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West Elementary School

Social Emotional Learning - People of Character

 

 

 

September - (Responsibility):

Robert Redford
Acclaimed actor/director who founded the Sundance Institute – Pursue Excellence

Nancy Reagan
Former U.S. first lady; established the "Just Say No" campaign against drug use – Duty

Alexander Graham Bell
Dedicated inventor and devoted educator of the deaf – Think Long-Term

John F. Kennedy
Former United States president – Do What You Can to Make Things Better

James Earl Jones
Well-known actor who overcame a childhood speech impediment – Be Self-Reliant

 

October - (Trustworthiness):

Raul Julia
Respected actor who opened doors for other Hispanics in the field – Live By Your Principles

Jane Addams
Advocate for the less fortunate whose work led her to become the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize – Build Your Reputation

Captain Ed Freeman
Army hero who risked his life to save his fellow soldiers – Be Dependable

Irena Sendler
Catholic social worker who led the rescue of 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust of World War II – Have the Courage to Do What is Right

 

November - (Citizenship):

Phil Stevens
Founder of Walking Shield, Inc., which addresses the needs of American Indians – Help Your Community Be Better

Nkosi Johnson
South African boy afflicted with HIV/AIDS who strived to help others with the disease – Do Your Share

Sister Dorothy Stang
Nun who lost her life working to protect the Amazon rainforest and the rights of Brazilian peasants – Pursue the Common Good

Paul Tran
Teen creator of the BUDDY peer tutoring/mentorship program – Respect Authority and Law

 

December - (Caring):

Emily and Sarah Buder
Teen sisters who strive to increase awareness and understanding about bullying – Be Compassionate

Frederick Douglass
Influential 19th century African American who battled slavery – Be Empathetic

Paul Newman
Much-loved actor and cofounder of the Newman’s Own Foundation – Be Altruistic

Kay Yow
Inspirational and pioneering college basketball coach – Be Kind and Loving

Jonathan Marrero
Massachusetts boy who took action to save both people’s jobs and his school’s library in the wake of a public school system budget deficit – Help People in Need

 

January - (Fairness):

Ralph Bunche
The first African American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – Hear People Out

Haruka Nishimatsu
Japan Airlines CEO who has earned great respect from his employees; when forced to cut their salaries, he also cut his own – Make Decisions Without Favoritism

Rosa Parks
Civil rights activist who in 1955 refused to surrender her bus seat to a white man – Be Fair

Patty Talahongva
The first American Indian to host a national news program – Be Impartial

 

February - (Respect):

Marciano Cruz
Mentor who works to keep youth off the streets – Resolve Disagreements Peacefully

Dr. Benjamin Carson Sr.
Honored physician, philanthropist, and mentor – Tell Others How to Make Good Choices

Caroline Herschel
Woman who toppled the gender barriers of her time by becoming the first female to discover a comet – Judge Others on Abilities, Not Gender

Ernie Davis
The first African American to win football’s Heisman Trophy – Be Civil to Everyone

 

March - (Respect):

Sandra Cisneros
Award-winning Mexican American writer who works to build stronger communities and enact social change by nonviolent means – Nonviolence

Dr. Kalpana Chawla
Astronaut who became the first Indian woman to journey into space – Respect the Freedom of All Individuals

Evan Ducker
Teen whose book Buddy Booby’s Birthmark promotes acceptance of others – Accept Those Who Are Different From You

Noriyuki "Pat" Morita
Actor who, as a child, overcame a debilitating illness and life in an internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor – Tolerance

Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace
Young athletes who selflessly helped their opponent claim a home run during a college softball game – Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated

 

April - (Trustworthiness):

Shawn Johnson
Olympic medalist who supports the "Exercising Your Character" program – Integrity

Margaret Thatcher
Britain’s first female prime minister – Be Forthright

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Prominent American Indian tribal chief, politician, and veteran – Reliability

Ty’Sheoma Bethea
South Carolina student who, in eighth grade, wrote to the U.S. Congress about the deplorable conditions at her school – Stick Up for Your School

 

May - (Caring):

Fred Rogers ("Mr. Rogers")
Creator and host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – Forgive Others’ Shortcomings

Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Olympic track and field star who created a foundation to improve the lives of those in both her hometown and communities worldwide – Give Support to Make Someone Else’s Life Better

Anthony Muñoz
Professional football player known for his commitment to his community and its youth – Express Gratitude for What People Do for You

Kyle Petty
NASCAR driver who has established year-round camps for seriously ill children – Give Comfort to Make Someone Else’s Life Better

 

June - (Fairness) - (Citizenship):

Lena Horne
Jazz singer and actress who broke many racial barriers of her time – Justice

Michael Browne
Eagle Scout and angler who organized "Get the Lead Out of Fishing" to rid waterways of harmful lead fishing weights – Protect the Environment by Cleaning Up After Yourself

Sara Martinez Tucker
America’s top federal higher education official; works to make education beyond high school a possibility for all Americans – Be Open-Minded

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Africa’s first female president – Honor Principles of Democracy

Anthony Robles
Young champion wrestler born with only one leg – Treat People Equally

Current News

LARC & APT Students Recognized at Recent Board Meeting for Regional, National, and International Awards

Students in Long Beach's LARC and APT programs. thumbnail266936

Students in Long Beach’s LARC (Learning Activities to Raise Creativity) and APT (Academic Program for the Talented) programs achieved remarkable success in a variety of prestigious competitions at the regional, national, and international levels. These students were recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting.

WordMasters Challenge National Honors

Long Beach LARC students earned impressive accolades in the 2024 WordMasters Challenge™, a national critical thinking competition that tasks students with mastering vocabulary and solving analogies that require both analytical and metaphorical reasoning.

A team of LARC 3rd graders placed 4th in the nation out of 81 teams in the second meet. Contributing to this success were:

- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Grace McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Reef Tomao
- Leo Kushner
- Ade Burgess
- Jesse Sardis
- Graham Wilsusen
- Max April
- Benjamin Onufrock
- Juliet Polland
- Waverly Schaffer
- Declan Garvey

Additionally, Jackson Ferraro, Theodore Bergman, and Jiya Klarner each earned a perfect score of 20 on the final meet.

Top Honors:
The following students ranked in the Top 2% nationally and were recognized with High Honors:

- Max April
- Presley Cavallo
- Caylee Donaghy
- Arwyn Donofrio
- Charles Johnston
- Slate Koss
- Benjamin Kupferman
- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Kylie McDonnell
- Rowan McLaughlin
- Jack McNicholas
- August Rodabaugh
- Luke Weiss
- Graham Wilsusen
- Theodore Bergman – Perfect Score
- Jiya Klarner – Perfect Score

Honorable Mention:
Awarded to students who ranked in the Top 10% nationally:

- Mason Bermeo
- Ade Burgess
- Noelle Calabrese-Decatrel
- Colin Cestaro
- Brody Dowler
- Madeline Eckert
- John Fenrich
- Peter Latman
- Daniel Mooney
- Vittoria Mortillaro
- Savannah Munisteri
- Maeve O’Sullivan
- Juliet Pagano
- Wolfe Scanio
- Laina Sisko
- Lincoln Tomao
- Jack Wilsusen
- Jackson Ferraro – Also earned a perfect score
- Juliet Polland – Also part of 4th-place team in Meet 2

Wonder League Robotics International Invitational

Long Beach’s 4th grade LARC Robotics teams qualified for the Wonder League Robotics Competition (WLRC) International Invitational Round, an international challenge with over 8,000 teams from 70 countries. Only the top 12% advance to this round, following five months of intensive, story-based coding and problem-solving challenges.

Invitational Team Members Include:
Rider Lalli, Blythe Aull, Noa Johnson, Dylan Llewellyn, Benjamin Kupferman, Jiya Klarner, Luke Kupferman, Noelle Calabrese, Rocket Martin, Savannah Munisteri, McCartney Borello, Presley Cavallo, Brynn Gerns, Elliana Kessler, Dylan Lomitola, Juliet Pagano, Rafe Kaminsky, Luke Weiss, Cole Weiss, Dylan Watts, August Rodabaugh, Mackenzie Pastuch, Abigail Northrop, Ila McNally, Theodore Bergman, Colin Cestaro, John Fenrich, Jonah Jackowitz, and Charles Johnston.

