The East Williston and Roslyn school districts are very excited to co-present Parent University on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:45 p.m.
This year our program will be held at Roslyn High School. Our goal is to enhance the knowledge and skills of parents with children in grades K-12 through information and resources covering a variety of parenting subjects.
A series of meaningful workshops are offered to promote ongoing parental education supporting the well-being of our children.
Click the link to register and view descriptions of each workshop: Parent University 2015 link
You can also access the Parent University information on a link set up on the district homepage.
If you have any questions, please contact the Wheatley Guidance Department at 516-333-7506. I look forward to seeing you there.
A World of Research – Social Studies
National History Day Projects
One of the thoughts behind the decision to place a required high school research paper at the 10th grade level, (district goal implemented 2013-14) was the concept that in the remaining two years of high school students could branch out and utilize the strong research skills they had been acquiring and apply them to research projects in specific fields of interest, including social science research as well as science research.
It is exciting to see the continuing growth and implementation of our research skills curriculum, especially the work taking place in the social sciences through our history research projects and participation in the National History Day Contest.
Each year, more than half a million students nationwide participate in the National History Day Contest. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites.
After analyzing and interpreting their sources, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. These products are entered into competitions in the spring at local, state and national levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators.
It was great to visit our, now, annual social science fair where social studies students from the 11th grade competed for a coveted spot to represent Wheatley at the regional level Long Island History Day Competition at Hofstra University which will take place on Sunday March 8.
The students’ research was judged on such attributes as: historical quality; (historical accuracy, analysis and interpretation); historical context; (wide research, primary sources, balance); relation to theme (relationship and demonstrated significance of topic in history); clarity of presentation (originality, organization, grammar and spelling); and rules compliance (length requirement, bibliography, citations).
I know that staff judging the event had a tough time selecting the students who will move on to the next level at Hofstra. This year the contest topic is Leadership and Legacy. Congratulations to the following students:
Website
• Jake Williams – individual
(The Grumman Corporation)
• Andrew Schloss – individual
(Robert Moses)
• Lavanya Reddy,
Erica Kim, Jessica Chu,
Jordan Shaked – group
(Jacob Riis)
• Farrah Siegler,
Ellie Chen –
group (Benjamin
Tallmadge)
• Julian Nathan,
Victoria Roldan,
Christina Mille –
group (William Levitt)
Documentary
• David Rosenzweig,
Luke Cuomo,
Andrew Jin, Andrew Zuckerman,
Jeffery Poomkudy – group
(Mario Cuomo)
• Cara Mattioli, Caroline Connolly,
Noelle Molstad – group
(Edgar Allen Poe)
• Cindy Zhou, Gabriela Santolli,
Nikki Koch, Alana Osroff –
group (Charles Davenport)
• John Wanamaker –
individual (Shigeru Miyamoto)
• Caroline Crimmins – individual
(Cesar Chavez)
• Limor Tabib – individual
(Cuban Missile Crisis)
Exhibit
• Jared Bernstein, Alec Bernstein,
Chris Vazquez – group
(Gay Liberation Front)
• Crystal Barroca, Kayla Barroca,
Amanda Sivin, Marisa Rios – group
(Eleanor Roosevelt)
Performance
• Jordan Pollack – individual
(Alvin Ailey)
• Jacklyn Stroud, Morgan Misk,
Daniel Singh – group (Rogers and
Hammerstein)
Paper
• Joy Bestourous- individual
(Hassan Al-Banna)
• Sienna Brancato – individual
(Allen Ginsberg)
• Krista Chen – individual
(Henry Dunant)
They will represent Wheatley on March 8 at the regional competition where 600 students from over 35 Long Island school districts will participate.
Over the past three years, Wheatley students competing in the National History Day Contest have gone on to compete at both the state and national levels.
Successes include first place in New York State in both the research paper (2013) and website categories (2012 and 2014); several second and third places and special awards in documentaries and web sites (2012-2014).
Last year Wheatley students Jared Rothstein, Harris Wekselblatt, Seung Min Yi and Donna Nazarian won first place for all categories in New York State and fifth place in the United States for group website.
Last year Madison D’Ambrosio placed 11th in the United States for individual website, as well.
