and we are all the better for it,” he noted. “Our graduates have learned to be community builders. All of the Long Beach communities come together to salute you today.” Prior to the presentation of the graduates, a musical interlude, which was performed by the select choir and the high school wind ensemble, paid tribute to the tenth anniversary of September 11. As the graduates crossed the stage one by one to receive their diplomas, they shook hands with the board members and administrators who congratulated them on their accomplishments. The final speaker of the day, Senior Class President Zoe Papetti, recited an inspirational poem by Shel Silverstein, saying, “Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” Then as tradition dictates, Zoe directed her fellow graduates to move their tassels from right to left, signifying this important rite of passage that they had successfully completed. As she congratulated her fellow graduates, they proudly tossed their mortarboards into the air, creating a symbolic wave of true blue Long Beach pride. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6362 Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Competing in the difficult Blue Division of the WordMasters Challenge, a team of Long Beach third graders placed fourth in the nation in the year-end cumulative standings among 520 school teams participating at this grade level and division. Third grade team members were Uma Arengo, Tyler Collinson, Francesca Macchia, Aadhi Murugaverl, Maia Perez, Jude Pizzone, Elias Richter, Violet Schnabel, Jasmine Soriano and Lucia Tomicick. In addition, third graders Uma Arengo, Delphine Esformes, Giselle Fernandez, Francesca Macchia, Aadhi Murugaverl, Maia Perez, Jude Pizzone, Elias Richter, Mathias Roth and Lucia Tomicick tied for third place in the nation in the year’s final meet. Fourth graders Audrey Cozine, Lauren Crotty, Meilin Garfinkel, Arjun Gupta, Hayden Henry, Elizabeth Kelly, Jack Libasci, Alex Melconian, Evan Michaels and Erik Roll tied for sixth place in the nation in the year’s final meet among 698 competing teams. In addition, nine elementary students won highest honors for individual achievement in the year’s final meet. Third grader Uma Arengo, Giselle Fernandez, Maia Perez and Jude Pizzone; fourth graders Hayden Henry and Evan Michaels and fifth graders Sabrina Eager and Hannah Zelinger all earned perfect scores in this meet, while nationwide only 113 third graders, 55 fourth graders and 131 fifth graders did so. The students participated in the competition through the Long Beach Public Schools Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) program, under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin Fuentes. At the middle school level, sixth grader Blaise Derenze also received a perfect score in the year’s final meet, a distinction earned by only 110 sixth graders in the nation. Derenze participated in the competition through the middle school’s Activities Promoting Thinking program, under the direction of teacher Lorraine Radice. The WordMasters Challenge is a national language arts competition that challenges students to think analytically and metaphorically to complete word analogies expressing various kinds of relationships. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6359 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 8:05 PM in the Cafeteria of EastElementary School, 456 Neptune Boulevard, Long Beach, New York 11561. The Agenda For This Meeting Is Available For Review http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6303 Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Normal.dotm 0 0 1 63 364 @ Home Productions 3 1 447 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a joint meeting of the Island Park Board of Education and the Long Beach Board of Education on Thursday, June 21st, 2012, at 6:30 PM in the Long Beach High School Library, 322 Lagoon Drive West, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Boards will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6277 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations to Jesse Klirsfeld who has been selected to perform with the 2013 Division V All County Jazz Ensemble. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6230 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT The spring varsity sports season ended on a high note as the community gathered to acknowledge team and individual accomplishments at the Long Beach High School Spring Sports Awards Night. Special recognition awards were given to graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves not only in athletics, but also in academics, sportsmanship, leadership, citizenship and team spirit. Among the notable team accomplishments, the girls badminton team finished a 12-0 season, clinching the conference championship for the third consecutive year. The boys track and field team achieved a 13-0 season, going on to be named division champions. Three spring athletes earned state honors. Senior Matthew Barry and junior Ethan Bogard made it to the semifinals in the state tennis championships. Senior David Henry finished fourth in the triple jump at the NYS Public High School Track and Field Championship, breaking his own school record with a 46'7¾” jump. This performance qualified him for the NYS Federation meet, where he finished in 2nd place, competing against the top students in public and private schools throughout the state. Among the other athletes to earn individual honors, there were two county champions, one division champion, 14 All-County, one All-County Honorable Mention, 22 All-Conference, six All-Division and one All-League player named. Proving to be equally accomplished in the classroom, the girls badminton, girls golf, girls lacrosse, girls track and field, boys tennis and boys track teams all earned scholar-athlete status, achieving team academic averages of 90 percent or higher. “There is nothing like athletics for building community pride,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “You worked through pain and failure to get where you wanted to be at the end of the season, learning that through perseverance you can achieve great things. Let the lessons you learned on the athletic fields carry over for you throughout the rest of your lives.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6234 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach community once again came together for the fifth Relay for Life event at Long Beach Middle School, raising more than $40,000 for the American Cancer Society. Cancer survivors, caregivers, students, teachers and community members united for a cause, walking around the school track to remember loved ones lost to cancer, honor local survivors and raise awareness and funds to fight a disease that has sadly touched so many lives. American Cancer Society representative Michelle Maugeri gave special thanks to the Romig family, acknowledging the tireless efforts of chairperson Maureen Romig, who with her daughter Shannon Romig, a Long Beach High School student, worked tirelessly to make the event such a success. Shannon was joined this year by senior Rebecca Spodick, who acted as student co-chair. Also lending a helping hand were the Long Beach Kiwanis, who worked the registration tent, and the Natale family, who once again donated and cooked all the food served at the hospitality tent. Two guest speakers, Christen Roper and Gary Jorisch, inspired the participants with the touching stories of their own battles with cancer. Roper’s team, the Candlelighters, was the top fundraising team this year, contributing more than $5,700 to the cause. Team Romig and Team Kane O’Brien were close behind, raising approximately $5,000 each. The top individual fundraiser was Shannon Romig, bringing together donations totaling $4,300, followed by Danielle Fioretta with $2,400 and Thomas Florio with $1,800. The festivities began with a special dinner honoring local cancer survivors. After the dinner, the survivors opened the relay festivities by leading the first victory lap around the track. They were joined by their caregivers and other participants, who took turns circling the track throughout the night. The music of D.J. EnerG inspired the crowd to keep moving, even as the midnight hour approached. One of the highlights of the evening was a solemn luminaria ceremony. Long Beach High School junior Victor Tarantino opened the ceremony by sharing the story of how after a valiant struggle, his brother finally lost his battle with cancer. Participants then went around the track, lighting the luminaria candles in memory and honor of friends and loved ones who had valiantly fought cancer. In a fitting tribute, luminaria candles spelled out the word “hope” for all to see. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6235 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT After demonstrating their devotion to art and to their community, eight Long Beach High School students were inducted into the National Art Honor Society (NAHS). An additional 24 students were recognized as 2013 nominees. The evening began with a violin duet performed by Mark DeGuzman (who is also one of the 2013 nominees) and Alexandra Gruber. NAHS advisor Sue Solomonic explained the rigorous requirements for membership. In order to be nominated for this honor, students must maintain a 95 or higher average in two years of studio-in-art classes, must be registered to take art class in their third or fourth year, and must be recommended by an art teacher. After meeting these qualifications, inductees Katrina Ayala, Rachel Convertino, Olivia Deschler, Lauren LiBrizzi, Natalia Podboraczynska, Alexa Salazar, Rebecca Spodick and Jacqueline Zeppa went on to fulfill the qualifications for membership in this select society by completing hours of community service in the arts and attending bi-monthly NAHS meetings. To spread their love of art to their community, they visited a local children’s hospital to do craft projects with the patients, made ceramic snowflakes for the holidays, worked with students in the High School Life Skills program to create Mother’s Day flowers with oil pastels, and ran a greeting card fundraiser at the district’s art show. “As art educators, we need to nurture our students and bring out the best in their talents,” said Solomonic. “I am so proud of the students who are here tonight. They are the best and most talented.” Serving as guest speaker for the ceremony was Jamie Tedesco Cohen, a local artist with a gallery in Point Lookout. “My paintings are spontaneous abstract expressions fueled by a strong desire to create,” she said. “Painting is a cathartic experience. It tests my limits and stimulates my creative impulses. Congratulations to all of you as you are celebrated as artists tonight.” Salazar explained the elements of art, describing how color, line, form, texture, space, balance and movement are used to form the language of visual arts, and Deschler led her fellow artists in the NAHS pledge. A ceremonial candle-lighting ceremony was presided over by Spodick, and LiBrizzi gave an overview of the society’s accomplishments of the year. Solomonic then named LiBrizzi as the recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Artist Scholarship Award. Principal Gaurav Passi and art teacher Alison Katulka were bestowed honorary memberships. On exhibit for the evening was artwork created by this year’s inductees and nominees, giving testament to the extraordinary talent of the young artists who were being honored. The NAHS strives to aid members in working toward the attainment of the highest standards in art, and to bring art education to the attention of the school and the community. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6206 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School’s first International Baccalaureate diploma candidates have been described as pioneers, frontiersmen, risk-takers and trailblazers who “boldly go where no man has gone before.” After completing a rigorous list of requirements, including two higher-level and three standard-level IB courses, internal assessments, external IB exams, a Theory of Knowledge course, an extended essay and 150 hours of community service, a total of 20 International Baccalaureate diploma candidates stood tall and proud at a ceremony to mark this extraordinary accomplishment. One by one, as each name was called, they rose to receive their International Baccalaureate stoles, which they will proudly wear on graduation day. As they leave Long Beach High School to make their way in the world, Heidi Abrega, Karl Oskar Ahr, George Ambrosini, Michelle Bello, Emily Charleson, Rachel Convertino, Jacqueline Cook, Olivia Deschler, Andrew DiGiorgio, Kirsten Donovan, Liam Fitzpatrick, Aditi Gupta, Eileen Kelly, Roxette Romanes, Alexa Salazar, Angela Sevilla, Matthew Sheehan, Jane Smyth, Sophie Torres and Somalia Williamson will always share a special bond that was forged by their shared journey into the unknown. As individuals, they all gained something unique from the experience, shifting their intellectual boundaries while expanding their view of the world, their perceptions of others and their ability to push beyond perceived limitations. Each of the evening’s speakers added a unique perspective in describing the IB experience. Principal Gaurav Passi began by saying, “I can’t help but think how very special it is to be the first. It is never easy to travel down a road that no one in your school has ever traveled. It makes you a true pioneer. You’ve built a community of learners in Long Beach and you’ve laid the road for others to follow.” “By having an open mind and taking the risk to become an IB diploma candidate, you have helped change Long Beach High School,” added IB Coordinator Andrew Smith with genuine pride. “You have been molded into lifelong learners with open minds, who through compassion will make the world a better place. I thank you for being risk-takers.” Being an artist and confirmed visual learner, keynote speaker Nora Bellsey compiled a visual presentation for her honored students, likening them to the crew of Star Trek’s Enterprise. “You entered the new frontier, you took a leap of faith into the IB program. Remember the word ‘possibilities.’ Dare to be naïve and be champions of trial and error.” Superintendent of Schools David Weiss welcomed each graduate into the IB world community. “You made the deliberate attempt to push through your fears and accept this challenge. You can now count yourselves among a select group of 25,000 U.S. students and 50,000 globally who have completed this demanding program.” IB diploma candidate Jane Smyth was chosen by her peers to relate her impressions of their shared experience. “Academically, I know we’ve all grown,” she began. “Some overcame a fear of math, others grew closer to thinking like historians. All of us learned to embrace a questioning spirit. We learned to bring the questioning spirit into each essay we wrote and each topic we discussed. To me this is what distinguishes the IB education. In the future, I hope we will question the institutions and practices in place and collaboratively, in IB fashion, improve them.” Long Beach High School became an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in 2010. The IB diploma program is a comprehensive two-year academic program that is designed to prepare young people to meet the academic demands of college while motivating them to become thoughtful, caring and active citizens. Classroom instruction is designed to encourage students to be inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, risk takers and communicators. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6210 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School hosted a Mentor Breakfast to thank the mentors of the students who participated in this year’s Internship Program. The program was created three years ago to enable high school students to bridge their classroom learning with career awareness. Through internships in local government offices, businesses, non-profit organizations and their own school district, students gained practical experience that helped them solidify their future career paths. This year, students held internships at Long Beach Medical Center, the Long Beach Animal Control Center, Blackheath Pre-K School, East School, the Long Beach High School Life Skills Program, Rescue Inc., the Long Beach Latino Civic Association, the Long Beach Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Slinging Ink of Island Park, New Empire Group of Island Park and the Long Beach Farmer’s Market. “This has been a special year,” said guidance counselor Christopher Webel, who administers the program with the help of guidance secretary Linda Papetti. “Not only did we connect many students with unique opportunities to develop marketable employment skills, but we planted the seeds for future career paths. We thank the mentors who took the time to permit these young people into their places of businesses, giving them the motivation and experience to make informed decisions about their post-secondary plans.” “Long Beach High School believes strongly that in order to have our students become better citizens, they must have strong leaders who inspire and create opportunities for them,” added Director of Guidance Patricia Hausfeld. “Your willingness to open your businesses and organizations to students allowed them to gain practical knowledge and skills about what it will take to be successful in their future careers.” Several interns in the program gave testimonials to their mentors, detailing the inspiration they received through their internship experiences. “My internship with the Long Beach Life Skills Program has made me consider studying special education in college and making it my career for the future,” said senior Jaimie Gennusa. “My internship with Katherine Coladner at the Latino Civic Association taught me that life is all about meeting and helping people,” said junior Lorena Garcia. “This internship has also given me the opportunity to have a paying job over the summer. I plan to continue to work with the Latino Civic Association through the rest of my high school career.” DeQuan Green, a student at the NIKE Alternative High School program, did his internship at Makoul and Associates in Island Park this year. Based on his exceptional performance, he was offered a summer job at the company, with the possibility that he may continue to work there in the fall while pursuing his college education. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6211 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, June 14th, 2012, at 5:30 PM in the Conference Room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6155 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT At the June 5 meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education, Dr. Francine Newman was officially appointed as a vice principal of Long Beach High School, effective July 1, 2012. She replaces Thomas DePaola, who has accepted a position as principal of Carle Place Middle/High School. She will join Vice Principals John Emmons and Timothy Piciullo, under the leadership of Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi. Dr. Newman most recently served as Assistant Principal of Seaford High School, where she was in charge of the supervision of all staff, as well as the direct supervision of the guidance, English and science departments. While serving in this position, she initiated a bully prevention pilot program to comply with the requirements of the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), which will take effect on July 1, 2012. She also managed student behavioral issues and assisted the principal with the day-to-day operations of the building. Dr. Newman began her career in education as a social studies teacher at Ramapo High School in Spring Valley, NY. She went on to serve for 11 years as an adjunct professor at LIU C.W. Post and Hofstra University, where she taught undergraduate and graduate students of education in areas such as cultural diversity, general methods of teaching and communicating effectively with all learners. In addition to a doctorate in educational policy and leadership from Hofstra University, Dr. Newman also holds a professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham University and a master’s degree in multicultural education from Iona College. She received her bachelor of arts degree in history from SUNY Buffalo. “I am proud and honored to become a member of the Long Beach leadership team,” said Dr. Newman. “I look forward to helping the district achieve its goals, and getting to know the staff, students and families in the school community." http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6164 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT After the Long Beach School District’s annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election concluded on May 15 with the two incumbent trustees, Darlene Tangney and Gina Guma, each winning 1,618 seats, the district is required by law to conduct a run-off election. The run-off election will take place on June 26 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at East School, 456 Neptune Boulevard, Long Beach, NY. As announced earlier, Trustee Guma has decided to forgo the run-off, effectively making Trustee Tangney the de facto winner of the seat, but state law still requires that the district hold the run-off election. Changes to the normal polling procedures have been made in order to limit the cost of the election, reducing expenses from the usual $40,515 for a regular election to only $1,825 for the special run-off election. Cost savings were limited by decreasing the polling hours, using only one polling place instead of the usual eight locations, replacing voting machines with paper ballots, and forgoing the use of BOCES Election Services. While BOCES Election Services would have made the election eligible for significant reimbursement aid, the total cost of a traditional general election would have still been significantly more than the revised format. Limiting the size of legal ads and reducing the number of election clerks used to conduct the election will result in additional savings. “Special thanks should be given to District Clerk Carole Butler, who left no stone unturned in seeking solutions that would dramatically reduce the cost of this special election,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “Given the fact that Trustee Tangney is now running unopposed, and we are still bound by law to conduct an election, it makes perfect sense to reduce costs as much as possible for our taxpayers while still providing people with an opportunity to vote.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6158 Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT After a grueling yet successful season of local, regional and international competitions, students in the Long Beach High School Science Research Program gathered together one last time to celebrate their achievements and present their research to family and friends at their annual Science Symposium. This year, as in past years, there was much to celebrate. Students won more than forty awards at eight competitions. Two teams of students qualified to compete at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, PA. Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth, both seniors, earned a second-place grand award in Environmental Sciences as well as first-place awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, winning a total of $5,500 in prize money. Joining them at the competition were Zachary Klein and Andrew Hurst, also seniors. In addition, Arianne and Jane qualified to compete at the International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy and Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP), which took place in Houston, TX on May 3-6, where they earned a gold medal in the Environmental category and went on to capture the coveted Grand Award in that category. Junior Caroline Walsh, who also qualified for I-SWEEEP, earned a silver medal in the Energy category. At the New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF), juniors Brandon Levokove and David Velez took home a first-place award in Plant Sciences as well as a special award from the Society for In Vitro Biology. Senior Aditi Gupta won a second-place award in Environmental Sciences, while sophomores Chandler McMillan and Hunter Rogoff earned a second-place award in Environmental Management and sophomore Jamie Morgenstern was awarded third place in Environmental Sciences. Junior Caroline Walsh took home the ASM Materials Education Foundation Award and the US Air Force Award. In the NYSSEF Andromeda Division, second-place awards were earned by freshmen Justin Barry, Marc Pittinsky, Jake Kritzberg and Andrew Luisi. Joining them in the winner’s circle with third-place awards were freshmen Julia Berkowitz, Halle Henry, Sophie Sackstein, Hannah Sofield and Clare Sweeny. At the local level, students competing at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair came home with two first-place, one third-place, one honorable mention and one special award. The Long Island Science Congress proved to be an equally successful competition, with students earning a total of twelve awards. Students in grades 9-12 who participate in the Science Research Program developed their projects this year under the direction of teacher Veronica Ade, with the helping hands of teaching assistant Cynthia Kenney. Through classroom instruction in grades 9 and 10, they learn the key ingredients of the scientific method, oral and written presentations, research and writing skills and lab safety. Juniors and seniors participate in independent study research. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6136 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Elementary schools in the Long Beach School District recently hosted events celebrating the wonders of math and science. At the Lindell School Third Grade Math Fair, students introduced their parents to the magic of math using calculators, dice, Smart Boards and playing cards to demonstrate their ability to manipulate numbers. Meanwhile, fourth graders were busy creating research projects that enhanced their knowledge of the scientific method, including a question, hypothesis, list of materials, procedure, data and conclusion for each project. The entire student body at Lido School participated in the MST Fair, showcasing their knowledge of math, science and technology with projects that explored topics as varied as ecosystems, magnets, the human body, galactic travel, food chains, buoyancy and more. Students at East School received a visit from John Hinton, math professor at LIU CW Post and publisher of Math Matters, a national journal of math games for elementary and middle school teachers. Professor Hinton engaged students in activities such as “Order in the House,” a game in which students were asked to roll dice, add the numbers, and use their reasoning skills to try to place the sums in order from least to greatest. Student were also intrigued by a guessing game called “Join the Club,” in which they were invited into Professor Hinton’s club when they were able to surmise the number pattern and guess the next number in a given sequence. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6137 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Summer School Information Summer School Postcard / Buses Schedule More information here regardingIsland Park Bus / Regents Schedules http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6111 Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT In an annual tradition, community leaders and family members came together to honor an exceptional group of seniors at Long Beach High School’s Academic Awards Night. Students were presented with nearly 200 awards totaling more than $122,000, made possible by the generosity of local individuals and organizations. As family and friends took their seats in the auditorium, the high school chamber ensemble played a medley of classical tunes, followed by a presentation by the Select Choir. “This class leaves behind a legacy that is woven with kindness, compassion, perseverance and honesty,” said Principal Gaurav Passi in his opening remarks. “I know from my involvement with them that they appreciate the relationships they have built, the challenges they have overcome, the opportunities they have been given here at Long Beach High School and the incredible support they have received from their parents and families.” “As we continue to build Long Beach pride, I would like to hear feedback from each of you about your educational experience here,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “And as you go off to college and careers, I invite you to come back to tell us about your continued accomplishments.” Students were recognized for excellence as scholars, athletes, musicians, scientists, artists, leaders and humanitarians. They were also honored for exhibiting exceptional character and service to their community. In addition to department awards, there were dozens of scholarships presented to students by local PTAs, teachers’ associations, government offices, civic groups and businesses. Especially meaningful were the memorial awards given in honor of past leaders, humanitarians and loved ones who had touched so many in the Long Beach community. Presented by Dr. Passi, the Principal’s Leadership and Achievement Awards recognized Gavin Enright, Julio Mirabel, Arianne Papa, Zoe Papetti and Vincent Pasqua, as exceptional leaders and role models for their fellow students. Dylan Palacio was recognized for his accomplishments with the Principal’s Achievement Award. One of the most moving moments of the evening came at the end of the ceremony. The award recipients had been asked to name a teacher or staff member who had played a special role in his or her success, and each of these respected mentors was called up to the stage to receive a special round of applause. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6103 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room of Long Beach High School, 322 Lagoon Drive West, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. The Board will reconvene for a regular meeting at 7:30 PM in the auditorium of Long Beach High School. You may reviewThe Agenda for thismeeting http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5833 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School has been ranked in the top nine percent of all high schools in the nation and 98th in New York State in The Washington Post’s High School Challenge Index. The school moved up 508 spots in the national ranking and 41 spots among all New York schools on this year’s list. Each year, the Post’s Jay Matthews ranks public high schools using the Challenge Index, his measure of how effectively a school prepares its students for college. The formula used to determine a school’s ranking divides the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or other college-level tests a school gave in 2010 by the number of graduating seniors. “Your appearance on this list means that you are trying much harder than most schools to expose your students to the demands of college,” said Mr. Matthews in an official announcement to the school. Long Beach High School was officially authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010. Since then the school has greatly expanded its college-level course offerings, adding approximately 25 IB courses to its existing list of 30 AP and other college-level courses offered to students in their junior and senior years. In the 2011-2012 school year, there were 435 individual students taking at least one college-level course in their junior or senior year. In the 2012-2013 school year, roughly 500 students have elected to take at least one college-level course, representing approximately 60 percent of all juniors and seniors. “One of the top priorities of Long Beach Public Schools is to supply our students with the skills they will need to prepare for college and careers,” said Principal Gaurav Passi. “We are proud to be recognized for our efforts by The Washington Post’s High School Challenge.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6045 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT The celebration and appreciation of multiculturalism has been a longstanding tradition in Long Beach Public Schools. In keeping with this tradition, West School held its annual International Fair, taking visitors on a whirlwind trip that featured the sights, sounds, foods, songs, costumes and dances of 16 countries around the world. The event was weeks in the making, as each class studied the customs, literature, history and geography of a different country. Students wrote research papers and created displays, maps, travel brochures and more. For the day of the celebration, classrooms were transformed into colorful replicas of Mexican markets, Brazilian rainforests, Greek ruins and Egyptian artifacts. Parents were even given passports that were stamped each time they visited a different country. Students, dressed in colorful native costumes, delighted audiences with their renditions of traditional songs and dances from Cuba, France, Scotland, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Ireland, Japan, India, Italy, Greece, Kenya, Egypt, Spain and Russia, concluding with a Navajo song from the United States. Parents and students were also invited to sample an abundant selection of traditional foods from each of these countries. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6050 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT Rather than allowing conflicts to escalate through gossip or schoolyard trysts, students at Long Beach Middle School talk through their troubles. Conflict is especially tough for children who may not have the resolution skills that an adult might have. That’s why students are learning priceless life lessons through the Peer Mediation program. Peer mediation is available to help students resolve their conflicts through calm discussion. The mediators are students trained to help fellow students talk about their conflicts and come up with creative solutions that are agreeable to all. If school staff members are aware of a conflict between students, they can refer them to mediation, or students can refer themselves. All sessions are conducted with two student peer mediators and one adult supervisor. “Students who have a conflict that they are unable to resolve themselves fill out a request for mediation,” said Robert Bajit, counselor and peer mediation trainer. “The counselor schedules the session, and then the mediators and disputants come to the counselor’s or psychologist’s office to conduct the mediation. Student mediators are rotated so that they all get an opportunity to practice their skills.” School psychologist Dr. Jean Schlegel and school social worker Glenn Gartung were also instrumental in training the students and bringing this program to the middle school. “The peer mediation process allows children to take control of a negative situation and teaches them to turn it into a positive situation with a successful outcome,” said Director of Guidance Patricia Hausfeld. The 2011-2012 middle school peer mediators are Benedict Albergo, Grace Carsella, Jillian Maldonado, Jackie Muratori, Taylor Rudtner, Jack Cruse-Mulhall, Melanie Echeverria, Carolina Evangelista, Chris Parthemore, Jesse Scott, Luke Fisher, Sarah Reznick, Emily Rivera, Ryan Selkirk, Lily Yeomans and Alexis Robinson. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=6051 Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT A total of 101 proud seventh and eighth graders took the oath to uphold high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship at Long Beach Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony. Advisor John Rooney pointed out that the new inductees, who have achieved an impressive mean average of 94.3, have also received numerous achievement awards in competitions such as the Math Olympiad, the Johns Hopkins Talent Search, Odyssey of the Mind and the WordMasters Challenge. As leaders of their school community, they are actively involved in select music groups, sports teams and clubs. To demonstrate citizenship, they have served as peer mediators and tutors, participated in food drives and beach cleanups, and volunteered their time to organizations such as the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts, the Long Beach Public Library Book Buddies, the Long Beach Historical Society, Waterfront Warriors, Surfers Way, the Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl Splash and the Long Beach Middle School Field of Honor. “I congratulate you on your many accomplishments,” said Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “But remember, it’s not just about what you have achieved, but how you will continue to use your many talents to be good citizens by helping others and making your community and world a better place.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5987 Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The commons area of Long Beach High School was transformed into an art gallery for Long Beach Public Schools’ sixth annual District Art Show on May 18-19. The special weekend exhibit included more than 700 paintings, photographs, prints, three-dimensional pieces, ceramics, graphic art pieces, drawings and fashion designs, all created by students in grades K-12. A number of pieces by high school students that have won awards at juried art shows around the county were on display, along with works created by the district’s 30 All-County artists. Senior Ambrose Plante opened the festivities on Friday evening with a classical guitar performance, setting an elegant mood for visitors as they viewed the artwork. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5988 Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Athletes from the Long Beach Public Schools began training in March for the Special Olympics Spring Games, which were hosted this year by Huntington High School and Connetquot High School. The committed athletes practiced weekly for a variety of challenging track and field events. Athletes Charles Butler, Alan Evangelista, Robert Greengus, Sophie Hoffman, Anthony Hug, Matthew Karasin, Keegan McCarthy, Max McCarthy, Jett McKevitt, Emanuel Muniz and Madeline Sipperley represented the Long Beach Schools with spirit and pride. Coaches Stacey Durnan and Stephanie Esposito, along with teacher assistants Aileen Monahan, Justin Salorio and Jean Golia, prepared the students for the various events. The athletes competed in the 50-meter dash, running long jump and softball throw. In addition to learning the skills necessary to compete in these events, the athletes also practiced teamwork and perseverance. High school student volunteers Stephania Flores, Ashley Arjune, Cathryna Hughes, Rachel Moehlehoff, Jillian Bailey, Kelly Dublynn and Vincent Pasqua proved to be positive role models throughout the training process. They assisted the athletes during warm-ups, practice and on the day of the event. “Our determined athletes took home several gold, silver and bronze medals,” said Ms. Durnan. “It was evident on the day of the event that athletes understood the meaning of the Special Olympics mantra, which states, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt!’ All those involved were impressed to see Long Beach’s Special Olympians put forth effort, determination and passion to achieve their goals.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5992 Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Relay For Life, to benefit the American Cancer Society, will take place on June 9 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at Long Beach Middle School. The event will begin with a survivor dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. A special luminaria ceremony will take place at nightfall to honor those who have bravely fought cancer. People can register online or donate to the event at www.relayforlife.org/longbeachny. For more information, contact Michelle Maugeri, Senior Director, Relay For Life, mmaugeri@cancer.org, or Tel: 631.300.3453. Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Join Relay For Life today at RelayForLife.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5962 Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach City School District joined forces with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York and local realtors to offer free voluntary heart screenings for Long Beach Middle School eighth graders who plan to participate in district sports programs. A total of 54 participants registered to receive both ultrasound (echocardiogram) and electrocardiogram (ECG) exams. The program is administered by Dr. Rubin Cooper, Director of Pediatric Cardiology at the center. The ultrasound exam is conducted to identify abnormalities that may not be apparent on customary pre-participation physical examinations. The exam evaluates the size and function of the left pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) and the size of the main artery of the body (aorta), as well as the function of its valve (aortic valve). Abnormal left ventricular size (cardiomyopathy) or abnormal aortal size or function may result in abnormalities of heart function when an individual participates in organized competitive sports. Funding for the program was provided by the Jason F. Gruen Research Foundation. The program was introduced to Long Beach Middle School through the efforts of Neil Sterrer, Director of the Long Island Board of Realtors, as part of its “We’re More than Realtors” community outreach program. Arnold Epstein, District Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health, and Sabrina Cantore, Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services, facilitated the program with Barbara Young, the district’s nursing coordinator. School nurses Lori Field, Mary Beth Thurston and Elizabeth Lebowitz assisted Ms. Young. Continental breakfast was provided by Max Bialystok in Long Beach. Susan Gruen Helsinger founded the Jason F. Gruen Research Foundation in honor of her son Jason, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition in 1985 when he was a sophomore at Manhasset High School. Since that tragic event, Ms. Gruen Helsinger has worked tirelessly to help diagnose life-threatening heart conditions in other children. More than 200 Long Beach Middle School athletes have been screened through this program over the past four years. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5913 Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Senior Dylan Palacio has committed to wrestle at Cornell University—a Division I program—in the fall. Dylan won the 2012 National Wrestling title and the 2012 State Championship title in the 160-lb class. He is also the first Long Beach wrestler to earn the coveted Triple Crown, earning state titles in high school, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. Dylan hopes to study business at Cornell. (L to r): Coach Ray Adams, Dylan Palacio and his father Leo Palacio, who is an assistant wrestling coach at Long Beach High School. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5914 Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Trustee Guma Decides to Step Aside; Trustee Tangney Now Uncontested for Seat on the Board of Education The annual Budget Vote and Trustee Election concluded on May 15th with an unusual outcome: the two incumbent trustees running for the Board of Education each ended up with1,618 votes. There were two contested seats in the election. Challenger Stuart Mininsky garnered 1699 votes to capture one seat, while incumbents Darlene Tangney and Gina Guma each received 1,618 votes.Therefore, under the law, the Board must hold a run-off election between these two candidates (new entrants to the election are not permitted); however,Trustee Guma has decided to forgo the runoff, effectively making Trustee Tangney the de-facto winner of the seat. “I have been honored to represent Long Beach residents on the Board of Education these past several years,” said Mrs. Guma, who noted that she also served as a Board of Education member in the past from 1997-2003 before being elected again in 2009. “Obviously, no one could have envisioned such an unusual outcome. But I am not interested in pursuing a head-to-head race with my friend and colleague, and for that reason,I will not participate in the run-off. I thank voters for their support of my efforts, and appreciate their kind words and thoughts on my candidacy.” The Board of Education voted at its meeting on May 22nd to hold the special runoff election on June 26th, but with changes to the normal polling procedures in order to limit the cost of the election. The polls will only be open from 11 am to 8 p.m. at East School because of its central location, and only paper ballots will be used. “This is the right thing to do for the community,” said Dr. Dennis Ryan, Board of Education President. “While we must comply with the law by holding the runoff election, there is no need to go the expense of a typical election, given that this is a run-off with only one candidate. Therefore, we will save our taxpayers approximately $20,000 by limiting the hours of the run-off election, while living up to our lawful requirement.