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Summer 2015

Elmont UFSD serving the Elmont, Floral Park, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor and Valley Stream communities.

Dear Residents,

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to all faculty, staff, parents and community members for contributing to another successful school year filled with high-quality learning opportunities. Our teachers continue to work diligently to ensure Elmont’s students receive thought-provoking educational experiences that meet and exceed Common Core Learning Standards. As a district, we remain committed to preparing all of our students for higher-level academic learning and future careers.

This summer, more than 1,000 students took part in our popular Summer Enrichment Academy and Academic Summer School programs. These programs provide our children with a unique opportunity to explore a variety of avenues that suit their interests and strengths inside and outside of the classroom.

I’d like to congratulate Board of Education President Michael Jaime on his recent election to the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association’s Executive Committee. His unwavering commitment and dedication are integral to our district’s continued success.

Again, thank you to everyone who made this school year a positive experience for our students. Have a safe, happy and healthy summer. I look forward to seeing everyone in the fall.

Sincerely,

Al HarperSuperintendent of Schools

MessageA from YourSuperintendent Al Harper

Sixth-grade students from Alden Terrace, Clara H. Carlson, Covert Avenue, Dutch Broadway, Gotham Avenue and Stewart Manor were filled with emotion as they took part in their respective moving up ceremonies surrounded by family and friends.

Superintendent of Schools Al Harper congratulated the students and told them the secret to being successful in their

future academic endeavors.“Study — that’s the secret,”

Harper said. “Open up the books and put the phone down. Study, work hard, and you’ll be successful.”

Harper also spoke to parents about their role in their child’s future while reflecting on the recent tragedy in South Carolina.

“These terrible things that are happening in our world can be rectified. One way is through love and conversation with our children. We have to work with them when they’re young to make sure they understand they are loved and cared for and to

let them know what is right and what is wrong,” Harper said.

Each building principal extended his or her congratulations to students and encouraged them to work hard in seventh grade and beyond.

Clara H. Carlson Principal Kenneth Rosner told students he was proud of them and shared his “alphabet of life,” which included life tips to help students succeed in the future.

“Years from now, when you look back on your years at Carlson, I hope you’ll remember me with a smile on your face,” Rosner said. “Zoom in on your goals and go for it.”

Covert Avenue Principal Mary Natoli expressed pride in her students’ academic and other achievements.

“You have learned and accomplished many great things,” Natoli said. “No matter what the subjects your teachers taught, the most important thing is that you have become wonderful, responsible citizens of our community.”

Two students from

each school were presented with Dads’ Club Awards, recognizing their commitment and community service efforts. Congratulations to Carlos Garvin Jr. and Rida Mahmood from Alden Terrace, Kristen Pink and Juan Carlos Pinto-Miranda from Clara H. Carlson, Savannah Alonzo and Patrick Dempsey from Covert Avenue, Arianna Lekhraj and Hannah Meikle from Dutch Broadway, Zaccary Louis and Victor Phill from Gotham Avenue, and Dieudly Belizaire and Franklin DeMatas from Stewart Manor.

Elmont Sixth-GradErS

Clara H. Carlson Student Government President Tochi Ukegbu addressed classmates and their families at the school’s moving up ceremony.

Covert Avenue School students smiled proudly upon receiving their diplomas.

Move Up

Thanks to the support of the Elmont community, the

2015-16 budget passed on May 19, ensuring the sustained tradition of educational excellence that is expected from our district.

We are dedicated in our commitment to provide our students with the best education possible, supplementing rigorous classroom learning with enriching activities that give students a solid foundation to become leaders of tomorrow.

Thank You

Sixth-graders were given an opportunity to meet other sixth-graders from the district during a “meet and greet” event at Clara H. Carlson and Dutch Broadway on May 20. The meetings were organized to ease the transition from elementary school to high school.

Those who will be attending Sewanhaka High School in the fall gathered at Clara H. Carlson; they included students from Clara H. Carlson, Covert Avenue and Stewart Manor. Students moving on to Elmont Memorial High School in the fall met at Dutch Broadway; they

included sixth-graders from Dutch Broadway, Alden Terrace and Gotham Avenue.

Prior to the event, each student was given a questionnaire to assist them in identifying commonalities among themselves and other students.

At the “meet and greet”, students from each building rotated to different tables, gathering the same information asked of them from their new friends. They also participated in a friendly “dance-off ” between schools and received a healthy snack upon departure. According to

Dutch Broadway physical education teacher Debra Bennett, there were smiles all around as the students connected with people their own age.