SIFMA Foundation’s Regional Stock Market Game Success

Two LARC teams earned Top 10 Regional Rankings out of approximately 200 teams in the SIFMA Foundation’s Long Island Stock Market Game:

Rosalia Heindrichs and Truman Rodabaugh (Grade 5): 6th Place
Anthony Amato and Luke Johanson (Grade 3): 8th Place

Additional students placing in the Top 30 include:

Dana Donofrio, Samuel Valencia (Grade 3)
Luke Kupferman, Juliet Pagano (Grade 4)

This financial literacy challenge teaches students to manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio, enhancing their understanding of economics, investing, and personal finance.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Awards

Four LARC teams earned Honorable Mention in the Toshiba NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition, placing in the Top 10% of entries across the U.S. and Canada. These projects were recognized for their innovation in solving real-world challenges.

Award-Winning Projects (Grade 6 APT Students)

TFOBL: The Future of Bionic Limbs
Harlen Werner, Ryann Jennings, Jack Wilsusen, Madeline Eckert
BreatheEasy: The Asthma Shirt
Laina Sisko, Grayson Eichin, Jayden Torres
FinSpotter
Arwyn Donofrio, Kailin Haber, Brody Dowler, Murphy Moser
Brain Buddy Robot
Caylee Donaghy, Cruz Nafte
Additional Honorable Mentions

EcoBot Cleaner: Harper Tomao, Abe Jackowitz, Emmet Klein
Artificial Ice Sheets: Brendan Smith, Jack O’Grady, Joseph Montone, Lucas Onufrock
Air20: Mackenzie Kaplan, Victoria DaSilva, Isla Lomitola, Zoey Pinto
Regional Winners

Visionary: Cole O’Connor, Sam O’Donoghue, Sullivan Limmer, Edward Grossman

WordMasters Gold Division – Additional Honorable Mentions

Paxton Cavallo
Lucas Onufrock
Diane Seman


These outstanding results are a testament to the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking fostered through Long Beach’s LARC and APT programs. Congratulations to all students, coaches, and families involved!

 

Date Added: 6/11/2025

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LB Fifth Grade Students Learn from Real Hearings and High School Mock Trials Ahead of Upcoming Competitions

Students in front of courthouse thumbnail266329

The Long Beach Public Schools’ four fifth-grade Mock Trial teams recently visited the Nassau County Supreme Court for a unique, hands-on learning experience that brought their classroom studies into the real world of law and justice. The trip was highlighted by a special invitation to observe a live courtroom hearing and a personal visit to the chambers of the Honorable Judge Ellen Tobin, a Long Beach parent and longtime supporter of the district’s Mock Trial program.

Judge Tobin graciously welcomed all four teams, representing Lido, East, West, and Lindell Elementary Schools. The Long Beach students had the rare opportunity to witness a real courtroom hearing involving a lively case about asset division. Afterward, Judge Tobin answered questions and personally guided them through the courthouse to observe high school teams competing in their own Mock Trial events, providing valuable insight for the fifth graders as they prepare for their upcoming competitions.

The Long Beach fifth-grade Mock Trial program includes 51 students who have been working in teams, supported by volunteer attorneys helping prepare both prosecution and defense arguments for the case The People of the State of New York v. Noah Gray. These dedicated students will present their cases in competitions at the Nassau County Supreme Court on May 19th and June 3rd.

“Our students were so engaged and enthusiastic about this opportunity,” said Long Beach Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Janna Ostroff. “Visiting the court and seeing older students in action was an inspiring moment that gave them a sense of what’s to come.”

The Long Beach program is led by advisors Dana Monti, Caroline Espinet, Dr. Justin Sulsky, and Michael Vasikauskas. Special thanks to the following volunteer Attorney Advisors, Gabriella Amato, Thomas Haberlack, Arlette Herrera, Denis Kelly, Joseph Lupo, Hillary Massey, Scott Nigro, Philip Rizzuto Sr., Philip Rizzuto Jr. and Shawn Schatzle

With their official mock summons in hand, the fifth graders are excitedly preparing to take the courtroom stage ready to deliver compelling arguments as prosecutors or defense attorneys.

Date Added: 5/16/2025

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