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5876 Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT For the second year in a row, the team of Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth, both seniors, earned a second-place grand award in Environmental Sciences at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held this year on May 14-18 in Pittsburgh, PA. The pair also walked away with first-place awards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, earning a total of $5,500 in prize money. This is the third consecutive year that the duo qualified for the prestigious ISEF competition. Arianne and Jane’s research focused on water pollution in Reynolds Channel as well as other Long Island bays, and the effect that pollution has on the flounder populations in those waterways. Joining them at the competition were fellow science research students Zachary Klein and Andrew Hurst, also seniors. Their research enabled them to create a wind turbine that captures both wind and solar energy in order to improve its energy efficiency. All four students worked under the supervision of science research teacher Veronica Ade, who accompanied them to Pittsburgh for the weeklong competition. Intel ISEF is recognized as the premier science competition in the world, exclusively for students in grades 9-12. All four students qualified for this honor by earning first-place awards at state and local science competitions. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5894 Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Late yesterday afternoon, district officials were notified that police were investigating an off-campus shooting that involved four Long Beach HS students, one of whom was wounded in the incident. Our understanding is that one of the young men was arraigned as a result of the incident. As a precaution, a bag check was conducted at the high school this morning, which was uneventful. Other low-key efforts are under way with district staff to ensure the utmost safety for all students and staff. We appreciate the cooperation of parents, students and staff as we address this matter. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5841 Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The kindergarten classes at Lido School had the honor of being the first students to eat in their school’s brand new cafeteria on May 4. As the first students to use the new facility, it was only fitting that they be invited to officiate over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A few days later, members of the community were invited to see the new facility for the first time at the May 8 Board of Education Meeting, which was held in the Lido cafeteria. At the start of the meeting, board trustees Dr. Dennis Ryan, Roy Lester, Patrick Gallagher, Gina Guma and Darlene Tangney officiated over a second official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The school is undergoing extensive renovations as part of a districtwide School Preservation Plan approved by voters in May 2009. Among the work to be completed at Lido School are a roof replacement, masonry restoration, a new space for the Pre-K program, new classrooms and mechanical, electrical, energy efficiency and plumbing upgrades, as well as new playground areas. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5859 Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students have earned honors at art competitions and exhibits around the county. Heckscher Museum’s Best Young Artists Exhibit – The artwork of Long Beach High School students Lauren LiBrizzi and Olivia Deschler was selected for the Long Island's Best Young Artists exhibit. Lauren received an Achievement Award and Olivia won fourth place in the show. All-County Art Scholarship – Long Beach High School senior Lauren LiBrizzi was singled out to receive a scholarship award at the All-County Art Exhibition. She was one of 30 students from around the district whose work was chosen for this exhibition. The All-County Art Exhibition and Scholarship Program are sponsored by the Art Supervisors Association (ASA) to showcase and support the creativity, talent and skill of student artists. Advanced Visions – The artwork of Long Beach High School students William Scott and Rebecca Spodick was chosen for the “Advanced Visions 7: High School Artists of Excellence” exhibit at the Hillwood S.A.L. Gallery on the campus of Long Island University’s C.W. Post College. NCC Arts and Science Competition – Long Beach High School artists Lauren LiBrizzi, Rebecca Spodick and Luis Ruiz won awards at the Nassau Community College Arts and Science Competition. The theme of the competition was "Borders Visible/Invisible." Lauren was awarded Best in Show for her ceramic piece, Rebecca received an Award of Excellence for her print, and Luis received honorable mention for his ceramic sculpture. LIU C.W. Post 12x12 Art Exhibit – The photography of Long Beach High School sophomores Kimberly Feliz, Elizabeth Baldeo and Justine Smith was chosen to be part of the 12x12 Art Exhibit at LIU C.W. Post, which took place from May 4-10. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5860 Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Monday, May 21, High School Band Concert 7:30 PM. Music Retirees will be honored http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5830 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Wednesday, May 23, Middle School Chorus Concert 7:30 in the middle school gym http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5831 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Thursday, May 24, High School Chorus/Orchestra Concert 7:30 PM. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5832 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Sabrina Eager and Karla Umanzor were crowned champions in the District Spanish Spelling Bee. Competing against students in grades four and five, Sabrina, a fifth grader at Lido School, finished in first place in the elementary division. Finishing in second place was Hannah Zelinger, also from Lido School. In the middle school competition, Karla, an eighth grader, finished first, with sixth grader Paulina Cardona earning a second-place trophy. The girls were comfortable sharing the spotlight and the winner’s circle. Last year, Paulina, who was the reigning 2010 state champion, finished first, with Karla right behind her in second place. Betsabe Montoya, a language teacher from the middle school, was the moderator. Three language teachers, Anna Carfagno, Aime Rivero and Sandra Yanowitch, served as the judges. The event was organized by District Director of World Languages and ELL Programs Vivian Fiallo. “We are very proud of the accomplishments of all of our students,” said Ms. Fiallo. “This annual Spanish Spelling Bee gives both our native speakers and non-native speakers an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the Spanish language. My thanks to all of their teachers and parents for helping our students prepare for this event.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5782 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Teams of fifth graders from East and West Schools finished second and third, respectively, in the first-ever Dancing Classrooms Long Island Festival & Colors of the Rainbow Team Match. The ballroom dancing competition took place on Sunday, April 29 at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma. The East School team of Emily McDonnell, Javonte Neals, Jade Burkes, Marquial Charles, Jessica Guadagnino, Aidan Kennedy, Emma McGovern, Natalie Goggin, Giovanni Mangiafreno, Luis Garcia Portillo, Jasmin Johnson and Alec Chasin practiced under the coaching supervision of teacher-in-charge Sharon Weiss and music teacher Michele Bennett. The West School team of Mia Enright, Dane Ceniceros, George Weisendanger, Fiona Eramo, Emily Nazitsky-Piernick, Cory Eisel, Leila Bouchal, Lauren Bulik, John Whelan, Emma Herbert, Nicholas Guido and Joseph Carr were coached by school social worker Deb Bernardino and teacher Eileen Clarke. Dancing Classrooms is an innovative character education program that encourages students to cultivate mutual respect, collaboration and self-esteem through ballroom dancing. In the process, students also learn to do a mean tango, foxtrot and waltz. Earlier in the year, the entire fifth grade at East and West Schools completed ten weeks of classes through a Dancing Classrooms residency. The festival gave these students the opportunity to come together with other Nassau and Suffolk school communities in a display of elegance, partnership and civility that paid tribute to the invaluable life lessons the participants have acquired through Dancing Classrooms. “Students have become more poised and confident because of their participation in this program,” noted Ms. Weiss. “Dancing together has helped them become more mature about interacting with one another,” added Ms. Bennett. “It is rewarding to see students interacting with their peers with respect and courtesy.” Each participating school sent a team of students as its representatives in the competition. The team selection process was threefold: a combination of student, teaching artist and classroom teacher nominations. Students were nominated based on their ability to demonstrate the Dancing Classrooms values of honor, respect, acceptance and self-confidence, as well as a passion for social dance. This festive affair included the Colors of the Rainbow Team Match competition (as seen in the film Mad Hot Ballroom), a special dance exhibition of Dancing Classrooms’ eighth-grade syllabus, performances by special guests, and selected readings and artwork created by Dancing Classrooms students. Video footage from this event will be featured in an upcoming documentary on Dancing Classrooms Long Island. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5784 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Family and friends gathered in the high school auditorium for a solemn ceremony marking the induction of 91 new members into the Long Beach High School Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society. These initiates, taken from the ranks of the sophomore and junior classes, were chosen based on their ability to meet the Society's standards with regard to scholarship, leadership, character and service. They will join their fellow members in upholding these principles by contributing their time and talents to better their school and local community through volunteer activities, civic involvement and adherence to the highest standards of academics, morality and ethics. The festivities began with a musical performance by the Select Choir, conducted by Michael Capobianco. A candle lighting ceremony, officiated by Honor Society officers and NHS Coordinator Nora Bellsey, highlighted the four ideals of the society. Each new member was asked to come to the stage to light a candle as a symbol of his or her commitment to uphold those ideals. Social studies teacher Elizabeth Levin was chosen as this year's recipient of an honorary membership. “Now the challenge begins,” said Ms. Bellsey in her opening remarks. “Ask yourself, ‘How can I go beyond my expectations and continue to make good choices?’ Please always act as if everything you do makes a difference, because it does.” “You made a choice that brought you here tonight,” said Board of Education President Dr. Dennis Ryan. “You made a choice to study and to achieve, and we are gathered here tonight to salute the excellence that you represent.” “It wasn’t long ago that I was in the audience when my own children were inducted into the National Honor Society,” recalled Superintendent David Weiss. “We want you to know how proud your parents are tonight. Thank you for honoring your parents and your community. Take the responsibility to continue to challenge yourselves. Think about what you are learning and how it will contribute to your personal growth. Make sure that your service activities are not just lines on your resume, but that they truly impact your community.” Over the course of the year, under the leadership of Honor Society officers Andrew Hurst, Andrew Di Giorgio, Lila Martz, Arianne Papa and Alexa Salazar, Honor Society members have organized numerous community service projects, including Badminton for Breast Cancer, the Stick It to Cancer lacrosse game and Operation Medicine Cabinet. Members have also volunteered countless hours as tutors, coaches and ushers for school events. At the close of the ceremony, Principal Gaurav Passi left the new inductees with these words of advice: “As you continue on this path of success, I caution you not to fear failure. I want you to know that struggle, adversity and even failure are the breeding grounds on which success is born.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5786 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Jazz in all its forms, from the Swing Era to more contemporary numbers, was interpreted in all its glory when the Long Beach High School Music Department hosted its annual Jazz Night. Student performers from the West School Recorder Club, Middle School Jazz Band, High School Lab Jazz Band, Select Choir and High School Jazz Ensemble were joined by special guests Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, filling the auditorium with the music of Herbie Hancock, Buster and Bennie Moten, and Joe Garland. As an added treat, junior Russell Goetz, who is an All-State Jazz Vocalist, performed a solo rendition of “Come Rain or Come Shine.” For the opening reception, the high school commons area was transformed into a cozy lounge. Hors d'oeuvres prepared by students in Scott Brecher’s home and careers class were passed around to guests. Members of the newly formed Friends of the Arts were on hand to welcome guests, and National Honor Society members volunteered their time as ushers. Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson served as the MC for the evening. Marino Bragino, III directed the High School Lab Jazz Band and the High School Jazz Ensemble. He was joined by fellow directors Vanessa Krywe (West School Recorder Band), Elizabeth Altbacker (Middle School Jazz Band), and Michael Capobianco (Select Choir). This is the first year that a professional jazz band has shared the stage with students on Jazz Night, giving the young performers, as well as the audience, an opportunity to further expand their appreciation of jazz in all its forms. “It was an exciting experience to see all of our student musicians at all grade levels performing jazz alongside a professional group like the DIVAS,” said Dr. Johanson. “Jazz Night was an amazing success,” echoed Mr. Bragino. “Seeing my students light up on stage when they perform is why I became a music educator. This evening was a legendary moment in our department. Thanks to all who helped make this event such a success." http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5664 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT May 15 - Board of Education Meeting Budget Vote/Election Night - 10PM in Long Beach Middle School. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 39 223 @ Home Productions 1 1 273 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 10:00 PM in the Cafeteria of the Long Beach Middle School, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. The results of the election will be the sole agenda item. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5641 Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT As part of an annual tradition, members of the Long Beach League of Women Voters visited classes at Long Beach High School to lead discussions about the importance of voting and civic responsibility. While they were there, league members helped 134 seniors register to vote. Those students who turn 18 before the respective dates of the school board elections and budget vote, primary elections, and November elections are eligible to vote. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5631 Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT High School senior Vincent Pasqua won a first-place award in the Level 2 division of the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) Long Island Poetry Contest, held at SUNY Old Westbury on March 23. Vincent recited "Se Questo è un Uomo" by Primo Levi. Junior Ellen Blas won an honorable mention award in the Level 4 division. She recited “All'Italia” by Giacomo Leopardi. They competed against approximately 100 students from all over Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students prepared for the competition under the direction of Italian teachers Valeria Paz and Anna Carfagno. The AATI is a national organization dedicated to excellence in teaching and research in all areas of Italian. The organization was founded in 1924 to promote the study of Italian language, literature and culture in schools, colleges and universities in North America. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5597 Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT For the second year in a row, a Long Beach High School team took home a grand prize in the International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy and Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP), which took place in Houston, Texas on May 3-6. Competing against more than 450 top projects from over 40 states and 68 countries around the world, seniors Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth earned a gold medal in the Environmental category and went on to capture the coveted Grand Award in that category. They followed in the footsteps of Long Beach graduates Jackie Bokor and Hannah Berkowitz, who won both top prizes at the 2011 competition. Arianne and Jane’s research studied water pollution in Reynold’s Channel as well as the other Long Island bays, and the effect that pollution has on the flounder populations in those waterways. In addition, junior Caroline Walsh earned a silver medal in the Energy category. Caroline created solar cells that use natural pigments found in plants such as carrots, blueberries and beets to harness solar power. Together the three students earned $3,800 in prize money. Arianne and Jane are no strangers to the I-SWEEEP Winner’s Circle. This is the third consecutive year they earned gold medals in the Environmental category. The first year they competed at I-SWEEEP as freshmen, they took home a bronze medal. But the pair won’t have much time to bask in the glory of victory. They will be heading off to Pittsburgh on May 13-18 to compete at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, where they will be joined by fellow seniors Andrew Hurst and Zachary Klein. Students developed their winning projects in the Science Research program, under the direction of Science Research teachers Cody Onufrock and Veronica Ade. Organized by the Cosmos Foundation, I-SWEEEP is the largest science fair event of its kind in the world. According to the official I-SWEEEP website, the objective of the competition is to spark interest in and awareness of our planet’s sustainability challenges; to accelerate the progress toward a sustainable world by engaging young minds at an early age to develop an environmentally conscious global community; and to inspire personal responsibility in caring for the planet and those who share it. Over $350,000 in scholarships and prizes are awarded each year. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5598 Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The high school auditorium became a stage for world dance as students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) dance class presented their spring dance concert. The concert consisted of dance numbers that reflected African and Irish folk dances, traditional ballet and modern dance movements that students have been learning throughout the course of the year. Many of the routines featured choreography, costume design and staging by IB dance students and their teacher, Christianne Donohue. Through their choreography, students were challenged to create movement that enhanced the rhythms, tempos and accents of the music. “My goal for this performance was to introduce dance as a true performing art to the students, faculty and community members of Long Beach High School,” said Ms. Donohue. “My intention was to allow the students to explore movement from all angles and to learn that dance is more than fancy tricks. It is about moving from within the body in space using various rhythms and patterns.” The IB dance course, which was offered for the first time this year, integrates the study of dance performance, compositions and analysis. During the course of the year, students explored dance styles from cultures throughout the world. In addition to gaining performance skills, they studied master choreographers from past centuries and learned to compose their own dances through a variety of improvisational techniques and creative projects. By exploring a wide variety of dance forms, from ballet to modern to folk dance, they acquired a well-rounded understanding of the significance of dance in every culture and the pattern of its development throughout the world. IB Dance is offered through the Athletics, Physical Education and Health Department. “I am proud of the accomplishments of our first IB Dance class,” said Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Arnold Epstein. “I look forward to seeing many more students benefit from Ms. Donohue's talent and expertise.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5599 Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Junior Christy Fox was selected to attend the Students Inside Albany Conference. This conference, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York, is an intensive four-day training experience designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State, and to educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. Christy heard from Albany insiders about how New York State government operates and how policy is shaped and enacted. She was also given the opportunity to attend Assembly and Senate sessions and to shadow both Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and Senator Dean Skelos. Christy was selected for this honor through the joint efforts of Long Beach High School and the Long Beach League of Women Voters. According to its official website, the League of Women Voters of New York believes that educating and empowering the youth of our country is vital to maintaining a strong democracy. Through the League’s Education Foundation, the State League and many local leagues operate programs that provide students with the information, motivation and skills needed to become informed voters and engaged citizens. The State League’s primary youth program is Students Inside Albany. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5529 Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT The entire student body of Long Beach Middle School filed out to the front lawn of their school, one class at a time, to sign their names on a steel beam right before it was put in place as one of the ceiling beams that will soon support the new lobby of their school. The school is undergoing renovations as part of a districtwide School Preservation Plan approved by voters in May 2009. Among the middle school projects slated for completion in 2012 are a new library media center, guidance office renovation, relocation of the main office, new restrooms, ADA-compliant upgrades and security improvements. A new track and field complex was completed in September 2010. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5510 Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT <br clear="all" /> <script language="javascript" src="http://www.lbeach.org/lbps/worldlanguage.js"></script> http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5528 Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT Two of the main goals of Long Beach Public Schools are to provide students with college and career-readiness skills and to give them meaningful opportunities for community engagement. To help fulfill both of these goals, schools around the district hosted Career Day celebrations, giving students a chance to meet and speak with local professionals. The guest speakers shared their keys to success and their insights into dozens of traditional and nontraditional careers. Leading off the celebration was the Long Beach Middle School Career Day. In the days leading up to the event, students filled out surveys to give them an idea of which careers might best suit their interests and abilities. The middle schoolers were paired with specific presenters based on their survey results. In small group settings, guest speakers talked about the skills and training they needed to be successful in their chosen careers, the tasks they perform on the job, and the challenges and rewards they experience on a daily basis. At the end of the day, students came away with a list of ideas for things they can start doing now to help them reach their future career goals. The Long Beach High School Career Fair gave students an opportunity to network with local professionals representing a wide variety of careers, including law, medicine, public service, marketing, broadcasting, public relations, green technologies, school administration, business, finance, banking, accounting, hospitality, publishing, library services and the military. Students were also able to speak with representatives from local technical schools and explore summer job opportunities in the local community. Lindell School hosted a two-day Career Awareness program for fifth graders. Parents and community members were invited to share their career experiences, focusing on the education and training needed to be successful in their careers. Brian Patton, who works for Global Security at NBC, explained the importance of working as a team, being responsible and demonstrating strong character. Long Beach Fire Chief Richard Corbett found math, science and history very helpful in his career. Andrew Miller, a criminal defense attorney, enlisted students to help him solve the "The Case of the Missing Lunch Box." Pediatrician Dr. Matthew Cohen shared his lifelong fascination with the human body. Although the 18 guest speakers represented a variety of professions, they all shared a love for their work and stressed the importance of being lifelong learners. At Lido School’s Sixth Annual Career Fair, students went on a hands-on adventure in career exploration, led by alumni, parents and local professionals representing careers as varied as real estate, law enforcement, web design, retail merchandising, lifeguarding and communications. Lts. Anthony Fallon and Sam Pinto of the Long Beach Fire Department allowed students to don their fire gear to help them experience what it feels like to be a firefighter. Drago Karodzic, the pizza chef at Long Beach Middle School, invited students to make their own pizzas. Local radio celebrity Halftime Howie simulated a radio broadcast. Chuck Kupfer, a golf pro at the Lido Golf Club, demonstrated the basics of a good swing. Master Park of Park’s Martial Arts in Long Beach led students in a tae kwon do exercise. One of the most celebrated professionals of the day was Freeport police officer Dave Karp’s canine partner Gunnar, who delighted students with a demonstration of his unique law enforcement skills. Proving that it is never too early to start planning for future careers, West School kindergartners celebrated Community Day, creating a mini city called Westland in which they served as the bankers, grocery clerks, postal carriers, police officers and firefighters who kept the city humming. To prepare for Community Day, they visited local merchants and public services to learn more about the people who work in their neighborhood. In June, the older children at West School will celebrate their own Career Day, welcoming local community members to share useful advice that will help them start preparing for a host of promising careers. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5463 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Two LBHS Teams Qualify for Intel ISEF Competing at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF), two teams of Long Beach High School students received first-place awards, qualifying them for the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), in Pittsburgh, PA on May 13-18. Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth, both seniors, won first place in the Environmental Sciences category and also received the I-SWEEEP Award. Arianne and Jane studied water pollution in Reynold’s Channel as well as the other Long Island bays, and the effect that the pollution has on the flounder populations within those waterways. They have proposed to utilize local mussels for bioremediation of the polluted waters. Andrew Hurst and Zachary Klein, also seniors, took first place in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category. In addition to their first-place finish, they won the National Society of Professional Engineers Award. Andrew and Zachary were able to create a wind turbine that captured both wind and solar energy in order to improve energy efficiency of the device. Several other students achieved notable results at LISEF. Junior Caroline Walsh earned a second-place award in Energy and Transportation. Caroline created solar cells that used natural pigments found in plants such as carrots, blueberries and beets, to harness solar power. Juniors Brandon Levokove and David Velez took home a third-place award in Plant Sciences, as well as an award from the American Meteorological Society. David and Brandon used a fungus to remove harmful pollutants such as acid rain, and also to reduce dependency on fertilizers, thus reducing the harmful effect of runoff. Sophomores Chandler McMillan and Hunter Rogoff received honorable mention in the Environmental Management category, as well as the Ricoh Sustainability Award. Their research involved the use of soybeans in combination with either a bacteria or a fungus to remove aluminum contaminants from soil. ISEF, which is one of the world’s premier global science competitions for students in grades 9-12, provides an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from 65 countries, regions and territories to display their independent research. Three Students to Compete at I-SWEEEP Long Beach High School students Arianne Papa, Jane Smyth and Caroline Walsh all qualified to compete at the International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy & Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) on May 3-6 in Houston, TX. They will join more than 1,000 top high school researchers from all over the world to share ideas, experience and knowledge to promote global sustainability. LBMS Students Compete at LI Science Congress At the junior level, 13 students were chosen to represent Long Beach Middle School at the Long Island Science Congress Junior Division at Farmingdale State College on March 29. The students who qualified to compete were Kailey Ahearn, Mashiyat Ahmed, Gabrielle Ayzenberg, Chloe Curley, Kelly Cannon, Savannah Kile, Kristen Miciotta, Shane Morris, Mary Sabedra, Leah Shokrian, Justin Simms, Ali Thursland and Cassidy Zawatson. Award winners will be announced at the end of April. The students were selected based on their performance in the Long Beach Middle School Science Fair and a second qualifying round at their school. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5440 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Lido Spring Concert May 8 at 10:00 in the high school auditorium (previously scheduled for April 27). http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5402 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at 5:30 PM in room 357 of Long Beach High School, 322 Lagoon Drive West, Lido Beach, New York. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5411 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT MSG Varsity to telecast Varsity Boys LAX vs. Wantagh match from Thurs. Apr. 26. Link to more information http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5395 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT SEPTA Meeting and Rap session with Budget Presentation Wednesday 4/25/12 at 7pm in the HS Library. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5378 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT May 5: Free Heart Screenings for LBMS Athletes On Saturday May 5, beginning at 8 a.m., the Long Beach School District and the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Care System will be offering a free voluntary screening heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) and electrocardiogram (ECG) for Long Beach Middle School eighth graders who plan to participate in district sports programs. The ultrasound exam is conducted to identify abnormalities that may not be apparent on customary pre-participation physical examinations. The exam evaluates the size and function of the left pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) and the size of the main artery of the body (aorta), as well as the function of its valve (aortic valve). Abnormal left ventricular size (cardiomyopathy) or abnormal aorta size or function may result in abnormalities of heart function when an individual participates in organized, competitive sports. Parents who are interested in having their children participate in the free screening must fill out a consent form and questionnaire and submit them to the Middle School Health Office as soon as possible. For more information, contact Barbara Young RN, or MaryBeth Thurston RN, at the Middle School (516-897-2150). This program was made possible by a grant from Ms. Susan Helsinger, The Jason Gruen-Helsinger Foundation and State Senator Charles Fuschillo. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5396 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has officially appointed Steven Kamlet as the district’s new Director of Nutrition Services, effective April 18, 2012. Mr. Kamlet was most recently in charge of food services in the Mamaroneck School District. He is a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience in health care, fitness and wellness initiatives in a variety of settings, including K-12 public schools, major medical centers, nursing homes and personal and corporate wellness. Mr. Kamlet received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio State University and his master’s degree in nutrition from Long Island University. He has completed additional continuing education programs in school lunch nutrition and wellness, leadership, discipline and affirmative action. He is an avid scuba diver and an American Red Cross water safety instructor and lifeguard “I have a passion for educating everyone about making healthy food and fitness choices,” said Mr. Kamlet. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5388 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach City School District was one of 166 school districts across the country and 17 on Long Island to be recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. On April 17, the NAMM Foundation announced the results of its 13th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. This is the second year in a row that the Long Beach City School District has earned this distinction. The BCME survey is a nationwide search for communities whose programs exemplify a strong commitment to music education. Established in 1999, BCME recognizes and celebrates schools, their administrators, teachers, board members, parents and students for their support of music education and their efforts to ensure access to all students as part of the core curriculum. Each school receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey’s grading process. Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and other relevant factors in their communities’ music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials and the data was reviewed by advisory organizations. The 2011 survey was conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas. More than 1,600 students participate in the Long Beach School District’s 36 bands, orchestras and choral ensembles. Students in grades 5-12 participate in All-State, All-County, LISFA and NYSSMA festivals. In 2011-2012, four students earned All-State honors, 54 were named All-County musicians, and seven were chosen to perform at the Long Island String Festival. The High School Marching Band participates every year in the Newsday Marching Band Festival held at Hofstra University. Long Beach High School is one of only a handful of schools on Long Island that offers a guitar class as part of its arts curriculum, and the only guitar program in which students present a multi-act stage show at the end of the year. School groups also perform at various venues throughout Long Beach as a service to the community. The high school gives talented music students the opportunity to join the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Members tutor younger musicians and perform community outreach work. “This two-time honor is a well-deserved recognition for the community, district leaders, teachers and parents who believe in music education and are assuring that it is part of a complete education for children in our schools,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the District Director of Comprehensive Arts. “It holds us up as an example of community support and commitment to music education.” A copy of the survey can be downloaded for review at www.nammfoundation.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5387 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School junior Shannon Romig received a total of three national and state awards acknowledging exceptional service to her community. The first award was a Certificate of Excellence from the Prudential Spirit of Community program, a nationwide program that honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Shannon was also honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, in recognition and appreciation of her commitment to strengthening our nation and making a difference through volunteer service. “In my inaugural address, I stated that we need a new era of responsibility and recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world,” stated President Barack Obama in a letter addressed to Shannon. “Your volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise.” Most recently, Shannon was selected as the Nassau Region recipient of the NYS PTA Youth Humanitarian Award in Honor of Stanley Marcus. According to the NYS PTA official website, the Stanley Marcus Award is presented to high school junior or senior students who best exemplify the humanitarian principles of Stanley Marcus who died in 1977 while serving as third vice president of the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers. Among her many volunteer activities, Shannon has been a key student organizer of the Long Beach Relay for Life. She also received a grant from Cablevision Power to Learn and MSG Varsity Charity of Champions to support a program of fundraising activities that she put together to benefit Camp Anchor, a year-round not-for-profit camp for children and adults with disabilities. So far, with the help of fellow students and the grant money, she has raised over $4,000 for this worthy cause. Shannon, who is an accomplished Irish step dancer, also performs at area nursing homes to entertain residents. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5364 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT You are cordially invited to La Feria De Abril on Saturday, April 21, 2012 10am-12noon in the Lido School Cafeteria (Elementary Students Only). Admission is free - enjoy a dance show and workshop, and food tasting from local restaurants. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5308 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Board of Education - Regular Meeting - May 8 - 7:30 PM Lido Elementary School Cafeteria. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, at 6:00 PM in the Teachers’ Cafeteria of the Long Beach Middle School, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. At 6:45 PM, the Board of Education will attend a dedication ceremony at Veterans Stadium. The Board will reconvene for a regular meeting at 7:30 PM in the new cafeteria at Lido Elementary School, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. •The Agenda For May 8 Is Available For Review. •View Our Budget Presentations http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5275 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Members of the Long Beach Middle School Math Olympiad club participated in the third annual Nassau County Math Olympiad, held at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale. The Long Beach team of (l to r) Jonathan Kapilian, Alexandra Kapilian, Alexandra Thursland, Mashiyat Ahmed and Samantha Melconian placed eighth overall out of 33 schools. They are pictured with Math Olympiad coach Tara Mele (right). The competition was sponsored by the Museum of Math and organized by St. Martin de Porres Marianist School. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5287 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT From David Weiss, Superintendent The high school will reopen as scheduled Monday morning for classes. The building has been inspected and deemed safe to open. Over the vacation our contractors and staff worked to ensure the high school would be clean and safe for occupancy. We have removed all the exterior ceilings and soffits that could potentially be unsafe. This work has exposed some of the piping and wiring that had previously been under the ceiling system. This gives the school very rough look, however everything has been inspected and has been deemed safe. We've carefully cleaned and swept the driveway and parking area, and it is now free of debris. All parking spaces around and under the school are safe to use. We have also decided to reinforce the ceiling area inside the main entranceway. While this area has a different ceiling from the areas outside the school, we have decided not to take any chances and to remediate this area during the summer. In the meantime you will find scaffolding erected there to ensure safety. I apologize for any inconvenience this work caused over the vacation, and appreciate the cooperation and hard work of those who had to alter plans or who helped us get ready to open. I hoped you all enjoyed the break! David Weiss http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5217 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Two teams of Long Beach elementary school students and one team of Long Beach Middle School students finished in first place in the Odyssey of the Mind (OM) Regional Competition, held at Rosemary Kennedy Center in Wantagh on March 10. Their first-place finishes qualified them for the OM State Finals held in Binghamton on the weekend of March 31. A third elementary team finished in second place at the regional competition. The first-place elementary team of Hannah Zelinger, Angelica Gonzales, Arjun Gupta, Jesse Thornton, Alexandra Melconian, Sabrina Eager and Sophia Valentin solved a problem called “Ooh-Motion Vehicle,” which required them to design, build and drive a vehicle that would travel a course where it encountered three unique situations, displaying different human emotions for each encounter. The first-place elementary team of Shira Mann, Madison Gusler, Aidan White, Jack Libasci, Elizabeth Kelly, Joan Sceppa and Julia Ashmead solved a problem entitled “To Be or Not to Be” in which they created a musical production wherein Hamlet is faced with a dilemma that teaches him that the easy way out is not always the correct choice. The first-place middle school team of Emily Burns, Paulina Cardona, Dane DePasquale, Kelly Gannon, Savannah Kile, Mallie Littman and Carly Siegel completed a problem called “Odyssey Angels,” which required the angels to travel through various places where they encountered negative situations and turn them into positives, helping individuals and saving communities along the way. The second-place elementary team of Charlotte Kile, Lauren Crotty, Victoria Strickland, Jessica Greer, Shea McMahon, Sophie Stella and Talia Fernandez also solved the “Odyssey Angels” problem. The three elementary teams prepared for the competition as part of the Long Beach School District’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity (LARC) program, under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin Fuentes. The winning teams were made up of students from East, West, Lido and Lindell Elementary Schools, as well as Long Beach Catholic Regional School. The middle school team, which consisted of sixth and seventh graders, prepared for the competition through the school’s OM Club, under the direction of faculty coach Lorraine Radice. Many of the middle school winners had qualified to compete at both the State and World Finals in past years. For more than 25 years, the district has had at least one team qualify for the State Finals. Last year, a grand total of four teams qualified for the State Finals, with two going on to compete at the World Finals for the first time. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides students with opportunities to apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and approximately 25 countries abroad participate in the program. The Long Beach students who participate in OM say that it teaches them to think outside of the box, be creative, practice teamwork, overcome fears and get along with others. They say they must also be committed to working countless hours, brainstorming, writing and practicing their scripts, and creating props and costumes to prepare for competition. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5237 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a special meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, April 12th, 2012, at 6:00 PM in the Conference Room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561 to address the emergency high school ceiling resolution. View Emergency Resolution It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5173 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society recently inducted 14 new members in a well-attended ceremony held at the high school. “Music brings us all together. It is the world’s universal language,” said Tri-M faculty advisor Marino Bragino III. The ceremony, conducted by Long Beach chapter president Annie Winerip, welcomed Rachel Barkan, Ilana Blumenthal, Christina Chase, Kyle Curley, Victoria Epstein, Jessica Fernandez, Whitney Flaum, Adam Goldenberg, Halle Henry, Jonathan Kappel, Taylor Martinelli, Maegan Miciotta, Michaela Rynecki and Matthew Walsh into the fold of this international honor society which recognizes students for their academic and musical prowess. Long Beach High School Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi and chorus teacher Michael Capobianco were bestowed with Tri-M Honorary Lifetime Memberships. Former Long Beach student Michael Oquendo, who pursued music education at SUNY Potsdam, was recognized with an Alumni Achievement Award. The ceremony also included several musical performances by Tri-M members. The main goal of Tri-M is to inspire students to excel at music, leadership and service. Members act as goodwill ambassadors, performing at local nursing homes, school events and community functions. They also assist younger students in preparation for their NYSSMA solo evaluation performances. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5214 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Students and staff at Long Beach Middle School raised over $2,800 at the annual Joseph Farrell Memorial Student/Teacher Basketball Game. The sales of tickets, T-shirts, pizza and snacks were directed to a scholarship established to honor the memory of the beloved Long Beach teacher and community member Joseph Farrell, who passed away suddenly on July 5, 2007. Farrell’s daughter, Carrie-Anne Duffy, was on hand, accompanied by members of her extended family. In a fast-moving competition, the eighth-grade boys and girls basketball teams faced off against the middle school faculty and staff. Between quarters, spectators were invited down to the court for Zumba dancing. Mr. Farrell was a lifelong Long Beach resident who taught for 13 years in the Long Beach School District, first as an elementary teacher at Lido School and later as a sixth-grade social studies teacher at the middle school. As a teenager, Farrell worked as a Long Beach lifeguard, and at 20, he began coaching at the Long Beach Recreation Center, where he met his wife of 23 years, fellow coach Gail Henry. In 2004, he began coaching the girls swim team at Jericho High School, where he turned the last-place conference team into conference champion and was named Jericho Coach of the Year. “This event, which was held for a great cause, marks the beginning of spring here at the middle school. Joe would have liked that,” said Vice Principal Keith Biesma. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5216 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT When Christian Musto entered the eighth grade at Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park, he and his fellow classmates had to start thinking about whether they would like to attend Long Beach High School or West Hempstead High School the following year. The Island Park School District does not have a high school, so after grade eight, students and their families must choose to continue their education in either Long Beach or West Hempstead School District. Although the choice may not have been so clear for his fellow classmates, Christian, who is passionate about acting, knew he wanted to attend Long Beach High School as soon as he learned that the school offers a well-rounded acting program, included an elective course called “Studio in Theater Arts.” “I’ve been acting since I was eight,” said Christian. “When I landed my first lead role as John in Peter Pan, I knew I was hooked. When I get older, I want to be a professional actor, so it was important to me to be able to develop my acting skills in high school.” When Christian came to Long Beach High School as a freshman, he signed up for “Studio in Theater Arts” as his arts elective. He also tried out for the high school musical, where he landed a lead role as Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. “When Christian came to auditions, he brought his resume with him—it listed dozens of camp productions, middle school theater productions, and his work with the Island Park Theater Guild,” recalled theater teacher and musical director Vanessa Krywe. “He fit the part of young Hero perfectly, and he also sang the part well. He had a real presence on the stage.” “I always try as hard as I can,” said Christian of his audition. “I was still amazed to get the part as a freshman.” Being in the play not only helped Christian gain more vital theater experience; it also helped him acclimate to a new school in a new town. “It was great being in the play and taking acting courses—it’s like having a bunch of family members away from home. My best friend from Island Park was also in the play—that made it even more fun for both of us.” “I didn’t know anyone when I got here, but from day one I made so many friends,” said Christian of his first days at Long Beach High School. As he passes the halfway point in his freshman year, Christian is very pleased with the choice he has made to come to Long Beach High School. “The kids are friendly, all my classes are great, and I have a lot of cool teachers.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5185 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT More than 1,000 Long Island students and parents came out to enjoy Sandy Cohen Family Math Day, hosted this year by Long Beach Public Schools. This annual event is sponsored by the Nassau County Math Teachers Association and the Nassau County Association of Math Supervisors. It all started in 1989 with Sandy Cohen’s vision of creating an event to bring Long Islanders together to partake in family fun with mathematics. This year 450 families turned out for a day of lively workshops held at Long Beach High School, led by 80 guest speakers and assisted by 100 volunteers. Families of students in grades K-6 participated in hands-on activities to enhance the mathematical knowledge of both children and their parents. Workshops with titles such as “Sweet Geometry,” “Gotta Minute,” “Yummy Math” and “Pyramath” kept families engaged with new and exciting approaches to mathematical problem solving. With a host of contests and door prizes, everyone received at least one souvenir to remind them of their day’s adventures. “As a member of both of the sponsoring organizations, I expressed interest in hosting this event in Long Beach to give families in our community the opportunity to experience firsthand the joys of Family Math Day,” said District Director of Mathematics Cheriese Pemberton. “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the many presenters and volunteers who worked so hard to make this event such a success.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5187 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Yasmine Resnick (grade 10), Nerio Rodriguez (grade 11) and Michael Heiss (grade 10) finished in the top three of all the Long Beach High School students who competed in the American Mathematics Competition 12 (AMC). Their scores gained them recognition by the AMC as having exceptional mathematics talent. Long Beach High School administered the AMC in February 2012 to all students who were interested in rising to the challenge. According to the competition’s official website, AMC is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation's youth by challenging them to problem solve mathematical concepts beyond the scope and sequence of their grade level, and by identifying, recognizing and rewarding excellence in mathematics. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5148 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School junior Russell Goetz was chosen this year to perform with the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Russell recently had the honor of singing with his fellow All-State jazz vocalists at the State Capital on the week of March 5. The 24 young musicians had the distinction of presenting a command performance in the Empire State Plaza in front of numerous music educators, assemblymen and senators. Russell was one of five ensemble members chosen to perform a solo piece at the event. After the concert, Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg both stopped to introduce themselves and congratulate him on his exceptional performance. Russell is the first Long Beach High School student to earn the distinction of being chosen for the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He also received the double honor of being selected to perform in the All-State Chorus this year. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5130 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT A "Friends of the Arts" committee has been formed to promote the advancement of the arts in Long Beach Public Schools and the surrounding community. The goals of the organization are to further enhance and enrich the cultural life of students by promoting student arts and cultural events, recognizing student achievements and providing better communication between the district and the community at large. The organization hopes to create new ways to recognize, appreciate and support students’ practice and enjoyment of the arts through special events and fundraising activities. The committee recently held an organizational meeting to elect officers. Superintendent of Schools David Weiss was the guest speaker. “I appreciate everyone’s support of our students,” he told the group. “You will play an important role in celebrating the successes of our students and solidifying community support for the arts.” The committee has already been active selling T-shirts and refreshments at the recent high school musical production. Other fundraisers are planned for the spring concert season. The goal of this year’s fundraisers will be to raise money for scholarships and awards to be presented at the high school Senior Award Night. “We believe that all children possess talents and gifts that if left untapped will create a void in our society,” said Friends of the Arts Administrative Liaison Dr. Dale Johanson. “It is our hope that the world will become a better place through the cultural enrichment of our children who will someday give their talents to the world.” The committee welcomes parents, community members, musicians and concerned citizens to join them in this worthy cause. For more information, contact President Bari Klirsfeld at 516- 815-7178 or baripres@aol.com. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5131 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Public Schools Jazz Night will be held on May 1 at 7:30 PM in the High School auditorium. The musical talents of the Middle School Jazz Band, the High School Lab Jazz Band, the High School Jazz Ensemble and the High School Select Choir will be highlighted in this upcoming concert. Also featured will be the Divas Jazz Band, an all female professional jazz band who will hold workshops with the students and will perform on the high school stage. Please join us in celebrating jazz music at Long Beach High School. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5096 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Fourth graders Sydney Hoffman, Erin Brown and James Joyce were crowned county winners in the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County’s (UCPN) annual Trivia Challenge. They were among three teams of students from the Long Beach Public Schools Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) program that participated in this academic competition, raising more than $1,500 to benefit the UCPN. Sydney and Erin are both from Lindell School. James attends Long Beach Regional Catholic School. The Trivia Challenge is an academic fundraising event that combines education, philanthropy and fun. To participate in the challenge, students were grouped in teams to take a 100-question written test, covering everything from academics to popular culture. They asked family and friends to sponsor them, pledging a certain amount for every question they answered correctly. The participants also took a class trip to the UCPN to meet with speech therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. They received a firsthand look at how technology is used to help improve the lives of people with cerebral palsy, and saw how the money they raised helps support the organization’s work. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5085 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach School District has introduced a grade 3-5 pilot program called SPIRIT, which stands for Specialized Program Integrating Research, International Baccalaureate (IB) Principles and 21st Century Technology. Under the guidance of Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin Fuentes, students have been developing the foundations of critical research, team building and problem-solving skills. The first unit of study was entitled “International Mindedness and Research Skills.” Students learned about the IB Learner Profile, which focuses on developing international mindedness in young learners, encouraging them to be inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded risk takers and communicators. Students learned what a blog is, and how technology is introducing us to new communication tools. They created their own blogs using reflective IB principles. Through these blogs they have been sharing their ideas with students from England, Thailand, Bali and India. The second unit of study dealt with team building. Students worked together to take on challenges such as building tall structures that could stand erect without being blown down. The team building skills they learned were put to use in the third unit of study, in which students worked together to gather data for inquiry-based research projects. They learned how to do a website critique, evaluating whether a website is reliable when conducting research. They discussed plagiarism at length and learned how to cite their book and web sources using APA citation style--the rules and conventions established by the American Psychological Association for documenting sources used in a research paper. They are also creating published websites, “SlideRocket” presentations and “Vod-casts” to share their knowledge. The SPIRIT program launched at East School, which is the home base of the district’s LARC program for gifted and talented students. All East School students in grades 3-5 are participating in SPIRIT, representing another example of the district’s commitment to provide academic rigor for all students. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5020 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Visit Our Opportunities Page Click here to go there. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=5030 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Finance and Operations • Link to our Budget Information page for presentations, code summaries and election/voting materials. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4936 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT In an interdisciplinary project that involved art, technology and mathematics, Long Beach Middle School sixth graders in Laura Swan’s art classes studied pop artist Jasper Johns’ use of numbers as “form not function,” in his famous work entitled “0 through 9.” The purpose of this project was to take a fresh look at numbers and other “symbols” that we use on a daily basis. Each student then applied his or her own interpretation of the theme to create an individual panel that used numbers in a non-representational way. The panels were combined to adorn a set of four three-foot letters that spell out LBMS. Students in Brian Press’s wood shop contributed to the project by creating the wooden templates for the letters. The display will adorn the entryway of the building as a permanent tribute to Pi Day. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4985 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Budget Advisory Committee on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in the large conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York at 7 PM. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4956 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT At the February 28 work session of the Long Beach Board of Education, administrators presented a three-pronged summary of the district’s Health, Nutrition and Wellness initiatives, focusing on programs that support the physical, social and emotional health and well-being of students. Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Vincent Butera and Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Arnold Epstein joined forces to present a detailed outline to the Board of the district’s work in these three areas of instruction and support. “Traditionally, health has been viewed as an absence of disease,” explained Mr. DeVito in his opening remarks. “Wellness goes beyond the traditional definition of health and is a lifestyle approach that implies personal responsibility. In order for our students to achieve a high level of health and wellness, we want them to engage in integrated learning experiences to enable them to make good choices.” The presentation outlined the district’s philosophy of educating the whole child, using a pyramid approach to health and wellness. Nutrition, exercise and hygiene programs support optimum physical health. To encourage sound emotional health, students are taught goal setting skills, stress management techniques and healthy tools to express emotions. The district’s social and emotional learning program promotes good social health. In a wellness assessment conducted in the 2010-2011 school year, Long Beach did well compared to other districts in the county with regard to school meal programs, health education, physical activity and before and after-school programs. Some areas the district intends to address and strengthen in the future include further defining health and wellness policies, making additional healthy food choices available in vending machines throughout the district, and addressing school employee wellness. “Our goal in K-12 instruction is to educate the whole child in order to prepare all of our students for a lifetime of healthy living, social and emotional growth and overall wellness,” said Superintendent David Weiss. For a copy of the presentation, visit www.lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4950 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Students at Lido School received a special visit from John Hinton, an LIU CW Post math professor, author of six books on mathematics, and publisher of Math Matters, a national journal of math games for elementary and middle school teachers. Professor Hinton engaged students in activities such as “Order in the House,” a math reasoning game in which students were asked to roll dice, add the numbers, and use their reasoning skills to try to place the sums in order from least to greatest after each roll. Student were also intrigued by a guessing game called “Join the Club,” in which they were invited into Professor Hinton’s club when they were able to surmise the number pattern and guess the next number in the sequence. The teachers, who have attended instructional workshops conducted by Professor Hinton, were also able to benefit from watching him model techniques he had taught them in his workshops. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4952 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT There will be a meeting of the Health and Safety Committee on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at 4:00 PM in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4955 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT A group of Long Beach High School students representing the Anime/Manga Art Forum recently received citations from the City of Long Beach in recognition of the work the club has done to increase cultural understanding through the arts. Now in its fourth year, the Anime/Manga Art Forum promotes cultural awareness of Asian cultures through the popular Japanese graphic stories and cartoons called Manga and anime. As part of the program, each year students publish their own limited-edition compilation of original graphic stories and Manga art, donating copies of the publication to the Long Beach Public Library for public use. The club, which is grant funded, was developed as an enrichment program in alternative literature. Students draw on technology, art, literature and social studies skills to create their Manga portfolios. The genre includes a broad range of subjects, including everything from action-adventure, romance and sports to historical drama, science fiction and fantasy. The club is open to English language learners and native English speakers and attracts students from a cross-section of different social groups, proving that art truly can provide a bridge for fostering cultural understanding. “One of the biggest unanticipated benefits of this club is that students have found an outlet to share their inner most talents in a secure non-judgmental setting,” said Vivian Fiallo, Director of World Languages and ELL Programs. “We are also pleased that first two editions of their work have been copyrighted, making our students published authors.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4943 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT A group of ten sixth and seventh graders participated in the MATHCOUNTS chapter competition, held at Hofstra University on February 16. Natalie Swegler, Mashiyat Ahmed, Kelly Gannon, Jessica Marcote, Kelly DiResto, Mary-Elizabeth McCourt, Savannah Kile, Eric Ricci, Jennifer Arnaud and Samuel Miller were tested on their knowledge of algebra, geometry, probability and other advanced mathematical concepts in a fast-paced timed setting. Natalie, Mashiyat, Kelly and Jessica all received scores labeled “highly commendable.” Through the MATHCOUNTS program, which was introduced at Long Beach Middle School at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, sixth and seventh graders who excel in math are given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level. MATHCOUNTS is a national program that inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. “I applaud our students for participating in this rigorous competition,” said Mathematics Director Cheriese Pemberton. “It was a great experience for them to challenge themselves with this advanced curriculum. Most importantly, students recognized their ability to grow mathematically and realized what they can achieve through hard work and perseverance.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4898 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Guidance Department helped juniors and their parents jump-start the college search and application process at Junior College Information Night. After an introduction by guidance director Patricia Hausfeld, attendees headed off to workshops conducted by representatives from Molloy College, New York University, Adelphi University, SUNY College at Old Westbury, Stony Brook University, Harvard Club of Long Island, Hofstra University and CUNY (which CUNY schools?). Topics included College for the Athlete, The Competitive College, College for the Learning Disabled Student, Financial Aid, SUNY and CUNY Admissions, The College Essay, and Financial Aid. “Tonight we want parents and students to gather information, begin to develop a plan, and understand the options available,” explained Ms. Hausfeld. In the weeks to come, juniors will begin meeting with their school counselors for individual planning conferences to discuss post-high school plans, graduation requirements, and the college application process. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4900 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Competing in the most difficult Blue Division, a team of district third graders finished first in the nation among 520 teams in the second WordMasters Challenge meet of the school year, held in February. WordMasters is a national language arts competition entered by more than 220,000 students annually. The students participated in the competition through the district’s Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) program, under the direction of LARC teacher Beverlee Bertinetti. The winning team consisted of Uma Arengo, Maya Arengo, Sophia Chigounis, Elisa Richter, Delphine Esformes, Abbey Carpenter, Aadhi Murugaveri, Jude Pizzone, Francesca Macchia, Douglas Weiss and Tyler Collinson. “This was such an amazing accomplishment for third graders who are competing in the WordMasters Challenge this year for the first time,” said Ms. Bertinetti. Several Long Beach elementary students also won highest honors for individual achievement. Third graders Uma Arengo, Charles Ashmead, Sophia Chigounis, Delphine Esformes, Aadhi Murugaveri, Elias Richter and Jasmine Soriano and fifth graders Michael Corsale, Ryan Das, Talia Fernandez, Joan Sceppa and Hannah Zelinger all earned perfect scores in the meet. Nationwide, only 83 third graders and 224 fifth graders achieved perfect scores. The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking that encourages students to become familiar with a set of new words above their grade level, and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies expressing various kinds of relationships—an exercise that helps students learn to think analytically and metaphorically. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4903 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT To raise money and awareness for the annual substance-free PTSA Morning Madness After-Prom Party Long Beach High School seniors donned the latest in eveningwear and took to the stage for the Morning Madness Fashion Show. Morning Madness committee chairs Betsy Glazer, Rhonda Healy, Gina Knauer, Randi Andosca, Linda Birnbaum, Gina Knauer, Maria Martin, Ann Marie Scandole and Darlene Tangney saw to every detail, making sure that this would be an unforgettable night for the seniors and their families. Before the show, parents and friends enjoyed an Aussie-style feast, donated by Outback Steakhouse of Island Park, as the high school string ensemble provided musical entertainment. While the seniors were busy backstage completing their transformations from typical teenagers to glamorous runway models, committee chair Betsy Glazer expressed heartfelt thanks to the many local merchants and individuals who have donated money, services and raffle prizes throughout the year. “I would like to take this time to extend my thanks to Betsy Glazer and the entire Morning Madness Committee,” said Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi. “Prom night is known to be one of the most dangerous nights of the year for teenagers, but this is not the case in Long Beach. Each year the Long Beach PTSA takes this important step to make sure that our students have a fun and safe place to enjoy themselves after the prom.” Seniors Annie Winerip, Connor Sofield, Gavin Enright and Liz Gloeggler acted as masters of ceremonies for the evening, announcing each couple as they paraded down the runway in glittering gowns and tuxedos. More than 90 seniors took part in this gala event. Gowns and tuxedos were provided courtesy of Estelle’s of Farmingdale, The Bridal World of Baldwin, David’s Bridal and Snider’s Formal Wear. Teacher Maria Perrone once again choreographed the show, including the surprise finale in which all 90 students gathered on the stage together, providing a spectacular photo-op for family and friends. Morning Madness is an alcohol and drug-free all-night party that provides seniors with a fun, safe and absolutely free place to continue their celebration after the prom. The party, which is open to all seniors, features food, music and raffle prizes. The grand prizes, raffled off at the end of the evening, are a Netbook, a flat screen TV and a brand new car. Students must be present at the time of the raffle in order to be eligible to win these grand prizes – a powerful incentive to stay all night. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation to Morning Madness is invited to contact the LBHS PTSA at 516-897-2012. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4862 Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT West School art work will be featured during the month of March in the shop windows of Rose n Eye located at 893 W. Beech Street, Long Beach. Congratulations to Denise Collins and her West School students! http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4838 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT A 100-Year Anniversary Committee is being formed to commemorate the founding of the Long Beach City School District, which became School District #28 and elected its first Board of Education members in 1913. If you would like to volunteer to serve on this committee, please contact the District Clerk at 516-897-2108. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4840 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Senior Ambrose Plante has been named a Finalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than one percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition qualified as Finalists, based on their results in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT). He is now eligible to compete for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded in May. Ambrose is a member of the National Honor Society, the Foreign Language Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He was recently named a National AP Scholar for his exceptional performance on Advanced Placement exams. He is an All-County vocalist, has competed in the NYSSMA solo evaluations in classical guitar, and is a member of the Chess Club. A varsity tennis and hockey player, Ambrose was a member of the 2010-2011 State Championship hockey team. He also works as a skate guard and hockey instructor at the Long Beach Ice Arena. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4841 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT The district recently hosted its annual Realtors Breakfast, meeting with area realtors to discuss the four major thrusts of district policy for the year: maintaining high levels of engagement for students and parents; ensuring that students are college and career-ready; providing opportunities for all students; and providing state- of-the-art facilities. Superintendent David Weiss described the programs that the district is proud to offer, such as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and other college-level courses at the high school, as well as curriculum changes at the middle school and elementary level to enrich the rigor of instruction at all levels. “One of our goals is to have our students take the most rigorous courses they can handle,” explained Mr. Weiss. “We encourage everyone to take at least one college-level course before they graduate. As a result, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students taking advanced courses and a rise in our graduation rates. Our philosophy is to offer opportunities to raise the bar for all while supplying support programs to foster success.” Mr. Weiss went on to outline other programs the district is proud of, including a diverse inclusive athletic program that offers 1000 spots on high school team rosters and 680 spots at the middle school level. At the elementary level, students receive swimming, skating and health education instruction. In the arts, the district was named a 2011 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, and has produced four All-State and 53 All-County musicians in the 2011-12 school year alone. The high school literary magazine, Fragments, has won over 100 state and national awards over the last three years. Students in the science research program have also produced dozens of prize-winning projects at the regional, state, national and international levels. Students in the middle school Activities Promoting Thinking (APT) and elementary Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) programs have achieved state and national recognition in the Odyssey of the Mind and WordMaster competitions. Mr. Weiss invited Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito to outline the district’s progress on the $98.8 million School Preservation Plan, including the installation of a new turf field at the middle school and a state-of-the-art filtration system at the high school pool. Work is underway on additions at the Lido Complex and the high school. Mr. DeVito noted that the district, which employs a fleet of 32 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, is proud to operate the greenest bus fleet in the state. Also present at the meeting was Island Park School Superintendent Dr. Rosemarie Bovino. She noted that the Long Beach and Island Park districts have enjoyed a longstanding cooperative agreement of cost-saving shared services. Through another cooperative agreement launched in 2009, Island Park residents may elect to send their children to Long Beach High School. A total of 96 Island Park students currently attend Long Beach High School, with another 34 Island Park freshmen scheduled to join their ranks in the 2012-2013 school year. After addressing realtors’ questions and concerns, Mr. Weiss reminded them that his door is always open to them, as well as to potential homebuyers who have questions about Long Beach Public Schools. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4796 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations Hockey Team NYS AAU Champions http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4763 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT A group of Long Beach High School students recently met with the City of Long Beach Environmental Advisory Board to discuss a series of proposals. Seniors Jane Smyth and Arianne Papa presented their recommendations for a natural and cost-effective method of water remediation in Reynolds Channel. Another group of students proposed creating signage for the boardwalk that describes migrating birds, local fish and other natural items of interest. Papa and Smyth, who have conducted chemical testing on the waters just east of the sewage plant that drains into Reynolds Channel, found that there were higher-than-expected levels of chlorine nearest to the point of water discharge. Chlorine is a substance used in sewage treatment to destroy harmful bacteria. While the levels found in the water were within regulated and accepted baseline standards, the two found that there was a dearth of aquatic life in the immediate path of the effluent. There is currently no de-chlorinating process in place to treat discharge from the plant. The pair, which has been conducting award-winning research to test the use of Atlantic ribbed mussels as biofilters, discovered that the mussels digested chlorine at an exceptional rate, and not only survived but thrived in random samples of the discharged water. The girls proposed building a wooden structure in the water near the sewage plant that could be populated with mussels to act as a natural bio-filter for chlorine and other chemicals. These mussels, which are indigenous to Reynolds Channel, would have no impact on the natural ecosystem. The second group of students presented two proposals for projects at the boardwalk. The first was for a mural at the boardwalk wall at the foot of Washington Boulevard that would depict an underwater seascape representing indigenous species. The second proposal was to create a series of permanent environmental signs to educate visitors about the geography and ecology of the barrier island. The signs would feature information about native and migratory birds and other organisms that make their home on the beach and ocean surrounding the barrier island. The Long Beach Environmental Advisory Board, which was formed in August 2009, is comprised of seven members appointed by the city manager. The goals of the board are to advise, assist and make recommendations to the city manager and the city council in developing local programs to protect, restore and enhance the environment. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4749 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT When the Long Beach Medical Center’s Breast Health Alliance sent out a call to join a community fundraising campaign to raise funds to purchase the hospital’s first digital mammography machine, Long Beach students and teachers rolled up their sleeves and went into action, raising over $1,084 for the worthy cause. The hospital recently hosted a reception to thank students and staff for their efforts. The Long Beach High School African-American Club, under the direction of Edwina Bryant, held a raffle that netted $600 for this cause. The Forensics Club, under the leadership of Gary Ribis, whipped up batches of homemade brownies, which they sold during Parent Teacher Night to net an additional $250 for the campaign. Teachers in the Long Beach Middle School Sunshine Club joined forces to donate another $234, bringing the total contribution from the district’s students and teachers over the $1,000 mark. To help the hospital keep track of its fundraising efforts, students in the Long Beach High School wood tech class, working under the supervision of Eric Heck and Jim Johnson, built a fundraising barometer board, complete with a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. In a feat of engineering wonder, the students designed the board with cutouts for the ribbon and barometer, which can be filled to higher and higher levels as each new fundraising plateau is reached. “It is so great to see students engaged in the community and helping others,” said Long Beach Medical Center CEO Douglas Melzer. “I’m very proud of you for your involvement and support of this important effort to bring digital mammography into the community.” The Breast Health Alliance was established to enhance and raise awareness about breast health services available to residents of Long Beach and the surrounding communities. The Alliance has focused on several initiatives, including patient-centered care for breast patients at Long Beach Medical Center, establishing a support group for women with breast health concerns, hosting education and awareness programs in the community, promoting the services of the Long Beach Breast Cancer Coalition, and raising funds for the purchase of a digital mammography unit. To date, the campaign has raised $33,000 toward its $200,000 fundraising goal. The Breast Health Alliance will be hosting its next digital mammography campaign event, an art auction, on March 23, 2012 at St. Mary of the Isle Church. For ticket information, to make a donation or to join the Breast Health Alliance, please call LBMC’s Public Affairs Department at 897-1097. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4750 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations: Dylan Palacio New York State Wrestling Champion and All-State Wrestlers Krishna Sewkumar and Mark Raghunandan http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4701 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Did you ever wonder how mammals keep warm, what acid pollution does to mollusk shells, or whether it is possible to change the properties of a solid? The answers to these and many other questions could be found at East School’s Science and Technology Fair. All students in grades 3-5 completed a scientific research project, which they presented to parents and fellow students at the fair. Students worked in groups to research their topics and to develop and test their hypotheses using the scientific method. After determining a question, hypothesis, materials, procedure and conclusion, they compiled the results of their experiments on presentation boards. This exercise was created to expose students to the research, scientific method and oral presentation skills they will need when they move on to middle school. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4655 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT This Saturday, February 25th our Long Beach High School athletes will compete in the New York State Wrestling Championships at the Pepsi Center in Albany, NY. The event takes place on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25 with the latter day hosting the finals. MSG Varsitywill have reporters there for the entire event and will be LIVECASTING the Division I Finals on Saturday beginning at 6:00 PM on msgvarsity.com. Support our wrestlers even if you can't make the trip. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4650 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT In an annual tradition, West School students and parents donned their pajamas, grabbed their favorite stuffed animals and headed back to school for an evening of shared reading fun and learning at the K-2 Bedtime and Books celebration. While students snuggled into cozy reading circles with their parents, teachers read stories to the group, all the while demonstrating the reading strategies that parents can use at home to make shared reading time fun while promoting literacy skills. Parents also received handouts full of reading strategies geared to each grade level. Among the tips, parents were encouraged to help kindergartners by using picture clues and echo reading, ask first graders to make connections and predictions, and help second graders develop questions and visualize what is happening as they read. This year, the school combined literacy with community service by asking each family to bring in a book to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities. “Bedtime and Books has become a very popular West School family tradition,” said Principal Sandra Schneider. “It’s a fun evening of family reading that also gives us a great opportunity to connect with parents, to give them some creative tools they can use to help their children practice these important reading strategies at home.