This week, our grade three to eight students (with the exception of our eighth graders presently taking Algebra 1) took the New York State Common Core Math Assessments.
This is an opportunity for us to assess our schools’ and district’s progress toward implementing key new math curriculum that will ultimately impact our students’ understanding of math and eventually impact student performance on the new High School Regents exams when they move into Wheatley.
The Common Core math curriculum significantly changes math instruction in positive ways that have been shared with you through district workshops and various parent communications. These changes are supported by major mathematics educational organizations and university professionals.
The shifts and changes in the New York State math program are complex for school districts to implement. Your children’s administrators and teachers are deeply involved in taking the new standards and curriculum guidelines and translating them into curriculum choices and instructional practices that we believe will, over time, best prepare our students to successfully meet the challenges of the new state math curriculum.
Because math follows a sequence from year to year and students build skills both within and across grades, it is important to continue to assess the strengths of our curriculum alignment and continued areas for further development, on an ongoing and timely basis. Such information allows us to both adjust grade level curriculum for the following year so that students entering a grade have the benefit of any changes indicated, as well as to provide us with information about any possible skills gaps students may be bringing into a new grade, as the curriculum continues its shifts.
The participation of all eligible students in the 3-8 New York State Math Assessments is a tool that will provide us with insight on our progress and support our efforts toward the full implementation of common core math over time. As a district, we are presently in the process of making decisions regarding curriculum materials, the modules and the purchasing of new math texts. Data received from student performance on the New York State Math Assessments can provide us with information relevant to successfully making these choices.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your building administrators.
Simmons Award
Each year, the East Williston Education Foundation honors one staff member from each of our three schools with The Steve Simmons Family Award.
Steve and his siblings graduated from this district. In appreciation of the extraordinary education they all received here, Steve established this tribute.
Criteria for potential nominees are: any person within the school community who “has gone beyond his/her responsibilities and made a measurable difference in the lives of their students; although not based on longevity, there is a requirement of at least five years of ddistrict service; and, nominations will be considered from all members of the staff, the administration, and members of the community.
Last week, this year’s three Simmons Awards nominees, North Side enrichment teacher Henry Kupstas, Willets Road nurse Arlene Kuchcicki and Secondary Social Studies Department Chair and teacher Brian McConaghy were recognized and celebrated at the annual Simmons Awards Coffee House.
Many thanks to the elementary school orchestra conducted by teacher Rachel May, the Willets Road Wind Ensemble conducted by music teacher Scott Hoefling and the Wheatley Honors String Ensemble conducted by Angela Luftig, all of whom provided beautiful musical entertainment.
Fellow East Williston colleagues introduced and spoke about the award winners, with many of the comments gathered from a collection of anecdotes, accolades and memories collected into a book for each Simmons Award recipient from parents, staff and students.
Mr. Kruptsas was described as an inspirational teacher. A former student credits Mr. Kupstas with her career choice, teaching. “Mr. Kupstas would raise the curiosity within us and kill us with the suspense of the answer. This gave us all a huge thirst for knowledge – no teacher could engage the class the way he did.”
In introducing Mr. Kupstas, North Side teacher, Bonnie Klein told him “you encourage your students to be doers like you are – so they can learn, hands-on, along that path of discovery.”
In introducing Arlene Kuchcicki, Willets Road Guidance counselor, Karen Stein shared “A Day in the Life of Arlene Kuchcicki” that had everyone in stitches as well as unbelievable awe over the number of adolescent “crises” and challenges she handles before 9:00 in the morning! The very complete scenario of a typical day in the life of this beloved Willets Road School Nurse certainly highlighted Mrs. Kuchcicki’s incredible contribution and importance to the children, faculty and families of Willets Road!
In introducing Brian McConaghy, social studies teacher John Staudt described Mr. McConaghy as someone who understands that a person’s worth in life is measured by the service we render and that we have responsibilities not only to ourselves but to others. Sharing in the introductory remarks, social studies teacher Pat Clarke described why his colleague was so worthy of this honor, “Because when Steve Simmons decided to give back to Wheatley by honoring those who go above and beyond, I think he would agree that Brian’s penchant for always putting others first is just what he was thinking of.”
This was a lovely evening of celebration. Thank you to the East Williston Educational Foundation for hosting and to Foundation Board members Janet Entine and Burt Roslyn for doing such a great job of emceeing … and of course, to Steve Simmons and his family, who make this event possible each year.
Voicemail/E-mail Disruptions
Due to repair work on the district phone system over the holiday break, voicemails left on district phones have likely been erased. Emails to district administrators may also have been lost. If you have not received a response to your email or phone message, it most likely was not received. Please try again by leaving a phone message or email. We apologize for any inconvenience.
North Side Students Become Newsday Reporters
This past winter, a Newsday editor came to Robert Owen’s fourth grade class at North Side.
Kidsday editor Patrick Mullooly visited North Side three times, brainstorming with our students, setting out what their assignment would be, choosing article topics, encouraging artwork, handing out “official” press passes and handing out some toys and books to be reviewed. The class worked to produce an edition of Kidsday, the “for kids” section of Newsday.
The students wrote articles based on their interests and experiences, wrote book reviews, toy reviews and video game reviews. They created an advice column, shared jokes and provided artwork for the publication. They also reviewed the new Playstation 4, provided by Newsday. Last week, North Side’s editions were printed in the paper. You can see all 6 editions of Kidsday (April 11, April 13, April 14, April 15, April 16 and April 17) by visiting the district website at www.ewsdonline.org and clicking on the news item North Side’s Newsday Kidsday!