The idea for the meet and greet event stemmed from a discussion held earlier in the year at the Board of Education Student Council Breakfast. At that meeting, sixth-graders asked for more opportunities to get acquainted with others in their grade prior to attending high school.

Meet and Greet

The district’s innovative Summer Kids Interactive Program (SKIP), developed by school psychologist Dr. Karen Green, enjoyed a very successful 15th year this summer.

Held at Stewart Manor School, SKIP provided an enjoyable experience to approximately 85 children ages 5-14, as well as 30 staff members, including teenage volunteers. The children were offered a variety of experiences involving learning, recreation, arts and crafts, swimming, dance and creative expression. Thanks to the guidance of psychologists and teachers, along with creative programming, the children

have developed greater self-confidence and self-esteem, frustration tolerance, attending skills, assertiveness and comfort in speaking in front of larger groups.

Children took part in groups such as “New Skippers on the Block,” led by Maria Tuccillo and Emily Bregman; “SKIP Sharks,” led by Clara Camal and Anna Antonelli; “Talented Skippers,” led by Meg Granfors and Cheryl Williams; and “UFO (Ultimate Friends Organization), led by John Paul Leonardi and Nicole Termini. They were provided with social skills training and character-building opportunities through programs and exercises such as

Superflex, COPE, Brain Gym, Mindfulness and Yoga.

Other activities included SKIP Candyland, which allowed students to take part in a life-sized Candyland game; a very successful car wash sponsored by the Dads’ Club; and field trips to the New York Aquarium, Adventureland and Bounce.

The summer program culminated with a Talent Show that spotlighted every child’s individuality and special talents. Parents and participants also enjoyed a slide show that highlighted all of the exciting activities and friendships fostered during the summer program. Many

great friendships and amazing memories were made at SKIP this summer, as they have been for the past 15 years!

Congratulations to Karin Filippi, winner of the Elmont Dads’ Club Car Wash raffle. Filippi won a 32-inch television that had been generously donated by the club.

The annual car wash, held this year on July 8 at Stewart Manor School, helps to raise funds for Dads’ Club events held throughout the school year. The event was successful thanks to students in the district’s Summer Kids Interactive Program. The participants joined Dads’ Club volunteers in washing and drying cars.

SKIP Program Provides Summer Fun

Dads’ Club Car Wash Raffle WinneR

SKIP participants enjoyed taking part in a life-sized Candyland game.

Superintendent of Schools Al Harper is pictured with Dads’ Club Car Wash raffle winner Karin Filippi (right) and SKIP participants.

Sixth-grade students enrolled in the district’s Academic Summer School program at Dutch Broadway School tested their math skills during Fly by Math, an interactive presentation facilitated by the Cradle of Aviation.

The program, offered as an in-house field trip, recreated the intense atmosphere of an air traffic control center and allowed students to act as air traffic controllers, giving pilots instructions on where and how fast to fly. The activity had students determine the appropriate speed, spacing and altitude needed to prevent near misses and collisions, all while employing the mathematical skills they had learned during the regular school year.

Fly by Math is just one of many programs conducted during the Academic Summer School, which is offered to students in grades 1-6 who are enrolled in the English as a New Language and/or special education programs, as well as those receiving resource room and academic intervention services.

According to the program’s principal, Alden Terrace School Assistant Principal Cynthia Cameron, the Academic Summer School reinforces the skills students learned during the school year while preparing them for the year ahead.

“We want to ensure the students achieve mastery before they move to the next grade level,” Cameron said.

As part of the summer program, students study English language arts, math, science and social studies. They also attend art, music, physical

education and computer classes and participate in local and in-house field trips. In addition to the traditional offerings, an enrichment component was added to the curriculum this year, giving students an opportunity to use the school’s computer labs to complete in-depth research projects in the areas of science and social studies.

Creating three-dimensional works of art, performing Shakespeare and exploring how to eradicate extreme poverty from nations around the world were just some of the skills acquired by approximately 350 students who participated in the district’s Summer Enrichment Program.

The popular program celebrated its 15th year this summer. Students had an opportunity to learn a variety of new talents and skills outside of classroom learning. Classes, which centered on academics, athletics and the arts, provided a unique and innovative approach to learning. Students then showcase those learned abilities to their families during an open house held at the conclusion of the three-week program.

“This program takes our curriculum a step further, ” program Principal and Covert Avenue School Assistant Principal Wellinthon Garcia said. “It also allows our students to think outside the box and

grow as learners.” Included in the summer offerings were

classes in puppetry, scrapbooking and yoga. Students also had an opportunity to take part in theatrical productions as part of the Rising Stars and Shakespeare for Kids classes, they created artwork based on famous paintings, and participated in a LEGO course that incorporated the use of the building blocks into the students’ study of mathematics and science.

Elementary students enrolled in the district’s Extended School Year Program enjoyed an ice cream treat from Mister Softee thanks to a Sweet Rewards Grant from the Nassau Suffolk Autism Society of America.

According to district behavior analyst Rhonda Lebit, the NSASA provides the grant to reward students and their teachers with a special treat in recognition of their hard work during the school year and summer months.

One by one, teachers assisted students in placing their orders for soft ice cream and Italian ices, giving the children a chance to practice life skills such as waiting on line and ordering food. Covert Avenue kindergarten teacher Dr. Valerie Reese, the program’s principal, said the summer program gives students many opportunities to practice their life skills through participation in community activities, including free events at the Elmont Public Library. The children also continue their academic learning in mathematics, English language arts, science and social studies, which, she said, is essential to their ongoing progress.

“These students need routine and the sense of continuation,” Dr. Reese said. “If their education stopped in June, they would experience significant regression in their learning.”

The Extended School Year Program is held at Alden Terrace School and provides summer learning opportunities for special education students and those with autism.

Sixth-grader Genesis Courtenay calculated the arrival of three planes during the Fly by Math lesson.

Bolsters Learning

Enrichment Program Celebrates 15 Years

Student Emma Cintron showed off the three-dimensional art pieces she created at the Summer Enrichment Program.

Ice Cream and Smiles at Extended

School Year Program

Elmont Union Free School District135 Elmont RoadElmont, NY 11003-1609

Board of EducationMichael A. Jaime, President Anthony S. Maffea, Sr., Vice PresidentTameka Battle-Burkett Kevin Denehy Patrick Emeagwali Raymond SimsLeslyn Stewart

Superintendent of Schools Al HarperColum P. Nugent, Attorney

Non-Profit Org.

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Visit us online at www.elmontschools.org

Elmont Board of Education President Michael A. Jaime was elected to the executive committee of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association at its annual dinner on May 28.

An Elmont Board member for the last eight years, Mr. Jaime has served as President of the Board since January 2010. In addition to his service at Elmont, he was also a trustee of the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education for five years, taking part in the superintendent selection process that led to the hiring of Dr. Ralph Ferrie.

Mr. Jaime is an associate project manager for the consulting firm Accenture and resides in Elmont with his family. He said his appointment to the NSSBA executive board and legislative committee will allow him to foster the power of collaboration across Long Island to provide equity in funding and reform of education laws that prohibit local control of Long Island schools.

Mr. Jaime also serves on the New York State School Boards Association as liaison to the New York State Caucus of Black School Board Members, which is focused on closing achievement gaps across the state.

The Board of Education granted 12 teachers tenure and bid farewell to those leaving the district at its June 9 meeting.

Members of the Board congratulated the teachers receiving tenure and thanked them for their continued service to the district’s students.

“A teacher is someone who not only is brilliant…a teacher is someone who really has a heart and loves what they do,” Superintendent Al Harper said. “We couldn’t be prouder of these 12 terrific educators.”

Harper also thanked the retirees for their years of service and wished them luck in their future endeavors.

In addition, Clara H. Carlson School donated $6,345 to the Nassau/Suffolk chapter of the

Autism Society of America. The money was raised by selling ice packs, sweatshirts, stress balls and bracelets. Stewart Manor School also donated $3,000 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Money was collected during the school’s talent show fundraiser, as well as by selling lemonade, T-shirts and pins. Elmont students also presented an officer from the Fifth Precinct with handmade thank-you cards for his service, which, he promised, would be used to decorate precinct hallways.

Superintendent Harper was recognized by the Board of Education for his work with the 10th annual LEEMUN Model UN Conference on May 28. Harper said the program has been a major success, and he has high hopes for it in the future.

Mr. Jaime Elected to NSSBA

Service to the District Honored at Board Meeting

Elmont School District Board of Education President Michael Jaime (second, right) is pictured with Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association Executive Committee members (from left): Robert Vecchio, Robert Martin and Dr. Karen Lessler.

District retirees were celebrated for their service at the June Board of Education meeting.