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4635 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Move over, Malverne Mel! Students in the Long Beach Public Schools’ Spanish Is Fun Club celebrated “La Verbena de la Sardina” at a Saturday morning ceremony at Lido School. This traditional Spanish celebration of spring, which means “festival of the sardine,” takes place on the last day of Carnival. It is often referred to as the Groundhog Day of Spain. The students and their families invited representatives of the Long Beach City Council, the Long Beach Latino Civic Association and the Long Beach Board of Education to take part in the festivities. City Council Vice President Leonard Torres, who is the city’s first Hispanic councilman, officiated over the opening ceremony. Wearing Carnival masks, the students marched around carrying tissue paper lanterns representing wind, fire, water, earth, sun and moon. At the conclusion of the parade, the students and their guests were invited to decorate the tree with colorful paper flowers to welcome the coming of spring. “Thanks to our cultural consultant, RosaMaria Goeller, for bringing this celebration to life in such a colorful and meaningful way,” said Director of World Languages and ELL Programs Vivian Fiallo. The Spanish Is Fun Club is a districtwide program that provides a creative environment to help students in grades K-5 learn more about the culture, language, music, customs and traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4636 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Board of Education hosted a discussion of a draft version of the district’s new Facilities Use Policy at its January 24 work session. This marked the final stages of a policy review process that began several months ago to address concerns within the community regarding appropriate use of facilities. The district began the process by inviting community residents to participate in small group discussions to gather their input. A Facilities Use Committee was formed to evaluate the current policy. The Board of Education then held two special forums in November and December at the Long Beach Public Library to engage the community in discussions about the appropriate use of facilities. The Board compiled the revised draft of the district’s Facilities Use Policy based on the results of these discussions, determining guidelines that would open facilities for appropriate use by community groups engaging in educational, civic, cultural, athletic and recreational activities, while being respectful of the concerns of neighbors surrounding school facilities. The final draft of the policy will be presented for two subsequent readings before the trustees vote on adoption. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4588 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Middle School auditorium was buzzing with excitement as a select group of sixth and seventh graders prepared to take part in the school’s first MATHCOUNTS Competition. Students, who participated in three grueling rounds of team competition, were tested on their knowledge of algebra, geometry, probability and other advanced mathematical concepts in a fast-paced timed setting. Two teams earned perfect scores in round one. Those winners were sixth graders Sarah DeFlorio. Irving Oliva, Liam Thornton, Claire Ezratty, Emma Levin, Jack Cruse-Mulhall, Tamiyah Massey and George Ventura. The sixth-grade team of Marina Meyer, Blaise Derenze, Ava DeBruin and Luke Toomey reigned victorious in round two. Round three saw another tie with two seventh-grade teams claiming victory. The round three winners were Justin Simms, Mary Sabedra, Erica Russell, Kelly DiResto, Finian Ashmead, Eric Ricci, Justin Kolodny, Gregg Wildstein, Jennifer Arnaud, Noelani Tomicick and Natalie Swegler. With the first official district competition under their belts, students were better prepared for the chapter competitions in February, followed by the possibility of state and national competitions in March and May. Through the MATHCOUNTS program, which was introduced at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, sixth and seventh graders who excel in math are given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level. MATHCOUNTS is a national program that inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4589 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Next BOE Regular Meeting/Budget Presentation is Tues, Mar. 13 @ 7:30pm Public Library The Agenda From The February 28th Meeting Is Still Available For Review http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4538 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Congratulations To Our Long Beach High School Hockey Team On Winning County Championship http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4587 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT From the moment that Pseudolus, played by Russell Goetz, sang the first melodious strains of “A Comedy Tonight,” the audience knew they would be in for a raucous ride into ancient Rome as the Long Beach High School Theater Department presented Steven Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He was joined by a fine ensemble cast of performers, whose comedic timing was matched only by their melodic vocals and graceful dancing. Doing a commendable job in the role Zero Mostel immortalized on the silver screen, Goetz skillfully finagled a hilarious series of misadventures as he played matchmaker for his young master Hero (Christian Musto) and the beautiful virgin courtesan Philia (Alexandra Brodsy) in exchange for his much dreamed-of freedom from slavery. In the process, he had to outsmart Hero's parents, Senex and Domina, the slave master Lycus and the feared Roman soldier Miles Gloriosus, who has already purchased Philia for his own. Musto and Brodsy emoted a charming chemistry as they embodied the youthful enthusiasm of everyone’s first love. Although Musto made his Long Beach High School acting debut in this role, it was apparent that he was no stranger to the stage. In the role of Philia, Brodsy was given a perfect opportunity to show off her exceptional vocal talent. Senior Adam Goldenberg pulled out all the stops in his final performance on the Long Beach High School stage as the loyal house slave Hysterium, who had been charged with keeping Hero out of trouble while his parents were away. But alas, things could not have gone more wrong for the high-strung Hysterium. As the comedy of errors unfolded, he found himself hiding courtesans in his master Senex’s home, arranging for secret trysts, and ultimately appearing in drag, masquerading as Philia to carry out Pseudolus’s ridiculous scheme. Joseph Keiserman brought the perfect blend of arrogance and grandeur to his portrayal of the pompous Gloriosus, belting out a booming baritone rendition of “Bring Me My Bride.” Gavin Enright, who has already made a reputation for himself as a comedic actor playing an assortment of rapscallions and charlatans over the years, did not disappoint in the role of Lycus, purveyor of fine women. He was surrounded by his beautiful harem of dancing courtesans, played by Chandler McMillan, Victoria Lombardi, Jhoselyn Alcivar, Ellen Blas, Katie Murphy and Kayla McAvoy. Vincent Pasqua and Annie Gloeggler gave well-matched comedic and vocal performances as the less-than-happily married Senex and Domina. Carlos Mejia did a convincing job as the blind and befuddled old man Erronius, circling the hills of Rome in search of his long-lost children. In the end, the cast, who was supported by a fine chorus of courtesans, proteans and soldiers, did not disappoint in their promise to deliver “A Comedy Tonight.” The show was directed by Long Beach’s own master of comedic timing, Vanessa Krywe, with Joseph Keiserman taking on the role of student director. Marino Bragino III proudly directed the pit orchestra and Michael Capobianco made his debut as musical director. Marcus Quiroga once again dazzled with his creative choreography, and Eric Krywe was the stage manager. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4551 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Once again, Long Beach High School’s literary magazine, Fragments, earned top honors in competitions sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Empire State Scholastic Press Association (ESSPA). In the NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Literary Magazines, the Fragments staff received the “Superior” designation for Highest Award ranking. Fragments was among only eight New York high school literary magazines to receive this ranking. Of the 391 entries nationwide, only 96 qualified for this designation. At the state level, Fragments was honored with the Gold All-New York Award at the ESSPA annual competition. Students also earned a total of 32 individual awards including eight gold, ten silver, seven bronze and seven honorable mentions. Long Beach students dominated in the poetry category, racking up 11 out of 16 total awards. They made an equally strong showing in specialized content, winning six of the eight awards in that category. Individual gold awards went to: Sophie Corwin for artwork/illustration; Emily Charleson, Eileen Kelly, Jane Smyth and Roxette Romanes for layout; Sophie Corwin (two awards) and Jane Smyth for poetry; Alana Costello for non-fiction; and Giovanna Raffa and Emily Charleson for specialized content. Individual silver awards were earned by: Kirsten Donovan for artwork/illustration; Sophie Corwin and Alexis Romano for fiction; Hillary Vinokur for photography; Grace Smith (two awards) and Benjamin Weiss for poetry; and Kirsten Donovan (two awards) and Blaine Garde for specialized content. Six students earned individual bronze awards: Blaine Garde for artwork/illustration; Joseph Sweeny for fiction; Scott Blumenfeld and Emily Charleson for photography; Jane Smyth and Sophie Corwin for poetry; and Emily Charleson for specialized content. Honorable mention was given to: Marlena Howard and Eileen Kelly for artwork/illustration; Eileen Kelly, Emily Charleson and Jane Smyth for cover design; Kirsten Donovan for photography; and Sarah Ben-Moussa, Eileen Kelly and Grace Smith for poetry. Over the years, Fragments writers, editors and artists have consistently won top awards at national and state competitions for their work. Students edit and write for Fragments as part of the high school’s Talented Writers program, taught by Rachell Koegel. Submissions are also accepted from students in a number of other writing and art classes offered at the high school. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4513 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT During Grade 5 Orientation Month at Long Beach Middle School, fifth graders from all four elementary schools were invited to visit the middle school to get a feel for what life will be like for them when they become middle school students next year. In a newly revised orientation program, each class of fifth graders visited on a separate day, giving the students a chance to experience a day in the life of a middle school student. Each visitor was paired with a sixth-grade buddy who was a graduate of the same elementary school. During their two-hour visit, the younger students went on a building tour and attended classes with their buddies. During their shared lunch period, the buddies went together to a question-and-answer session that provided a comfortable, intimate setting for the fifth graders to ask questions and for the sixth graders to share useful advice about academics, clubs, extra help, sports and special activities such as the annual Grade 6 trip to Frost Valley. While students were attending classes, each teacher was able to visit at length with the middle school guidance staff to discuss appropriate placements for his or her students. “In the past, all the fifth-grade classes from each school had their orientation visit on the same day,” said Principal Dr. Michele Natali. “This smaller scale buddy format, with one class visiting at a time, gives the students a better chance to get a more genuine feel for what middle school will be like next year.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4514 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of renovation work on the high school pool. A new environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art filtration system was installed this summer, and the renovation was recently completed with the installation of new diving platforms and tile restoration. Board Vice President Roy Lester and Trustee Patrick Gallagher, who were both varsity swimmers during their days at Long Beach High School, presided over the ceremony. Also in attendance were Board President Dr. Dennis Ryan, trustees Darlene Tangney and Gina Guma, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss, Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Arnold Epstein and Principal Gaurav Passi. Coaches John Skudin and Woody Davis and members of the boys and girls varsity swim teams joined them for the ceremony, which took place at the start of the January 27 boys meet against Jericho. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4472 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT To celebrate the PTA Parents as Reading Partners (PARP) program at West School, Principal Sandra Schneider challenged the student body to read 100,000 minutes over a period of four weeks. The students had their eyes on the prize and their heads in their books as they recorded 140,406 minutes of reading for this year’s Principal’s Challenge, dubbed “Reading Rocks Across the USA.” A large map was placed in the hallway representing Ms. Schneider’s trip across the United States. As the students logged more minutes of reading, they fueled her trip, stopping at such “rocking” places as: Pebble Beach, California; the Rocky Mountains; Little Rock, Arkansas; Stone Mountain, Georgia; and Rockaway Beach, N.Y. before arriving at the rocky jetties of Long Beach. To reward them for meeting and exceeding the Principal’s Challenge, staff members dressed as various rock-themed characters. Ms. Schneider donned a red wig in homage to the cartoon character Wilma Flintstone. Teacher-in-charge Donna Fee made an appearance as the planet Earth, also known as “The Third Rock from the Sun.” Other teachers dressed as Pebbles Flintstone, Red from the children’s show Fraggle Rock, a server from the Hard Rock Café, and a group of ’60s rock-and-roll singers. The Principal’s Challenge is a West School tradition dating back over a decade. For the first Principal’s Challenge, Ms. Schneider promised the children that if they read 50,000 minutes, she would dress like a chicken. Over the years, the challenge grew to its current standing at 100,000 minutes. With each additional 2,000 minutes the students read, another staff member dresses up. In past years they have played movie stars, superheroes, Wizard of Oz characters and classic book characters. “The children love it when we dress up to celebrate their reading accomplishments,” said Mrs. Schneider. “Our goal is to encourage them to read daily. Reading is an excellent way to get where you want to go in life. It is no secret that reading increases your vocabulary, expands your knowledge, improves spelling and even relieves stress. That is why programs like PARP and our Principal’s Challenge are so critical to helping our students progress on their journey to become lifelong readers.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4424 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there is one remaining meeting of the Budget Advisory Committee in the month of February. That date is: February 29, 2012 andwill be held in the large conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York at 7 PM. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be two meetings of the Budget Advisory Committee in the month of March. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in the small cafeteria at the Long Beach Middle School, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. The second meeting with be held on Monday, March 12, 2012, in the conference room in the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, Carole Butler, District Clerk Dennis Ryan, Ph.D., Board President http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4419 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Complete Your FAFSA Workshop: March 8, 6 pm @ ALC The Long Beach High School Guidance Department is hosting a free workshop entitled “Complete Your FAFSA” on March 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Adult Learning Center, 75 East Walnut Street, Long Beach. Any resident of the Long Beach School District who needs assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is invited to attend. Students going to college in the fall of 2012 should start applying for financial aid now. Please bring your FAFSA PIN, 2011 (or 2010) federal tax return, Social Security number, driver’s license, 2011 W-2 forms or year-end pay stubs, 2011 untaxed income records, current bank statements, 2011 business and investment records, and alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen). For more information, contact the Long Beach High School Guidance Department at 516-897-2019. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4421 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT The lessons they had learned in their science classes took on a new level of real-world relevance for Long Beach High School students when they met with Dr. James Browne, an environmental conservationist for the Town of Hempstead. He spoke to them about his studies of coastline changes and water quality in local waters. Dr. Browne detailed his work in the town’s program to restore shellfish reefs in areas such as the shallow waters west of Island Park. “Shellfish are a keystone species,” he explained. “They are natural engineers. Other species depend on them. They clarify the water and provide food for animals such as water fowl.” He then went on to explain other aspects of his work, such as collecting tide data and charting the changes in the marshland area in the South Shore Estuary Reserve. Using aerial photography, he and his team have been studying changes in the marsh islands, channels and inlets over time. One of the long-term trends he has observed is a rise in sea levels. “These studies are especially vital to coastline communities such as ours because the depth of water can have an effect on waves. The marsh shallows play an important role in absorbing wave energy and limiting wave size during storms.” The group, which included students in introductory, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement biology and environmental science courses, along with students from the Long Beach Science Research program, listened intently as Dr. Browne passed around photos, charts and maps detailing his work. They asked him questions about the process he and his team are using to grow shellfish reefs and discussed information they had read about the effects of the effluent produced by the Bay Park Treatment plant on local waters. After the presentation, students stayed behind to discuss some of their own environmental experiments with Dr. Browne. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4409 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012-2013 PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION Lindell School Gymnasium Thursday, April 26, 2012: 8:00-10:30 AM, 1:00-3:00 PM, 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, April 27, 2012: 8:00-10:30 AM, 1:00-3:00 PM http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4420 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT Way to Go: Arianne Papa, Long Beach H.S. Published: January 30, 2012 3:35 PM ByMichael R. Ebert Arianne Papa is working to improve her community's local water quality -- one pharmaceutical at a time. The Long Beach High School senior coordinated a drug collection in which residents brought in unwanted or expired medication for proper disposal during the school's winter concerts in December. Papa said the idea stemmed from a science research project she did with classmate Jane Smyth... Continue On Newsday.com(subscription to Newsday or Optonline required) http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4397 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4373 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4374 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Art Supervisors Association 8thAnnual Nassau All-County Art Exhibition Sunday, March 18, 2012 12:00 – 4:00PM See Our List Of Participants Ruth S. Harley University Center Adelphi University Garden City, NY The Art Supervisors Association of Nassau County is proud to welcome students, parents, art educators, administrators, and community members to attend the 2012 Nassau All-County Art Exhibition, which will take place at the Ruth S. Harley Center at Adelphi University on Sunday, March 18, 2012 from 12:00 – 4:00 pm. This exhibition, with no admission charge, will honor more than 1100 Kindergarten through twelfth grade students who have demonstrated excellence in a wide variety of two-dimensional visual art forms including drawing, painting, printmaking, computer graphics, and photography. Student entries are selected by art educators and are limited to a maximum of 3 pieces of artwork from each teacher. All of the exemplary pieces are produced in alignment with the New York State Learning Standards for the Visual Arts. This year, 400 art educators from more than 200 schools in 40 Nassau County school districts, will submit student artwork for this prestigious exhibit. The Art Supervisors Association is honored to provide this venue that gives our community the opportunity to appreciate the creativity, imagination, and skill that is produced by a fundamental, innovative, and vibrant K-12 sequential visual arts education. One of the ASA goals is to nurture young artists and recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to arts education. Therefore, we are pleased to be able to offer scholarships to over 40 graduating senior students for the sixth consecutive year and present our annual Professional Leadership Award at the Scholarship Awards Ceremony (by invitation only) starting at 11 a.m., immediately preceding the All-County Exhibit. Submitted by: Barbara Tancredi and Lisa Fernandez, Publicity Chairpersons, Art Supervisors Association Contact: 516-840-1845 http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4375 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT A number of Long Beach Middle School and elementary students were recognized for their outstanding team and individual achievements in the first WordMasters Challenge meet of the school year, held in December. WordMasters is a national language arts competition entered by approximately 220,000 students annually. Competing in the most difficult Blue Division, the Long Beach Middle School sixth-grade team of Benedict Albergo, Samuel Brinster, Emily Burns, Ava DeBruin, Blaise Derenze, Evan Garcia, Tristan Groh, Colleen Mannle, Marina Meyer, Violet O'Connell, Trevor Radin, Jesse Scott, Lucia Techera and Gabriel Wilkens-Vega tied for sixth place in the nation among the 403 teams competing at this grade level and division. Samuel, Jesse and Gabriel also received highest honors for individual achievement. They were among the 120 sixth graders in the nation to earn a perfect score. The rest of the team members scored an impressive 19 out of 20. Students prepared for this competition through the middle school’s Activities Promoting Thinking program, under the direction of Lorraine Radice. At the elementary level, fifth grader Charles Gorton, a student at Long Beach Catholic Regional School, was one of only 130 students in his division to achieve a perfect score, competing in the Blue Division. Tyler Collinson of Lido School, who was the top-scoring Long Beach third grader, was one of only 130 third graders throughout the country to score a 19 out of 20 in the Blue Division. This was the first time that she and her fellow third graders took part in the WordMasters Challenge. Elementary students participated in the competition through the district’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity (LARC) program, under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin Fuentes. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4334 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Having survived their first semester of college with much success, a group of a dozen graduates of the Long Beach High School Class of 2011 returned to their alma mater to share advice with this year’s juniors and seniors about everything from academics to dorm life. Although their experiences with roommates, class sizes and dining hall food varied considerably, most students agreed that academics are more rigorous at college. The alumni urged the younger students to take advantage of the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, SUPA and other college-level courses offered at the high school. “Any subject you were good at in high school will become more challenging in college,” said Ben Weiss, who is attending Georgetown University. “AP English really helped me with college-level writing. It will be a much harder learning curve for you at college if you don’t take advanced writing classes in high school.” “The outlining skills I learned in AP Government class also helped me in college,” added Michele Asarch, who attends Binghamton University. “College is a lot more work, a lot of studying, a lot of papers,” said Damaris Swass, who is at Smith College. “As an art major, I also spend a lot of time in the studio.” Although they found their first semester of college challenging, most of the alumni agreed that when they employed the organizational and study skills they learned in high school and planned their class schedules well, they were able to get their coursework done and still have time to get involved in sports, clubs and campus social life. They said that getting involved in activities outside of the classroom actually helped them make friends and better acclimate to college life. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4336 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Final payment for the 7th grade Washington DC trip is due February 8, 2012. Any questions please email Mrs. Altbackerealtbacker@lbeach.org. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4340 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT MathCounts Reel Math Challenge - Vote Now! Click on the link below to vote...: http://video.reelmath.org/home.aspx?vid=Le7jwWrHy6o%253d Greetings, MathCounts Reel Math Challenge - Vote for our students! Four of our 7th grade MATHCOUNTS students created a video based on one of the problems in the 2011-12 MATHCOUNTS School Handbook. The video has been posted to the contest website where the public can vote on the best videos. The 20 videos with the highest vote totals will advance to the semifinals of the competition. At this point, a panel of MATHCOUNTS judges will review the top 20 videos and select four finalists to take an all-expense paid trip to the 2012 MATHCOUNTS National Competition, where they will present their videos to those participating in that event. Simply go to the following web address to vote: http://video.reelmath.org/home.aspx?vid=Le7jwWrHy6o%253d. After viewing the video, just click on the "Like" button to vote for our students, and then spread the word to all of your friends and family to do the same. Thank you for your support! NOTE: The voting deadline is February 1, 2012 http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4320 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT The Varsity Wrestling team will be featured on MSG Varsity's High School SportsDesk, on January 26, 7:00 pm on channel 14. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4324 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Family Math Day (K-6) at Long Beach High School will be on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Link to more information: Link to details about Workshops Link to the Registration Form http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4289 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Sixth graders at Long Beach Middle School joined forces to create an interactive exhibit about Ancient Egypt that included afterlife artifacts, pyramids, clay cartouches, ABCs of Egypt books, hieroglyphics, gods and goddesses, papyrus scrolls and even mummified apples. After completing a unit of study in their social studies classes, each team constructed a separate “wing” of the museum, concentrating on a different aspect of the history, culture, beliefs, language and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians. On the opening day of the exhibit, students gathered to visit the museum together, receiving a list of questions to guide them as they toured and learned from each other’s projects. “This type of interactive project promotes critical thinking skills, communication, collaboration and creativity,” said Social Studies Director Sean Hurley. “Through projects like this, we encourage our students to be active, rather than passive, learners.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4252 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT While conducting studies of local bay pollution for her Science Research class, Long Beach High School senior Arianne Papa was surprised to find that water samples taken from Reynolds Channel contained low levels of pharmaceuticals. Using a UV spectral photometer to test for peak wavelengths of certain drugs in the water samples, she discovered traces of over-the-counter and prescription formulas that people dispose of every day were contaminating the waste lines. With the cooperation of the Long Beach Police Department, Arianne organized Operation Medicine Cabinet to help stem the flow of these drugs into our waterways and landfills. Working with fellow National Honor Society members Jordan Jaffe and Andrew Hurst, NHS advisor Nora Bellsey and Long Beach Police Detective Sergeant Karl Hayes and Officer Angelo Peppe, Arianne set up a collection station for unwanted and expired medicines at two recent High School concerts. The Long Beach Police Department will ensure safe and proper disposal of the medications. “Sewage treatment plants are not testing for pharmaceuticals before discharging the water in the environment,” noted Arianne. “People don’t realize the impact on the environment.” Way to Go: Arianne Papa, Long Beach H.S. Published: January 30, 2012 By Michael R. Ebert Arianne Papa is working to improve her community's local water quality -- one pharmaceutical at a time. The Long Beach High School senior coordinated a drug collection in which residents brought in unwanted or expired medication for proper disposal during the school's winter concerts in December. Papa said the idea stemmed from a science research project she did with classmate Jane Smyth that revealed "very low levels" of aspirin and ibuprofen in nearby Reynolds Creek. "Sewage treatment plants are not testing for pharmaceuticals before discharging the water on the environment," said Papa. To spread the word about her efforts, Papa said the school allowed her to hang fliers in hallways and place an automated phone call to families. Papa and Smyth's research project -- which used mussels to filter treated sewage effluent -- earned them two gold medals last year at the 2011 International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy and Environment) Project Olympiad, also known as I-SWEEEP. They also took a second-place award last year at the International Science & Engineering Fair. Papa is a drum major in her school's marching band, an officer in the National Honor Society and vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Read More... http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4253 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Normal.dotm 0 0 1 51 294 @ Home Productions 2 1 361 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} High School Musical: February 9-11 The Long Beach High School Theater Department will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” on February 9-11 at 7:30 p.m., with a free dress rehearsal performance for senior citizens on Tuesday, February 7 at 4:00 p.m. All performances are in the high school auditorium. For tickets, call 516-897-6500. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4265 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Varsity Girls Track Meet at the NYC Armory has been canceled for tomorrow, Saturday, January 21st. All other athletic contests and high school practices are still on. Check back for further updates. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4266 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD) recognized seniors Dylan Palacio and Zoe Papetti with Zone Awards. The award is given to students who exemplify and demonstrate an understanding for the NYS Learning Standards for Health and Physical Education by: exhibiting a physically active and healthy lifestyle; demonstrating sportsmanship, character, civility and citizenship; exhibiting exceptional achievement in physical education class; and achieving a high level of fitness on an approved fitness test. The students were nominated for this honor by physical education teacher Lynn Tenaglia. They were recognized at a reception for all the Nassau County Zone Award winners on December 12 at the Crest Hollow Country Club. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4201 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Eleven Long Beach High School art students entered their original photography in the Nassau County Bridge Authority’s 2012 Pass Card Contest. The judges were so impressed with the quality of the students’ work that they selected a total of twelve pieces for inclusion in the organization’s 2012 calendar. Christina Carvalho, Emily Cerda, Giovanna Deloca, Justine Smith, Kim Trabulsi, Lauren LiBrizzi, Mark DeGuzman (two pieces), Paola Servellon, Perri Steiner, Shauna Spruiell and Stephanie Lerner were honored at a breakfast at the authority’s board meeting on Dec. 20. Each student received a copy of the calendar as a keepsake. Students created the photos in teacher Sue Solomonic’s Studio in Photography class. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4202 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Middle School eighth grader Jonathan Kapilian survived 19 grueling rounds of competition to be crowned the winner in the Long Beach Public Schools District Spelling Bee. The field of 41 students was whittled down to five competitors in round seven, with middle school students Emily Burns, Jonathan Kapilian, Irving Oliva, Kelly DiResto and Jessica Rollins battling it out for another five rounds, until Jonathan and Jessica were the last two standing. They went head-to-head for an additional seven rounds, until Jonathan pulled off a victory in the 19th round, correctly spelling the word “amethyst” to earn the title of District Spelling Bee Champion. “The Spelling Bee was instituted to help students improve their spelling, increase vocabulary, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives,” said Director of English Language Arts Joshua Anisansel. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4203 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4162 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at 7:30 PM in the auditorium of the Long Beach Middle School. The agenda for this meeting will be posted in a timely fashion. Review The Agenda From The January 24th Meeting http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3691 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students in Carol Henck’s “Health Professions” course took a trip to Long Beach Medical Center to get a firsthand look at the career opportunities available to them in the healthcare profession. Students heard presentations from a registered nurse, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, a social worker and a pharmacist. Careers in medical billing, hospital administration, risk management and mortuary science were also discussed. After the presentations, students broke up into groups to tour the hospital’s diagnostic imaging, dialysis and hyberbarics/wound care units. “Start thinking about where you want your story to go,” advised Dr. Paula Rayo, the hospital’s coordinator of medical education, as she told the students the story of her career in medicine. After their day of touring Long Beach Medical Center, these young healthcare hopefuls will have many new ideas for building their own personal success stories. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4130 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School has officially named Jonathan Klus the valedictorian of the Class of 2012. Jane Smyth has been named the salutatorian. Jonathan, who is a member of the National Honor Society, was named a National Merit Commended Student and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He has won multiple awards at state and international science competitions, including gold and silver medals at the International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering and Environment) Project Olympiad, first and third-place awards at the New York Science and Engineering Fair, and highest honors at the Long Island Science Congress. A New York State Scholar-Athlete, he competes on the Varsity Cross-Country, Track and Swim teams. Jonathan is the vice president of the Israeli Culture Club and president of the Future Physicians Club at Long Beach Medical Center, where he is also a junior volunteer. Outside of school, he participated in a summer internship at the Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways Laboratory. He is also a Running Club coach at the Long Beach Recreation Center and a City of Long Beach Ocean Beach Park gate attendant. An International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, Jane is an AP Scholar, a National Merit Commended Student and a member of the National Honor Society. She is vice president of the senior class and a Model Congress executive board member. Jane was a two-time Finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and a three-time medalist in the International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering and Environment) Project Olympiad. She participated in the Simons Research Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University and co-authored a research paper that was published by the New York State Water Environment Association in “Clear Waters.” Jane is an editor of “Fragments,” her school’s literary magazine, and has won a certificate of superior writing from the National Council of Teachers of English, as well as a second-place award in the 2010 National French Week Essay Contest. Outside of school, she practices ballet and en pointe and has earned a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4109 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4110 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Under the musical direction of Barbara Russo and the guidance of their teachers, first graders at Lindell School in Long Beach presented a fun-filled performance of The Nutcracker for their parents, families and friends. The show was featured in a Newsday video about Nutcracker performances across the island, which was available for viewing on Newsday.com during the holiday season. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4092 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Click on the image below to print out the flyer for this event http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4095 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Students in Long Beach High School’s Nike Alternative High School Program organized their annual holiday toy drive for the children at Nassau University Medical Center, asking each student and faculty member to purchase a toy for either a boy or a girl. The 30 students tripled their initial goal by collecting over 100 toys, which they wrapped in festive holiday paper and delivered personally to children being treated at the hospital. “It is especially rewarding for our students to be able to see firsthand the joy that they bring to these hospitalized children through a simple act of kindness,” said Director of Alternative and Adult Programs Marcia Mulé. This is just one example of the district’s ongoing effort to support the social and emotional learning and development of students, from pre-kindergarten through high school, by creating a school culture where trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship thrive. As part of another annual holiday tradition, Nike students made a trip to New York City to see the holiday sites. This year, the trip was paid for by area resident Steve Jacobson, who donated the money for the trip after hearing that the cost had become prohibitive for many of the students. His generous holiday gift made it possible for all the students to take part in this memorable trip. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4061 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT Best wishes for a safe and happy 2012! http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=4053 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach teachers Andrew Smith (left), Keith Harvey, Eric Krywe, Cody Onufrok, Eric Heck, Anthony Balsamo, Joseph Brand, Andrew Rossi and Brian Pross (absent from photo) took part in the 2011 fundraising efforts of the Long Island Chapter of Mustaches for Kids, growing mustaches to raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This year the Long Island chapter raised more than $70,000 for this noble cause. According to the organization’s website, “Mustaches for Kids is a volunteer-run organization started in Los Angeles in 1999 to do good and have fun by growing mustaches for children’s charities.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3950 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT A special reception was held on December 13 at Lindell School to mark the completion of renovation work, which included restoration of the exterior façade, installation of new windows and an elevator, and bathroom renovations. Present at the reception were Lindell students and their families, past and present Board of Education members, administrators, and representatives of the architectural and construction teams that worked on the project. “The building looks beautiful,” commented Board of Education President Dr. Dennis Ryan in his opening statements. He went on to thank the Lindell neighbors, students and staff who put up with inconveniences during the renovation process, and to acknowledge the dedication of Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito who supervised every detail of the job, along with Facilities Director Steven Lahey, Building Principal Karen Sauter and Lindell Head Custodian William Snow. Mr. DeVito welcomed representatives of the architectural firm CSArch, project manager Savin Engineers, and general contractor Lipsky Enterprises, who worked together to bring the job to fruition. Former Board President Lynn Gergen was invited to officiate over the ribbon-cutting ceremony and Vice President Roy Lester unveiled the commemorative plaque, while trustee Patrick Gallagher recounted the rich history of the building. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3952 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Middle School's Drama Club presented Guys & Dolls, bringing to life the classic Broadway tale that comically combines love, missionary work and high-stakes gambling, producing some very unexpected romantic results. From the opening scene right through the finale, the young actors made the streets of New York bustle to life in all their glitzy glory. Max Tunney played Nathan Detroit, Jonathan Kapilian was Sky Masterson, Alexandra Kapilian portrayed Adelaide and Caitlin Sheridan appeared in the role of Sarah. The show was directed by Jean-Marie Lilley and Jenna Schebler. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3953 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Camp Anchor, located in Lido Beach, is a year-round not-for-profit camp for children and adults with disabilities. Long Beach High School junior Shannon Romig developed a special relationship with the camp after volunteering there over the summer. To do something special to benefit the camp, she decided to apply for a grant from the Cablevision Power to Learn and MSG Varsity Charity of Champions program. “Because the camp is so close to our high school, many students and teachers volunteer there in the summer. There are also many students from our school's Life Skills program that attend this camp, so it seemed like a perfect cause to support,” said Shannon, who is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma candidate. With the help of IB Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) advisor Christine Graham, Shannon put together a proposal to adopt the camp for a year by organizing a series of fundraising activities, including a Zumbathon, a Masquerade Ball, pizza and bake sales, and sporting events. Power to Learn was so impressed with her proposal that they awarded her $500 in seed money for her school and a $1,000 grant for Camp Anchor. By qualifying for the grant, she also put her chosen charity in the running to win a grand prize award of $5,000. With the seed money in hand, Shannon went to work to organize the first charity event of the year, a Zumbathon. She enlisted the aid of fellow IB Diploma candidate Harli Weitz to co-chair the event, and sought the support of dance teacher Christianne Donohue, who agreed to be the event’s faculty coordinator. Nearly 75 fellow students and staff members showed up to support her by dancing the afternoon away, following the lively international routines that have made Zumba the latest exercise craze. “This event would not have been possible without Ms. Donohue’s help,” said Shannon. “She not only recruited her IB dance and gym class students, but also encouraged faculty to attend. Having a teacher with a professional dance background truly made the event.” Camp Anchor’s Assistant Director Joseph Lentini was invited to the Zumbathon to accept the $1,000 check, which was presented by Cablevision’s Martha Turner at the beginning of the event. Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray also dropped by to present a citation acknowledging the school’s efforts on behalf of the camp. In addition to the grant money, the event raised an additional $1,165 for Camp Anchor. This is just one of many special outreach projects that Long Beach High School students plan to accomplish throughout the year as part of the Creativity, Action and Service requirement for International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates. “One of the goals of this project is to have all the IB students participate in one way or another,” said Shannon. “Ms. Graham wants to encourage more students to take a leadership role at some of the upcoming events. Our Masquerade Ball already has six student organizers, which is great.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3945 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Students in Jacqueline Sharkey’s class at Blackheath Pre-Kindergarten in Long Beach were treated to a special story-time surprise when the character from the storybook they were reading came to pay a visit. A life-sized gingerbread man, played by Mrs. Sharkey’s fifth-grade daughter Samantha Eduardo, made an appearance in the room as Mrs. Sharkey read the famous lines from the book: “Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man.” Care was taken to explain to the children that Samantha was inside the costume and that she would only appear when signaled by a bell to insure that none of the children were startled or frightened. “Any time you can enhance learning with something special, particularly when it comes to developing a love for reading, there are lasting benefits,” said Blackheath School Principal Cristine Zawatson. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3941 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Board of Education held two special forums at the Long Beach Public Library to gather community input about revising the district’s facilities use policy. The first forum took place on the evening of November 30, and the second was held on the morning of December 3. Both forums used a World Café format in which participants broke up into groups to listen to each other’s opinions about who the facilities should be made available to, appropriate use of schools and facilities when school is not in session, acceptable hours of use, appropriate use of sound systems and scoreboards, and whether facilities should be used to raise revenue for the school district. Finally, group members were asked to suggest elements that can be built into the policy to promote pride in the Long Beach community and schools. Participants rotated to different groups for each question, which gave them a greater opportunity to share with one another. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3942 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT A total of 54 Long Beach students in grades 4 through 12 qualified to perform in the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) All-County Festival in January. They will join a select group of musicians from all over Nassau County for a gala concert series at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts featuring select band, chorus, orchestra, vocal jazz and jazz band performances. Hundreds of students auditioned for this honor at the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festivals held last spring. A total of 19 high school students, 17 middle school students and 18 elementary students from around the district will be participating in a variety of performances at the festival over the course of two weekends. For a complete list of the All-County participants, visit the Comprehensive Arts page. LISFA Musicians--Seven students were chosen to participate in the Long Island String Festival Association’s (LISFA) Annual String Festivals. Eighth grader Jonathan Kapilian (cello) and freshman Victoria Epstein (violin), sophomore Dana Berman (violin) and juniors Joseph Keiserman (string bass) and Alexandra Gruber (violin) performed at the LISFA Secondary Festival, held at Massapequa High School on November 18-20. Talia Fernandez, a fifth-grade violinist at Lindell School, and Lea Jaffe, a middle school viola student, will both perform in the elementary festival on March 2-4. All seven young musicians were recognized as representing the highest quality string musicians at their grade levels. This is the second year that Joseph has performed at the LISFA Festival. Among his other musical accomplishments, he is a six-time New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-County musician and was chosen this year to perform at the NYSSMA All-State Music Conference. Alexandra is also a two-time LISFA participant and an All-County musician. Dana has performed in two previous LISFA Festivals, in addition to being a four-time All-County musician. Victoria has performed in two previous LISFA Festivals and is a five-time All-County musician. The district was recognized as a 2011 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3913 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association held a fundraiser called "Hawaiian Shirts for a Cause," sporting Hawaiian shirts to raise money for food baskets for families in need. In less than an hour the association received over $1,200 in contributions. Thanks to the generosity of the teachers and staff, many Long Beach families, who otherwise could not afford traditional holiday dinners, had a happy Thanksgiving this year. In the Spirit of giving, the LBCTA is also sponsoring a holiday toy drive. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3876 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3852 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT A group of 35 students in Long Beach High School’s International Baccalaureate Dance classes recently participated in two unique dance experiences that most dancers only dream about. The day began with a trip to the Ailey Extension Joan Weill Center for Dance, where the students participated in a private Horton Technique class with a live accompanist. Then it was on to Penn Station, where the girls were invited to dance with members of the legendary Rockettes as part of a special LIRR holiday promotion. All 35 students also received free tickets to see the Rockettes perform in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. “The look on their faces when they stepped into the studio for their lesson was priceless,” said dance teacher Christianne Donohue. “I am sure these experiences are ones that the students will remember for some time to come,” added Director of Physical Education Arnold Epstein. “This is a perfect example of the tremendous opportunities that the International Baccalaureate program can offer our students.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3840 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Taking up a call to action to help children in shelters, foster care and orphanages sleep more comfortably, Lido Elementary School families participated in the Pajama Program’s Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive. Together they collected 222 pairs of snuggly pajamas, which will be distributed to children in Nassau County. They also collected $70 in checks and five books to donate to the cause. Each grade had a box of pajamas on display in the main lobby, with one star placed above for every pair of pajamas they donated, making the front window a shining example of their service to others. To celebrate the good work they had done, students, teachers, parents and grandparents all wore pajamas and fuzzy slippers to school for a Great Bedtime Pajama Party. Parents visited their children’s classrooms to read books and complete craft projects together, all of which revolved around the theme of expressing thanksgiving for their own blessings and their wishes for the world. This is just one example of the many community service activities that Long Beach Public School children participate in as part of the district’s goal to promote citizenship, caring and empathy. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3841 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Elementary schools in the Long Beach School District participated in two dancing programs that fostered new levels of social and emotional learning through teamwork, cooperation and mutual respect. Through the Lindell School Buddy Program, classrooms from different grades are paired together throughout the year to help older and younger children make new friends and build on their respect and understanding for one another. The program’s first activity of the year was a Buddy Dance, in which students from different grades paired up to perform a series of traditional folk dances from various cultures. Students studied the history of the dances and practiced the various dance steps with the help of their music and physical education teachers, then met to put all their studies into practice at their first-ever Buddy Dance. Through this exercise, students also learned about rhyming words, sequencing and patterns, increased their memory and listening skills, and developed motor coordination. And all the while, they just thought they were having fun! At East School and West School, all fifth-grade classes danced the night away in their own version of “Dancing with the Stars,” showing off everything they had learned in the “Dancing Classrooms” program. Through ten weeks of ballroom dancing lessons, this innovative character education program has been encouraging the students to cultivate mutual respect, collaboration and self-esteem, as well as teaching them to do a mean tango, foxtrot and waltz. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3817 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT Now in its 38th year, the Long Beach Middle School Science Fair continues to provide students with an opportunity to become actively involved in hands-on scientific research. This experience gives every seventh grader a taste of the kind of enriching challenges that await them in the High School Science Research program, IB program, and other college-level science courses. The Long Beach Middle School Science Fair gives students the opportunity to learn the skills of a scientist by performing their own scientific investigations. The emphasis of these projects is on inquiry, discovery and proper use of the scientific method. Students are charged with the task of identifying a problem that they would like to explore, and then tackling that problem through the lens of the scientific method. Students studied the effects of car exhaust, caffeine, Clorox, iodine, mold and rust and carbonated drinks on plants, animals and the environment. No animals were put at risk during experimentation. Project topics ranged from green energy systems and hydroponics to investigations of the physics of crater creation and the effect of gender on the ability to decipher words in different colors. The students worked with their teachers to develop their problem statement and an appropriate hypothesis, which they then tested. At the Science Fair, students were judged for their abstracts, the physical appearance of the projects, oral presentation, use of controls and sampling techniques, use of the scientific method, originality of their projects, validity of their conclusions, and ability to answer questions about the projects. Throughout the course of their presentations, they engaged in lively exchanges with the judges about their findings. Students shared their discoveries with a larger audience of family and friends during the public presentation. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3822 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT The late fall harvest of organic greens and herbs was so abundant from the garden at the Nike Alternative High School that students decided to share their bounty with the Long Beach Food and Friendship INN. Students were proud to be able to gather several baskets of kale, collard greens, bok choy, Asian greens, arugula, Swiss chard and herbs, which they delivered in person to the soup kitchen in time for its holiday dinner. Nike students first broke ground on their garden in the spring of 2009, working in conjunction with Bernadette Martin, the director of Friends & Farmers Inc. and administrator of the Long Beach Farmers Market at Kennedy Plaza. In addition to gardening basics, they have been learning about soil science, biology, nutrition, food justice and scarcity issues. They have also been harvesting enough from their raised beds to sell their produce weekly at the Farmers Market. Nike student Monique Weed has secured an internship at the Farmers Market, where she has been learning the skills necessary to run a successful market stall. This summer, that internship will evolve into a summer job for Monique. According to Ms. Martin, the concept is called Community-Supported Agriculture, with the goal of selling enough produce to make it a self-sustaining program. Over time it should be able to provide even more students with internships and summer jobs that will give them valuable experience in both agriculture and business. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3806 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT To celebrate the life and legacy of their teacher, coach, mentor and friend, Daniel Bobis, the Long Beach High School Surf Club held a special ceremony in the Long Beach High School commons to unveil a custom-crafted memorial in the shape of a surf board. Mr. Bobis, a beloved high school math teacher, local environmentalist and founder of the Long Beach High School Surf Club, died in a tragic surfing accident this past August off the coast of Indonesia. The ceremony began with the viewing of an MSG Varsity video about the Surf Club. Afterwards, Mr. Bobis’s wife, Rachel, and parents, Jasmine and Bob, spoke eloquently about their beloved husband and son. “Danny took a lot of pride in the Surf Club,” said Rachel. “He worked for years to make this dream for his school a reality. I know how much he loved working here and how much he cared for all of you. You are part of something big.” “Danny tried to cultivate openness and awareness in his students,” said Jasmine. “Education is not putting something in, but drawing something out. Coolness is about self-confidence. Danny was always true to himself. I’m sure that he is looking down on us now, smiling that same expansive smile.” “This is an honor,” added Bob. “Jasmine and I were blessed with such an extraordinary son.” At the end of the ceremony, Danny’s family officiated the unveiling of the memorial surfboard, which was inscribed with the words “One Life Not Wasted.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3745 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT The American Scholastic Press Association has awarded Long Beach High School’s literary magazine “Fragments” a First Place with Special Merit award in the Association’s 2010-2011 competition. The magazine received a total of 960 out of 1000 points for the overall publication. This is the second year in a row that “Fragments” received top honors in this national competition. At the 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Circle Award Competition, Long Beach High School 2011 graduate Jacqueline Bokor and junior Joseph Sweeny both received first-place awards in the poetry category. Out of thousands of entries in this category, they earned two out of three possible top spots. Jackie won for her poem entitled "Although It More Often Rained"; Joseph’s winning poem was entitled "Dust." Students edit and write for “Fragments” as part of the High School’s Talented Writers program, taught by Rachell Koegel. Over the years, “Fragments” writers, editors and artists have consistently won top awards at national and state competitions for their work. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3746 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Middle School Peace Club, Multicultural Club and National Junior Honor Society teamed up this year to organize Operation Food Basket, a two-pronged goodwill effort to help local families in need. In the first phase of Operation Food Basket, each of the nine academic teams at the school pledged to raise enough money to sponsor one food basket for a local family in need. A tenth basket was sponsored by the staff. For two weeks, students contributed their extra change to their team’s collection jugs. A few Long Beach Middle School alumni also made generous donations to the cause, contributing ten turkeys and $100 in cash. Club members then met after school with their advisors to assemble and wrap the baskets, giving ten local families all the fixings for a delicious holiday dinner. Phase Two of Operation Food Basket began when it was learned that the Long Beach Food and Friendship INN Soup Kitchen and St. Mary’s Food Pantry were both low on supplies. Students and staff once again rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to bring in hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food donations to help these two local organizations continue their efforts to feed the hungry. Students worked under the direction of Peace Club advisors Lynn Dean, John Anfossi and Tamara Richards and Multicultural Club advisor Glenn Gartung. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3701 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT In honor of Thanksgiving, students and staff members in the Long Beach Middle School Mentor Program gathered to celebrate the blessings of food, family and friends. The party started with a craft activity in which participants traced their hands and wrote within them a list of things they are thankful for. A scavenger hunt that followed gave participants the chance to make new friends by searching the room for someone who wears glasses, someone who is in sixth grade, someone with brown hair, etc., until each box on the scavenger hunt grid was filled with a different name. A tasty snack of hot dogs and cookies was served. The Mentor Program was started in 2003 by Vice Principal Keith Biesma to give students a little extra guidance from caring and trusted adults as they navigate the many challenges of their adolescent years. During the course of the year, mentors meet approximately once a week with the students to help with homework, have lunch together, collaborate on arts and crafts, bake cookies, give advice or just lend a friendly ear. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3718 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Dylan Palacio was named the Conference Player of the Year in the boys varsity soccer AA-3 Conference. In the same season, sophomore Shannon Horgan was named the Conference Player of the Year in the girls varsity soccer AA-3 Conference. “It is a special honor to have one Conference Player of the Year,” said Athletic Director Arnold Epstein, “but to have players named in both boys and girls soccer is truly amazing.” A five-year varsity player and team captain, Dylan is a four-time All-Conference and three-time All-County player. Dylan scored 10 of the team’s 19 goals this season and completed 10 assists. This is Shannon’s fourth year as a varsity player. She was named an All-County player in her freshman year. Shannon scored 11 of the team’s 20 goals and completed 6 assists. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3689 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Surf teams finished eighth and fifteenth at the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Northeastern High School Championships, held on October 30 in Ocean City, NJ. In the boys longboard division, Matt Kaplan advanced through a combination of radical progressive maneuvers and classic longboard style to the finals, where he placed sixth overall in the Northeast. Jon Griefenberger surfed well into the third round, where he was stymied by inconsistent waves during his heat. Max Esformes, Billy Pallazo and Sean "Staples" Dublynn all advanced to the second round. Although they did not advance to the semifinals, Hailey Weitz, Chandler Gregor and Shannon Horgan also gave standout performances. Last year, Long Beach High School became the first and only school in New York State to form a district-sanctioned competitive surf club team. The team was formed under the guidance of Coach Dan Bobis, who worked tirelessly to make the dream of forming a surf team in Long Beach a reality. When Bobis died this past summer in a tragic surfing accident off the coast of Indonesia, his wife Rachel and fellow Long Beach teachers Anthony Balsamo and Richard Rogers took over the team, so this was a bittersweet competition for all involved. PHOTOS: Courtesy of Doug Kramer http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3679 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT In what has become a rite of passage at Long Beach Middle School, sixth graders received a visit from Doug Wilhelm, author of The Revealers, a fictional story about bullying. Since The Revealers was the first shared reading experience of the year for the entire sixth-grade class, this visit was especially meaningful. The event combined two of the district’s main missions - character education and literacy - in one powerful package. Mr. Wilhelm spent a full day at the school, delivering a group presentation to the entire class and following it with individual classroom discussions. Over the course of the day, he answered dozens of questions that the students had prepared for him about the writing process, his motivation for writing The Revealers, and the steps students can take to make their own school bully-proof. Mr. Wilhelm even joined editors of the school newspaper for a lunchtime interview. The Revealers tells the story of Russell, Elliot and Catalina, three seventh graders on the receiving end of a spectrum of bullying from their classmates. They turn to each other, embarking on a mission to understand why some people choose to take advantage of others. By taking a scientific approach to their collective problem, they come up with a way to stop the bullying once and for all. Mr. Wilhelm, who was bullied himself while growing up, has told hundreds of students throughout the country about his experiences. He spoke frankly about finding inner power as an individual, and stressed how important it is to stop being a passive bystander. He also gave the students insight into the psychology of bullies and discussed useful strategies for combating their tactics. “Reading The Revealers and meeting Mr. Wilhelm personally enforced a powerful message that we try to impart to our students every day,” said Director of English Language Arts Joshua Anisanel. “We need to celebrate what is unique about each of us. If we act as a community, we can stand up to bullies and prevent the weakest of us from falling prey to their attacks.” This is just one example of the district’s ongoing effort to support the social and emotional learning and development of students, from pre-kindergarten through high school, to make schools safer, maintain a caring school climate, facilitate students’ holistic development, and enhance motivation and high achievement. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3680 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education will hold two special forums at the Long Beach Public Library to gather community input about the district’s revised Facilities Use Policy. The first forum will take place on Wednesday, November 30 at 8:00 p.m. The second forum will be held on Saturday, December 3 at 9:30 a.m. Residents who are interested in attending either meeting must contact the District Clerk at 516-897-2108 to sign up in advance. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3656 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Audiences were drawn back to a time when family life revolved around the dinner table, as Long Beach High School Drama Department presented A.R. Gurney’s The Dining Room. This series of 18 different vignettes about the upper middle-class family life earned a 1982 Pulitzer Prize nomination. The six-person cast of Joseph Keiserman, Russell Goetz, Adam Goldenberg, Eileen Kelly, Kayla McAvoy and Alexandra Brodsky played a revolving series of characters, including husbands, wives, children, grandparents, lovers, servants and furniture repairmen. Among the subjects touched on in the intimate setting of the family dining room were class distinctions, infidelity, family values and conflicts, the Great Depression and WWII. There were three regular performances, as well as a free dress rehearsal performance for senior citizens. The show was directed by Vanessa Krywe. Eric Krywe served as the technical director, and Joseph Keiserman was the student director. Sets and lighting were designed by Kenneth Horgan, Corey Healy was the stage manager, and Taylor Barje was the props mistress. Behind the scenes making everything run smoothly were crewmembers Taylor Barje, Jordan Brodsky, John Costigan, Brian Crosby, Alexandra Duffy, Corey Healy, Nicholas Lao, Adam Madisen, Sinclair Mason, Alexander Passaro, Charlene Rollins, Samantha Ronda, Luigi Rueda, Jesse Schaefer and Bryan Tipptree. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3657 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Newsday.com has launched a Long Island School Event Photo Gallery. To view photos of school events at Long Beach Public Schools and other districts around the Island, visit: www.newsday.com/long-island-school-event-photos-1.3312031 http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3633 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT In what has become an annual tradition, Long Beach Middle School seventh graders welcomed over 30 veterans, who collectively have fought in every war from WWII through the War on Terror, to speak to students about their experiences. Veterans were greeted by a “Field of Honor” that consisted of 150 American flags adorning the front lawn of the school complex. The main hallway of the school was turned into a “Hall of Heroes” that was decorated with American flags and flags representing each branch of the armed forces. A brass ensemble played while the veterans were escorted down the hall by a student color guard, as the entire seventh-grade student body recognized them with enthusiastic applause. Each classroom paid tribute to a different war with slideshows, pictures and memorabilia. Veterans shared stories and answered students’ questions. They explained how they came to serve in the military, what daily life had been like, and which countries they had seen while in the service. Each speaker shared unique and personal stories, recollections and opinions, bringing new meaning to the American history lessons that the students had been studying in their classrooms during the year. Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were among the honored guests. Michael Valente, who earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for his service back in WWI, was represented by his grandson Ralph Madalena, who brought in a display of his grandfather’s medals and memorabilia, including the Medal of Honor, which will soon be displayed at a national museum. A number of the veterans who spoke were relatives of students and teachers in the district. Richard Gonzalez, who was a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years, was invited by his wife, Robin, a history teacher at the high school. Ronnie Amato, a disabled veteran of the Vietnam war, was invited to Long Beach Middle School’s first annual Veterans Day Celebration in 2008 by his son Ronnie, Jr., who was a seventh grader at the time. Gerald Hunt, who is in active duty in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, was invited by his daughter, Madison, who is a seventh grader at the middle school. At the conclusion of the classroom discussions, the veterans were escorted to the auditorium, where students honored them with original poems, a choral presentation and gifts. A luncheon was provided through the courtesy of local restaurants. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3619 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT To honor our veterans and those men and women actively serving our country today, Long Beach Middle School seventh graders teamed up with the Middle School Wood Club and Mural Club, the High School Key Club and the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach to erect a “Field of Honor,” consisting of over one hundred 3 x 5 foot commemorative American flags. For this school-community partnership project, Whitbread Lumber of Long Beach donated the lumber for the poles, the middle school wood shop students cut the mounting holes, and middle school art classes and Mural Club members painted the poles white. For a $30 donation, area residents were invited to sponsor anyone they wanted to honor with one or more of these keepsake flags. On November 7, 150 flags were amassed on the front lawn of the district administration building on Lido Boulevard. They will remain on display through December 7, which is Pearl Harbor Day. All proceeds will benefit families of veterans and active military personnel through scholarships and camp stipends. Long Beach Public School students throughout the district will be participating in similar community service activities during the course of the school year as part of the district’s emphasis on promoting citizenship. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3623 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Under the guidance of swimming coaches John Skudin and Lynn Tanaglia and diving coach Woody Davis, the Long Beach High School Girls Varsity Swim team won the Section VIII Division B Title meet, held at the Nassau Aquatic Center on October 26. The team later finished fourth at the County Championships on November 2-5, with Cady Zawatson, Kellie Cannon and Emma Harris all qualifying to compete at the State Championships on November 18 and 19. Cady qualified in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle, with times of 155.3 and 507.9, respectively. Kellie also qualified in the 200-yard freestyle, with a time of 142.8. With a score of 418, Emma, who finished fourth in the county, qualified in diving. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3624 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT West School parents joined their children for a fun night of math and science discovery at Math Uniting Science and Technology Night, better known as MUST. Using games and hands-on activities, participants were invited to explore the wonders of computers, chemistry, marine biology, measurements, accounting and more. Families explored a host of scientific and mathematical principles by planting seeds, running a virtual hot dog stand, making bird feeders, mixing up a cornstarch quicksand and creating their own aquariums. At over a dozen estimation stations, students tried their hands at estimating the number of gum balls, insects, tootsie rolls, spin tops and other objects in containers lining the hallway. Those who came closest to the actual number walked away with the contents of the container at the end of the evening. This is just one example of the district’s ongoing commitment to engage parents as educational partners, working together with teachers and administrators to help every child reach his or her full potential. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3608 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Student Government representatives Gavin Enright, Ashita Patel, Victor Tarantino, David Velez and Dylan Palacio attended a leadership conference at Hofstra University with Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi. The conference was jointly sponsored by the Nassau County High School Principals’ Association and the Suffolk County High School Principals Association. Participants received leadership training to help them facilitate excellent relations between students and school administrators, enhance avenues of communication, encourage school spirit, prevent bullying, help at-risk students and foster community outreach. The Long Beach participants noted that it was helpful to talk to students from other schools and share ideas for community service projects, fundraising activities and social events that could help unify their school and encourage more students to feel like an integral part of their school community. One of the highlights of the program for the Long Beach students was a motivational presentation about achieving goals. The presenter asked for a volunteer to jump as high as he or she could to hit a mark on the wall. Dylan, who is a Varsity athlete, volunteered. After he made an impressive jump, the presenter marked the spot on the wall. The presenter then taped a $100 bill a foot above that spot, and told Dylan that he could keep the bill if he was able to grab it. With the crowd cheering him on, Dylan rose to the challenge and plucked the money from the wall. The presenter then told him that even with weeks of training, it was statistically impossible for an athlete to improve his best jump by that much. “The lesson I learned that day was that sometimes it’s not just about you,” said Dylan. “Knowing that someone else believes in you lets you go above and beyond. Since then, I’ve been encouraging my teammates by letting them know I believe in them. It’s definitely had a positive effect on our performance.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3609 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Guidance Department recently hosted the second of two Fall College Mini-Fairs, giving seniors and their parents the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from nearly 40 colleges, including SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Potsdam, Adelphi University, Clarkson College, Iona College, Lincoln Technical Institute, Manhattanville College, Molloy College, Queensborough Community College, Sacred Heart University, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, St. Joseph’s College, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, and Utica College. “These mini-fairs provide a relaxed, intimate atmosphere for students to chat face-to-face with college representatives, explore the programs offered at each school, and gather information that will help them make a more informed decision about where to apply,” said Director of Guidance Patricia Hausfeld. The High School Guidance Department also hosted a special presentation for Grade 9 and 10 students and their parents, entitled "Where Am I Going after High School and How Do I Get There Starting Now." A panel of college representatives from Nassau Community College, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Stony Brook, and Baruch College spoke about the difference between a community college, a state college, a university and a private college. They also gave students useful information about what they should start doing now to prepare for college and careers. Other upcoming guidance events include Financial Aid Night on December 8 at 7:00 p.m., the Grade 11 Parent/Student Meeting on March 1 at 7:00 p.m., and a college mini-fair for juniors on April 23. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3576 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT To get into the spirit of Thanksgiving, Newsday.com went to the Blackheath Pre-K Center and asked preschoolers to draw a picture of what they are thankful for this year. As kids will do, they remind us of the simple things for which we should all be grateful. To see what they had to say, visit http://long-island.newsday.com/kids. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3577 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT All across the Long Beach City School District, students were celebrating the importance of making responsible decisions as they participated in a celebration of Red Ribbon Week. As part of the district’s continuing instruction in social and emotional learning, activities at all four elementary schools were geared toward teaching students the skills they need to make healthy choices, now and in the future. At Lido School, the festivities began with each student signing a banner and placing their wishes for their future in a Red Ribbon wish box. During the week, they wore their shirts backwards as a reminder to turn their back on drugs, participated in a can drive for local food pantries, and wore caps to remember to put a cap on drugs. On Friday, everyone wore red to march in a parade around the school, chanting “We make healthy choices every day!” Lindell School’s Red Ribbon Week theme was “It’s Up to Me.” During the opening celebration, students and teachers joined forces, using puppets, props, songs and dances to present skits about making responsible choices. Each day, different classroom activities reinforced the message of the opening assembly. The theme of East School’s celebration was “‘Bee’ Healthy.” Students showed their commitment to good health by filling a bulletin board with bees bearing the names of every child in the school. Throughout the week, teachers incorporated healthy themes into their lesson plans. Students wore their team jerseys to team up for healthy decisions, crazy hats as a reminder to use their heads to make healthy choices, and work boots to give junk food the boot. At West School, students pledged to be “Rockin’ Students of Good Character.” They wore sunglasses as a reminder to shine like a star, wore crazy socks to rock their socks off and be healthy, and dressed in pajamas to rock-a-bye baby and be drug-free. They finished up the week with a Rock Star Rally to celebrate their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. At the end of the rally, students marched around the west end of Long Beach with posters depicting slogans such as “We Will Rock You by Being Drug-Free.” The Red Ribbon program is the nation’s largest and oldest drug awareness campaign. The mission of the program is to encourage others to make a visible commitment to eradicate drug abuse from our homes, schools, communities and nation. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3538 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Five Long Beach Middle School eighth graders qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Talent Search, sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Alexandra Kapilian, Jonathan Kapilian, Samantha Melconian, America Muratori and Jordan Torregrosa became eligible for the program based on their outstanding performance on the NYS ELA and Math Assessments. Through the Talent Search, the students were invited to take either the ACT or SAT exam in seventh or eighth grade. After successfully completing these exams, they received certificates of participation, which will allow them to attend summer programs on college campuses or take online college-level courses across the U.S. Family events throughout the year are also offered. Jordan, who completed the ACT exam in December 2010, has already taken advantage of one of the summer programs at Roger Williams University, where he studied principles of engineering design. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3515 Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Marching Band joined students from the Blackheath Pre-K School for their annual Literacy Parade. Each Pre-K class dressed as a different literary character or famous book, including “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “Horton Hatches the Egg,” “Dog’s Colorful Day” and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.” Students also dressed as characters from “Spooky the Square Pumpkin” and “One,” two books about diversity and tolerance that they had read in their classrooms. As the high school band and color guard played, the storybook characters marched around the school to the applause and cheers of family and friends. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3495 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT Link to the: 7th Grade Field Trip Page http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3482 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT In honor of Board of Education Appreciation Week, Long Beach High School fine and performing artists presented a special show of gratitude to Board members at the October 25 meeting. The members of the Board of Education are volunteers who serve the community without pay. The presentation began with a brief introduction by Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson, followed by a testimonial from high school student Rebecca Spodick, who recounted how much she learned from all the art courses that she has taken at Long Beach High School, including portfolio development and the newly introduced International Baccalaureate art classes. A PowerPoint presentation of student artwork followed. Each Board member received a copy of the presentation as a remembrance of the evening. High School junior Russell Goetz was next to speak, highlighting the many opportunities that have been offered to him through the Long Beach Music and Theater Department as a vocalist, instrumentalist and thespian. As his gift to the Board, he sang “I’ve Got the World on a String,” the piece that he performed in the NYSSMA All-State Festival. All-State alternate Annie Winerip accompanied him on the trumpet, while vocal teacher Michael Capobianco played the piano. The festivities concluded with a presentation by the Central Council PTA, who expressed their gratitude with a PTA “Swag Bag” containing gifts from each of the school PTAs. “This is one of our favorite nights of the year,” said Central Council PTA Co-President Gerri Maquet. “As fellow volunteers, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do for our children and our community.