The above successes are even more noteworthy as Wheatley students have only been competing in the National History Day Contest for four years. The contest has been around since 1974.
This intensive competition requires innumerable hours of preparation on the part of students and faculty. Its incorporation into our school program supports our students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, research and reading skills, oral and written communication and presentation skills, self-esteem and confidence and builds an important sense of responsibility and involvement in the democratic process.
Over the first semester this year, all students in 7th and 8th grades and all 11th grade students wrote individual research papers that received extensive feedback from our secondary social studies teachers and school librarians.
Students then converted their papers into projects for entry in the social science competition under the guidance of Andrew Ardito, Dr. Joseph Coladonato, Dr. Danielle Gately, Diane Ilkiw, Colin McKenna (English teacher), Jo Beth Roberts, Patrick Shanahan, Dr. John Staudt and Gena Topping.
Good luck to our students moving on to the Long Island Competition.
I’m looking forward to sharing the finalists in the Junior Division (7th and 8th graders) when they are announced next week.
Willets Road Winter Concert
It was a pleasure attending the Willets Road Winter Concert and listening to our student-musicians from sixth and seventh grade.
I enjoyed the hard work evidenced by the performances of the Chamber Orchestra directed by Denise Giuliano, the Jazz Band directed by Scott Hoefling, the Concert Orchestra directed by Denise Giuliano, the Broadway Stars directed by Karen Brandine and the Concert Band directed by Scott Hoefling. A special thank you to our music teachers Karen Brandine, Denise Giuliano and Scott Hoefling for their inspiration and guidance that support our students’ ability to play so beautifully.
SPARK Week
In the East Williston School District we believe that the development of the whole child is essential. Significant research also demonstrates the strong link between cognitive and affective (social) development. Just as I wrote to you recently about North Side’s character education program Second Step, Willets Road students participate in an ongoing character development and community building initiative labeled SPARK (Success, Pride, Action, Respect and Kindness).
Next week is SPARK week at the Willets Road School. Students will be involved in activities throughout the week promoting the meaning of SPARK: Success, Pride, Action, Respect and Kindness.
SPARK Week culminates with SPARK Day. The Willets Road community will participate in a school-wide, all-day celebration. Students will be involved in teacher-led activities specifically designed to focus on the five tenants of SPARK. The day concludes with an assembly where both students and teachers will share their experiences.
As part of the SPARK mission, Willets Road is planning to celebrate the virtue of kindness by participating in various fundraising activities that will include collecting loose change for a family in need and a “Special Edition Friday Night Rec” on Feb. 27 for 6th and 7th grade students that will raise money for a student who is currently undergoing cancer treatment.
Reminder: Sign Up for Family Math Day – A Conference for Parents & Children
As I noted in an earlier newsletter, Family Math Day will be held on March 21 at the Stratford Road School in Plainview.
This special event provides a day of excitement and adventure in mathematics for students in Kindergarten through sixth grade and their parents. Parents can choose several workshops among a variety of offerings. It so presented by Nassau County Mathematics Teachers’ Association and Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors with the support of 11 Nassau County Sponsoring Districts of which East Williston is proud to be one.
As I also noted, some of our teachers will be teaching workshops.
Please register online at the link on the district, North Side and Willets Road home pages. Don’t get closed out. If you have any questions regarding the program you may email our very own North Side AIS teacher and math specialist Lisa Minerva, who also happens, we are proud to say, to be the president of the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers’ Association. Her email address is minerval@ewsdonline.org.
Hoops for Heart at Willets Road
During the month of January, students at Willets Road, in partnership with the American Heart Association, succeeded in an effort to raise money and awareness of heart disease. Under the leadership of the Willets Road physical education teachers David Burke, Monique Barker, and Joe Virgilio, students participated in the Hoops for Heart event.
The activities included dribbling skills, shooting contests and modified games held during physical education classes. Using basketball as a vehicle to teach the importance of making healthy choices, all students displayed a positive attitude and worked together to achieve one goal. The total amount raised for the American Heart Association was $3,750.02. Way to go Willets Road!
Willets Road Teachers Published
In my Jan. 16 newsletter I highlighted the publication of an article written by our very own Willets Road Science teachers Kristen Kandel and Natalie Brew in the February issue of Science Scope, a National Science Teachers Association publication. Here is the link to view the article, beginning on page 6 – Science Scope February 2015 edition. Congratulations once again.
Reminder: First Budget Workshop
The first Budget Workshop will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 450 at The Wheatley School. This workshop will focus on a budget overview, the administrative component and the capital component. Presentations will be made by Assistant Superintendent for Business Jacqueline Pirro and me. If you cannot attend the workshop, presentations will be posted on the website on the 15-16 Budget Info link on the district homepage at www.ewsdonline.org.
Adult Continuing
Education Registration
You should have received the Roslyn, Herricks, and East Williston Adult Continuing Education Spring Catalog in the mail. You can also view it online on the district homepage, parent page and community page. Registration is now open for spring courses.
Congratulations and Commendations
U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominee
Congratulations to Wheatley senior Rohan Gulati who was selected to participate in the United States Presidential Scholars Program. It is an honor to be asked to apply for the program. Good luck Rohan.
Wheatley Science Olympiad
Team Heads to States
On Saturday Jan. 31, the Wheatley Science Olympiad Team headed to Wantagh High School for the Nassau East Regionals.
Forty-four teams from around eastern Nassau County competed in 20 events hoping to earn a coveted spot at the State Competition, which is held in March.
After many months of studying, preparing and competing in invitational tournaments, all of the students’ hard work and late nights has paid off. The Wheatley Team came in third place overall and is heading to Le Moyne College in Syracuse to battle the best teams from across the state!
Congratulations team members Danish Anwar, Jessie Cao, Robert Chang, Krista Chen, Rohan Gulati, Sahaj Gulati, Ari Jain, Vani Kumar, John Li, Jeff Poomkudy, Courtney Schwartz, Chris Shen, Emily Wang, Cindy Zhou and Andrew Zuckerman and alternates Sarah Golden, Samantha Lessen and Seung Min Yi.
Of the 20 events, Wheatley placed in 14 of them:
Entomology (1st) – John and Jessie
Invasive Species (1st) John and Cindy
Game On (2nd) – Arihant and Chris
Green Generation (2nd) – Krista
and Ari
Fossils (3rd) – Andrew and Jeff
Bungee Drop (4th) – Vani and Emily
It’s About Time (4th) – Andrew
and Chris
Disease Detectives (6th) – Jeff
and Courtney
Cell Bio (7th) – Cindy and Courtney
Astronomy (8th) – Chris and Emily
Anatomy and Physiology (9th) –
Krista and Robert
Dynamic Planet (9th) – Cindy and Vani
Air Trajectory (10th) – Andrew
and Chris
Scrambler (10th) – John and Jessie
Thank you to team advisor Mary Alexis Blondrage for her work with the team and the entire science department faculty who assisted in preparation for the competition. A thank you too, to Willets Road science teacher and Junior High Science Olympiad advisor Matthew Gottleib for accompanying the team to the regionals.
Varsity Soccer Player Signs
Letter of Intent
The Wheatley Girls Varsity Soccer team recently received more good news. After completing a season in which the team won their second consecutive Nassau County Class B Championship, senior captain Alana Leahy was named to the All-County and All-State soccer team.
Alana, a four-year starter and two-year captain, has been honored by the Nassau County Soccer Coaches and the New York State Girls Soccer Coaches Association for her outstanding contributions to the Wheatley soccer team.
This recognition is well deserved. Outside of the Wheatley athletic program, she is a valued member of the East Meadow Explosion soccer team, which competes in the top division of Elite Clubs National League, representing her team at numerous regional and national championships. Alana continues to be a fine example of sportsmanship, academics and athletic ability for all of our younger student-athletes to emulate.
On Feb. 4 Alana signed her National Letter of Intent to attend Fairfield University to play Division 1 soccer on scholarship.
This accomplishment is the culmination of a commitment to both athletic and academic excellence.
Eighth Grade
Geography Bee Champ
A new eighth grade geography bee champ was crowned.
Congratulations to Brooke Schwartz, the new champion. Congratulations, as well, to runner-up Zachary Schloss.