Four lucky students made a trip to Citi Field to interview New York Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell in the Mets Clubhouse! Check out the interview on our website in the news item section, as well, or by going directly to this link: https://long-island.newsday.com/kids/kidsday/kidsday-reporters-meet-mets-bobby-parnell-1.7094866 .
“My Lunch Money” – A Convenient Way to Pay for Your Child’s School Lunch
During vacation we completed a software upgrade to the cafeteria point-of-sale computer system. In addition, we have also added a new feature to the cafeteria program that will allow online payments for lunch accounts.
The new online payment portal is called My Lunch Money. It is a website that can be accessed from our website home page by going to Quick Links or the food and nutrition on our website or on any computer by going to mylunchmoney.com.
There is also an App that can be downloaded from the My Lunch Money website. Parents can pay with a credit card or debit card. The system allows multiple students to be added to one account. Accounts can be replenished automatically and parents will be able to see a record of meal and a la carte food purchases. You will need your student’s nine-digit student ID that is available on the parent portal. Since the parent portal is not yet fully operational as a communication tool at North Side, flyers with a student specific nine-digit student ID number will be sent home with North Side students today.
Registered to vote?
If you are a resident who has not registered to vote or not voted in a school district election or a general election in the last four years, you must register to vote. You can register at the Nassau County Board of Elections at 240 Old Country Road, 5th Floor, Mineola, (https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/boe/vote.html) now through May 9, 2014 or in person at The Wheatley School lobby, 11 Bacon Road in Old Westbury at two designated times: May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon and May 13 at 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
For more details about your eligibility to vote, registration process and applications for absentee ballots, go to the district website at www.ewsdonline.org > click on the Community tab and click on Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot App.
School Budget & School Candidate Vote is Tuesday, May 20.
Budget presentations by Superintendent Elaine Kanas and Assistant Superintendent for Business Jacqueline Pirro will be made at upcoming PTO meetings:
Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. – North Side PTO Meeting
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. – Willets Road PTO Meeting
Wednesday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. – Wheatley PTO Meeting
Additional budget information can be viewed on the district website at www.ewsdonline.org > click on 14-15 Budget Info on the left side navigation bar.
Congratulations and Commendations
U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist
Congratulations once again to Wheatley senior Lauren Perry who was recently informed that she had been named one of 565 semifinalists in the 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Semifinalists were selected from more than 4,000 candidates on the basis of superior achievements, leadership qualities, personal character and involvement in community and school activities. Final selection of the Scholars will be made in May. We wish Lauren good luck!
Spanish Poetry Awards
Three Wheatley students were awarded the top prizes at the Annual Spanish Poetry Contest held on April 22nd at Hofstra University. Eighth grader Kimberly Esquilin won first place in the Level I category for her recitation of the poem, “”Balada del agua del mar” by Federicio García Lorca. Her sister, Melanie, a Wheatley junior, was also awarded first place honors in the Level IV category for her recitation of “Homenaje”, a poem written by her grandfather, José Luís Rodríguez Graulau. Sophomore Jaclyn Stroud won second place in the Level III category for her interpretation of “Anoche cuando dormía” by Antonio Machado.
This annual competition is sponsored by the Spanish Honor Society of Hofstra University and was attended by more than 150 students from Nassau and Suffolk schools.
Students were judged on their interpretation of the poem as well as intonation, pronunciation and general presentation. Wheatley Spanish teacher Pilar Principe-Franco served as the students’ coach, teaching them to deliver the poems with enthusiasm and dramatic effect. Other Wheatley student-participants in this year’s event were: Leigh Anderson, Hebah Hassan, Heydi Majano, Jordan Pollack, Daniel Singh and Ikra Zulfiqar.
Wheatley Science Research Students’ Success at WAC Lighting Foundation
On April 6, 2014, Wheatley independent science research students presented their research projects at the WAC Lighting Foundation Invitational Science Fair, hosted at Herricks High School this year. More than 400 students from thirteen schools, who have come together for the past fourteen years, showcased their research projects to esteemed judges from Universities and Hospitals across Long Island and New York City.
Junior Arjun Kapoor and senior Allison Chowdhury won top honors (first place) in their categories, Computer Science and Prototype Engineering, respectively. Three of Wheatley’s projects won third place in their categories: senior Aakash Jhaveri (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), the team of senior Michael Lituchy and sophomores Jeffrey Poomkudy and Ashwin Reddy (General Biology), and sophomore Julian Nathan (General Biology). Junior Rohan Gulati earned Merit honors for his project in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology category. Congratulations to our students for their hard work and dedication to their research!
Notification of Exemption of School Breakfast Program
The East Williston School District is applying for an exemption from having a breakfast program at the North Side School for the school year 2014-2015. The result of a survey completed in April 2014 resulted in a negative response of 87.45 percent; that is 271 of the responses indicated they would not have their children participate in a breakfast program at the North Side School. The district is awaiting notification of exemption from The Child Nutrition Program Administration in Albany.
Have a Good Weekend
As always, please email me at kanase@ewsdonline.org or call me at 333-3758 with any questions, suggestions, and or any topics you would like to see in this newsletter.