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3447 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT All County Participating Students 2012 Div Student Name Group Instrument School Teacher I Alexa Coffin Band Clarinet East L. Osnato I Roman Minneci-Mitchell Chorus East M. Bennett I David Newman Chorus East M. Bennett I Brooke Waller Chorus East M. Bennett I Thomas Walsh Chorus East M. Bennett I Alyscia Batista Chorus East M. Bennett I Alec Chasin Chorus East M. Bennett I Natalie Goggin Chorus East M. Bennett I Sydney Morse Orchestra Violin East M. Bennett I Sharolette Addesso Orchestra Violin East M. Bennett I Ryan Possidel Band Trumpet Lido D. Renoud I Jared Starman Band Bass Clar. Lindell L. Osnato I Talia Fernandez Orchestra Violin Lindell N. Polstein I Edward Vrona Band Clarinet West D. Renoud I Charlotte Kile Chorus West V. Krywe I Mia Enright Chorus West V. Krywe I Megan Gonzalez Chorus West V. Krywe I Shea McMahon Chorus West V. Krywe II Andrew Buskey Band Alto Sax Middle C. Cody II Violet O’Connor Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf II Mikayla Dean Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf II Jack Plunkett Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf II Jennifer Rotando Orchestra Viola Middle D. Lobenstein II Claire Ezratty Orchestra Cello Middle D. Lobenstein III Michael Varricchio Band Bari Sax Middle E. Altbacker III Chad Marsh Band Trumpet Middle E. Altbacker III Alexandra Kapilian Band Bassoon Middle E. Altbacker III Luc Esformes Band Tenor Sax Middle E. Altbacker III Kristin Miciotta Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf III Matt Mowery Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf III Max Tunney Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf III Jonathan Kapilian Chorus Middle S. Mauskopf III Francine Nizhnik Orchestra Violin Middle E. Lobenstein III Gavin Byrne Orchestra French Horn Middle E. Altbacker III Kyle Christie Orchestra Trumpet Middle E. Altbacker IV Chris Abrego Band Bari Sax High West/Bragino IV Ilana Blumenthal Band Trombone High West/Bragino IV Michaela Rynecki Band Clarinet High West/Bragino IV Steven Hurst Chorus High M. Capobianco IV Whitney Flaum Chorus High M. Capobianco IV Chandler McMillan Chorus High M. Capobianco IV Dana Berman Orchestra Violin High J. Gaglione IV Max Esformes Orchestra Bassoon High West/Bragino V Randy Sattaur Band Baritone High West/Bragino V Grace Smith Band Flute High West/Bragino V Rachel Weiss Band Flute High West/Bragino V Annie Winerip Jazz Band Trumpet High West/Bragino V Mary Deniston Chorus High M. Capobianco V Jessica Fernandez Chorus High M. Capobianco V Joseph Keiserman Vocal Jazz High M. Capobianco V Russell Goetz Vocal Jazz High M. Capobianco V Alexandra Gruber Orchestra Violin High J. Gaglione V Jesse Klirsfeld Orchestra Trumpet High West/Bragino V Jordan Jaffe Orchestra Bassoon High West/Bragino http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3453 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Due to the inclement weather, the high school marching band will NOT be performing at today's (Oct. 29) football game. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3431 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT The High School Marching Band will NOT be performing at today's (Oct. 29) football game. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3432 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Drama and wit will be on the menu as the Long Beach High School Drama Department presents A.R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” a series of vignettes about the upper middle-class family life that earned a 1982 Pulitzer Prize nomination. Performances are on November 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium, with a special FREE dress rehearsal performance for senior citizens on November 15 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. To reserve tickets, call 897-6500. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3405 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT The application deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been extended to November 16, 2011 for residents who are unemployed as a direct result of flooding caused by Hurricane Irene. For information about this and other FEMA Disaster Assistance, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Letter How Do I Apply For Disaster Assistance (English) (Spanish) http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3409 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT A total of 52 students at Long Beach High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Examinations during the 2010-2011 school year, including two students who qualified as National AP Scholars. The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. These young scholars belong to a select group--only18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. Long Beach High School’s 2011 Valedictorian Jordan Ochs and senior Ambrose Plante both earned National AP Scholar Awards—the highest honor bestowed in the program—by earning an average score of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. Ambrose is one of the first Long Beach students to qualify for this honor before completing his senior year. A total of 14 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Lauren Chung, Robert Cornacchia, Sophie Corwin, Graham Greene, Andrew Hurst, Jordan Jaffe, Brittany Kaplan, Jonathan Klus, Jordan Ochs, Arianne Papa, Ambrose Plante, Griffin Shapiro, Benjamin Weiss and Sophia Xu. Another 10 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Ayla Alvarez, George Ambrosini, Carlos Benavides, Andrew DiGiorgio, Casey Harsh, Peter Morelli, Matthew Pisciotta, Roxette Romanes, Melanie Simons and Annie Winerip. An additional 26 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Jesse Adler, Jessica Amen, Jesse Arnaudd, Michelle Asarch, Sarah Ben-Moussa, Christine Bertinetti, Joanna Cincotta, Danielle Danoski, Kirsten Donovan, Liam Fitzpatrick, Jazmine Galarreta, Halie Gates, Rebekah Geiselman, Hannah Gittler, Emily Graham, Aditi Gupta, Lila Martz, Harris Pittinsky, Saira Ramessar, Eric Rubin, Brandon Sadowsky, Alexa Salazar, Jane Smyth, Sophie Torres, Brian Whelan and Cady Zawatson. Of this year’s award recipients at Long Beach High School, 26 are seniors. These students have one more year remaining to complete college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level award. The other recipients of AP Scholar Awards are graduates of the Class of 2011. Long Beach High School offers a total of 14 AP courses, which are open to any student willing to rise to the challenge. The AP Program is just one of three college-level programs offered at Long Beach High School. Students can select to participate in the world-renowned International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and can also choose from among 11 other college-level courses offered through the Syracuse University Project Advance and other colleges. Research shows that students who take AP and International Baccalaureate courses typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not avail themselves of the rigorous curriculum offered by advanced-level high school courses. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3400 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Middle School students Jack Cruse-Mulhall and Jonathan Kapilian are among the 72 students this year to be named Long Island Young Scholars of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury. Through the institute, they will participate in a 20-week Saturday program in mathematics and mathematical science applications. To qualify for this honor, they competed against 700 of the top-ranking students nominated from school districts on Long Island. Selection by the Institute implies that a student is among the top one-tenth of one percent in math of all students on Long Island in his or her grade. Acceptances were based on five criteria: a rigorous entrance exam, nomination, school transcript, recommendation by the student’s last math teacher, and a brief statement written by the student. Jack, who is a sixth grader, was recommended by his former Lido School math teacher Mary Doheny. He qualified this year to participate in Long Beach Middle School’s MATHCOUNTS enrichment and competition program for gifted and talented sixth graders, and is also a member of the Middle School Math Olympiad team. Jonathan, now in eighth grade, was recommended for this honor by Long Beach Middle School math teacher and Math Olympiad coach Tara Mele. Jonathan is a member of the Middle School Math Olympiad team. Each student is expected to attend 20 Saturday morning classes and to also complete related outside projects. The curriculum will cover mathematical topics from algebra, geometry and number theory not included in the standard courses of study, such as problem-solving applied to probability, drawing of ocean bottom profile, theory of finite differences and mass point geometry. Additionally, selected topics in science will be discussed. Participants will develop their abilities to use a variety of problem-solving skills and strategies; increase their interest and enthusiasm for problem-solving in mathematics; sharpen their mathematical intuition and develop their “brain power”; become acquainted with interesting and important mathematical ideas; and experience the satisfaction and thrill of discovery associated with creative problem-solving. Over the years, many of the Institute graduates have gone on to win prestigious awards, including national and international math, science and engineering contests. A number of alumni of the Institute have been selected as Intel and Siemens awardees in math, science and technology. The Institute is supported by SUNY College at Old Westbury, the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Suffolk County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, the Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors, and Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools. Funding for the Institute comes from corporate, foundation and individual contributors who believe that offering programs tuition-free maintains equal accessibility to all students who qualify. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3401 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT At halftime of the Long Beach High School Varsity Home Football game on Saturday, October 29, the Long Beach High School Athletic Department will honor the 1986 Varsity Football team on the 25th Anniversary of their making it to the county finals. Coach Bernhardt and many of the former team members will be present. Game kickoff is 1:30 p.m. at Veterans Field at the Lido Complex. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3387 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT At halftime of the Long Beach High School Varsity Home Football game on Saturday, October 29, the Long Beach High School Athletic Department will honor the 1986 Varsity Football team on the 25th Anniversary of their making it to the county finals. Coach Bernhardt and many of the former team members will be present. Game kickoff is 1:30 p.m. at Veterans Field at the Lido Complex. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3388 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School Marching Band and Color Guard performed a high-stepping tribute to Billy Joel at the 49th Annual Newsday Marching Band Festival at Hofstra University on October 18. The Festival, which acts as a fundraiser for the participating bands, will air in its entirety on iO TV Channel 14 on Thanksgiving Day. For photos and video, visit: www.msgvarsity.com/marchingbands or www.newsday.com/marchingbandfestival http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3338 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT John and Kelly Halligan lost their thirteen-year-old son, Ryan, to suicide on October 7, 2003. It was later revealed that Ryan had been ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online. Since then, Mr. Halligan has become an outspoken advocate for the need for more education and prevention of bullying, cyber bullying and teen suicide. Mr. Halligan visited the Long Beach School District to tell his son’s tragic story to Long Beach Middle School and High School students. He also presented a special evening session for parents of children in grades K-12. To make it possible for parents of younger children to attend, babysitting was provided. Mr. Halligan began with a video presentation of home movie clips and pictures of Ryan. He then told the story of Ryan’s life and the factors that led up to his son’s suicide. The audience gained a unique perspective from inside the family of a child who was a victim of bullying and cyber bullying. They also gained a deeper understanding of the devastating impact that teen suicide has on a family. Through Mr. Halligan’s very personal story, they also learned several life lessons about the power of forgiveness and the importance of finding ways to turn a tragedy into hope for others. As his story unfolded, Mr. Halligan followed Ryan’s journey through adolescence and his painful relationship with a bully, who over the years taunted him, eventually befriended him, and ultimately betrayed him by spreading vicious rumors in school and through social media. Some children joined in with the bully, while others stood by and did nothing, until ultimately the pain became too much for Ryan to bear. “With the advent of social media, bullying has become more emotional than physical,” he explained. “We can’t stop the problem without your help. The bystander is a big part of the problem. If just one friend had the courage to set that bully straight, Ryan might still be with us today. Nothing will change until you make a change. Don’t be a bystander. Be an upstander. Be a hero. You have the power.” On the topic of depression, he offered students this advice, “If you are feeling hopeless, I beg you to ask for help. Talk to your parents or another adult you can trust. If you need help, ask; if you have a friend who needs help, ask for them. Remember, all of you are loved more than you will ever know.” During the evening presentation, Mr. Halligan shared the lessons that he learned too late to save his own son. He empowered parents with strategies that they can use to take preventative actions with their own children, including a handout with dozens of suggestions regarding the safe use of technology. "Conflicts can be resolved through negotiation. Bullying is something different. Watch your kids and recognize the signs, take control of the gadgets, and pay attention to the bystanders. They are the ones who need to start standing up, to tell the bully that it’s not okay, to chip away at his audience, to take away his power.” In memory of his son, Mr. Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bully Prevention bill, which was signed into law (ACT117) in May 2004, only a few months after Ryan’s death. He also successfully led the passage of the law pertaining to mandatory suicide prevention education in public schools (ACT 114) in April 2006. His son’s story and his accomplishments in response to this tragedy have been told worldwide. This presentation of “Ryan’s Story” is just one example of the district’s ongoing work to support the social and emotional learning and development of all Pre-K-12 students in an effort to make schools safe, maintain a caring school climate, facilitate students’ holistic development, and enhance motivation and high achievement. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3321 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Children from Long Beach’s East School donned their most snuggly pajamas, grabbed their favorite stuffed animal and headed back to school with their parents to enjoy an evening PJ Party for kindergartners and first and second graders. While the children cozied up to read books and do crafts with their teachers in the gymnasium, parents attended a literacy workshop in the cafeteria, conducted by Principal Sean Murray and reading teacher Jennifer Pullara. To reinforce the social emotional learning going on daily at East School, the theme of the PJ Party was friendship. Teachers read a variety of “Henry and Mudge” books that touched on the subject of being a good friend. Then students went to work making keepsake friendship necklaces out of macaroni, string and big paper medallions that spelled out the word “friendship.” Meanwhile, at the parent workshop, Mr. Murray explained the newly revised NYS Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, and how the new standards will result in a shift in expectations for students, including a new focus on building academic vocabulary, reading non-fiction texts and exposing students to more complex texts. He then went on, with the help of Ms. Pullara, to demonstrate a number of easy ways that parents can help their children reinforce their reading and vocabulary skills while going about their daily routines at home and around town. To get the most out of their shared reading time, he introduced parents to eight simple steps they could use to engage in “text talk” with their children to help implant new vocabulary words into long-term memory. “It’s never too early to start using rich vocabulary with your children,” he explained. “But if you haven’t been doing these things, don’t worry, because it’s also never too late to start.” This is just one example of the district’s ongoing commitment to engage parents as educational partners, working together with teachers and administrators to help every child reach his or her full potential. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3312 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT A lesson on drawing the human body became a community service outreach project when students in Judith Knoop’s seventh-grade art classes at Long Beach Middle School participated in a contest to design a T-shirt for the Surfer’s Way Foundation. Surfer’s Way is a Long Beach-based non-profit organization that gives autistic children a chance to experience the thrill of surfing. Tamara Benny created the winning design, shown here. She is pictured with her mom, Olga Arteaga (left), Surfer’s Way founder Elliot Zuckerman and Ms. Knoop. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3297 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Ambrose Plante has been named a Semifinalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. As a Semifinalist, he ranks among the top one percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, better known as the PSAT. He will now have the opportunity to advance and compete for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships to be awarded next spring. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to continue to the Finalist level. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Ambrose is a member of the National Honor Society, the Foreign Language Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He was recently named a National AP Scholar for his exceptional performance on Advanced Placement exams. He is an All-County vocalist, has competed in the NYSSMA solo evaluations in classical guitar, and is a member of the Chess Club. A Varsity Tennis and Hockey player, Ambrose was a member of the 2010-2011 State Championship Hockey team. He also works as a skate guard and hockey instructor at the Long Beach Ice Arena. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3256 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School seniors Aditi Gupta, Jonathan Klus, Lila Martz, and Jane Smyth have been named Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), only 34,000 were named Commended Students, placing them in the top five percent of all students who took the test. Aditi, who is an International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, was also named an AP Scholar. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society. Active in science research, she qualified to compete in the New York Science Congress. An accomplished musician, Aditi performs in the Select Choir and the Chamber Orchestra. Jonathan is a member of the National Honor Society and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. Active in science research, he has won multiple awards at international science competitions. Jonathan is the vice president of the Israeli Culture Club, president of the Future Physicians Club at Long Beach Medical Center, and is a hospital volunteer. As an athlete, he competes on the Varsity Cross Country team and the Varsity Swim team. A National Honor Society officer, Lila organized the society’s annual Badminton for Breast Cancer Tournament. She is a two-year captain of the Varsity Tennis team. Lila also qualified to take the Chemistry Olympiad test. During the summer, she volunteers at Camp Anchor, a local camp for special-needs children. An International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, Jane is an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She is vice president of the senior class and is a Model Congress delegate chair. She has won multiple science research awards at regional, national and international science competitions, and participated in the Simons Research Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University. Jane also writes for “Fragments,” her school’s literary magazine, and has won local and state awards for her writing. Outside of school, she practices tae kwon do and ballet. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3257 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has officially appointed Sabrina Cantore to serve as the district’s Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services, effective October 3, 2011. Ms. Cantore most recently served as the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Pupil Services for Great Neck Public Schools. She joined the Great Neck special education department in July of 2002 as Supervisor of Special Education, and later served as Assistant Director, and then Director, of Special Education and Pupil Services. Ms. Cantore began her career in public education as a school psychologist. While in Great Neck, she was a member of several committees, including Response to Intervention, the Emergency Response Team and the Technology and Annual Professional Performance Review. She developed and expanded programs for students with disabilities, including an internship program for students ages 18-21, an alternative high school program and an intensive needs program. Ms. Cantore holds an Advanced Certificate in Psychodynamic School Psychology, an Advanced Certificate in School Administration, a master’s degree in education and an Advanced Certificate in School Psychology. She is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists, the Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development and the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators. She is also active in the Lions Club and is the president of a foundation established to assist families struggling with leukemia and lymphoma. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3259 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Tickets to the Newsday Marching Band Festival (We're participating on Tuesday, Oct. 18) at Hofstra University are now on sale in the Music Office. Tickets are $8.00 if purchased from the Music Office and $10.00 at the gate. Please call 897-6500 for details. A portion of the proceeds of tickets purchased through the school directly will go back to the music department. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3233 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Girls Varsity Soccer game vs. Syosset on 10/11, the Boys Varsity Soccer game vs. Herricks on 10/14, and the Varsity Football game vs. Carey on 10/15 will all be streamed live this week on MSGVarsity.com. The Boys Soccer game will also air on MSG Varsity Channel 14 on 10/17 at 4 p.m. The Football game will air on 10/17 at 7:30 p.m. It’s a great opportunity for anyone who can't make it to the game to see all the action. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3234 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT To get students off to a solid start in the college application process, the Long Beach High School Guidance Department hosted its annual Senior Parent College Information Night. Guidance Director Patricia Hausfeld welcomed students and their parents, promising to provide answers for the two most pressing questions on everyone’s mind: “What is the next step?” and “What do I need to do to get there?” Ms. Hausfeld began by reviewing information about graduation requirements, SAT/ACT exams, college visits, upcoming college fairs, financial aid and the NCAA Clearinghouse. She also introduced parents to the 100% electronic transcript and application process that students will be using this year for the first time, facilitated through an online program called Naviance Family Connection. Students and teachers have already been introduced to the program and will receive continued support from the guidance staff to make sure all goes smoothly. Hofstra University’s Director of Admissions Sunil Samuel was the evening’s guest speaker. He helped everyone make sense of what often seems like an overwhelming and confusing process. A few choice pieces of advice that he offered were to start early, visit colleges, sample the food and observe coeds going about their daily business. “I always tell students to avoid what I call the ‘trophy school syndrome,’” he explained. “Don’t look for the college that looks best on the back window of your car. Look for the school that feels right to you.” Mr. Samuel went on to explain the pieces of the puzzle that admissions officers examine to determine which students will contribute the most to their particular college community. He touched on the high school transcript, standardized test scores, the college essay, extra-curricular activities and interviews. He also cautioned that every college is different with regard to deadlines, financial aid and evaluation of transcripts and standardized scores, and advised students to visit each school’s admissions page, or call the admissions office to ask questions. In conclusion, Mr. Samuel assured the seniors that “it will all work out in the end, if you go about it in the right way, ask the right questions and advocate for yourselves. Be aware and involved in the process.” After the presentation, Mr. Samuel, Ms. Hausfeld and the entire guidance staff stayed to answer questions and offer further reassurance. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3178 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT Middle School seventh graders embarked on an interdisciplinary project that is aimed at helping them develop a dedication to community service. In their English classes, students were first asked to think and write about a cause, problem or organization that they were passionate about supporting. Then, with the help of Michelle and Timmy Kelly of Earth Arts ceramics studio in Long Beach, each student created a ceramic tile depicting the cause they had chosen. Among their causes were homelessness, global warming, and the Make a Wish Foundation. To turn their thoughts into actions, students will be gathering information about their causes during social studies classes and developing plans of action to get involved. Then they will pick one or two causes to support as a group, and contact each organization to discuss ways that they can help. The idea for this project grew out of last year’s districtwide Character Education Celebration, during which all of the corridors of Long Beach Middle School were given names such as Caring Court and Peaceful Place. Students have been working under the guidance of Team 7-2 teachers Jennifer McWilliams, Megan Kalner, Ronald Destio, Tami Richards, Margaret Karthaus, Jessica Bedard and Linda Weiss, whose hallway was renamed Dedication Depot, thus giving them the inspiration for the project. The tiles will be housed in a hallway display, reminding the students to remain dedicated to their causes. Long Beach Public School students throughout the district will be participating in similar community service activities during the course of the school year as part of the district’s emphasis on promoting social-emotional learning. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3132 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT In what has become a time-honored Homecoming tradition, three new honorees were inducted into the Long Beach High School Wall of Fame. Eric Foner, Steven Libutti and Thomas Parker took their place among the 118 other distinguished graduates and community members whose plaques hang in the High School commons area as an inspiration to the youth of Long Beach. Dr. Foner (Class of 1959) was on the tennis team, president of Arista and voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” After completing degrees at Columbia University and Oxford University, he went on to a distinguished teaching career at Cambridge University, City College of New York, Moscow State University, the University of London and Columbia. Among his numerous awards, he received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching from Columbia University and the Kidger Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship from the New England History Teachers Association. He recently won the Pulitzer Prize for History for his book entitled The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. Dr. Libutti (Class of 1982) was a member of the varsity soccer team, played in the jazz, concert and marching bands, and participated in the Key, DECA and Future Physicians clubs. He completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard University and went on to receive his M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After completing his surgical residency at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York, he went on to serve at various hospitals, including the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His research led to novel approaches for the treatment of cancer. He has received numerous honors for his work, including the National Cancer Institute Technology Transfer, Director’s Gold Star and Director’s Innovation Awards. Mr. Parker (Class of 1963) excelled in football and wrestling, and was selected the Varsity Football MVP in 1963. After spending two years at Wesley College, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. During his tour of duty he received two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and an Army Commendation for Valor. In 1969, Mr. Parker became a Long Beach police officer and rose to the rank of detective, earning five commendations, fourteen Excellent Police Duty Awards and three Life Saving Awards. After retiring in 1990, he volunteered his time as a coach of football and baseball for the Long Beach Recreation Department. The Wall of Fame was dedicated in 1996 by the Long Beach Booster Club in cooperation with the Long Beach Public Schools to serve as an inspiration for the youth of Long Beach. “Over 1,300 students and 200 staff members pass by this wall every day,” Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi said in his address at the Wall of Fame dedication ceremony. “May it inspire them to go on to do great things like today’s honorees have done.” “I am honored to be here to celebrate your accomplishments,” said Superintendent of Schools David Weiss. “May you serve as a source of inspiration as we continue with our efforts to bring pride to our community.” “The attachment and affection of the people in Long Beach to one another is unique,” said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, who helped obtain funding to create the wall. “This is a wonderful opportunity to thank and honor those whose achievements have made a difference in our lives.” Longtime friend Betty Meron spoke fondly of the accomplishments of Eric Foner. “Growing up in the 50’s in Long Beach was a time of safety, but it was a dangerous time politically. Eric’s family was plagued by McCarthyism in the 50’s, but he rose above it to become an accomplished historian and scholar like his father.” In one of the more touching moments of the ceremony, Dr. Libutti acknowledged his middle school science teacher Bruce Schneider, recalling a memorable lesson in chemistry that inspired him to pursue a career in research and medicine. School Board trustee Pat Gallagher gave an emotional tribute to his longtime friend Thomas Parker, thanking him for his many years of service to his country and his community. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3133 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT The damp, rainy weather did not deter fans who filled the stands at Veterans Field to cheer the Marines on to a 34-7 Homecoming victory against Bellmore JFK. Peter Amabile had 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries. Tom Rowley had 56 rushing yards and a touchdown, as well as 147 passing yards and two touchdown passes. The Homecoming Carnival, sponsored by the Student Government Organization, attracted record crowds despite the inclement weather. Volunteers from many school clubs and honor societies provided the entertainment, which included international foods, a pie toss, a wedding booth, finger painting, a photo booth and other carnival games. The inclement weather prevented the marching band from presenting their traditional halftime show, but the Varsity Cheerleading Squad braved the rain to entertain the crowd and inspire the athletes. Then members of the Long Beach Bulldogs youth football program charged across the field at lightning speed in the annual Bulldog Dash, before the football team returned to the field for the second half. The Varsity Football team will be sponsoring the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation during the fall season. To support this cause, donations were collected at the gate and at the concession stand. Homecoming weekend was capped off with a ceremony on Saturday morning to induct new members to the Long Beach High School Wall of Fame. This year’s inductees were esteemed professor and historian Eric Foner (Class of 1959), renowned doctor and cancer researcher Steven Libutti (Class of 1982) and Vietnam War veteran and retired Long Beach Police Detective Thomas Parker (Class of 1963). http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3134 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the Marching Band and Color Guard will not be performing at the September 23rd Homecoming. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3119 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School juniors Russell Goetz and Joseph Keiserman have been selected to perform at the 2011 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Winter Conference in Rochester, NY. Russell earned the distinction of being accepted to both the Mixed Chorus and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He will perform with the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Joseph Keiserman, who plays double bass, was selected for the Symphony Orchestra. They will attend the annual All-State Conference from December 1- 4, 2011, performing at the renowned Eastman Theater under the direction of nationally prominent conductors. Seniors Annie Winerip (jazz trumpet) and Grace Smith (flute) have been selected as alternates to the All-State Ensembles. This is one of the highest honors bestowed on high school music students in New York State. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor at solo evaluation festivals held across the state last year. Russell, who is a six-time All-County musician, is the first Long Beach High School student to be selected for the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society and performs in the high school Jazz Ensemble, Select Choir, Chorus and Wind Ensemble. He has also played leading roles in the high school drama and musical productions. Joseph is a four-time All-County musician who has played in the Long Island String Festival. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society and performs in the Select Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Concert Orchestra. He has also played leading roles in the high school drama and musical productions and will be the student director of both productions this year. Annie, who is a five-time All-County musician, performs in the Nassau Suffolk Jazz Ensemble and has traveled to Europe with the Blue Lake Jazz Orchestra. She performs in the high school’s Jazz Band, Dixieland Jazz Band, Marching Band and Pit Orchestra. A member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society, she is an AP Scholar with Honor. An accomplished athlete as well, she is a member of the Varsity Softball and Swimming teams. Grace is a two-time All-County musician who plays in the Marching Band and the Wind Ensemble. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She also participates in the Talented Writers Program and writes for “Fragments,” her school’s award-winning literary magazine. Adelphi University Pre-College Jazz Combo Long Beach High School junior Jesse Klirsfeld will be performing at the All-State Music Conference with the Adelphi University Pre-College Jazz Combo. Jesse is a four-time All-County musician who also plays in the High School Jazz Ensemble, Swing Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble and Pit Orchestra. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3101 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT In what has become an annual Constitution Day tradition, a group of Long Beach High School juniors and seniors in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program visited classrooms at Lido Elementary School to teach a special lesson about the role the Constitution plays in our system of government. The high school students came armed with their advanced knowledge of U.S. History to discuss the functions of the three branches of government and the balance of power among them as ensured by the U.S. Constitution. After a brief introduction, students broke into groups to color pictures of the White House, the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court, and to complete a Constitution Day word search. While the younger children colored, the older students led them in lively discussions about the importance of the democratic system of checks and balances. This is just one of many special outreach projects that these high school students plan to accomplish throughout the year as part of the Creativity, Action and Service requirement for International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3108 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Click here to ready the story http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3095 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Middle School eighth grader Jonathan Kapilian is one of 75 students on Long Island named a Long Island Young Scholar of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury, an organization that helps students pursue mathematics and science studies. To gain acceptance, Jonathan competed against 850 top-ranked students on Long Island, putting him in the top one-tenth of one percent of math students in grades 5-10. Selection criteria included a rigorous entrance exam, school transcript, teacher recommendation, student statement, and an application. The program consists of attending 20 classes held on Saturdays at Old Westbury and completing related outside assignments. The participants will broaden their backgrounds in mathematics, sharpen their thinking skills, and develop their problem-solving abilities. Educating these special children will make a major contribution to the pursuit of excellence in science and mathematics. Jonathan was nominated for this honor by Long Beach Middle School mathematics teacher and Math Olympiads coach Tara Mele, who recognized his exceptional aptitude in math. Jonathan is a member of the Middle School Math Olympiad team. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3069 Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School senior Gabriella Klein received an Award of Merit in Dance from the Scholar Artist Program. The program, which is sponsored by the Long Island Alliance for the Arts in cooperation with Newsday, recognizes talented students in the fine and performing arts. She was one of only 20 Long Island students to be honored with this award. Gabriella was invited to a kickoff event at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, at which she and her fellow scholar artists attended a welcome reception, dinner and photo shoot. They also met with representatives from the arts programs of local colleges. She will also be honored at an end-of-the-year reception at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Gabriella was nominated for this honor by Long Beach High School dance teacher Christianne Donohue. As part of the application process, Gabriella was required to submit an audition tape and write an essay about how her involvement in dance has shaped her life. “We recognize that you are dedicated to your art and that you are a very valuable asset to your school district,” said John J. Gallagher, Chairperson of the Scholar Artist Committee. “We commend you for your hard work, excellent scholarship and accomplishments.” A student of Irish step dancing for ten years, Gabriella has competed with the Hagen School of Irish Dance in five world championships, and will be competing in this year’s World Championships in Belfast, Ireland in April 2012. Gabriella has also studied modern dance in the Long Beach High School dance program, which was introduced in the fall of 2010. She is a member of the National Honor Society and National Foreign Language Honor Society, and plays first violin in the High School Chamber Orchestra. Athletically, she is a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field teams. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3056 Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students joined forces with the Quiksilver Foundation to help the City of Long Beach clean up the Magnolia Street Park—a children’s playground at the boardwalk in Long Beach that was damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. The students participated in this cleanup as a living memorial to their Surf Club coach, teacher and local environmentalist, Daniel Bobis, who died this summer in a tragic surfing accident off the coast of Indonesia. Long Beach High School Surf Team members and students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program teamed up with city and school district officials and representatives of the Quiksilver Foundation to shovel mounds of sand and remove debris, making short work of the cleanup job. World Champion surfer Kelly Slater and local legend Balaram Stack also dropped in to help out. Both were in town for the Quiksilver Pro New York Competition, which took place in Long Beach on September 1-11. Students worked under the direction of IB Coordinator Dr. Andrew Smith and Surf Team coaches Anthony Balsamo, Rich Rogers and Daniel’s wife, Rachel Bobis. All are Long Beach teachers, and all share a special bond as his close friends and surfing companions. “Giving back to the community has always been important to me, and it was important to Danny as well,” said Ms. Bobis. “ As coaches of the LBHS Surf Team, our goal is not only to teach the students about surfing but also about caring and contributing to our community and taking care of our environment. I am so proud of the team and how they have risen above such a great loss to follow in Danny's footsteps, as I strive each day to do as well.” While the Quiksilver Pro New York Competition has been in Long Beach, the Surf Club also received VIP passes to the qualifying rounds, surfed with some of the pros, and participated in a 9/11 Memorial Paddle Out. (PHOTOS: Courtesy of Joley Welkowitz) http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3045 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Surf Club members joined forces with over 300 local surfers, firefighters, police, lifeguards, Quiksilver Pro surfers, and members of the military for the O’Keefe Foundation’s Annual 9/11 Memorial Paddle Out to honor those lost on that tragic day. After a memorial mass and service, the participants lined the shore with surfboards in hand. Long Beach lifeguards placed a memorial wreath on a surfboard, as all the participants paddled out on the ocean together to form a memorial circle. All the participants wore black armbands emblazoned with the names of victims of the 9/11 attack. Long Beach High School social studies students had made these armbands earlier in the week as part of a joint venture with the Quiksilver Foundation. This was one of several cooperative activities between Long Beach High School students and the Quiksilver Foundation that took place while the Quiksilver Pro New York Competition was in town. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3046 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011, at 6:00 PM in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. It is anticipated that the Board will then vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. The Board will reconvene for a Work Session at 7:30 PM in the auditorium of the Long Beach Middle School. There will be a presentation of the APPR – Annual Professional Performance Review. The Agenda For This Meeting Is Available For Review http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2988 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT In conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro New York Competition, Olympic snowboarder Torah Bright paid a visit to Long Beach High School to speak with physical education classes about her experiences. She told students how she developed her love for snowboarding as a 12-year-old in the mountains of Australia. Since then she has spent most of her life traveling the world to practice and compete. Students asked her what life was like in Australia, how many times she was injured practicing this extreme sport, and what it felt like to win the Olympic Gold Medal in Calgary. “When I crossed that green line, it was a feeling of total relief,” said Ms. Bright. “I had suffered three concussions, so I spent more time off the snow than on before the Olympics. That experience taught me how important it is to be mentally strong as well as physically strong. I am always in competition with myself. It was exciting to know that my personal best happened to be the best in the world that day.” Ms. Bright emphasized the importance of hard work and effort it takes to be successful. When asked to put a number on it, she said that her success was 99% effort and 1% talent. At the end of her presentation, Ms. Bright stayed to chat with students and sign autographs before heading back to the festivities at the Quiksilver Pro New York Competition. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3027 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT In cooperation with the Quiksilver Foundation, Long Beach High School social studies students did their part to commemorate 9/11 by making more than 300 black armbands decorated with the names of people who lost their lives on that tragic day. The armbands were worn by Long Beach High School Surf Club members, Quiksilver Pro competitors, firefighters, police, lifeguards and military as they took part in the Annual O’Keefe Foundation 9/11 Memorial Paddle Out on Sunday morning at the Long Beach Ocean Park. More than 300 people took part in this event honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11. Long Beach Public School students throughout the district will be participating in similar community service activities during the course of the school year as part of the district’s emphasis on promoting social-emotional learning. The Quiksilver Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to benefiting and enhancing the quality of life for communities of board riders across the world by supporting environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects. The foundation teamed up with Long Beach High School students on other local community service projects—including a cleanup of the Magnolia Street Playground—during the Quiksilver Pro New York competition, which was held in Long Beach on September 1-15. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3029 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Homecoming will take place on Friday, September 23, 2011, with the Marines facing off against Bellmore JFK. Festivities will begin with a carnival at the Middle School gymnasium beginning at 6:30 p.m., featuring food, games and activities for children of all ages. Game kick-off is 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Field at Long Beach Middle School. The weekend’s festivities will be capped off on Saturday, September 24 with the Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at Long Beach High School. This year’s honorees are Eric Foner, Steve Libutti and Thomas J. Parker. All are welcome to attend. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=3017 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT The wet weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of students and teachers on the first day of classes in Long Beach Public Schools. As the new school year begins, the district’s focus will be to continue to challenge all students to reach their true potential, integrate technology to enhance classroom instruction, promote social emotional learning, encourage communication with parents and continue to improve facilities. In grades K-12 there will be a continued emphasis on literacy instruction, writing and math, using proven programs such as Read 180 and enVision Math, supported by the use of data-driven instruction. Technology-based initiatives using SmartBoards, computers and web-based tools will be integrated into classroom instruction to further enhance learning. At the High School, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program will continue to expand, with 21 IB Diploma candidates in grade 12 and an additional 53 students entering the diploma program this year. International Baccalaureate courses in business and management, social and cultural anthropology, dance and math studies are among the new high school course offerings. An area of emphasis this year will be on increasing communication with parents. One of the tools that will be utilized will be the newly redesigned district website, www.lbeach.org, which officially launched on August 30. Reading and writing assessments will also be shared with parents. Over the summer, work began on the new additions at the Lido Complex and the High School, while renovation projects continued at East, West and Lindell Schools. The high school pool reopened in July after the installation of a new energy efficient and environmentally friendly filtration system was completed. The facilities and maintenance staff, under the direction of Chief Operating Officer Michael DeVito, did their best to ensure that all the buildings would be ready for the start of school. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2991 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded the editors of Long Beach High School’s literary magazine, “Fragments,” a gold medal in its 2011 national competition. This is the second year in a row that “Fragments” received a gold medal in this prestigious competition, under the leadership of editors-in-chief Ben Weiss and Sophie Corwin and editors Jane Smyth, Eileen Kelly and Emily Charleson. These students edit and write for “Fragments” as part of the High School’s Talented Writers program, taught by Rachell Koegel. Over the years, “Fragments” writers, editors and artists have consistently won top awards at national and state competitions for their work. They are still awaiting results from other contests that will be announced in October and November. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2996 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Pursue your interest in art, cooking, dance, investments, foreign language, Feng Shui, health and fitness, sports, hobbies and crafts, careers or self-improvement through the Long Beach Public Schools Adult Education program. Learn defensive driving or public speaking techniques, review for SAT and GED exams, or become a citizen. A brochure listing fall course offerings was mailed to all households in the Long Beach School District, and is available at theContinuing Education Website. Classes begin the week of October 3. In-person registration will take place on Monday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 21 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Long Beach Middle School Cafeteria. Completed registration forms may also be mailed to the Adult Education Office. Early mail registration is recommended. Senior citizen discounts are offered for many courses. For more information, email conted@optonline.net or call 516-897-2206. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2997 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School is pleased to announce that 18 twelfth graders were able to complete the requirements for graduation during the summer school session, bringing the 2011 graduation rate to 95% - a ten-year high for the school. A total of 346 students sat for at least one Regents exam. A total of 87% of all students who took the English Regents passed. The only students who did fail did not come to summer school or attend any of the scheduled review sessions. The passing rate in the Global History August Regents increased from 39% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. The passing rate in Living Environment increased from 50% to 61%. “The increase in both attendance and success rates is due in large part to an increased focus on the at-risk student population,” explained Summer School Principal Dr. Andrew Smith during a presentation at the August 30th Board of Education Meeting. “The overall goal was not simply to get students to take the exams, but to have them be successful.” Over the past few years, Long Beach Summer School has been striving to re-envision summer school as a place to improve student learning well beyond the six-week program. Summer school now provides students with a way of extending their learning, gaining necessary credit, and receiving effective intervention and enrichment opportunities. “The ultimate goal is to help students change their behaviors to become more interested, invested and involved in school,” said Dr. Smith. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2953 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there was a meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, August 30th, 2011, at 4:30 PM in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. It was anticipated that the Board would vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel and pending and proposed legal matters. The Board reconvened for a regular meeting at 7:30 PM in the auditorium of the Long Beach Middle School, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach. View The Agenda from this meeting. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2926 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Summer School program provides a structured environment for the most at-risk students in grades 6-12 to extend their learning, gain necessary credit, and receive effective intervention and enrichment opportunities. Over the past five years, the emphasis on high standards for achievement has led to better instruction, higher student passing rates and less disciplinary issues. In addition to offering students the opportunity for a second chance to obtain class credit, the program also strives to help students learn how to be more responsible and engaged learners. The program focuses on providing additional structure and personal attention to help students develop positive academic habits. The small group setting allows the staff to connect with students on a more direct and personal level, providing an atmosphere that fosters learning. Because teachers are able to work so closely with students, discipline is rarely an issue. To encourage further support for students, teachers and administrators maintain close and frequent contact with parents. “Over the past few years, Long Beach Summer School has strived to re-envision summer school as a place to improve student learning well beyond the six-week program,” said Summer School Principal Dr. Andrew Smith. “The ultimate goal is to help students change their behaviors to become more interested, invested and involved in school.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2893 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Public Schools Extended School Year Program for Students with Disabilities provides students in grades K-12 with a rich blend of recreation, enrichment and practical learning activities that help them maintain the skills they acquired over the course of the traditional school year. In addition to their regular classroom activities, students have taken trips to Waldbaums, Adventureland, Baldwin Bowl, Marvel Ice Cream, the Long Beach Movie Theater and the Long Island Children’s Museum. They were also able to participate in dance and cooking classes, as well as swim sessions at the high school pool. Students were also given a unique experience to participate in a program called Surf for All, held at the Long Beach Ocean Beach Park. With the aid of specially trained surf instructors, the students have been setting off on longboards to ride the waves and experience the healing powers of the ocean, as their families and teachers cheer them on. In addition to having fun, the children who participate in the program experience multiple educational benefits. Surfing helps them take a step toward independence, challenging them to overcome fears, build trust, establish relationships, enhance gross motor skills and listen to directions—many of the same skills they develop every day during their regular classroom instruction. Surf for All is a local not-for-profit organization launched by brothers Cliff and Will Skudin and Long Beach resident Jim Mulvaney to help people with special needs, ranging from autism to diabetes, through surfing. “We are pleased to be able to provide our students with many enriching summer activities, while giving them a fun way to practice and maintain all the skills they learned during the school year,” said Dr. Mary Tatem, the district’s Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services. “We are especially grateful to the Skudins, who have been volunteering their time and talent to the children in our Special Education Summer Program for three years now. It has been a phenomenal experience for our students and their families.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2894 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth had their joint research published in the Summer 2011 issue of Clear Waters Magazine, a publication of the New York Water Environment Association. As an added honor, one of the photos they submitted with their paper appeared on the cover of the magazine. The article, entitled “Mussels, a Natural Approach to Sewage Treatment: Evaluating Geukensia demissa as Biofilters of Local Bay Pollution,” can be viewed at http://nywea.org/clearwaters/11-2-Summer/. Arianne and Jane developed their research in the Long Beach High School Science Research Program. During the 2010-2011 school year, the duo earned numerous awards for this same research, including a Second Place Grand Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and a gold medal at the I-SWEEEP international science competition. They also qualified to represent New York State at the national level of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition. They spent the summer in the Simons Research Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University, working on the Western Bays Project to reduce pollution in Nassau’s marshlands. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2885 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Superintendent David Weiss invites residents to meet with him in small informal groups. To host or attend an outreach meeting, call 516-897-2104. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2866 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT The district bids a fond farewell to this year’s retirees, some of whom who have dedicated their entire careers to serving the children of Long Beach. ADMINISTRATORS Dr. Robert Greenberg Dr. Robert Greenberg came to Long Beach seven years ago as a superintendent with a vision, leading the district on a path to greater fiscal health, rallying community support to address the needs of aging facilities, and raising expectations and support for academic achievement for all. He retired in June, leaving the district with a Moody’s A-1 rating, a Capital Improvement Plan in full swing, and an ever-increasing number of students pushing their academic boundaries through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Advanced Placement and other college-level courses. Harry Witkin Harry Witkin began his Long Beach career as a student teacher in 1974, realizing that he had a passion not only for teaching mathematics, but for Long Beach as well. Generations of Long Beach graduates remember him fondly as the man who opened their minds to the wonders of everything from general math to AP Calculus. He spent 27 years as a classroom teacher, six years as the chair of the high school mathematic department and three years as the k-12 Director of Mathematics. He was also a respected coach of track, lacrosse and football. He leaves the district with these parting words: “Enjoy what you do. We really do make a difference!” Michel Richez Mike Richez began his career with the district as a substitute teacher in 1976, and became a full-time reading teacher in 1978. In 1999, he was appointed as the Director of Technology, leading the district into the 21st century with the introduction of over 2,000 connected computers, laptops, and peripherals, and more than 225 SmartBoards. Through over 30 years of service, he supported children and staff with kindness, dignity and honesty. Carolyn Cuttler Carolyn Cuttler joined the district in 1976 as a high school business education teacher. She left in 1982 to become the Coordinator of Legal Studies at SUNY Farmingdale, returning to the high school in 1995 as a guidance counselor. She was appointed Guidance Chairperson in 1998, and most recently served as the District Director of K-12 Guidance. Mrs. Cuttler has been described as the “Soul of Long Beach High School,” guiding students and parents safely through their journey to college with endless energy, dedication and wisdom. Ronni Reimel During her 16-year tenure as Principal of East School, Ronni Reimel knew every child and parent who passed through her building by name. She has always inspired those around her to treat students as they would treat their own children and grandchildren. She wove a beautiful tapestry of education and love as she led her staff members in the challenge to teach and reach every child. This fall she will be on safari in South Africa with her husband. She plans to continue working as an Adjunct Professor, but her staff believes she could be a very successful stand up comic! Teachers Susan Bedell, East School Teacher (22 years) Irma Camacho, Lindell Teacher (22 years) Frances Daddona, Lindell Teacher (21 years) Robert Epstein, High School English Teacher (35 years) Bruce Kaplan, High School Chorus Teacher (38 years) Crecensio Morales, High School Guidance Counselor (23 years) Jacqueline Scher, Middle School Orchestra Teacher (21 years) Susan Weinstock, Lindell Library Media Specialist (29 years) Support Staff William Backe, District Duplicating Machine Operator (30 years) Catherine Kenahan, Middle School Secretary (21 years) Annice Wilder, Bus Driver (26 years) Esther Young, Bus Driver (6 years) http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2867 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has officially appointed Theresa Taplin as Vice Principal of Long Beach Middle School, effective July 20. She will fill the position left by Dr. Michele Natali, who took on the role of Principal of the Middle School on July 1. She will be working side by side with Vice Principal Keith Biesma. Ms. Taplin comes to Long Beach from the Rockville Centre Union Free School District, where she most recently served as Mathematics Facilitator at South Side Middle School and Summer Program Principal for the district’s various summer programs for children ages 4-18. She began teaching math at South Side Middle School in 1990. Considered a leader in mathematics acceleration, she has edited integrated algebra textbooks, and also facilitated the writing, editing and creating of the Integrated Algebra Regents for the State of New York. Ms. Taplin holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Administration from Hofstra University and a Master of Science in Secondary Education in Mathematics from Long Island University/C.W. Post College. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2837 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Click Here for More Information http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2838 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT At the July 19th meeting of the Long Beach Board of Education, board members officially appointed Dr. Timothy J. Piciullo to serve as Vice Principal of Long Beach High School, effective July 20. He replaces Cheriese Pemberton, who became the District Director of Mathematics on July 1. As the newest member of the High School administrative team, he will be working closely with Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi and fellow Vice Principals John Emmons and Thomas DePaola. Having served previously as Principal of Wantagh Middle School, Assistant Principal of Hauppauge High School and Dean of Students at Bellport High School, Dr. Piciullo is an expert in middle to high school transition issues. He has also had extensive experience in all areas of instructional leadership, student management, discipline and building administration. Dr. Piciullo started his career in education in September 2002 as a middle school technology teacher in Patchogue-Medford Public Schools. He later went on to teach middle and high school technology and business classes for Islip Public Schools. Dr. Piciullo holds a doctorate in education, educational administration and technology, as well as a master’s degree in secondary education business, both from Dowling College. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Information Technology from Briarcliffe College. “I am honored to join the Long Beach educational community, “ said Dr. Piciullo. “I am looking forward to working along with the students, staff, and parents to help ensure a successful school year.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2836 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Jack Cruse-Mulhall, a fifth grader at Lido Elementary School in the Long Beach School District, recently delivered the WPIX Channel 11 weather forecast as the "Friday Forecaster!” “He began fifth grade with a small case of nerves for public speaking. You would never know by watching the video,” said his teacher Deborah Cupani. "Jack was great! He was so natural. I’m so happy to hear he had fun, he was a hit around here!" said Segment Producer Kate Sullivan. Jack received this honor through his great uncle Jim Monahan, president of CURB (Citizens United to Remove Barriers), who won a spot on the show by bidding for it at a fundraiser for Long Beach REACH, an organization that provides community services to those in need on Long Island. To see Jack’s Friday Forecaster segment, visit: http://www.wpix.com/videobeta/0db65fba-ab97-4fa5-8e89-9d7ae9793c77 http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2835 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County has selected Long Beach High School freshman Shannon Sondergaard as the recipient of the first annual Nassau County Friedlander Upstander Award for her efforts to end racism and bullying. Having been chosen from a pool of 50 applicants, she was presented with a $2,500 scholarship award, given by the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation via the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Shannon is a founding member of Long Beach High School’s Anti-Bullying Club (The ABC), a group of nearly 30 students dedicated to finding ways to resolve bullying in schools. She and her fellow club members were key presenters at the Long Island Youth Safety Coalition Internet Safety and Bullying Prevention Conference at Hofstra University on March 29. Club members created an Anti-Bullying Pledge, which was signed by them and many of their classmates. They have also made presentations to their younger peers at Long Beach Middle School, dramatizing how important it is to stand up to bullies, instead of being a witness to bullying who does nothing. “We nominated Shannon for this award because she is a true upstander,” said ABC co-advisor Jaclyn Gallinaro, who supervises the club with Phil Bruno. “One of her friends was being bullied online, and rather than sit by, Shannon told the students who were writing negative comments to stop…and they did. We felt that she should be praised for her independent spirit and courage.” The mission of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County is to teach the history of the Holocaust and its lessons through education and community outreach. The organization teaches about the dangers of anti-Semitism, racism, bullying and all other manifestations of intolerance. It also promotes resistance to prejudice and advocates respect for every human being. “Ms. Sondergaard embodies our mission and exemplifies all that we teach in our education programs,” said Sarah M. Cushman, Ph.D., Director of Youth Education for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2811 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Kelsey McLaughlin, who will be entering her senior year at Long Beach High School, has been named an All-State Softball player. The Varsity shortstop had a batting average of .375, with five home runs and 14 RBIs. This is Kelsey’s fourth year as a Varsity starter. She is a two-time All-County player. Kelsey, who is also an honor roll student, has committed to play softball for C.W. Post in September 2012. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2800 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT At its annual reorganization meeting, the Long Beach Board of Education appointed two members to the Board and elected its officers for the 2011-2012 school year. Incumbents Dr. Dennis Ryan and Patrick Gallagher were officially reappointed. Members unanimously reelected Dr. Ryan to serve as President of the Board. Roy Lester was then unanimously elected to serve as Vice President. An oath of office was officially administered to Superintendent of Schools David Weiss, whose first official day with the district was July 1, 2011. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2794 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Vice Principal John Emmons had a dream to convert his 2004 Ford F250 diesel engine to run on waste vegetable oil. When he shared his idea with technology teacher Jim Johnsen, Mr. Johnsen decided it would make a great project for his automotive class. They purchased the conversion kit from a manufacturer in Iowa named Biofuels Technologies. After completing the conversion, students staged a successful test run of the engine on the last day of classes. In addition to giving the students a chance to practice their automotive shop skills, the project also gave them an opportunity to make a local contribution to helping the environment. Vegetable oil is much cleaner than diesel, giving off almost no sulfur. Another green aspect of this project is that Mr. Emmons will be recycling waste oil that that would normally have to be thrown out by restaurants. Although the car can still run on diesel fuel, Mr. Emmons hopes to secure local restaurant owners who would be willing to give him waste vegetable oil, which he can then filter and use as his primary fuel. To put the truck through its paces, he is planning a road trip down to Alabama this summer, using 100 percent waste vegetable oil to fuel the truck. During the course of the year, Mr. Johnsen’s students have been working on equally challenging projects, such as restoring a classic Lotus racecar and rebuilding the engine on a junked 1969 BSA motorcycle. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2793 Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT As part of Long Beach Public Schools Character Counts! program, seventh graders in Long Beach Middle School’s Team 7-1 participated in a beach cleanup at the Long Beach Ocean Beach Park. Students swept the beach from Neptune to New York Avenue, collecting anything that wasn’t natural to the beach environment. Before students arrived at the beach, they viewed a video about pollution, to give them an idea of how plastic bags and other waste material harm animals that live in our waters. A scavenger hunt for specific items gave students extra incentive to comb the beach. Their goal was to collect 100 bags of garbage. Students were joined by some special guests. Erin McKeon, a veteran of the war in Iraq who was a guest lecturer at the Middle School Veterans Day Celebration in November, was happy to volunteer alongside the students. They were also joined by former Long Beach resident Adam Kohn and his daughter, who had just arrived from Colorado to visit his parents. When they saw the beach cleanup in progress, they grabbed a bag and joined in. To get students off to a good start, a breakfast of bagels and juice was donated by Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford in recognition of their good citizenship as stewards of our beach and ocean waters. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2777 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT A special exhibit of art created by students in the Long Beach Middle School Studio in Art program adorned the lobby of Long Beach City Hall for a limited engagement showing June 3-9. Students must submit a portfolio to be admitted this advanced art course for eighth graders. They attend class five day a week and earn high school credit for the course, enabling them to continue to the Advanced Studio in Art class in their first year of high school. Eighth-grade Studio in Art classes are taught by Laura Swan and Scott Knyper. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2779 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the annually required Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Education of Long Beach Public Schools will take place on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 5:00 P.M. in the Long Beach Middle School auditorium, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. A regular meeting will immediately follow the Reorganization Meeting. It is anticipated that the Board will vote to go into an executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding specific personnel at 6:30 PM in the conference room of the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York. Carole Butler, District Clerk Dennis Ryan, Ph.D., Board President http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2772 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The crowd rose to its feet as the Long Beach High School Wind Ensemble struck the first chords of “Pomp and Circumstance,” signaling the start of the school’s 88th Annual Commencement Ceremony. The graduates of the Class of 2011 proceeded down the aisle escorted by administrators, members of the Board of Education and teachers, as well as the elementary school principals with whom they began their educational journey over a decade ago. Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi began his welcome speech by acknowledging the work and careers of some noted retirees, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Greenberg, Director of Mathematics Harry Witkin, Director of Technology Michel Richez and Director of Guidance Carolyn Cuttler. He then took a moment to welcome incoming Superintendent of Schools David Weiss, who is also the proud father of graduating senior Ben Weiss. It was an especially proud moment for Dr. Passi, since this day marked the completion of his first year as principal. “This class will always hold a very special place in my heart,” he said. “My life has been enriched because of our shared experience. Today is the beginning of a journey, not the end of a road. It is my hope as you leave here that you continue on the path of success. You should always remember that greatness lies within each of you. You are our future, and you are the promise for a better world.” Next, Student Council President Marvin McMoore invited Dr. Greenberg to the stage to present him with a Long Beach High School diploma, making him an honorary member of the Class of 2011. “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be,” Marvin began, quoting the words of Rosalynn Carter. “You have been a great leader for our district, providing the tools for all students to achieve their true potential with the introduction of self-selection for honors and AP courses, the end of class ranking and the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Program. This year’s graduating class will be attending some of the most prestigious schools in the country. On behalf of the Class of 2011, I thank you for all you have done.” “I am virtually speechless,” began Dr. Greenberg, who was visibly moved by the presentation, before he moved on to deliver his address. “We as baby boomers had aspirations to make the world a better and safer place, where everyone would have access to the same economic and educational opportunities. My prayer is that you will do a better job than we did to move the world in that direction. It is my belief that everyone, given the opportunity, can achieve. We are struggling with providing some of those opportunities here in Long Beach. As I leave this district, I will be relying on Mr. Weiss to continue the journey that we have begun,” he said, referring to incoming Superintendent David Weiss. Dr. Greenberg closed with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King. “‘On some positions, Cowardice asks the question "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.’” he said. “I always tried to live by those words. Hopefully I have succeeded.” For her salutatory address, Sophia Xu, who is an accomplished pianist, descended from the stage to take her place at the piano, taking the audience on a musical journey representing each graduate’s journey into adulthood. “If we close our eyes and imagine the time when we learned our first words, it sounds like this,” she began, playing a measure of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. “Before we realized it, we were already walking while speaking in sentences,” she continued, playing an excerpt from the original Mozart variations of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. She continued tracing their journey through the teenage years, hitting an obvious wrong note. “At these embarrassing moments we often felt trapped in disappointment,” she continued, “but without them, we would have never grown and matured.” She characterized their sometimes-frenzied college search with an excerpt from Beethoven’s Sonata Appassionata, Movement No. 3. “Despite all of the obstacles, at this moment it all seems worthwhile. But we shouldn’t get excited too quickly, because although high school ends, learning is truly a lifetime process,” she concluded, playing a final excerpt from Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude. Board of Education President Dr. Dennis Ryan left the graduates with three pieces of advice. “Log off, continue learning and serve your community,” he said. He concluded by thanking the community for supporting public education in Long Beach. “A new reality is beginning for all of us, one of promise and responsibility and of fear and novelty,” began Jordan Ochs in his valedictory address. “It is a time for our dreams and ambitions to be pursued wholeheartedly. It is a time for us to find our won paths to happiness and to dedicate ourselves to following them to the end. We all have a lifetime ahead of us to create something: a name, a set of morals, a family. It’s how we hand the unknown challenges of the future that will help us establish an identity, a purpose. This is how we succeed.” The Wind Ensemble dedicated a special piece entitled “Quiet Courage” to the Class of 2011, which was accompanied by an original poem by the same title, written and recited by junior Arianne Papa. During the presentation of the diplomas, incoming Superintendent David Weiss was invited to the stage to present his son Ben with his diploma, delivered with a heartfelt hug. After the last diploma was distributed, Senior Class President Melissa Midonek closed the ceremony with her recitation of Edgar Guest’s poem, “It Couldn’t Be Done.” As Melissa completed the last verse of the poem, the proud graduates moved their tassels from left to right, tossed their caps in the air, and completed their recessional march to a round of thunderous applause. In addition to the graduation program, guests this year received a booklet commemorating the achievements of Long Beach High School students throughout the year. Among their ranks, the Long Beach High School Class of 2011 counts one National Merit Commended Student, one National Merit Hispanic Scholar, 15 AP Scholars, one All-State Musician, 16 All-County Musicians, a delegate to the Senate Youth Program and two award-winning film producers. In the field of science, four seniors earned medals at international science competitions. Four seniors won awards for their writing in state and national competitions. In sports, four senior athletes won state honors, with two all-state athletes, a state championship winner and a state qualifier named. One student was named the Nassau County Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A full 92% of the June graduates received a Regents Diploma or better, with 38% completing the requirements for a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. A total of 96% of this year’s graduates are going on to two or four-year colleges. Click here to view more pictures http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2769 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Morning Madness After-Prom Party Celebrates 20th Anniversary For the past 20 years, the Long Beach High School PTSA Morning Madness Committee has worked tirelessly with the Long Beach School District to ensure that seniors and their dates will have an evening full of unforgettable memories, whether they attend the prom or not--and that their parents will rest easy, knowing that they will be safe. Beginning with a mandatory pre-prom meeting and ending with the substance-free “all night” Morning Madness Post-Prom Party, the district has partnered with the PTSA to create a safe and memorable evening for students and their dates. The Morning Madness Committee, which is co-chaired by Gina Knauer, Randi Andosca, Linda Birnbaum, Rhonda Healy, Betsy Glazer and Committee Chairs Emeritus Darlene Tangney and Maria Martin, works throughout the year to raise enough funds to treat all graduating seniors and their dates to an early morning post-prom party, complete with food, games, entertainment and prizes. This year, approximately 300 seniors made their way to Dave and Buster’s after the prom to enjoy the festivities. The district provided free bus transportation for seniors who did not attend the prom, so that they could join their classmates for the Morning Madness festivities. Every senior present was given the opportunity to spin the Scholarship Wheel to win a cash prize of $50 to $250. The luckiest of all the evening’s winners were Brette Wayne, who walked away with the keys to a shiny new 2011 Nissan Altima, and Damaris Swass, who won a Dell Netbook computer. In order to be eligible for the grand prizes, teens had to be in attendance for a special drawing at the end of the evening. This provided an especially powerful incentive for attendees to stay the entire evening. Legend Nissan of Syosset provided the car at cost, and even upgraded from a Sentra to an Altima at no additional charge when the Sentra was not available due to production delays in Japan. The Netbook was donated by Dell. “I will always be grateful for the overwhelming support from our community, parents, staff, and administration at the Long Beach Schools,” said Committee Chair Emeritus Darlene Tangney. “Thanks to this joint effort, we have been able to make this another successful, safe and rewarding post-prom experience for everyone.” “Let’s hope, through the community’s ongoing support, and the participation of younger, more involved parents, we can continue to host this event for at least another 20 years, ” added Co-Chair Emeritus Maria Martin. "One of the greatest concerns the Morning Madness committee has is raising enough funds every year to host this special event, especially with the current state of the economy,” said Co-Chair Randi Andosca. Anyone wishing to donate funds to this worthy cause for the future may do so at www.razoo.com/story/Long-Beach-High-School-Ptsa. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2744 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT BOE Vice President Presents Commemorating Class of ‘41 At Lindell Elementary School’s 2011 moving-up ceremony, Long Beach Board Vice President Patrick Gallagher paid tribute not just to the students, staff and families, but also to the Lindell School building itself, when he presented a carefully researched, printed, matted and framed historical wall hanging. The wall hanging commemorated the Class of 1941, the first class to graduate from the building 70 years ago, back when it served as the Long Beach Junior Senior High School. The building was constructed in 1939. The timing of the presentation was especially significant since renovations on the building’s exterior and interior were just completed in the 2010-2011 school year, restoring it to its former glory. Lindell is the first building to be refurbished as part of the districtwide School Preservation Plan. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2743 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach High School sports season ended on a festive note as players, coaches and parents gathered to celebrate team camaraderie and accomplishments at Spring Sports Awards Night. One of the traditional highlights of the program is the presentation of special awards for senior athletes. Dozens of seniors received recognition for their scholarship, leadership, athletic achievements and citizenship. Among the most notable were the U.S. Army National Scholar Athlete Award given to Jordan Ochs, Ben Weiss and Megan Cabasino and the U.S. Marines Distinguished Athlete Award given to Jackie Demerest and Nate Barksdale. There were many team and individual accomplishments to celebrate. The Girls Badminton team, under the direction of Coach Andrew Rossi, clinched the Conference Championship title for the second year in a row, with 11 girls earning All-Conference honors. The Girls Lacrosse team, under the leadership of Coach Rachel Ray, also earned a Conference Championship Title. Individual honors were earned by one All-County, one Honorable Mention All-County, and three All-Conference players. Under the guidance of Coach Greg Milone, the Boys Track team earned the Division Championship title - the team’s first division championship in over 30 years. County Champion Joshua Trone went on to win the NYS Track Championship in the 100m dash, finishing first in all divisions in the state with a time of 10.84 seconds and setting a new school record. All-County sprinter Jaymen Teemer qualified for States with a time of 22.5. In all spring sports, there was named one State Champion, one State Qualifier, one County Champion, six All-County athletes, two All-County Honorable Mention athletes, twenty All-Conference players, thirteen All-Division players and one All-League player. In addition, the Girls Badminton, Boys Golf, Girls Golf, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Softball, Boys Tennis, Boys Track and Field and Girls Track and Field teams all earned Scholar-Athlete status, with team averages of 90 or better. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2705 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT When they discovered that a recent storm had downed a beloved old weeping willow tree on the school campus, students in the LBHS International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program decided to plant a new tree to replace it on the east campus of the school. Students dubbed the tree, planted during the last week of classes, the Tree of Knowledge. The tree will commemorate the initiation of the Long Beach IB Program, which will graduate its first diploma candidates in June 2012. “I was saddened by the thought that a tree that had witnessed so much history had been destroyed,” said junior Olivia Deschler, who initiated the idea for the tree planting ceremony with fellow IB scholar Emily Charleson. “Emily and I thought it was only natural that we, the first class of IB diploma candidates, leave our mark on the school. The Tree of Knowledge is a symbol of the first roots of the IB Program planted here by the Class of 2012.” “The tree truly represents the IB Program and how Long Beach is turning over a new leaf by accepting this prestigious program,” added Emily. “As the first class to complete this program at Long Beach High School, we are planting the seeds of new ideas, allowing the tree’s rings to hold memories just like the old tree did.” All of the other 2012 IB diploma candidates stood alongside Olivia and Emily as they marked this special occasion in their shared history. At the close of the ceremony, each of the students threw a ceremonial shovel of dirt to symbolize their unity and solidarity. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2706 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach Varsity Track star Joshua Trone won the NYS Track Championship in the 100 m dash, at the state competition held on June 10-11 at Caledonia Mumford High School in Caledonia, NY. He finished first in all divisions in the state with a time of 10.84 seconds, beating out runners in Division 1, Division 2, Catholic schools and New York City schools. This was Josh’s best performance of the season, setting a new school record. Under the guidance of Coach Greg Milone, the Boys Track team earned the Division Championship title - the team’s first division championship in over 30 years. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2707 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Lindell School finished first in the county in a math contest sponsored by Sumdog.com, with the help of Nassau BOCES. Twenty-three schools participated in the contest, which was open to all elementary, middle, and junior high schools in Nassau County. To participate in the contest, students logged onto Sumdog.com to play games that tested multiplication and division facts, rounding, adding, subtracting and other math skills. Students earned one point for each correct answer. Additionally, seven of the top ten students in all of Nassau County were from Lindell School. Lindell School will receive a Motorola Xoom tablet and sports equipment as the school prize. The individual winners will each receive $25 iTunes gift cards. Lindell School accumulated a combined student score of 5,587, over 1,000 points higher than the second-place school. Brett Weiner was the top scoring individual in Nassau County. Harrison Phillips finished second, Samuel Oppenheim was fifth, Lou Hakin was sixth, Emma Pfaff was eighth, Jayla Coad finished ninth, and Dean Mauro was tenth. In addition, the top ten Lindell finishers in each grade will receive free treats compliments of Baskin Robbins, Tutti Frutti and McDonald’s of Long Beach. “All of the Lindell students, parents and staff were so excited about the contest, and we are so proud of our school,” said math teacher Kelly Beleckas. “We also appreciate the generosity of the local merchants who recognized our students for their success.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2714 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has approved the appointment of Dr. Michele Natali as Principal of Long Beach Middle School, effective July 1, 2011. She replaces Audrey Goropeuschek, who resigned to pursue other interests. Dr. Natali has served as Vice Principal of Long Beach Middle School since July of 2007. During her tenure as Vice Principal, she was instrumental in restructuring the NYS assessment process, aligning it with brain research. She has also enhanced the school’s social and emotional literacy by promoting character education programs such as Character Counts, which has expanded as a district-wide initiative. Dr. Natali was instrumental in implementing the Foreign Language Exploratory (FLEX) program, so that sixth graders would be able to make educated choices about which language to pursue. She has served on the district’s Curriculum Committee, the Superintendent’s Conference Day Planning Committee, and has organized the District Spelling Bee. Dr. Natali came to Long Beach after 15 years in the classroom. She started teaching in parochial and private schools in New York City before teaching in the Garden City Middle School, where she taught sixth-grade math and ELA. Before embarking on her career as an educator, Dr Natali worked as a project engineer at Trans World Airlines and as a facilities planner at Ford Motor Company. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees from St. John’s University and her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Dr. Natali is a member of the National Middle School Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Dr. Natali said she is excited to embark in this new position. “I look forward to working with parents and teachers to ensure that the needs of all of our students are being met.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2675 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School students in the Nike Alternative High School program organized their annual marsh cleanup, enlisting fellow students, teachers and community members to roll up their sleeves to aid them in clearing an assortment of flotsam and debris from the marshlands surrounding the Nike Environmental Center. Students came from as far away as Seaford to join them in this environmental effort. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2664 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT During a combined presentation by the Long Beach High School Anti-Bully Club (ABC) and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island, Long Beach Middle School students learned some valuable lessons about how to stand up to peer pressure, bullying, cyberbullying and sexting. The ABC Members led off the presentation by sharing some of their own experiences as victims of bullying. They told how they got together, with the support of club advisers Phil Bruno and Jaclyn Gallinaro, to create a special place where students could feel protected from bullying - a place where they could just talk and feel safe. In the process, explained club member Maria Krezeminski, members came to feel empowered to fight bullying in their school and in their community. This visit to the middle school was just one of a number of actions they have taken to spread the word about the importance of being an upstander in the face of bullying instead of being a passive bystander. They ended their presentation by reading their anti-bully pledge, which says, in part, “I know sticking up for someone is the right thing to do. We are the students of Long Beach High School. And we won’t stand by…We will stand up.” The second part of the presentation was led by Johanna Mathieson-Ellmer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island. She talked to students about the difference between bullying and teasing, explained why kids bully, and talked about what it feels like to be bullied. Bullying has been taken to a whole new level of meanness, she explained with the advent of the Internet, which has spawned new bullying dangers such as cyberbullying, sexting and even bullycide. She reminded students that bullying is never justified. “Don’t suffer or let a friend suffer in silence,” advised Ms. Mathieson-Ellmer. “Always reach out to a trusted adult.” To further reinforce the lessons they learned, students also participated in Mini Challenge Day activities. Challenge Day is a national program that aims to inspire participants to celebrate diversity, truth and full-expression. During Mini Challenge Day, students participated in team-building exercises that inspired them to “be the change they wish to see in the world.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2665 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Instead of just talking about bully prevention, the Bully Busters at Lindell School have been taking an active role in making their school a caring, safe environment for all. Student representatives in grades 4 and 5 have been visiting classrooms throughout their school to present mini-lessons and role-playing activities that model the positive choices that both victims and bystanders can make to stop bullies in their tracks. The Bully Busters made “choice wheels” that point out appropriate words and actions to use to become “upstanders” instead of bystanders, thus creating an atmosphere where bullying cannot flourish. Among the choices were: report the bullying to a grown up; give yourself a put-up (the opposite of a put-down); stand tall and strong; and look the bully in the eye and say “I don’t like it when you do that.” After demonstrating each choice, the Bully Busters gave their classmates a chance to do some role-playing, taking on the roles of the bully, victim and bystander to practice different techniques to use in some typical situations they might encounter. “The Bully Busters would love everyone at their school to become an upstander instead of a bystander,” said teacher-in-charge Carol Cintorino, who advises the Bully Busters with teacher Jane Quinton. “They are spreading the word that it’s up to each of us to make our school a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2666 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT With summer vacation just around the corner, Long Beach Middle School held a special program to remind students how to stay safe, active and healthy throughout the summer. The assembly featured a presentation by teacher Mike Lundwall, who is also a Long Beach lifeguard captain. He showed students exactly what they should do if they are caught in a rip current (swim parallel to the shoreline), explained the significance of the red and green flags on the beach, encouraged them to wear swimming fins, and showed a short video about beach safety. When he asked how many of them knew how to swim, he was pleased to see almost every hand go up. He shared rescue stories from his years as a lifeguard, reminded students to always follow the directions of the lifeguards, and warned them never go into the water when lifeguards are not on duty. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2668 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Sixth graders at LBMS experienced firsthand the principles of force, energy, motion, astronomy and meteorology when they participated in a rocket launch at their school. For the past several months, students worked in groups to study the principles of rocket science and build their own model rockets. To enhance the experience, they maintained rocket journals detailing their experiences and progress. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2669 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Long Beach High School Asian Culture Club rallied their school to stage a talent show to benefit the Red Cross Japan Relief Effort. The show featured more than a dozen acts, showcasing the musical, dancing and comedic talent of students and staff. Between the sale of tickets, T-shirts and snacks, students raised over $500 for this worthwhile cause. The event was organized by club officers Sophia Xu, Alex Obed, Lauren Chong and Rainnie He, under the guidance of club advisors Angela Casey and Gretchen Cotton-Rodney. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2667 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT History came alive for Long Beach High School students as they welcomed Tuskegee Airman Julius Freeman to their school. Freeman, a resident of Springfield Gardens, N.Y., recounted his experiences as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, who earned the distinction of breaking the color barrier as the first African-Americans to serve as pilots in the Army Air Corp. He served in the 9th Air Force Division, from 1944-1948, flying missions as a bomber escort over Germany, Italy, France and Africa. He and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen became the first black military airmen at a time when many people, including the white officers who trained them, believed that black men lacked the intelligence, skill and courage to be fighter pilots. These brave young men, who trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, proved everyone wrong. “In all the years we served as bomber escorts over Germany and France, we never lost a single bomber,” said Mr. Freeman, with obvious pride. After being discharged in 1948, Mr. Freeman said he was discouraged to find that so much racial discrimination still existed in the U.S. “We were treated as equals in Europe,” he said. “But when we got out of the service and went back home, I was disheartened to find that nothing had changed. Decent jobs were not available to men of color. I did not wish to be a porter, so I started selling cars. It wasn’t easy to break in, but I made a very successful career as a car salesman. I just retired a few years ago, at the age of 81.” Mr. Freeman, who will soon turn 85, proudly wore his Congressional Gold Medal, which was finally awarded to him and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen in 2007 by then President George W. Bush. This was a proud day for Mr. Freeman, but his proudest day came on January 20, 2009, when he and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were invited to breakfast with the newly inaugurated President Barack Obama. “This was the highlight of my life,” he said, “because I knew that I had lived to see the day that a man of color would be elected to the highest office in this country. Things are very different today. When I was your age, I couldn’t ride in the front of a bus, or be served in a restaurant alongside whites. I did not have the opportunities you have. Today a man of color is President of the United States. This proves that there is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it. Stay in school and get an education. Whatever your desires are, once you are convinced of what you want to do with your life, let no one turn you around.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2615 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach City School District and the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health Care System joined forces to offer free voluntary heart screenings for Long Beach Middle School eighth graders who plan to participate in district sports programs. A total of 48 participants received both ultrasound (echocardiogram) and electrocardiogram (ECG) exams. Dr. Scott Pilgrim, a pediatric cardiologist at Cohen, oversaw the screening. The ultrasound exam is conducted to identify abnormalities that may not be apparent on customary pre-participation physical examinations. The exam evaluates the size and function of the left pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) and the size of the main artery of the body (aorta), as well as the function of its valve (aortic valve). Abnormal left ventricular size (cardiomyopathy) or abnormal aorta size or function may result in abnormalities of heart function when an individual participates in organized, competitive sports. Funding for the program was provided by the Gruen Foundation. The program was introduced to Long Beach Middle School through the efforts of Neil Sterrer, Director of the Long Island Board of Realtors, as part of its “We’re More than Realtors” community outreach program. Arnold Epstein, District Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Mary Tatem facilitated the program with Barbara Young, the district’s Nursing Coordinator. School nurses Lori Montgomery, Mary Beth Thurston and Elizabeth Leibowitz assisted Ms. Young. Continental breakfast was provided by Carrie Bleck of Max Bialystok in Long Beach. Susan Gruen Helsinger founded the Jason F. Gruen Research Foundation in honor of her son Jason, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition when he was a sophomore at Manhasset High School. Since that tragic event, Ms. Gruen Helsinger has been working tirelessly to help diagnose life-threatening heart conditions in other children. In total, over 1,600 students in five school districts have been screened as part of this program, with over 30 lives saved. This is the third year that the program has been offered in Long Beach, with nearly 150 students screened. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2616 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Now in its third year, Long Beach High School’s Anime/Manga Art Forum promotes cultural awareness of Asian cultures through the popular Japanese graphic stories and cartoons called Manga and Anime. As part of the program, students published their own limited-edition compilation of original graphic stories and Manga art, which they debuted at a special book unveiling at the Long Beach Public Library. The contributing writers were invited to read excerpts from their stories before giving away signed copies of their books. To add to the festivities, there was a costume contest, inviting local fans to show their enthusiasm for Anime and Manga by dressing as their favorite characters—a Japanese tradition called Cosplay. The club, which is funded through a Title III grant, was developed as an enrichment program in alternative literature. Students draw on technology, art, literature and social studies skills to create their Manga portfolios. The genre includes a broad range of subjects, including everything from action-adventure, romance and sports to historical drama, science fiction and fantasy. The club is open to English language learners and native English speakers and attracts students from a cross-section of different social groups, proving that art truly can provide a bridge for fostering cultural understanding. At each meeting of the club, cultural consultant Rosa Maria Goeller presents a mini-lesson that teaches students about Japanese and other Asian cultures. Guest speakers have included the Japanese Consulate’s Cultural Attaché and the Dalai Lama’s Liaison Officer to Latin America. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2617 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Fourth graders in the Long Beach School District’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity (LARC) program raised over $2,600 for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (UCPN) by participating in the annual Trivia Challenge, an academic fundraising event that combines education, philanthropy and fun. To participate in the challenge, students were grouped in teams to take a 100-question written test, covering everything from academics to popular culture. They asked family and friends to sponsor them, pledging a certain amount for every question they answered correctly. Joshua Kapilian, Charles Gorton, Roman Minneci, Dane Ceniceros, Hannah Zelinger and Harry Lee scored high enough to qualify for the Trivia Challenge Championship. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2618 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT In an annual rite of passage for seniors, community leaders and family members came together to honor the best and brightest at Long Beach High School’s Academic Awards Night. As family and friends took their seats in the auditorium, the high school chamber ensemble played a medley of classical tunes, followed by a presentation by the Select Choir and a piano interlude performed by Long Beach High School Salutatorian Sophia Xu. “This evening is about you and your accomplishments,” said retiring Superintendent Robert Greenberg in his opening remarks. “This is a special evening for me because of students like you – what you’ve achieved and the way you have demonstrated character, leadership and commitment to your school and your community makes me proud to serve this district.” Students were recognized for excellence as scholars, athletes, musicians, artists, leaders and humanitarians. They were also honored for exhibiting exceptional character and service to their community. In addition to department awards, there were dozens of scholarships presented to students by local PTAs, teachers’ associations, government offices, civic groups and businesses. Especially meaningful were the memorial awards given in honor of past leaders, humanitarians and loved ones who had touched so many in the Long Beach community. School Board President Dr. Dennis Ryan gave special thanks to Guidance Director Carolyn Cuttler, who is also retiring this year. “She has been described as the ‘soul’ of Long Beach High School. I want to recognize her not just for what she does to organize this wonderful event, but for her many contributions to the district throughout the years.” He also thanked all the generous sponsors, who together donated over $100,000 in scholarship funds. “You represent our future,” said Ms. Cuttler. “As you get ready to leave Long Beach High School, remember the people who made you feel good along the way, and remember to thank them.” In that same spirit of thanks, Ms. Cuttler expressed her gratitude to her guidance counselors and office staff for their countless hours of work behind the scenes to organize every detail of this special evening. New this year was the Principal’s Leadership and Achievement Awards, presented by Dr. Gaurav Passi. One of the most moving moments of the evening came at the end of the ceremony. Each award recipient had been asked to name a teacher who had played a special role in his or her success. One by one each teacher was called up to the stage to receive a special round of applause. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2619 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Visitors To Our Buildings Must Sign In And Show Photo ID http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2612 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT HS Course Catalogue For 2011-2012 Is Available From HS Page http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2614 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT More Information http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2594 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT At the beginning of the school year, Long Beach Public Schools vowed to make the six pillars of character - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – a way of life for all students in the district. Throughout the year, teachers and administrators have been working to infuse these basic principles into every aspect of classroom instruction through special activities, clubs, bulletin boards, banners, art projects and community outreach programs that gave students many opportunities to show that character counts. As a culminating activity, students took part in a districtwide Character Education Celebration on May 24 to give voice to all they had learned throughout the course of the year. They also participated in the making of a video, produced by middle school teacher Shari Steier, which captured in their own words what it means to be a person of character. The video was presented at each school’s celebration during the day, and then once again at a special presentation at that evening’s Board of Education meeting. Students at the Blackheath Pre-K School gathered together to sing and sign their own version of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Lido students prepared a show for their families, telling in their own words everything they had learned about being a true friend, caring for one another and respecting the rights of others. At Lindell, students acted out their own versions of some classic fairy tales, with each skit representing one of the six pillars. Among the parodied stories were Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella and Her Stepsisters, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Students at East School invited their parents to join them as each class participated in a different activity that reinforced the six pillars of character. They recited original poetry, sang songs and planted marigolds in recycled cups. The classrooms and hallways were all decorated to represent the theme of the day. West School students kicked off a weeklong Character Counts celebration with an assembly on May 24, and closed the week with a special version of their annual Health Fair Olympics that featured activities celebrating the six pillars of character. At the middle school, students officially renamed their hallways Perseverance Path, Caring Court, Boulevard of Honor, Trustworthy Trail and Peaceful Place, creating bulletin boards and matching classroom door decorations depicting each theme. Prizes were awarded for the best door decorations. At the high school, a special luncheon was held to honor all Students of the Month who had been named throughout the year for demonstrating trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship in their school. The honorees were Shauna Spruiell, Daniel Vegh, Mark Raghunandan, Brianna Acosta, Hunter Rogoff, Tatianna Summers, Judith Quintanilla, Jin Mei McGinn, Malik Hodge, Russell Goetz, Oral Allen, Megan Cabasino, Ryan Ceratti, Andrew Franco, Brigitte Gilbert, Geoffrey Noss, Angela Davis, Walter Ulloh, Jessie Barnett, Kedisha Rambert, Juliana Gomez, Jesse Schaefer, Jahron Foster, Natasha Mejia and Jackie Demerest. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2569 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Three teams of Long Beach High School students won top awards at the 2011 International Sustainable World (Engineering, Energy and Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) in Houston, Texas on May 5-9. Competing against 450 top projects from 70 countries around the world, the three teams won a grand prize, two gold medals and one silver medal, placing them in the top 10-20% of all projects entered. The team of seniors Jackie Bokor and Hannah Berkowitz won both the grand prize and a gold medal in the Environmental category. They worked with microorganisms to sequester heavy metals as a potential means for bioremediation. No strangers to the I-SWEEP winner’s circle, Jackie and Hannah won a gold medal in the environmental category in 2009 and a silver medal in 2010. The team of juniors Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth also earned a gold medal in the Environmental category. They worked with mussels to filter for treated sewage effluent. They will continue their research this summer in the Simons Summer Research Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University as part of the team working on the Western Bays Project to reduce pollution in the marshlands along Nassau’s south shore. This is the second year in a row that this pair took home a gold medal in this category. In 2009, their first year at the competition, they earned a bronze medal. The team of sophomores Brandon Levokove and David Velez won a silver medal in the Environmental category. They studied the ability of fungus to mitigate stress on Kentucky Bluegrass. Students developed their projects under the direction of Science Research teachers Cody Onufrock and Veronica Ade. Organized by the Cosmos Foundation, I-SWEEEP is the largest science fair event of its kind in the world. The objective of the competition is to spark interest in and awareness of our planet’s sustainability challenges; to accelerate the progress toward a sustainable world by engaging young minds at an early age to develop an environmentally conscious global community; and to inspire personal responsibility in caring for the planet and those who share it. Over $350,000 in scholarships and prizes are awarded each year. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2575 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has appointed David Weiss as the new Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2011. The appointment was announced at the May 10th Board of Education meeting. Mr. Weiss is a veteran educator and administrator with over 30 years of experience in public education. Since 2004, he has been the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and District Chief Information Officer of the Commack Public Schools. Prior to that, he was an assistant principal at Commack High School. Before going to Commack, Mr. Weiss worked for 20 years in the Rockville Centre School District as a social studies teacher, coach, and Coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Program. He began his career in Bay Shore, teaching social studies and mathematics. While overseeing its instructional program, Mr. Weiss helped Commack to become one of the highest-performing districts on Long Island, all while operating in a conservative fiscal environment. Under his leadership, Commack increased its Regents Diploma, Advanced Regents Diploma and Special Education Regents Diploma graduation rates to among the highest in the state, while operating below the state average for spending. He has fostered an invitational learning environment that encourages students to challenge themselves with a rigorous curriculum. Mr. Weiss is a recognized expert on the International Baccalaureate Program. Commack Middle School is the first authorized IB Middle Years School on Long Island, and Commack High School now has the third largest IB Diploma Program in North America. Mr. Weiss has been a member of the IB Organization’s North American District Task Force and recently assisted the IBO in an important national study of college-readiness standards. He is the immediate past-President of the Guild of International Baccalaureate Schools of the Northeast, a nine-state organization that he co-founded. A strong believer in the importance of social and emotional learning, Mr. Weiss is a founding member of the Long Island Social and Emotional Literacy Forum and has contributed to the development of the New York State Education Department’s voluntary district guidelines for K-12 social and emotional development and learning. As District Chief Information Officer, he has been a pioneer and strong advocate for the use of data-driven instructional decision making. He has presented on these topics at the local and state levels. He has also been a consultant and keynote professional development speaker for school districts on Long Island, Westchester and upstate. Mr. Weiss completed his undergraduate education in history and sociology at the University of Rochester, where he was a member of the Dean’s select honor society. He received a master’s degree with distinction from Hofstra University and completed his administrative training at Long Island University/C.W. Post, where he is now a doctoral student. He has had additional school finance training at Stony Brook University. While in the Rockville Centre Schools, he was recognized for his teaching as a News 12/Hofstra University Educator of the Month in 2000, and honored as the Rockville Centre Herald’s Person of the Year in 1998. In 2008 he was awarded the Technology Administrator of the Year Award by Western Suffolk BOCES. Mr. Weiss and his wife Linda, a Long Beach High School graduate, have raised their family in Long Beach. Mr. Weiss has coached both of his children on youth teams and more recently, has been an avid fan at high school games. His daughter Lena is a 2009 LBHS graduate now completing her sophomore year at Brown University, and his son Ben will attend Georgetown University in the fall after graduating from LBHS this June. “Since I came to Long Beach 30 years ago, I have fallen in love with the city,” said Mr. Weiss. “ I am looking forward to contributing my energy and expertise to the continued progress of the Long Beach Public Schools.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2805 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has officially appointed Patricia Hausfeld as the district’s new K-12 Director of Guidance as of July 1, 2011. She will be replacing Carolyn Cuttler who, during her distinguished 23-year career with the district, has served as a teacher, guidance counselor and high school guidance department chairperson. Ms. Hausfeld comes to Long Beach from the Amityville Union Free School District, where she has served as Director of Guidance since 2005. During her tenure there, she administered all elementary, middle and high school guidance programs, developed an early college program for juniors and seniors to earn college credit, founded the Amityville School-Business Partnership to help students develop career readiness skills, developed a middle school alternative program and chaired the district-wide Bullying Committee. Beginning her career as an assistant dean at the Office of Freshman Advancement and the Office of Academic Advisement at Hofstra University, Ms. Hausfeld later served for four years as a guidance counselor at Baldwin Senior High School, before becoming an administrative assistant for guidance at Huntington High School in 2003. Ms. Hausfeld received a Professional Diploma in School District Administration from SUNY Stony Brook. She also holds a Master of Science with Distinction in Education and School Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Psychology, both from Hofstra University. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2806 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has approved the appointment of Sally S. Neumann as the district’s new Director of Technology, effective July 1, 2011. She will replace Michel Richez, who will be retiring after more than 30 years of service to the district as both a teacher and administrator. Ms. Neumann has over 12 years of experience as an educational administrator, as well as management experience in the field of information systems and technology in the corporate and government sectors. She began her career as an elementary teacher. For the past two and a half years, Ms. Neumann has been a BOCES consultant assigned to the Shoreham Wading River Central School District. In this capacity, Ms. Neumann has provided administrative, consulting and support services in the areas of strategic planning, curriculum, instruction, professional development, technology integration, application support, and data management. She has been responsible for providing ongoing planning and administrative oversight of district-wide technology and has led many technology initiatives, including the implementation of a new state-of-the-art district network to improve administrative and instructional computing, deployment of technology-based resources such as laptops, SmartBoards, and student response systems, the addition of software solutions to support instruction, learning and student achievement, and the introduction of modern technology applications and systems to streamline operations, increase efficiency and reduce costs. Ms. Neumann directed the district’s Technology Steering Committee and coordinated the development of the district’s strategic 21st Century Learning Technology Plan. Ms. Neumann also served as Director of Technology and as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Technology for the Wyandanch Union Free School District for four and a half years. She was promoted to the position of Assistant Superintendent after her first year as Director of Technology. During her tenure at Wyandanch, she implemented many technology initiatives, including a robust, technology-rich infrastructure, new administrative systems for managing student, financial, transportation, school lunch, professional development and curricular development programs, and a number of educational and technology programs to support instruction. As Assistant Superintendent, she introduced a data-driven program of differentiated instruction which resulted in an overall increase of 25% in student performance on standardized assessments over a two-year period of time. During this time, she also developed a comprehensive K-12 literacy plan, introduced reading remediation programs, reorganized district-wide AIS and ESL programs, developed data management systems to monitor program effectiveness, and guided the district in the development of a new standards-based ELA and ESL curriculum. Earlier in her career, she served as the administrator for gifted and talented education and instructional technology for the Sachem Central School District, and as Director of Technology and Chief Information Officer for the South Country Central School District. Ms. Neumann holds a post-graduate diploma in Educational Leadership & Technology from Dowling College. She earned her master’s degree in education from New York University and her bachelor’s degree from Queens College. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2807 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has officially appointed Cheriese Pemberton as the district’s K-12 director of mathematics. She will replace Harry Witkin, who is retiring as of July 1 after more than 30 years of service to the district as a teacher, high school math department head and director of mathematics. A familiar face to many, Ms. Pemberton has served as a vice principal at the high school for two years. She previously taught math for four years at the high school before leaving to assume the role of Director of Mathematics K-12 in the Uniondale Union Free School District in 2007. Among her many accomplishments as Vice Principal, she chaired the instructional support team, conducted professional development workshops in instruction, assessment and discipline, and created data reporting and analysis plans for monitoring student progress in the mathematics, social studies and FACS (Fair Access to Care and Services) departments. As Director of Mathematics in Uniondale, she implemented effective team-building strategies to develop a culture of joint effort, instituted Professional Learning Communities for teachers to share best practices, and provided data-driven leadership and instruction in order to enhance teacher pedagogy in conjunction with student performance. During her tenure as a math teacher at Long Beach High School, she helped design and develop curricula that was instrumental in producing a 100% rate of passing on the 2006 Math B Regents. She participated on the Test Specifications Committee for NYSED related to Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, and also created the curriculum for a course in computer programming. Ms. Pemberton holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and two master’s degrees, one in Mathematics Education and the other in Educational Leadership and Administration. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational and Policy Leadership at Hofstra University. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2808 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach City School District was one of the 172 school districts across the country, and 16 on Long Island to be recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. On May 4, the NAMM Foundation announced the results of its 12th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. The BCME survey is a nationwide search for communities whose programs exemplify a strong commitment to music education. Established in 1999, BCME recognizes and celebrates schools, their administrators, teachers, board members, parents and students for their support of music education and their efforts to ensure access to all students as part of the core curriculum. Each school receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey’s grading process. Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and other relevant factors in their communities’ music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials and the data was reviewed by advisory organizations. The 2011 survey was conducted in collaboration with The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas. More than 1,600 students participate in the Long Beach School District’s 36 bands, orchestras and choral ensembles. Students in grades 5-12 participate in All-State, All-County, LISFA and NYSSMA festivals. In 2010, one student earned All-State honors, 46 qualified for All-County, and four were chosen to perform at the Long Island String Festival. The High School Marching Band participates every year in the Newsday Marching Band Festival held at Hofstra University. Long Beach High School is one of only a handful of schools on Long Island that offers a guitar class as part of its arts curriculum, and the only guitar program in which students present a multi-act stage show at the end of the year. Middle school and high school groups also perform at various venues throughout Long Beach as a service to the community. The high school gives talented music students the opportunity to join the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Members tutor younger musicians and perform community outreach work. “This is a well-deserved recognition for the community, district leaders, teachers and parents who believe in music education and are assuring that it is part of a complete education for children in our schools,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the District Director of Comprehensive Arts. “It holds us up as an example of community support and commitment to music education.” A copy of the survey can be downloaded for review at: http://www.nammfoundation.org/research/best-communities-music-education-united-states. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2809 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach Board of Education has announced the appointment of Sean K. Murray as Principal of East Elementary School, effective July 1, 2011. He will be replacing Ronni Reimel, who will retire at the end of the school year. Mr. Murray has served as Assistant Principal of the Norman J. Levy-Lakeside Elementary School in the Merrick Union Free School District since July of 2007. During his tenure there, he helped teachers make use of data-driven instruction and facilitated teacher training with A.U.S.S.I.E. consultants in the areas of balanced literacy, guided reading, shared reading and pedagogy. He was in charge of student discipline and helped establish a school culture that was intolerant of bullying while promoting peaceful conflict resolution. Mr. Murray chaired the Instructional Support Team, providing creative and effective interventions for struggling learners, and was in charge of coordinating key parts of the district’s K-3 Response to Intervention plan. As chair of the Mathematics Committee, he was in charge of aligning the district curriculum with state standards. After graduating from Binghamton University with a degree in English and Literature, Mr. Murray completed a master’s degree in elementary education at Hofstra University in 2000. He spent six years as an elementary classroom teacher, primarily teaching fifth grade in the Elmont School district, but has also taught kindergarten, first, and third grade. Mr. Murray ventured into school administration shortly after completing his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Policy and Leadership in 2006. “Of course, my number one priority next year will be the children; getting to know them, supporting them, and helping them get to know me,” said Mr. Murray. “I also look forward to bringing my literacy training and experience to support the literacy initiative underway in Long Beach. I’ve been most impressed by the friendliness and openness with which everyone has treated me. I already feel so welcomed and supported. It is a great way to enter a school.” http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2810 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Long Beach team of Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth earned a Second Place Grand Award in Environmental Sciences at Intel ISEF, held on May 8-13 in Los Angeles. Intel/ISEF is recognized as the premier science competition in the world, exclusively for students in grades 9-12. They were joined at the competition by LBHS students Hannah Berkowitz, Jackie Bokor, Elan Heller and Eric Rubin. All six students qualified for this honor by earning first-place awards at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF). Arianne and Jane’s project, entitled “Mussels: A Natural Approach to Sewage Treatment,” also won two special prizes. They earned a $5,000 first-place prize from King Abdul-Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, awarded to projects that contribute to innovations in potable water. The duo also walked away with a $2,500 first-place prize from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, awarded for best demonstration of interdisciplinary research. Additionally, Jane and Arianne qualified to represent New York State at the national level of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Chicago on June 23-25, where they will be vying for a chance to represent their country in the International Competition, held in Stockholm. This is the world’s most prestigious prize for outstanding achievements in water-related activities. It honors individuals, institutions or organizations whose work contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems. The two have also been accepted to the Simons Summer Research Fellowship Program at Stony Brook University, where they will be continuing their research under the guidance of Dr. Anne McElroy, Director of Graduate Programs in the university’s School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences, as part of the team working on the Western Bays Project to reduce pollution in the marshlands along Nassau’s south shore. http://www.lbeach.org/News/Story.aspx?id=2567 Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT