Amityville Union Free School District - News Feed http://www.amityvilleufsd.org Copyright 2024 Syntax Communications Board honors Amityville Memorial High School’s top 10 scholars Amityville Memorial High School’s top 10 scholars were honored for their excellence in academics during the board of education’s March 13 meeting at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Amityville Memorial High School Principal Mary Stephens, joined by Assistant Principals Dr. John Cardone and Kenneth Coard, and Dean of Students Natasha Lim, spoke about each scholar and listed many of their accolades. The high school’s top 10 scholars include: Margaret Catron (valedictorian) Amin Shah (salutatorian) Madeline Shingleton Kazima Rasikha Muwwakkil Tayler Rollins Kyndal Chandler Tamiya Bullard Katya Ramos Rojas Jayson Chicas Sydni Blake All of the scholars thanked their parents, teachers, staff members and district administrators for supporting them throughout their educational journey in the Amityville School District. Photo caption: Amityville Memorial High School’s top 10 scholars were honored for their excellence in academics during the Board of Education’s March 13 meeting at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Photo courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District Date Added: 3/18/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175446 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175446 Northeast Pre-K Registration Information Date Added: 3/14/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175379 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175379 Amityville Memorial High School’s Spring College Fair - March 21, 2024 Date Added: 3/13/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175355 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175355 Northwest Elementary School holds Black History Month celebration Northwest Elementary School in Amityville celebrated diversity during the school’s annual Black History Month programs on Feb. 15 and March 7. Both programs featured dance, music, poetry, and more. The school’s gymnasium was filled with students and members of the Amityville school community as students showcased their talents. Additionally, students performed several dance routines for a tribute to 50 years of hip hop. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/12/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175327 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175327 BOE Meeting Notice - March 13, 2024 Date Added: 3/12/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175321 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175321 Three Park Avenue Elementary School students win essay, art contest The Amityville School District is proud to announce that three Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students were named as winners in State Sen. Monica R. Martinez’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay and Art contest. Park Avenue students Sussan Turcios Castro, Danna Flores Cornejo and Emely Espinal were honored for their artwork. The contest was held in conjunction with Senator Martinez’s recognition of Black History Month. Participants were tasked with writing an essay or creating a work of art that pays tribute to those who continue to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy or demonstrates how we can build bridges between all communities. Senator Martinez will have lunch with Park Avenue’s winners, and all of the school’s students who participated in the contest will receive a certificate. Date Added: 3/8/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175244 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175244 Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club’s upcoming production, “Mamma Mia!” Date Added: 3/8/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175249 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175249 Pre-K Registration March 18, 23, 2024 Date Added: 3/7/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175177 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175177 Students celebrate 100 days of school at Northeast Elementary School Amityville’s youngest learners at Northeast Elementary School participated in numerous activities to celebrate 100 days of school on Feb. 27. Students and teachers celebrated the day by wearing decorative crowns and many dressed up as 100-year-olds. Students also played several fun classroom activities as part of the festivities. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/6/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175172 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175172 BOE Meeting Notice March 6, 2024 Date Added: 3/5/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175109 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175109 Upcoming Budget Vote and Trustee Election Set for Tuesday, May 21 Please note that the correct date for the school district’s 2024-25 budget vote and trustee election is Tuesday, May 21. The date was incorrectly listed in the printed calendar sent home to all residents. We regret and apologize for this error. All information related to the upcoming budget proposal will be posted here. Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. at Amityville Memorial High School and Northeast Elementary School. Date Added: 3/4/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175106 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175106 Black History Month program at Park Avenue Elementary School On Feb. 29, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School celebrated their annual Black History Month program in Amityville. The event was well attended by parents, teachers, students and district administrators in the school’s auditorium. This year's theme was “African American and the Arts.” Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, students and staff shared their talents through singing, dancing and reading about hip-hop artists. Park Avenue staff member Ms. Thompson emceed the event and kept the audience entertained as she introduced each performance. The chorus led by Mrs. Koraus sang, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The PAMES Dancers had everyone grooving to the song “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire. The Leaders of Tomorrow Dancers showed everyone their moves dancing to “Fine China” by Chris Brown, and some students from Ms. Arias' class did the “Toosie Slide” by Drake. Park Avenue was also thrilled to have The Wula Drummers perform an interactive set. The school’s Black History Month program concluded with an amazing performance from Principal Mr. Edward Plaia on the electric guitar and Mr. Maisl singing “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. Everyone was on their feet as they both captatived the audience with their performance. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/4/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175085 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175085 Edmund W. Miles Middle School’s annual celebration of black history On Feb. 29, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville used their many talents to celebrate Black History Month. Emceed by Mrs. Byrd, Edmund W. Miles’ annual performance featured music, dancing, poetry and plenty of history in the school’s auditorium. The event was attended by district administrators along with faculty and staff members. Middle school students Lathan Harmon and Lucas Ayala spoke about the journey of black history. The middle school’s jazz band, under the direction of Mr. Lensky, performed a wonderful rendition of “Wade in the Water.” The middle school’s Dance and Step Team, under the direction of Ms. Coghiel, performed several routines to celebrate Black music, including a performance of modern dance moves in the Tik Tok era. Additionally, students and staff members gave several performances for a tribute to 50 years of hip hop, and they discussed the evolution of hip hop, graffiti and break dancing. The Amityville School District commends the teachers and students who worked tirelessly on putting together an informative and inspiring celebration of Black history. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/1/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175054 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175054 Northeast Elementary School holds Black History Month celebration Pre-K and kindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville held an amazing performance in front of their parents during the school’s annual Black History Month program on Feb. 16. Directed by music teacher Megan Ashe, students and staff members performed a medley of songs in the school’s gymnasium such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “Peace Like a River,” and “Scat Like That.” The gymnasium also featured a decorative art showcase that was organized by art teacher Nicole Pappas. The performance concluded with an African dance from special guest Dianne Robinson. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/23/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174883 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174883 First female sports broadcaster at Amityville Memorial High School On Jan. 30, Amityville Memorial High School junior Erin Kreuder made history for the school’s broadcasting club as she became the first female to ever do play-by-play commentary. Kreuder was the play-by-play commentator for the Amityville girls basketball game against Islip. High school teachers Paul Cimmino and Matt Greiss have coordinated the broadcasting club in Amityville since 2017, and they livestream to their YouTube channel called the Amityville Broadcasting Network. The club teaches students all aspects of what goes into having a professional broadcast including audio/video production, sound engineering, directing, producing, sideline reporters, talk show hosts and panelists, analysts, and play-by-play announcer. “In the professional world, it is a male-dominated profession, and female sports play-by-play commentators are extremely rare,” Mr. Greiss said. “In our club, we have had only six male students reach the level of play-by-play since we started our club. Erin did a tremendous job last month. As a junior, she has now established herself as our top on-air person and has another full year to shine.” The Amityville School District congratulates Kreuder on making school history as a female sports broadcaster. Date Added: 2/21/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174846 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174846 Kindness Week celebration at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Students and staff at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville celebrated Kindness Week from Feb. 5-9. In addition to dressing up for Spirit Week, students learned about the importance of sharing acts of kindness. Students made Valentine's Day cards for local veterans through State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre's office. Students also collected food for a local food pantry. Park Avenue recognized students from each class for their acts of kindness. Additionally, Park Avenue’s social worker Ms. DeMauro was nominated as the Staff Kindness Winner. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/20/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174826 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174826 Black History Month festivities at Amityville Memorial High School On Feb. 16, Amityville Memorial High School’s Interact Club celebrated the rich culture of African Americans during their annual Black History Month performance. Students shared their talents in dance, music and spoken words in front of their peers, faculty and staff members, and district administrators in the high school’s auditorium. The high school’s jazz band also performed several songs throughout the afternoon. In between performances, the Interact Club conducted trivia on famous African Americans. At the end of the performance, the Interact Club held up the flags of different countries to celebrate diverse cultures in the Amityville school community. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/20/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174827 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174827 Northwest Elementary's Annual Lunar New Year parade On Feb. 9, students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville celebrated the Lunar New Year with their annual parade. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, students learned that this is the Year of the Dragon, which represents nobility, good fortune and vitality. Students crafted lanterns, dragons and noisemakers for the parade around the school. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, students and staff were encouraged to wear red which symbolizes good luck, energy and happiness. Additionally, students and teachers wore purple hearts in recognition of P.S. I Love You Day. It was a festive and great learning experience for all of Northwest’s students. Date Added: 2/13/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174626 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174626 BOE Meetings Notice February 14, 2024 Date Added: 2/13/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174649 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174649 Schools Closed Tuesday, Feb. 13 Date Added: 2/12/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174600 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 23:00:00 GMT false174600 Amityville Community Letter - February 12, 2024 Date Added: 2/12/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174568 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174568 Wrestling standouts at Amityville Memorial High School Two of Amityville Memorial High School’s varsity wrestlers have enjoyed amazing seasons this winter. Sophomore and second-year wrestler Cristian Maldonado has found phenomenal success on the mat. Last year, he suffered an injury a week before the league tournament, which kept him from competing in the postseason. Since then, he has put in a tremendous amount of work that has led him to a county tournament this year. “Cristian doesn't miss a day of practice and always shows up ready to work,” said wrestling coach Dan Manley. Cristian is currently 26-10 and will be wrestling on Feb. 10 at Stony Brook University in the 124-lb. division of the Suffolk County Section XI Division 1 Championship Tournament after placing third in the League VI Championships on Feb. 3. “He has had an impressive season and a great career to look forward to,” Mr. Manley said. “We are very proud of his success, but more importantly, the effort he puts in daily to make it possible.” Madelyne Martinez is a junior and second-year wrestler who placed fourth at the Long Island Girls' Wrestling Championships on Feb. 4. “She is a talented actor and singer who still finds time to work hard throughout the season,” Manley said. “She is a tough wrestler who has beaten both male and female opponents over the last two years.” Last year, Madelyne became the first female wrestler from Amityville to ever win a tournament when she went 3-0 and captured the title in the girls' division of the Frank Giampaolo Cyclone Wrestling Tournament at South Side High School. This year, she placed third in that same tournament. By placing fourth this past weekend, she has earned All-County and All-Long Island honors. Mr. Manley said that she was in a tough weight class this year and will return next year as a contender for a county title. The Amityville School District commends both wrestlers on their success and wishes them the best of luck in their future competitions. Date Added: 2/9/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174555 Fri, 09 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174555 Unity Quest festivities at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville On Feb. 5, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville promoted the message, “Better Together” during the school’s Unity Quest celebration. Throughout the day, students and teachers participated in numerous engaging activities to share the importance of unity, team building, leadership, growth mindset, social-emotional learning and cultural diversity. The activities included line dancing, unity circles, pencil drawings and more. Photo caption:1-9: On Feb. 5, students and teachers at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville participated in numerous engaging activities during the school’s Unity Quest celebration. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/8/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174503 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174503 Northeast Elementary School kicks off Black History Month celebration On Feb. 1, students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville were eager to kick off their schoolwide Black History Month celebration. Several guest readers visited classrooms at Northeast as they read numerous books such as “ABC Black History and Me” by Queenbe Monyei, “Jabari Jumps” by Gaia Cornwall, and “I Promise” by LeBron James. The guest readers included the district’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert, the district’s Administrative Assistant Eddie Backus, and several community leaders. Northeast thanks all of the guest readers who took time to read with the school’s pre-K students. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/7/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174452 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174452 Amityville Memorial High School artists featured in countywide art show The Amityville School District is proud to announce that three of Amityville Memorial High School’s art students are currently representing the district in the 2024 Suffolk County Art Leaders Association All-County Art Exhibition. Students exhibiting their work in this show include: Denilson Berrios Gutierrez (Grade 12) – “EverGaze” – Medium: Digital Photography, Adobe Photoshop Abigail Brown (Grade 9) – “Succulents” – Medium: Watercolors Cesia Guevara Melendez (Grade 10) – “The Falls” – Medium: Mixed Media In addition, senior Kyndal Chandler is displaying her artwork in the Senior Scholarship portion of the SCALA All-County Art Exhibition: “Charcoal Head” Medium: Charcoal on Paper “Pop Art” – Medium: Mixed Media “Still Life with Skeleton” – Medium: White colored pencil on black paper The reception for this regional art show will be held on Feb. 10 at the Old Town Hall in Babylon, at 47 W. Main St., Babylon, from 1-3 p.m. Additional viewings of this show will be available through March 5, Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The district congratulates the amazing artists and their art teachers Jayne Grasso, Connie Jordan and Sheila Olsen on this remarkable accomplishment. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/7/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174479 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174479 Board of Education Work Session Meeting Notice - February 7, 2024 Date Added: 2/7/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174451 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174451 Amityville Memorial High School artist wins statewide competition The Amityville School District is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Guadalupe Hernandez Granados’ artwork has been chosen as the High School-level winner in the statewide NYSATA Youth Art Month Flag Design competition. Her sponsoring art teacher is Jennifer Dibble. This year, 1,765 flag designs were submitted by students statewide into this competition. Student work was divided by grade-band levels and then the top work was chosen within each grouping. For her effort, Guadalupe received a beautiful basket of art supplies that will help her continue to create more artwork and nurture her talent. The supplies were generously donated to NYSATA by the companies of BLICK and Royal Brush Manufacturing Inc. Her artwork will also be featured on the NYSATA website and in the upcoming edition of the NYSATA News publication. The district congratulates Guadalupe on being recognized by NYSATA for her amazing artwork. The full 2024 New York State Youth Art Month Flag Designs Slideshow can be seen by visiting the following link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wi3AVfAkN7YdbkOAjpQ_hrIzR0uWhbOW6mBToLdZVog/edit#slide=id.p Date Added: 2/1/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174331 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174331 Northwest Elementary School first graders complete unit on animals On Jan. 26, first graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville worked in teams to research different animals on the app, PebbleGo. Students also watched National Geographic videos as part of this unit, and they wrote letters to a zookeeper asking why they think certain animals should be at the zoo. First graders used the app, ChatterPix, to present their letters, and QR codes were made for their videos. Ms. Cohen’s class partnered with Mrs. Hammerschmitts class, and they viewed each other’s classwork by using the iPads to teach students how to scan a QR code. Date Added: 1/29/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174254 Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174254 Board of Education Special Session Meeting Notice - Jan. 30 JANUARY 2024 TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024 5:30 p.m. – Special Session Meeting with anticipated Executive Session Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School- Room 107 140 Park Avenue | Amityville, New York 11701 Date Added: 1/26/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174218 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174218 Amityville Memorial High School wins championship in track and field The Amityville School District is proud to announce Amityville Memorial High School’s boys varsity track and field team won the League IV Championship at Suffolk County Community College on Jan. 21. Track and field head coach Reynolds Hawkins Jr. said that going into the meet, he felt confindent that his team would emerge as champions. “I knew on paper that we were capable of winning, but I knew that we still had to go out and perform,” Mr. Hawkins said. “We talked about winning the League IV Championsip at the start of the season, and I have to say that everybody stepped up to the challenge.” Additionally, 14 out of 17 student athletes earned All-League honors. To earn this distinction, student athletes must score in the top six of their respective events. “My teams have had this kind of success in the past, but every season and every team is different,” Mr. Hawkins said. “I’m very happy that this group of young men were able to accomplish this.” Senior student athlete Derrick Prince broke another school record, running the 55-meter dash in 6.44 seconds, a record that was previously held by Omar Logan. “We had a lot of seniors on our team last year, so we had some younger student athletes filling out our roster this year,” Mr. Hawkins said. “I’m ecastic for this team and the remaining competitions that we have this season.” The district commends our varsity track and field team on winning the League IV Championship. Date Added: 1/25/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174191 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174191 Letter from the Superintendent Date Added: 1/25/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174199 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174199 January 24, 2024 BOE Meeting Canceled http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174075 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174075 Northeast Elementary School students hold assembly ahead of MLK Day Pre-K and kindergarten students came together to celebrate renowned Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during an assembly on Jan. 12 at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville. Students studied Dr. King’s life and his contributions to the United States and the world in their classes. When they gathered for the schoolwide celebration in the school’s gymnasium, Principal Dr. Pauline Collins asked several students to share what they learned. The youngsters cited Dr. King’s commitments to kindness and peace, and how he fought hard to ensure that all students could attend school together regardless of race. During the assembly, students also watched videos about the life and legacy of Dr. King, and they sang songs about peace. Dr. Collins said it is important for students to understand why they have a day off from school each January — to celebrate Dr. King’s efforts toward peace and equality. She also reminded them to incorporate the values he preached into their everyday lives. Date Added: 1/12/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173902 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173902 Amityville Memorial High School’s track stars make school history On Dec. 29, several student athletes on Amityville Memorial High School’s varsity track and field team made school history during the U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic at The Armory in New York City. Senior student athletes Abed-nego Compere, Derrick Prince, Janoe Richard and Bryce Benymon set a new record for the boys indoor 1600-meter sprint medley relay with a time of 4:17.72. Additionally, Derrick Prince set a school record in the 500-meter relay, and Abed-nego Compere set a school record in the 800-meter relay. “Honestly, this is something that I anticipated and expected them to accomplish,” said track and field coach Reynolds Hawkins Jr. “One of the lessons that I preach to my team is that you get one life in high school. You have to seize the moment when you have it, and they were able to do just that.” Mr. Hawkins said that this group of student athletes have tirelessly worked towards their goals, which led to their success at the Holiday Classic. “Anytime you get to get to see kids developing into young athletes and responsible men, it’s encouraging for our entire program here at Amityville,” Mr. Hawkins said. The Amityville School District congratulates our varsity track and team on making school history. Date Added: 1/10/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173827 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173827 Board of Education Meeting Notice – January 10, 2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173760 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173760 The Amityville School District’s Virtual Winter Art Show 2023 For the Amityville School District’s Winter Art Showcase this year, the district’s art teachers have created a beautiful virtual presentation which showcases the work of Amityville’s students from grades Pre-K through 12. The district commends all of the art teachers who created the slides for their students' work. They are: Nicole Pappas - Northeast and the Middle School Lydia Robinson - Northwest Susan Zaratin - Park Avenue Jacklyn Breitfeller - Middle School Tyler Kundler - Middle School Jayne Grasso - High School Jennifer Dibble - High School Brian Hart - High School Connie Jordan - High School Sheila Olsen - High School Cara Westphal - High School Danielle Chambers - High School (art leave replacement teacher) The district would also like to thank art teacher Brian Hart for putting together the final presentation. On behalf of all of the teachers and students within the Amityville Art Department, we hope that you enjoy the show. Happy Holidays! Date Added: 1/3/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173667 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173667 Happy New Year 2024! Date Added: 1/3/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173645 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173645 Board of Education Special Meeting - Wednesday, January 3, 2023 Special Meeting Wednesday, January 3, 2024 AMITYVILLE UFSD BOARD OF EDUCATION Special Meeting OPEN SESSION: 5:30 PM http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173648 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173648 Amityville Memorial High School’s festive holiday concert On Dec. 21, Amityville Memorial High School students performed an amazing, festive concert before the holiday break. In addition, the high school’s American Sign Language students performed “O' Holy Night” in American Sign Language. The high school’s students began learning sign language in September. Their eagerness and tenacity were on full display as they did a wonderful job showcasing their skills to the Amityville school community. Photo caption: On Dec. 21, Amityville Memorial High School students performed an amazing, festive concert before the holiday break. Click to View Concert Video Date Added: 1/2/2024 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173634 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173634 Board of Education Audit Committee Meeting January 2024 Audit Committee Meeting | Wednesday, January 3, 2024 | Audit Committee Meeting with anticipated Executive Session: 5:30 p.m. - (UPDATED LOCATION) Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School 140 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York 11701 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173624 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173624 Happy Holidays! Date Added: 12/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173581 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173581 Districtwide ENL Parent Workshop - January 4, 2024 Date Added: 12/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173505 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173505 ‘Santa’s elves’ give back at Amityville Memorial High School In the spirit of the holidays and giving back, Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club student members once again participated in the Christmas Magic program. The nonprofit program was formed in 1990 through the efforts of a single father, Charlie Russo, a Hauppauge attorney. He wanted to teach his children the true meaning of Christmas. More than the 30 years, the organization has grown into hundreds of Long Island families giving back to their communities. Christmas Magic has touched the lives of more than 11,000 Long Island children in more than 55 shelters, agencies, programs, churches and schools. “Being a part of WAC PAC during the holiday season is the best,” said WAC PAC student member Kazima Muwwakkil. “It’s like we’re Santa’s elves, but way cooler and with fun t-shirts.” WAC PAC members shopped for 90 kids from the Youth Enrichment Services program in Central Islip. The Warrior Awareness Club took three trips to Target in Copiague to shop for children who are struggling during the holidays. “Receiving is not where the Christmas magic stops with the WAC PAC,” said Marcus Faublus, another student member of the WAC PAC. To ensure gifts met the specific needs of the children the Amityville students were buying gifts for, they were given an information sheet that included each child’s age, gender, clothing size and interest. Date Added: 12/20/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173459 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173459 Board of Education Meeting Notice - Dec. 13 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173205 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173205 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School unveils Calming Corner On Dec. 1, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil their Calming Corner. The room was designed for students, faculty and staff members to enjoy moments of peace and tranquility. “If anyone needs a moment to calm themselves, gather their thoughts, sit quietly, and meditate, this is the room for you,” said Park Avenue Assistant Principal Denise Graham. Students took a tour of the newly designed room after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Date Added: 12/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173087 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173087 Northwest Elementary School students craft place value holiday trees On Dec. 4, students in Ms. Desiderio and Ms. DelGiorno’s class at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville celebrated mathematics and the holiday season. Students crafted their own place value holiday trees as they created colorful ornaments and trees. In this math unit, students learned the basics of addition and subtraction. After cutting out their holiday trees, students put them on display outside their classroom. Date Added: 12/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173058 Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173058 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School’s Warrior Awards ceremony On Dec. 1, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held its first quarter awards ceremony. The students were awarded: Most Improved, Excellent Effort, Overall Academic Achiever, and Citizenship. Winners were called to accept their award and then engaged in a fun activity organized by Park Avenue’s physical education teachers. Date Added: 12/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173020 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173020 Board of Education Work Meeting Notice — Dec. 6, 2023. Date Added: 12/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173000 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173000 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School holds writing celebration On Nov. 17, fourth graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held a writing celebration. Students visited different classrooms that were transformed into writing galleries and read personal narratives created by their peers. Fourth graders also shared their thoughts about each story through peer reviews. Lastly, students enjoyed a variety of tasty desserts to conclude the celebration. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172761 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172761 Amityville Parent Teacher Council- Show your Support on 11/21/23 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172731 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:00:00 GMT false172731 Northeast Elementary School’s Thanksgiving celebration in Amityville On Nov. 21, students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville celebrated Thanksgiving through some fun and games. Students wore decorate Thanksgiving crowns as they participated in an obstacle course in the school’s gymnasium. The activities included a ring toss, running around cones, and teaming up to design a turkey. After students rotated through each obstacle course station, they enjoyed a tasty Thanksgiving feast in the school’s cafeteria. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/27/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172839 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172839 Amityville Memorial High School students visit classes at Northwest On Nov. 15, Amityville Memorial High School’s AP Spanish students visited bilingual classes at Northwest Elementary School. The group crafted their own original books and they read stories in each of the bilingual classes. The reading activity helped students to practice articulating similarities and differences by comparing their stories to those of others. Following the reading, Northwest students discussed what they’re thankful for and they participated in a Thanksgiving craft. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172687 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172687 Amityville’s middle school, high school students meet with veterans In honor of Veterans Day, Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School held Veterans Day events on Nov. 9 to celebrate the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States military. Local veterans in the community were welcomed to the middle school to share their experiences while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to the event, students prepared questions in their social studies classes to ask the veterans. Veterans described the branch of military in which they served, answered the students’ questions, and displayed photos and souvenirs from their years of service. Toward the end of the visit, students thanked them for visiting the class, and each veteran received a patriotic thank-you card created by a member of the National Junior Honor Society. At the high school, several local veterans were welcomed to speak with students in their social studies classes. During the 45-minute class period, veterans shared stories about their time in the service and answered students’ questions. Students created colorful cards to thank the veterans for their service. Additionally, veterans got to enjoy a special luncheon in the school’s library. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/16/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172654 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172654 Districtwide ENL Parent Workshop http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172572 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172572 District Response to June 30, 2023 Audit Report Date Added: 11/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172450 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172450 Sensory bash introduces five senses at Northeast Elementary School Students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville tapped into their five senses during the school’s Sensory Bash on Nov. 3. The sensory bash, which was organized by Northeast STRIVE teacher Mary Scharf, is a way for all children, atypical or neurotypical, to effectively learn through their five senses. When children are provided with opportunities to learn and explore their academics through touch, taste, smell and sight, they often have a higher rate of attending to the task and retaining the information presented. The sensory bash is also a fun way to cultivate an inclusive environment for all children. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172400 Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172400 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students explore careers Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held its annual career fair from Nov. 2-3. Coordinated by guidance counselor Kim Balducci, the school’s career fair aims to expose students to different careers while developing the school to work connection. Held in the school’s auditorium, students in each grade went around to their careers of choice to interview the guest speakers about their professions. The career fair featured a wide range of speakers that included parents, family and friends of faculty members and community members: Shakara Richardson, Suffolk County Police Department Dara Caramanico-Broyles, Suffolk County Police Department Keley Abbriano, Suffolk County Police Department Danny Colondona, Suffolk County Police Department emergency services Rose Charles, attorney at law Clifford Charles, nurse anesthesiologist Dr. Erin Hurme, doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine Joe Anchor, IT project management Kimberly Jean-Pierre, New York State Assemblywoman Cherrelle Crews, audio engineer/music producer Scuba Steve, author and marine conservationist Maria Francke, dance studio owner/director choreographer Michelle Myers, retired U.S. Army sergeant/hospital clinical engineer manager Deborah Magnani, physical therapist Melisa Bliss, assistant district attorney Rosemary Reyes, registered nurse Peter Hornick, senior analyst Lori Zomback, medical student/pediatrician Karen Quintanilla, banker Lauren King, managing partner/financial advisor Joe Fitzpatrick (Stage name: Bear Bronson), professional wrestler Leisha Cason, registered nurse Jordan Valentine, emergency room medical student Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172338 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172338 Amityville Memorial High School’s annual homecoming celebration After being postponed due to inclement weather, Amityville Memorial High School was excited to hold its annual homecoming parade on Oct. 28. The high school’s marching band provided music throughout the parade, which included school administrators, board members, faculty, local elected officials, cheerleaders, and students from various Amityville schools. Marchers started their journey at the LIRR Amityville station and paraded down the local streets as onlookers cheered. Students dressed up and floats were decorated to represent this year’s theme of cartoon shows and sitcoms. Parents and supportive community members were also in attendance as they watched the group march down Broadway through the heart of the Village of Amityville all the way to the high school. The high school’s cheerleading team held an amazing performance during halftime of the Amityville Warriors’ varsity football game against the Comsewogue Warriors. The high school’s marching band performed a medley of hits from Earth, Wind & Fire that included “Fantasy,” “Getaway,” “In the Stone,” and “September.” Halftime celebrations concluded with the crowning of the homecoming king Derrick Prince and queen Derrikah Legette. Despite the Warriors 48-6 loss against Comsewogue High School, the district would like to thank everyone who came out to show their support. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/30/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172169 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172169 Board of Education November Meeting Notices Date Added: 10/30/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172141 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172141 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School celebrates Hispanic Heritage On Oct. 25, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School enjoyed an amazing Hispanic Heritage Night celebration in Amityville. Students danced and recited bilingual poems in English and Spanish. Additionally, some of the faculty members and administrators were dancing to the festive music. They also had the honor of having State Sen. Monica Martinez as a keynote speaker. Ms. Martinez shared her expertise and perspective that inspired and educated our attendees, creating a meaningful and memorable experience for all. She highlighted the importance of attendance and the impact it has on the learning journey. At the end of the performance, families enjoyed delicious food as a community. This was a beautiful celebration as people in the Amityville school community connected to their roots, cultural heritage and identity. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/27/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172121 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172121 Amityville Memorial High School Fall College Fair - Nov. 2, 2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172114 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172114 Districtwide Safety & Emergency Management Plan Public Hearing Statement - Oct. 26, 2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172095 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172095 Hispanic Heritage Night celebration at Northwest Elementary School Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently held a reenactment of a Spanish-language television program, “Sabado Gigante.” The reenactment featured role-playing, dancing, singing and advertising. Some students danced to different songs from legendary artists such as Celia Cruz and Selena, while other classes advertised different products by recreating a commercial. The students kept the audience engaged throughout the entire performance, and it was an amazing evening with fun-filled activities for all. Photo captions: 1-6: Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently held a reenactment of a Spanish-language television program, “Sabado Gigante.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172069 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172069 District Statement re: Facility Use Fee Date Added: 10/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172074 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172074 Breast Cancer Walk and Trunk or Treat Event - October 29, 2023 Date Added: 10/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172033 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172033 Motivational speaker visits Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Motivational youth speaker Rohan Murphy recently visited students and staff at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville to share his inspiring story. During his presentation, Mr. Murphy shared his remarkable life journey as a wrestler and emphasized the importance of perseverance, determination and a positive mindset. His story of overcoming adversity and achieving success despite losing his legs at birth served as a compelling example of how everyone can overcome challenges and strive for greatness. Mr. Murphy’s message left a lasting impression on Park Avenue’s students, encouraging them to believe in themselves and work toward their goals with unwavering determination. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172027 Tue, 24 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172027 Students, teachers celebrate Unity Day in the Amityville School District Students and teachers throughout the Amityville School District celebrated Unity Day on Oct. 18. Unity Day is a national effort to prevent bullying through the promotion of kindness and compassion. Students and teachers throughout the district took part in numerous activities to promote inclusivity and acceptance for all regardless of gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. At each school, students and teachers wore orange to share a visible message that no one should experience bullying, and that we are all stronger together. Date Added: 10/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171893 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171893 Policy Committee Meeting Notice - Oct. 19 Date Added: 10/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171887 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171887 Northeast Elementary School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Night On Oct. 12, Northeast Elementary School in Amityville celebrated Hispanic/Latino Heritage Night and the opening of their long-awaited playground. The evening began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground, after which, children were able to play thanks to the efforts of the board of education and the central administration in helping to make the playground a reality. The evening continued with a celebration of Hispanic/Latino Heritage in the gymnasium. The performances included singing, cultural dances, food and music. It was a collaborative event, as some of the performers and volunteers included staff members, family members of staff members, and former students in the Amityville School District. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171787 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171787 Board of Education Meeting Notice - Oct. 18 Date Added: 10/16/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171775 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171775 Pre-K students celebrate grandparents at Northeast Elementary School It was a family affair at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville as the school welcomed grandparents on Oct. 6, allowing them to not only observe the lessons but to participate in the day’s activities. In honor of National Grandparents Day, which was observed last month, the special guests visited the pre-K and kindergarten classes. They assisted with a variety of activities, from coloring in pictures of grandmas and grandpas to fall-themed art projects. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171590 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171590 Letter from the Superintendent Date Added: 10/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171631 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171631 Board of Education Meeting Notice - October 11 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171581 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171581 Amityville students to participate in nationwide essay writing contest The Amityville School District has announced that the Amityville Veterans of Foreign Wars will participate in the nationwide essay writing contest, “The Patriots Pen.” This is the fourth year of the Amityville VFW running the essay contest. The group has had the pleasure of reading numerous essays by Edmund W. Middle School students and awarding cash prizes to their top essay writers. “The Patriot’s Pen” is designed to promote patriotism, research, history and writing. This year’s national theme is “How Are You Inspired by America?” The Amityville VFW is the sponsoring Post for all students that live or go to school in Amityville. In the past, the event has featured winners from both the Amityville School District and St. Martins of Tours. Essays for the competition are due by Oct. 31. The district wishes the best of luck to all the essay writers. Photo caption: The Amityville School District has announced that the Amityville Veterans of Foreign Wars will participate in the nationwide essay writing contest, “The Patriots Pen.” Date Added: 10/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171481 Wed, 04 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171481 Board of Education Meeting Notices for October http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171374 Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171374 Districtwide Safety & Emergency Management Plan for Public Review Date Added: 9/27/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171299 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171299 Amityville Memorial High School celebrates International Day of Peace On Sept. 21, Amityville Memorial High School commemorated the International Day of Peace by presenting its annual Pinwheels for Peace event. Through song, poetry, peace rock presentations and a pinwheel planting ceremony, students reflected on the importance of peace in their lives, their community and throughout the world. To prepare for this event, high school art students created more than 200 pinwheels and decorated them with peace-themed art and personal messages of peace. Many peace-themed posters were also created for this celebration. Additionally, students in the high school’s Warrior Awareness Club, known as the WAC PAC, wrote poetry and created “Peace Rocks” to distribute to individuals who have great meaning within their lives. During the celebration, students created a human Unity Circle and then “planted” their pinwheels to form a peace sign of pinwheels on the school’s front lawn. The International Day of Peace (Peace Day) is observed around the world each year on Sept. 21. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace. The International Day of Peace ceremony at Amityville Memorial High School was organized by art teacher Jayne Grasso and the National Art Honor Society, along with support from Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171193 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171193 Northwest Elementary School crafts artwork in honor of Patriot Day Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville teamed up with Saint Martin of Tours School to create patriotic artwork, which is now on display at the town’s Sept. 11 vigils. The display was created to commemorate the lives lost that day including two community members. The artwork was hung at both the September 11 Memorial Park on Broadway and at the Peter J. O’Neill Memorial Park on Bayview Avenue. Photo caption:1-9: Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville teamed up with Saint Martin of Tours School to create patriotic artwork, which is now on display at the town’s Sept. 11 vigils. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/18/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171090 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171090 Northeast Elementary School celebrates the first day of prekindergarten Prekindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville School District kicked off their educational journey during their first day of school on Sept. 14. Teachers, district administrators and school Principal Dr. Pauline Collins greeted each student to celebrate their first year of school. Many of the students, joined by their parents/guardians, familiarized themselves with the school during pre-K orientation on Sept. 13. The district welcomes its newest learners and looks forward to a successful year ahead. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/14/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171036 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171036 Northwest Elementary School students return for the first day of school Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville were excited to kick off the 2023-24 school year on Sept. 6. Teachers at Northwest greeted the new and returning students to celebrate a new school year. Students throughout Northwest came together before they entered their classes to say hello to friends, get acquainted with classmates and greet their teachers. Northwest looks forward to an exciting year of fun and learning. Date Added: 9/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170915 Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170915 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School kicks off a new school year On Sept. 6, as the big yellow school bus rolled through Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville, it brought with it the promise of new beginnings and countless opportunities for growth and learning. With music playing in the background, Park Avenue has come alive once again, buzzing with the enthusiasm and energy that only a new school year can bring. It was a heartwarming atmosphere filled with familiar faces returning and new ones joining the school community, ready to embark on this educational adventure together. As Park Avenue steps into the 2023-24 school year, Principal Mr. Edward Plaia and Assistant Principal Ms. Denise Graham would like to remind everyone that each day is a chance to learn, to inspire and to be inspired. Park Avenue is not just a place of academics; it's a place where lifelong memories are created, friendships are forged, and dreams are nurtured. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170885 Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170885 Board of Education September Meeting Notices Date Added: 9/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170807 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170807 Amityville’s staff members rejoice at Superintendent’s Conference Day The Amityville School District welcomed returning staff members during Superintendent’s Conference Day at Amityville Memorial High School from Aug. 30-31. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert promoted this year’s theme, “Believe,” as she welcomed staff and provided words of motivation as they enter the 2023-24 school year. On Aug. 31, Dr. Talbert led staff members in dancing the Electric Slide to kick off the celebration. Additionally, district administrators gave speeches and they split up into different groups throughout the building to participate in several team activities. Amityville’s staff members look forward to an exciting and fun-filled year. Date Added: 9/1/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170779 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170779 Northeast Welcome Back Letter Date Added: 9/1/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170777 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170777 Board of Education Emergency Session Meeting Notice - Aug. 30 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170724 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170724 Guardian Caps introduced to football players in Amityville The safety of student athletes remains as a top priority in the Amityville School District. The district’s athletics department recently purchased Guardian Caps for every football player in the program. The caps were introduced to players when Amityville Memorial High School kicked off their practices on Aug. 21. The NFL has mandated that caps are worn during all practices for impact reduction. Amityville’s football program will enforce the same mandate to ensure safety for all of their student athletes. Photo caption: 1-7: The Amityville School District’s athletics department recently purchased Guardian Caps for every football player in the program. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/29/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170697 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170697 Northwest Welcome Back Letters Date Added: 8/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170475 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170475 2023-24 ESSA Consolidated Grant Application The 2023-24 ESSA application is available for review and public comment. Please contact Dr. Joan K. Lange, Assistant Superintendent (631) 565-6037 if interested no later than August 31, 2023. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170722 Sun, 27 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170722 2023-24 Code of Conduct Date Added: 8/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170634 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170634 Welcome Event Date Added: 8/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170630 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170630 Parent Student Welcome Letter Date Added: 8/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170631 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170631 Updated Middle School Orientation Dates and Times Date Added: 8/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170632 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170632 School District Block Party 8/26 12PM-4PM Date Added: 8/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170633 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170633 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice - Aug. 23, 2023 Date Added: 8/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170619 Mon, 21 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170619 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Welcome Letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170601 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170601 Amityville Memorial High School August Regents 2023 Information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170560 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170560 Edmund W. Miles Middle School Orientation Dates http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170577 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170577 Board of Education Meeting Notice - Aug. 9 Date Added: 8/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170508 Mon, 07 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170508 Board of Education August Meeting Notices Date Added: 7/28/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170439 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170439 Camping week activities at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville Students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville have participated in weekly themes throughout the summer to tie into their learning. During camping week, July 17-21, students were reading in the dark with flashlights and cozying up in a tent with a good book. Students enjoyed some delicious s’mores as a sweet treat, and even created how-to writing pieces to describe steps taken to build a tent out of marshmallows and toothpicks. Date Added: 7/26/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170420 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170420 Parent Workshop at PAMES - Thursday August 3 from 11-11:45am Date Added: 7/26/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170418 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170418 Summer Enrichment Program for Amityville’s middle school students Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville have participated in numerous activities during the school’s Summer Enrichment Program. Their program features three courses: Stem Fuse, Robotics and Mindful Movement. The robotics class uses the program Thimble.io, in which students are introduced to technical skills of the 21st century through robotics, coding and critical thinking. Students in the program’s Stem Fuse class have developed phone stands that are brought to life through a 3D printer. The Mindful Movement class has been taking the time to be aware emotionally and physically through their activities in the school’s gymnasium. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 7/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170414 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170414 Water Activity Day at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville On July 20, prekindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville participated in Water Activity Day at the school’s courtyard. Students ran through sprinklers, played in the kiddie pools, danced with hula hoops, and blew bubbles. They also played several rounds of friendly water balloon games. After the students dried themselves off, they enjoyed water ice pops at the picnic tables. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 7/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170401 Mon, 24 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170401 Board of Education Appoints Dr. Gina Talbert as Next Superintendent of Schools At a business meeting on July 12, the Amityville Board of Education appointed Dr. Gina Talbert as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools, effective Aug. 1. She replaces current Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale, who resigned, effective July 31. Dr. Talbert joins Amityville with more than 36 years of experience in the educational field, most recently serving as Superintendent of Schools for the Wyandanch Union Free School District, a position she held since 2019. Under Dr. Talbert’s leadership, the district stabilized and elevated its financial stability, implemented additional programming and resources for students, and restored previously eliminated positions within the district. Additionally, under Dr. Talbert’s leadership, Milton L. Olive Middle School was upgraded in its state academic rating from a school in need of “Targeted Support” to a school in “Good Academic Standing” by the New York State Education Department. Dr. Talbert’s proficiency in school improvement also led the district to a 30% increase in the graduation rate during the course of her tenure. Prior to her superintendency in Wyandanch, Dr. Talbert held various roles, including teacher, assistant principal and principal, as well as positions in central administration, including assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, among others. “My vision is to bring the past, present and future together, and use the successes of today to empower us for the challenges of tomorrow to build an exceptional school district,” Dr. Talbert said. “I am eager to move the district forward working with our students, faculty, administration, educators, and the entire school community. I look forward to facing our challenges together head on and change mindsets." “After an extensive search process for a new district leader that included feedback from our own community, we are confident that Dr. Talbert is the right choice to lead Amityville as our next superintendent,” said Board of Education President Lisa Johnson. “Her experience, coupled with her vision for our district, will be a great asset to the district.” Ms. Johnson added, “In addition, on behalf of the Board, we would like to commend Dr. Edward Fale on his leadership and work within the district and wish him the best in his future endeavors.” Dr. Talbert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Southern University and a Doctorate of Education from St. John’s University. Date Added: 7/18/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170354 Tue, 18 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170354 Pre-K summer program is underway at Northeast Elementary School Northeast Elementary School in Amityville recently kicked off their Summer Academic Success Program. Their theme for the opening weeks were beaches and oceans. Prekindergartners read stories and learned about the beach and animals that live in the ocean. Students also worked on their fine motor skills by creating crafts and making the ocean as a snack with Jell-O and graham crackers. Northeast Social Worker Ms. Bermudez is currently teaching social and emotional learning to students in their classrooms. On July 13, Northeast held their first Parent University, in which parents were invited to discuss and learn about “Purposeful Play.” This program also aims to equip parents with tools on how to foster relationships with their children. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 7/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170348 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170348 AMHS August Enrichment Camp Date Added: 7/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170349 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170349 Northeast Elementary Summer Academic Success Program — Parent University http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170304 Wed, 12 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170304 Edmund W. Miles students take the next step to high school Eighth graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville were proud to take the next step towards high school during their moving-up ceremony on June 21. Students were led into the gymnasium by assistant principals Ms. Lurdez Berrios and Mr. Paul Duguay, and Academic Dean of Students Mr. David Mevs. Members of the Board of Education and administration were on hand to applaud this milestone in the students’ academic career. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale and Principal Rose Hutcherson addressed the students with words of encouragement. Throughout the ceremony, Ms. Berrios and Mr. Duguay and Mr. Mevs recognized students with several academic awards such as the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence, the Presidential Award for Educational Achievement, and the New York State Triple C Award. The district looks forward to the journeys of these students and wishes them luck and success in their high school careers. Date Added: 7/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170313 Wed, 12 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170313 Board of Education Meeting Notice - July 12 Date Added: 7/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170269 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170269 Northwest Elementary School second graders hold moving-up ceremony Second graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville completed another step in their educational journeys when they were recognized for their achievements at the moving-up ceremony at Amityville Memorial High School on June 21. Following a video in which students shared their memories of Northwest, teachers from each class announced their graduates and handed out completion certificates. Northwest Principal Kathleen Hyland congratulated each student as they walked across the stage during the moving-up ceremony. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 7/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170231 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170231 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice - July 6, 2023 Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/2695204889 Meeting ID: 269 520 4889 One tap mobile +16469313860,,2695204889# US +16465588656,,2695204889# US (New York) Date Added: 7/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170230 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170230 AMHS Summer Success Academy Information Date Added: 7/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170219 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170219 AMHS Chromebook User Agreement Date Added: 7/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170220 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170220 Amityville’s youngest learners take the next step at Northeast Pre-kindergartners completed one of their first major milestones as they held their moving-up ceremony at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville on June 16. The youngsters performed songs for their family members and Principal Dr. Pauline Collins presented perfect attendance awards. The district congratulates our youngest learners on taking the next step in their educational journeys. Date Added: 7/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170209 Mon, 03 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170209 2023 Park Avenue Summer Camp — Aug. 7 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170186 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170186 Board of Education Special Session - June 28, 2023 Date Added: 6/26/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170124 Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170124 Amityville Memorial High School celebrates the Class of 2023 There was a sea of red caps and gowns as Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2023 held their commencement ceremony at the Fred Williams Memorial Gym on June 22. During the ceremony, hundreds of graduates received diplomas and commendations for their hard work and dedication to their education and achievements. Valedictorian Daniella Henriquez and Salutatorian Martha Hernandez addressed their fellow graduates and reflected on their journey at Amityville Memorial High School. Also addressing the graduates were Amityville Memorial High School Principal Ms. Mary Stephens, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale, Class President Nataly Carbajal and Board of Education President Lisa Johnson. The District congratulates all members of the Class of 2023 and wishes them luck and happiness as they embrace the next step in life! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/23/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170072 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170072 Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program - July 24, 2023 Click here to view the Registration Form. Date Added: 6/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170001 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170001 Amityville Commencement Ceremony - June 22, 2023 The Amityville Memorial High School Commencement Ceremony will be live-streamed rain or shine. You can view the ceremony on the Amityville Broadcasting Network YouTube page. Please click the link below. https://www.youtube.com/@AmityvilleBroadcastingNetwork/featured No ticketswill be required for our outdoor ceremony but the livestreaming option will still be available. In the event of inclement weather, our ceremony will be held in the gymnasium. Four tickets will be issued to each graduate. We will also have viewing of the live-stream available in the auditorium. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169996 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169996 Northwest Elementary School first graders prep for summer reading First graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville are gearing up for a summer filled with reading. First grade teacher Mrs. Meredith Cohen organized for all first grade classes to pick out books to read for the summer. Students were all smiles as they each selected three books to read. Books were donated by The Book Fairies. Date Added: 6/16/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169881 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169881 A Message from the Superintendent of Schools Dear Amityville School Community, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our community a very Happy Father's Day. Whether you are a father, grandfather or mentor to someone younger, I hope that you enjoy your special day and it is full of those things you enjoy! Also, I remind our school community that we are closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. Please take a moment that day to remember and reflect upon the contributions of those who fought for equality and freedom in our country, as well as to reaffirm our commitment to providing an environment that is inclusive of all. Sincerely, Dr. Edward Fale Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169896 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169896 Amityville’s 2023 Virtual Spring Art Show Art continues to thrive in the Amityville School District! For the district’s 2023 Spring Art Show, the art teachers of the district have created a beautiful virtual presentation which showcases the work of our students from grades Pre-K through 12. You can view the show through this link: Click Here The district thanks all of the art teachers who created the slides for their students' work: Nicole Pappas – Northeast Elementary School Lydia Robinson – Northwest Elementary School Susan Zaratin – Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Jennifer Dibble – Edmund W. Miles Middle School Jillian Bock – Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School Jayne Grasso – Amityville Memorial High School Heather Rickard – Amityville Memorial High School Cara Westphal – Amityville Memorial High School Jackie Breitfeller – Amityivlle Memorial High School Connie Jordan – Amityville Memorial High School Also, special thanks goes out to art teacher Heather Rickard for putting together the final presentation. On behalf of all of the teachers and students within the Amityville Art Department, we hope that you enjoy the show! Date Added: 6/15/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169825 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169825 Amityville’s board honors high school NYS Seal of Biliteracy students On June 14, the Amityville School District’s Board of Education recognized 10 students who will obtain the New York State Seal of Biliteracy from Amityville Memorial High School for the 2022-2023 school year. High school students Danelli Alberto Alcantara, Fernando Cruz Reyes, Dimarion Donaldson, Sheyla Medina Cruz, Daniella Henriquez, Beyki Jimenez Gomez, Jairo Salazar, Diego Depadua Acosta, Karen Tobar and Jennifer Banegas will receive this designation on their high school diploma. The honorees received medals and certificates during the board’s monthly meeting. The presentations took place from April 26-28 in which students presented in both English and Spanish, demonstrating proficiency in each language. The topics they chose were very meaningful to them, and they enjoyed discussing their projects with the evaluators. It was an amazing experience for everyone. The district congratulates all of the students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy. Photo caption: On June 14, the Amityville School District’s Board of Education recognized 10 students who will obtain the New York State Seal of Biliteracy from Amityville Memorial High School for the 2022-2023 school year. Date Added: 6/15/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169837 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169837 Double the fun at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville Northwest Elementary School in Amityville is proud to celebrate their nine pairs of twins. As a result, Northwest Social Worker Ms. Lee created a “Twin Group” with the assistance of her social work interns Ms. Jackson and Ms. Galian. The “Twin Group” focuses on activities to enhance relationship building and celebrating the twins’ unique differences through games and activities. It also gives students a chance to meet other twins, engage in friendly competition, as well as activities to express their interests, which they shared with the group. The “Twin Group” has created a bonding experience and new opportunities to explore the similarities and differences with their twin and peers. Photo captions: 1-8: There are currently nine pairs of twins at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville. As a result, Northwest Social Worker Ms. Lee created a “Twin Group” with the assistance of her social work interns Ms. Jackson and Ms. Galian. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/9/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169643 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169643 Community Forum on ‘Warrior’ Logo, Slogan - June 21, 2023 The Amityville School District will host a community forum regarding the district’s “Warrior” logo and slogan on Wednesday, June 21, at 7 p.m., in the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Auditorium. Below is the link to view the forum: https://zoom.us/j/98323303345 The district would like to hear from its residents from throughout the community, and alumni of the district are encouraged to join the forum as well. Residents will be allowed three minutes each to voice their opinions and make comments. The district will listen to all comments and responses. By regulation, the district must decide and notify the New York State Education Department of the district’s intention by June 30. Date Added: 6/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169610 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169610 Board of Education Regular Session - June 14, 2023 Date Added: 6/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169602 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169602 S.T.R.O.N.G. TALKS - June 13, 2023 at 7pm Date Added: 6/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169581 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169581 Board of Education Special Session - June 13, 2023 Date Added: 6/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169601 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169601 Edmund W. Miles Middle School French students earn numerous awards The French students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville enjoyed a successful year at the National French Exam (Le Grand Concours), earning two medals and one merit award. Their outstanding language skills were on full display during a celebration with the American Association of French Teachers in Suffolk County on June 6. The group celebrated the accomplishments of its top students, and Edmund W. Miles eighth graders Darah Policart and Grace Luis were among the exceptional students. Darah earned a gold medal, Grace earned a bronze medal, and both students received plaques for their impressive accomplishments in French studies. Edmund W. Miles’ honorees include: Merit Award winners: Isabella Luis (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Participatory Awards: Peighton Allen (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Savannah Bailey (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Keily Blanco (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Adam Dodson-Isabell (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Amelia Ferreira (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Ariana Garcia (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Ella Intriago (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Sophia Jeffery (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Adriana Maldonado (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) David Morales Flores (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Tiarra Ruddock (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Nataly Sandoval (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Jailee Ventura (Level: Novice 2B, 6th grade) Mariah Badeau (Level: 1A, 8th grade) Sariah Bassit (Level: 1A, 8th grade) Micah Stewart (Level: 1, 7th grade) Le Grand Concours is a significant event in the world of French learning. It inspires students, enables assessment of their language proficiency, and promotes a sense of camaraderie among French learners. This competition cultivates a genuine love for the French language and culture in students while providing educators with a consistent means of measuring proficiency. Le Grand Concours is an avenue for applauding and acknowledging students’ accomplishments, motivating them to pursue linguistic excellence. The Amityville School District commends all of the administrators, parents and colleagues for their unwavering support and celebrate this remarkable accomplishment as a team. Additionally, the district is proud of Edmund W. Miles’ students for their achievements and for using their French language abilities outside the classroom. Date Added: 6/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169558 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169558 Northwest Elementary School’s annual Spring Concerts Northwest Elementary School students recently performed their annual Spring Concerts. The hallways were filled with the sounds of young voices as the students prepared and rehearsed. The kindergarten classes performed songs about springtime and having fun outside. Singing songs such as “It’s a Beautiful Day,” “Born to Make Music,” “Springtime Sunshine,” and “Down at the Beach.” The first-grade program was titled “Rainbow World.” Each song was about a color in the rainbow such as “Little Red Caboose,” “Honey Bee,” and “Purple Bricks in the Sky.” The students ended with “Paint You a Song,” a song about how wonderful it is to make music together. Second graders performed a mini-musical called “Big Dreams.” The students sang, danced, and performed lines for their performance. The students learned about having dreams and pursuing them. All of the students amazed their audience. Their hard work in music class and during the rehearsals was evident in the final performance. Date Added: 6/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169425 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169425 Celebrating Father’s Day at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville On June 2, families came together at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville for the school’s annual pre-K Father’s Day celebration. Students and their fathers or special guests took advantage of the warm, sunny weather by doing activities together in the courtyard. They painted birdhouses, played cornhole, participated in hula-hoop contests, read books and played hopscotch. Photo caption: 1-5: On June 2, families came together at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville for the school’s annual pre-K Father’s Day celebration. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169438 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169438 The Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club proudly presents “Mary Poppins, Jr." On Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, the Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club will present Mary Poppins, Jr. as its annual Spring production. Performances will be held in the High School Auditorium on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 7 PM. For a preview of our show, please watch this video: Click here for video Tickets can be purchased at the door prior to each performance and are priced at $5 for all audience members. Please reserve your tickets using the QR code on the image shown below. We hope that you will be able to attend one of our performances of “Mary Poppins, Jr.”! Date Added: 5/31/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169339 Wed, 31 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169339 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice - June 2, 2023 Date Added: 5/30/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169300 Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169300 Elementary school students celebrate STREAM Night in Amityville Students from grades pre-K-5 in the Amityville School District celebrated an evening of educational activities during STREAM Night on May 24. The celebration was held at Amityville Memorial High School’s gymnasium in which students enjoyed the wonders of 21st-century learning. Along with their families, students explored the burgeoning disciplines of science, technology, robotics, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Members of the National Junior Honor Society set up different stations throughout the gymnasium as students participated in a variety of activities such as a cup pyramid challenge, a pipe cleaner tower challenge, paper columns, and more. Photo caption: 1-17: Students from grades pre-K-5 in the Amityville School District celebrated an evening of educational activities during STREAM Night on May 24. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169223 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169223 Summer High School Scholars Program Date Added: 5/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169192 Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169192 Northwest Elementary School second graders visit Park Avenue On May 23, second graders from Northwest Elementary School in Amityville visited Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School for an orientation. Park Avenue held an assembly in which second graders learned what to expect at the school next year. Northwest students heard from current third graders who gave them advice and answered their questions. The orientation concluded with a tour of Park Avenue’s building with the help of fifth-grade students. Date Added: 5/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169193 Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169193 Third annual Patriot’s Pen ceremony at Edmund W. Miles Middle School On May 18, the Amityville Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted its third annual Patriot's Pen award ceremony at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The Patriot’s Pen is a national essay contest that encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme. This year's theme was “My pledge to our veterans.” Among the district administrators to attend the ceremony were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations Olivia Buatsi, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Bridgette Waite, Edmund W. Miles Middle School Principal Rose Hutcherson and Board of Education 2nd Vice President Carol Seehof. The evening began with patriotic songs performed by the Amityville pit orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Ferrante. The event was emceed by VFW Vice Commander and Amityville Board of Education trustee Juan Leon. VFW member and fellow board trustee Dave Heller was also part of the selection committee. Additionally, middle school teacher Patti Dieck was recognized during the ceremony for her dedication to education and veterans’ programs. The top four winners recited their essays to the audience, and each were presented with an American flag, a VFW Certificate, a medal and a gift card. Several local elected officials also recognized the students including Amityville Village trustee Kevin Smith, Village Justice Joseph Calabrese; State Sen. Monica Martinez; Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory; representing Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Wendy Rodriguez, and representing State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Brendan Cunningham. The Amityville School District commends all of the students who were recognized at the annual Patriot's Pen award ceremony. Photo captions: 1-2: On May 18, the Amityville Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted its third annual Patriot's Pen award ceremony at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. 3-5: The top four winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest recited their essays to the audience. 6: The evening began with patriotic songs performed by the Amityville pit orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Ferrante. Date Added: 5/23/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169101 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169101 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice for May 25 and May 26 Date Added: 5/23/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169115 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169115 Mental Health Awareness Parent Workshop - May 23, 2023 Date Added: 5/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169086 Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169086 Park Avenue Elementary School educator named Librarian of the Year The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School librarian Timothy Quinn was named as Librarian of the Year. Mr. Quinn earned this distinction at the Western Suffolk BOCES School Library System’s annual Symposium on May 11. An educator for 19 years, Mr. Quinn has been a library media specialist in the district since 2007. Mr. Quinn is also the district’s School Library Communications Coordinator (liaison) and is a co-chairperson for the district’s curriculum subcommittee, Digital Literacy. Mr. Quinn views the school library program as a learning experience in which students can inquire and explore with their imaginations to grow creatively and academically. Through the library research sessions, students have access to the school library collection to read for knowledge and enjoyment, to be innovative in the makerspace, and to learn information literacy. In the STREAM research sessions, all students are engaged in a project-based learning environment where they have the opportunity to apply research skills, extend their learning with interdisciplinary enrichment instruction, and to work collaboratively with hands-on and digital lab sessions. The district congratulates Mr. Quinn on earning the distinction of Librarian of the Year. Photo caption: Timothy Quinn, a librarian at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville, was named as School Librarian of the Year. Mr. Quinn earned this distinction at the Western Suffolk BOCES School Library System’s annual Symposium on May 11. Date Added: 5/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169014 Fri, 19 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169014 Amityville hosts districtwide Caribbean and Flag Day Celebration On May 17, Amityville Memorial High School's World Language Honor Society hosted a Caribbean and Flag Day Celebration at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Students and parents in the Amityville School District enjoyed authentic Caribbean, Haitian, Cuban, Jamaican and Latin American cuisine while listening to beautiful Soca, Kompa, Reggaeton, Zoup, Calypso, Dancehall,and Bachata music. The Caribbean and Flag Day participants also enjoyed freshly made quesadillas, courtesy of the World Language Honor Society members. Photo caption: 1-10: On May 17, Amityville Memorial High School's World Language Honor Society hosted a Caribbean and Flag Day Celebration at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169028 Fri, 19 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169028 Board Discussion re: Warrior Name at June 7 Meeting The Amityville School District is aware of the updated guidance released by the New York State Education Department on May 18 regarding the ban on Native American mascots, names and logos. This will be a topic of discussion at the next Board of Education regular business meeting on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. As always, the community is welcome and encouraged to participate. Date Added: 5/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169042 Fri, 19 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169042 Learning about chicks and duck eggs at Northwest Elementary School Second graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently completed a unit on the life cycle of chicks and duck eggs. Students learned about their life cycles by incubating the eggs in the classrooms. Northwest received the chicks and duck eggs from a local farm and watched them develop and hatch over time. Photo caption: 1-3: Second graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently completed a unit on the life cycle of chicks and duck eggs. Photos courtesy of Amityville Union Free School District Date Added: 5/18/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168984 Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168984 Elementary STREAM Night for Elementary School Students Date Added: 5/18/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168981 Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168981 A Message from the Superintendent of Schools I would like to thank all residents who participated in the district’s budget vote and trustee election and for your approval of the spending plan. Your support means that the district can continues its efforts of “Changing Mindsets Together” and continue to provide the programs and services that will help our students reach new levels of success. Additionally, your support of Proposition No. 2 will allow us to make important upgrades to the middle school. Once again, thank you for your continued support and participation in our district! Date Added: 5/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168960 Wed, 17 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168960 Careers Without College Fair held at Amityville Memorial High School Several students at Amityville Memorial High School attended the school’s Careers Without College Fair on April 26. The fair, which took place in the high school cafeteria, was hosted by the guidance department and the Black Student Union. Attendees were able to meet and talk with representatives from the Suffolk County Civil Service, the Suffolk County Police Department, Laborers Local 1298, National Guard, U.S. Army, Access Careers, the New York State Department of Labor, and the Long Island EOC. Students were excited to explore different career paths through the school’s fair. Date Added: 5/16/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168856 Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168856 Budget Results The proposed school budget was approved: 672 yes and 436 no. Additionally, a proposition to construct HVAC, plumbing, electrical and bathroom renovations at the Edmund W. Miles Middle School was approved: 649 yes and 454 no. Congratulations to the following candidates who were elected to the Board of Education: Lisa Johnson, 593 votes Leslie Kretz, 645 votes Carol Seehof, 584 votes http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168926 Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168926 Educators earn tenure at Amityville’s monthly board meeting On May 10, 15 educators in the Amityville School District received tenure during the Board of Education’s monthly meeting. The board honored the following educators: Virginia Figueroa, Paul Duguay, Lurdez Berrios, Anthony Abate, Soraya Bonny-Rankin, Nick Marrero, Thomas Maloney, Melissa Medici, Michelle Morales, Michael Abbondondolo, Nicole Baxter, Adrienne Harthung, Julie Kirschen, Meredith Cohen, and Dana Desiderio. The recognition was part of the district’s celebration of Teachers Appreciation Week. Date Added: 5/15/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168817 Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168817 Amityville Northeast Guest Chef - Thursday June 1, 2023 Date Added: 5/15/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168835 Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168835 May 16 Board of Education Special Session Notice & Zoom Credentials Date Added: 5/15/2023 Board of Education SpecialSession- May16, 2023 Northeast Elementary School Cafeteria 420 Albany Avenue, Amityville, New York 11701 9:00 p.m. – Public SpecialSession Click below to view the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/2695204889 Or Telephone: Dial: +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 269 520 4889 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168816 Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168816 May 15 Board of Education Special Session Notice & Zoom Credentials Date Added: 5/15/2023 Board of Education SpecialSession- May15, 2023 Central Administration Building Conference Room 150 Park Avenue Amityville, New York 11701 5:00 p.m. – Public SpecialSession with Anticipated Executive Session Click below to view the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/2695204889 Or Telephone: Dial: +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 269 520 4889 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168815 Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168815 Northeast Elementary School celebrates Mother’s Day in Amityville Northeast Elementary School in Amityville hosted its annual Mother’s Day Tea on May 12. The gym was decorated with student artwork and a banner created by each class. Northeast Principal Dr. Pauline Collins welcomed all of the mothers to the gym as students and teachers took a moment to celebrate everything that they do. Pre-kindergarten students got dressed up and performed Mother’s Day songs for the special women in their lives. Afterwards, they sat at their decorated tables with special crafts they created to enjoy the tea, juice and cookies that were served. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168803 Fri, 12 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168803 Board of Education May 10, 2023 Meeting Zoom Credentials Board of Education Regular SessionMeeting- May10, 2023 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School 140 Park Avenue Amityville, New York 11701 5:30 p.m. – Public Regular Session with Anticipated Executive Session 7:30 p.m. – Resume Public Regular Session Click below to view the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/98443909698 Or Telephone: Dial: +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 984 4390 9698 https://zoom.us/j/98443909698 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168728 Wed, 10 May 2023 20:00:00 GMT false168728 ‘Legendary’ coach honored at Amityville Memorial High School On May 8, longtime Amityville Memorial High School track and field coach Reynolds Hawkins was honored for his years of service in coaching and mentoring student-athletes. The high school’s track was renamed for Mr. Hawkins, who has coached their track and field team for 26 years. Officially named as the Jerry Pollock & Reynolds Hawkins Track, Mr. Hawkins now shares the name of the track with his former coach and lifelong friend, Jerry Pollock. District officials, school administrators, board members, alumnus of Amityville Memorial High School, and relatives of Mr. Hawkins joined him at the track for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I’ve truly been blessed throughout the years,” Mr. Hawkins said. “For my name to go up there, that will represent my father’s name, Reynolds Hawkins Sr., myself as Reynolds Hawkins Jr., my son, Reynolds Hawkins III, and my grandson, Reynolds Hawkins IV. They all have the opportunity to see their name up there forever, which is truly a blessing.” Mr. Hawkins is a member of the Suffolk Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His winter teams have won several league and county titles, and his spring track teams have earned countless divisional and league titles as well. Additionally, for the winter season, Mr. Hawkins has been named Suffolk County Coach of the Year four times, and he earned this award 10 times for the spring season. He was also named as Newsday’s Coach of the Year twice for his spring track coaching. “Reynolds Hawkins just sounds like one of those legendary names,” said Amityville Memorial High School alumnus Alijah Benymon. “It didn’t matter whether or not your biological father was in your life, because for many people like me, he is my second dad.” As an educator, Mr. Hawkins has worked as a social worker in the Amityville School District for several years. Mr. Hawkins said he was proud to share this honor with Mr. Pollock, who taught in the district for 33 years has coached track and field for 52 years. Both have coached together since 1990. “They have been close friends for decades and they are such fine gentlemen,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale. “What they do for the young people of this community is not limited to what happens on the field. They are both outstanding role models, so it’s just fitting that this track will be rededicated to both men.” Date Added: 5/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168720 Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168720 Northwest Elementary School celebrates King Charles III’s coronation First graders in Mrs. Brooks' class at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville held their own celebration to recognize King Charles III’s coronation. Their class celebration was part of an ongoing study of the world and different cultures. King Charles III’s coronation was a historical moment as the last coronation of the British monarch was held for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Students learned about traditions, used royal language, practiced proper etiquette, and shared scones and biscuits. They also learned the proper way to stir and drink tea using their plastic crystal cups, spoons and saucers. Lastly, students enjoyed an engaging word study with “Coronation Fundations.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168622 Mon, 08 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168622 Rededication of AMHS Track - May 8, 2023 @ 3:00 PM Date Added: 5/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168587 Mon, 08 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168587 What Is Proposition No. 2? As residents may know, in addition to voting on the proposed budget for the 2023-24 school year on Tuesday, May 16, residents will also have the opportunity to vote on a second proposition. Over the past week, the district has received questions regarding Proposition No. 2. We would like to clarify the details. Proposition No. 2 would allow the District to use $2.5 million in capital reserve funds to construct heating and ventilation, plumbing, electrical and bathroom renovations at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. There would be no tax impact associated with the $2.5 million expenditure since the money already exists in the reserve fund. Voter approval is required, however, for the District to expend monies from this fund. In addition to this $2.5 million, the proposed budget for 2023-24 includes a transfer of $1.5 million to capital projects to supplement funds for the improvements listed above. Should Proposition No. 2 be defeated, the district will decide on which capital projects at the Middle School will commence. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168570 Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168570 Amityville Memorial High School students earn NYS Seal of Biliteracy The Amityville School District is proud to announce that 10 students will obtain the New York State Seal of Biliteracy from Amityville Memorial High School for the 2022-2023 school year. High school students Danelli Alberto Alcantara, Fernando Cruz Reyes, Dimarion Donaldson, Sheyla Medina Cruz, Daniella Henriquez, Beyki Jimenez Gomez, Jairo Salazar, Diego Depadua Acosta, Karen Tobar and Jennifer Banegas will receive this designation on their high school diploma. The presentations took place from April 26-28 in which students presented in both English and Spanish, demonstrating proficiency in each language. The topics they chose were very meaningful to them, and they enjoyed discussing their projects with the evaluators. It was an amazing experience for everyone. The district congratulates all of the students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168521 Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168521 Board of Education Meeting Notices - May 2023 Date Added: 5/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168391 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168391 Board of Education Work Session – May 3 Date Added: 5/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168390 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168390 Second graders create landforms at Northwest Elementary School Second graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently teamed up to create their own landform projects. Students studied landforms in their social studies class and how change affects landforms over time in science. Then, they designed, created, sculpted and painted landforms out of clay. Date Added: 5/1/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168369 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168369 Staff developer helps pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School On April 26, Nancy Brennan, a staff developer from Teachers College at Columbia University, worked with teachers and pre-kindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville. Ms. Brennan helped to guide students as they begin to read decodable books and use the sounds they know to read words. Date Added: 4/28/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168325 Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168325 Amityville’s World Language Honor Society inducts its newest members Amityville Memorial High School’s World Language Honor Society held its annual induction of new members on April 25. Twenty-nine students met the rigorous criteria for membership. The ceremony was conducted in English, Spanish and French as inductees recited their oath during a candle-lighting ceremony. Senior members received the medals they will wear at their June commencement ceremony. Date Added: 4/26/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168256 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168256 Board of Education April 25, 2023 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please see the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/2695204889 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168227 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:00:00 GMT false168227 Edmund W. Miles Middle School drama production of Mary Poppins Jr. has been postponed The Edmund W. Miles Middle School drama production of Mary Poppins Jr. has been postponed until the weekend of June 2nd and 3rd, 2023. Both shows will be held at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. Date Added: 4/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168187 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168187 Northeast Elementary School students earn physical education award On April 21, Northeast Elementary School in Amityville recognized 24 students who were awarded for “Leadership and Excellence in Health and Physical Education.” Physical education teacher Mrs. Tiffany Mendelson honored the following students with a certificate from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance: Lilianna Anglin Darvinson Arias Kaiden Beauford Ahmir Benjamin Ivette Bonilla Reyes Genesis Bonilla Urias Quinton Davis Jr. Ashton Felisca Bryan Gilzene Bailey Avery Gordon Kyrie Haynes Khloe Jackson Dilan Lara Godinez Solene Mendez Funes Laila Myers Carter Nolan Giana Prashad Adrian Pena Ramirez Cristian Ramirez Zamora Christian Roopnarine Brianna Ruiz-Mejia Cairo Showell Laila St. Flavien Kaycie Valerio “They are all so wonderful,” Mrs. Mendelson said. “Each student has their strengths and so much to contribute to the class.” Date Added: 4/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168113 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168113 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice - April 25, 2023 Date Added: 4/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168126 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168126 Amityville School District music program earns national recognition The Amityville Union Free School District has once again been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. This is the 13th time that Amityville has received this honor. Now in its 24th year, the 2023 Best Communities for Music Education program has recognized 830 school districts and 78 schools across 43 states for the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders for their support of music education as part of a well-rounded education for all children. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org. Date Added: 4/20/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168068 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168068 Careers Without College Fair Date Added: 4/20/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168061 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168061 Board of Education April 19, 2023 Meeting Remote Credentials Board of Education Regular Meeting- April 19, 2023 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School 140 Park Avenue Amityville, New York 11701 5:30 p.m. – Public Regular Session with Anticipated Executive Session 7:30 p.m. – Resume Public Regular Session Click below to view the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/96180709748 Or Telephone: Dial: +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 961 8070 9748 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168052 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:00 GMT false168052 Aircraft pilot makes a virtual visit to Northeast Elementary School Aircraft pilot Robert Brooks recently made a virtual visit to Mrs. Chimienti's pre-kindergarten class at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville. Pilot Brooks, who is Mrs. Chimienti's brother, virtually visited her class from an airport in Florida. He gave students a close-up look of an airplane on a runway as he showed them the different parts of an aircraft, and he held a Q&A with students as well. Pilot Brooks is also an alumnus of Amityville Memorial High School as he graduated in 2010. The special visit served as a part of Northeast’s transportation unit. Date Added: 4/18/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168006 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168006 Professional chef serves tasty meals at Park Avenue Elementary School On April 13, professional chef Tony Distefano treated students to some tasty meals at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville. Known as Chef Tony, he prepared an assortment of dishes that included Wing Shack boneless wings (freshly prepared white meat boneless chicken tossed in one’s favorite sauce), homemade roasted potatoes, fresh garden salad, roasted broccoli, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Chef Tony, who had previously visited other schools in the district, is scheduled to visit Northwest Elementary School on April 25. Date Added: 4/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167992 Mon, 17 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167992 Amityville Memorial High School’s National Honor Society induction ceremony Amityville Memorial High School honored newly inducted National Honor Society members during its annual ceremony on April 13. District administrators, parents, high school Principal Mary Stephens and assistant principals Kenneth Coard and Dr. John Cardone were in attendance as 31 students were inducted to the National Honor Society. To achieve this prestigious honor, students must have acquired a cumulative GPA of at least 85%, completed voluntary community service, exhibit leadership qualities and possess good character. The district congratulates each new member of the National Honor Society on this impressive achievement and wishes them luck with their newly appointed positions. Date Added: 4/14/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167960 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167960 Coffee Chats with the Superintendent April 18, 2023 @ AMHS Date Added: 4/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167940 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167940 Board of Education April 12, 2023 Special Meeting Zoom Credentials Please see click the link below to view the April 12, 2023, Board of Education Special Meeting beginning at 7:30 PM. https://zoom.us/j/91778027455 You can also listen to the meeting by calling: (646) 931-3860 Webinar ID: 917 7802 7455 Date Added: 4/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167945 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167945 Northeast Elementary School students take field trips to the farm Pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville recently learned all about agriculture during their field trips to the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in Yaphank. The 220-acre working farm offers fun, hands-on educational programs about Long Island’s agricultural heritage while showcasing present day agriculture. Classes got to learn about the basics of agriculture, life skills, animal sciences and environmental sciences. Date Added: 4/11/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167933 Tue, 11 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167933 Message from Superintendent of Schools To read an important letter from the Superintendent of Schools, click here. The view the letter in Spanish, click here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168045 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168045 Mexican-born author shares novel at Northwest Elementary School On March 31, Mexican-born author Areli Morales visited students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville. Morales spoke to students during several assemblies about her life growing up in Mexico and her transition to life in America when she immigrated to New York at the age of 6. She also discussed how her life completely changed in 2012 when her application for The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was approved. Now an author and a teacher in New York City, Morales shared her most recent novel, “Ariel is a Dreamer,” which tells her story of her childhood as an immigrant and her hope of finding success in America. During the assemblies, students also shared the countries that each of their parents came from. Date Added: 4/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167869 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167869 Easter bunny visits pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School The Easter bunny hopped into classrooms at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville on March 31. Pre-kindergartners jumped out of their seats to give the Easter bunny a warm hug. Some of the students also expressed their love for the Easter bunny by wearing rabbit ears and eating tasty Easter eggs. Date Added: 4/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167870 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167870 Special Board Meeting Notice — April 12 Date Added: 4/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167799 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167799 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice – April 12, 2023 Date Added: 4/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167824 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167824 PARP Night at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School On March 29, parents and students attended PARP Night at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville. PARP stands for Pick A Reading Partner. This year’s theme was “Camp Out with a Good Book.” Many wonderful activities were planned throughout the month, including DEAR Time, guest readers, dress as your favorite book character, and mystery readers, in which students guessed the reader and title of the book. The winners of mystery readers got to read inside the tent. The celebration concluded with a culminating event for parents, guardians and students to participate in activities together. They rotated to four stations, including arts and crafts, making s'mores, an author visit by Christine Astarita, and the opportunity to purchase books from the Scholastic Book Fair. Park Avenue’s message is clear that reading is fun and even better when reading with a partner. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 4/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167762 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167762 Letter from the Superintendent - March 31, 2023 Date Added: 4/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167709 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167709 Northwest Elementary School - MIOSM 2023 Date Added: 3/31/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167675 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167675 Message from Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167876 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167876 Tour of the High School Fine Arts and Music Wing for Middle School Students In an effort to introduce our Middle School students to the resources at Amityville Memorial High School, we would like to invite all Middle School students and their parents or guardians to visit the High School for a tour of the music and art classrooms. This tour will take place on Thursday, March 30 and the program will begin at 7 p.m. in the High School cafeteria. The tours will be led by our High School students who are in the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. On behalf of the High School teachers and students of the music and art departments, we hope that you will be able to attend this tour of the Art and Music Wing at the High School. Date Added: 3/28/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167603 Tue, 28 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167603 Amityville’s future teachers meet with elementary school students The High School Heroes program, sponsored by Junior Achievement of New York, pairs students from Amityville Memorial High School with elementary school students in the district for lessons on careers, community, financial literacy and government. This year, Junior Achievement partnered with the Future Teachers of Tomorrow Club. The club’s adviser, Ms. Melissa Roberts, is an alumna of the Amityville School District. This club was designed to inspire and prepare promising students for careers in education. This event is one of the many activities planned for the club which will include mentoring, shadowing and partnering with higher education. Dr. Bridgette Waite, the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources, has met with the students and is very excited that this program has gotten off the ground. This program aligns with her vision of getting some of Amityville’s students back into the classroom as teachers. High school students are trained by Junior Achievement and then plan and implement lessons in the classrooms. The Future Teachers of Tomorrow recently visited six fifth grade classes at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Guidance counselor Ms. Kim Balducci was responsible for arranging the classroom teachers with the high school students. Ava Tucciaroone, a high school senior, has participated in the program for the past two years. “I enjoyed working with the children and I’ve considered becoming an art teacher thanks to the program,” Tucciaroone said. “I felt like it was just a terrific experience in every way.” Junior Khaeil Pryce said he wasn’t sure what career he would pursue before this program. “After working with the children at Park Avenue, I’ve become more interested in a career in education,” Pryce said. “I was surprised to see how excited the students were to learn and how much they actually wanted to participate,” said junior Kristen Preza. Many of the high school students who participate are interested in careers in education or childcare, and hope to gain valuable experience that helps them decide if they would like to further pursue those areas. “I've gained more respect for teachers after this experience,” said senior Kenneth Garcia. “I learned that as a teacher, you really have to be flexible and adjust your lesson or have a backup if things don't go as originally planned." “At first, I was nervous about teaching the fifth graders, because I didn't know what to expect,” said junior Sere Diallo. “I realized that once you actually start the lesson, you get more comfortable. After teaching the class, I realized that it was easier than I thought, and I felt much more confident.” The high school’s participants interact directly with children in facilitating hands-on activities which engage youngsters in learning about business and economic concepts. The Future Teachers of Tomorrow are preparing to visit Park Avenue again this spring. Date Added: 3/27/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167543 Mon, 27 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167543 Northwest Elementary School’s annual Lunar New Year celebration On Feb. 3, students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville celebrated the Lunar New Year. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, students learned that this is the Year of the Rabbit, which represents intellect and cautiousness. Students crafted lanterns, dragons and noisemakers for the parade around the school. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, students and staff were encouraged to wear red which symbolizes good luck, energy, and happiness. It was a festive and great learning experience for all of Northwest’s students. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167448 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167448 Northwest Elementary School students decorate a Kindness Tree In recognition of Random Act of Kindness Day, the students and staff at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville created a Kindness Tree in the school’s main hallway. Students also read books about being kind and learned about the importance of paying it forward. Every time that a student or staff member was spotted being kind, a heart with their name on it was added to Northwest’s tree. The students were so excited to see their name on the tree and it encouraged them to complete more random acts of kindness. Date Added: 3/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167461 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167461 2023-2024 Pre-K Registration Information Date Added: 3/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167434 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167434 Amityville’s elementary school students celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, elementary school students and staff in the Amityville School District came to school dressed in green. Throughout the buildings at Northeast Elementary School and Northwest Elementary School, classes were busy participating in St. Patrick’s Day-themed activity centers to create crafts and to learn about the significance of the day. Students also took part in several STEM activities to incorporate learning opportunities while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167396 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167396 Amityville Memorial High School students tour Stony Brook University Stony Brook University’s College of Business, in partnership with the Career Center, recently welcomed 30 Amityville Memorial High School students to their campus. Students learned about education and career opportunities in business and accounting during their campus tour. Additionally, they received an admissions overview and attended a networking session and luncheon with business students and Stony Brook’s Accounting Advisory Board. “The College of Business is committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives by providing this access and knowledge to local students,” said Amy Milligan, assistant dean for curriculum, accreditation and student services in the College of Business. “Amityville Memorial High School has a robust business program, and bringing these students to Stony Brook provides knowledge about the possibilities available to them in their own backyard.” AAB members introduced their firms during a pizza lunch and then collectively spoke about exciting career opportunities in the profession, the types of candidates that firms seek to hire, and what students can do now to help determine their future education and career path. AAB panel participants included representatives of KPMG, BDO USA, LLP, Cerini & Associates, PwC, and Protiviti Inc. The College of Business students also shared their Stony Brook experiences, and the panel discussed potential career paths and the pipeline for a diverse and well-trained workforce in the accounting profession. Stony Brook alumnus Jacquelyn Bello, a KPMG employee, spoke about how her college experience enabled her to enter the field. “I got into KPMG through an internship opportunity I had while I was at Stony Brook,” said Bello, an audit growth senior associate at KPMG. “You’ve heard some speakers talk of various career paths that led to accounting careers. My career opportunity came straight from this campus.” “I believe that it is important that our students know of the educational opportunities that are available locally at a reasonable low cost on Long Island,” said Amityville business educator Dr. Diane Impagliazzo. “Stony Brook has a quality program, and I am so happy that some of our students were able to get exposure to the campus. Our students’ faces lit up when we toured the campus.” Dr. Impagliazzo agreed that the campus tour was a tremendous success and that it was an excellent way for Amityville students to learn about the educational paths that Stony Brook has to offer. Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167407 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167407 Guest Chef Coming to Amityville Northwest - April 27, 2023 Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167415 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167415 Guest Chef Coming to Amityville Park Ave - April 13, 2023 Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167416 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167416 Guest Chef Coming to Amityville High School - April 12, 2023 Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167413 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167413 Guest Chef Coming to Amityville High School - March 30, 2023 Date Added: 3/21/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167414 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167414 Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club proudly presents "In the Heights" On Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25, the Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club will present "In the Heights" as its annual Spring production. Performances will be held in the high school auditorium on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be an afternoon performance on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. In case of inclement weather, please visit our school website for information regarding our performance schedule. Tickets can be purchased at the door prior to each performance and are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children. Please reserve your tickets using the QR code on the image shown below. We hope that you will be able to attend one of our performances of “In the Heights”! Date Added: 3/20/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167344 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167344 Amityville High School senior takes part in Youth Leadership Institute The Amityville School District commends Amityville Memorial High School senior Laurelis Martinez Benitez on her participation in the 33rd annual Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute in Albany. Laurelis was chosen as a delegate to represent Amityville from March 11-13. Prior to being chosen, Laurelis participated in some training sessions with other Long Island students and was chosen to go to Albany to meet with all the other chosen delegates from other regions in New York. Upon arriving, students were taken to the University of Albany. A keynote speaker and author Julissa Arce discussed her latest book and did a book signing with the delegates chosen. Students also attended workshops and presented to their peers. The workshops included topics such as drama, murals, dance, poetry, photography, as well as democracy in action. Laurelis also had the opportunity to attend a mock debate, where the New York State Assembly members held their sessions. Each student represented an assembly member, sat in their seats, and debated as if they were assembly members. Students were introduced to political and educational leaders who encouraged them to pursue their dreams and give back to their communities. Later that evening, students attended a reception where they were recognized, and many received scholarships. On the last day, the Long Island delegation went on a tour to the United State Capitol led by State Assemblyman Phil Ramos. He took the delegates to his office to meet his family and staff, and he also took the group to a live assembly meeting where they were recognized by the assembly members. Laurelis learned a lot about being a Hispanic/Latina youth leader. She felt empowered interacting with positive role models such as Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials, educators, and business leaders. “This experience is one that I will never forget because it was life changing,” Laurelis said. She was incredibly inspired and motivated and hopes that more students will have this amazing experience next year. Date Added: 3/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167312 Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167312 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice – March 18 and March 22 Date Added: 3/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167303 Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167303 Board of Education Special Session – March 18 Date Added: 3/14/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167144 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167144 Park Avenue Elementary School’s annual Black History Month program Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville celebrated their community’s rich diversity during the school’s annual Black History Month program on Feb. 28. The auditorium was filled with proud parents along with members of the Central Administration, the Board of Education, and the school community. Ms. Thompson and students Eva Champion and Jackson Nehring emceed the program. They welcomed the chorus singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson and “Funga Alafia” by third graders. Mr. Koraus prepared Park Avenue’s talented students for their theatrical performances. The program ended with a dance performance by PAMES Dance Team, which included teachers and the Assistant Principal Ms. Graham. Date Added: 3/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167091 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167091 Park Avenue Elementary School students earn several Warrior Awards On Feb.17, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held its second quarter awards ceremony. The students were awarded: Most Improved, Excellent Effort, Overall Academic Achiever, and Citizenship. Winners were called to accept their award and then engaged in a fun activity organized by physical education teachers Billy Maisel and Colleen Charles. Date Added: 3/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167100 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167100 First graders research arctic animals at Northwest Elementary School Students in Mrs. Tortorici and Ms. Lovett’s first grade class at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently conducted research on arctic animals. As part of the MyView Savvas curriculum, students studied polar bears, arctic foxes, penguins, snowy owls and caribou. Through their research, students created nonfiction writing pieces. First graders also took part in the week six project-based inquiry activity. The students used their nonfiction writing pieces to create persuasive zookeeper letters. The students’ objective was to persuade the zoo to include some of their arctic animals in the animal exhibits at the zoo. Mrs. Tortorici and Ms. Lovett sent the letters to Zookeeper Brent Atkinson at the Bronx Zoo. Much to the students’ surprise, Mr. Atkinson took the time to respond to each of the students personally. Mr. Atkinson created a video for the students praising their hard work and wonderful writing. He also sent each child a thank-you card, a picture of the animal each student wrote about, as well as a small figure of the arctic animal, which was packaged in a personalized gift box. The students were so excited to receive surprise mail and they were thrilled to see the small gifts. Through this activity, students learned a life lesson: when one works hard, their diligence and efforts are noticed and rewarded. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167114 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167114 Amityville celebrates various cultures during World Language Night On March 9, students throughout the Amityville School District celebrated an evening of diversity and culture during World Language Night at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The event featured native, traditional foods from several geographic regions. Additionally, students proudly represented their countries with some festive musical performances. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167080 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167080 Northwest Elementary School holds Black History Month celebration Northwest Elementary School in Amityville celebrated diversity during the school’s annual Black History Month program on Feb. 16. The program featured dance, music, poetry, and more. The school’s gymnasium was filled with students and members of the Amityville school community as students showcased their talents. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/9/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166990 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166990 Northeast Elementary School students celebrate 100 days of school Pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville participated in numerous activities to celebrate 100 days of school on March 1. Students and teachers celebrated the day by wearing decorative crowns and many dressed up as 100-year-olds. Students also played several fun classroom activities as part of the festivities. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/9/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167016 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167016 Celebrating black history and culture at Edmund W. Miles Middle School On March 3, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville used their many talents to celebrate Black History Month. Emceed by Mrs. Byrd, Edmund W. Miles’ annual performance featured music, dancing, poetry and, of course, some history in the school’s auditorium. The event was attended by district administrators, board of education members, and faculty and staff members. Middle school student Joshua Winfield informed the audience about the significance of Black History Month through his portrayal of African American preacher Nat Turner. The middle school’s Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Bonasera, performed a wonderful rendition of “Avenue Swing” by Mike Collins-Dowden. Amityville’s Step Team, under the direction of Ms. Coghiel, performed several routines including a captivating dance to “Glory” by Common and John Legend. Students also portrayed several historical African American icons, both from the past and present. Other performances featured “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson, a March on Selma, SLAM Poetry, and Breaking Barriers. The Amityville School District commends the teachers and students who worked tirelessly on putting together an informative and inspiring celebration of Black history. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166911 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166911 NCAA Workshop at AMHS - Mar. 20th Date Added: 3/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166936 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166936 AMHS Key Club Applebee’s Flapjack Breakfast —Mar. 18 Date Added: 3/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166909 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166909 Smaulkner Sweet Shop celebrates math at Northwest Elementary School Second graders in Ms. Smith and Ms. Faulkner’s classes at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently completed an interactive math unit on double-digit addition and subtraction. Students learned about the importance of math in the real world as they used a baking theme for this unit. Both classes received an invitation and fake money to buy cookies from the Smaulkner Sweet Shop. Students placed orders for cookies and used them to practice addition and subtraction equations. After they delivered invitations to order from the Smaulkner Sweet Shop, students calculated the total cost of the items being purchased and then subtracted it from the total amount of cash that the teacher used to pay for the items. Then, they had to check their work to make sure they were giving the correct change. Students used the cash register to confirm the amount and counted out the correct change. Finally, they created the sweet treats using the order forms and hand delivered the items to the teachers. At the end of the day, students used their wages of the day to purchase their own sweet treat! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166896 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166896 BOE Regular Session – March 8 Date Added: 3/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166863 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166863 World Language Night - March 9th at the Middle School Date Added: 3/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166789 Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166789 Amityville Memorial High School holds Black History Month celebration On Feb. 17, the Interact Club at Amityville Memorial High School celebrated the rich culture of African Americans during their annual Black History Month performance. Students shared their talents in dance, music and spoken words in front of their peers, faculty and staff members, and district administrators in the high school’s auditorium. The high school band also performed several songs throughout the afternoon. In between performances, the Interact Club conducted trivia on famous African Americans. The Interact Club also honored several faculty and staff members with citations to celebrate Black excellence and for their contributions to the Amityville school community. Date Added: 2/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166654 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166654 Park Avenue Elementary School students spread kindness in Amityville Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students in Amityville are learning about the importance of being the "I" in kind and what they can do to help spread kindness. For Valentine's Day, students created heartfelt cards for local veterans and seniors in nursing homes. With the help of State Sen. Monica Martinez's office and Amityville School District Board of Education trustee David Heller, the cards were delivered on Feb. 14. Students also shared kindness at the local coffee shops in Amityville. During recess, students wrote inspirational and thoughtful messages on coffee sleeves. Better Bagel, Anchor Coffee and New York Beanery are currently displaying these sleeves for community members to take. Park Avenue hopes that these messages will spread kindness throughout Amityville. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166657 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166657 Board of Education Work Meeting Notice – March 1, 2023 Date Added: 2/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166648 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166648 Board of Education – March 2023 Meetings Date Added: 2/22/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166625 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166625 Amityville High School senior’s artwork included in art exhibition The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School senior Nicholas Brown’s artwork will be included in the Islip Arts Council's art exhibit, “Black Creativity: Selected Works.” Supported by his art teacher, Ms. Jayne Grasso, Nicholas’ artwork, “Woman of Sorrow,” will be on display at the regional art exhibition through March 10 in the gallery space at the South Shore Mall in Bay Shore. The gallery is located next door to Dick's Sporting Goods. The district congratulates Nicholas on earning a spot in the Islip Arts Council’s art exhibit. Date Added: 2/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166555 Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166555 Board of Education Special Session – February 28 Date Added: 2/17/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166560 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166560 Amityville Memorial High School hosts annual Mardi Gras celebration On Feb. 7, Amityville Memorial High School’s World Language Honor Society hosted an evening of festive music, food and creativity during their third annual Mardi Gras Celebration. During the celebration, which was held at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, students and parents from the elementary, middle and high schools enjoyed fun-filled festive cultural activities. The activities included mask making, decorations, games, trivia and live music provided by the Tri-M Honor Society Members. To celebrate Mardi Gras' rich history and global traditions, the participants enjoyed culinary delights such as freshly made donuts, chocolate fondue, caramel desserts and more. Date Added: 2/14/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166421 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166421 Athletes, varsity basketball coach honored at Amityville’s board meeting The Amityville School District’s Board of Education recognized several student-athletes during their Feb. 8 board meeting. The board also honored Amityville Memorial High School Warriors varsity basketball head coach Jack Agostino, who earned his 500th career win on Feb. 3. The Warriors’ 57-53 victory over John Glenn High School also clinched a playoff berth for the team. “I feel like this community absolutely raised me as a person, as a coach, and as a husband,” Mr. Agostino said. “My whole life I’ve been surrounded by good people from Amityville. The Amityville community is just a great place to work. I hope everybody really appreciates what goes on here. There’s a lot of good people who work extremely hard to do what’s best for our kids.” Junior and varsity basketball player Christian Smiley was recognized by the board for being named to Newsday’s Top 100 Long Island boys basketball players for the 2022-2023 season. Christian was honored for his scoring ability, his incredible athleticism, and his versality to play all five positions. Sophomore and varsity wrestler Madelyne Martinez was honored for her historic showcase during the 2022 Frank Giampaolo Cyclone Tournament at South Side High School in Rockville Centre on Dec. 17. A first-year member of the wrestling team, Madelyne became the first female tournament winner in Amityville’s history. “It’s been such a pleasure to have Maddy on the team,” said Warriors varsity wrestling head coach Jamal Jackson. “She’s been a great addition to our team, she’s always up for the challenge and she really encourages the rest of our team to do their best on the mat.” Date Added: 2/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166361 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166361 Statement from Superintendent re: Passing of David Jude Jolicoeur, a.k.a “Trugoy” On behalf of the entire Amityville School District, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of David Jude Jolicoeur, a.k.a. Trugoy, of the musical group De La Sol, who passed away on Sunday. David graduated from Amityville High School in 1986 and helped to form De La Sol while the musicians were in high school. The band performed at numerous talent shows in and around Amityville, and anyone who heard them knew they would be successful! Aside from music, David was a good student and always well-behaved. The music world – and the Amityville community – mourns the loss of David and his great contributions. Date Added: 2/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166352 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166352 Coffee Chats With The Superintendent February 16, 2023 Date Added: 2/13/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166349 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166349 Edmund W. Miles Middle School student honored in art competition The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Edmund W. Miles Middle School eighth grader Alejandra Banegas Cardenas’ artwork was selected as a Middle School Honorable Mention winner in the 2023 New York State Art Teachers Association Youth Art Month Flag Design competition. There were more than 300 submissions in this year’s contest, which was sponsored by NYSATA. Alejandra's artwork was chosen by a panel of judges from across New York State for her inspirational interpretation of the theme, “Your Art, Your Voice.” Alejandra's sponsoring art teacher is Ms. Jennifer Dibble. The district congratulates Alejandra on being recognized for her outstanding artwork. Date Added: 2/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166282 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166282 Board of Education Special Meeting Notice – Feb. 11 Date Added: 2/8/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166170 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166170 Superintendent's Search Please click here to learn more. Date Added: 1/10/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165059 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165059 Learning to make responsible choices at Northwest Elementary School During the month of January, students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville focused on the importance of responsibility, which is one of the six pillars of character. While reading “What Should Danny Do,” by Adir Levy and Ganit Levy, students were able to change the day of the main character of the story simply by making choices for him throughout the book. Students were excited to see the character’s day turn positive when they had him make positive choices. During the discussion, students were engaged in sharing their daily responsibilities both at home and at school. At the end of the lesson, students acknowledged that they are responsible for all the choices they make. Teachers were amazed at the connections that students made from the book to their own personal lives. Drawings based on the reading activity from Ms. Callahan, Ms. Coles, Ms. Brown and Ms. Haber’s classes are now on display outside the school’s music room. Date Added: 2/7/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166134 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166134 Amityville Memorial High School holds annual Crepe Day Celebration On Feb. 2, in honor of National Crepe Day — known as “La Chandeleur” in France and celebrated throughout the world— Amityville Memorial High School’s World Language Honor Society hosted its second annual Crepe Day Celebration. The Crepe Day Celebration, which was held in the Edmund W. Miles Middle School cafeteria, welcomed students, parents and community members from Northeast, Northwest and Park Avenue elementary schools, as well as students from the middle and high school. The Crepe Day participants celebrated by enjoying fresh crepes (courtesy of the World Language Honor Society members) and engaging in many fun, educational and interactive activities. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/6/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166077 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166077 Board of Education Regular Meeting Notice – February 8 Date Added: 2/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166063 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166063 Amityville School District celebrates Girls and Women in Sports Day On Feb. 3, the Amityville School District recognized its female student-athletes to celebrate Girls and Women in Sports Day. Girls and Women in Sports Day annually commemorates the achievements of female coaches and athletes while acknowledging the role of sports to help unlock the boundless potential of women. Many of the district’s student-athletes and coaches wore red shirts with the message, “I know I play like a girl, try to keep up,” as part of the daylong celebration. The district is so proud of its female student-athletes and all of their hard work and accomplishments. Date Added: 2/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166056 Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166056 Northeast Elementary School pre-kindergartners learn about patriotism Pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville learned all about patriotism when Naval Chief Josh Candon visited the school on Jan. 27. Mr. Candon spoke about his current role in the U.S. Navy and how he has visited almost 30 countries during his years of service. This special presentation was part of Northeast’s Community Helpers program, in which students learn about first responders and different types of people who serve the community and country. Students also sang “My Country Tis of Thee,” to Mr. Candon to show their patriotism. The Amityville School District thanks Mr. Candon for his service and for taking the time to meet with the district’s youngest learners. Date Added: 1/31/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165626 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165626 Message from Dr. Fale Regarding Black History Month Date Added: 1/31/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165642 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165642 Board of Education Work Session Meeting Notice – Feb. 1 Date Added: 1/30/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165587 Mon, 30 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165587 Message from the Superintendent of Schools Date Added: 1/27/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165528 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165528 Notice of February Board of Education Meetings Date Added: 1/25/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165454 Wed, 25 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165454 Author encourages Park Avenue students to ‘speak up’ against bullying On Jan. 21, 18-year-old author Devin Moore visited students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville to share his new book, “Devin Speaks Up.” “Devin Speaks Up” is a children’s antibullying book about Moore’s bullying experience. Through speaking up about the bullying, Moore later founded Race To Speak Up, an antibullying organization that works to educate youth about bullying prevention, how to be upstanders and the importance of mental health. Park Avenue students gathered in the school’s auditorium where Moore shared his personal experience of being bullied and how he dealt with pain and sadness. All of the students received a copy of Moore’s book, which were donated by Optimum/Altice USA. Moore conducted a readalong with students as they discussed the importance of being comfortable in their own skin, speaking up a trusted person about being bullied, the importance of kindness, and he encouraged kids to be upstanders for each other. “Even though we all look different and act different, we’re all beautiful and we can unite through our differences,” Moore said. “We need to embrace each other’s differences in a world that includes all kinds of people from all walks of life.” Date Added: 1/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165447 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165447 Board of Education Special Session Meeting Notice - January 28, 2023 Public Special Session with Anticipated Executive Session: 9:00 a.m. - Central Administration Building 1st Floor Conference Room. Date Added: 1/24/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165423 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165423 Message re: School Improvement Grant Funds Unfortunately, the district lost the opportunity to obtain the School Improvement Grant for school year 2021-22 in the amount of $425,000. We have been attempting to appeal this decision and recover this money. The District worked closely with BOCES, the State Education Department, the Board of Regents and our elected officials. With the help of the State Education Department, we have been able to cover the expenses with monies remaining from other grants. Date Added: 1/19/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165332 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165332 Message from the Superintendent re: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 16, 2023 Dear Amityville School Community, In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the life and legacy of Dr. King, as well as the ideals that he advocated for. As a school community, we stand united in our quest for equality for all people and remain committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students and staff. We continue to implement programs for our students that reinforce this lesson, in addition to emphasizing the importance of serving the community like Dr. King so faithfully did. I trust our school community took time today to reflect how we, as both individuals and members of the greater Amityville community, have advanced Dr. King’s ideals and how we can continue to progress with this important work moving forward. As always, thank you for your support of our schools. Sincerely, Dr. Edward Fale Superintendent of Schools Date Added: 1/16/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165201 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165201 Developing young leaders at Northwest Elementary School Northwest Elementary School in Amityville has recently collaborated with members of the Calvary Chapel of Hope to create a Leadership Club, allowing students to shine as leaders. Calvary Chapel members Pastor Jeff Cole and Mrs. Angie Christian along with Northwest social worker Ms. Debra Lee developed this club to let students know that we are all leaders. “Do not let anyone think less of you because you are young,” Pastor Jeff Cole said. “Be an example to everyone in what you say, how you live, how you treat and trust others, and what enters your mind.” The group, which meets biweekly, discussed the five rules of leadership: 1. Leaders do what is right, even when no one is watching. 2. Leaders lead by example. They do everything they expect others to do. 3. Leaders speak the truth. 4. Leaders treat others how they want to be treated. They are respectful to everyone. 5. Leaders work and do their best. Date Added: 1/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165150 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165150 Former NBA player shares story of redemption at Amityville High School  Most of the seats in Amityville Memorial High School’s auditorium were filled when former NBA professional basketball player Chris Herren visited the school on Jan. 11 to share his remarkable journey from success to addiction to recovery with students. Herren, who made presentations at the high school on several occasions in the past, shared a video which documented his amateur and professional basketball career and his struggles with substance abuse. “Everybody thinks that my presentation all about drugs and alcohol, but I think it’s about self-esteem,” Herren said. “I also think it’s about family and self-worth. The kids who truly want to be different, and the kids who can go out on Friday nights and just be happy in being themselves, those kids are my heroes. It’s the fact those kids don’t have to shut the noise off, and that they’re willing to face their issues head-on.” Following the video presentation, Herren went into further detail of his own life experiences to enlighten students about the detrimental impact that drugs and alcohol had on his career, family and health. He also discussed his current career as an advocate against substance abuse, his journey of being alcohol- and drug-free since August 2008, and how he has visited high schools throughout the country to share his story. He encouraged students struggling with substance abuse to seek help in friends, teachers and family members and stressed the importance of never letting friends stray off course. Following his presentation, students in the audience asked Herren questions about his journey to sobriety. According to its website, the Herren Project is a nonprofit foundation established to assist individuals and families struggling with addiction. The THP Project Purple initiative was launched in 2011 to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and encourage positive decision making to navigate life’s challenges. Date Added: 1/12/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165158 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165158 Doctors share health tips with students at Northeast Elementary School  On Jan. 11, pre-kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville learned about the importance of physical and emotional health as part of the school’s current theme, “Taking Care.” Doctors and health care professionals from Stony Brook Southampton Hospital visited the school to share some key health tips with students. Students also got to check out some of the doctors’ medical equipment such as stethoscopes and otoscopes. Many of the students were also excited to share some of their own healthy habits. Date Added: 1/11/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165133 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165133 Coffee Chats with the Superintendent, January 13, 2023 Date Added: 1/5/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164932 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164932 Two HS Musicians Earn All-County Honors The Amityville School District’s Music Department is very pleased to announce that two of Amityville Memorial High School’s music students were selected to represent the district as members of various 2022 NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Honors Ensembles this year. Melissa Fearrington was selected as a member of the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Chorus and Madeline Shingleton was selected as a member of the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Orchestra. Additionally, Shingleton was seated as the principal cellist (first chair) of the All-County Orchestra. Hundreds of students auditioned for placement into these ensembles last spring at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals throughout Suffolk County. Students were chosen to participate based on their proficiency score achieved at the festival and teacher recommendations. The All-County festival showcased the top 11th- and 12th-grade students of all Suffolk County music programs. The district congratulates Fearrington, Shingleton, their families, and their past and present music teachers for this outstanding achievement! Date Added: 1/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164891 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164891 January 7 Special Board of Education Work Session Notice Date Added: 1/4/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164911 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164911 Coffee Chats with the Superintendent Date Added: 1/3/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164857 Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164857 Important Message from the Superintendent During last week's storms and freezing temperatures, the Middle School incurred severe damage due to a power reduction by PSEG. This affected the West Wing.Only the Middle School was affected. Cleaning and restoration work began immediately. Damaged areas are being restored and renovated. Workers have been working round the clock and will continue to do so. The building will be ready to open on time on Tuesday, January 2nd. All environmental safety precautions have been followed. Please note, all our schools will open on time on Tuesday. Date Added: 1/2/2023 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164853 Mon, 02 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164853 Board Meeting Notices - January 2023 Date Added: 12/29/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164849 Thu, 29 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164849 Holiday Celebration for First Graders at Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School First graders in Margaret Brooks’ class at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville took part in several holiday activities on Dec. 22. Students, joined by teachers and parents, wore decorative holiday clothes and headwear as they participated in different stations throughout the classroom. Activities included holiday arts and craft, science experiments and preparing tasty cookies. Date Added: 12/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164840 Wed, 28 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164840 Amityville’s Virtual Winter Art Show is on Display Art continues to thrive in the Amityville School District! For the district’s Winter Art Show this year, the art teachers have created a beautiful virtual presentation, which showcases the work of Amityville’s students from grades Pre-K through 12. The show can be viewed through this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RZdUM1ecNU The district would like to thank all the art teachers who created the slides for their students' work: Nicole Pappas – Northeast Elementary School Lydia Robinson – Northwest Elementary School Susan Zaratin – Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Jennifer Dibble – Edmund W. Miles Middle School Jillian Bock – Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School Jayne Grasso – Amityville Memorial High School Heather Rickard – Amityville Memorial High School Cara Westphal – Amityville Memorial High School Jackie Breitfeller – Amityville Memorial High School Connie Jordan – Amityville Memorial High School Also, special thanks goes out to art teacher, Heather Rickard, for putting together the final presentation. On behalf of all of the teachers and students within the Amityville Art Department, we hope that you enjoy the show. Date Added: 12/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164765 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164765 Northwest Elementary School Students Learn About the Joy of Hanukkah First graders in Meredith Cohen's class at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville spent several days learning about Hanukkah before it started at sundown on Dec. 18. On the first day of Hanukkah, Ms. Cohen taught students how to play dreidel. Instead of playing with gelt (chocolate coins), they used their math cubes. Every year, Ms. Cohen’s mother makes upwards of 50 latkes with their family recipe, which has been passed down for years to bring to school for the students and staff. The students tasted the latkes, and some dipped them in applesauce. Students had fun learning about the traditions and celebrations of Hanukkah and always enjoyed asking Ms. Cohen questions about how her family celebrates this holiday. Date Added: 12/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164766 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164766 January 11, 2023 Board Meeting Notice Date Added: 12/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164767 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164767 Female wrestler at Amityville Memorial High School makes history Amityville Memorial High School sophomore and varsity wrestler Madelyne Martinez made history during the 2022 Frank Giampaolo Cyclone Tournament at South Side High School in Rockville Centre on Dec. 17. A first-year member of the wrestling team, Madelyne became the first female tournament winner in Amityville’s history. This was her first individual tournament, and she had only wrestled in two matches prior to this tournament. Both of her previous matches were against boys at the Doc Fallot Duals in Hampton Bays where she came close to winning her first match. Madelyne, who is the lone female on the Warriors varsity wrestling team, competed in the female division at the Cyclone Tournament. After defeating two Bay Shore wrestlers in just the third and fourth matches of her career, she came away with the gold medal for her bracket. In her first match of the day, she pinned Bay Shore wrestler Ashley Vasquez Mala in three minutes 13 seconds. She added another pin to defeat Ryan Stuck, of Bay Shore, in 53 seconds to secure first place in her bracket. “Maddy has a great personality, she always brings great energy in practice, she really challenges our guys and is literally like a sponge,” said Warriors varsity wrestling head coach Jamal Jackson. “It's such a pleasure having her on our team, and we are expecting great things from her in the future, both on and off the mat.” The Amityville School District congratulates Madelyne not just for this victory, but for her dedication to learning the sport, her hard work at practice every day, and her tenacious attitude. Date Added: 12/21/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164674 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164674 Reading Buddies Session at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville enjoyed a morning of meaningful reading on Dec. 20. Nine students from Amityville Memorial High School visited Park Avenue for a reading buddies session as they worked with their bilingual classes in grades three to five. The high school students had a great time reading bilingual books to the children and participated in several activities with them. The reading activity served as an opportunity for students to engage in thoughtful conversations. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 12/20/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164659 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164659 Board of Education Special Session Meeting Notice for Dec. 21 Date Added: 12/20/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164611 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164611 Northeast Elementary School students create tasty gingerbread houses Prekindergartners in Jane Dady’s class at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville used an assortment of tasty, sweet ingredients to create their own gingerbread houses on Dec. 14. Parents and teachers sat down with students as they prepared the gingerbread houses from scratch. Northeast Principal Dr. Pauline Collins, along with district administrators, also joined students as they worked diligently to create their houses. The gingerbread houses were part of the school's activity to teach children about holiday traditions while training their senses and motor skills. Date Added: 12/19/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164593 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164593 Letter from Superintendent of Schools Re: Regents Class Date Added: 12/16/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164525 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164525 Happy Holidays from the Superintendent of Schools Date Added: 12/16/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164565 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164565 Awareness Weekend brings students together at Amityville High School Second graders at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville recently studied urban, rural and suburban communities. After learning about these communities, students created dioramas out of various materials to demonstrate their understanding of the type of community they chose to build. Students proudly presented their projects to others and were able to display them throughout the school. Date Added: 12/15/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164505 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164505 Holiday Decorations on Full Display at Northeast Elementary School  Students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville recently filled the school’s hallways with colorful holiday decorations. With support from their teachers, prekindergartners spent the past week drawing, coloring and crafting a variety of holiday items. The items included Christmas trees, snowmen, ornaments, elves, snowflakes and candy canes. The school’s holiday decorations will be on display throughout the month of December. Date Added: 12/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164463 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164463 Awareness Weekend brings students together at Amityville High School After their school day ended on Nov. 18, 80 Amityville Memorial High School students spent the next 32 hours in the school participating in bonding activities and listening to inspirational speakers. Awareness Weekend has been an annual tradition for nearly 20 years. Students in grades 10-12 who participate say it is a transformative experience that cultivates new friendships and leads to self-reflection. An essential part of Awareness Weekend are the family groups. Students are typically paired with others who are not part of their normal friendship circle, and each team has a facilitator. Family groups have follow-up discussions based on the speakers, share personal experiences and participate in icebreaker activities. This year’s keynote speaker was Shadrack Boakye, whose “Overcoming Adversity” presentation kicked off Awareness Weekend on Friday afternoon. Boakye spoke about his experience growing up in Liberia, Africa in the midst of a civil war during the 1990s, and how he and his mother were just a few of the survivors to escape the war-stricken country. He also spoke about the hardships that he faced once he entered the U.S., among them not being able to read, and how he has since persevered over the years. Guest speaker Chris Memoli was involved in a car accident at 16 and suffered brain injuries as a result of no wearing a seatbelt. He communicates through a typing device and shared his story about how he overcame tragedy to earn his master’s degree in computer science. Hashim Garrett, another guest speaker, is a former gang member who is paralyzed from the waist down. He spoke about forgiveness, overcoming adversity and learning from mistakes. Students, joined by 13 faculty chaperones, spent the night in the school in sleeping bags and on air mattresses in classrooms. Awareness Weekend ended at 10 p.m. on Saturday night with goodbyes and hugs. Special education teacher Jason McGowan, who coordinated the event, said it was an inspirational weekend for both the students and the teachers. “We try to create an environment where students feel comfortable and make this a safe place where students take that chance to speak about what’s happening in their lives,” Mr. McGowan said. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but once the students buy in, it really becomes a wonderful time.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/8/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164316 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164316 Amityville High School students bring ‘Christmas Magic’ to kids in need In the spirit of the holidays and giving back, Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club student members once again participated in the Christmas Magic program. The nonprofit program was formed in 1990 through the efforts of a single father, Charlie Russo, a Hauppauge attorney. He wanted to teach his children the true meaning of Christmas. More than the 30 years, the organization has grown into hundreds of Long Island families giving back to their communities. Christmas Magic has touched the lives of over 11,000 Long Island children in more than 55 shelters, agencies, programs, churches and schools. The Warrior Awareness Club took three trips to Target in Copiague during the first week of December to shop for children who are struggling during the holidays. To ensure gifts met the specific needs of the children the Amityville students were buying gifts for, they were given an information sheet that included each child’s age, gender, clothing size and interest. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/8/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164318 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164318 December 7 Board of Education Work Session Date Added: 12/5/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164187 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164187 Letter from Dr. Fale, Superintendent of Schools regarding: Absentee Rate http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164362 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164362 Warriors Soccer Team Captures Their Third New York State Championship The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates the Amityville Memorial High School Warriors varsity soccer team on winning their third New York State championship. On Nov. 13, the Warriors defeated the Beacon High School Bulldogs 4-0 to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A championship at Middletown High School. The game was highlighted by the performance of senior striker Hugo Rodriguez, who finished the game with two goals and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Katz also played an outstanding game with five saves to secure a clean sheet. Led by the coaching staff of head coach Michael Abbondondolo and assistant coaches Chris Gannon, Greg McCoy, Michael Abbondondolo Sr. and Berten George, the Warriors finished their remarkable season with a record of 20-1-1 and were ranked 16th in the nation. The Warriors also became five-time Suffolk County and Long Island champions, and they won their seventh consecutive league title. Last year, the Warriors made it to all the way to the New York State championship where they lost to Somers High School. The Warriors graduated some impact players in the Class of 2022 who went to schools such as Boston College, Queens College and St. Joseph’s University. “This year, we were poised to be ready to get back there and win it all,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We already had a tough league schedule ahead of us and we also put together a tough non-League schedule to best prepare ourselves to be our best version at the end of the season when it matters most. Through many challenges, we were able to navigate the season in a way where we learned great lessons while still getting results.” The Warriors faced teams from New York City along with Westtown School, a preparatory school in Pennsylvania. They played Westtown in Albany during the middle of the season in the NXT LVL Invitational Showcase where the game finished in a 0-0 draw. The showcase featured more than 20 college coaches. In addition to having a challenging non-League schedule, the Warriors’ league schedule was just as tough. Mr. Abbondondolo said that their major turning point was towards the end of the regular season when they played undefeated John Glenn High School in league play on Oct. 12 and Senior Day on Oct. 14 against Kings Park High School, a competitive playoff team. Then, in less than 24 hours, the Warriors traveled to Randall’s Island to play Martin Luther King High School who won the City Championship and is ranked eighth in the nation. “We designed the schedule to truly find ourselves, and we did,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. Mr. Abbondondolo added that the only “blemishes” on the Warriors’ remarkable season record was their tie to Westtown and a loss to MLK. Once the playoffs began, the team never looked back as they outscored their opponents 22-3. “In the playoffs, the team, community and everyone in Amityville really rose to the occasion as our path through the playoffs was a memorable one,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We are so proud of all the effort put forth by the boys and their dedication to each other. We are so happy we could represent Amityville in a way that everyone can be proud of. There is a lot of pride in the program, and we are thrilled to bring the state championship back home.” The district congratulates the Warriors on capping off another historic season with a state title. Date Added: 11/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163735 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163735 Spelling Bee Champions at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville hosted its annual spelling bee on Nov. 17. Fourth grader Lamell Ellis emerged as Park Avenue’s top speller for the second time as he also won last year’s spelling bee. Additionally, fourth grader Allison Yanes Bonilla was victorious as the Spanish spelling bee champion. More than 80 students participated in the preliminary round of the spelling bee, which was narrowed down to 20 finalists who took the stage for the evening competition. After it was down to the top three, those students continued to spell their words correctly for multiple rounds before a winner emerged. Both winners received medals, certificates and trophies. The Amityville School District congratulates all of the participants who competed in this year’s spelling bee at Park Avenue. Date Added: 11/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164090 Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164090 Veterans share their stories with students in Amityville In honor of Veterans Day, Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School held Veterans Day events to celebrate the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States military. Local veterans in the community were welcomed to the middle school on Nov. 9 to share their experiences while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to the event, students prepared questions in their social studies classes to ask the veterans. Veterans described the branch of military in which they served, answered the students’ questions, and displayed photos and souvenirs from their years of service. Toward the end of the visit, students had the opportunity to ask for the veterans’ autographs and thank them for visiting the class. Each veteran received a patriotic thank-you card created by a member of the National Junior Honor Society. At the high school, several local veterans were welcomed to speak with students in their social studies classes on Nov. 10. During the 45-minute class period, veterans shared stories about their time in the service and answered students’ questions. Students created colorful cards to thank the veterans for their service. Additionally, veterans got to enjoy a special luncheon in the school’s library. Date Added: 11/17/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163750 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163750 November 2022 Special Session | Tuesday, November 22, 2022 | Special/Executive Session: 5:30 p.m. - Central Administration Building 1st Floor Conference Room Please note that this notice is available in English and Spanish. Date Added: 11/17/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163778 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163778 Board of Education November 16, 2022 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Remote Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/98141872654 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 981 4187 22654 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163737 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:00:00 GMT false163737 Amityville High School’s Marching Band Performs in Regional Festival On Oct. 18, the Amityville Memorial High School marching band performed their halftime show, "Music by Powerhouse Female Musicians," at the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival. This regional marching band showcase, which featured marching bands from Nassau and Suffolk counties, was held at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale. The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates all of the students in the high school marching band, the drum major, Donovan Graham McRae; the assistant drum majors, Sydni Blake and Tashaune Newman; their teacher, Anthony Abate; and their assistant, Mike Bonasera on this noteworthy accomplishment. Please click here to view photos from their performance. Date Added: 11/15/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163736 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163736 Board of Education Meeting Notice for Nov. 16 Date Added: 11/10/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163734 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163734 Career Exploration at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville held its annual career fair from Nov. 2-4. Coordinated by guidance counselor Kim Balducci, Park Avenue’s Career Fair aims to expose students to different careers while developing the school to work connection. Held in the school’s auditorium, students in each grade went around to their careers of choice to interview the guest speakers about their professions. The Career Fair featured a wide range of speakers that included parents, family and friends of faculty members and community members: Paul Schmidt, Amityville Police Officer Matthew Rousseau, Amityville Police Officer Mikila Thompson, Esq., lawyer Clifford Charles, nursing & nursing anesthesiologist Leisha Cason, registered nurse Eric Meyer, Sr., construction/chimney Deborah Magnani, physical therapist Erik Ferencsik, architect and instructor Melisa Bliss, assistant district attorney Rose M.J. Charles, attorney at law Kimberly Jean-Pierre, assemblywoman Nicole Gervasi, general manager, restaurant Mehran Shahbazzadeh, realtor Zack Shapiro, nurse supervisor Danika Hall, manager financial services Scuba Steve, author and marine conservationist Chris Grayden, train operator Jesus Trivino, digital creator global Latin Victoria Lipman, librarian Click here to view the slideshow Date Added: 11/8/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163731 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163731 Celebrating National French Week at Amityville Memorial High School On Nov. 2, the World Language Honor Society at Amityville Memorial High School hosted its third annual National French Week Celebration in the school’s cafeteria. This weeklong celebration of all things French takes place in schools and communities across the U.S. from Nov. 3-9. National French Week welcomes all who are interested in learning about all the reasons to learn French. The event was attended by parents, students, teachers, staff members and administrators from both Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Date Added: 11/9/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163733 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163733 Board of Education November 9, 2022 Work Session Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Remote Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/93319299518 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 933 1929 9518 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163732 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163732 Reflecting on the importance of respect at Northwest Elementary School Over the past month, students at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville held character counts lessons on respect. Students took time to reflect on what respect means to them, how to show it and what feelings are produced when respect is given and received. Their reflections are now on display outside the school's music room. Students in Ms. Faber's, Mrs. Jones/Wittschibe's, Ms. Cottone's, Ms. Fox's and Ms. Interiano's classes participated in the reflections. Students did such a great job with the lesson and activity! Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/4/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163730 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163730 Board of Education Meeting Notice for Nov. 9 Date Added: 11/4/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163729 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163729 Amityville Union Free School District is happy to announce a new program: the Seal of Biliteracy! Date Added: 11/3/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163727 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163727 Halloween Day Parade Returns at Park Avenue Elementary School Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville was excited to welcome back their annual Halloween Day Parade on Oct. 31. The students and staff at Park Avenue had the opportunity to show off their costumes and march in the parade. The costumed characters marched around the school building as their parents and guardians cheered them on. Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/3/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163728 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163728 Firefighters share fire prevention tips at Northwest Elementary School On Oct. 26, the Amityville Fire Department shared vital safety precautions with students at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville School District. Students were able to see firefighters in full gear, explore fire trucks and ambulances and learn how the equipment is used. Following the program, students expressed gratitude to the fire department and firefighters by writing them thank you notes. Date Added: 11/2/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163725 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163725 Edmund W. Miles Middle School students to be featured in art exhibit The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that two eighth grade Edmund W. Miles Middle School art students will represent the district in the New York State School Boards Association Virtual Art Exhibit this year. Alejandra Banegas Cardenas’ artwork “Out of Place,” and Alison Galindo’s, artwork, “Sunrise,” will be featured in this virtual exhibition. This statewide exhibit is sponsored by the New York State Art Teachers Association and NYSSBA. This art exhibition will be displayed online through Dec. 31, at www.nysata.org/nyssba-exhibit. The district also thanks their art teacher, Ms. Jennifer Dibble, for her guidance and support in preparing the students for this art showcase. Date Added: 11/2/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163726 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163726 Amityville Memorial High School’s 2022 College Fair Date Added: 10/31/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163724 Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163724 Students, Teachers Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night in Amityville Schools throughout the Amityville School District recently held various activities and assemblies to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of Hispanic history and culture while also showing off their creative talents. Each of the schools celebrated during evening assemblies in which students and teachers performed Latin dances and proudly waved flags from several Latin countries. Following the entertainment, students and parents enjoyed a feast of foods from different Hispanic countries, provided through various donations and volunteer chefs. Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163723 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163723 Junior Achievement Ambassador named at Amityville High School The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School senior Sheyla Medina Cruz has been chosen as Junior Achievement Ambassador for the 2022-2023 school year. Sheyla Medina Cruz competed for the school’s 2022-2023 Junior Achievement of New York Student of the Year Scholarship Program and finished in the top five scholars. The program featured more than 100 students from Long Island, New York City and Lower Hudson Valley. Sheyla Medina Cruz was impressive in her interviews and her presentation to Junior Achievement’s executive board members who served as the judges. Junior Achievement was impressed with her experience and determination to succeed and invited her to continue being an ambassador for Junior Achievement of New York. She was first introduced to Junior Achievement during her Personal Finance and Literacy program. She has worked extensively with Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes program, teaching lessons about careers, community, family and finance to students in Amityville’s elementary schools. She also took part in the Career Day program and the Finance Park program, which included a financial literacy simulation with students from other Long Island high schools. Junior Achievement of New York is committed to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. The inspiration piece comes from community volunteers who not only deliver JA’s lessons, but share their experience. In the process, these volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young students’ perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. Preparation involves JA’s lessons that promote financial capability, work and career readiness, and business ownership. As a Student of the Year Ambassador, Sheyla Medina Cruz has been offered the opportunity to attend JA New York events; participate in their annual dinner as a speaker and/or student emcee; attend JA New York Board of Directors’ meeting and be profiled in JA New York’s newsletter/website; and receive a $1,000 award. Sheyla Medina Cruz is a member of the numerous organizations including Smart Scholar, Key Club- Sargent of Arms, the National Honor Society, and the World Language Honor Society, among others. The district congratulates Sheyla Medina Cruz on this achievement. Date Added: 10/27/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163722 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163722 Community Service Through a Musical Performance in Amityville Amityville Memorial High School’s Chamber Orchestra recently performed at the Dominican Village as part of Sen. John Brooks’ Annual Golden Gathering Event. The ensemble, under the direction of Ms. Bianca Ferrante, performed several pieces of music during this event and the ensemble’s performance was well received by those in attendance. Participating students included Luis Alcantara Mejia, Margaret Catron, Martha Gonzalez, Terry Holman, Alessandra Pons, Madeline Shingleton and Florian Victor. Date Added: 10/26/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163721 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163721 Celebrating Amityville Pride at Homecoming After being postponed due to inclement weather, Amityville Memorial High School was excited to hold its homecoming parade on Oct. 22. Led by the high school’s marching band, the parade included school administrators, board members, faculty, local elected officials, cheerleaders, and students from various Amityville schools. Marchers started their journey at the LIRR Amityville station and paraded down the local streets as onlookers cheered. Students dressed up and floats were decorated to represent this year’s theme of cartoon shows. Parents and supportive community members were also in attendance as they watched the group march down Broadway through the heart of the Village of Amityville all the way to the high school. Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/25/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163720 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163720 Happy Diwali The district would like to wish all residents who observe a very happy Diwali. We hope the holiday brings your family joy and many wonderful memories together. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163719 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163719 2022-2023 BOE Meetings Audio & Visual Now Available Visit our Board of Education page to view the 2022-2023 Audio & Visual BOE Meeting Recordings Date Added: 10/21/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163718 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163718 Students, Teachers Celebrate Unity Day in the Amityville School District Students and teachers throughout the Amityville School District celebrated Unity Day on Oct. 19. Unity Day is a national effort to prevent bullying through the promotion of kindness and compassion. Students and teachers throughout the district took part in numerous activities to promote inclusivity and acceptance for all regardless of gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. Among the activities in the district, pre-K and kindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School spent time at the school’s peaceful playground, which aims to enhance learning, prevent bullying and promote positive social interactions. Clubs at Amityville Memorial High School each shared statements on what Unity Day means to them, and students participated in several team building activities. At each school, students and teachers wore orange to share a visible message that no one should experience bullying, and that we are all stronger together. Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/20/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163717 Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163717 Board of Education October 19, 2022 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/99300843258 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 993 0084 3258 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163716 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163716 Longtime Amityville Board Trustee to Receive Prestigious Award The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that longtime board of education trustee Jeannette Santos will receive the New York State School Boards Association’s highest honor for school board service later this month. Mrs. Santos, who has served on Amityville’s board for more than 40 years, has been selected by NYSSBA to receive the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service. The award is scheduled to be presented during the opening session for NYSSBA’s 2022 Annual Convention & Education Expo in Syracuse on Oct. 27. Mrs. Santos joined the Amityville board in 1980 and has been on the executive committee of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association for more than 30 years. In addition to the presidencies of the Amityville and Western Suffolk BOCES boards, her board roles have included board vice presidencies, membership in the BOCES audit committee, and the presidency and other leadership posts in the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. “Jeannette Santos demonstrates a level of dedication and joy that inspires all of us who devote our time to school board service,” said NYSSBA President Peggy Zugibe. “She exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and caring commitment that makes a real difference in the lives of students.” Mrs. Santos came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 1950 at the age of 12. She credits a caring social worker with recognizing her difficulty understanding English and helping her and her siblings learn the new language after they settled in Queens. Her involvement in education advocacy started with her work as a PTA volunteer and school athletics booster in the 1960s. She and her now-late husband, Frank, raised three children in the Amityville School District. She is a member and past president of the National Caucus of Hispanic School Board Members. And for NYSSBA, Mrs. Santos has been a School Board Ambassador and served on a Minority Issues Committee. She has regularly participated in NYSSBA training academies, conventions, seminars and retreats to build her board governance skills. In addition to her school board-related activities, Mrs. Santos has been active in many community organizations and projects. She has been vice chair of the Town of Babylon Anti-Bias Task Force, a board member for the Sunrise Clinic, a member of the Congressional Hispanic Advisory Committee, chair of the Town of Babylon Hispanic Advisory Committee and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Amityville. She has also received recognition for her activism, including the New York State Golden Apple Award for Volunteers, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Award, Suffolk County Citizen of the Year and the Suffolk County Human Rights Award. The district congratulates Mrs. Santos on being honored with the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service. Date Added: 10/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163714 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163714 Board of Education Meeting Notice for Oct. 19 Date Added: 10/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163715 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163715 Amityville Memorial High School students tour HBCU programs Students from Amityville Memorial High School recently visited seven schools in North Carolina during the school’s annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Tour. Track and field coach Reynolds Hawkins, high school Dean of Students Natasha Lim, Guidance Director Dr. Stephanie Thomas, and high school teacher Nakia Williams accompanied 33 high school students on the annual college tour. During tours of the campuses, students learned about admissions requirements, academic programs, extracurricular activities and sports, residential life, scholarship opportunities and tuition and fees. They interacted with current college students and experienced the culture of each campus. Students also had the opportunity to visit the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro. “I always put some sort of historical twist into this tour,” said Hawkins, who helped to launch the program 15 years ago. Hawkins, who was then a social worker at the high school, pitched the idea about the program to the district’s administrators as an initiative to keep students actively involved. “We’re the only high school on Long Island to have a tour exclusively for HBCU schools,” Hawkins said. “As an Amityville graduate and an HBCU graduate, this was a great opportunity for me to show students that there are other places to go outside of New York.” This year, students also visited Duke University and Queens University of Charlotte. At Duke, students met with former Athletic Director Kevin White, who is an Amityville Memorial High School graduate. At Queens University, the group met with President Daniel Lugo, also an Amityville graduate. “I want these kids to see people that have gone through the same route that they have and realize that they can accomplish great things as well,” Hawkins said. More than 90% of the high school students who took part in this tour have attended college, according to Hawkins. “I’d like to thank the district for supporting this program and financing the annual trip through the years,” Hawkins said. “The feedback from the kids, the parents and the community have all been positive, so I hope that we can continue this program beyond my time here in Amityville.” Click here to view a photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/13/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163713 Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163713 Celebrating grandparents at Northeast Elementary School It was a family affair at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville as the school welcomed grandparents on Oct. 7, allowing them to not only observe the lessons but to participate in the day’s activities. In honor of National Grandparents Day, which was observed last month, the special guests visited the pre-K and kindergarten classes. They assisted with a variety of activities, from coloring in pictures of grandmas and grandpas to fall-themed art projects. Date Added: 10/12/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163711 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163711 Board of Education October 12, 2022 Work Session Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Work Session Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/98444413420 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 984 4441 3420 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163712 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163712 Principal becomes a student for a day at Park Avenue Elementary School Mr. Edward Plaia, principal at Park Avenue Elementary School in Amityville, became a fifth grader for a day on Sept. 30. Fifth graders were excited to have Mr. Plaia as their classmate for the day, as many of them helped him follow along the classroom activities. Mr. Plaia also joined students for recess, gym and lunch. Additionally, students discussed their favorite things about Park Avenue with Mr. Plaia, and shared ideas on ways to enhance their learning experience. Mr. Plaia admitted that being a fifth grader in the 21st century is not easy, but he was happy to get a glimpse what it’s like to be a student at Park Avenue. Date Added: 10/3/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163708 Mon, 03 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163708 Amityville School District rolls out RULER program for K-12 The Amityville Union Free School District has rolled out the RULER program for students in grades K-12. The RULER program, based on a study conducted at Yale University, teaches the skills of emotional intelligence — those associated with recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing and regulating emotion. Decades of research shows that these skills are essential to effective teaching and learning, sound decision making, physical and mental health and success in school and beyond. Peter Paternostro, the district’s administrator for Pupil Personnel Services, and Karen Gross, the district’s transition coordinator, are spearheading the program. “In my 14 years here, I have not seen a program for K-12 where we’re all speaking the same language,” Paternostro said. Research shows that schools that incorporate the RULER program see a positive shift in school climate, experience enhanced academic achievement, report better quality relationships and experience less bullying and/or aggressive behaviors. Amityville’s RULER Implementation Team comprises of 25 faculty and staff members who will carry out the program at each school. In addition to instructional staff members, this includes school monitors, security guards and custodians. “It’s our belief that any adult can interact with a child to help turn their life around,” Paternostro said. “Research has shown that it can only take one adult to really make a difference in a child’s life.” The RULER program features four main components: the Mood Meter, Charter, Meta-Moment and Blueprint. The Mood Meter helps build awareness of emotions in ourselves and others, expands our emotion vocabulary, and helps us manage our emotions. The Charter is an agreement we make to act in ways that help us to feel the way we want to feel in our school or class. The Meta-Moment teaches us how to extend the time between feeling emotionally triggered and our reaction. The Blueprint provides a series of questions as a guide for reflecting on our thoughts and emotions during conflict. “We’ve worked a lot with Yale University, and they are top notch,” Gross said. “We’re really grateful to our Board of Education for approving this, because so far, it’s been a great experience.” Leaders of the RULER program will meet every month to monitor progress through the classroom Charters, Mood Meters posters in each classroom, and Mood Meter check-ins. The RULER Implementation Team will hold a future workshop during Superintendent’s Conference Day in November. Date Added: 9/30/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163707 Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163707 Board of Education September 22, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Special Meeting beginning at 6:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94292886613 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 942 9288 6613 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163706 Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT false163706 Amityville Memorial High School celebrates International Day of Peace On Sept. 21, Amityville Memorial High School commemorated the International Day of Peace by presenting its annual Pinwheels for Peace event. Through song, poetry, peace rock presentations and a pinwheel planting ceremony, students reflected on the importance of peace in their lives, their community and throughout the world. To prepare for this event, high school art students created more than 200 pinwheels and decorated them with peace-themed art and personal messages of peace. Many peace-themed posters were also created for this celebration. Additionally, students in the high school’s Warrior Awareness Club, known as the WAC PAC, wrote poetry and created “Peace Rocks” to distribute to individuals who have great meaning within their lives. During the celebration, students created a human Unity Circle and then “planted” their pinwheels to form a peace sign of pinwheels on the school’s front lawn. The International Day of Peace (Peace Day) is observed around the world each year on Sept. 21. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace. The International Day of Peace ceremony at Amityville Memorial High School was organized by art teacher Jayne Grasso and the National Art Honor Society, along with support from Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. Date Added: 9/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163705 Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163705 Three Top 100 soccer players named at Amityville Memorial High School The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School student athletes Roberth Perez, Matt Katz and Hugo Rodriguez were named to Newsday’s Top 100 Long Island boys soccer players for 2022. Perez, who plays center back for the Amityville Warriors, is “strong in the air, technical and can use both feet,” according to Warriors coach Mike Abbondondolo. Katz was recognized for his natural instincts as a goalkeeper and tireless work ethic on the field. He has drawn interest from Stony Brook University and Mercy College. A fourth-year varsity player, Rodriguez is known for his ability to score from anywhere on the field in addition to his playmaking skills. Date Added: 9/20/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163704 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163704 Board of Education Meeting Notice for Sept. 22 Date Added: 9/19/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163703 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163703 Board of Education September 14, 2022 Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/94138147551 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 941 3814 7551 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163701 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 19:00:00 GMT false163701 Northeast Elementary School Celebrates the First Day of Prekindergarten Prekindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville School District kicked off their educational journey during their first day of school on Sept. 14. Teachers, district administrators and school Principal Dr. Pauline Collins greeted each student to celebrate their first year of school. Many of the students, joined by their parents/guardians, familiarized themselves with the school during pre-K orientation on Sept. 13. The district welcomes its newest learners and looks forward to a successful year ahead. Date Added: 9/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163702 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163702 Amityville Welcomes Back Students for the First Day of School The rain outside didn’t dampen the mood as students from kindergarten through 12th grade returned to the Amityville School District for the first day of the new school year on Sept. 6. Teachers at each building greeted the new and returning students to celebrate a new school year. Students throughout the district came together before school to say hello to friends, get acquainted with classmates and greet their teachers. The district looks forward to an exciting year of fun and learning! Date Added: 9/12/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163700 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163700 PAMES Open House Letter to Families - September 7, 2022 Date Added: 9/12/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163699 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163699 Board of Education Meeting Notice for Sept. 14 Date Added: 9/12/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163698 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163698 Board of Education September 7, 2022 Meeting Remote Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Special Meeting beginning at 5:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/97823282861 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 978 2328 2861 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163697 Wed, 07 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163697 Amityville High School Letter — Sept. 1 Date Added: 9/1/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=158986 Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false158986 Amityville High School Letter — Sept. 1 Date Added: 9/1/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163695 Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163695 2022-23 Calendar - Now Available The 2022-23 calendar is now available online! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163694 Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163694 Elementary Welcome Back Packets & Secondary Student Schedules Dear Parents/Guardians, Please be advised that all Elementary School "Welcome Back" packets were mailed to homes as of Monday, August 29, 2022. All High School and Middle School Student Schedules will be mailed byTuesday, August 30, 2022. If you have questions, please contact your building administration. Date Added: 8/29/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163692 Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:00:00 GMT false163692 Human Trafficking and Street Organizations on Long Island Zoom Presentation - August 30, 2022 Date Added: 8/29/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163691 Mon, 29 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163691 Board of Education 8/24 Special Meeting Zoom Credentials Please access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting Beginning at 7:30 PM by clicking the link: https://zoom.us/j/98980894917 Date Added: 8/24/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163690 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163690 Northwest Welcome Back Letter Date Added: 8/24/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163689 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163689 ATA Welcome Back - Tools for School 2022 Date Added: 8/23/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163688 Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163688 Amityville Memorial High School Honors Class of 2022 Summer Grads The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates Amityville Memorial High School's Class of 2022 summer graduates. The district celebrated seven seniors during a commencement ceremony at the high school’s auditorium on Aug. 18: Aniah Byers, Yanni Grant, Aunner Perez Picon, Tiarra Scott, Christian Stewart, Ajalae Thompson and Avante Winter. Students donned red cap and gowns as they were celebrated by their family and friends along with the district’s administrators. The district congratulates the Class of 2022 summer graduates and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Date Added: 8/22/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163687 Mon, 22 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163687 Edmund W. Miles Middle School Orientation Letter Date Added: 8/19/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163686 Fri, 19 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163686 August Regents Exam Bus Schedule Date Added: 8/15/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163685 Mon, 15 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163685 Edmund W. Miles Middle School Orientations We have scheduled the following grade-level orientations, and parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend. 6th Grade - August 24, 2022, at Edmund W. Miles Middle School from 10:00 am - 11:00 am 7th Grade- August 24, 2022, at Edmund W. Miles Middle School from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm 8th Grade- August 25, 2022, at Edmund W. Miles Middle School from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Date Added 8/11/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163684 Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163684 Board of Education August 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93114700300 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 931 1470 0300 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163683 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT false163683 Enhancing Academic Achievements at Northeast Elementary School Throughout the summer, Northeast Elementary School in Amityville held its Summer Academic Success Program in which students learned in a fun and creative atmosphere. The lessons were designed to enhance academic achievement. Students enjoyed field trips to the Center for Science, Teaching, and Learning, the Long Island Children's Museum and the Cradle of Aviation Museum. The Amityville Public Library’s librarian read to the students and marine educators visited students to teach them about sea explorers. Each week, Northeast had Parent Universities to work with parents on age and grade appropriate topics to reinforce at home. There were plenty smiles throughout the summer as students and teachers worked together on different activities each day. Date Added: 8/10/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163682 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163682 Park Avenue Students Celebrate Reading With a Book Fair This summer, students at Park Avenue Elementary School in Amityville had an opportunity to participate in a Book Fair with student volunteers from Amityville Memorial High School. The books that were a part of the fair were donated and students got to choose which books they might be interested in and read them over the summer. The high school’s student volunteers, who are members of the Warrior Nation club, welcomed their younger peers off the bus in the morning, read to the students in the library, assisted the teachers throughout the day and helped out during dismissal. Some of the students that volunteered aspire to become educators as a career for the future. Park Avenue’s Book Fair was a great way for them to get an idea of what it would be like to work with students and help out with teachers and staff. Date Added: 8/10/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163681 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163681 Amityville High School’s Class of 2022 Community Scholarships and Awards Amityville High School’s Class of 2022 earned numerous community scholarships and awards during the 2021-2022 school year. The district congratulates all of this year’s recipients for their outstanding achievements: RECIPIENT SENIOR AWARD Diana Alvarez -Smart Scholar Certificate -Chick-Fil-A Award -Outstanding Participation in Orchestra Yaneli Amaya -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -Amityville Historical Society Scholarship -Janice M. Sutton Scholarship -Rotary Club of Amityville Scholarship -Digital Photography 1 Certificate -Digital Photography 2 Certificate -Director’s Award for Band -Amityville Memorial HS Drum Major Award -NYSCAME Suffolk Senior Scholarship -Felicia Weathers JCL (John C. LaMarca) Scholarship -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship -ATA Chris LaMarca Memorial Scholarship For Music Luis Amaya-Sanchez -Digital Photography 1 Certificate -Long Island’s Best Young Artists Entries -Shirley Ilsley Malone, Amityville Artist Circle Award -NYS Legislative Exhibit Participant Mikhail Ankudovych -Valedictorian -Uftring and Linehan Valedictorian Award -Adrienne Miller Memorial Scholarship -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -Bay Village Civic Association Scholarship -Smart Scholar Certificate -Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award -National School Orchestra Award -SCMEA Senior Scholarship -AP French Certificate -ATA Memorial Scholarship for General Excellence William Arteaga Amaya -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award Gabriela Ayala Martinez -Intro to Drawing and Painting Certificate -Jewelry 1 Certificate Estefany Barrera Prudencio -Creative Crafts Certificate Nivana Benoit -Diana Emmolo Kachel Scholarship -National Art Honor Society Award -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship TyJon Billinger -Town of Babylon “Anti-Bias Task Force Student of the Year” Award -Altruism Extending Care Corp. Award -US Marines, Distinguished Athlete Award Mia` Bradley -SUPA Public Policy Certificate -Long Island Youth Summit Participant Jhonny Calle Coba -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -AP Physics Certificate -Ceramics/3D Design 1 Certificate -Jewelry 1 Certificate Brian Candia Flores -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Smart Scholar Certificate Bryce Cherry -Hospitality and Travel Marketing Certificate -Entrepreneurship Certificate -Dr. & Mrs. Ralph Hosenberger Award -Excellence in Studio in Art Certificate Melissa Contreras -Amityville Women’s Club, Naomi Griffith’s, Scholarship -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -Director’s Award for Orchestra -Amityville Parent Teacher Council (APTC) Scholarship -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship -AP French Certificate -ATA Marc Engler Memorial Scholarship Monica Contreras -Long Island Youth Summit Participant Stefanie Contreras-Gomez -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Rotary Club of Amityville Scholarship -AP French Certificate Jeff Cruz -Drama Club Award -Smart Scholar Certificate Marcus Daniels-Days -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -Bay Village Civic Association Scholarship -Nelson Mandela Award -Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award -Felicia Weathers John C. LaMarca Scholarship Jaydyn Davis -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Edmund Miles Memorial Scholarship Brandon Dennis -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -Charles Woodman, Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award Brandon Fernandez -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Kiwanis Club of North Amityville, Dotti Coleman Liliana Fernandez Rodriguez -2022 Long Island Youth Summit Award Kayla Fisher -Bradford, McColgan, Stein Memorial Award -ATA Maxine Postal, Scholarship for Education Leah Friedland -Participation in Government Certificate -Hemstock Fundraiser Award David Fuentes -Digital Photography 1 Certificate -Digital Photography 2 Certificate -NYS Legislative Exhibit Participant Alexia Gordon -Attorney General Triple “C” Award Kiara Guzman -Computer Graphics Certificate -Digital Photography 1 Certificate -Digital Photography 2 Certificate Iyana Haddad -National Art Honor Society Award Alex Hargrove -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Amityville Memorial High School 50th Reunion, Class of 1964 and 1965 -Studio in Art Certificate -Moments Golf Scholarship Jamarie Henry -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Smart Scholar Certificate -Amityville Junior League, Ellen Ricciuti Leadership Award Catherine Hernandez -Long Island Youth Summit Participant Kenia Hernandez -Junior Achievement Ambassador -Smart Scholar Certificate -Outstanding Participation in Orchestra Kevin Hernandez -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Rechler Equity Partners Scholarship -AP French Certificate Aria Hibbert -A.L.I.V.E. Outstanding Student Award Janet Ho -Economics Certificate -Participation in Government Certificate -Denise O’Malley Award (WSBOCES) -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Bay Village Civic Association Scholarship -Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award -Amityville Parent Teacher Council Scholarship -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship -ATA Maxine Postal, Scholarship for Education Jonathon Jacas -Participation in Government Certificate -Drama Club Certificate -Art Animation Certificate -Ray A. Croc Youth Achievement Award -Director’s Award for Chorus Zaire Jackson -Discreet Math Certificate Randy Jerez -Smart Scholar Certificate -NYS Office of the Comptroller,Thomas DiNapoli Student Achievement Award -Suffolk Association of School Business Officials Scholarship -Amityville Chamber Commerce Scholarship - Moments Golf Scholarship Marie Jironard -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Amityville Memorial High School 50th Reunion Scholarship, Class of 1964 and 1965 -National Art Honor Society Award Abdullah Khan -AP Government Certificate -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -AP Computer Science Certificate -Franklin Greenlagh Memorial Scholarship Sarah Ledesky -Computer Graphics 1 Certificate -Shirley Ilsley Malone, Amityville Artists Circle Award Andielynn Llamas -Salutatorian -Uftring and Linehan Salutatorian Award -Amityville Women’s Club, Naomi Griffith’s Scholarship -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -Yearbook Advisor Award -John J. Donnison Memorial Scholarship -Smart Scholar Certificate -Director’s Award for Orchestra -College Spanish Certificate -ATA Memorial Scholarship for General Excellence -Smart Scholar Certificate Brianna Locke -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship Emminie Longuefosse -Participation in Government Certificate Yvenson Louis -Nicolette Dammacco-Charles Scholarship Dwyde Lucas III -Studio in Art Certificate Deybis Martinez-Hernandez -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Amityville Alumni Scholarship Sy’riah Mathis-Foskey -Fred Williams Scholarship Gianely McCatty -Smart Scholar Certificate -United States Marines Distinguished Athlete Award Anayiah McCloud Griffin -Participation in Government Certificate -Theodora Bineras Memorial Scholarship Fatima Mendez Oliva -Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer’s Citizenship Proclamation -English Certificate Samanta Molina -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Smart Scholar Certificate -Amityville Memorial High School, 50th Reunion Scholarship, Class of 1964 and 1965 -Long Island Blood Services Scholarship Imani Myles -Economics Certificate Jordy Ortiz Guillen -Educational Bus Company Award Marilyn Ortiz -Smart Scholar Certificate Scott Pineda -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence -Bay Village Civic Association Scholarship -Smart Scholar Certificate -AP Chemistry Certificate -Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean Pierre/Outstanding Social Studies Award -Science Teachers Association of New York State Award Juan Ponce -Melvin Feinberg Scholarship Alisson Ramos Lopez -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Smart Scholar Certificate -Amityville Administrator’s Association Award -ACES Valerie Martin Award Donte Riggsbee -County Executive, Steve Bellone Public Service Award Randy Rodriguez -Junior Achievement Ambassador -Amityville PBA Scholarship Zackary Rodriguez -Helen L. Ferris Memorial Scholarship -Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence Rachel Sabatelli -Ceramics/3D Design 1 Certificate Denixon Sanabria -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Personal Finance Certificate -Business Law Certificate -AP Computer Science Certificate -Computer Graphics 1 Certificate Rene Santos -College and Career Planning Certificate -Amityville Memorial HS Associate Drum Major Award -Louis Armstrong Jazz Award -Amityville Parent Teacher Council Scholarship -United States Marines Scholastic Excellence Award Kerrick Satahoo -Drama Club Certificate -Amityville Chamber of Commerce Scholarship -Felicia Weathers John C. LaMarca Scholarship Lily Scott -NYS Office of the Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli Student Achievement Award -SUPA Forensics Certificate -Drawing and Painting Certificate Jack Sicoli -AP Statistics Certificate -President’s Outstanding Academic Achievement Award -Scope Education Services Award -Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award -Amityville Parent Teacher Council Scholarship Jeffrey Sorto Zavala -Smart Scholar Certificate -Chick-Fil-A Award -Amityville Memorial HS Associate Drum Major Award Mekhi Stevenson -Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum Exhibition -Shirley Ilsley Malone, Amityville Artists Circle Award -Long Island Youth Summit Participant Unahya Thomas -Economics Certificate Stephanie Urbina -Smart Scholar Certificate -Cornel “Too Sweet” Basketball Award Brianna Vargas -Jane Bean Memorial Scholarship -Smart Scholar Certificate Fernando Villalobos -Geometry Certificate Alexia Williams -President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award -Attorney General Triple “C” Award -Amityville Parent Teacher Council Scholarship Shane Wright -Smart Scholar Certificate Olivia Wright -Cornel “Too Sweet” Basketball Award Katherine Zuniga -Creative Crafts Certificate Date Added: 8/9/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163680 Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163680 Amityville Summer Sports Camp - Register Today Date Added: 8/1/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163679 Mon, 01 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163679 Northwest Elementary School Students Visit Animal Adventure Museum Northwest Elementary School in Amityville held its first out-of-building field trip on July 19 to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning in Rockville Centre. As part of the district's Summer Academic Success Program, the Dinosaurs and Animal Adventure Museum experience taught students about animal adaptations. The museum featured full-size museum quality dinosaur mounts, snakes, birds, reptiles, mammals and hands-on activities. Date Added: 7/29/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163678 Fri, 29 Jul 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163678 Amityville Names Olivia Buatsi as Assistant Superintendent for Finance The Amityville Union Free School District has appointed Olivia Buatsi as its new assistant superintendent for finance. Mrs. Buatsi earned her bachelor’s degree at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and she earned an MBA in managerial and public accounting from Hofstra University. She began working at the North Shore School District in 1997 as the assistant business manager, a position she held until 2002. After a 17-month stint as assistant business manager at the Hempstead School District, Mrs. Buatsi returned to North Shore where she remained until her brief retirement in June 2022. In this position, she has overseen various and varied aspects of the district’s operation. These include transportation and food services, buildings and grounds, personnel and civil service, among others. Date Added: 7/29/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163677 Fri, 29 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163677 Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program Registration The following documents are permission slips to register for the Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program for students in Middle and High School. Permission slips can be turned into the main office of both buildings. Jump Start ENL Immersion Program Parent English Letter Jump Start ENL Immersion Program Parent Spanish Letter Please click the following google form links to register your child for the Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program for students in Middle and High School: Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program English Form Jump Start: ENL Immersion Program Spanish Form Date added: 7/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163676 Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163676 ENL Jump Start Program JUMP START: ENL IMMERSION PROGRAM ~ 8/1/22 thru 8/11/22 Please click on the flyer attached for more details. Tentative Program trips planned to date. Trips will be taken, based on enrollment August 3, 2022- Riverhead Aquarium August 4, 2022 Tackapausha Museum August 9, 2022- Cradle of Aviation August 11, 2022- Amityville Village Beach http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163440 Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163440 Board of Education July 20, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, Public Session beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96041004142 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 960 4100 4142 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163674 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:00:00 GMT false163674 Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Camp Registration & Permission Slips Now Available! Permission slips for the Leaders of Tomorrow summer camp programs for Middle and High School are now available. Middle School permission slips can be turned in to Ms. Lim at the Middle School, and High School permission slips can be turned into Dr. Cardone at the High School. Permission slips: Leaders of Tomorrow Middle School Summer Camp Permission Slip (English) Leaders of Tomorrow Middle School Summer Camp Permission Slip (Spanish) Leaders of Tomorrow High School School Summer Camp Permission Slip (English) Leaders of Tomorrow High School School Summer Camp Permission Slip (Spanish) Please click the following google form links to register your child for a Leaders of Tomorrow summer camp program: Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Camp High School Registration Form (English) Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Camp High School Registration Form (Spanish) Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Camp Middle School Registration Form (English) Leaders of Tomorrow Summer Camp Middle School Registration Form (Spanish) Date Added: 7/14/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163673 Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163673 Summer Academic Success Program - Parent University Date Added: 7/12/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163672 Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163672 Board of Education July 6, 2022 Meeting Credentials Below is the link to access the Board of Education Reorganization/Regular Meeting beginning at 7:30 PM https://zoom.us/j/96670650684 Via Telephone +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 966 7065 0684 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163670 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163670 Summer Academic Success Program Bus Routes Due to shortages there are only buses available for 1st period arrival. Students may wait in the cafeteria until class begins or provide their own transportation. Transportation is provided after each period to return home. High School Periods Breakfast 8:00am - 8:07am Period 1 8:09am - 9:21am Period 2 9:23am - 10:35 am Period 3 10:37am - 11:49am Lunch & Dismissal 11:49-12 pm Middle School Periods Daily Schedule Breakfast & Health Screening 8:30am - 8:37am Block 1 8:39am - 9:51am Block 2 9:53am - 11:05am Block 3 11:07am - 12:19pm Lunch & Dismissal 12:19am - 12:30pm Date Added: 7/5/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163668 Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163668 Summer Feeding Sites Now Open The Amityville School District is providing a Summer Feeding Program at the Park Avenue Elementary School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School from July 5th thru August 19th Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 AM and 12:30 PM. Meals are available to the children of the community ages 2-18. Parents/Guardians are permitted to pick up meals for their children. Meals include 1 breakfast & 1 lunch per child. All meals will be packaged and available to take home. ___________________________________________________________________________________ El Distrito Escolar de Amityville está ofreciendo el Programa de Alimentos de Verano, Summer Feeding Program, en la escuela de Park Avenue, Park Avenue Elementary School y en el Middle School, Edmund W Miles Middle School, que estará funcionando desde el 5 de julio hasta el 19 de agosto entre las 8 AM y las 12:30 PM. La comida estará disponible para todos los niños de la comunidad entre los 2 y los 18 años de edad. Se permite que los padres/tutores puedan recoger las comidas para sus hijos. La comida incluye un desayuno y un almuerzo para cada uno. Todas las comidas estarán envasadas y listas para llevar a casa. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163671 Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163671 Amityville UFSD Summer Registration Date Added: 6/30/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163667 Thu, 30 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163667 Amityville Memorial High School Graduation Video Click here to watch the video:https://fb.watch/e5hCvKSIq-/ http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163669 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT false163669 Amityville Memorial High School Celebrates Their 2022 Graduates (JUNE 2022)—The Amityville Memorial High School recently held a commencement ceremony for Amityville Memorial High School’s 2022 graduating class. During the outdoors ceremony, more than 200 graduates received diplomas and commendations for their hard work and dedication to their education and achievements. “I am beaming with great pride and joy. I commend our graduates for all they have learned and accomplished this year—not just with their academic excellence but their character, integrity, and to each other,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Schools. “Thank you to our teachers, staff, Board of Education members, and parents who worked tirelessly and collaboratively to ensure our students' education came first. It is only through all of these efforts that our seniors enjoyed a myriad of opportunities that broadened their horizons and made their graduation possible.” During the ceremony, the valedictorian, Mikhail Ankudovych, and salutatorian, Andielynn Llamas, addressed their fellow graduates and reflected on their journey at Amityville Memorial High School. Also addressing the graduates were Dr. Fale, Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School, and Dr. Terry Fulton, Board of Education President. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163665 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163665 Grad Caps Off and Summers On! Amityville Memorial High School senior students concluded this school year with an exciting and memorable celebratory graduation ceremony attended by Amityville Warriors' family, friends, and faculty and staff. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and we have full confidence in their future endeavors. Congratulations to all our seniors! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qCTz2GkryjgU4r26gi9_70j4df5lwG3D/view http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163666 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163666 Summer SAT Prep For Amityville High School Students Date Added: 6/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163663 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163663 Notice of Board of Education Executive Meeting - June 29, 2022 Date Added: 6/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163664 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163664 Amityville Memorial High School Seniors Celebrate Prom Night (JUNE 2022)—Amityville Memorial High School seniors recently held their Senior Prom at Jericho Terrace in Mineola. As it is for each graduating class, the event was a time for celebration, reminiscing about the year just ended, and honoring the end of their high school journey together. “Prom is a night that our students will always remember,” said Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “I’m glad they were able to enjoy themselves in their peers and teachers' presence and celebrate the accomplishments they all achieved over their high school years together.” At the prom, several “most likely” awards were announced. Valedictorian Mikhail Ankudovych was voted “Most Likely to be President.” The two students voted “Most Likely to be Late” truly lived up to their award, missing the prom altogether due to their tardiness. Congratulations to seniors on a beautiful prom and a successful high school career! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163662 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163662 Northwest Graduating Second Graders Attend Orientation at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary (JUNE 2022)—Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School held an orientation for incoming third-graders from Northwest Elementary School to familiarize the students with the campus prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year. Park Avenue School Counselor Kimberly Balducci presented a slide show about the school. The slide show introduced students to school programs, events, and what to expect next year. “Transitioning into a new school can be really challenging for students,” said Ms. Balducci. “Orientations like this allow the incoming students to become familiar with the school and hopefully lessen some of the stress they might be feeling about entering a new environment.” The soon-to-be Memorial students were able to meet some of the current Memorial third graders who spoke about their favorite activities and gave them some words of wisdom. The second-graders were then allowed to ask questions. Their trip ended with a school tour guided by Park Avenue students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163661 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163661 AMHS Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony Livestream - Live at 6pm (7pm if rain delayed) Click here to view the livestream Date Added: 6/23/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163660 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163660 Board of Education June 21, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 6:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94530041446 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 945 3004 1446 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163659 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 18:00:00 GMT false163659 Notice of Special Remote Board of Education Meeting - June 21, 2022 Date Added: 6/17/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163656 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163656 Board of Education June 15, 2022 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98066805086 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 980 6680 5086 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163655 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:00:00 GMT false163655 Northwest Elementary School Performs Live Concert This Year (JUNE 2022)—Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School performed their concert live this year. For most of the students, this was their first time performing for an audience. The hallways were filled with sounds of young vibrant voices as the students prepared and rehearsed. “All our students amazed the audience with their confidence, enthusiasm, and musical talent,” said Ms. Nicole Altamura, Northwest Elementary music teacher. “Their hard work in music class and during the rehearsals was evident in their final performance!” The kindergarten classes performed songs about the nice weather and having fun outside. They sang songs like It’s a Beautiful Day, Forever Friends, Springtime Sunshine, and The World is a Rainbow. The first-grade program was titled Sing a Rainbow where each song was about color in the rainbow. Songs such as Little Red Caboose, Here comes the Sun, and Purple Bricks in the Sky were performed. In the end, students sang a song in Spanish to introduce the colors in a different language and ended up singing Paint You a Song, a song about singing together. The second-grade students performed a mini-musical called Pajama Party. The students sang, danced, and performed lines for their performance while wearing their pajamas! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163654 Tue, 14 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163654 VIDEO: Senior Awards Top 25 Presentation Date Added: 6/10/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163653 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163653 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Learns All About Fossils (MAY 2022)—Students in Amityville’s Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School learned all about fossils including prehistoric dinosaur skeletal fossils, Woolly’s Mammoth’s tooth, and saber-tooth tiger fangs from a presentation given by Donald (Jerry Pollack, a former teacher at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and a lifelong Amityville resident. “It was a wonderful experience for the kids to learn about fossils,” said, Dr. Shirley Martin, Principal of Park Avenue Memorial School. “The students had a great time, learned information they had never been exposed to before, and were able to share in the excitement and enthusiasm Mr. Pollock brings to his teachings to our students.” Mr. Pollock taught for 33 years at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and coached for 50 years in the district. Mr. Pollock displayed his fossils along with images of the animals they came from and gave the students the opportunity to hold the fossils and pass them around the classroom. Mr. Pollock has volunteered and has continued to teach the Amityville students frequently since his retirement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163650 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163650 National Junior Honor Society Meets with the Co-Founder of KiDS NEED MoRE (JUNE 2022)—The Amityville National Junior Honor Society recently met with Melissa Firmes, Co-Founder of KiDS NEED MoRE, to learn about volunteering opportunities. KiDS NEED MoRE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, families, and young adults coping with cancer and life-threatening illness. The organization is located in the community resource center building with The Coalition for the Homeless and Family Service League. “I invited Ms. Firmes to meet with our students to discuss with them about the volunteer opportunities and to start a relationship that I am hoping we can plan for and grow next school year,” said Carlee Brunson, National Junior Honor Society Advisor. KiDS NEED MoRE runs a Long Island sleep-away camp that was previously run by the American Cancer Society called Camp Adventure. The camp is celebrating its 33rd birthday this year! KiDS NEED MoRE started Saddle Rock Day Camp in 2016, dedicated to providing an enriching, empowering experience at no cost to local children coping with “tough stuff.” There are year-round volunteering opportunities with KiDS NEED MoRE that include paint nights, writing birthday cards, sorting supplies, putting together gifts, and making virtual visits in their online camp program. Some advanced volunteering opportunities include making home visits with team members to play video games, board games, throw a ball around or bake brownies with kids who are homebound. Day Camp runs from July 5 to July 15, Monday through Friday. There is a bus that leaves from the KiDS NEED MoRE headquarters in Amityville at 8 a.m. each day. Volunteering at the camp is a commitment and requires training. There is a possible stipend available for those who are very committed and 16 years and older Volunteering at the sleep-away camp is reserved for those who have made an extraordinary effort and must be 16 years and older. About KiDS NEED MoRE: KiDS NEED MoRE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, families & young adults coping with cancer and life-threatening illness. KiDS NEED MoRE has provided fun activities that foster peer relationships, independence and respite for over 25 years. KiDS NEED MoRE believes that children and families coping with life-threatening illness and trauma deserve to do more than just survive. They deserve to thrive! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163651 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163651 Amityville Memorial High School Athletes Read to Northwest Elementary School Students (JUNE 2022) —Amityville Memorial High School student-athletes recently conducted a read-aloud for all the classes at Northwest Elementary School. “It was great to see our elementary students get excited about the high school students’ visit to their classrooms,” said Meredith Cohen, Northwest Elementary School teacher and Amityville Memorial High School Assistant Varsity Cheerleading Coach. “Our student-athletes are great role models and were awesome readers for our elementary students.” The student-athletes read I Believe I Can by Grace Byers. The book is an affirmation for boys and girls of every background that encourages them to love and believe in themselves. After the reading, the elementary students had the opportunity to ask the high schoolers questions about their sports and what to expect when they do get to high school. Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Schools, noted, “This was a great way for our elementary students to get excited about being active and becoming more involved in sports. It also served as an activity that had the benefit of reinforcing a love of reading for our young learners.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163652 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163652 APTC Supermarket Bingo/Silent Auction June 10, 2022 RSVP Link We're hosting our Annual Supermarket Bingo/Silent Auction event on Friday, June 10th at the Amityville High School Cafeteria. Bring the whole family and join us for a night of fun & games!! Doors open at 6:30 PM. Admission is $5 Click on the link below to RSVP. https://my.cheddarup.com/c/supermarket-bingo-2022 …………………………………………………………………………………………. Estamos organizando nuestro evento anual Supermarket Bingo/Silent Auctionel viernes 10 de junio en la cafetería de Amityville High School. ¡Traiga a toda la familia y únase a nosotros para una noche de diversión y juegos! Apertura de puertas a las 18:30 h. La entrada es de $ 5 Haga clic en el enlace de abajo para confirmar su asistencia. https://my.cheddarup.com/c/supermarket-bingo-2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163649 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163649 Board of Education June 8, 2022, Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92923488537 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 929 2348 8537 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163648 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT false163648 District-Wide Safety Plan Now Available The community is invited to provide any comments on the district-wide safety plan to Freddie Metzger (fmetzger@amityvilleufsd.org) or Stephen Baounis (sbarounis@amityvilleufsd.org) no later than July 1, 2022. Public comments will be considered, as the Board of Education is asked to adopt the plan at its re-organizational meeting on July 6, 2022. Date Added: 6/6/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163646 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163646 High School Graduation Letter Date Added: 6/2/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163647 Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163647 Take Me Out to the Ball Game (JUNE 2022)—Recently, two groups of Amityville Memorial High School students attended the college fair hosted by Kaplan, one of the country’s premier educational services companies, at Citifield. Thirty-three junior students from the high school were accompanied by Brian Suckle, Assistant Principal of Amityville Memorial High School, and members of the high school’s guidance department. Also attending the college fair was Mr. James Seubert’s economics class. The students met with representatives of Kaplan to learn about college testing and methods of test preparation and then visited with the over 20 colleges and universities that had representation at the event. Following the conclusion of the college fair, students were invited to stay for the Mets game. For many, it was the first major league game they ever attended. Mr. Seubert’s economic class traveled to Citifield not only to attend the college fair but as a result of their recent unit study focusing on baseball. Mr. Seubert’s students analyzed major league baseball team salaries and compared high, middle, and low team payrolls, and calculated how much money each team was spending per win. They then graphed their findings. The class also analyzed payroll in relation to the prices of tickets, parking, hotdogs, soft drinks, and other various items for sale at major league ballparks. Students made hypotheses about how teams would perform and studied how owners who spend hundreds of millions of dollars on team payroll could still make a profit. On May 4 students saw all their hard work and research in person as they attended the Mets game at Citifield. Students were able to taste a $7.25 hotdog and wash it down with a $6 bottle of water. Students worked on a little history too by visiting the Mets museum and the new and improved Jackie Robinson rotunda. Some students even tried their baseball skills in the fastpitch batting cage. Despite the home team not winning the game, students had a great time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163645 Wed, 01 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163645 Amityville Memorial High School Regents Examination Information - June 15 through June 23,2022 Date Added: 5/31/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163644 Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163644 Revised June 2022 Board of Education Meeting Dates Amityville Union Free School District PUBLIC NOTICE OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING REVISED JUNE BOARD MEETINGS The Board of Education has changed the meetings dates for June as follows: The Special Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at the Amityville Memorial High School Auditorium. The Regular Monthly Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Edmund W. Miles Middle School Cafeteria. Both meetings will start at 5:00 p.m. The public portion of the meetings will start at 7:30 p.m. The Public session will be live streamed so the community will be able to listen to the public session by viewing our website: www.amityvilleufsd.org. If you need any assistance about accessing the meeting remotely or have technology problems, you may contact the Technology Department at helpdesk@amityvilleufsd.org. At any time if you have questions for the School Board, please email Eileen Becker, the District Clerk, at ebecker@amityvilleufsd.org. The agenda(s) in whole or in part for the meeting(s) will be available the day before the meeting on the district website. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163643 Fri, 27 May 2022 18:00:00 GMT false163643 Letter From Superintendent Dr. Fale In Regards to the Texas Tragedy Letter From Superintendent Dr. Fale In Regards to the Texas Tragedy http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/newsassets/152004/May_25_2022_Texas_Tragedy_Letter_V1.pdf http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163642 Wed, 25 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163642 Amityville Memorial High School Student Artwork Featured in The Regional Long Island’s Best Student Art Exhibit at Hecksher Museum (MAY 2022)—Amityville Memorial High School senior Mekhi Stevenson’s artwork will be featured in the regional Long Island’s Best student art exhibit, sponsored by the Hecksher Museum of Art. Mekhi’s artwork, “Modern Sketches,” was inspired by the teaching sketches of the famous German artist, George Grosz. Mekhi will be continuing his development as an artist next year at the Academy of Art in Pennsylvania. Now in its 26th year, the Long Island’s Best program challenges students in grades nine through twelve to choose a work of art that is on view in the museum as inspiration for their own creative expression. Approximately 79 pieces of student-created artwork out of 399 entries from 55 Long Island High Schools were selected for inclusion in this year’s show. This year, the Long Island’s Best exhibit will be available to view in person at the Hecksher Museum through Sunday, May 29. The exhibit will also be available for online viewing at: https://www.heckscher.org/gallery/?post=15050. To see a list of the participating students in this exhibition, please visit the following link to view the Long Island’s Best program document: https://www.heckscher.org/exhibitions/long-islands-best-young-artists-at-the-heckscher-museum-2022/ http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163641 Tue, 24 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163641 Notice of Board of Education Meeting - May 24, 2022 Date Added: 5/23/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163640 Sun, 22 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163640 Important: Budget Vote and Board of Education Election Results Amityville Union Free School District Budget Vote and Board of Education Election Results 2022 Proposition YES NO #1 Budget 427 213 #2 Capital Reserve 452 172 #3 Energy Performance Contract 492 137 Candidate T. Fulton (incumbent) Votes 454 Other Votes Other Votes Candidate D. Heller (incumbent) Votes 443 Other Votes Other Votes http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163639 Wed, 18 May 2022 02:00:00 GMT false163639 Board of Education May 17, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 9:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94106692303 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 941 0669 2303 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163638 Wed, 18 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT false163638 Amityville’s Edmund W. Miles Middle School Hosts National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony (MAY 2022)—Recently, Amityville Edmund Miles Middle School students, families, faculty, and staff gathered in the school’s gymnasium to celebrate the school’s 2022 National Junior Honor Society inductees. The National Junior Honor Society is a national organization that consists of chapters in middle schools across the country. Participating middle schools commit to the National Junior Honor Society’s core values represented by the five (5) pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. These are the same attributes students must exemplify to be accepted into the National Junior Honor Society. “It was truly wonderful to see everyone gather to show support during the ceremony. Special thanks to Carlee Brunson, National Junior Honor Society advisor for putting together a lovely induction ceremony,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Amityville School District. “I know that our new inductees will be a shining example to their fellow students and continue to make us proud.” 2022 National Junior Honor Society Inductees: Christian Brown Stephanie Benitez Marielys Borges Fernandez Sariah Bassit Natalie Diaz Almonte Susan Leach Grace Luis Kayla Licona Arias Melanie Mangru-Narine Sarai Mullings Darah Policart Sameer Shah Mia Wint Justice Wright Brianna Alvarado Ashly Ayala Heidy Chavez Steven Chavez Cristian Chicas Ryan Daly Zayla DeJesus Ayaanah Ellis Antoine Hilton Robert Johnson Robert Leach Alliyah McQueen Aurora Morales Kelly Sanchez Penate Jolieth Smith Sage Stephens Blessing Williamson http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163637 Tue, 17 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163637 Amityville High School Student is Named 2021-2022 Winner of the Long Island Youth Summit (MAY 2022)—Recently, Amityville Memorial High School student Liliana Fernandez Rodriguez was announced as the 2021-2022 winner of the Long Island Youth Summit. Liliana won two round-trip tickets to any destination within the United States, donated by Southwest Airlines. Eric Alexander, Director of Vision of Long Island, and Dr. Nathalia Rogers, founder of the Long Island Youth Summit, will present the airline tickets to Liliana at Amityville Memorial High School. The Long Island Youth Summit is a year-round educational program that is in partnership with Northwell Health, St. Joseph’s College, Vision Long Island, and various other public and private organizations. The purpose of the Summit is to engage young people as early as possible in thinking about and solving the problems related to local and regional social, economic, and environmental issues. The Summit aims at developing research, creative, and social skills of high school students by allowing them to work collaboratively with leaders in business, government, and non-profit sectors. The Summit also aims to bring together talented students of diverse backgrounds from different school districts across Long Island and to give these students an opportunity to work together in collaborative, solution-oriented teams. “The Summit brings together talented high school students for a day of interactive workshops with experts in the fields of medicine, the environment, business, the economy, and leadership,” said Dr. Diane Impagliazzo, Liason for Long Island Youth Summit. “The Summit offers students a unique opportunity to represent their high school, to interact with high school students from all over Long Island and experts in various business fields as well to win awards for their projects.” Every year around 300 students across Long Island are selected to participate in the Summit’s annual conference. Students who have submitted the best projects go on to participate in the annual conference where they work with top experts to develop solutions to a host of socio-medical, environmental, and social challenges. To become finalists, students have to submit original projects to the Summit’s Selection Committee and be selected to participate based on the quality of their projects. Liliana won in the category of Teen Mental Health, Self-Esteem, and Well Being. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163636 Tue, 17 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163636 School Budget Vote & Trustee Election SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE AND TRUSTEE ELECTION VOTACIÓN DE PRESUPUESTOS Y ELECCIÓN DE MIEMBROS DE LA JUNTA TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM Martes 17 de mayo de 2002 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 420 ALBANY AVENUE AMITYVILLE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL 250 MERRICK ROAD Election District No. 1 – Northeast Elementary School North by school district boundary line (Southern State Parkway) East by school district boundary line (Great Neck Road, Albany Avenue and Bayview Avenue) South by Long Island Rail Road West by School district boundary line (Carman Road) Being that part of the School District North of the Long Island Railroad Election District No. 2 – Amityville Memorial High School North by Long Island Rail Road East by school district boundary line (Amityville Village line) South by school district boundary line (Great South Bay) West by school district boundary line (Carman River and Carman Road) Being that part of the School District South of the Long Island Railroad http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163610 Tue, 17 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163610 Amityville Union Free School District Spring Art Show 2022 Art continues to bloom this spring in Amityville! For our Spring Art Show this year, the art teachers of our District have created a beautiful virtual presentation that showcases the work of our students from grades Pre-K through 12. Thank you to all the art teachers who created the slides for their students' work: Nicole Pappas - Northeast Elementary School Lydia Robinson - Northwest Elementary School Susan Zaratin - Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Jennifer Dibble - Edmund W. Miles Middle School Jayne Grasso - Amityville Memorial High School Nidia Keaveny - Amityville Memorial High School Heather Rickard - Amityville Memorial High School Nicole Scoca - Amityville Memorial High School Cara Westphal - Amityville Memorial High School Also, special thanks to art teacher, Nicole Scoca, for putting together the final presentation. On behalf of all of the teachers and students within the Amityville Art Department, we hope you enjoy the show. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zwh7DND0rJ7pK8Ya0Ojm1gflIyskZux/view http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163635 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163635 9th Grade Family Orientation Flyer and Letter Date Added: 5/16/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163633 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163633 Notice of Board Meeting - May 17, 2022 Date Added: 5/16/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163634 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163634 Northeast Elementary School Lunch Day Hero Northeast Elementary School celebrated Lunch Hero Day on May 6th in appreciation of our dedicated and hard-working kitchen staff Maria Hernandez, Dolly Grayson, and Jacqueline Zale. These women go above and beyond for the school's students and staff. They work day in and day out to prepare and serve nutritious. Northeast's staff made sure our lunch hero professionals were recognized with a parade in the morning. All of Northeast applauded these three hardworking women and were treated to heroes for lunch. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163632 Fri, 13 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163632 Northeast Elementary School Celebrates Mother’s Day (MAY 2022) —Amityville’s Northeast Elementary School hosted its annual Mother’s Day Tea. The gym was decorated with student artwork and a banner created by each class. ”It was truly heartwarming to see our students and their families celebrate Mother’s Day,” said Dr. Pauline Collins, Principal of Northeast Elementary School. “It was great to see everyone take a moment to reflect on the mother in their life, all the love, nurturing, and wisdom they have received, and to celebrate them.” Northeast Elementary Pre-Kindergarten students got dressed up and performed Mother’s Day songs for the special women in their lives and then sat at their decorated tables with special crafts they created to enjoy with the tea, juice, and cookies that were served. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163631 Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163631 Board of Education May 11, 2022 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99302631349 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 993 0263 1349 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163629 Wed, 11 May 2022 16:00:00 GMT false163629 BUDGET VOTE - May 17, 2022 Date Added: 5/11/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163630 Wed, 11 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false163630 Amityville School District Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Class of 2022 (MAY 2022)—Amityville Union Free School District has announced Mikhail Ankudovych and Andielynn Llamas as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2022. Mikhail, nicknamed, Misha is an accomplished scholar and a leader at Amityville Memorial High School. The valedictorian is the President of the Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2022, President of the World Language Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and the Key Club of Kiwanis International. Misha is also the Editor-in-Chief for the Amityville Echo student newspaper, a parliamentarian for the National Honor Society, a founder, and leader of Suffolk County Frontline Foods, an educator of Junior Achievement, and a member of the Distributive Education Club of America. He is also the section leader for Amityville Memorial High School’s Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Outside of school, Misha has worked as a host at the Park Avenue Grill. He will be attending Northeastern University and his anticipated major is Statistics with a concentration in Quantitative Finance. Misha boasted a cumulative GPA of 110.77. Andielynn is not only a dedicated athlete but a leader in her school clubs and activities as well. She competes in Lacrosse, Cross Country, and Indoor Track. The salutatorian has served as the President of the National Honor Society and the Yearbook Club, Vice President of Tri-M Music Honor Society, Secretary of World Language Honor Society, and is a section leader of the Violas in the Chamber Orchestra. Andielynn has a cumulative GPA of 108.86. She has been accepted to Molloy College, Adelphi University, Hartwick College, and Long Island University, and plans on a career in nursing. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163628 Tue, 10 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163628 Amityville Memorial High School’s Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society Induction Ceremony (MAY 2022) —Recently, Amityville Memorial High School inducted its inaugural members into the Amityville Chapter of Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. The group is advised by Dawn Mizrachi and Jennifer Schulken. Rho Kappa is a national organization founded in 1921 for students who have demonstrated dedication to the academic field of social studies, participation in activities that demonstrate civic engagement in the school or the community, and the display of outstanding character during their school career. The students who enter this prestigious organization have worked tirelessly to fulfill the academic, leadership, service, and character requirements. Each student was sponsored by a faculty member and was approved by the faculty council. Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society membership is signified by a badge that each student will carry with them beyond the doors of high school, for it represents the dedication to a life of honor. 2022 Inaugural Inductees: Yaneli Amaya Melissa Contreras Stefanie Contreras-Gomez Dimarion Donaldson Daniella Henriquez Terry Holman Andielynn Llamas Sheyla Medina Cruz Samanta Molina Scott Pineda Ryan Rose Adriana Velasquez Bautista Florian Victor http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163627 Mon, 09 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163627 Bonjour and Hola Amityville Memorial High School World Language Honor Society (MAY, 2022)—Amityville Memorial High School recently welcomed 37 new members to its World Language Honor Society. 27 New members were inducted for their mastery of Spanish; 10 students were inducted for their excellence in French. In remarks to the students being inducted, Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Schools of the Amityville School District, noted, “Your achievement in the study of a world language is exemplary. Each of you, in the language of your choice, has demonstrated a mastery of that language that is laudatory.” Dr. Fale also commended the district’s outstanding world language educators for their invaluable role in helping the inductees achieve such heights in their world language studies. In order to be inducted, students have to meet certain standards and be nominated by their respective language teachers. Nominations are given based on a student’s past and current grades in their language of choice. World Language Honor Society students have to have a 90% or better cumulative average in their language classes. They must also have an overall cumulative GPA of 85%. Students being inducted into the World Language Honor Society must also demonstrate exemplary conduct and commit time to community service related to the language for which they are inducted. “Congratulations to all the new inducted students,” said Francesca Chery, Amityville Memorial High School French Teacher. “I would also like to give a special shout out to our student, Mikhail Ankudovych, the President of the World Language Honor Society, French Vice President, Melissa Contreras, and Spanish Vice President, Yaneli Amaya!” The 37 students inducted into the National Foreign Language Honor Society were: Spanish Language Inductees: Ariel Amaya - Sophomore Yenifer Arrue Galvez - Sophomore Jennifer Banegas - Sophomore Sydni Blake - Sophomore Luna Caicedo - Junior Margaret Catron - Sophomore Angel Chica Diaz - Sophomore Jaydyn Davis - Senior Kalei Grant - Junior Lindsay Guevara - Sophomore Ruben Hernandez - Sophomore Tatiana Khan - Junior Qynten Lewis - Junior Dianna Marte - Sophomore Brian Martinez - Sophomore Tatiana Martinez - Sophomore Karina Martinez Duran - Junior Kristen Preza - Sophomore Genesis Quintanilla - Junior Josue Quintanilla - Junior Faith Roberts - Junior Dahniya Robinson - Sophomore Luis Rojas - Sophomore Kenia Ruiz Reyes - Sophomore Jairo Salazar - Junior Amin Shah - Junior Ava Tucciarone - Junior French Language Inductees: Melissa Dupon - Junior Benson Guillaume - Sophomore Hasslyn Hurtado - Junior Jaadler Jameau - Sophomore Kyra Lee - Sophomore Anjuli Persaud - Freshman Katya Ramos Rojas - Sophomore Ashlyn Rodriguez Orellana - Sophomore Tayler Rollins - Sophomore Madeline Shingleton - Sophomore http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163624 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163624 Amityville’s Northeast Elementary Students Celebrate Earth Day (MAY 2022) —Throughout the month of April leading up to Earth Day, which this year was celebrated during the spring break, Amityville’s Northeast Elementary School students learned about the significance of Earth Day and how to care for our planet. Students read books, watched videos, and created projects. They learned important concepts such as going green by reducing, reusing, and recycling, all contributing to the reduction of waste. At the end of the month, classes displayed their projects outside their classrooms for everyone to see. Students went on a gallery walk through the halls to visit each class to see their fellow students’ projects. Some of the projects involved simulating the earth, by using coffee filters. Other projects included making Mother’s Day flower vases out of recycled soap bottles and bird feeders from pine cones, sun butter, and bird seeds. Each class also received flowers to be planted in the school garden. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163626 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163626 Notice of Board Meeting - May 11, 2022 Date Added: 5/6/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163625 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163625 Board of Education May 4, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99069124840 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 990 6912 4840 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163622 Wed, 04 May 2022 16:00:00 GMT false163622 Amityville Union Free School District Extended Pre-Kindergarten Registration Events http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163621 Tue, 03 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163621 Notice of Board of Education Meeting - May 4, 2022 Date Added: 5/2/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163620 Mon, 02 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163620 Association of School Business Officials of New York Report Amityville Schools’ Economic Impact Results in Over 1,150 Direct and Indirect Jobs on Long Island Association of School Business Officials of New York (ASBO NY) prepares an economic impact statement tailored to each school district in New York State outlining its economic impact on district spending. Traditionally, the advantages of funding public education have been measured over the long term. Graduated high school students will enter the workforce or attend college and they will contribute back to society and their communities through civic engagement and through financial support by paying taxes or donating to charitable organizations. Beyond public education’s long-term benefits, there are immediate benefits that school districts have for their communities. ASBO New York developed a tool to measure the economic impact each school district has on its local community and region. “The Amityville School District directly employs about 549 people. The District’s purchase of goods and services, as well as employee personal spending, is responsible for about 608 additional spillover jobs in the Long Island region,“ said Joseph C. Dragone, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. “The Amityville School District is responsible for a total of about 1,156 jobs. These jobs generate $82.6 million in income. Additionally, the individuals in these jobs generate about $44.3 million in spillover spending that generates additional jobs. In total, the impact of the Amityville School District can be said to generate an estimated $4.4 million in state income tax and $1.9 million in sales tax.” According to the ASBO NY analysis, the impact of public education goes beyond the people who are directly employed by school districts. Statewide school district spending in 2021-2022 resulted in nearly 700,000 jobs around the state with an estimated 377,000 jobs directly funded by school districts and approximately 300,000 jobs resulting from the spending of school districts and employees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163619 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163619 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary Students Are Looped in On Autism Acceptance (APRIL, 2022)—The Autism Acceptance Committee recently conducted an assembly for each grade level at Amityville School District’s Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in honor of April’s Autism Acceptance Month. The committee is comprised of Marisa Krepil, Special Education Coordinator, Teachers, and Dr. Shirley Martin, Principal. The theme of the assemblies was “Embracing Differences”. “Students enjoyed watching the films and asking insightful questions,” said Dr. Shirley Martin, Principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. “Educating our students about being respectful of everyone’s differences fosters compassion and an inclusive classroom environment.” The goal of the assemblies was to engage students in a discussion of the importance of understanding, embracing, and accepting differences between people. For each assembly, a Disney Plus short film was shown first, and then students discussed with the main presenter, Marisa Krepil what they had learned through the movie. After, the presenters went through a Google Slide presentation that was created by the committee. Some of the Disney Plus films viewed by students included Float and Loop, two films that highlight differences between people. Float is about a father that discovers that his young son is different from other kids because he can float. The film’s story was inspired by the film’s writer and director Bobby Rubio’s own son, who was diagnosed with autism. Loop is about a chatty boy and a non-verbal autistic girl, learning to understand each other. The students shared an educational and productive discussion with the committee about respecting everyone despite their differences, what autism is and how it can look different with each individual as well as how it can affect an individual. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163618 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163618 Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School Learns About Landforms (APRIL 2022) —Students in Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School learned about different landforms during their Amplify Science class. The Amplify Science program allows students to experience interactive, hands-on experiments and conduct meaningful investigations. “This classroom activity was a great way to spark interest in landforms. Students were able to use their creativity and knowledge to create their own landforms out of clay and paint as they worked in groups,” said Kathleen Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Group work promotes collaboration, and cooperation and also helps to build healthy relationships in the classroom.” After learning about different landforms, the students investigated how landforms are changed by wind, water, and ice, and incorporated that knowledge into their original landform creations including waterfalls, caves, volcanos, islands, rivers, ponds, and beaches. Students learned that each type of landform is defined by its size, shape, location, and what it is made of and that nothing is static, always evolving as a result of weathering and erosion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163615 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163615 Amityville School District Recognized as the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (APRIL, 2022) —Amityville School District has been designated again as one of 738 districts nationwide to receive the honor of Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. This will be the 12th time that the district has received this honor. “It’s not a surprise that our school district was nominated as one of the Best Communities for Music Education,” said Dr. Frances M. Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts and Music at the Amityville School District. “Music education is very important to our students. Studies have shown that music education improves academic achievement, fosters creativity, develops teamwork, and increases engagement in school. A round of applause to our music educators and our students who continue to follow their passion for music, devoting time and effort to hone their craft.” For 23 years, the Best Communities for Music Education program has acknowledged schools and districts across the country for their commitment to and support of music education. The survey that is conducted to determine which schools receive the honor measures a variety of factors, including a budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified, certified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competitions. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163616 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163616 Amityville Memorial High School Students Put Their Skills to the Test (APRIL, 2022)—Recently, four Amityville Memorial High School students competed in the Wilson Tech Area VI SkillsUSA competition. The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events that showcase the best career and technical education students in the nation. Brianna Vargas placed first in Nursing Assisting, Aria Hibbert placed first as Food Prep Assistant in Culinary Skills, Randy Rodriguez placed second in Criminal Justice and Makayla Seiferheld placed third along with her Quiz Bowl Team in Audio Production. “Congratulations to all of our students who participated,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Amityville Union Free School District. “Great job to our students who put in countless hours dedicating their time to hone their skills to prepare and compete so successfully in this highly competitive event.” SkillsUSA is a nonprofit national education association in partnership with teachers, students, and industry working collaboratively to ensure that our country has a skilled and competent workforce. The organization works with middle school, high school, and college students to prepare them for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA’s mission is to “empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. We improve the quality of our nations’ future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace, and technical skills grounded in academics.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163617 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163617 Amityville Memorial High School’s Annual Spring College Fair Attracts 100 College and University Representatives (APRIL, 2022)—Right before going into their well-deserved spring break, Amityville Memorial High School students participated in their Annual Spring College Fair. The college fair took place in person in the high school’s gymnasium. Approximately 100 colleges and universities took part in the event. “It was great to have our Annual Spring College Fair back in person this year,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “This is an invaluable experience for our students. Meeting with representatives from such a diverse group of colleges and universities highlights for them the vast opportunities they have in making a college selection. It also gave them a wealth of information on the financial assistance that is available at each institution. I’d like to extend a special thank you to all the college representatives who held make this year's fair such a huge success.” Each college informed students of scholarship opportunities and admission requirements at their institution of higher learning. For encouragement, all the Amityville Memorial High School teachers and staff wore college t-shirts. Students were also invited to complete a college fair scavenger hunt and were provided with a list of questions to ask college representatives. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163613 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163613 Board of Education April 26, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 6:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94986516751 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 949 8651 6751 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163614 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163614 2022 School Nutrition Survey Click here to view the survey. Date Added: 4/25/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163611 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163611 The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round APRIL 2022)— Amityville’s Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in the Safety Sally School Bus Safety Program. The program accommodates classes ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade with different presentations for each level. The Mobile Safety Classroom, offered through the auspices of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, is a new, state-of-the-art school bus equipped with four TV monitors, a wheelchair lift, and a backup camera. The safety class itself is taught by a certified teacher, appropriately named Safety Sally. “Students had a great interactive experience learning about school bus safety and awareness,” said Dr. Shirley Martin, Principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. “The average elementary student spends about 180 hours annually on a school bus and it is our responsibility to educate our students on the correct way to ride the school bus safely.” Students are instructed in concepts such as bus stop behavior, emergency procedures, boarding and exiting, safety rules, behavioral hazards, danger zones, crossing safely, universal danger and crossing signals, the bus driver’s role, the student’s role, seat belt use, and safe evacuation. The students watched a video on bus safety presented in the Mobile Classroom and also practiced crossing in front of the bus and bus evacuation. Each student received reinforcement materials to read as well. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163612 Sun, 24 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163612 Amityville Annual Patriot’s Pen Awards (APRIL, 2022)— Have you ever tried putting into words your feelings about patriotism? It is a concept we talk about often, and for some, a word that has become overused in today’s vernacular. When you stop to think about it, is there really any one way of defining what patriotism means? Is there a way to give definitive meaning to the question, “How can I be a good American?” For students in the Amityville School District who entered the Annual Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest this year, that question was exactly what their writing challenge was. The Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest is an annual competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars - Amityville Post 7223. The contest was held recently at the Amityville School District’s Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The contest is based around a different theme each year, offering students a chance to share their ideas and perspectives on a patriotic theme while honing their writing skills. This year, the winners were Tyler Howard, an eighth-grade student from St. Martin of Tours who won first place, Audrey Leonard, an eighth-grade student from Edmund W. Miles Middle School won second, and Robert Leach, an eighth-grade student from Edmund W. Miles Middle School won third place. Monetary awards of $100, $75, and $50 were handed out to Tyler, Audrey, and Robert respectively. The Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest is open to all the students in grades sixth through eighth who are Amityville residents or attend Amityville schools. This year, over 50 students submitted essays. “I’d like to thank everyone who joined us at the awards ceremony. It’s important to show our support for our amazing, talented young writers who participated in this year’s Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest. Additionally, special thanks to Amityville Board of Education members, Board of Education First Vice President, Juan Leon, Trustee, David Heller, and Edmund W. Miles Middle School Assistant Principal, Paul Duguay who represented the Amityville VFW and coordinated the event, and of course, to the Amityville VFW Post 7223 for sponsoring this contest,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Amityville Schools. “I am so proud of all of our students who participated. Congratulations to our winners, but truly, every student who participated in this year’s contest is a winner!” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163607 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163607 Board of Education April 13, 2022 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, pubic session beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99055846792 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 990 5584 6792 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163608 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163608 Notice of Regular Board Meeting - April 13, 2022 Date Added: 4/11/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163606 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163606 Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School Plays Fair (APRIL 2022)—Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School students participated in the “Fairness Olympics” this month. With the help of Stacy Murphy, Guidance Counselor, students learned about what it is to show fairness to each other. “Students had a wonderful time talking about fairness with Ms. Murphy,” said Kathleen Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Helping our students understand fairness is an important characteristic of growing up and learning empathy. It is our hope that through initiatives like our Fairness Olympics, our students gain a better understanding and appreciation for the needs of others and the value of compassion and consideration for differences.” During their Fairness Olympics, students participated in reading aloud and class discussions on fairness. One of the books they read was Pig the Winner by Aaron Blabey. The story is about the world’s greediest pug who won’t play fair and will do anything just to win. After reading the book, the students brainstormed ideas about how they can show fairness in school and at home. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163605 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163605 Board of Education April 6, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, public session beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93475466243 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 934 7546 6243 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163604 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163604 Board of Education Trustee Election - Candidate Petitions are Available Board of Education Trustee Election - Candidate Petitions are available from the District Clerk's Office. Please call (631) 565-6002 to schedule a time to pick up a packet. Date Added: 3/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163601 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163601 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Opens Their “Pamazon” Shop! (MARCH, 2022) “Pamazon” is Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School’s online school store, part of the school’s Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program that promotes positive behaviors. The PBIS program is an evidence-based framework used by schools to improve student behavior, school culture, and promote a safe learning environment. A key component of PBIS is to focus more on positive behaviors rather than negative ones. The program’s mission is to “...help schools create a positive climate in which every student can learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally.” Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students can earn Dojo points daily on ClassDojo by working hard, showing kindness to others, sharing with classmates, walking nicely in the hallway, and doing extra credit assignments. ClassDojo is an online platform that connects teachers with students and parents to create a positive classroom community. The Dojo points act like a currency that students can use to shop with on the school’s online Pamazon store, a takeoff on the widely popular online store, Amazon. The store is stocked with a variety of items such as fidget spinners, pop-it bracelets, mystery chips, and arts and craft supplies. Each week different grades have the chance to shop and their orders are filled by student volunteers in fifth grade. Students are always pleasantly excited to receive their orders from the volunteers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163603 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163603 Amityville Memorial High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance Club Attends 26th Annual LGBT Youth Conference (MARCH, 2022)—Recently, Amityville Memorial High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club attend the 26th Annual LGBT Youth Conference at Citi Field. The conference, organized by the Long Island Gay and Lesbian Network, offered workshops and information to student attendees. "Conferences and events like this are vitally important. Our students were thrilled to be able to be amongst their peers in such a safe and affirming way,” said Kimberly Marrero, Amityville Memorial High School social worker and GSA club advisor. “I was proud to see our youth so eager to find ways to advocate for themselves and create safer spaces in our schools." During the workshops, subjects like ‘How to Charge Your GSA?’, and ‘How to be an Upstander?’ were discussed and students were able to interact with club members from schools throughout Suffolk, Nassau, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Students enjoyed their day filled with empowerment, education, networking, and community organizing. The LGBT Youth Conference brought together over 650 LGBT and Allied youth this year. “I am thrilled to know that our students both enjoyed and came away with positive, action-oriented information as a result of their attendance at the 26th Annual LGBT Youth Conference,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “Events such as this help inform, educate and empower our LGBT youth while building greater advocacy for the LGBT community http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163602 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163602 Notice of Special Board Meeting - March 30, 2022 Date Added: 3/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163600 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163600 Amityville's Northeast Elementary School School Students Are Growing Up Healthy Pre-K students are learning about growing up healthy! After reading the story How Does Your Salad Grow? By Francie Alexandar, the students made salad in class for the letter ‘S.’ The healthy salad the students crafted included lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, yellow peppers, carrots, and radishes. To add a bit of flavor, the students topped off their salad portions with a small amount of ranch dressing. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163599 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163599 Amityville Memorial High School's Drama Club Presents The Wiz On Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26th, the Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club will present our first in-person theatrical production in 3 years! This year's Spring Musical is the 1977 Broadway hit, The Wiz, which is based on the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Performances will be held on Friday, March 25th, and Saturday, March 26th at 7 p.m., along with a matinee performance on Saturday, March 26th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door. We will seat at 50% capacity, so you may reserve your tickets in advance by sending an e-mail to cferrara@amityvilleufsd.org with the date of performance and the number of seats you would like. You can also use the link found on our poster to reserve your seat. Masks are optional but encouraged. Ease on Down to the Amityville Memorial High School Auditorium for this energetic and wonderful show. We hope to see you there! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163598 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163598 Notice of Board Meeting - April 6, 2022 Date Added: 3/23/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163595 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163595 Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School Celebrates Holi (MARCH, 2022)—Holi is an annual Hindu festival celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month marking the start of spring. This year, Holi was celebrated on Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18. This two-day celebration, also known as the festival of colors, is the second-largest Hindu festival after Diwali. “Holidays are fun and an exciting opportunity to educate our students about different cultures,” said Kathleen Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Learning about the holidays of different cultures helps our students develop an appreciation of the diversity of our community and gives them a better understanding of the differences and similarities of the different races, ethnicities, and ancestral legacies of their fellow students, our community, and the world in which they are growing up in.” The celebration of Holi entails the playful use of vibrant colors, waters, and flowers. Northwest Elementary School students learned about the significance of Holi and created their own versions of the festival of colors using colorful tissue paper to decorate their paper drawings. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163597 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163597 Northeast Elementary School Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day With STEM Activities (MARCH,2022)—In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Amityville’s Northeast Elementary School students and staff came to school dressed in green. Throughout the building, classes were busy participating in St. Patrick’s Day-themed activity centers to create crafts and to learn about the significance of the day. While St. Patrick’s Day is typically associated with celebrations and fun activities, at Northeast Elementary School, St. Patrick’s Day this year became an opportunity to incorporate the day’s theme with STEM learning experiences. For example, one STEM activity involved giving students two balls of play-doh, a pipe cleaner, and a bag of Fruit Loops. The students were asked to use their creativity to create a rainbow without any directions from the teachers (and, parenthetically, not to eat all the Fruit Loops!). Another activity students had the chance to participate in was a science experiment with tissues, markers, and two jars of water. Students marked the tissues with dots and then placed the marked tissues in water to create water-colored rainbows. Fitting with the theme of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Northeast Elementary School students’ snacks for the day were green bagels! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163593 Tue, 22 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163593 ECHO Winter Edition 2022 .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163592 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163592 Amityville Memorial High School Parent Conference March 31st Parent Information Click here to view http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163591 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163591 Amityville Memorial High School Students Art Work Featured at the 32nd Annual Legislative Student Art Exhibit (MARCH, 2022)—Amityville Memorial High School senior students Luis Amaya-Sanchez and David Fuentes had the opportunity to share their artwork at the 32nd Annual Legislative Student Art Exhibit in celebration of Youth Art Month. “Youth Art Month is a great opportunity to highlight our students’ artistic talents and to raise awareness about the importance of art education,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “Art promotes high levels of thinking that can benefit in the learning of other academic subjects. Through art, students are able to practice critical skills such as learning how to observe, analyze and interpret.” The NYSATA Legislative Exhibit presented by the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) in partnership with New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) is the flagship event for Youth Art Month and their largest public display of student artwork in a government building. The student art exhibit that is held in the Legislative Office Building in Albany each Spring was founded in 1990. Due to the pandemic, this year’s exhibit was held virtually. To view the student artwork included in the exhibit, click here: https://www.nysata.org/legislative-exhibit http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163589 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163589 Amityville Memorial High School Marching Band Performs During the 2022 NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade AMITYVILLE, NEW YORK (MARCH, 2022)—Congratulations to the Amityville Memorial High School Band on their performance in the 2022 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade. The band, under the direction of Mrs. Jolene Maccarone, performed flawlessly and demonstrated the musical talent and excellence to be found in the young adults of the Amityville and East Massapequa communities. Performing in their bold red marching band uniforms, the Warrior band members made quite an appearance against the backdrop of so much St. Patrick’s Day green all around. “It was great to see the enthusiasm, energy, and laughter while our high school band performed during the St. Patrick’s Day parade,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “I am incredibly thrilled and proud that we were able to share our students’ musical talent and show everyone what Warrior pride is all about.” To view some of the pictures and videos from this event please visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1r_aB3H_Flj4j_pJFkEQMP1VsCQi2nnxS http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163590 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163590 Board of Education March 16, 2022 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97537232163 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 975 3723 2163 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163588 Wed, 16 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163588 Notice of Board Meeting - March 16, 2022 Date Added: 3/15/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163586 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163586 ENL Parent Workshop Information March 15, 2022 ENL Parent Workshop March 15, 2022 6:00 PM at EWMMS English and Spanish Flyer attached http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163587 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163587 Amityville Memorial High School Annual Prom Boutique Our AMHS Senior class of 2022 is asking for donations of articles of clothing suitable for prom, job, and college interviews. Please read the flyer for more information! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163585 Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163585 Amityville Memorial High School’s Orchestra Plays the Ukrainian National Anthem (MARCH, 2022)—The Amityville Memorial High School orchestra, under the direction of orchestra conductor and teacher Bianca Ferrante, learned and recorded an arrangement of the Ukrainian National Anthem in response to the recent current events involving the country of Ukraine. “The high school orchestra members’ performance of their rendition of the Ukrainian National Anthem was inspiring,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Amityville Union Free School District. “It’s during unsettling times like these that it is more important than ever to stand together and do whatever we can to advocate for peace.” For the orchestra members, this learning experience included not only the honing of their individual musical skills and collaborative performance skills, but helped these students gain a greater appreciation of current global events and how they are impacting not only people around the world, but right here in their hometown. To watch the video of the Amityville High School’s orchestra playing the Ukrainian National Anthem, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okVMDSznqaE http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163584 Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false163584 Board of Education March 9, 2022 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93060392641 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 930 6039 2641 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163583 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 21:00:00 GMT false163583 It’s Mardi Gras time in the Amityville Union Free School District! (MARCH,2022)—On Tuesday, March 1, Amityville Union Free School District students were invited to a virtual Mardi Gras celebration. The students who attended the celebration created and decorated Mardi Gras masks and listened to Mardi Gras music from France, Haiti, and New Orleans. During the event, the students also learned about the significance of Mardi Gras as well as a list of French vocabulary words. Mardi Gras is a festive day celebrated on Shrove Tuesday which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras, which translates to Fat Tuesday in French, came from the custom of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent in preparation for fasting. As a way of bringing the celebration and color of Mardi Gras closer to home, students took part in a culinary opportunity to prepare chocolate fondue and bake their own donuts, topping off their donut creations with Mardi Gras colored sprinkles of gold, purple and green. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163580 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163580 Wula Drum Visits Amityville School District’s Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School (MARCH, 2022)—The Liberty Partnership Program, an after-school program sponsored by SUNY Farmingdale, recently collaborated with Wula Drum, a West African musical and educational performance group, to stage an entertaining and educational program for fifth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Park Avenue Liberty Partnership students Edith Martinez Mestanza and Yalexis Adames Caraballo first introduced the Wula Drum performers to the student audience, providing context to what the fifth graders were about to see. The inspiring performance by the Wula Drum performers centered around the use of their Djembe drums. The Djembe is one of West Africa’s most notable instruments. The drum is carved from a single piece of African hardwood with animal skin as the drumhead. Students and teachers were invited to the stage to learn an African dancing routine as part of the performance. “Special thanks to Wula Drum and our social worker, Jessica Buzzerio, for making this performance possible and providing our students with such a fun and interactive educational experience,” said Dr. Shirley E. Martin, Principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Wula Drum was founded in 2006 with a mission to “provide the highest quality West African instruments, performances, instruction, and educational materials.” The Liberty Partnership Program (LPP), founded in 1988, partners with higher education institutions across New York State to support at-risk middle and high school students in their academic, social, and emotional development. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163581 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163581 Amityville’s Northeast Elementary School Pre-K Students Celebrate Read Across America Week (MARCH, 2022)—Pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School celebrated Read Across America Week throughout the week of Feb 28 – March 4. Read Across America Week was created by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 as an initiative to promote the joy of reading. “Literacy and reading are important to student development. Encouraging our students to read at an early age not only fosters their love for reading but it also boosts their self-esteem, concentration, critical thinking skills and expands their vocabulary. Read Across America provides us with a platform that we can use to emphasize these benefits of reading while putting in place activities that will instill a love of reading.” said Dr. Pauline Collins, Principal of Northeast Elementary School. Students celebrated books and authors in their classroom libraries by reading aloud. The school’s youngest students listened to Dr. Seuss stories such as Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, and Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Inspired by Green Eggs and Ham, students cooked their very own green eggs! Everyone wore crazy hats to school and crafted their own hats as a classroom activity. Students enjoyed engaging in themed based activities such as drawing Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat portraits. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163582 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163582 International Women's Day March 8, 2021 International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. This year's theme is: Break The Bias. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163579 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163579 Board of Education Special Meeting March 2, 2022 Zoom Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/91342743642 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 913 4274 3642 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163578 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:00:00 GMT false163578 EWMMS Updated Virtual Parent Teacher Conference Instructions Date Added: 2/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163577 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163577 Notice of Special Board Meeting - March 2, 2022 Date Added: 2/28/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163576 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163576 Amityville Echo Student Journalists Work to Create Meaningful Publication for Students (February 2022)—According to Misha Ankudovych, student editor-in-chief of The Amityville Echo, Amityville Memorial High School’s online newspaper, the publication’s main goal is to keep Memorial students informed, inspired and entertained. Misha also noted that it is her hope as well as the goal of her fellow student-journalists on The Echo staff, to raise student awareness of important issues both at home and globally, and create an atmosphere of positive inquisitiveness and exploration. Each issue of The Echo includes the latest in news, sports, pop culture, school events, arts and entertainment. In addition to covering Memorial-related news, Echo student-journalists have written about global topics ranging from the wildfires in Australia, Kobe Bryant’s untimely death, the Astroworld Music Fest tragedy, and the new Coronavirus variant. “I am incredibly proud of my The Amityville Echo staff,” said Kara Keenan, Amityville Memorial High School Echo Newspaper Advisor. “Our goal in the coming months is to think outside the box. This is only the start of what we hope will be an ever-evolving source of carefully researched information coupled with creative expression by our students.” The online newspaper has different sections such as the Hidden History column, where students profile people who they might have not learned about in their textbooks; the Monthly Awareness column which covers important issues; and this year, each edition of The Echo includes a special Crossword Puzzle Contest. Many Amityville Memorial High School graduates who worked as journalists on The Echo while at Memorial have gone on to participate in important online news forums dealing with the critical social, political, and educational issues facing the world today. Their past accomplishments serve as an inspiration and the benchmark of excellence to which today’s Echo staff aspires. The Echo aims to offer diverse content, alternative perspectives, and differing opinions on a variety of issues and to feature articles in an array of different languages. The Amityville Echo’s 2021-2022 staff includes: Editor-in-Chief – Misha Ankudovych – Senior Music Editor – Amin Shah – Sophomore Student Life Editor – Terry Holman – Junior Entertainment Editor – Samanta Molina – Senior Staff Reporter – Anjuli Persaud – Freshman Staff Reporter – Erin Kreuder – Freshman Staff Reporter – Jaadler Jameau – Sophomore Staff Reporter – Giovanni Guerrier – Freshman Staff Reporter – Iyana Haddad - Senior Staff Reporter – Kayla Faublas - Freshman Staff Reporter – Donte Drew – Sophomore Staff Reporter – Trinity Gilreath – Sophomore Staff Reporter – Amelia Cherrington – Freshman Staff Reporter – Victoria Pierre-Louis – Freshman Staff Reporter – Christopher Blanchard – Sophomore Staff Reporter – Grace Jean – Junior http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163572 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163572 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in Amityville ‘Sprinkles’ Kindness (February 2022)—In celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Week, Park Avenue Elementary students will be “sprinkling kindness everywhere.” Leading up to the event, each student wrote acts of kindness on a sprinkle that turned into a touching bulletin board display in the school. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a small nonprofit that invests its resources into making kindness the norm. Their mission is to connect everyone through kindness and to teach kindness by inspiring and empowering. “Being kind is a social and emotional skill that we want to instill in our students to ensure that they will live a more positive life—in and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Shirley E. Martin, Principal of Park Avenue Elementary School. “By designing classroom activities that highlight kindness and demonstrating kindness as role models will encourage students to be kind themselves.” Throughout the week, the school will have themed days as well as classroom activities to help spread kindness. Kindness Makes Your Heart Grow day will be on Monday, February 14. Students and staff will be wearing pink and red. Peace, Love, and Kindness Day will be on Tuesday, February 15, and the school will be filled with everyone wearing tie-dye to visually represent peace. Wednesday, February 16 will be Brighten Someone’s Day, during which students are encouraged to wear a bright color to help brighten up someone’s day, and Thursday, February 17 is Work Out Your Problem with Kindness day, where everyone will be wearing athletic attire to work it out! Spirit week will end on Friday, February 18 with Kindness Warriors Day, students will show their Amityville’s Warrior pride by wearing their spirit wear or gray and red. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163573 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163573 Amityville Memorial High School Celebrates Black History Month (February 2022)—To celebrate Black History Month, Amityville Memorial High School students engaged in various educational and interactive activities to learn about African-American history and the vital contributions they made to the country. The Interact Club advised by Ms. Bonny-Rankin celebrated the rich culture and history of famous—and not-so-famous—African Americans. Amityville’s faculty band contributed their enthusiasm to honor Black History Month by performing timeless classics that were originally done by African American artists. On Friday, February 18, the Interact Club hosted a Black History Month performance. Students shared their talents in dance, music, and spoken words. The Black Student Union Club advised by Ms. Bonny-Rankin read quotes and trivia questions every day. Additionally, art students at Amityville Memorial High School researched famous black inventors, recreating their inventions through art that is now up for display around the school. The English department participated by having students watch documentaries about race in America and its role in the school system. Students wrote their own narratives based on their analysis of the film and connected to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s ideas of equality. During English class, students in Sage Meyer and Kate Tesoro’s classes created slideshow presentations based on their chosen African American authors. The slideshows contained information about the author’s professional and personal life and highlighted their well-known accomplishments. Other activities for Black History Month included reading and analyzing a range of poetry from African American poets and authors. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163574 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163574 Amityville High School Student Attends Girls Flag Football Kickoff Event (February 2022)—Recently, Amityville Memorial High School student Tamia Bayne attended the Girls Flag Football Kickoff event at MetLife Stadium which was sponsored by the New York Jets. The event was designed to promote Girls Flag Football and recognize one student-athlete from each school from Long Island who has committed to playing on her high school’s team. For her participation in the kick-off event, Tamia received a Zack Wilson NY Jets signed helmet. “I am incredibly proud of Tamia and how she represented our school at the Girls Flag Football Kickoff event,” said Mr. Evan Farkas, Amityville School District Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health. “I am looking forward to our team competing this spring!” Amityville Memorial High School will be one of the eight schools in Suffolk County and 16 Long Island schools in total to compete this spring in the inaugural season. Each team will play six to eight games that will end in a playoff tournament. “Girls Flag Football is a great opportunity to shine a light on women’s sports and the success that we have at a high school level,” said Tamia. “Being a female athlete gives me confidence and makes me feel empowered to accomplish anything that I put my mind to. I want to thank the NY Jets for providing me with this experience that I will never forget.” Tamia was chosen to represent Amityville Memorial High School for the Girls Flag Football Kickoff event because of her involvement with the district’s athletic program, her advocacy for women’s sports, and her academic achievements. Tamia also serves on the Girls and Women in Sports Committee and plays on the Amityville High School Girls Volleyball team. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163575 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163575 COVID BOOSTER SHOTS AVAILABLE MARCH 2, 2022 **Pre-Registration Required We are also pleased to announce that Northwell Health will be at the Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Wednesday, March 2nd, from 12:30 - 4:30 PM for CovidBoostershots. Please use the following link to pre-register: https://northwellvaccine.force.com/s/?id=a1T4x000007TxAIEA0 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163571 Mon, 21 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163571 Edmund W. Miles MS Black History Month Celebration Please Click Here to view the Black History Month Celebration http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163569 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163569 Park Avenue Black History Month Celebration 2022 Please Click Here to view the Park Avenue School Black History Month Celebration http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163570 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163570 AMHS Black History Month LIVE STREAM Celebration Click Here to view the Live Stream Celebration http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163568 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163568 Northwest Elementary School Celebrates Black History Month 2022 Video Northwest Elementary School Celebrates Black History Month 2022. Click Here to View http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163567 Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163567 EWMMS celebrated P.S. I Love You Day on February 11th P.S. I love you had their 12th annual celebration. Their mission is to bring awareness to the importance of mental health and decrease bullying. We strongly believe that by educating students earlier about mental health, the conversation will be easier to discuss and students will be able to recognize when they or others around them need help. On the second Friday of every February, we encourage staff and students to wear purple in order to foster kindness and a welcoming environment, and educate others that mental health is just as important as physical health This year's theme was One Step at a Time. The focus was that by slowly working together and taking those steps needed that we can make this world a kinder place. The S.A.D.D. club students prepared and read encouraging messages all week long during the morning announcements. Students help cut and distribute purple hearts for Thursday's virtual assembly. The virtual assembly was by Bryan Williams, founder of the kindness project. On Friday, February 11th students and staff wore purple. S.A.D.D. club members: Kathia Reyes (President), Maleek Solomon (VIce President), Sarai Mullings (secretary), Jeremy Garcia (treasurer), Ruben Ponce, Hugo Molina, Christine Contreras, Abigail Brown and Yeyson Saenz. Club advisor: Beatriz Offitto "The more love we spread, the less bullying will occur, and the more lives we can save." - P.S. I love you foundation http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163565 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163565 Northwest Elementary School Participates in Valentine Exchange (February 2022)—As part of a nationwide Valentine’s Day exchange, first-grade students in Ms. Heather Tortorici‘s and Ms. Kristie Lovetts’ classes created Valentines and letters to send to other students and classes all over the United States. In a shared writing activity, students composed letters about their school and classes. Students shared places of interest and fascinating facts about the state of New York—with a special focus on their Amityville school community. Connecting to the Putnam BOCES social studies curriculum, We Are the World, students had the opportunity to explore a map of the United States and learned where Northwest Elementary School is located. The class worked together to match the Valentines received to the states from which they were sent. In addition, the students learned the process of sending and receiving mail through the United States Postal Service. As part of the exchange, the class will receive up to twenty-five Valentines and letters from schools around the nation. The students are very excited to receive mail and eager to learn about other states and what makes each one unique. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163566 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163566 Northeast's Teachers College Staff Developer Works With Pre-K Students Nancy Brennan, Northeast's Teachers College Staff Developer, worked with Pre-K teachers and students to help the school's youngest scholars create a class book titled Birthday Party. The students worked together to create a pattern for the text. The exercise reinforced oral language, 1 to 1 correspondence, sentence structure, letter recognition, and initial sounds. When the book was completed the students played a game of I Spy with Ms. Brennan. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163562 Wed, 09 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163562 2-22-22 Second Grade Fun At Northwest Elementary Second-grade students at Amityville Northwest Elementary School had some fun on 2-2-2022. Students made crowns and worked through four math centers based on the number 2 and learned that two main characters are called the Dynamic Duos. Students had the opportunity to work in pairs and read any books featuring two main characters in the story. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163563 Wed, 09 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163563 Board of Education February 9, 2022 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96652909899 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 966 5290 9899 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163564 Wed, 09 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163564 Northwest and Northeast Elementary School Celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year (February 2022)—On Tuesday, February 1, students at Amityville Northwest Elementary School and Northeast Elementary School celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, students learned that this is the year of the tiger, which represents bravery, deep thoughts, and courageous actions. “Celebrating different cultures in the Amityville School District is very important,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of the Amityville Union Free School District. “Cultural celebrations foster acceptance and respect for the diversity in our district, as well as providing opportunities to highlight our similarities. Students had a great time learning about the Chinese Lunar New Year, and through its celebration and the lessons offered in our schools, our students gained a better understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Lunar New Year to our Chinese neighbors.” In Northwest Elementary School, as part of the lesson plans focusing on the Chinese Lunar New Year, students read Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan’s Chinese New Year by Kate Waters. The book is about a little boy celebrating the Lunar New Year and how excited he is to dance the lion dance for the first time. After, students created traditional Chinese lanterns with a tiger on them. Students were excited to receive a red envelope filled with a lucky fortune. The red envelope is a Chinese traditional gift typically given to children and elders during special occasions. The class learned that the color red signifies good luck, energy, and happiness in Chinese culture. Students also were able to play bingo and learn about the different animals and their zodiac signs’ significance. Students at Northeast Elementary School were very busy getting ready for the Chinese New Year. They created artwork during their art class. Students crafted lanterns, dragons, and noisemakers for the parade around the school. Students and staff were provided with fortune cookies and Chinese fried rice for lunch. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, students and staff were encouraged to wear red which symbolizes good luck, energy, and happiness. It was a festive and great learning experience for all the Northeast Elementary School students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163560 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163560 Notice of Board Meeting - February 9, 2022 Date Added: 2/8/2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163559 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163559 Amityville Northeast Elementary School Creates Habitat Museum (JANUARY,2022)—Pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville School District celebrated another one of their Pre-K themes, “Awesome Animals,” with a culminating activity of creating a habitat museum. Each class created a diorama of animals’ homes and habitats. The focus of the activity was to teach the students that all animals have a home just like people do. “Students had a fun yet educational experience with this project,” said Dr. Pauline Collins, Principal of Northeast Elementary School. “Our Pre-K students and staff never cease to amaze us with their hard work and creativity!” The students learned about where animals live, what their homes are made of, and what animals do in their homes and habitats. The young students learned new vocabulary words like burrow, habitat, hibernate, hive, nest, tunnel, web, and woods. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163561 Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163561 Board of Education February 2, 2022 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92234984498 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 922 3498 4498 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163558 Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163558 JANUARY 25, 2022, STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER BETTY A. ROSA ON GRANTING OF STAY IN MASK CASE STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER BETTY A. ROSA ON GRANTING OF STAY IN MASK CASE We are pleased the Appellate Division granted the application by the Department of Health and the Governor’s office, confirming the lower court’s decision is stayed pending further proceedings. As such, the mask mandate remains in effect for schools across the state. We support Governor Hochul and the state Department of Health as they continue with the appeal. We thank the members of our school communities for their patience during this process. DECLARACIÓN DE LA COMISIONADA BETTY A. ROSA SOBRE EL CASO DE CONCESIÓN DE ESTANCIA DE LOS TAPABOCAS Nos complace que la División de Apelaciones otorgó la solicitud del Departamento de Salud y la Oficina del Gobernador, lo que confirma que la decisión de la parte baja del Tribunal se mantiene en espera de un procedimiento adicional. Como tal, el mandato de usar tapabocas sigue vigente para las escuelas de todo el estado. Apoyamos al Gobernador Hochul y al Departamento de Salud del estado mientras continúan con la apelación. Agradecemos a los miembros de nuestras comunidades escolares por su paciencia durante este proceso. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163555 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163555 Important Message from Dr. Fale Regarding Masks in Schools The State Education Department understands that Nassau County Supreme Court has ruled that the Department of Health exceeded its authority in enacting the mask regulation. This regulation is the subject of conflicting decisions. Unless there is further notice the NY State Education Department and Department of Health have determined that schools must continue to follow the mask rule. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163554 Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163554 Northwest Elementary School’s Students Work on Their Digital Literacy Standards (January 2022)—Students in Amityville Union Free School District’s Northwest Elementary School have been working on their digital literacy standards. Students are using a program called Typing Club in Media Library to learn important computer skills. “Digital literacy is an important skill to develop, especially in this day and age with technology incorporated into everything we do,” said Ms. Kathleen Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Practicing keyboarding is essential with younger students. It helps with their fine motor skills and leads to the mastery of touch typing, which can build confidence and is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives.” Kindergarteners through second grade students are taught to identify letters of the alphabet along with the spacebar, back space, and arrow keys. With each lesson, students are doing finger exercises to strengthen their fine motor skills. In second grade, the students are learning basic keyboarding skills and learning to type with accuracy. Research has shown that students who become proficient with a keyboard do better academically, gain overall confidence and improve future prospects for success in school and beyond. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163553 Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163553 Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 2022)—On Friday, January 14, 2022, Amityville’s Northwest Elementary School engaged in many school activities before the federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Students had a meaningful experience learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Ms. Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Thank you to our teachers for putting great effort into creating informative and interactive activities to educate our students about the ideals and values for which Dr. King fought. ” Northwest’s students completed I Have a Dream classwork books, created hand-cut-out posters and also engaged in an egg activity. Students were presented with a brown and a white egg. They were asked to crack each egg to see the yolks are both the same despite the color of the eggshell. The purpose of the activity was to help children realize no matter what color we are on the outside, we are all the same on the inside. Students also joined in discussions to learn about how Dr. King made critical contributions to the Civil Rights movement in the United States. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163551 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163551 Amityville’s Northeast Elementary School Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 2022)—The week prior to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day students in Northeast Elementary School participated in classroom activities designed to educate students about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. “It was wonderful to see our students learn about and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Dr. Collins, Principal of Northeast Elementary School. “Our staff did a wonderful job helping students understand the important contributions Dr. King made to the Civil Rights movements.” Students created themed centers, read stories, watched videos, sang songs, and drew portraits of Dr. King. During their lessons the 4 year old students explained vocabulary words such as “freedom,” “peace,” “fairness” and “kindness.” Northeast Elementary Pre-K students took part in activities which were designed to enlighten them about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s teachings and the values for which he fought. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163552 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163552 Board of Education January 17, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 12:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92590059317 Call by Telephone: (646) 558-8656 Meeting ID: 925 9005 9317 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163549 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163549 Amityville Northeast Elementary School’s Pre-K Students Create a Community Museum (January 2022)—On Monday, January 10, Pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville School District celebrated their Pre-K theme, “Our Community,” with a grand culminating activity of creating a community museum. Each class picked a different place they had seen and visited in their neighborhood and added it as a feature of the museum. “This was a great experience for our students. It was gratifying to see all our Pre-K students and educators working together to bring to fruition such an awesome project,” said Dr. Pauline Collins, Principal of Northeast Elementary School. “I want to thank all of our Pre-K teachers for engaging these young students in such a creative and instructive manner.” The students actively took part in exploring and generating ideas together throughout the project. The students demonstrated their design skills as they created and decorated each area in their community to be displayed in the school cafeteria. Throughout the day, classes visited the community museum where students saw a variety of places such as a post office, supermarket, a Target store, gas station, park, restaurants, fire station, police station, school, laundromat and even the Amityville Library. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163547 Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163547 Board of Education January 12, 2022 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93008606529 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Webinar ID: 930 0860 6529 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163546 Wed, 12 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163546 School Closure- January 7, 2022 Good evening Parents and Guardians of the Amityville School District. Please be advised that all Amityville public schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 7, 2022, due to the impending snowstorm. Once again, all Amityville schools will be closed tomorrow. Please stay safe and enjoy the weekend. Thank you, Dr. Edward M. Fale Superintendent of Schools (Interim) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163544 Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163544 Board of Education January 5, 2022 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96519178841 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 965 1917 8841 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163543 Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:00:00 GMT false163543 Amityville Students Receives Honors (December 2021)—Recently, Amityville Memorial High School held two Honor Roll ceremonies: one for 11th and 12th grade students and a second ceremony for 9th and 10th grade students. Students who received a High Honor Roll obtained a grade point average of 89.5 to 100. Students who received Honor Roll obtained a grade point average between 84.5 to 89.4. There were a total of 337 recipients. Amityville Memorial High School Principal Edward Plaia spoke about the accomplishment of achieving Honor Roll status, the importance of education and keeping high expectations. “I could not be prouder of our Honor Roll students. Their achievements are a testament to the variety of opportunities our school continues to provide to our students. I am impressed by their dedication to push themselves academically. These 337 students—as well as their teachers—have worked diligently throughout the school year, and we are so proud to congratulate them all on this well-earned recognition.” 41 students in 9th grade received Honor Roll 40 students in 10th grade received Honor Roll 32 students in 11th grade received Honor Roll 32 students in 12th grade received Honor Roll 44 students in 9th grade received High Honor Roll 43 students in 10th grade received High Honor Roll 46 students in 11th grade received High Honor Roll 59 students in 12th grade received High Honor Roll http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163545 Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163545 Notice of Special Board Meeting - January 3, 2022 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163541 Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163541 Information from Dr. Fale Regarding Covid Test Kits As it has been widely reported in the media, New York State has initiated a plan to deliver one test kit per student to each school district in the State. We are expecting to receive these kits by next week at the earliest. Please note that these kits are for use at home and students will not be tested at school. Once received, we will communicate our plan to distribute the kits to those families who would like to take advantage of this opportunity. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163540 Wed, 29 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163540 Amityville Memorial High School’s Boys Soccer Team Honored at 2021 Suffolk County Awards Dinner (December 2021)—The Amityville Memorial High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team was honored for its outstanding season at the annual Suffolk County Awards Dinner. The team received awards in recognition of finishing the 2021 season as Long Island Champions, Suffolk County Champions, League 5 Champions and New York State Finalists. “Amityville Memorial High School prides itself on its ability to foster incredible student-athletes,” said Evan Farkas, Director of Athletics. “The success of the program would not be possible without the dedication of our coaches, who provide our players with the skills and motivation necessary to flourish.” While teamwork was awarded, stand-out players also earned acknowledgment. Senior Juan Ponce walked away with the most individual awards, including All-American, All-Region, All-State and All-County. Juan was also given the honor of being the Small School Player of the Year and the League 5 Most Valuable Player. Senior Bryce Cherry received the All-County award and received the special honor of Academic All-County for his hard work on the field. Bryce also received the award for Suffolk County Final MVP. Junior Roberth Perez was recognized with All-State and All-County awards. Senior Deybis Martinez Hernandez and Junior Stanley Louis both received All-League recognition. Junior Edwin Acosta was honored with All-Conference recognition. The team’s success can be attributed in large part to the incredible coaching staff at Amityville Memorial High School. Coaches Mike Abbondondolo and Chris Gannon were chosen for the honor of League 5 Coaching Staff of the Year as well as Suffolk County Small Schools Coaching Staff of the Year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163537 Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163537 Northeast Elementary School Winter Concert 2021 Please click here to access the 2021 Northeast Elementary School Winter Concert http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163535 Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163535 Board of Education December 23, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93460198170 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 934 6019 8170 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163538 Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163538 Amityville Memorial High School Administrator Develops Holiday Wellness Week (December 2021)—As students and staff prepared for the holiday season break, Mr. Brian Suckle, Amityville Memorial High School’s Assistant Principal, introduced Wellness Week in an effort to reinforce the true spirit of the holiday season amidst the hustle and bustle of gifts, parties, and other holiday activities that can draw attention away from the concepts of giving and caring for others. The idea for Wellness Week was born from the activities and intention of Unity Day, an event celebrated in October. Unity Day is a campaign created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Founded in 2006, the project aims to actively create social change and help put a stop to bullying in youth. Unity Day is a day to bring people together, as a community, to show respect and honor the diversity of people and cultures that make up the community. Mr. Suckle felt those aspirations should not be celebrated on just one day, but every day, and especially during the holiday season which, at its core, is about family, friends, and community. Wellness Week was designed to help the students and staff to focus on community, family, friendship, mental health, and physical wellbeing. On Monday, December 13th, it was “We Are Family Day.” Students wore their warrior nation sweatshirts and created name tags before class so that everyone knew each other's names. Tuesday, December 14th, was “Being Part of the Community Day.” Students wore their club or team apparel and participated in Unity Day. Students engaged in “Future Me Day” on Wednesday, December 15th by wearing what they want as a future career. Students watched presentations created by the school’s social workers and attended virtual career day. The day was filled with music and rhythm on Thursday, December 16th for “Music Therapy Day.” Throughout the day, fellow Amityville musicians stopped by to cheer everyone up with their musical talent. Students also wore music themed or tye-dye shirts to brighten up the day. The last day of Wellness Week, Friday, December 17th, was “Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Students wore a blue shirt or anything that had a positive message. Tables were set outside of the cafeteria during lunch to hand out kindness cards. Throughout the whole week, school clubs participated by engaging in holiday activities. The National Art Honor Society distributed intricate holiday-themed coloring pages. The Hispanic Heritage Club welcomed students to take pictures in their Feliz Navidad photo booth. Students and staff competed in themed games, like a reindeer antler ring toss and pin the nose on Rudolph. Mr. Suckle remarked, "Our Wellness Week has been a time to show kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for all. We are Amityville and united we are changing how we are viewed, showing by example we are inclusive and accepting of everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. We are also sending a visible message that we are stronger together." The participation of students from different cultural and extracurricular clubs helped exemplify the diversity of the community and served as a reminder to accept each other’s differences and appreciate uniqueness. Wellness Week was a success, demonstrating clearly how Amityville Memorial High School fosters rich diversity and constantly strives to promote inclusivity amongst its students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163533 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163533 Art Continues To Thrive in Amityville Union Free School District (December 2021)—Amityville Union Free School District recently presented their Winter Art Show, virtually. Art teachers throughout the District have put together a great virtual presentation which showcased students’ works from grades pre-K to 12. “There is so much creativity and artistic talent in our schools,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, Director of Fine Arts and Music at Amityville Union Free School District. “Thank you to all the art teachers who took the time to create our virtual Winter Art Show.” Teachers who created the slides for their students’ work: Nicole Pappas - Northeast School Lydia Robinson - Northwest School Susan Zaratin - Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Jennifer Dibble - Edmund W. Miles Middle School Jayne Grasso - Amityville Memorial High School Nidia Keaveny - Amityville Memorial High School Heather Rickard - Amityville Memorial High School Nicole Scoca - Amityville Memorial High School Cara Westphal - Amityville Memorial High School https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyngrgpC_cc http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163532 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163532 Northwest Elementary School Winter Concert 2021 Please click here to access the 2021 NW Elementary School Winter Concert. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163531 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163531 Amityville Students Receives Honors (December 2021)—Recently, Amityville Memorial High School held two Honor Roll ceremonies: one for 11th and 12th grade students and a second ceremony for 9th and 10th grade students. Students who received a High Honor Roll obtained a grade point average of 89.5 to 100. Students who received Honor Roll obtained a grade point average between 84.5 to 89.4. There were a total of 337 recipients. Amityville Memorial High School Principal Edward Plaia spoke about the accomplishment of achieving Honor Roll status, the importance of education and keeping high expectations. “I could not be prouder of our Honor Roll students. Their achievements are a testament to the variety of opportunities our school continues to provide to our students. I am impressed by their dedication to push themselves academically. These 337 students—as well as their teachers—have worked diligently throughout the school year, and we are so proud to congratulate them all on this well-earned recognition.” 41 students in 9th grade received Honor Roll 40 students in 10th grade received Honor Roll 32 students in 11th grade received Honor Roll 32 students in 12th grade received Honor Roll 44 students in 9th grade received High Honor Roll 43 students in 10th grade received High Honor Roll 46 students in 11th grade received High Honor Roll 59 students in 12th grade received High Honor Roll http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163536 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163536 District-Wide Winter Art Showcase Click here to view http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163530 Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163530 Northeast Elementary School's Virtual Holiday Family Night Northeast Elementary School’s students, families and staff participated in holiday-themed activities during their virtual Holiday Family Night. Activities included Bingo, a scavenger hunt, gingerbread man guided drawing, storytime and a Holiday Brain Break. The night ended with a staff sing-along video and a special visit from Santa Claus! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163526 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163526 Board of Education December 14, 2021 Special Remote Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97524272030 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 975 2427 2030 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163525 Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163525 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Hosts Spelling Bee (December 2021)—When third grader Lamell Ellis spelled out the word “aerodynamic” at the recently held Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Spelling Bee, he became the youngest person to win. Now eight years old (his birthday was November 26), he was seven when he landed first place. And the talent runs in the family. Lamell took the title away from his 13-year-old sister, Ayaanah, who had previously been named the youngest PAMES Spelling Bee winner after scoring the top spot when she was in fourth grade. She went on to win a second time, too! The talented siblings even shared the same winning word—a funny coincidence. Lamell and Ayaanah’s parents are very happy that their son followed in their daughter’s footsteps. “It’s a very proud moment for him,” said LaToya Ellis, Lamell’s mother. LaToya supported her kids every step of the way, helping them study while her husband cheered them on. Lamell studied hard leading up to the Spelling Bee, practicing spelling out nearly 400 different words—some of which were college-level words. A smart but shy student, Lamell has an impressive ability to spell. But the achievement didn’t come without some challenges. LaToya described how Lamell is a soft-spoken person, so he had to make sure he spoke loudly and clearly enough—through his mask—for the judges to hear him. If they misheard a letter, the word would have been considered incorrect. He also has a speech impediment, which served as another challenge. He sometimes has trouble pronouncing certain letters, but he overcame and triumphed! Repetition was key while preparing for the event. Lamell recalled sometimes having to write out a word over and over again. “If I got a word wrong, I had to write it 10, 20, or 30 times,” he said. Even on the weekends, when Lamell would visit his grandmother’s house, the studying never stopped. He called his mother via FaceTime to continue practicing his words. Even though LaToya suggested that the studying could wait until they were home, Lamell was determined! When he couldn’t find a quiet corner to study, he sat in the upstairs bathroom and didn’t allow anyone in until he was finished, LaToya laughed. “He was determined to get through however many words he wanted to get through,” she said. There were 38 finalists from grades three, four, and five who participated in the PAMES Spelling Bee. During the event, Lamell even intentionally sat towards the back of the room in order to be given more difficult words. He loves a good challenge! Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School is extremely proud of Lamell and all the hard work he put in to prepare. Congratulations, Lamell! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163522 Mon, 13 Dec 2021 17:00:00 GMT false163522 Amityville Memorial High School Hosts Lonnie Kittle/Norm Maisel Tournament (December 2021)—Amityville Memorial High School welcomed back the Lonnie Kittle/Norm Maisel tournament after a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic. The tournament holds the distinction of being the longest-running wrestling tournament in New York State, with the first tournament being held back in the 1970s. This year’s edition also represented the first wrestling tournament held in Amityville Memorial High School’s recently dedicated Fred Williams Memorial Gymnasium. Over the weekend of December 4-5, five high school wrestling teams competed in the tournament: Amityville, Mattituck, Lindenhurst, St. John’s the Baptist, and University High School from West Virginia. “Our Lonnie Kittle/Norm Maisel tournament was a great success, and we were thrilled to be able to bring it back this year for the enjoyment of the Amityville community and the high-level competition it brings forth from the participating teams,” said Evan Farkas, Amityville High School Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health. “I want to give a huge shout out to all the teams that attended this year, especially University High School for making the long trip from West Virginia to join us !” The Amityville High School wrestling team finished third overall. Congratulations to our wrestlers who placed in the top six in their respective weight classes: KyJier Bethea: 2nd place at 110 lbs Donte Riggsbee: 3rd place at 138 lbs Josiah Miller: 3rd place at 285 lbs Enrique Mercado-Torres: 4th place at 285 lbs Benson Guillaume: 6th place at 126 lbs Kenneth Garcia: 6th place at 160 lbs Ignazio Sanchez: 6th place at 189lbs Matt Buskey: 6th place at 172 lbs http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163521 Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:00:00 GMT false163521 Amityville Memorial High School Students Create Christmas Magic! (December 2021)—In the spirit of the holidays and giving back, Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club (WAC PAC) student members once again participated in the Christmas Magic program. The nonprofit program was formed in 1990 through the efforts of a single father, Charlie Russo, a Hauppauge attorney. He wanted to teach his children the true meaning of Christmas. Over the 30 years, the organization has grown into hundreds of Long Island families giving back to their communities. Christmas Magic has touched the lives of over 11,000 Long Island children in over 55 shelters, agencies, programs, churches and schools. The Warrior Awareness Club took a trip to Target to shop for over 70 children who are struggling for the holidays. To ensure gifts met the specific needs of the children the Amityville students were buying gifts for, they were given an information sheet that included each child’s age, gender, clothing size, and interest. “This year, our WAC PAC members are shopping for children in need in our Northwest Elementary School,” said Jason McGowan, Warrior Awareness Club Advisor. “We do this every year to try to give a little magic back to our community The magic of Christmas is created by programs like Christmas Magic and our students who volunteer their time to help.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163519 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163519 Board of Education December 8, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97865052118 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 978 6505 2118 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163520 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163520 Board of Education December 1, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97612763742 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 976 12763742 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163517 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163517 UPDATE: Public Notice of Board of Education Meeting - Wednesday, December 1, 2021 **UPDATE** Executive Session begins at 5:00 PM @ EWMMS Cafeteria Public Session begins at 7:30 PM @ EWMMS Cafeteria http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163513 Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163513 Amityville First Graders Experiment with Amplify Science (November 2021)— Amityville Union Free School District's Northwest Elementary School takes pride in cultivating an environment where learners shine and futures are bright. This goal is clearly demonstrated in Northwest’s first-grade classrooms where the Amplify Science program allows students to experience interactive, hands-on experiments and conduct meaningful investigations. Students in Ms. Jones’ and Ms. Wittschiebe’s, first grade classes studied how the structures of plants and animals are crucial in aiding their survival. To test what they learned about animal survival, students used different materials to simulate animals and their potential predators. A ball of clay acted as a soft animal or plant and a comb was used to mimic the sharp claws or teeth of a predator. The students were tasked with building structures to defend the clay from being poked by the comb. Students were instructed to hypothesize which materials would keep their ball of clay, or organism, protected from harm by their comb, or predator. They proceeded to create their structures and test their hypotheses. Each student conducted their own experiment and recorded their observations. “The Amplify Science program is a great way for teachers to have access to remote or hybrid resources to teach science,” said Ms. Kathleen Hyland, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “Providing students with these interactive, hands-on experiences helps to engage our students, make learning more fun, and develop critical thinking skills.” The interactive lesson, produced by Amplify Science, encourages students to take advantage of their curiosity and formulate their own questions about the world around them. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163516 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163516 Amityville Students Publish Book on Kindness in Recognition of World Kindness Day (November 2021)— World Kindness Day is an international observance that was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement in an effort to build compassion between nations. The global day, celebrated on November 13 each year, promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to oneself, and to the world. In honor of World Kindness Day, Ms. Davi-Ortiz’s 2nd-grade class in the Amityville School District’s Northwest Elementary School published a book about kindness. Helping Ms. Davi-Ortiz with the project were Ms. Soto, the school’s ENL teacher, and Ms. Hyde, a teacher assistant. Each student wrote a page detailing what kindness is to them and drew a corresponding illustration. Students were able to flip through the pages and witness their contributions to this unique publication. “This was a wonderful experience for these second graders,” said Ms. Kathleen Hyand, Principal of Northwest Elementary School. “I want to thank Ms. Davi-Ortiz, Ms. Soto and Ms. Hyde for engaging these students in such a rewarding and informative project that involved both individual and collaborative efforts by the students.” “This was an important learning experience for these students,” noted Ms. Davi-Ortiz. “Having the kindness concept reinforced through each student’s own writing and drawing helped make the experience more personal for them.” In addition to creating the kindness book, the students and teachers wore Be Kind t-shirts on Friday, November 12, in honor of World Kindness Day. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163515 Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163515 Amityville Memorial High School Students Nominated for Junior Achievement Ambassadors 2021-2022 (November 2021 )—Two senior students from Amityville Memorial High School, Kenia Hernendez and Randy Rodriquez, were recently nominated to serve as Junior Achievement Student Ambassadors for the 2021-2022 school year. Kenia and Randy were selected to represent Junior Achievement from over 100 applicants from schools across the metropolitan region. Kenia and Randy have worked extensively with Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes program, teaching lessons about careers, community, family, and finance to students in Amityville’s elementary schools. They also took part in the Career Day Program and the Finance Park Program which included a financial literacy simulation with students from other Long Island high schools. “I am very proud of Kenia and Randy,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “They are both outstanding leaders and role models to their peers, and will be exemplary ambassadors for Junior Achievement.” Junior Achievement of New York is an organization serving students in over 240 schools in New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley. The organization’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed, imparting the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic decisions. Junior Achievement Ambassadors are a select group of student volunteers who promote Junior Achievement by sharing their Junior Achievement experiences with business and community leaders in their local areas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163512 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163512 AMHS Parent Conference November 23rd Parent Information/ Conferencia de padres de la escuela secundaria Amityville Memorial 23 de noviembre Información para padres Click here to view the letter Click here to view in Spanish http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163511 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:00:00 GMT false163511 E.W. Miles Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences Google Meet - November 18, 2021 Click here to view the Google Meet Links http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163510 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT false163510 Amityville Teacher Implements Innovative Teaching Technique (November 2021)— Amityville Union Free School District’s October Teacher of The Month Nominee has garnered a lot of attention due to her unique and innovative teaching method. Ms. Schgweigert’s Modern Classroom gives students a more individualized approach to learning. Ms. Schweigert faced the inevitable challenge of her students learning at different paces throughout each lesson. As every teacher experiences, she found herself having to repeat key components of the lesson to cater to those who needed extra instruction, while those who had already grasped it were ready to move on. To differentiate instruction within the classroom and better maximize both her and her students’ time, Ms. Schweigert took the liberty of filming herself teaching each lesson over the summer. This way, after her initial introduction of each lesson, the students are free to watch the remainder of the instruction on their own. They are able to pause, rewind, and replay as much as they individually need so that they can get the personalized instruction they need. It also permits Ms. Schweigert to give individualized attention to students throughout each class session. “I think this is a great contemporary method of teaching,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “We are aware that our students have their own way of learning and absorbing information. It is our job as educators to be able to recognize each of our student’s needs. Everyone learns differently and at a different pace!” In addition to asynchronous video learning, students gain encouragement from each other through a system of magnets on the classroom whiteboard. Each student has their own magnet that is placed in a particular section of the whiteboard to signify their progress throughout a given lesson. For every lesson, there is a Must Do section, a Should Do section and an Aspire section. Students earn their grades as they complete each section. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163508 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:00:00 GMT false163508 National Junior Honor Society of Edmund W. Miles Middle School Participates in the New York State Mentoring Program (October 2021)—On Tuesday, October 26, National Junior Honor Society students at Edmund W. Miles Middle school met with Diane Urso, Long Island and Queens Regional Director for the New York State Mentoring Program to be trained as mentors for 6th-grade students. “I am so glad I was able to sit in and listen to Diane Urso during her presentation,” said Ms. Rose Hutcherson, Principal of Edmund W. Miles School. “It was eye-opening to hear Ms. Urso speak about the positive outcomes that mentors can have on the students they work with. It is indicative of the character and spirit our students have that our Junior Honor Society students are taking on this challenge to make a difference with students who may need this type of extra help in our District.” The New York State Mentoring Program is a program that allows older students to become mentors to children who might have a difficult time inside and outside of the classroom. By having positive relationships, mentoring leads to increased participation in school, attendance, and better performance. The training consists of talking about healthy boundaries, how to actively listen, the importance of modeling appropriate behavior, the promotion of integrity, and how to spot red flags in the mentees if they are being hurt, hurting anyone else, or being neglected. “It was a productive day for our National Junior Honor Society students,” said Carlee Brunson, Edmund W Miles. Middle School’s National Honor Society Advisor. “I have full faith in our students that they will be great mentors to the students that they will be working with. I know with their guidance, support and encouragement, we will be able to see positive changes in the mentees.” Currently, there are 17 8th-grade members of the National Junior Honor Society being trained. The 6th-grade students to be mentored will be chosen at the end of the first quarter. For more information about the Amityville School District, please visit us on our website at http://www.amityvilleschools.org and ‘like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AmityvilleUFSD. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163509 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:00:00 GMT false163509 Amityville Memorial High School’s New Gym and Basketball Court Dedicated to Beloved Coaches (November 2021)—On Monday, November 8, 2021, Amityville Union Free School District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the District’s new High School gymnasium in honor of Coach Claude Byer and the late Coach Fred Williams. The gym was dedicated in honor of Fred Williams and the basketball court itself was named in honor of Claude Byer. The Amityville Memorial High School gymnasium has been at the center of some of the District’s greatest athletic successes. Amityville’s most notable athletic success story is that of Shelton Jones, Class of 1984, whose incredible basketball skills landed him a spot on multiple NBA teams. In his recorded comments for the ceremony, Shelton attributed his earlier achievements in basketball, and his appreciation and commitment to the hard work and perseverance that enabled him to play at the NBA level, to Coach Williams. “It was a memorable event for our District, the Amityville community, and the friends and families of Coach Claude Byer and Coach Fred Williams,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Interim Superintendent of Amityville Union Free School District. “I want to thank everyone who joined with us at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for showing their support to these two outstanding individuals who have contributed so much to the youth in our community. With the dedication of the new gym and basketball court, Coach Claude Byer and Coach Fred Williams’ names will forever be a part of the history and greatness of this District and our award-winning athletic programs. They are the gold standard of what our educators and coaches strive to be every day in our schools. It will be an evening that we will long remember with fondness and pride here in Amityville.” On the outside façade of the new gym, the sign proclaims, Fred Williams Memorial Gym. On the basketball court, the wording, Claude Byer Court, is emblazoned in the hardwood. Family members of Fred Williams, who passed away at an all too young age in 1987 and Claude and his wife, Amelia Byer, attended the event. Congratulatory remarks were spoken by Board of Education President Dr. Terry Fulton; Mr. Evan Farkas, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health; Mr. Fred Thompson, Class of 1982; Ms. Vallene Henderson, Class of 1998; and Ms. Cherese Hinckson, Class of 1997 and a former Amityville Girls Basketball Coach. The Amityville Cheerleaders also performed at the ceremony. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163505 Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163505 Board of Education November 10, 2021 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98993843087 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Webinar ID: 989 9384 3087 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163504 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163504 Veterans Appreciation Day at AMHS (November 2021)—On Monday, November 8 the Social Studies Department hosted Amityville Memorial High School’s Annual Veterans Appreciation Day with the help of Dawn Mizrachi, Department Chairperson of Social Studies. The school offered a live presentation to 12th-grade students in the gymnasium during Seminar Block 2. Veterans from the Amityville School District, including Francis O’Brien, Social Studies teacher, Sikes Reese, Monitor, Peter Paternostro, Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services, Virginia Figueroa, Assistant Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services and Special Education and Juan Leon, 1st Vice President of Board of Education shared their experiences and stories with the students while the rest of the school was able to watch the presentation in their seminar rooms through a live stream. The students came away from the ceremony and presentation with a greater appreciation of the life journeys and sacrifices made by these American heroes and their families. “It was a huge honor to host our annual Veterans Appreciation Day,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “It was a great learning experience for our students to listen to the Veterans’ stories. We are indebted to these extraordinary women and men for their service to our country and for offering their time to share their life experiences with our students.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163502 Tue, 09 Nov 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163502 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Claude Byer Basketball Court & Fred Williams Memorial Gym You are invited to join us this Monday, November 8, 2021 at 4:30 PM http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163500 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 17:00:00 GMT false163500 Amityville Memorial High School’s GSA Club Celebrates National Coming Out Day (October 2021)—On Monday, October 11, the GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) from Amityville Memorial High School participated in an informational tabling event to celebrate National Coming Out Day. The National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBTQ+ awareness day to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in “coming out of the closet.” “The Gay/Straight Alliance plays a significant role in our District and the greater Amityville community,” noted Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “This event has helped our entire student body and staff better understand the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. It was especially gratifying to see the support shown to members of the gay/Straight Alliance. Activities such as this help us create an environment where all our students can feel safe, understood and supported.” The GSA members provided staff with rainbow and transgender ribbons, bracelets, and stickers with affirming quotes, as well as resources to provide a more supportive culture for the LGBTQ+ youth in the school community which is consistent with our goal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our school. Throughout the day, students and staff discussed ways to show support, and the impact words can have, both positive and negative, when interacting with the LGBTQ+ community. “It was a fun yet informative day for everyone,” said Kimmberly Marrero, Social Worker and Club Advisor of Amityville Memorial High School. It is very important that all students and staff of Amityville Memorial High School feel respected, included, and heard.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163499 Fri, 05 Nov 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163499 Public Notice of Board of Education Meeting - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163498 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163498 Board of Education November 3, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://E2CCB-GST.zoom.us/j/97374439426 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 973 7443 9426 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163497 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163497 Unity Day at Amityville Memorial High School (October 2021)—On Monday, October 20, Amityville Memorial High School celebrated Unity Day in the school’s gymnasium. Unity Day is a campaign created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. It was founded in 2006 to actively create social change that would help put a stop to bullying in youth. Everyone was encouraged to wear orange on this day to visibly show that they are against bullying, and together they are united! “It was a great day for students and staff. We are so proud of our students who demonstrate outstanding character, not only today but every day,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “I take great pride in the diversity of our school. I believe it is one of our many strengths. Everyone showed excellent leadership, teamwork, unity, and kindness which is what this day is all about.” Several of Amityville Memorial High School’s clubs designed inclusive activities that students could participate in while they learned more about the particular club and each other. Some of the clubs that participated in Unity Day were the Art Club, the Black Student Union, GSA Club, Jazz Band, Hispanic Heritage Club, Student Government, and the National Honor Society, to name a few. Each of these clubs engaged students with different themes and activities, including face painting, pumpkin painting, musical chairs, Jenga, and poster designing. Each of these activities was designed to bond students, build better relationships, incorporate inclusiveness, and increase positivity. “Unity Day is a day to show kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for all. In Amityville, we are united and this is a day where we can publicly demonstrate our inclusiveness and acceptance of everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation,” said Mr. John Cardone, Acting Assistant Principal for Amityville Memorial High School. “Wearing orange today is a visible reminder and message that no one should experience bullying or feel isolated. We are stronger together.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163495 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163495 Amityville Union Free School District’s Graduating Class of 2022 Celebrates Senior Awareness Day (October 2021)—On Thursday, October 14, Amityville Memorial High School seniors had their annual Senior Awareness Day. This is an event that has been coordinated by Mr. Jason McGowan, Special Education teacher since 2010. Senior Awareness Day, as the name implies, is designed to offer senior students a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with their classmates as well as a day to take chances, step out of their comfort zone, and be united. It is a day for our seniors to reminisce about their high school days thus far, and to share hopes and visions for their collective futures. The day started at 7:10 a.m. in the high school cafeteria with breakfast and icebreaker activities. Afterward, the students boarded the bus to Amityville Beach for fun, team-building activities such as Tug of War, Cross the Line, Mummy Wrap and Link It Up. “It was wonderful to see our senior students enjoy the day,” said Mr. McGowan. “For over a decade, we have been holding this special day for our soon-to-be graduating seniors, giving them a great, fun start to their final year in our schools while also providing learning opportunities related to leadership, teamwork and collaboration. I look forward to keeping this tradition alive at Amityville Memorial High School for years to come.” One of the main highlights of the day was the family group activities. Students who were not close friends were put into groups where they participated in "getting to know you" communication exercises that helped "break down walls and build bridges." By the end of the day, everyone agreed they had become closer to existing friends and had made many new friends as a result of the day’s activities. The seniors also had lunch and free time where they had the opportunity to dance, play basketball, soccer, football, and socialize. As Mr. McGowan noted, “It is great to see these kids again socializing with each other, working together, and having a day filled with smiles and laughter.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163496 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163496 Northwest Elementary School Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Please Click Here to view the Northwest Elementary School Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Presentation http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163493 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163493 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Unveils Buddy Bench in Honor of Marc Engler On Wednesday, October 20 during Unity Day, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District unveiled a “Buddy Bench' in memory of Marc Engler, a teacher who passed away two years ago. October 20 was also Marc’s birthday. Marc was a 4th grade teacher who worked in the Amityville School District for over 20 years. The bench was donated by the Kiwanis Club, Amityville Parent-Teacher Council (APTC) and the Amityville School District Teachers Union. “The Buddy Bench is such a beautiful way to remember our beloved colleague and friend, Marc Engler,” commented Dr. Shirley E. Martin, Interim Principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. “I want to thank our friends at the Kiwanis Club, the APTC and our Teachers Union for making this gift possible. Thank you to everyone who came today to show support and love for Marc on his birthday.” A Buddy Bench is a bench that helps eliminate loneliness and create friendship on the playground. When a student feels lonely, they can sit on the bench which signals to other students to walk over and invite them to play or just talk to ease whatever loneliness the student was feeling. It was a memorable day for everyone at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Everyone wore orange to visibly share the message of Unity Day while they unveiled the Buddy Bench in honor of Marc. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163492 Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163492 Unity Day at Amityville Memorial High School Unity day is a day to show kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for all. We are Amityville and united we can show the world how we are inclusive and accept everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. By wearing orange we are also sending a visible message that no one should experience bullying. We are stronger together. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163491 Mon, 25 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163491 Board of Education October 22, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 9:15 am. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94780361215 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 947 8036 1215 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163488 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163488 Amityville Union Free School District’s Board of Education President Appointed to the Board of Directors of REFIT Amityville, NY (October 2021) — The Amityville Union Free School District is excited to announce that Board of Education President Dr. Terry Fulton has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the public schools’ financial advocacy organization, Reform Educational Financing Inequalities Today (REFIT). The organization is focused on engaging elected officials to ensure school districts receive their fair and equitable share of financial aid from New York State consistently and predictably. Dr. Fulton has lived in the Amityville School District for more than 40 years and has served on the Board of Education for the District since 2013. He holds a doctorate in Theology and is the Vice President of the Caucus for Black School Board Members. Dr. Fulton is also Vice President of the Central Long Island branch of the National Association for The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Dr. Fulton, himself, is a graduate of Amityville schools in addition to two of his sons. “Dr. Fulton’s appointment to the Board of Directors is wonderful news for our District,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of Schools of Amityville Union Free School District. “It’s exciting to have an Amityville community member like Dr. Fulton with his extensive background represent us on the REFIT Board to ensure our District’s needs are being heard and addressed properly.” Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State has reached an agreement to fully fund New York school districts over the next three years through the foundation aid initiative, a program that schools heavily rely on to be able to provide students with resources so they can excel academically and outside of the classroom. While Dr. Fulton has voiced his appreciation for the Governor’s commitment to fully fund the foundation aid formula, he also points out that fully funding the formula now does not make up for the almost $100 million in state aid the District has not received since the 2007-2008 school year, the period when the foundation aid formula was established but never fully implemented. That $100 million, Dr. Fulton notes, could have been used to provide improved and expanded academic resources to Amityville students as well as provide some level of tax relief to the taxpayers of the District. Dr. Fulton added, “it is great that the Governor has made this three year commitment, but that is all it is. What we need is a long-term commitment so that whatever advances we make in these next three years are not undone because the financial resources are pulled out from under us again.” In discussing his appointment to REFIT, Dr. Fulton stated, “I am honored and privileged to be chosen to sit on the Board of Directors and bring a fresh perspective. The fight for me, as a person of color, is seeing the elimination of the socio-economic and racial inequity that has been part of the foundation aid legacy for far too long. We have a responsibility to every student who attends our schools to provide them with the best opportunities and set them up for success in the workforce or to pursue further education. While we are thrilled about the Governor’s three-year commitment, the fight does not stop there. This is the time to make sure that the funding will be consistent and be available every year after that.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163487 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163487 Anti-Bullying Prevention Assembly On October 7, 2003, Mr. Halligan lost his 13 year old son, Ryan, to suicide. It was revealed in greater detail, after Ryan's death, that he was ridiculed and humiliated by his peers at his middle school and online. In 2004., Mr. Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bullying Prevention law in honor of his son Ryan. In 2006, he then led the passing of a law which requires education about suicide prevention in public schools. Mr. Halligan has made it his life's work to spread the need for awareness and prevention of bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. He has appeared on several national TV programs, including Oprah, Primetime with Diane Sawyer, and PBS Frontline. Mr. Halligan has spoken to over 2000 schools spreading his message of hope and kindness. As always, our support team is always available for our students. In the picture, a student was moved by his story and expressed her condolences for his loss. In the other picture from left to right, Keri Kearney, 7th grade guidance counselor, Ms. Beatriz Offitto, Social Worker, Mr. Halligan, Mary Postiglione school psychologist, and Taurie Drumgole, social worker. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163484 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163484 Board of Education October 13, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97934847044 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 979 3484 7044 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163482 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:00:00 GMT false163482 National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School Gives Presentation to the 6th grade (October 2021) — Recently, student members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District designed and delivered a presentation for their fellow 6th grade classmates to introduce them to clubs, activities, rules and procedures at the school as the new school year begins. “Our students in the National Junior Honor Society have excellent leadership skills and we are incredibly proud that they take the initiative to encourage other students to become involved in clubs and other extracurricular activities,” said Ms. Rose Hutcherson, the Acting Principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School. “These exceptional students give this presentation yearly to provide students who are interested in becoming more active in school activities with all the necessary information they need.” During the presentation, the members answered any questions the 6th graders had and gave them advice about starting middle school and potentially joining the National Junior Honor Society. The National Junior Honor Society hosts this event for students each year which is set up by Karina Thepenier, 6th grade guidance counselor and Carlee Brunson, National Junior Honor Society advisor and English teacher. The National Junior Honor Society is a national organization that consists of chapters in middle schools across the country. The organization raises the commitment of participating schools to the National Junior Honor Society’s core values of the five (5) pillars which consist of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. The requirements needed to be eligible to join the National Junior Honor Society are a GPA of at least 85 percent for six consecutive quarters with no grade under 75 percent, honor roll, Principal’s list, timeliness for delivering assignments, adherence to the dress code and exemplify great behavior. There are currently 17 members in the National Junior Honor Society from Edmund W Miles. Middle School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163481 Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163481 Draft District-Wide Safety Plan 2021-2022 Attached is a draft of the District Safety Plan. It will be open for comment by members of the public for 30 days. On November 10, 2021, the District Safety Plan will be on the Board of Education agenda for approval after considering all public comments. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163479 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163479 Board of Education October 6, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99096211619 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 990 9621 1619 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163478 Wed, 06 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163478 Amityville Memorial High School’s Student Publishes First Book (September 2021)—Read all about it! Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Terrone Michael Fearon, referred to by many as “TJ”, published his first book earlier this year in March 2021. Terrone grew up in Hempstead and moved to Amityville in 2014 and has been an asset to the District ever since. The work for which he received publication is titled “Genesis: The Beginning” referring to the start of something new for the author. “I am incredibly proud of Terrone and all his accomplishments. I know Terrone will continue to do great things and make our school proud,” said Mr. Edward Plaia, the Principal of Amityville Memorial High School. “It’s so great to see our students strive to their full potential and go out of their comfort zone to do something as awesome as publishing a book.” The book is about a 12-year-old boy named Joshua Stevens. He discovers something about himself that puts him in danger on the first day of school that changes his life forever. Throughout his harrowing tale, Joshua finds help from friends, both old and new, which leads to Joshua and his friends facing challenges together. “I am only 15 years old and accomplished this big achievement. This shows no matter what age you’re at you can do anything you dream of doing,” said Terrone.“You just have to stop thinking and just do it. Never give up on your dreams and be confident in yourself because you all can do it. I am looking forward to my journey as an author and glad that I will have all of my family and friends here through this journey with me.” Terrone’s work was inspired by the television shows and comic books he has watched and read over the years. Joshua’s love of comic books and television translated into his passion for writing. This passion, combined with his literary abilities, was the catalyst for him deciding to write his own, original work. Terrone began work on his book during his freshman year. He worked tirelessly to develop characters and a plot that resonated with him which ultimately turned into a book worthy of being published! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163477 Mon, 04 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163477 American Rescue Plan The Community is invited to provide feedback to Dr. Joan K. Lange at jlange@amityvilleufsd.org or by calling 631-565-6037. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163474 Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:00:00 GMT false163474 Board of Education September 27, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93597128136 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 935 9712 8136 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163470 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163470 Club Day Photos 2021-22 On Tuesday, September 21st all students in the school visited our gymnasium for Club Day. Students met our extracurricular activities advisors. Students signed up for numerous clubs, learned about honor societies, received applications for our Black College and Universities tour, and more! This was a great day for students to sign up to get involved in extra-curricular activities!" http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163466 Fri, 24 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163466 EWMMS: 2021-2022 Back to School Night Schedule Click here to view the schedule. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163468 Fri, 24 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163468 Board of Education September 22, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96443525931 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 964 4352 5931 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163465 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163465 Amityville Union Free School District Appoints Dr. Shirley E. Martin as Interim Principal of Park Memorial Avenue Elementary School Amityville, NY (September 2021)—The Amityville Union Free School District recently announced Dr. Shirley E. Martin as the new interim principal at Park Memorial Avenue Elementary School. Prior to assuming this new position, Dr. Martin was the assistant superintendent for human resources and professional development in the Roosevelt Union Free School District. Dr. Martin also served as the principal of Northwest School in the Amityville School District from 2009 to 2014. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Martin serving as interim principal at Park Memorial Avenue Elementary School,” said Dr. Fale, Superintendent of Amityville Union Free School District. “Dr. Martin has continuously displayed exceptional leadership skills throughout her career. Her passion for educating students will serve her well in this new position and for these reasons, we are certain that she is the right candidate for this position.” Dr. Martin has over 40 years of experience in education. Positions previously held by Dr. Martin include assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment & technology for Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, assistant superintendent of human resources for Baldwin Union Free School District, elementary principal in Uniondale Union Free School District, and adjunct professor at Adelphi University. “I am so excited to be the new interim principal at Park Memorial Avenue Elementary School,” said Dr. Martin. “It is great to be back in the Amityville School District! In addition to the academic concentration for students, PAMES will also focus on the well-being and mental health of students and staff. We will create a culturally affirming school environment where our pupils will learn and grow!” Dr. Martin received her Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University and Master of Science and Bachelor of Art degrees from Brooklyn College. Dr. Martin also received her Professional Diploma in Education Administration from Long Island University and she was certified by Phi Delta Kappa as an associate curriculum auditor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163464 Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163464 Amityville Union Free School District Announces New Acting Principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School Amityville (N.Y)—Amityville Union Free School District is pleased to announce that Rose Hutcherson has been appointed as the new, acting principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The announcement was made during the Wednesday, September 1 Board of Education meeting. Ms. Hutcherson is a highly esteemed educator who has been in the Amityville School District for 12 years. Prior to her current position, she served as the assistant principal at Amityville Memorial High School. Ms. Hutcherson was also the director of the 21st Century After School Program and assistant principal at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. “We are ecstatic to have Ms. Hutcherson as the new acting principal,” said Dr. Edward Fale, Superintendent of the Amityville Union Free School District. “We have full confidence in Ms. Hutcherson and her ability to work with everyone to ensure the best possible academic opportunities for all our students.” Ms. Hutcherson has served as an educator for more than 25 years. She has worked with students from kindergarten through college in a variety of positions. Ms. Hutcherson has also worked for the New York State School Boards Association, as well as the New York State Department of Education. “I am incredibly honored to be the acting principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School,” said Ms. Hutcherson. “I am excited to bring my expertise and experience as an educational leader to this role. I am looking forward to working with the staff and teachers as a partner to ensure the continued success of our students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School.” Ms. Hutcherson received her Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degree from Binghamton University. She received her Master of Science degree from Albany State University and is currently a doctoral student at Hofstra University. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163463 Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163463 Board of Education September 1, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97648893176 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 976 4889 3176 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163457 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163457 Public Notice of Board of Education Meeting - Wednesday, September 1, 2021 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163456 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163456 The 2021-2022 Consolidated Grant is Now Available for Review The 2021-2022 Consolidated Grant is available for review. For further information, please contact the office of Dr. Joan K. Lange at (631) 565-6037 or by email at jlange@amityvilleufsd.org. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163454 Fri, 27 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163454 Board of Education August 24, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96554925316 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 965 5492 5316 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163451 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:00:00 GMT false163451 Middle School Academic Camp Cancelled August 23, 2021 Middle School Academic Camp Cancelled August 23, 2021 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163448 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163448 High School Athletics Will Begin Monday, August 23, 2021 High School Athletics will begin Monday, August 23, 2021 as scheduled. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163449 Sun, 22 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163449 Districtwide Welcome Back Event - 8/17/21 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163446 Fri, 13 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163446 Back to School Giveaway Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 12 PM to 4 PM at Bethel Ame Church in Copiague, NY http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163445 Fri, 13 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163445 9th Grade Orientation Letter 8/19/21 Click her to view the letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163444 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163444 COVID TESTING by Healthcare Logic: August 6, 2021 There will be COVID testing by Healthcare Logic available for adults and children in the Park Avenue School parking lot on Friday August 6, 2021 between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163443 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163443 Save The Date: Susan Amato Softball Field Dedication Save The Date! Susan Amato Softball Field Dedication: August 27, 2021, at 1:30 PM Amityville Memorial High School, 250 Merrick Road, Amityville http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163442 Wed, 04 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163442 Board of Education August 4, 2021 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Regular Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94860554759 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 948 6055 4759 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163441 Wed, 04 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163441 Board of Education July 17, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 3:45 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99835280559 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 998 3528 0559 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163438 Sat, 17 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163438 Generous Grant Boosts Amityville Lax The Amityville Memorial High School lacrosse program was the recipient of the first ever Lax Cares grant, sponsored by Stony Brook University, T-Mobile and Brine Lacrosse. The girls team received $2,500 worth of equipment, gear and supplies. Lax Cares is a grant program that provides underprivileged or up-and-coming lacrosse programs with equipment so local boys and girls can play the sport safely and effectively. Amityville introduced girls lacrosse at the club level four years ago, then as a junior varsity team the following season, creating a new opportunity for female student-athletes. The grant will help enable Amityville to continue to meet the needs of its players and generate excitement among younger students who anxiously await their own opportunity to play lacrosse. In the near future, there are plans to add a middle school girls team and a high school boys club team. The goal for Amityville is to expand the program within the next decade to the elementary schools, as well. Prior to the pandemic, lacrosse clinics were held on weekends for elementary students. In the short time the program has existed, Amityville has seen tremendous improvement in several areas for its players, including higher grades, stronger interpersonal skills and better physical health. Many athletes on the team have had little or no previous exposure to lacrosse, but picked up the skills quickly. “We are humbled and honored to be the inaugural recipient of this generous initiative,” coach Margot Howard said. “It's no secret that Amityville is home to some incredible talent, especially in the area of athletics. Up until a few years ago, however, the opportunity for this talent to flourish in lacrosse didn't exist. Bearing witness to the growth of this program in such a short time frame has been one of my greatest joys, and I am so proud of how far we have come.” Ms. Howard added that this grant will hopefully provide a catalyst for Amityville’s lacrosse program to continue to grow and reach new levels of success. She expressed gratitude to Stony Brook University, T-Mobile and Brine Lacrosse for the generous donation as well as Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Evan Farkas and the Board of Education for helping this vision come to fruition. “And of course I want to thank the wonderful athletes that have been a part of this program,” Ms. Howard said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163427 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163427 Board of Education July 7, 2021 Reorganization Meeting Zoom Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Reorganization Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98167395089 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 981 6739 5089 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163432 Wed, 07 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163432 Stars Shoot from Northwest to Park Avenue They’re known as shining stars at Northwest Elementary School, and one group of students was shining even brighter as they completed a major milestone in their educational lives. Moving-up ceremonies were held for second graders on June 22 and 23 and were livestreamed for families. Principal Kathleen Hyland said that students made this moment possible by demonstrating a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. She noted their ability to adapt to changes, as evidenced by their successful completion of both first and second grades during a global pandemic. “Learning is easy when you can accept and adapt to change,” she said. With a hybrid learning model the past year, Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo thanked parents and guardians for playing an even greater role in the education of their children. She also acknowledged the teachers for their hard work, dedication and flexibility. Their willingness to readjust their teaching styles during the pandemic to support students learning both in-person and remotely has been inspiring to watch, she said. Teachers came to the podium to announce their graduates and hand out promotion certificates. Each student stopped on a red star on the stage, pulled down his or her mask and waved to their family members watching at home. The next stop for the Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2031 will be Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School for third, fourth and fifth grades. Ms. Hyland had a few words of advice for students as they move forward on their journey: don’t be afraid to take on new challenges, learn from mistakes and always display good manners and a respectful attitude. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163426 Tue, 06 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163426 2021 Summer School Hours by School Below are the Hours of Operation for the 2021 Summer School by Building: Amityville Memorial High School: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Edmund W. Miles Middle School:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM Northwest Elementary School:8:45 AM - 12:15 PM Northeast Elementary School: 8:45 AM - 12:15 PM http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163431 Mon, 05 Jul 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163431 2021 Summer School Bus Routes by School High School Bus Routes Middle School Bus Routes Park Avenue Bus Routes Northwest Bus Routes Northeast Bus Routes http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163430 Mon, 05 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163430 Park Avenue Fifth Graders Are Ready for Middle School Determination, kindness and an ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances is what stands out about this year’s fifth grade class, explained Robyn Santiago, principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. More than 220 students were recognized at moving-up ceremonies on June 22 and 23. The events were livestreamed so families could tune in to see students cross the stage and accept their promotion certificates. In September, they will begin a new chapter about a mile away at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Ms. Santiago noted that students were introduced to many new terms over the past year that reflected the new normal. They made the best of every situation, she said, including their adjustment to the hybrid learning model. “When I visited your classrooms, I saw in-person and remote students interacting with one another while working on a presentation, sharing ideas and learning together,” she said. “You have truly become 21st century learners.” Interim Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale encouraged students to set high goals for themselves and take advantage of expanded opportunities in middle school, like extracurricular activities and sports. “This is going to be an extremely exciting opportunity for you to excel and become involved,” he said. Each class came into the auditorium as music teachers played “Pomp and Circumstance.” Teachers called the names of their graduates, and students stopped in the middle of the stage to wave to the camera and acknowledge their families watching at home before exchanging pandemic-appropriate elbow bumps with administrators. Assistant Principal Joshua Atlas announced the recipients of several awards including the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, President’s Award for Educational Achievement and Suffolk County Public Service Award. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163425 Thu, 01 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163425 Amityville UFSD State Foundation Aid Funding Plan Open for Public Commentary until 7/7/21. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163423 Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163423 Board of Education June 30, 2021 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99485080382 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 994 8508 0382 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163424 Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163424 Amityville Memorial High School Gains 237 Alumni Their wish was to graduate together, and that they did. The 237 members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2021 put on their red caps and gowns and marched onto Lou Howard Field on the morning on June 26, celebrating the culmination of 13 years of education. “Look how beautiful you are,” Principal Edward Plaia told the graduates after they arrived at the seats on the middle of the field, the new wing of the high school serving as the backdrop for the stage they faced. Proud family members filled the bleachers and lined the fence. It was only a few weeks prior that there was to be multiple graduation ceremonies, but changing restrictions allowed the entire class to be together. Valedictorian Alexander Diaz, who noted that “learning is my favorite thing to do,” talked about how failure is a necessary part of the road to success, and should only serve as motivation to try even harder. Alex said he was proud to graduate with students who hold a similar desire for success. Noah LaForest, the salutatorian, spoke about the passion for education that originates within his family. He said that hard work in classes is important but it’s equally important to work hard on self-improvement. Work hard on yourself, your mental health and your happiness, he told his fellow graduates. Board of Education President Dr. Terry Fulton said the Class of 2021 is a special group of young men and young ladies who are ready to tackle any challenges that come their way, as they survived a tough year with flying colors. “You are a special part of Amityville,” he said. “Come back and let us know your success.” Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fale said the graduates have met the very high standards of both New York State and the Amityville Union Free School District to reach this milestone. He noted that they have been afforded a rich curriculum and a wide-range of extracurricular activities. “You’ve been given all the ingredients for future success,” he said, reminding them to stick to their goals and ambitions in the next phase of life. Dr. Fale also encouraged students to get into “good trouble” by speaking up and speaking out for positive change. Mr. Plaia discussed how much has gone in the world during their last two years of high school. With increasing calls throughout the country for social justice, Amityville students demanded to be heard themselves and are strong believers in inclusivity. The global pandemic led to a hybrid learning schedule and the cancellation of many traditional senior activities, but Mr. Plaia said the recent senior prom at Jones Beach was one of the best student celebrations he has ever seen. “Our halls at Amityville Memorial High School have been blessed with exceptional students who are kind, caring and compassionate,” he said, “and who have persevered in the face of adversity.” Senior class officers Noah LaForest, Quanasia Anthony, Alexander Diaz and Genesis Perez presented their adviser, Jennifer Schulken, with flowers as a thank you for all of her guidance and support the past two years. Jalia Williamson performed a special Class of 2021 rap. Dr. Fulton recognized students who will be entering the military. After all the students received their diplomas and returned to their seats, the class officers came on stage again and led a countdown, at the end of which the graduates moved their tassels. Soon after, red hats were flying through the air as the seniors officially became Amityville alumni. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163421 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163421 Congratulations to the Class of 2021! The graduation ceremony for Amityville Memorial High School's Class of 2021 was held on June 26 on the football field. Congratulations to all of our graduates! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163420 Sat, 26 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163420 AMHS Graduation Plans and Livestream Link – June 26 at 10 a.m. Click here to view the livestream http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163407 Fri, 25 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163407 Northwest Moving Up Ceremony: June 24, 2021 Remote Access Credentials Please see the link below to access the Northwest Moving Up Ceremony at 10:30 AM on June 24, 2021. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99700438033 Webinar ID: 997 0043 8033 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163419 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 13:00:00 GMT false163419 Northwest Spring Music Showcase Videos Students in kindergarten, first and second grade at Northwest Elementary School performed in a year-end music and movement showcase, under the direction of music teacher Nicole Altamura. Cohort 1 Performances: Cohort 2 Performances: http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163417 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163417 Amityville’s First Full-Day Pre-K Class Graduates At just 4 and 5 years old, students at Northeast Elementary School are already making history. On June 17 and 18, they became the first group to graduate from the full-day pre-K program in the Amityville Union Free School District. In September, the district expanded the program from half-day to full-day. Northeast became exclusively a pre-K center and daily instructional time more than doubled. Students have now completed a year of school as kindergarten awaits them in the fall at Northwest Elementary School. Moving-up ceremonies were held in the gymnasium for the two cohorts. It began with a video of students singing a hello song, in which they learned how to say the greeting in nine different languages. Each class also performed a live musical number for their parents and special guests. Students received their promotion certificates, with their names announced by Principal Dr. Pauline Collins. “The kids, they did awesome,” Dr. Collins said, noting how well they adapted despite the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. “We made it through. We have a lot to be grateful for. The kids kept us smiling.” Dr. Collins added that watching the students learn and grow this year was a joy for herself as well as the teachers and support staff at Northeast. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163416 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163416 Northwest Moving-Up Videos NW Moving Up Ceremony #1 June 23, 2021 Full Ceremony Access Passcode: Gpt$Hb59 NW Moving Up Ceremony #2 June 24, 2021 Full Ceremony Access Passcode: q.w1?YVa Cohort 1 Musical Performance Cohort 2 Musical Performance Memories Video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163418 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163418 Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremony: June 23, 2021 Remote Access Credentials Please see the link below to access the Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremony at 8:45 AM on June 23, 2021. https://zoom.us/j/99036884229 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 990 3688 4229 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163415 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163415 Northwest Moving Up Ceremony: June 23, 2021 Remote Access Credentials Please see the link below to access the Northwest Moving Up Ceremony at 10:30 AM on June 23, 2021. https://zoom.us/j/97085945158 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Webinar ID: 970 8594 5158 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163412 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163412 Board of Education June 22, 2021 Special Remote Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94900939202 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 949 0093 9202 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163414 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 19:00:00 GMT false163414 AMHS Summer School Information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163413 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163413 Amityville Basketball Champ Shares Success Story With three state titles as a high school basketball player and several years on an NBA coaching staff, Jason Fraser had a lot to talk about as he met virtually with students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on June 10. But the most important messages were about getting a good education and having a positive attitude. Mr. Fraser was the latest Amityville alumnus to share his success story with Park Avenue students and to offer words of encouragement and motivation. In speaking with third graders, he discussed his childhood in Amityville and how his love of basketball developed. Students were excited to hear that they play at the same parks where he transformed into one of the top high school players in the country. He graduated from Amityville Memorial High School in 2002, where he won three state championships as a member of the varsity basketball team, before playing for Villanova University. Later, Mr. Fraser became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns and is now the assistant athletic director at Skyline Preparatory High School in Phoenix. This year, he was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Fraser emphasized the value of hard work, determination and good character. Recalling a story of people doubting his own chances for future success, he reminded students that they are in control of their own destiny. The videoconference ended with a question-and-answer session. In April, 1999 Amityville Memorial High School graduate Raj Parekh, the acting United States attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, spoke with Park Avenue students, followed in May by former NFL player Darrel Young, from the Class of 2005. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163410 Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163410 Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremony: June 22, 2021 Remote Access Credentials Please see the link below to access the Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremony at 8:45 AM on June 22, 2021. https://zoom.us/j/92819931252 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID:928 1993 1252 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163411 Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163411 Happy Father's Day Happy Father's Day! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163409 Sun, 20 Jun 2021 03:59:00 GMT false163409 Juneteenth Today in Amityville, we celebrate Juneteenth. On June 17, 2021, President Joseph Biden signed a bill passed by the Senate and House to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163408 Sat, 19 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163408 Bonding With Dad at Northeast The courtyard was buzzing on June 10 and 11 at Northeast Elementary School for the annual Father’s Day picnic. Every pre-K student invited a special guest for an hour and a half of family fun time. Teacher Yvette Carman said that the Father’s Day celebration is a tradition spanning at least a dozen years and is a springtime activity that children look forward to. It was an extra special moment for the pre-K students because, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was only the second in-person event for families this year at Northeast. Ms. Carman noted that celebrations like the Father’s Day picnic keep parents connected to the school community, and strengthen the home-school partnership. “It was so nice to get the families in, to see them and have them see what we’re doing with the children,” she said. There were several activities at the picnic including a bean bag toss, blowing bubbles, playing hopscotch, a hula hoop contest and taking pictures together at the photo booth. Each child and special guest got to build and decorate a birdhouse together. Before the celebration, students made Father’s Day gifts. Each class came up with its own idea including cards, picture frames, painted rocks and oversized ties. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163405 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163405 Nurturing New Life at E.W. Miles Middle School Young scientists at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District have spent the spring studying the life cycles of animals. In Rebecca Feehan’s class, students have been raising tadpoles since April, and recently, their creatures sprang feet. They are excitedly watching the tadpoles in their transformation into frogs. Students are keeping the reptiles well fed and also ensuring they have clean water to live in. Ms. Feehan noted that the students also received caterpillars this year, and watched them become butterflies before releasing them outside. In Living Environment classes with teachers Natasha Lim and Christine Quigley, students are raising Northern Bobwhite Quails. The school is taking part in a program with the Seatuck Environmental Association. The science classes received eggs, which were in an incubator for about three weeks before hatching. After the quails came to life, they were transferred to a brooder and cared for by the students, who feed them and clean their cages. They have been observing and documenting the growth and development of the birds, which will eventually be released at various parks on Long Island. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163404 Thu, 17 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163404 VIDEO: Kindergarten at Northwest Kindergarten registration is underway for the 2021-22 school year. Learn about the extensive, full-day program offered at Northwest Elementary School in this video. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163403 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163403 Board Shows Appreciation at Staff Recognition Night The Board of Education of the Amityville Union Free School District recognized nearly 40 staff members who are either retiring or have achieved a milestone level of service to the district. Staff Recognition Night, which was held on June 9, is an annual tradition to honor administrators, teachers and support staff for their dedication to Amityville’s students. Retirees include teachers Joan Peshler, Elbert Platt, Christine Quigley, Laurette Roddin, Deborah Ross and Susan Rutigliano; teacher assistants Susan McDougall, Alfreta Lidge, Patricia Monaco, Kathleen Rousseau and Yuko Suzuki; custodians James Carrington, Bernard Ricks, Anthony Tolliver and George Williams; and clerical staff Barbara Miller and Karen Petermann. Several staff members were also recognized for milestone service anniversaries with the district. 20 years: Mary Abbruscato, Nicole Altamura, Daren Aversa, Michelle Eastwood, Steven Gafarian, Selina Gibbons, Francine John, Ronnie Johns, Mary-Ellen Loiacono, Joan Peshler, Susan Rutigliano, Lauren James Seubert, Diane Stokes and Colleen Vanni. 25 years: Sherefer Arrington, Angela Gibson, Adriana Gray, Michael Greco, William Maisel and Sikes Reese. 30 years: Donnell Lewis, Karen Petermann, Deborah Ross, Steve Wexler and Gail Wittke. The Board of Education also presented a certificate of recognition to boys cross country coach Stephanie Barnes, who was named the League 7 Coach of the Year by the Suffolk County Track and Field Coaches Association. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163399 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163399 Northwest 2nd Grade Virtual Moving Up Ceremony http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163401 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163401 Zoom Link for Special Board of Education Meeting 5:30 PM Click here to view the meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163400 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163400 HS Senior Scholarship & Awards Breakfast Remote Credentials Please click the link below to join the webinar on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97545954292 Meeting ID: 975 4595 4292 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163398 Fri, 11 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163398 High School Senior Awards Ceremony The Amityville Memorial High School senior awards and scholarship presentation ceremony premieres on Thursday, June 10 at 7 p.m. It can be viewed here: Click Here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163397 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163397 Learning Comes Alive at Northeast Family Night Northeast Elementary School hosted its first in-person event of the year for families on May 27. Summer Family Learning Night featured a variety of English language arts, math and science activities. Teachers and staff worked together to create a safe and engaging learning experience for pre-K students and their families. Learning centers allowed children to build upon lessons throughout the school year. Children practiced their letter and sound recognition with alphabet BINGO, enhanced their knowledge of numbers in musical squares and explored life cycles by planting seeds. They also learned how to keep their literacy skills sharp over the summer by keeping journals. Educational resources were also provided to the families including take-home activities for the summer and information from the Amityville Public Library. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163396 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163396 Board of Education June 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96280147378 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 962 8014 7378 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163395 Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163395 Virtual Meet-up Supports Middle School Transition With the transition to middle school just a few months away for fifth graders in Amityville, they got some help from their peers who know the lay of the land. Members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School spearheaded a “Virtual Transition to Middle School” workshop for fifth graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Honor Society members, under the direction of adviser Carlee Brunson, created a presentation that included a picture tour of the middle school, a guide to block scheduling and the advisory period, and information about clubs and sports. They also discussed the expectations of middle school, the differences between elementary and middle school, requirements for NJHS and staff members they can turn to for support. The virtual program concluded with a question and answer session. Noted Park Avenue guidance counselor Kim Balducci, “Although our fifth graders can't visit the middle school this year, we brought the middle school to them.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163394 Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163394 Board of Education June 7, 2021 Emergency Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Emergency Special Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96753153186 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 967 5315 3186 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163391 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163391 Cross-Country Coach Earns Top Honor Stephanie Barnes, a cross-country and track and field coach at Amityville Memorial High School, was named the League 7 Coach of the Year for her leadership of the boys cross-country team. The honor was presented by the Suffolk County Track and Field Coaches Association. Ms. Barnes has coached the boys and girls cross-country teams for the past three years, and also coaches girls track. As a student, she ran track at Bay Shore High School, where she was an All-County, All-State and All-American athlete. After receiving a full track and field scholarship, she continued her running career at St. John’s University in Queens. She presently is a special education teaching assistant at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. This year’s cross-country season, typically in the fall, was held in March and April, as all high school seasons were modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The boys team had a successful season and Kevin Contreras was named to the second All-League team. “It means the world to me to win Coach of the Year because there has never been a female coach that has won this award for cross country at Amityville and I am proud to be the first,” Ms. Barnes said. “The most important thing for me as a coach it to make sure my athletes are not only successful in the sport but that they have fun. That they take the experiences the gained from track and become all around good people.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163388 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT false163388 Interim Superintendent is Former AMHS Administrator The Board of Education of the Amityville Union Free School District has appointed Dr. Edward Fale as interim superintendent of schools. He is a veteran administrator whose decades of leadership experience includes a tenure as assistant principal at Amityville Memorial High School in the 1980s as well as 20 years as a superintendent. Dr. Fale assumed the role on June 1 and will serve while the Board conducts a national search for the next superintendent. His career in education began at Christ the King High School in Queens, where he was a math teacher and dean of students. He came to Amityville Memorial High School in January of 1982 and was assistant principal through June 1987. Dr. Fale then served as principal of H. Frank Carey High School in the Sewanhaka School District and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Longwood School District before becoming superintendent of Valley Stream District 24, a post he held for two decades. Most recently, he was executive director for human resources in Hewlett-Woodmere. Dr. Fale has extensive knowledge of both elementary- and secondary-level education, as well as all of the functions of a district’s central office. As a superintendent, he placed a strong emphasis on educating the whole child, implementing a social and emotional learning curriculum. “It is an honor to come back to Amityville, where I got my start as a public school administrator,” Dr. Fale said. “I hope to use the knowledge and experience I have gained since then to move the district forward. Amityville is a great community where citizens take pride in their schools and are highly invested in the success of students.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163387 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT false163387 Bonding With Birds and Butterflies at Northwest Instead of just reading about it in books and on websites, students at Northwest Elementary School experienced animal life cycles first hand. Kindergartners recently raised butterflies and second graders welcomed baby chicks to their classrooms. Every kindergarten class received a cup with five caterpillars and some food. Children watched each caterpillar grow larger and eventually transform into a chrysalis. They were relocated to a small, soft cage and soon butterflies emerged. Students placed cut up oranges inside as a nutrition source. Teacher Christine Bloom said the butterflies were then released on a nice day. In second grade, every class received an incubator with several eggs. After 21 days, the eggs started to hatch and the baby chicks were born. Teacher Ada Harris said her students checked on the incubator to make sure it consistently provided the warm and humid climate needed for the eggs. Second grade teacher Annette Fox taught her students the candling technique, so they could use a light to see inside the eggs and check on the progress of the chicks. She said that it was an exciting moment for her students to watch one of the chicks hatch, as they gathered around the incubator as it broke out of its shell. After the chicks arrived, they were moved to the brooder, where children made sure they had a steady supply of food and water. Students also learned how to carefully hold the small fluffy birds. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163386 Thu, 03 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163386 Board of Education June 2, 2021 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99811676883 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 998 1167 6883 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163385 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163385 Park Avenue Virtual Spring Concert Student-musicians from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School perform in the Spring 2021 virtual concert. Click on the flyer below for links to the performances by Cohort 1 and Cohort 2. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163384 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT false163384 'Coach Jerry' Honored for 50 Years Leading Amityville Athletes For a half-century, Amityville Memorial High School’s athletes have benefitted from the tutelage of Donald “Jerry” Pollock. On May 26, he was recognized for 50 years of coaching during a ceremony before the final home meet of the season for the boys track and field team. Mr. Pollock, an Amityville graduate, started coaching in 1972. After two years leading the cross country team, he took charge of the boys track and field team. During that time, the team won more than 30 league championships, a dozen county titles and a Section XI championship. He also had long stints coaching wrestling and the boys varsity soccer team, served as interim athletics director and even did a year coaching both the boys and girls track teams. His contributions to the Amityville community extend beyond his work with athletes. Mr. Pollock taught at Edmund W. Miles Middle School for 33 years, worked with the Summer at Amityville Beach program, served on the Village of Amityville Planning Board, coached multiple youth sports teams in Amityville and organized an annual 4.6 mile run from the train station to the beach. Boys track and field coach Reynolds Hawkins was once one of Mr. Pollock’s athletes, and later they began coaching together. During the ceremony, Mr. Hawkins read the inscription on the plaque honoring Mr. Pollock that will now hang at the high school. “He has meant a lot to the program, to the school and to all of these athletes,” Mr. Hawkins said, noting that this was a needed and deserved honor for Mr. Pollock. “Every program that he has put his hands on, he has been successful with.” Approximately 30 athletes coached by Mr. Pollock, past and present, gathered behind him during the ceremony. Mr. Hawkins said this was “just a touch” of his 50 years of coaching in Amityville and reflects the respect that Mr. Pollock has earned. Wrestling coach William Maisel spoke fondly of the years he and Mr. Pollock coached together, saying he learned so much from his friend. “Jerry Pollock is the reason I was a successful coach,” Mr. Maisel said. “He was definitely the mentor that I needed.” Mr. Pollock said one the greatest pleasures of his career was coaching his own children, who all attended Amityville Memorial High School. He coached Danny (Class of 1990) in wrestling, Kevin (1994) in soccer and wrestling and Jason (1995) in soccer. Kevin said his father has an ability to turn good athletes into great athletes, and always works to help his students compete at a high level. He also said that many of his father’s former athletes, in going on to become coaches themselves, use Jerry Pollock as their role model. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163383 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163383 Board of Education March 28, 2021 Special Remote Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access the Board of Education Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 2:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/91431096299 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID:914 3109 6299 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163381 Fri, 28 May 2021 15:00:00 GMT false163381 Districtwide Spring Art Show Amityville’s virtual spring art showcase features a variety of student artwork from Northeast Elementary School, Northwest Elementary School, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School. Click here to view the showcase: Click Here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163382 Fri, 28 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163382 Virtual Spring Concerts Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School student-musicians from the band, chorus and orchestra performed in virtual spring concerts. Please click on the flyer below for links to the performances. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163379 Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163379 District-wide Safety Plan - Open for Public Comment http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163380 Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163380 Board of Education May 26, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 6:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/96292602453 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID:962 9260 2453 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163378 Wed, 26 May 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163378 Amityville Artist Awarded for Issues Interpretation Jiovanni Saint Jean, a 10th grader at Amityville Memorial High School, was a winner in the 2021 Long Island Youth Summit art contest. Students had the opportunity to create artwork reflecting a variety of societal issues, and Jiovanni was the overall winner in the poverty category. The Youth Summit was held virtually in April and included speakers, workshops and an awards ceremony. It is designed to engage high school students in an exploration of current issues relating to economics, the environment, medicine and more. Jiovanni completed his artwork as a class assignment, and art teacher Jayne Grasso entered pieces from several Amityville students into the competition. Winners were selected based on how well they applied art to the respective issue. They also had to include a short description with their artwork. “The art is often very interpretive,” said Amityville business educator Dr. Diane Impagliazzo, who is also a member of the Long Island Youth Summit’s Steering Committee. “Our students always step forward and are able to express themselves both in art and in literature." On May 17, Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander and Long Island Youth Summit Chairwoman Dr. Nathalia Rogers visited Amityville Memorial High School to congratulate Jiovanni. For his prize, he received a pair of round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines to a destination of his choice in the United States. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163377 Wed, 26 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163377 Former NFL Player, Amityville Grad Motivates the Next Generation Darrel Young reflects fondly on his career as a professional football player, but his time as a student in Amityville Union Free School District also invokes many fond memories. Young connected with fourth graders virtually at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on May 17, and they listened with excitement as he talked about his childhood and his career. Young graduated in 2005 from Amityville Memorial High School, where he played football for the Warriors. He then attended Villanova University, followed by a six-year playing career in the NFL with Washington. In addition to sharing his experiences a player, he was able to talk with students about his new job as director of player development for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the videoconference, Young shared some words of wisdom. He spoke to students about setting goals and aspirations, as well as how to be motivated to reach their desired life outcomes. He also discussed how the education he received in Amityville and how it set him up for success in adulthood. Young noted the importance of living a selfless life. He said he begins every day asking himself, “Who can I help today?” and “How can I help them?” and ends every day by asking, “Who did I help today?” and “How did I help them?” Fourth grade teacher Leighann Ruggiero said that as a former Amityville student, he related very well to current Park Avenue students, who were engaged throughout the discussion. She noted that Young’s message about personal responsibility and being accountable for one’s own actions was very powerful for students. “He was great, and the students had a lot of great questions,” Ms. Ruggiero said. “He reminded them that they can do anything they put their minds to. It was a positive message that will help motivate and encourage them.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163375 Mon, 24 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163375 Virtual Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Amityville Memorial High School student-musicians who have excelled in band, chorus and orchestra were inducted into the National Tri-M Music Honor Society. View the virtual induction ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdXDRO4eJ_s&t=1s http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163373 Thu, 20 May 2021 23:00:00 GMT false163373 Board of Education May 20, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 6:15 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98301538660 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 983 0153 8660 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163374 Thu, 20 May 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163374 Northwest Marks Better Hearing and Speech Month May is Better Hearing and Speech Month and the speech therapists at Northwest Elementary School are raising awareness about the services they deliver to foster language development. Patrice Scavo and Katherine Thorn explained that they provide a wide range of support to children. Much of the work focuses on language enrichment, such as helping children improve their grammar skills and understand sentence structure. They also discuss good communication practices – ears listening, eyes looking and brains thinking – and show students how to follow directions. Noting that teachers spend much of their day talking, they support their colleagues by sharing vocal care techniques. For Better Hearing and Speech Month, each of Ms. Scavo’s and Ms. Thorn’s students drew a picture based on the prompt, “What Good Communication Means To Me” which were hung together in a collage near their office. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163372 Thu, 20 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163372 Board of Education May 18, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Meeting, beginning at 9:45 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95293310449 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID:952 9331 0449 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163368 Tue, 18 May 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163368 Budget Approved/Presupuesto Aprobado Budget Approved/Presupuesto Aprobado Yes (Si) 905 No 394 Board of Education Election/Elecciones de la Junta de Educacion: Seat of Jeannette Santos (Asiento de Jeannette Santos) *Jeannette Santos 966 Peter Collorafi 277 Seat of Juan Leon (Asiento de Juan Leon): *Juan Leon 801 Howard Rosenberg 196 Jayson Smith 310 Seat of David Heller (Asiento de David Heller) *David Heller 976 Wendy Canestro 292 * Elected (fideicomisarios electos) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163369 Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163369 Northwest Students Make Memories, Then a Book Only in second grade, students in Maria Cottone’s class at Northwest Elementary School can already call themselves published authors. The class created a book, with each child receiving a copy, as a culminating activity in the personal narrative writing unit. Each student wrote a small moment story, about a special memory in his or her life. Ms. Cottone said that children could write their stories in either English or Spanish, and also included an illustration. The stories were compiled together in a bound, hardcover book as a memento for every student. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163367 Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163367 Mastering the Alphabet Letter by Letter at Northeast There are 26 letters to learn, and pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District are taking time to master each one. Every week, students are introduced to a new “letter of the week” with different activities to help them understand how it sounds, how to write it and what words start with the letter. Through class discussions, craft projects and videos, children build their letter recognition skills as they continue on their path toward becoming better readers and writers and building their vocabularies. In celebrating the letter “T," students in Jacqueline Floyd’s class watched a video, where they moved along by writing uppercase and lowercase T’s with their fingers. Teacher Andrew Babington created a giant “T” with pictures of different objects that start with the letter, such as a table, a taxi and a turtle. Children in Lisa Iannotta’s class are making a book with all of the different letters of the week with pictures made from their handprints. Each week, they add a new page with an illustration of an animal or food that starts with the letter. For “T” week, they made tigers with orange paint. At the end of the year, her students will take their books home as a memento. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163366 Fri, 14 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163366 Board of Education May 12, 2021 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94762271576 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 947 6227 1576 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163365 Wed, 12 May 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163365 Northwest Honors Sacrifices of Military Families Not only do men and women make sacrifices to serve in the United States military, but so do their families. In April, which is designated as Month of the Military Child, Northwest Elementary School recognized the children of members of the Armed Forces. On April 28 and 29, students and staff were encouraged to wear purple to school to show their support. The mother of one child sent in a video, who spoke about her role in the military and what it’s like as a military parent. She even gave students a virtual tour of her base. A father of another Northwest student sent in photos. In art class, students made cards for military families. On paper shaped like butterflies, each child created a design on one side and wrote a personalized message on the other side. Teacher Lydia Robinson shared some words with students, like brave and courage, that they could include. The cards would be distributed to families through the parent of a Northwest child currently serving in the military. Social worker Debra Lee, who coordinated Northwest’s celebration of military families, said the goal was give students and appreciation for the different branches of the military and the sacrifices made by both those who serve and their family members. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163364 Wed, 12 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163364 Spring Sports Return in Amityville For the first time in two years, Amityville’s spring athletes are competing against their Suffolk County peers. Last year’s season was canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic, and although the 2021 season is abbreviated, students are proud to be representing the Warriors in multiple sports. Amityville’s spring season includes baseball, softball, girls lacrosse and boys and girls track and field. Junior Mia Skye Bradley-Hannibal is the catcher for the softball team and is excited for her first season as the varsity backstop. “I’m just glad that we’re able to play and I’m ready to get us some wins,” she said. Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health, said it is nice to see the fields buzzing again with activity. He noted that there were some successes in the shortened winter and fall season, including an appearance in the semifinal round of the playoffs for the boys soccer team. “I’m very proud of our athletes,” he said. “Despite all of the challenge and all of the safety protocols, they’ve had great enthusiasm and energy, and have accomplished so much this year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163363 Mon, 10 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163363 AMHS Graduation Update: English/Español http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163360 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163360 VIDEO: Happy Mother’s Day! Through song and dance, pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School celebrate the important women in their lives! Staff members also share Mother’s Day messages. Click here to watch the video. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163361 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163361 Board of Education May 5, 2021 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special Monthly Meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94012403706 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 940 1240 3706 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163359 Wed, 05 May 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163359 Amityville Walks, Wears Blue for Autism Awareness To close out Autism Awareness Month in April, students in the Amityville Union Free School District brought attention to the disorder that is estimated to affect 1 in 54 children nationwide. Students and staff at Edmund W. Miles Middle School took part in the Light It Up Blue campaign, and were encouraged to wear blue to school on Thursdays and Fridays throughout April. The school also made a donation to Autism Speaks. Math chairperson Monica Martin said that students learned about the importance of accepting others for their differences as well as how to be inclusive of students with autism. Northeast Elementary School held its first autism awareness walk on April 29 and 30. Pre-K students walked four laps around the school garden. During class time, they modeled awareness by being helpful, showing kindness, being a friend and sharing. The students received certificates of completion to bring home to their families. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163358 Wed, 05 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163358 Young Minds Bloom at Northeast The warmer weather of spring means blooming flowers, plants and trees, and pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School explored the season of rebirth by getting their hands a little dirty. In Lisa Carey’s class, children learned about the different parts of the flower, then made their own flowers using Play-Doh. They also planted lima bean and sunflower seeds in cups of dirt. Dyan Aversa’s pre-K students studied the lifecycle of a flower the different parts of a butterfly. They made crafts to highlight the growth pattern of a flower and planted bean seeds. A garden will soon be growing in Yvette Carmen’s class, but only she knows what will blossom. After reading “The Surprise Garden” by Zoe Hall, her students then made their own garden filled with mystery seeds. They planted the seeds, which came in different sizes, shapes and colors, and will keep daily growth logs. The children are excited to see what flowers and plants will soon be coming to their classroom. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163354 Mon, 03 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163354 Board of Education April 30, 2021 Special Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97364038533 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 973 6403 8533 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163353 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:30:00 GMT false163353 Pumped Up for Poetry at Northwest April is National Poetry Month so even though students at Northwest Elementary School have been reading poems all year, recently they have done a little extra. Several teachers combined poetry and song as a unique and engaging way to teach children about rhyme and rhythm. In Mackenzie Sipp’s and Jaclyn Wittschiebe’s first grade class, students were immersed in the poem, “Five Little Ducks.” They began each day by singing it aloud before using it to focus on different literacy skills. Children searched for rhyming words, different consonant combinations known as digraphs, and vowel teams. Meredith Cohen’s first graders analyzed “Bee and Sheep.” Students closed their eyes as she read the poem aloud. When she was done, they opened their eyes and drew what they imagined in their heads in their poetry journals. With her guitar in hand, first grade teacher Margaret Brooks led singalongs of different poems. Appropriate for National Poetry Month, students sang the lines to “April.” They also learned a poem about the letter Y – how it can sometimes sound like E and other times like I. Her students have their own poetry binders filled with thematic poems about different seasons and academic subjects. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163352 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163352 Board of Education April 27, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special remote meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94883594207 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 948 8359 4207 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163351 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 19:00:00 GMT false163351 Video: National Junior Honor Society Induction Recognized for their academic success, 17 students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society in a virtual ceremony. Congratulations to: Brianna Alvarado, Ashly Ayala, Heidy Chavez, Steven Chavez, Cristian Chicas, Ryan Daly, Zayla DeJesus, Ayaanah Ellis, Antoine Hilton, Robert Johnson, Robert Leach, Alliyah McQueen, Aurora Morales, Kelly Sanchez Penate, Jolieth Smth, Sage Stephens and Blessing Williamson. Click here to view the virtual induction ceremony http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163349 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163349 Free Bilingual Storytime/Hora de cuentos bilingüe gratis Click here to register http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163350 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163350 Embracing the Warrior Way at Park Avenue A new character education program at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School is celebrating all of the traits that come with being an Amityville Warrior. Assistant Principal Joshua Atlas said the new Warrior Weeks initiative will continue for six weeks with lots of spirit activities centered around Warrior Pride. The first five weeks each focus on different pillar based on the school’s acronym, PAMES – positivity, achievement, motivation, engagement and staying safe. The last week will incorporate all five character education pillars and include a door decorating contest. During positivity week, each teacher picked a Positive Warrior the Day. Every class made a positive vision board outlining their goals. During lunch periods, students wrote positive letters to other people in the building, and a group of students traveled around the building each day to deliver the mail. Mr. Atlas said that character education, which is a part of the school’s social and emotional learning program, continues to be a major emphasis at Park Avenue. He added that positive behavior leads to more engagement in instruction, setting students up for success in their academics and helping them develop better relationships with their teachers and their peers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163348 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163348 Earth Day Museum Dedicated to Recycling at Northeast Pre-K students took a tour of the Earth Day museum on April 22 at Northeast Elementary School. They were able to explore the projects created by the peers using recycled materials. The purpose of the museum was to show students how materials could be reused to make something new. Children used the bottom half of water bottles to make flower pots, built a birdhouse from a cardboard box and lava lamps with plastic bottles, water, oil and food coloring. Classes even made educational games out of recycled materials. Children could match the letters on wooden sticks with the letter on an upside down egg carton, and fill containers with a certain number of objects to match the number. Students tapped into their artistic abilities by using bottle caps, cardboard tubes, CDs, clothespins and more to make various crafts, from bees to butterflies to elephants. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163347 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163347 Amityville Grad Connects With Park Avenue Students A successful legal career for Raj Parekh is the result of receiving a strong education in the Amityville Union Free School District, and that was his message to students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Mr. Parekh, who was named the acting United States attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia in January, connected with students at his former school virtually on April 8. Classes throughout the school tuned in for the Google Meet videoconference with the 1999 Amityville Memorial High School graduate. Park Avenue students were excited to hear from someone who attended the same schools as them, and were very interested in his Amityville memories. Mr. Parekh discussed his legal career leading up to his appointment as acting attorney of an office of approximately 300 federal prosecutors, civil litigators and support personnel across four divisions located in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News. Students enjoyed hearing about a typical day on the job for him and were delighted to hear that he has even met a couple of presidents. Before the videoconference, students identified what they wanted to learn about him, and each class submitted a few questions. Children learning remotely also were able to log on from their Chromebooks and ask questions live using the chat feature. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163344 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163344 HS Parent Teacher Conference Information AMHS Parent Conference Letter Parent Teacher Conference Links http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163343 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163343 Virtual National Art Honor Society Induction Amityville Memorial High School students have been recognized for their creativity and excellence in art classes with induction into the National Art Honor Society. View the virtual induction ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLHEhfSl5U8 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163340 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT false163340 Pre-K Registration Information Click here to view the flyer http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163338 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163338 VIDEO: Amityville Pre-K Program The pre-K program at Northeast Elementary School was expanded to a full day this year, providing additional time for academic support, socialization and student-teacher connections. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163335 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163335 Spring 2021 Reopening of Schools Parent/Guardian Survey Spring 2021 Reopening of Schools Survey Encuesta sobre la Reapertura de Escuelas en la primavera de 2021 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163337 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163337 Flying Kites for Knowledge at Miles Middle School After a month of designing and building, eighth graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School put the finishing touches on their kites and then went outside to explore the laws of physics. Students in Christine Quigley’s STEAM class studied the science of flight, learning about drag, gravity and thrust. They then built their own tetrahedral kites, which have greater surface area to catch more wind. Supplies they used included straws, string, tissue paper and glue. When it was time to fly on March 26, students brought their kites outside and ran across the back lawn, to see how high their kites flew and for how long. They then returned to the classroom to discuss the results, analyze their designs and identify improvements they could make. Ms. Quigley said the lesson came from NASA’s STEM website and also helped students learn about the scientific method. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163334 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163334 Virtual National Honor Society Induction Amityville Memorial High School students who have excelled in their academics were inducted into the National Honor Society. View the virtual induction ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlQ8o2OfgMA http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163332 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:00:00 GMT false163332 AMHS Virtual Honor Society Induction, 4/15/21 @ 7 p.m. Amityville Memorial High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony Premieres: Thursday, April 15 @ 7 p.m. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlQ8o2OfgMA http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163331 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163331 Board of Education April 14, 2021 Regular Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education regular meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98150421291 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 981 5042 1291 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163329 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163329 Amityville Music Program Nationally Recognized Whether learning how to sing or play an instrument, Amityville remains a great place to cultivate those talents. The Amityville Union Free School District was once again named to the Best Communities for Music Education list from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. Amityville received this honor for the 11th time, and was one of 686 school districts in the country named to the list in 2021. The Best Communities for Music Education program has acknowledged schools and districts across the United States for their commitment to and support of music education in schools. A survey measured a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition, among others. “I’m extremely pleased that we’ve been given this honor again,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Frances Fernandez “I’m very proud of the programs in Amityville and how they've grown over the years and I look forward to more growth in the future.” Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amityville’s music program has remained strong. Small group instruction continues at all levels, complying with social distancing requirements. The music department produced virtual concerts last spring and winter, and will again this spring. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163328 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:00:00 GMT false163328 VIDEO: World Language Honor Society Induction Students from Amityville Memorial High School who have excelled in their studies of French and Spanish were inducted into the World Language Honor Society. Click here to view video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163326 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163326 Board of Education April 12, 2021 Special Budget Meeting Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special budget meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/91580603896 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 915 8060 3896 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163325 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 20:30:00 GMT false163325 Amityville Teachers Earn Grants For Terrific Tech Use The innovative ideas of three teachers in the Amityville Union Free School District resulted in $2,000 in grant awards, which will be used to further enhance learning opportunities for students. Amityville teachers received two out of the five Model Schools awards from Western Suffolk BOCES for their creative use of instructional technology. Northwest Elementary School co-teachers Kerrin Faulkner and Jenny Smith earned one of the $1,000 awards and Amityville Memorial High School social studies Jack Zider received the other. Ms. Faulkner and Ms. Smith have taught second grade together for the past four years and have continued to expand the use of technology to engage their students. Every year, students complete nonfiction writing pieces, including a research-based project on topics of their choice. This year, the project came about right after holiday break, but with Amityville schools on remote learning for the first two weeks of January, they looked for a new way for students to complete their projects. The teachers turned to Book Creator, an app that students could access from their Chromebooks at home. Instead of paper projects, students created digital books on topics ranging from animals to historical events to sports. Ms. Faulkner and Ms. Smith said the addition of the technology component raised the level of engagement among students, who worked extremely hard to create their digital books. They were so proud of their finished products, the teachers said, they couldn’t wait to share with their classmates. All of the books were compiled into a digital book museum. “This technology really lifted the level of their writing,” Ms. Faulkner said. “It also really opened our eyes to new possibilities for the future.” The teachers added that in addition to helping them with their research skills, the project showed students the important of including different text and non-text features in their writing, like photos and graphics, a table of contents, a glossary and fun facts pages. For Black History Month in February, ninth graders in Mr. Zider’s social studies classes created a “Periodic Table of African-American Achievement in History” using Google Slides and Jamboard. Students, working independently or in small groups, created an interactive database in which they identified the accomplishments of notable Black figures throughout history. In addition to their Google Slide and Jamboard presentations, students created Flipgrid videos describing the impact those individuals made on society. The ninth graders explained why they chose their particular subjects and why their accomplishments should be celebrated. The projects were uploaded to their digital portfolios on Google Sites and shared with sixth graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. “It’s very exciting,” Mr. Zider said of receiving the grant, “but all of the credit goes to the students. They really made it come to life. I’m just happy that they're being recognized for how dedicated they were to this project.” Mr. Zider, who taught at the middle school for six years before moving to the high school this year, said that digital citizenship is an important part of social studies education He explained that the work his students do now should prepare them for the digital world they will experience after graduation, which is why he uses technology to such a great extent in his classroom. Ms. Faulkner, Ms. Smith and Mr. Zider will be able to use the grant money to pick out instructional resources of their choosing for their classrooms to enhance opportunities for their students. They will be honored at a Model Schools virtual celebration later this year and will be invited to speak for a few minutes about their projects. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163323 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163323 Amityville Students Get Civic Engagement Experience Two Amityville Memorial High School students connected with their peers from Long Island as well as state legislative leaders through their participation in the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute. Senior Tatiana Barrera and junior Fatima Mendez Oliva took part in the virtual conference on March 13 and 14. The event is a collaboration between the New York State Assembly and the New York State Education Department’s Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages. It included civic engagement workshops, cultural events, a mock assembly, student recognition and a scholarship presentation. The girls heard from keynote speaker Dolores Huerta, an American labor leader and Civil Rights activist, and attended the Saturday night performance by singer Taína Asili. Tatiana and Fatima learned about the different branches of New York State government and how a bill becomes a law. They also heard about legislation currently in front of the Assembly that could impact the Latino community. The students were chosen to represent Amityville by the English as a New Language and World Languages Department. Director Mary Stephens said students are chosen each year for this valuable leadership and empowerment opportunity, and she was glad that, despite the pandemic, it continued virtually so Tatiana and Fatima could participate. Before the conference, they took part in three virtual training sessions with BOCES. Each student was also assigned to a mentor from the Assembly. Tatiana was paired with Michaelle Solages, an assemblywoman from western Nassau County, and Fatima was with Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, whose district includes Amityville and North Amityville. In a mock Assembly session, Tatiana and Fatima were able to discuss and debate issues with students from other high schools. Because some participants are more comfortable with English and others with Spanish, arguments were presented in both languages. Tatiana and Fatima said they enjoyed the experience because it helped with their public speaking skills and showed them the importance of respectful dialogue. Not only did it help build confidence sharing their own opinions, but it gave them an opportunity to listen to and consider other people’s viewpoints and ideas. “It was a good experience,” Tatiana said. “It helped me develop life skills.” Fatima added that it brought to life lessons about government from her social studies classes. Students also took part in an arts experience, showing how they can have a voice through the arts. They were split into smaller groups based on their areas of interest. Tatiana submitted a photography project about an environmental issue, using a picture she took of a big plot of land of trees cleared near her home. Fatima did a drama presentation about her ambitions and aspirations. The girls said they learned about the importance of participating in the political process and knowing who represents them at different levels of government. Their voices have power, they said, which they can use to advocate for positive changes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163321 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:00:00 GMT false163321 Board of Education April 7, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/91076934813 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 910 7693 4813 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163320 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163320 Headbands for History at E.W. Miles Middle School Rosie the Riveter, a cultural icon representing the women who went to work during World War II, was celebrated on March 26 at Edmund W. Miles Middle School for Women’s History Month. Students learned about Rosie the Riveter in social studies classes and how the fictional character was based on an actual factory worker. She symbolized the increase of women in the workforce in the 1940s. To mark the occasion, Assistant Principal Lurdez Berrios brought in dozens of red and white polka dot bandanas, which students and staff donned in front of a “We Can Do It!” bulletin board outside the cafeteria, reminiscent of the Rosie the Riveter poster. Also for Women’s History Month, there were lessons about International Women’s Day, the changing roles of women during the 1920s, the Women’s Suffrage movement, the Temperance Movement and access to education for young women around the world. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163319 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163319 Celebrating Amityville's Female Athletes Amityville Memorial High School celebrated Women’s History Month in March with a tribute to the Warriors female athletes. Students on all of the fall sports teams, which is the current athletic season, received gray and red “I Am A Warrior” T-shirts with silhouettes of girls playing multiple sports. Students also shared what being a female athlete means to them. Cheerleader Dana Rickenbacker, who grew up attending her older brothers’ football games and wrestling matches, aspired to have the same sense of belonging to a team when she reached high school. “I wanted to be a part of a group where we are all passionate about what we are doing,” Dana said. “Having a sisterhood in cheer is one of the things I love most. I can talk to anyone about cheerleading but they don't understand it; no one would unless you are a cheerleader yourself. In school, cheerleading is my motivation and seeing as this year has been strange, cheerleading has been pushing me more than ever because I want to maintain being a scholar-athlete.” Quanasia Anthony said being a member of the volleyball team lets her do what she loves, while basketball player Makayla Warrick said her success shows that young women have the power to do anything they put their minds too. “I feel confident while playing sports because it's empowering to do what I can do to the best of my abilities,” added tennis player Makayla Gunter. “To improve myself psychically, mentally and socially makes me feel better about myself. Being on the tennis team for more than a year has greatly improved my self-esteem.” She added that she strives to become a positive role model and ambassador for the sport like famous tennis players like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. Tchama Louis of the track and field and cross-country teams likes sports because it brings her together with other people and teaches valuable lessons such as goal-setting, respect, teamwork and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Soccer player Genesis Perez says sports helps her feel more confident in her own skin. “We build a family with other empowering women and girls,” Genesis said. “It means having the opportunity to inspire other girls and being able to learn from them each and every day.” Gianely McCatty, of the softball team, said being a woman in sports means more to her than just the gender, label or the difference between a man in sports. “I take pride in playing a sport, and so should everyone else,” she said. “With that being said, being a woman in sports is more than just playing, it’s an encouragement for change.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163318 Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163318 Park Avenue Students are Wild About Reading From guest readers to a bookmark contest, there was a big emphasis on literacy throughout March at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. It was Pick a Reading Partner month and this year’s theme was “Get your paws on a good book." PARP kicked off on March 1 with teachers reading their favorite books aloud to their classes. The following day was the birthday of renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss, so librarian Tim Quinn visited classrooms dressed as the Cat in the Hat. March featured both in-person and virtual guest readers. Family members of third, fourth and fifth graders as well as Village of Amityville police officers shared books in virtual read alouds. Administrators including Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Principal Robyn Santiago and Assistant Principal Joshua Atlas visit classrooms to read. Park Avenue students also made digital connections with their peers from other schools. They were paired up to read with children at Northwest Elementary School, and took part in virtual read alouds with members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. “The community outreach has broadened because we have the virtual component,” instructional coach Laura Maurer said. There were mystery readers during the morning announcements, and the first student to guess the reader correctly each day received a prize. Participants also had a chance to earn prizes by logging the minutes spent reading at home with family members. Students came dressed up for several spirit days in March. They donned their school colors to show they are proud Amityville readers, wore jerseys as a reminder that learning is a team sport, wore clothing with paw prints to show they are wild about reading and cuddled with a good book on pajama day. This year’s bookmark contest was based on the PARP theme and students could enter either a hand-drawn or computer-illustrated picture, allowing remote students to participate. This year’s winners were Emely Caceres Romero in third grade, Tiarra Ruddock in fourth grade and Daniela Ramirez in fifth grade. Children’s author Amy Mucha had a read aloud and Q&A session with Jennifer Zider’s third grade class. As a closing activity, “Scuba Steve” author Steven Kamlet presented at virtual PARP Family Night on March 22. The Amityville Parent-Teacher Council purchased 50 autographed copies of his book which were raffled off to students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163315 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163315 PAMES Testing 2021 Letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163316 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163316 Board of Education March 25, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special remote meeting, beginning at 6:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98695123651 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 986 9512 3651 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163312 Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:25:00 GMT false163312 Northeast Students Create Healthy Habits at a Young Age Not only are pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School learning how to become readers, writers and mathematicians, but they are learning how to live long and healthy lives. For Amityville’s youngest learners, that means focusing on healthy eating. Students recently have been learning what food should be part of a regular diet, and what food should only be eaten occasionally. In Lisa Iannotta’s class, pre-K students were given pictures of items from supermarket circulars and sorted them into “everyday food” and “sometimes food” lists. Children in Yvette Carman’s class had a group discussion to identify the foods they should and shouldn’t eat daily, then made their own chart. Items like meat, milk, fruits, vegetables and yogurt were in the everyday category, while cake and cookies, French fries, potato chips and soda were deemed sometimes food. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163310 Wed, 24 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163310 Board of Education March 23, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Special meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95390560658 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 953 9056 0658 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163308 Tue, 23 Mar 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163308 Amityville Schools Connect for Kindness Kindness spread from one Amityville school to another, as students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School connected with their younger peers at Northwest Elementary School for a virtual character education program on March 15. Members of the middle school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter spoke to two kindergarten classes and two first grade classes in the first of several digital meet-ups. Each group of Honor Society students was paired with a specific class so they could directly connect with the Northwest children over Google Meet. Students learning both in school and remotely were able to join in the discussion about kindness. Honor Society members created digital presentations that Northwest students could view on the classroom digital display boards or on their Chromebooks. The middle school students found many creative ways to spread the message of kindness. They included stories such as “A Joy Story” and “Snow White” in their digital presentations and made interactive games with questions about kindness using Kahoot. Honor Society members also asked the kindergartners and first graders to identify ways they show kindness to others either in school or at home, and challenged them to perform random acts of kindness. Northwest Elementary School Principal Kathleen Hyland said that in a typical school year, Honor Society members visit the school to read to the children and to assist with evening events. Because of the pandemic, she and adviser Carlee Brunson wanted to find a new way for the middle school and elementary school students to connect, so they decided on the virtual meet-ups, featuring character education lesson and read alouds. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163306 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163306 Knowledge in a Pot of Gold at Northwest St. Patrick’s Day served as inspiration for students at Northwest Elementary School to enhance their literacy and math skills. Many children donned green on March 16 and 17 as they participated in activities centered around the festive holiday. Kindergartners created word families based on “at” on green leprechaun hats. They also worked on writing completing sentences using prompts such as “I feel lucky when…” and “Who is worth more to me than a pot of gold?” Their teachers read aloud several St. Patrick’s Day books including “How to Catch a Leprechaun” and “Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase.” First graders tapped into their imaginations and wrote a few sentences describing what they would do with a pot of gold. Second graders worked on their math fluency. They solved double digit equations on coins at the end of a rainbow and wrote two numbers on a pair of shamrocks to make 10. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163303 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163303 Amityville Fall Athletes Welcome Return of Sports The calendar may say March, but the fall sports season is in full swing in the Amityville Union Free School District. The return of high school sports following the shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic began with winter sports in January, followed by a condensed fall season, and ending with spring sports. At Amityville Memorial High School, the cheerleading, cross country, football, boys and girls soccer, girls tennis and girls volleyball teams are back in action. The athletes are following all safety protocols as they look to make the most of the experience. Senior Genesis Perez is excited to be back on the soccer field donning her red Warriors jersey. “Although it is a short season, it is great to be able to have our last season during our senior year,” she said. Cristian Escobar, a senior on the boys soccer team, said it is good to again feel the energy and enthusiasm that comes with competition. He plans to enjoy every minute of the soccer season, even if it is a little different than years past. “Representing Amityville feels good,” Cristian said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163299 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:00:00 GMT false163299 E.W. Miles Middle School is a Community of Readers Reading is all the rage at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and both students and staff are joining in. This year, the school introduced Drop Everything and Read, commonly known as DEAR, which is a nationwide initiative that encourages students, families and community members to drop what they are doing and spend time reading for a designation period of time. Humanities Chairwoman Leslie Ciliotta said that DEAR is held every other day during the morning advisory block for 20 minutes. Because it is a school initiative, it’s not just the students who can be found reading, but also the teachers, administrators and support staff. Ms. Ciliotta announces when it’s time to start and stop. “This year we really focused on building a community of readers,” she said, “with the goal of fostering a love for reading that would then translate into improved academic performance.” Ms. Ciliotta added that students can use both print and digital books. The district has subscriptions to Epic! and myON, where they can access thousands of titles from their Chromebooks. Since DEAR is independent reading time, students are able to choose books and genres of personal interest. English language arts teachers collaborated to create the Reader Leaders initiative. Each month they are encouraged to submit reviews of the books they have been reading for DEAR, which reinforces literary analysis skills. At the end of the month, teachers then recommend students to be recognized as reader leaders. In addition to having their names announced over the loudspeaker, they can earn prizes such as books, Warrior Bucks, candy and McDonalds gift certificates. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163297 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false163297 3/12/2021 Emergency Board of Education Remote Meeting Public Notice and Access Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education Emergency Special Remote Meeting, beginning at 5:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94143623112 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 941 4362 3112 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163294 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:00:00 GMT false163294 Music in Our Schools Month Student musicians at Edmund W. Miles Middle School take part in small-group, socially distanced instrumental music lessons, led by orchestra teacher Dr. Christine Klimek and band director Anthony Abate. March is the National Association for Music Education's "Music in Our Schools Month." http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163292 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163292 Virtual ENL Parent Night http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163291 Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163291 Board of Education March 10, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99519868424 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 995 1986 8424 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163290 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163290 Park Avenue Students Immersed in Inquiry and Investigation For curious minds at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, a new science program is satisfying their thirst for knowledge about the world around them. The Amityville Union Free School District adopted the Amplify Science program for grades K-7 following extensive research. The program was adopted following the recommendation of a science committee, which consisted of teachers, learning coaches and administrators. They were tasked with finding curriculum resources that are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and included a substantial technology component. Third grade teacher Georgette Thompson said that Amplify’s curriculum covers a wide range of areas, from biology to meteorology to physics. This year her students have been learning about balancing forces, genetics, the environment and weather. “There’s a little bit of everything,” she said. Ms. Thompson also noted that the program has many digital resources so students learning in school and at home can be involved in scientific inquiry together. It includes many informational slideshows which she can present on the Smart Board or have students view on their individual Chromebook screens. For a recent lesson on inheritance and traits, third graders looked at photos of three different bears. They had to note the similarities and differences of the bears, and write down their findings in their investigation notebooks. Ms. Thompson explained to them how scientists use their senses to make observations. Fourth graders in Johanna Feliz’s class recently conducted a hands-on experiment to study simple systems. Each student received a bag of supplies including a small solar panel, two wires and motorized fan. They had to hook up the different components and if they did so correctly, the fan would spin when holding up the solar panel to a light. She said this demonstrated to them how energy is transferred within a system. Ms. Feliz said that one great components of the science program that all units are based on finding solutions to real-world problems. Before building their simple systems, students learned about blackouts and what have been the causes of actual power failures. Another aspect she likes is the integration of scientific vocabulary throughout a unit. Students learn how to think and speak like scientists and engineers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163288 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:00:00 GMT false163288 A Salute to Silly Stories at Northeast Children had a reason to rhyme at Northeast Elementary School as they celebrated an author whose books can be found throughout their classroom libraries – Dr. Seuss. Pre-K students and teachers celebrated his 117th birthday with many fun activities on March 3 and 4. In Andrew Babington’s class, children made “Cat in the Hat” masks and did counting activities based on “10 Apples Up on Top.” Lisa Carey’s students remembered an author known for his silly stories and crazy characters by wearing their shirts backwards, crazy socks and mismatched shoes. Jacqueline Floyd’s students did a “Green Eggs and Ham” puzzle and played alphabet bingo. In Lisa Randolph’s room, children sang rhyming songs and identified words that rhyme with “cat” and “hat.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163285 Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163285 Board of Education March 8, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special remote meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98923132643 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 989 2313 2643 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163287 Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163287 AMHS 2021-2022 Course Catalog (Eng/Spn) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163281 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163281 Well-Rounded Students Lead Amityville Class of 2021 Amityville Memorial High School announced its top 10 graduates for the Class of 2021, with Alex Diaz and Noah LaForest earning the highest two grade point averages among 205 seniors. Alex was named the valedictorian with a weighted GPA of 104.14. Noah is the salutatorian with at 103.92 GPA. Rounding out the top 10 are Aalany McCatty, Keniese Pryce, Scott Friske, Bryanna Leguizamon, Gabrielle McGinnis, Colleen Compitello, Shaakirah Nazim-Harris and Godfrey Pons, all with weighted averages of 100 or better. Alex and Noah both entered school together in Amityville as second graders at Northwest Elementary School. In high school, they have challenged themselves with college-level courses and been involved in many extracurricular activities. Principal Edward Plaia was formerly the principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School, so he has known Alex and Noah since they were seventh graders. He described them as well-rounded and hard-working students who are driven to succeed and also are humble and kind. Musical accomplishments have been plentiful for Alex, who plays both the violin and viola. He has been named to All-County, All-State, All-Eastern, All-National and Long Island String Festival music ensembles. Alex has also been recognized by the Long Island Arts Alliance with an Award of Merit, and performs with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra. In school, Alex has been a member of the orchestra, jazz band and chamber ensemble, and was the title character in the high school’s production of “Shrek” during his sophomore year. As a freshman, he performed in both “Seussical” at the high school and “Aladdin” at the middle school. Alex is also treasurer of both the Key Club and the National Honor Society. After high school, Alex plans to attend college to dual major in biomedical engineering and music performance, and wants to explore career paths in both of those areas because he has “big dreams.” He has applied to seven schools, including on Long Island and in Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia, and is awaiting acceptances before making a decision on the next four years of his life. Noah has committed to New York University for filmmaking. He said he plans to live on campus because he wants to experience city life. Participation in summer programs through the New York Film Academy and Columbia University affirmed his desire to work in the film industry, and he aspires to become a director. As senior class president, Noah has helped to plan activities for his classmates in a year when the typical senior traditions are either canceled or modified. He and his fellow officers planned a senior breakfast and are in the process of coordinating some outdoor events in the spring. They also ordered “Stranger Things” inspired T-shirts, which read “Senior Things” on the front and the names of all Amityville seniors on the back. Noah is also vice president of the National Honor Society and a member of the Key Club and Warrior Awareness Club. He was also the stage manager for “Shrek.” Never one to shy away from a challenge, he has taken seven Advanced Placement courses and two Syracuse University Project Advance classes, all preparing him for college-level work. Alex has enrolled in 10 AP courses across multiple subject areas. He is hard-pressed to find a class he didn’t like, and he said that is a reflection on his teachers. “Throughout high school, I’ve had the best teachers,” Alex said. “My teachers have influenced me in so many ways. I hope to keep in touch with them after high school.” For Noah, inspiration has come from his family, friends and teachers, and also one unlikely source, singer Lady Gaga, whose messages of bravery, hard work and perseverance have resonated with him since an early age. “I am very grateful for Amityville and how it has shaped me as a young man,” Noah said, adding that the most valuable lesson he will take with him after graduation is knowing that “the sky is the limit” for him. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163282 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163282 Board of Education March 3, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, starting at 7:30 PM. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99872459056 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 998 7245 9056 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163280 Wed, 03 Mar 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163280 Northeast Students See the World as Scientists Young scientists were recently hard at work mixing color dye in water at Northeast Elementary School. The simple experiment was designed to give the pre-K students an introduction to different scientific tools including beakers, eye droppers, funnels, magnifying glasses and measuring cups. The lesson also related to Black History Month as students learned about Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a research scientist who has been at the forefront of the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. After learning about her contributions to science, it was time for the students to engage in their own scientific exploration, donning paper lab coats and doctor tags. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163279 Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163279 Spring Virtual College Fairs http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163278 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163278 100 Days Smarter at Northwest To a child, 100 may seem like a very large number, but students at Northwest Elementary School learned that it’s not so big after all. In fact, it only took a little more than half of the school year to get there, as students and staff celebrated the 100th day on Feb. 26. Many children, and even several kindergarten teachers, dressed up as if they were 100 years old. Donning wigs, glasses, curlers and canes, they were able to envision themselves a century old. Kindergarten students sang and danced along to “Count to 100” videos and made necklaces out of 100 Fruit Loops. They also did 100 exercises in groups of tens, learning that keeping their bodies healthy just might help them live to 100. Their peers in second grade did writing pieces about life as 100-year-olds. Students throughout the school wore hats to declare themselves “100 days smarter” and “100 days wiser.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163276 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163276 Amityville Students Become Immersed in Black History Month To celebrate Black History Month, students in the Amityville Union Free School District participated in virtual celebrations and learned about African-American men and women who made important contributions to the country. At Edmund W. Miles Middle School, students portrayed a variety of important figures from the past and present in a video that was shared with the school during the advisory block on Feb. 25. Tiffany Asbell was Vice President Kamala Harris, Kiya Sizemore was civil rights activist Ruby Bridges and Janaiya Randolph was poet Amanda Gorman. Students did their own research on these notable individuals before portraying them in the virtual celebration. Middle school students also did independent research projects on notable Black Americans. Social studies teachers incorporated Black History Month into their lessons through discussions of historical events and individuals. Students studied many concepts from the Black perspective and analyzed how decisions of the past have had implications in present-day society. Ninth grade students at Amityville Memorial High School developed a “Periodic Table of African-American Achievement in History” using Google Slides and Jamboard. Students researched notable accomplishments by African-Americans and created interactive databases. They also made accompanying videos using Flipgrid, explaining the impact of the changes led by these individuals. The digital presentation were then shared with sixth graders at the middle school. “The project was designed as a part of our Black History Month celebration to further expose our students to the numerous achievements of African-Americans in history,” social studies teacher Jack Zider said. “In addition, it allows our younger students a chance to learn from their older peers while building their 21st century technology, research, organization and communication skills.” Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School created a virtual presentation with the theme “I Can.” Students from third, fourth and fifth grade held up signs declaring their dreams for the future. Third grader Ayden Harding-Fuentes said he wants to be a police officer, specifically a member of the SWAT team, and third grader Lilly Betegon hopes to become a fashion designer. Lilly said that having dreams is important “to inspire yourself.” Additionally, the video features Park Avenue staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, aides and monitors, who discussed the origins of Black History Month. It also showcases African-American inventors and others who have contributed greatly to society. The virtual celebration was coordinated by Megan Ashe, Nicole Baxter, DiAndre Coghiel, Christopher Grant, Christine Locher and Kendra Stevenson. Ms. Stevenson created the “Because of Them, We Can” bulletin board which celebrates many successful African-American athletes, civil rights leaders, entertainers, world leaders and more. In the center of the display is a painting of three dancers to celebrate the rich history of African-Americans in the arts and serve as inspiration for Park Avenue students that there are many avenues for success. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163275 Fri, 26 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163275 Kindness is the Warrior Way at Park Avenue Valentine’s Day is about spreading love, so Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School declared the week leading up to the holiday as Kindness Week. There were different spirit days throughout the week, beginning with “Kindness Warriors,” as students and staff wore Amityville gear or red and gray. “Peace, Love and Kindness” was marked with tie-dye clothing. To wrap up the week, students learned that “kindness makes your hear grow,” so they wore pink and red. Students contributed to the “Be the I in Kind” tree in the lobby. The leaves were pink, purple and red hearts with messages the children wrote about the different ways they can show kindness to others. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci said students learned about the importance of “random acts of kindness” and how those small but meaningful gestures can brighten someone’s day. Showing kindness can have a ripple effect, she added, spreading good will from one person to the next. The week ended with surprise recognition for a Park Avenue staff member who has exemplified kindness. Students and staff honored school nurse Pat Johnson. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163274 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:00:00 GMT false163274 Board of Education February 23, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Please use the credentials below to access tonight's Board of Education special remote meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95793939698 Telephone Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 957 9393 9698 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163273 Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:00:00 GMT false163273 Amityville Grad Named Acting U.S. Attorney in Virginia Raj Parekh, a 1999 graduate of Amityville Memorial High School, was named the acting United States attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia in January. In this role, Parekh supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest. He leads a staff of approximately 300 federal prosecutors, civil litigators and support personnel across four divisions located in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News, a district that includes more than six million residents. The theme of Amityville’s 1999 yearbook is “Making every moment count,” a motto that Parekh has fully embraced. In high school, Parekh excelled academically, graduating near the top of his class. He was a member of “The Amityville Echo” student newspaper, Key Club and Moot Court, and was president of the student government in his junior year. It is because of those high school activities that he developed a passion for trial work and public service. Outside of school, he volunteered to care for elderly patients at the Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, stocked shelves at CVS, and played baseball and the upright string bass. Parekh credits his Amityville teachers and peers for their positive influences on him and others. “They are among the most talented, generous, compassionate and culturally accepting individuals you will ever meet,” Parekh said. “My Amityville classmates embody the spirit of diversity and inclusion. We always looked out for one another, and we always wanted the best for each other.” Parekh was born in New York after his parents immigrated from India. He recounted the countless sacrifices they made when he was a student. Parekh’s father served in the textile sales industry before losing his eyesight, and his mother held two jobs at one point. “My parents worked tirelessly to make ends meet,” Parekh said. “It is their work ethic and selfless dedication to our family that has inspired me to always give back to my community and help others.” After graduating from high school, Parekh attended The George Washington University, earning a degree with honors in economics and international affairs in 2003. Parekh says that a 1998 trip to the nation’s capital, which happened because of the support of the Amityville community, led to his decision to attend GW. In high school, then-Principal Anthony Servideo, along with the Amityville Rotary Club, helped Parekh raise tuition funds in order for him to attend a week-long civic education program that included a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court and other government institutions. After college, Parekh earned his juris doctor with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006. Parekh then served in a number of significant legal positions, including at a leading global law firm, as assistant general counsel at the Central Intelligence Agency, as counsel to IBM, and as a federal prosecutor in multiple positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as a counterterrorism prosecutor. Parekh received a superior performance award from the Justice Department for his work on United States v. Mohamad Jamal Khweis, which led to the 2017 conviction of the first individual to face a jury trial in the United States after having joined the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham in ISIS territory. In January 2021, Parekh became the first person of color in the 232-year history of the Eastern District of Virginia to serve as its chief federal law enforcement official. As for what he would like his tenure as the acting U.S. attorney to be most remembered for, Parekh stated, “Ensuring that all participants in the legal process are treated with dignity and respect as we seek equal justice under the law, uphold victims’ rights, and protect our communities. I am eternally grateful to my wife, son, parents and grandparents, whose love and support have meant everything to me.” Published 02/22/2021 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163272 Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163272 Lots of Learning and Love at Northwest Northwest Elementary School was filled with heart, literally, in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. The symbol of love could be found all around the building as students learned how the holiday is a celebration of friendship and kindness. A heart tree decorated the kindergarten hallway in the new wing as students made paper heart crafts with smiley faces and inspirational messages. Students folded paper arms and legs for the hearts as a dexterity exercise. Also to work on fine motor skills, children crumpled up small pieces of tissue paper, glued them down in the shape of a heart, and added their handprints in the middle as a gift to bring home. First graders read many books about the holiday including “Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie Brown” and “Love Monster and the Perfect Present.” Other students sorted candy hearts by color, then graphed their results, as a math activity. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163271 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163271 Northeast Students Have Lots of Heart Pre-K students have been spreading some love, and also practicing their literacy and math skills, leading up to Valentine’s Day at Northeast Elementary School. By making presents for their loved ones, children learned about the true meaning of Valentine’s Day while also expressing themselves creatively. There were a wide variety of projects that students could take home to give to a parent, grandparent or sibling. Students made “You Stole a Pizza My Heart” crafts out of construction paper, and the pieces of pepperoni were cut in the shape of hearts. They also constructed photo frames with hearts glued around the edges, used pieces of tin foil to make large Hershey’s Kisses, wrapped up paper bears holding a Valentine’s Day poem and made candles by putting a small battery-operated tea candle and red confetti in a mason jar. The youngsters practiced their literacy skills by writing Valentine’s Day cards to family and friends. They also used candy hearts to write different letters of the alphabet. Candy hearts were a popular math tool, as well. Students sorted the hearts by color, counted how many they had of each, then made bar graphs. To learn about patterning, they created Valentine’s Day headbands with paper hearts in alternating colors. As a special treat, Olaf from “Frozen” visited the school and was stationed at the “kissing booth” in the main lobby. The kisses were actually Hershey’s Kisses and each child received one at the end of the day to take home and enjoy. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163270 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163270 Board of Education February 10, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93781703157 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 937 8170 3157 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163268 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163268 Senior Earns Highly-Coveted Scholarship Aalany McCatty, a senior at Amityville Memorial High School, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger National Scholarship. She was one of only 106 students from across the country – and among thousands of applicants – to receive a $25,000 scholarship this year from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. The scholarship recognizes outstanding students who, in the face of great personal adversity, remain committed to obtaining a college degree and also give back to their communities. Aalany said she learned about it while researching scholarship opportunities. Aalany is in the process of selecting a college to attend in the fall. She applied to several schools in upstate New York and plans to major in psychology because she loves studying the science of human brain. During her time in high school, Aalany has never shied away from a challenge, availing herself to some of Amityville’s most challenging and rigorous courses. She has enrolled in nine Advanced Placement courses, including psychology as a junior. Additionally, she has taken Saturday classes at Farmingdale State College for several years, which is how she got her introduction to psychology. Aalany is also a member of several student organizations. She is president of the National Honor Society, president of Key Club, treasurer of the Warrior Awareness Club – known as the WAC PAC – and a member of the Drama Club and World Language Honor Society. Membership in those clubs has given her numerous opportunities to perform community service, such as helping to organize a Thanksgiving food drive and writing letters of gratitude to essential workers. In addition to filling out an extensive application and sending in her transcripts, Aalany had to write three essays to be considered for the scholarship. One was about a teacher who has made a difference and chose social studies teacher Dawn Mizrachi. She also had to pick a past Horatio Alger and write about why that person was inspirational. The third essay focused on ways she has overcome adversity. “I was very shocked and surprised, but very happy,” she said, recalling the phone call she received announcing that she was a scholarship winner. “It’s a huge honor. This is going to help significantly.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163267 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163267 High School Teacher Shares Alternate Assessment Tools Tests and essays aren’t the only ways to assess student knowledge, says Amityville Memorial High School social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi, so he recently shared some innovative ideas with educators from across the state. Mr. Tomasi is a member of the New York State Council for Social Studies and also belongs to the organization’s technology committee. On Jan. 19, he and five other teachers from Long Island to Buffalo presented a webinar, “Digital Project Based Assessments as an Alternative to Traditional Exams.” About 110 teachers and administrators, from elementary school through high school, joined in the videoconference to learn new ways to assess students in a distance learning and technology heavy environment. In his classes at Amityville Memorial High School, Mr. Tomasi has introduced the concept of choice boards, which give students different ways to demonstrate their knowledge of the social studies content. They can make videos, write poems or raps, or make journal entries. While he said students need to know skills for the Regents like answering multiple choice questions and writing essays, these don’t have to be the only options for students to show what they’ve learning in the course of a school year. For one assignment, he had students create a diary of daily life as a member of the Third Estate during the French Revolution. Students also made speeches from the perspective of different European countries after World War I, arguing if the Treaty of Versailles was fair or not. Two projects popular among today’s technologically connected students are the texting and hashtag assignments. Mr. Tomasi will have students create text conversations between two historical figures on a certain issue, and also ask them to create hashtags that represent the beliefs and philosophy of different people they have studied. Technology is an equalizer, he added, because of how many more options is give students. The goal is for courses to be rigorous and challenging, but also fun and engaging. It also gives teachers more tools to assess students in distance learning and hybrid learning models, in which many are attending class at home. In the webinar, Mr. Tomasi discussed how teachers can use portfolio assessments to measure student learning. Students can create digital portfolios using Google Sites, where they can keep their assignments. Teachers can choose to grade the projects one by one or grade the portfolio as a whole. Additionally, the work of Mr. Tomasi’s students was featured on the Citizen U Primary Source Nexus teaching research blog. To warmup for the enduring issues essay, they completed a social and emotional learning activity identifying issues that teenagers face in society. It fostered a discussion on how these issues are relevant in their lives. Students used Google Jamboard to share their thoughts, and after sharing the lesson and digital discussions on Twitter, it was then posted the Citizen U site. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163265 Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163265 Northwest Students are Authors and Experts As experts on a wide variety of topics, students at Northwest Elementary School have been sharing their knowledge through writing. The youngsters have been excited to express what they know while also developing their literary skills. First graders in Jaclynn Johnson-Dematos’ class recently completed their “how to” writing unit. Each child thought of something he or she knows how to do, from making an ice cream sundae or a sandwich to building a snowman, and created a book. Students learned how to write step-by-step instructions and use transition words. They also drew illustrations to accompany the text. Ms. Johnson-Dematos said that before becoming authors themselves, first graders read several mentor texts, such as “How to Make a Pizza” and “How to Play Soccer.” In Jenny Smith and Kerrin Faulkner’s second grade class, students created digital “all about” books. Before the holiday break, they read multiple nonfiction books to learn how to present factual information. When they returned in January, students wrote books about their favorite December holidays. They used background knowledge from their own experiences to explain the meaning, symbols and traditions of the holidays. As students were learning remotely during the first two weeks of January, they published their stories virtually using Book Creator on their Chromebooks. This allowed them to create lively digital books with colorful backgrounds, pictures and graphics. They learned how to incorporate different elements into their books such as photos and captions, a glossary, headers and a table of contents. Ms. Smith and Ms. Faulkner shared all of the books using Padlet, so students could easily find and read each other’s books, then leave positive comments. Children also recorded videos in which they read excerpts from their books. After finishing up the holidays books, each student could then choose a topic for his or her next “all about” book. Ms. Smith and Ms. Faulkner said the topic should be something they know about, but also something that would require research to learn even more. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163261 Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:00:00 GMT false163261 Artists Are Among Us at Park Avenue Popular video game Among Us was the inspiration for an art contest at Park Avenue Memorial High School. The mobile, multiplayer game with a spaceship theme is trending with youngsters, so they were thrilled by a project in their own school. Art teacher Susan Zaratin said the premise of the game is that players have to figure out who the imposter is. Each student received a sheet with an outline of an Among Us character and had to create a disguise. Both in-person and remote learners were able to participate in the contest. “The students had a lot of fun with this,” Ms. Zaratin said. “They disguised the characters using many creative designs including superheroes and other game characters.” Winners were selected at each grade level. Third grade: Jayden Boutista, Jaysalyn Diaz, Carlos Escobar, Natalie Mejia Gomes, Kaylin Quintana Powell, Emily Romero and Jamie Torres. Fourth grade: Joloni Highsmith-Adams, Christian Nanez, Lily Peterson and Aaliyah Stewart. Fifth grade: Natalia Benitez, Karina Garrido, Jonell Llamas and Jadi Vasquez. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163259 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163259 Board of Education February 3, 2021 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, starting at 7:30 PM. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95207062145 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 952 0706 2145 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163260 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163260 School Closure- February 2, 2021 Schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2, 2021, as a result of continued travel and safety concerns caused by the winter storm. Remote instruction will not take place because of the potential for power and Internet outages. Please stay safe and heed the guidance of state and local officials for the duration of this storm. Thank you. Las escuelas estarán cerradas mañana, martes 2 de febrero de 2021, como resultado las preocupaciones continuos de los viajes y de seguridad causadas por la tormenta de invierno. La instrucción remota no se llevará a cabo debido a la posibilidad de cortes de energía e Internet. Manténgase seguro y preste atención a las instrucciones de los funcionarios estatales y locales durante la duración de esta tormenta. Gracias. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163258 Mon, 01 Feb 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163258 School Closure- February, 1, 2021 January 31, 2021 As a result of the anticipated inclement weather, schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, February 1, 2021. Remote instruction will not take place because of anticipated power and Internet outages. Please stay safe and heed the guidance of state and local officials for the duration of this storm. Thank you. Como resultado de las inclemencias del tiempo previstas, las escuelas cerrarán mañana, el lunes, 1 de febrero de 2021. La instrucción remota no se llevará a cabo debido a cortes anticipados de energía e Internet. Manténgase seguro y preste atención a las instrucciones de los funcionarios estatales y locales durante la duración de esta tormenta. Gracias. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163257 Sun, 31 Jan 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163257 AMHS Students, Teacher in Regional Art Show Two students and one teacher from the Amityville Union Free School District had their work selected for the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association’s 2021 Invitational Art Show. Amityville Memorial High School ninth graders Winifert Espinal and Amin Shah, as well as teacher Nicole Scoca, are featured in the online exhibition. Winifert Espinal created her piece, “Sneaker Mandala,” using pen and ink. Amin’s artwork, “Spiral of the Absent Mind,” and Ms. Scoca’s artwork, “Brown Herd,” are mixed media pieces. The exhibition highlights the artwork of SCALA members and up to two pieces of art that have been created by their most accomplished art students. The annual show is normally displayed in a regional gallery, but this year is being presented in a virtual form due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital art show can be viewed here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163255 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163255 Board of Education January 27, 2020 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, starting at 5:00 PM. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95012060430 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 950 1206 0430 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163252 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:45:00 GMT false163252 EWMMS Instructions for Accessing Materials and Supplemental Resources for Your Child’s Classes Sign in to your child’s Google Classroom by using your child’s login credentials (username and password) for access to all assignments and resources • Step 1: Select the course you would like to view • Step 2: Select “Stream” to view all current updates and announcements • Step 3: Select “Classwork” to view all assignments and resources If you have any questions about accessing your child’s Google Classroom, please contact your child’s guidance counselor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163253 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163253 Track is Back in Amityville Amityville Memorial High School student-athletes are excited to be back in action, with the winter track and field team the first to return since the shutdown of high school sports last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are 27 members of the boys team, coached by Reynolds Hawkins, and 19 on the girls team, under the direction of Stephanie Barnes. The winter track season will be held outdoors this year with the full complement of events, including sprints, middle- and long-distance races, hurdles, jumps, relay races and shotput. Several safety regulations have been put into place including the use of every other track lane in short races and requiring all athletes to wear masks when not participating in an event. There also will not be any championship meets following the regular season. “They’re excited to be here,” coach Barnes said. “They’re happy that they have a season, that they can be with their friends and compete.” Senior Damani McLennon, participating in his third winter track season, said he is looking to lower his times this year in the 55-, 100- and 200-meter races. Kevin Contreras, also a senior, said he is glad to be back with his “second family.” He added that if everyone follows the safety rules, the season can be successful and will hopefully pave the way for other sports to return. Imani Jackson, in her fourth season on the track team, will participate in the 100- and 200-meter races, as well as the long jump. She said she kept in shape by doing core exercises and running at the high school track. “I’m happy to be competing again,” she said. “It’s been something I’ve been looking forward to.” Her teammate, Serenity Smith, said her goal for this season is to become better in hurdle races, specifically to cut down from four step to three steps in between hurdles, which will improve her times. Senior Jarrell Fisher, who typically runs in all three sports seasons, said he missed the competition and is looking forward to participating in the 200-meter, 400-meter and long-jump events. Junior Brandon Dennis, a previous state qualifier in shotput, is hoping to reach a throwing distance of 60 feet this year. During the shutdown, he stayed in shape by exercising regularly and working with a personal trainer. Coach Hawkins said that there is a lot talent on both the boys and girls teams, and he is happy for them to once again have a place to showcase their abilities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163251 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163251 Middle School Students Follow the Lead of Dr. King Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School drew inspiration from Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in becoming problem solvers. During their advisory period, students took part in personalized writing activity focused on problem-solving. Each student was asked to think of a short-term or long-term goal he or she would like to achieve. They wrote about these challenges and possible remedies, and included specific details on why solving that problem was important to them. Students first learned about Dr. King and the peaceful ways in which he inspired change. They studied his accomplishments and analyzed the impact an importance of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Additionally, students took a virtual reality field trip to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163249 Wed, 20 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163249 Melding History and Health at Amityville Memorial High School A study of history also became an exercise in good first aid practices during an interdisciplinary lesson at Amityville Memorial High School. Social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi and physical education/health teacher Tom Maloney came together for a lesson that looked back more than 200 years. In Mr. Tomasi’s 10th grade global history class, students learned about the Industrial Revolution in Britain. One of the topics was the health and safety issues that workers faced, both in the factories and through their poor living conditions. These challenges became the premise for a lesson in Mr. Maloney’s first aid class, a health education elective. His students are sophomores and juniors who are either learning about Britain’s Industrial Revolution this year or did last year. They were given different scenarios, such as a worker being injured on a machine, and looked at it from a first aid perspective. Using their background knowledge from class, they discussed and debated how they would have responded to that emergency. Mr. Tomasi and Mr. Maloney said that students were very engaged in the lesson because they enjoyed the problem-solving challenge. The teachers explained that these scenarios presented health and history through a different lens and promoted outside-of-the-box thinking. There was also a technology component as students used Jamboard, a collaboration and presentation tool through G Suite for Education, to showcase their scenario responses. “It makes the experience authentic,” Mr. Tomasi said. “They can remember the information in a different way.” The teachers added that the idea for the lesson came about following an after-school professional development session led by Mr. Tomasi, the Innovator’s Mindset, about finding new and creative ways to teach lessons. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163247 Thu, 14 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163247 Board of Education January 13, 2021 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, beginning at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/97639994580 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 976 3999 4580 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163246 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 22:00:00 GMT false163246 17 Students are All-County Musicians Several students from the Amityville Union Free School District were selected to All-County Music Ensembles by the Suffolk County chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education and the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. Although all of the festivals for the 2020-2021 season have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these students have achieved this honor through their hard work and dedication to their music studies. NYSCAME All-County Ensembles: Amityville Memorial High School – Yaneli Amaya, flute, Division 4 Band; Alexander Diaz, viola, Division 4 Orchestra; Keiry Martinez, vocals, Division 4 Chorus SCMEA All-County Ensembles: Amityville Memorial High School – Aysia Francis, trumpet, Division 2 Band; Destiny Harding, vocals, Division 2 Chorus; Katya Ramos-Rojas, baritone horn, Division 2 Band; Madeline Shingleton, cello, Division 2 Orchestra; Melissa Fearrington, vocals, Division 3 Chorus; Kenneth Garcia, clarinet, Division 3 Band; Daniella Henriquez, vocals, Division 3 Chorus; Messiah Marshall, flute, Division 3 Band; Justin Mohan, alto saxophone, Division 3 Band; Kemar Porche, vocals, Division 3 Chorus; Aaliyah Precil, vocals, Division 3 Chorus; Bryant Rivas, vocals, Division 3 Chorus. Edmund W. Miles Middle School – Kaleb Rivera, vocals, Division 1 Chorus; Aurora Morales, vocals, Division 1 Chorus. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163245 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 14:00:00 GMT false163245 A Holiday Message of Kindness and Acceptance at Park Avenue To emphasize the importance of kindness and acceptance, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School learned from a popular Christmas tale. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci visited classrooms throughout December to talk about bullying, showing students clips from the movie “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Ms. Balducci then led them in discussions about the roles of bystanders and upstanders, the negative consequences of bullying and the importance of accepting each other’s differences. She noted that what made Rudolph different from the other reindeer is what ultimately saved Christmas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163244 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163244 Student Ambassadors Attend Leadership Summit Amityville Memorial High School seniors Bryanna Leguizamon and Genesis Perez joined aspiring leaders from across the region at the Junior Achievement New York Summit from Dec. 7-9. The virtual program featured numerous speakers, panel discussions, award presentations and student town hall sessions. Bryanna and Genesis were both selected as student ambassadors for the 2020-2021 school year. They have worked extensively with Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes program, teaching lessons about careers, community, family and finance to students in Amityville’s elementary schools. They also took part in the Finance Park program which included a financial literacy simulation with students from other Long Island high schools. As student ambassadors, Bryanna and Genesis were invited to the three-day Inspiring Tomorrows Virtual Summit. They attended panel discussions on multiple topics including diversity, equity and inclusion in business, the impact of COVID-19 on New York’s economic prospects and the future of entrepreneurship in New York. Panelists included local elected officials and business leaders. During student town hall sessions, they connected with other students who participate in Junior Achievement programs to share their experiences and discuss trending topics. Before the summit began, Bryanna and Genesis had to submit short videos introducing themselves, their involvement with Junior Achievement and how it has impacted their lives. Although the summit couldn’t be held in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they both said they appreciated that the organization hosted an online event so they still had the opportunity to connect with other students and business professionals, and hear about important issues. “We represented our community and I was very proud about that,” Genesis said. “It was a nice experience and it opened my eyes to a lot of new things.” Bryanna added that being a Junior Achievement student ambassador has her prepared to take on greater leadership roles and has given her the confidence to achieve anything she wants. Amityville Memorial High School business educator Dr. Diane Impagliazzo said that the virtual summit was a very valuable experience for the two students because they got to learn about a wide variety of topics and connect with a wide range of people. Although they won’t be able to visit elementary classrooms this year, Bryanna and Genesis are still planning to do the High School Heroes program virtually with third graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. They have been training with Junior Achievement representative, Linda Furey. Bryanna and Genesis said that they believe in the value of the program, which is why they wanted it to continue. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163243 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false163243 Winter Art and Music Virtual Showcase Please enjoy our districtwide virtual art show and our winter concert performances from Amityville Memorial High School, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. "The students have worked extremely hard under very difficult and different circumstances and, as you will see, they continue to thrive within the arts," said Director of Fine Arts and Music Dr. Fran Fernandez. "Special thanks goes out to all of our district’s art and music teachers for putting all of these presentations together." Districtwide Winter Art Show High School Orchestra High School Chorus High School Band Park Avenue and Middle School Chorus 6th Grade Orchestra 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra E.W. Miles Middle School 6th Grade Band and 7th/8th Grade Band http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163239 Wed, 23 Dec 2020 13:00:00 GMT false163239 A Festive and Fruitful Month at Northeast Northeast Elementary School students have been immersed in lessons about the holiday season, studying the customs, traditions and history of the December holidays. They completed hands-on projects that reinforced their knowledge about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. For December, the school hallways were transformed into a Candyland wonderland, with images of candy canes, gumballs and more. Mixed in were projects made by pre-K students reflecting symbols of the different holidays including gingerbread men and Santa Claus for Christmas, dreidels and menorahs for Hanukkah, and the Kinara candleholder with seven red, green and black candles for Kwanzaa. Students worked on their literacy skills by writing holiday cards. In art, they made paper ornaments with teacher Nicole Pappas. After coloring their designs, children added tissue paper and glitter to give their projects a truly festive look. Music teacher Carl Ferrara visited classrooms with his guitar to lead students in holiday songs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163238 Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163238 Hands-on Learning is in Season at Northwest The walls and bulletin boards are covered in student work at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District, showcasing how the holiday season has provided learning opportunities for children. First graders in Margaret Brooks’ class learned about history by making personal connections. Her students completed family trees in the shape of Christmas trees. Heather Tortorici’s first graders made number trees as a math activity. Each paper Christmas tree had a star at the top with a number. Two ornaments below also had numbers, which totaled the number on the star. Students then wrote different addition and subtraction equations using those three digits. For a literacy activity, Ms. Tortorici’s first graders filled out elf applications and wrote why they would be a good elf. In Jane Dady’s class, every student was given a gingerbread cookie and had to record if their first bite was the head, an arm or a leg. The class then tallied the results and made a bar graph. Children in Olimpia Karounos’ class made paper snow globes. Each child drew an illustration of an activity they would do if they lived in a snow globe and then wrote about it underneath. Kindergartners in Maria Lievano’s class did a guided drawing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163236 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163236 Park Avenue Students Explore the World of Coding The computer programmers of the future are getting their start at a young age in Amityville. To mark Computer Science Education Week from Dec. 7-13, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in the international Hour of Code initiative. Librarian and STEAM teacher Tim Quinn visited classrooms to lead coding activities, which students did on their Chromebooks. Using a wealth of resources available through KidOYO, a digital computer science platform, children learned the work that is done behind the scenes to create the technology they use on a regular basis. For fifth graders in Joanna Conboy and Krystle Kuletsky’s class, their coding activity related to the a recent astronomy unit in science. Students started off small by programming an image of the earth to revolve around the sun. This gave them an introduction to color block coding in the Hatch! app. From there, students created their own universe, selecting actual constellations to include in their interactive worlds. Each student added a character, or a sprite, to explore the universe he or she created. In getting their sprites to move, the young coders learned how programming is used to set different actions. Mr. Quinn said this activity was essentially a digital research project that helped students enhance their scientific knowledge. Remote students were also able participate from home, as Mr. Quinn’s lesson was livestreamed through Google Meets and they accessed KidOYO from their devices. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163234 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163234 Board of Education December 16, 2020 Emergency Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access the Board of Education's Emergency Special Remote Meeting, which starts at 11:30 am. Topic: BOE Board Meeting 12-16-2020 Time: Dec 16, 2020 01:20 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97520453837 Meeting ID: 975 2045 3837 One tap mobile +16465588656,,97520453837# US (New York) +13126266799,,97520453837# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) 888 788 0099 US Toll-free 833 548 0276 US Toll-free 833 548 0282 US Toll-free 877 853 5247 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 975 2045 3837 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adBTGFK2nM Join by SIP 97520453837@zoomcrc.com Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 69.174.57.160 (Canada) 207.226.132.110 (Japan) Meeting ID: 975 2045 3837 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163232 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:00:00 GMT false163232 Amityville Students Spread Holiday Magic In Their Community Amityville Memorial High School students are continuing their tradition of spreading joy during the holiday season. The Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, once again participated in the Christmas Magic program to provide toys to local youngsters. Students met at the Copiague Target afterschool on Dec. 4 and 8 to shop. Provided with information sheets that included each child’s age, gender, clothing size and interests, the WAC PAC members then went on a shopping spree. They had a budget of $60 per child, provided by the Christmas Magic organization. Senior Keniese Pryce said she enjoys the challenge of taking the basic information on the each sheet and turning that into gifts the child would enjoy. Makayla Gunter said she helped out with the shopping because she wants to give children a great holiday. “I want to contribute something to the community,” added sophomore Jaro Salazar. “This is a time of giving.” WAC PAC adviser Jason McGowan said that this year, his students were fulfilling wishes for about 50 children in Amityville. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, they weren’t able to get together after the shopping days to wrap the presents. Instead, the gifts were wrapped by students in the John Ammirati's life skills class – the VIP Club – and brought to the schools the children attend to be picked up by the parents. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163229 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163229 Logging in For Literacy at Park Avenue With a wealth of digital resources, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School are becoming better readers and writers. Fifth grade teacher Lisa Zomback ensures that her students do plenty of writing in their digital notebooks to build their literacy and story-telling skills. They write about a variety of topics and also explore different types of prose. Recently, Ms. Zomback’s young writers completed their “small moments” stories in which they reflected on happy memories. The digital notebooks, which are done in Google Docs, are shared with the teacher, so she can go in, read their work and make comments. She will also conduct one-on-one, socially distant writing conferences with her students because the discussion helps them flesh out their ideas. A writing assignment is never complete on the first try as editing and revising are important parts of the process. Julie Kirschen, a third grade teacher, makes use of several digital tools for Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop activities. She creates interactive lessons with Google Slides, which can be viewed by students learning in person and remotely. They keep writing notebooks using Google Docs and reflect on their reading and writing by making Flipgrid videos. Discussion remains an important part of any literacy lesson, and technology helps foster that in a hybrid learning model, with students in a class participating simultaneously in instruction from school and home. During their daily Google Meet sessions, Ms. Kirschen’s students analyze books, review different literary elements and discuss writing strategies. Reading and writing are intertwined, as the books students read serve as models for their own writing, whether it is helping them build their vocabulary or showing them a style they want to emulate. When Ms. Kirschen’s students worked on writing strong endings for their own stories, they discussed examples of good endings from books they have read. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163225 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:00:00 GMT false163225 Board of Education December 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93570063126 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 935 7006 3126 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163224 Wed, 09 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT false163224 Zone Award Recipients Exemplify Warrior Pride Amityville Memorial High School seniors Myles Goddard and Ericha Quintyne-Best were recognized as this year’s recipients of the Suffolk Zone Outstanding Student Award, presented by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Two students – one male and one female – were selected from every high school who best exemplify their understanding of the New York State learning standards for health and physical education. Evan Farkas, Amityville’s director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health, and Angela Steiger, their physical education teacher, said that the two students were selected because they embody all the criteria for the award. Myles and Ericha were chosen because they exhibit physically active lifestyles both during and outside of school, value healthy choices, demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior including good character, citizenship and sportsmanship, show leadership, are positive influences on their peers and value lifelong learning. Mr. Farkas and Ms. Steiger said the Ericha is a leader in physical education classes and participates in all activities with great enthusiasm. They described her as a “model student” for her commitment to health and fitness. She is also a participant in the Challenger basketball program. About Myles, Mr. Farkas and Ms. Steiger noted his exceptional character. They called him an exemplary student-athlete who sets a good example both in the classroom and in the gymnasium. Myles is a member of the varsity basketball team who, as a junior, scored his 1,000th career point. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163223 Wed, 09 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163223 A Visual Approach to Math at Park Avenue Third graders had some food for thought in working on their multiplication skills at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Students in Nicole Plaia’s class used crackers and cereal for a hands-on math lesson. Ms. Plaia introduced her students to the tape diagram method, a visual model with different segments to assist with solving mathematical calculations. For this activity, each cracker represented a group, with an equal number of Fruit Loops placed on every cracker. If a student had three crackers each with 12 Fruit Loops, they knew they had 36 total pieces of cereal. Ms. Plaia added that for health and safety reasons, each student was provided with his or her own bag of food to create visual math equations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163220 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163220 High School Forensics Students Study Fingerprints Students in the SUPA Forensics class at Amityville Memorial High School recently participated in a fingerprint lab. Teacher Andrew Henriksen showed them the different fingerprint patterns, then demonstrated how to dust for and lift prints. Working in one of the school’s new state-of-the-art science labs, students then took on the role of forensic scientists as they looked for fingerprints on different surfaces including a cup, a jar, a metal door handle, paper, plastic utensils and wooden block. The materials they worked with to assist in their investigation included a brush, magnetic dust and lifting tape. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163217 Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:00:00 GMT false163217 Board of Education December 2, 2020 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/93570063126 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 935 7006 3126 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163214 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT false163214 Seniors Bond over Breakfast in Amityville With many normal traditions on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors at Amityville Memorial High School recently gathered for breakfast as a chance to enjoy each other’s company. A senior breakfast was held on Nov. 20 and Nov. 24, one for each of the two cohorts. Students were treated to fruit, pastries and orange juice as they sat at desks spaced six feet apart. Senior class adviser Jennifer Schulken said the breakfast was planned to give seniors a celebratory activity that followed health and safety protocols. “We want them to have the best year possible under the circumstances that we’re in,” Ms. Schulken said. As is tradition, seniors ordered Amityville Class of 2021 jerseys from Amity Harbor Sports, which many wore to the breakfast. Students put their names or nicknames on the back of their custom shirts. Class President Noah Laforest said that the class officers helped plan the breakfast to give seniors something to look forward to, as traditional events such as homecoming and the pep rally were not held this fall. He expressed hope that they will be able to do more senior activities in the spring. Genesis Perez, the class secretary, noted there haven’t been a lot of opportunities for seniors to socialize, so the breakfast provided that. “It helps bring a sense of normalcy to our year,” she said, “and builds unity among our class.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163213 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163213 Middle School Students Energized About Engineering As part of their study on energy, eighth graders constructed and tested bottle cars in their STEAM class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The hands-on activity allowed them to see for themselves how potential energy turns into kinetic energy. Teacher Natasha Lim gave each student an empty plastic water bottle to use as the car’s body. Other supplies included metal and wooden rods as axles and bottle caps for the wheels. Students could choose either a low-tech or a high-tech option to power their cars – a straw connected to a balloon or a small, battery-powered motor. Students began the engineering challenge by doing research on their Chromebooks to explore potential solutions, then sketched out their designs before building. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163210 Mon, 30 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163210 What are Pre-K Students Thankful For? Click here to view the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163198 Wed, 25 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163198 Willingness to Test Survey Parent/Student: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQrXIsUphGUara_A-BgchLbxTl3TVhhuPIev605IExGB3AFg/viewform?usp=sf_link Staff: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXWG4FwxgSy9CIVMSEFfwcEylSIZaq6Vgo8ga3SfXktkJL8Q/viewform?usp=sf_link http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163208 Wed, 25 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163208 A Turkey Transformation at Northwest With Thanksgiving just around the corner, second graders at Northwest Elementary School did their part to help keep turkeys safe. Students in Ada Harris’ class read “Turkey Trouble” by Wendi Silvano about a turkey who comes up with the perfect disguise. They then created their own turkey-in-disguise crafts, transforming the birds so they couldn’t be recognized include a combination cat and lady bug, a character from “Frozen” and a colorful gnome. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163207 Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163207 CLUSTER ACTION INITIATIVE Please click here for more information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163204 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 23:00:00 GMT false163204 Board of Education November 23, 2020 Special Meeting Remote Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, which starts at 6:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/99165749488 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 991 6574 9488 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163203 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 22:00:00 GMT false163203 Amityville Senior Named a Commended Student Godfrey Pons, a senior at Amityville Memorial High School, has been named a Commended Student in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. The recognition is based upon Godfrey’s high score on last October’s PSAT. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of the approximately 1.5 million students who took the test. Principal Edward Plaia congratulated Godfrey on ranking in the top 3 percent nationwide. Godfrey has continued to enroll in the most challenging and rigorous courses beginning with Advanced Placement Human Geography in ninth grade. This year, his schedule includes AP Calculus, AP Chemistry and AP Research. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Amityville Broadcasting Club, and plays the baritone saxophone in the jazz band. After high school, he said he wants to join the Marines before attending college. Determination and perseverance are two traits that define Godfrey, who said he sets high but realistic goals for himself in his academics and all aspects of his life. “I like challenges,” Godfrey said. “Failure is never the end.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163201 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163201 Writers Develop Their Craft at Northwest From basic sentences to full stories, students at Northwest Elementary School have been doing a lot of writing lately and proudly showcasing their work. Kindergartners in Danielle Carrero’s class are learning sight words and writing sentences that reflect their interests. Children wrote “I like” statements about places they like to go or activities they like to do. The finished pieces, which included illustrations, were then hung in the hallway underneath their “Wild About Reading” tree. Meredith Cohen’s first graders worked on personal narrative pieces, writing about small but memorable moments in their lives. The class had a digital writing celebration because in addition to their published works, students also recorded themselves reading their stories using Flipgrid. A bulletin board in the hallway featured the QR codes for every video, so people walking by could take out their phones, hold up the camera and watch. Ms. Cohen said that with a mix of in-person and remote learners this year, the technology component of this project helped all of her young writers connect with each other. Second graders in Jenny Smith and Kerrin Faulkner’s class completed their personal narrative stories, then moved on to realistic fiction. The teachers noted that the switch from non-fiction to fiction writing, where students have to come up with their own characters, plot and setting, can be challenging. That’s why they introduced students to Pixton, an online comic and storybook creator. Children were able to pick the background, characters and other elements. Ms. Faulkner said that after exploring Pixton, students wrote the stories in their writer’s notebooks before going back and adding descriptive text to the caption boxes and dialogue to the word bubbles. For students learning remotely, Ms. Smith and Ms. Faulkner could see their screens and give feedback. “This really took their writing to another level,” Ms. Faulkner said. “It brought their stories to life.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163199 Fri, 20 Nov 2020 14:00:00 GMT false163199 Park Avenue Students Go on a Virtual Career Exploration With so many possible careers to choose from, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School get a look each year at their options during Career Week. The program, held during the first week of November, was virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so third, fourth and fifth graders still gained a lot of knowledge that will help with their future planning. Since speakers were not able to visit the school in person, many parents, community members and local merchants submitted videos in which they talked about their respective careers, such as job requirements and responsibilities. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci compiled the videos, which represented a wide range of professions in the construction, education, emergency services, entertainment, health care and science and engineering industries. Teachers then shared the videos through their Google Classroom pages and students could choose which ones to view based on their personal interests. Several students also had the opportunity to check out an Amityville fire truck, Amityville police car and Suffolk County police car, while learning about the role of first responders. At the end of the week, children came to school in attire reflecting their desired careers for Dress for Success Day. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163196 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163196 Board of Education Regular Meeting November 18, 2020 Remote Access Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/94622941978 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 946 2294 1978 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163197 Wed, 18 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163197 Service to Country is Appreciated in Amityville To mark Veterans Day, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School learned about the brave men and women who served in the United States military and why their sacrifices are important. At the middle school, social studies teacher Frank O’Brian and hall monitor Sykes Reese spoke to students through a Google Meet videoconference about their experiences in the Navy. They each presented a slideshow with photos and video clips, then participated in a virtual question and answer session with students. Middle school students also wrote letters to veterans or current members of the military. They had the option of writing a thank-you letter to Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Reese, Amityville graduates Esteban Idrovo and Rene Idrovo who are presently serving in the armed forces, a veteran they know personally, or a generic letter to be sent through SupportOurTroops.org. At Amityville Memorial High School, three current servicemen participated in a half-hour videoconference with students during their seminar period on Nov. 12. All classrooms tuned in and students learning remotely could also watch from their Chromebooks. The speakers included both active duty military personnel and reservists. Assistant Brian Suckle, who coordinated the program and facilitated the discussion, said they talked about their reasons for enlisting, the branches of the military they belong to, their military experiences and career opportunities in the armed forces. They also took questions from students and teachers. Earlier in the week, high school students learned about the six core principles of the Medal of Honor, the most prestigious personal military decoration, and watched videos about past medal winners. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163194 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163194 Third Graders Learn the Clue to Skilled Reading Good readers know how to make meaningful predictions within stories, and third graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School have been mastering that skill during Readers Workshop. Students in Jennifer Zider’s class recently practiced that strategy with an interactive Halloween-themed game. The class was given a letter about a missing treat stolen by the “candy corn bandit.” Students heard several clues to solve this mystery and had to tap into their knowledge of their school. On their Chromebooks, they accessed Jamboard to individually match the correct Park Avenue location to each clue, using virtual sticky notes and pictures. Ms. Zider engaged all students using G Suite for Education tools. In addition to Jamboard, a collaborative digital whiteboard, students could access her Google Slide presentation on their Chromebooks. The lesson was also livestreamed on Google Meets so both in-person and remote learners were active participants in the discussion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163192 Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163192 Important: Reopening Plan Click this link to access the Amityville Union Free School District Reopening Plan. (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163121 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163121 Middle School Honor Society Thanks Custodians Keeping school buildings clean and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic is a vital role, and students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School wanted to recognize that effort. Students in the National Junior Honor Society showed their appreciation for the school’s custodial staff with a special presentation. Honor society adviser Carlee Brunson said that although the options are limited this year, her students still want to find ways of fulfilling the organization’s community service mission. She met with them over Google Meet to discuss ideas, and they decided to recognize the custodians because their efforts directly impact the students. Ms. Brunson created a blank Google Slides presentation, and each student filled one page with graphics and personal messages of thanks. She then printed out the completed project and presented it as a gift to each custodian. The eighth grade members of the honor society contributing their messages of thanks were Lizette Acosta, Tiffany Asbell, Jayda Barker, Jesus Barrios, Alani Bosse, Kayla Canales, Melody Cauley, Nyla Epps, Paola Flores, April Kenny, Julina McMeo, Alisson Molina, Nathalia Moreno, Luis Moreno, Janaiya Randolph, Jonathan Ruiz-Chirinos, Janithza Sanabria and Sasha Urias. “You always ensure that the students can learn in a clean environment, you are friendly with the students, and you make sure everything is safe for not only students, but for faculty as well,” Alani wrote. Tiffany, the chapter president, wrote, “Thank you so much for keeping our schools safe, comfortable, and clean! Even if you don’t always hear it from everyone, we appreciate all of you!” “When I come into school I feel relieved knowing that the school will be cleaned and safe,” Jonathan shared in his message. “It takes bravery to do what you do especially when there’s a pandemic going around. You are what is keeping kids able to go to school and get the education that they deserve.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163191 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163191 EWMMS Parent Teacher Conference Letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163190 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163190 Districtwide French/Francophone Virtual Celebration Click this link to access the Districtwide French/Francophone Virtual Celebration, which starts at 6:00 pm. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163189 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163189 Keyboards are Clicking and Clacking at Northwest Digital literacy is an important skill in a technological world and children in Amityville get their start at a young age. Northwest Elementary School librarian Lori Heavey works with students to help them become tech savvy. Because specials are currently being held in the classrooms as part of the district’s reopening plans during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Heavey brings the technology to them. She has been working with first graders to help them master keyboarding skills. In a low-tech activity, students cut out each letter and pasted them on a paper keyboard to understand where each letter is. They then went high-tech by playing games on their Chromebook that helped them improve their knowledge of the keyboard. The lesson also included an interactive read aloud of the Doreen Cronin book, “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163188 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163188 Red Ribbon Week: Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Healthy Students in the Amityville Union Free School District are equipped with the tools to make good choices as Red Ribbon Week emphasized the consequences of substance use and abuse. Red Ribbon Week is a national drug-abuse awareness campaign held each year at the end of October that inspires students to make healthy choices. This year’s theme was “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free!” At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, social worker Jessica Buzzerio visited third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms to talk about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, smoking and vaping. She also discussed peer pressure and shared tips on how to say “no.” Students demonstrated these techniques in simulated peer-pressure situations. The week of Oct. 26-30 featured dress-up spirit days including wearing red, wearing pajamas to “wake up drug free,” teaming up against drugs with sports jerseys and saying “boo” to drugs with Halloween costumes. The school also held a poster contest and students could either submit a hand-drawn poster or a digital creation using Google Slides. At Edmund W. Miles Middle School, Red Ribbon Week lessons were presented during advisory periods for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Teachers discussed the negative consequences of drug use and how the decisions they make as teenagers can affect the rest of their lives. Students signed drug-free pledges, which were hung on the “Bee Happy, Bee Brave, Bee Drug Free” bulletin board designed by art teacher Jennifer Dibble. Middle school social worker Beatriz Offitto said the mission of Red Ribbon Week is to encourage children and families to live healthy, happy and drug-free lives. It also serves as a reminder that everyone is empowered to shape their communities through positivity, bravery and strength. To create even more awareness, teachers decorated their classroom doors for Red Ribbon Week with many fun themes. From “Let’s Taco ’bout drugs… Drugs are Nacho friend” to “Rockin’ a Drug Free Life,” teachers came up with many creative slogans and designs to impart an important message. Students were able to vote on their favorite doors. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163187 Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:00:00 GMT false163187 Board of Education Special Meeting November 4, 2020, Remote Access Credentials Use the credentials found below to access tonight's Board of Education remote meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92966186808 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Meeting ID: 929 6618 6808 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163094 Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163094 Middle School Poster Contest Promotes Inclusion To promote a culture of inclusion, Edmund W. Miles Middle School held a “Start With Hello” poster contest. The theme was based on a character education program that teaches students to make a difference with their peers in a simple, fun and impactful way. Students learn that they can take small but powerful actions to promote connectedness and inclusion, and to identify and help students how are showing signs of social isolation. The winners were: Karina Escobar, first place; Sasha Urias, second place; Allison Arias Membreno, third place; Aurora Morales, fourth place; and Rohnay Pinnock, fifth place. Their posters were hung on a bulletin board near the main office. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163186 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163186 Halloween Brings Knowledge to Amityville’s Youngest Learners Youngsters in the Amityville Union Free School District celebrated Halloween by increasing their knowledge. The holiday provided lots of learning opportunities for students at Northeast and Northwest elementary schools. Pre-K teacher Theresa McCormick said one of the questions her students explore in science center is “What does it look like?” They decided to answer that question about a pumpkin, analyzing the outside of the big orange gourd, and then opening it up to see what’s on the inside. For math, the children were learning the number 4, so they counted out and pasted four shapes on paper pumpkins. Renee Chandler taught her kindergarten students about the life cycle of a pumpkin, starting from a seed. Students made pumpkin crafts showing the chronology of its life cycle. Christine Bloom’s students made a craft based on the poem, “Five Little Pumpkins” sitting on a gate. They added leaves to paper trees, working on their math skills by identifying the number of leaves in each color and adding up the total. On Oct. 29 and 30, students and staff wore their costumes to school to celebrate Halloween. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163185 Mon, 02 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163185 10/30/2020 Letter From Dr. Kelly Superintendent of Schools Regarding COVID-19 Incident Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163182 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 22:55:00 GMT false163182 Amityville Schools Support Community With Hearty Meals Every Friday afternoon, dozens, if not hundreds of boxes of food line the front sidewalk of Edmund W. Miles Middle School where they are distributed to local families. The program, coordinated by the Amityville Union Free School District’s Pupil Personnel Services department, ensures nutritious meals for children and adults in the community. The district provides individually bagged grab-and-go meals for children as part of its breakfast and lunch program. The meals meet federal nutrition guidelines and include bread, cereal, fruits and vegetables, milk and chocolate milk, juice and snacks. Amityville partners with Island Harvest and Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. The organizations have steadily delivered perishable and non-perishable goods to the school from fresh produce to pasta and rice. Island Harvest often provides USDA-certified pre-packaged food boxes that contain assorted fruits and vegetables, fresh dairy items, eggs, fully cooked and deli meats, and a gallon of milk. The food program also receives support from local service-oriented organizations, including the Amityville Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and Woman’s Club, which have donated non-perishable goods and gift cards. Park Avenue Grill provides families with hot meals. Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services Peter Paternostro said the meal program is a free service to the community with “no questions asked.” He said with the financial impacts facing families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this program is extremely important. Distribution takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. in the school’s front driveway, with administrators, teachers, custodians, support staff and food service workers volunteering their time to sort food and load up cars. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163181 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:00:00 GMT false163181 PAMES Red Ribbon Week 2020 Presentation Click on this link to access the PAMES Red Ribbon Week 2020 Presentation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163183 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163183 NEW: PAMES College and Career Week Schedule Click this link to view the PAMES College and Career Week Schedule. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163184 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163184 10/29/2020 Letter From Dr. Kelly Superintendent of Schools Regarding COVID-19 Incident Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163180 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:45:00 GMT false163180 PAMES Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Presentation Click on the following link to access the PAMES Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Presentation. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IexO_nHs5gHgpR_eXifqzGjukfa3f-HpG9M2U_RU82E/edit?usp=sharing http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163179 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163179 United for Kindness at Edmund W. Miles Middle School Acceptance, inclusion and kindness are year-round messages at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, but those community building traits were particularly emphasized on Oct. 21 when the school celebrated Unity Day. October marks National Bully Prevention Month, an initiative of the PACER Center, and the middle school participates every year. Social worker Beatriz Offitto said that Unity Day is the centerpiece of this awareness campaign to show that the school community stands together against bullying. Students and staff were encouraged to wear orange to show their support. Throughout the week of Oct. 19-23, several related topics were addressed in advisory periods including bullying, digital media and the brain, on-screen diversity and the science of character. Because students are connected digitally in many ways, including social media, the impacts of cyberbullying were also discussed. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163178 Wed, 28 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163178 Districtwide ENL Parent Workshop Remote Credentials Click on the link found below to access the Districtwide ENL Parent Workshop, which starts at 6:00 pm. https://meet.google.com/csd-yzjo-yqn http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163176 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163176 EWMMS Extra Help Schedule Click here to access the EWMMS Extra Help Schedule. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163177 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163177 Amityville Teachers Use Technology to Connect to All Learners A wealth of digital resources allows students and teachers in Amityville to stay connected as they navigate the new educational environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the district’s hybrid learning model, students are split into two cohorts, with each group attending school every other day. The other days students learn from home using their Chromebooks, and many have also chosen to participate in remote-only instruction. Amityville uses Google’s G Suite for Education learning platform, where teachers can post assignments and students can submit their work. Classes are livestreamed through Google Meet. Edmund W. Miles Middle School math teacher David Takseraas said SMART Learning Suite allows him to provide his eighth graders with digital worksheets to complete algebraic equations. He can view any student’s work on his computer and can also share anyone’s screen with the rest of the class to show examples of good work. Amityville Memorial High School teacher Christina Aversano recently introduced students in her Advanced Placement environmental science class to the electronic version of their textbook. Not only does it contain all pages of the book, but there are also several interactive tools including tutorial videos and review flashcards. Students can even make their own custom flashcards as a study aid. Ms. Aversano said that by having both a hard copy book and electronic version, students can choose the way that best meets their individual learning needs. High school science department Chairwoman Christine Garofano uses cK-12 to support the curriculum, with content aligned to the Next Generation Learning Standards in science. One of the features is PLIX, an interactive tool in which students can explore concepts at their own pace, using virtual manipulation and simulation. She said this is an excellent resource for a “do now” activity or to assess her students’ knowledge of a topic. Students in Jack Zider’s ninth grade global history classes recently analyzed the qualities of good leaders based on documents he shared with them through G Suite. They compared leaders from ancient civilizations with world leaders today. Students then used the Jamboard app to post virtual sticky notes, which in-person and remote students could view on their Chromebook screens. As a culminating assignment, Mr. Zider’s students had to pick the five personality traits that they feel best define a leader, and pick a past or present leader who embodies each trait, then create an infographic in Jamboard. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163175 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163175 VIDEO: Expansion of Amityville Memorial High School The new wing at the high school opened in September following two years of construction. Click here to view the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163174 Fri, 23 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163174 Parent University Session 4: Google Classroom and Google Meet Tonight at 7:00 PM Below are the credentials for tonight's Google Classroom and Google Meet parent workshop, which starts at 7:00 pm. Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/91486118387 Dial-in by Phone Information: Number: 646-558-8656 Webinar ID: 914 8611 8387 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163166 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163166 Juniors, Seniors Get Insight into Congressional Campaign The presidential election may be the most widely talked about, but students at Amityville Memorial High School got a taste of other races happening that are just as important. Juniors and seniors recently participated in a Zoom videoconference with representatives of two candidates vying for the local congressional seat. Social studies teacher Matt Greiss and transition coordinator Karen Gross reached out to the campaigns of Republican Andrew Garbarino and Democrat Jackie Gordon, who are both vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Peter King, who is retiring. The district includes the communities that comprise the Amityville Union Free School District. Field director Olivia Ingrassia, from Garbarino’s campaign, and field director Casey Sabella, from Gordon’s campaign, each spoke for a half-hour through Zoom on topics that included organizing a local campaign, the role of campaign volunteers, the importance of participating in the political process and how students can get involved. All juniors and seniors were able to watch the presentations during their seminar periods. The speakers offered opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with the Democratic process through internships. They learned that interns are often tasked with reaching out to potential voters, help plan events and draft social media posts and press releases, among other responsibilities. Mr. Greiss, who teaches government and public policy courses, said that over the years he has had many guest speakers in his classes from the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County Legislature and New York State Assembly and Senate. This year, since the COVID-19 pandemic meant speakers could not visit in person, the opportunity was opened up to all junior and seniors, who could watch either from school or home. “There is more going on than just a presidential election,” he said. “Whatever election is going on, I try to bring people in.” Mr. Greiss explained that it is important for students to know who represents them locally. He said that although many students are not old enough to vote yet, there are still other ways for them to be politically active. Those experiences, he said, can help students develop lifelong skills such as data collection and analysis, networking, organization, public speaking and research. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163173 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163173 10/18/2020 Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, Regarding COVID-19 Incident Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163172 Sun, 18 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163172 A Nature Exploration at Northwest To begin a lesson on plants and animal habitats, Nancy Davi-Ortiz, a second grader teacher at Northwest Elementary School, felt it would be best for students to experience nature firsthand. Ms. Davi-Ortiz took her students outside on Oct. 8 to a corner of Northwest’s expansive back field. The sunny autumn day proved to be the perfect opportunity for some exploring. Students participated in a scavenger hunt where they had to find different items such as birds, bugs, leaves and trees, and checked the items off as they found them. Students learning remotely that day also participated, as they were encouraged to explore their yards. Ms. Davi-Ortiz traveled outside with her Chromebook so she could remain connected to all her students during the scavenger hunt. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163171 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163171 Health Screening App Click the links below to access information regarding downloading and using the health screening app. (English) (Spanish) Click the link found below to view a video about the health screening app. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tQItD_kzqWO0vFaPO6zdLz0noK9eOKc5/view?usp=sharing Click the below link to access the health screening questions in Spanish. Health Screening Questions in Spanish http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163140 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163140 Accomplished Amityville Musician Adds More Accolades Amityville Memorial High School senior Alex Diaz, a member of the school orchestra, has added two more items to his already impressive list of musical accomplishments. He was selected to the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Symphonic Orchestra and received an Award of Merit from the Long Island Arts Alliance. This is Alex’s second selection to NYSSMA’s All-State music festival. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual music conference will be held online this year. A virtual concert will be recorded at the conclusion of the scheduled rehearsals in early December. Alex’s selection to the highly-competitive ensemble was based on evaluation scores and comments from the spring 2019 NYSSMA assessment as well as a detailed recommendation from his orchestra teacher, Bianca Ferrante. He is skilled on both the violin and viola, the latter of which he will play with the All-State Symphonic Orchestra. The Long Island Arts Alliance honored eight music students with the merit award this year. Alex was selected because of his musical accomplishments which include All-County, All-State and All-National music honors. He plays the violin in the school orchestra and the viola with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and New York Youth Symphony chamber music program. Additionally, he attends the Mannes Prep School of Music and participated in a summer program with the Kinhaven Music School. “When you succeed in something you really enjoy, it feels good,” Alex said, adding that these latest accolades are a tremendous honor. Alex plans to continue his musical pursuits after high school. He said he would like to double major in music performance and a science field – possibly biology or nursing. Ms. Ferrante, who has taught Alex since he was in seventh grade at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, said he is not only an extremely talented musician, but also has great character and strong leadership abilities. “Alex will always go above and beyond what is asked of him, and he sets very high expectations for himself,” she said. “He always has such as positive attitude and is the true definition of an Amityville Warrior.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163168 Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163168 10/13/2020 - Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, Regarding COVID-19 Incident Letter from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163169 Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163169 Park Avenue Music Teachers Make a Digital Pitch Music teachers found a new way to get students excited about the instrumental and vocal music programs at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Typically, the school hosts an assembly for fourth graders to encourage students to join the band, chorus and orchestra. But due to gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the teachers had to find a new way to recruit students for the music ensembles. So they went virtual. Band director Brian Wishin, choral director Megan Ashe and orchestra conductors Bianca Ferrante and Dr. Christine Klimek created videos introducing students to the groups. In Mr. Wishin’s introduction to band, he showed and played all of the instruments that students can select. Ms. Ferrante and Dr. Klimek showcased the cello, double bass, viola and violin. The teachers also discussed how music lessons are structured and how full ensembles come together. Students received a band and orchestra sign-up form with all the available instruments. Teachers encouraged them to listen closely so they can choose wisely, as playing an instrument is typically a multi-year commitment. All third, fourth and fifth graders, including the upper grade students who play in band or orchestra, are eligible to join the chorus. Ms. Ashe reviewed the differences between alto and soprano. Vocal lessons will be pre-recorded and shared on Google Classroom with all the music they will learn and perform this year. Classroom teachers played the videos on Sept. 24 and 25, and the video links were also provided to virtual learners. Students could then submit their interest forms the following week. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163167 Thu, 08 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163167 Digital Learning Tools Debut at Northeast Technology is in the hands of pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School as iPad minis were recently distributed to Amityvile’s youngest learners. On Oct. 1 and 2, ENL teacher Lissa Varas and building substitute Patricia Miller went from classroom to classroom to hand out the devices. With the district’s hybrid learning model, students alternate days between in-person and remote instruction. They will use the iPads both in school and at home. Teachers worked with students after the devices were distributed to show them how to turn them on, log in and use different applications. “The learning apps are very simple and very age appropriate,” Ms. Varas said, adding that pre-K teachers gave their input on programs that would engage children while supporting the curriculum. The iPads include Google Classroom, which is the district’s learning platform for all academic subjects, and ClassDojo, a family communication tool. The devices also have many educational apps including ABC Mouse, ABCya and Brain Pop Jr., which have interactive activities in literacy, math, science and social studies. Epic! provides access to electronic books, Code Monkey gives students a basic introduction to computer programming and Flipgrid lets them make short videos. Teachers have received professional development on using the digital resources to support instruction, and the school will host virtual workshops for parents on the different features of the iPads. Following health and safety protocols, each child received his or her iPad and charger in a plastic bag. Virtual-only students were also supplied devices, which were given out to parents at assigned pickup times. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163164 Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163164 Free Financial Aid Workshops Click here to view the flyer. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163162 Fri, 02 Oct 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163162 Park Avenue Students are Off and Running Students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School are Florida-bound – in spirit. Third, fourth and fifth graders are participating in a health and fitness initiative that has them simulating a trip down south. It is 1,108 miles from the school to Disney World, and each class is charged with completing that journey. Physical education teachers Colleen Charles, Robert Claps and William Maisel created a course behind the school for the “Run to Florida” initiative, and each time a student completes a lap, they get credit for one mile. Children participating in remote learning are also invited to participate by doing laps in their yards. To begin the year, physical education teachers visited classrooms to talk to students about the importance of exercise and teach them how to strengthen different muscle groups and take their heart rates. They also discussed health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Before circling the back field each day, students do warm-up exercises and stretching. Mr. Maisel said he expects that the competitive spirit of the students will get them to complete more laps as the distance for each class is posted and updated. He also noted that “Run to Florida” has math and social studies components. In addition to tallying up the miles for each class, students will discuss historical and geographical facts as they reach different destinations along their trip. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163161 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163161 A Test of Strength for STEAM Students Eighth graders were hard at work on their first challenge of the year in Natasha Lim’s STEAM class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Sept. 21. After doing research on structural engineering, each student then had to build a tower at least 18 inches tall that could support the weight of a baseball. Their only supplies were newspapers and tape. They learned about different engineering principles and the process followed by professional engineers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163159 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163159 Middle School Virtual Title I/ENL Parent Meeting Edmund W. Miles Middle School will hold it's virtual Title 1/ENL Informational Night on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. To access it via Google Meet, visit:https://meet.google.com/mix-xqaw-rzn http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163160 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163160 AMHS Open House Tonight AMHS Open House Tonight http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163158 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163158 Middle School Virtual Back-to-School Night Schedule Click here to view the schedule http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163157 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163157 Expanded Pre-K Program Debuts at Northeast Amityville’s new full-day pre-kindergarten program officially launched on Sept. 16, as teachers and support staff welcomed children to Northeast Elementary School. As a result of the grade reconfiguration this summer, kindergarten classes moved to Northwest Elementary School, and Northeast became an early childhood education center. There are 10 full-day pre-K classes, with about 120 students enrolled in the program. On the first day, teachers welcomed their first group of students, gave them tours of the school, reviewed classroom rules and health and safety protocols and read stories in the garden. Children were all given individual boxes of supplies and materials with items such as blocks, crayons and Play-Doh. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins visited the classrooms throughout the day and introduced herself to Amityville’s youngest students. She said that the expansion of pre-K to six hours per day will be a tremendous benefit for children, noting how much development takes place between birth and age 5. “This is a great opportunity for the children,” Dr. Collins said. “We can give them the time they need to become engaged in learning and socialization and build up their skills.” Dr. Collins said that independent exploration is an important part of the pre-K program where children learn to play and learn through play. Classrooms have been designed with centers that foster curiosity, discovery and interaction with their peers. While those interactions will be different this year due to health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Collins said that pre-K will still be a meaningful and productive year in their development. “We will find safe ways for them to do it,” Dr. Collins said. Children are required to wear masks, but will have supervised mask breaks with social distancing practiced during those times. Art, music and physical education classes for now are being held in the pre-K classrooms. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163156 Thu, 17 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163156 High School Bus Schedule and Stops 2020-2021 Click on this link to access the high school bus schedule and stops for the 2020-2021 school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163154 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163154 Middle School Honor Society Inductees Exemplify Scholarship and Character Congratulations to students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School who were inducted in the National Junior Honor Society: Lizette Acosta, Tiffany Asbell, Jayda Barker, Jesus Barrios, Alani Bosse, Kayla Canales Avalos, Melody Cauley, Tae'sia English, Nyla Epps, Paola Flores, Armando Hernandez, April Kenny, Julia McMeo, Alisson Molina Ventura, Luis Moreno, Nathalie Moreno, Janaiya Randolph, Jonathan Ruiz-Chirinos, Janithza Sanabria Mejia and Sasha Urias. The current eighth graders were recognized for their academic achievement and good character. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163155 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163155 A Year of Transformation Begins in Amityville Sept. 10 was a highly anticipated day in district, not only because it marked the return of students for the first time since mid-March, but also because it featured the debut of new learning spaces. The biggest projects from the facilities bond referendum approved by voters in March 2016 were completed over the summer, with new wings opening at Amityville Memorial High School and Northwest Elementary School. The high school addition doubles the size of the school and includes new classrooms, science laboratories, gymnasium and locker rooms, department offices and an expanded cafeteria. “It’s amazing how nice it looks and I’m happy to be here to see it in person,” said junior Mikhail Ankudovych. “The science classrooms are really nice and really big.” Science Department Chairwoman Christine Kilfoil said she and her colleagues have been eagerly awaiting completion of the new labs. She noted that the rooms are very spacious with lots of storage for materials, student lab stations with gas and water, large teacher preparation areas, smart TVs and more. “This is equivalent to a college campus,” she said. “The science department is beyond excited and the students are excited. That excitement is going to bring positive outcomes. The students are really going to prosper from it.” Principal Ed Plaia noted the touches of Warrior Pride throughout the new wing, from the red accents on the outside of the building, to the splashes of red floor tile to the Amityville Warriors canopies above the gymnasium doors. “It was a long time coming,” he said of the new wing, which allows the high school to once again house ninth graders. “These students and this community deserve to have this spectacular, state-of-the-art space.” The old science classrooms in the original part of the school were remodeled as regular classrooms. The former gymnasium and adjoining locker rooms are being transformed into a music and art suite set to open in January 2021. At Northwest, a new wing on the south side of the building has seven kindergarten classrooms, a small gymnasium and several small instructional rooms. Kindergarten moved to Northwest so its former home, Northeast Elementary School, could become a full-day pre-K center, with classes there beginning on Sept. 16. Northwest Principal Kathleen Hyland said it was a busy summer with almost every teacher moving rooms as kindergarten came in and third grade moved to Park Avenue, and several new teachers coming over from Northeast. She said the staff pulled together to get the building ready and have their classrooms beautifully decorated for opening day. Kindergarten teachers welcomed their students by giving them tours of the building, reading them books such as “The Kissing Hand” and “Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten” and giving them some coloring activities. Teachers also created personalized supply bins for each student with crayons, glue sticks and math manipulatives so no materials would be shared. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amityville schools are operating on a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-person and remote instruction, to reduce density in the buildings. Students are grouped into two cohorts so on days that one group comes to school, the other group learns from home using their district-issued Chromebooks. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said she was extremely proud of the district’s entire staff for their hard work to open school both during a pandemic and with two construction projects wrapping up. “Every single person has been involved in this effort and they are to be lauded, they are to be commended,” she said. “The Amityville team always rises to the occasion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163152 Fri, 11 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163152 Important: Wilson Tech Bus Schedule Click this link to access the tech bus schedule. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163150 Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163150 APTC Warriors Mask Fundraiser Click this link to access information regarding the APTC Warriors Mask Fundraiser. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163151 Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163151 Change of Location for Board of Education Regular Meeting September 9, 2020 The Board of Education of the Amityville Union Free School District will hold the Regular Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at *7:30 P.M. at the Amityville Memorial High School, Auditorium. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163149 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163149 eSchool Student Portal Link Click the link below to access the eSchool Student Portal. https://studentportal.eschooldata.com/amityville http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163147 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163147 New Park Avenue Assistant Principal is Seasoned Educator Joshua Atlas, an experienced elementary teacher and administrator, has been named the new assistant principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Mr. Atlas comes to Amityville after 17 years in New York City school. He has been an elementary classroom teacher, new teacher mentor, literacy coach, early literacy specialist and, most recently, an assistant principal in the Bronx. He holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and elementary education from SUNY Oneonta, a master’s degree in education of students with disabilities from Brooklyn College, and a school building leadership certificate from Baruch College, which he earned as a participant in the Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program through the New York City Department of Education. He arrives at Park Avenue as the school transitions to a new grade configuration this year. With sixth grade moving to Edmund W. Miles Middle School, Park Avenue gains third grade, in addition to continuing to house the district’s fourth and fifth grade students. Mr. Atlas said what drew him to Amityville was the close-knit community and the dedication to student success. He added that he is proud to be part of a team of educators who have the best interests of children in mind on a daily basis, and is looking forward to meeting Park Avenue’s students and families. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163148 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163148 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School's Parent Orientation Video Click this link to access the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School's Parent Orientation Video. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163143 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163143 Park Avenue Elementary School Supply Lists Third Grade Supply List (English) (Spanish) Fourth Grade Supply (English) (Spanish) Fifth Grade Supply List (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163131 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163131 Amityville Memorial High School's Welcome Back Letter Use the links below to access the Amityville Memorial High School's Welcome Back Letter. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163141 Thu, 03 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163141 Important: Amityville Memorial High School 20-21 Orientation Presentation Click this link to access the Amityville Memorial High School 20-21 Student and Parent Orientation Presentation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163142 Thu, 03 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163142 Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School's Welcome Back Letter Use the links below to access the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School's Welcome Back Letter. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163138 Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163138 Important: Amityville Memorial High School 11th and 12th Grade Orientation Use the credentials found below to login to the Amityville Memorial High School 11th and 12th Grade Virtual Orientation, which is on September 2, 2020, at 1:00 pm. Meeting ID meet.google.com/hnj-mojf-edd Phone Numbers (‪US‬)‪+1 413-623-4042‬ PIN:‪630 477 762#‬ http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163137 Mon, 31 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163137 Important: Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School Cohort Calendar Click on this link to access the Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School cohort calendar. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163135 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163135 Welcome Back Bash Drive-Thru Click this link to access information regarding the Welcome Back Bash Drive-Thru. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163136 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163136 Important: Amityville Memorial High School 9th and 10th Grade Orientations Please use the following links to join the 9th and 10th grade orientations. The orientations can also be accessed using the dial-in information found below. 9th grade Orientation: 8/27/20 at 11:00 am Meeting ID: meet.google.com/wnw-kgvm-rgo Dial-in by phone information: ‪1 402-736-0288 PIN:‪380 181 498# 10th grade Orientation: 8/27/20 at 1:00 pm Meeting ID: meet.google.com/nua-xpkv-uqx Dial-in by phone information: 1 708-887-9486 PIN: 696 695 448# http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163134 Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163134 Reopening Information and Resources Click this link to access reopening information and resources. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163130 Tue, 18 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163130 Important: Amityville Union Free School District Reopening FAQ To access the Amityville Union Free School District's Frequently Asked Questions document related to the reopening of schools, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163128 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163128 Meal Support Program Breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup from 8 AM to 12 PM in the lobbies of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School each weekday for the duration of the school closure. To access information regarding community food pantries and supply distribution centers use the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163037 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163037 District Closed- Wednesday, August 5, 2020. No Grab-and-Go meal program as a result of the power outages caused by yesterday’s storm District Closed- Wednesday, August 5, 2020. No Grab-and-Go Meal program as a result of the power outages caused by yesterday’s storm. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163125 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163125 Northwest Elementary Summer Reading 2020 Click on this link to access information regarding Northwest Elementary School's Summer Reading Program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163123 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163123 Northwest Elementary School Summer Enrichment Resources Click on the links below to access Northwest Elementary School's Summer Enrichment Resources. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163124 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163124 Violist earns All-National Music Selection Alex Diaz, a rising senior at Amityville Memorial High School, has been selected to the National Association for Music Education’s All-National symphonic orchestra. He is the first student ever from Amityville be named to a national music honor ensemble. The selection process is highly competitive, as thousands of students from across the country vied for limited spots in All-National honor ensembles. A viola player, Alex completed an extensive application along with submitting recorded musical auditions and teacher recommendations. Alex has become one of the most accomplished musicians in Amityville history, adding an All-National selection to previous All-State and All-County honors. He has performed in ensembles through the New York State School Music Association, the Suffolk County Music Educators Association, the Long Island String Festival Association, the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the Knights/Tilles Center String Orchestra Convocation. The NAfME All-National Music Festival and Conference is tentatively scheduled to take place in Orlando from Nov. 5-8, based on state and national health guidelines. The 2020 symphonic orchestra will be conducted by accomplished orchestra director and teacher Nobuyoshi Yasuda. “Congratulations to Alex, his family and his past and present music teachers on this outstanding accomplishment,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. “This is a well-deserved selection for a very talented musician.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163120 Thu, 30 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163120 Meal Program Supports Families During Pandemic The Amityville Union Free School District’s meal program has provided a valuable service to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100,000 meals having been served through mid-July. The grab-and-go breakfast and lunch program provides families with nutritious meals through safe delivery. Meals are pre-packaged by the district’s food service workers at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Northeast Elementary School, and available for pickup Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday and Sunday meals are provided on Fridays, and deliveries are offered to families experiencing illness or with no transportation. Assistant Business Administrator Christine Kim said that the meals meet all nutritional guidelines and include items such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen meals are also available because they can be kept longer. Ms. Kim said the same members of the kitchen staff that provide nutritious lunches to students during the school year have been working hard to ready meals for the community. They prepare all food with gloves, wear masks and maintain social distancing. “The staff has been amazing,” she said. “They have not skipped a beat and they continue on because this is an essential program offered to our community.” At the vestibules of the two buildings, where food is placed for pickup, tables are cleaned multiple times each day and hand sanitizer stations are available. Only one family may enter the space at a time. In addition to the meal program, Amityville has also partnered with several other agencies, community organizations and businesses to supply additional items for families. Island Harvest provides food once a week at the pickup sites, including perishable items such as meat and bread, and non-perishable goods such as canned vegetables and baby food. The Park Avenue Grill donated family meals and the Amityville Rotary Club supported the meal program with a $500 donation. The Amityville Kiwanis Club donated $500 in grocery gift cards to help district families as well as 500 coloring books and crayons for children. To support health and safety efforts, the district also received 600 reusable cloth masks from Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and 400 packages of disposable masks from Promise for Hope. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163119 Fri, 24 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163119 School Reopening Guidance from NYSED & NYSDOH NYS Department of Health Guidance- Released July 13, 2020 NYS Education Department Guidance- Released July 16, 2020 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163117 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163117 7/21/2020 Update from Dr. Kelly Regarding the Reopening of Schools Please see the attached letter in English and Spanish http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163116 Tue, 21 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163116 Three Cheers for Park Avenue Students Car after car passed through the front driveway of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on June 16, giving students and staff a chance to say goodbye to each other after three months of distance learning. The school hosted three “reverse parades” that morning, one each for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the end of the school year, it is also was the rare circumstance of two grades leaving Park Avenue at the same time. A reconfiguration of the district for September means both fifth and sixth graders are headed to Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The drive-up parades also served as moving-up ceremonies for those students. Principal Robyn Santiago and Assistant Principal Melissa Wiederhold were joined by teachers and staff to wish them good luck and celebrated their accomplishments. Fourth graders, who will remain Park Avenue students for another year, also got the chance to come through to say “see you later.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163111 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163111 Amityville Graduation is Five Times as Special A graduating class full of hope and promise was celebrated at Amityville Memorial High School on June 27 during five commencement ceremonies, the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers, in noting the great uncertainty in the world right now, emphasized their belief that the Class of 2020 will be better for it. This year’s graduation was anything but traditional. With a 150-person limit, Amityville’s class of more than 200 seniors could not celebrate the milestone together, with ceremonies of approximately 45 students apiece and each graduate limited to two guests. On the football field, chairs were set up to respect social distancing rules and masks had to be worn. Graduates picked up their diploma folders from a table on the stage. Speeches by the valedictorian, salutatorian, class president and class adviser were given in person only at the first session, with pre-recorded versions played later. But the unusual circumstances, and some on-and-off rain, didn’t temper enthusiasm for a moment that was 13 years in the making. Principal Edward Plaia said the graduates had different journeys to arrive at this destination, but what they did have in common was hard work, perseverance and a will to succeed. The Class of 2020 has students who exceeded in academics, the arts and athletics, and earned $4 million in scholarships. Seniors entering the military were individually recognized. Mr. Plaia said that seniors made great sacrifices to help curtail the spread of COVID-19, having their last day of school without evening knowing it. Many of them, working part-time jobs at supermarkets and restaurants, learned what it meant to be an essential worker. As remote instruction began, they became more independent in their learning. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that when the school year began, no one would imagine it ending this way. Students became eyewitnesses to history. But despite those challenges, there were many important items that the pandemic could not take away from them – the love of family, cherished memories with friends, their knowledge and skills, their grit and determination, and their hopes and dreams. “This is your moment, your generation’s world to shape,” she told the Class of 2020. “You’re ready for the challenges ahead we will be here rooting for you.” Valedictorian Marco Iorio said that in extraordinary times, the seniors never gave up on themselves to reach this milestone, reminding his classmates that a high school diploma is an extension of their excellence. He also thanked those who have provided support along the way, and help guide them through the chaos, including family members, teachers and administrators. Salutatorian Amelia Tisk said she and her classmates entered senior year looking forward to many traditional milestone moments, but life had other plans. While the world is changing, she explained, there is a light at the end of the darkness. “We are the most unique class to graduate,” she said. “If we can go through this, we can go through anything. The important thing is that we’re here, we made it.” With protests for equality taking place throughout the country, senior class President Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal said that diversity is Amityville’s strength and he is proud to graduate from a high school where students come from many different cultures. He invoked his late fourth grade teacher, Marc Engler, whose emphasis on good character and the importance of treating others respectfully made an indelible mark on all students. The Class of 2020 is special to Mr. Plaia, because when he returned to the district six years ago as principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School, they were entering the school as well as seventh graders. He later became high school principal and got see them complete the last year of their educational journeys in Amityville. As they move on, he left them with some advice from his father: “If you want to accomplish something, you need to just do it.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163110 Mon, 29 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163110 Amityville Memorial High School 2020 Graduation Speeches Audio Translations/Escuchar discursos de la ceremonia de graduación 2020 en español Click on the link below to access the Amityville Memorial High School 2020 Graduation speeches translated into Spanish. Escuchar discursos de la ceremonia de graduación 2020 en español https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP3jfC9Ano1qOKC314dmbjeVPmGa6JAtP http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163109 Fri, 26 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163109 Amityville Memorial High School Graduation 2020 Live Stream Link Click on the link below to access the Amityville Memorial High School Graduation 2020 live stream, which starts tomorrow at 9:00 am. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5oeyhx0nxZLlS50OxuXd5Q http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163108 Fri, 26 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163108 Important: Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Grades 5 & 6 Moving Up Ceremonies Videos Click the links below to access Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Grades 5 & 6 Moving Up Ceremonies Videos. 5th Grade Moving Up 2020 - Watch Video 6th Grade Moving Up 2020 - Watch Video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163107 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163107 Important: Graduation Ceremony Schedule To access the Amityville Memorial High School Graduation Ceremony Schedule, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163104 Wed, 24 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163104 A Four-Wheel Farewell at Northwest It was anything but a traditional end of the school year at Northwest Elementary School, but that did nothing to tamp down the enthusiasm of students, teachers and staff during farewell drive-by parades on June 15. With school closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first time students and teachers saw each other in person in three months. Even though their faces were partly obscured by masks, seeing each other brought equal joy to the children and the adults. Each grade was allocated a time slot and families could drive through the front loop where teachers lined the sidewalk holding handmade signs. Music played in the background as staff applauded and cheered. As cars entered the parking lot, Principal Kathleen Hyland and Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo were waiting to present each child with a white and red Northwest T-shirt. The parades also served as moving-up ceremonies for the second and third graders, all headed to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School next year. The district will be reconfigured with the opening of new space at Northwest and Amityville Memorial High School. Teachers wished the children good luck at their stately new school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163106 Wed, 24 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163106 Amityville Union Free School District Extended School Year Summer Program Letter To access information regarding the Amityville Union Free School District Extended School Year Summer Program, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163105 Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163105 Amityville Memorial High School Graduation Letter To access important information regarding Amityville Memorial High School's 2020 Graduation, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163098 Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163098 Northeast Kindergarten Graduation Video Click here to watch the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163103 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163103 Northwest Elementary School's 2nd and 3rd Grade Moving Up Ceremonies Videos To access Northwest Elementary School's 2nd and 3rd Grade Moving Up Ceremonies flyers and videos, click the following links. Moving Up Ceremony- Grade 2:https://youtu.be/7fExvCM0A4E Moving Up Ceremony- Grade 3:https://youtu.be/M6tAzbb-RUo Moving Up Flyer (English) Moving Up Flyer (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163100 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163100 Important: Budget Vote and Board of Education Election Results Click on this link to access the Amityville Union Free School District Budget Vote and Board of Education Election results. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163101 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163101 Important Information for Accessing Tonight's Board of Education Remote Meeting Below you will find information for accessing tonight's remote Board of Education Meeting, which starts at 6:00 pm. Dial-in Number: 646-876-9923 Meeting ID; 952 8803 2270 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163070 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163070 A Socially Distant Farewell for Northeast Students Kindergarten and pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School got to see their teachers one more time at a socially distanced materials pickup and celebration during the week of June 8. Families drove up during designated time slots – pre-K classes on Monday and Tuesday, and four kindergarten classes each day Wednesday through Friday – to keep gatherings small. The occasion was festive with balloon towers and music, and many families decorated their cars. Teachers and aides, donning face masks, returned items to students that were left in school following the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as report cards and moving-up certificates. With the reconfiguration of the district for the 2020-21 school year, both groups of students will attend Northwest Elementary School beginning in September. Northeast will become a full-day pre-K center. To keep their minds sharp over the summer, teachers also provided students with resource packets in English language arts and math, along with workbooks that hadn’t been completed as the district switched to distance learning to during the pandemic. The youngster will also continue to have access to a wide array of online learning resources. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins also greeted families and wished the students the best of luck as they head to Northwest. She also thanked her teachers and staff for their hard work over the last three months in continuing to support and educate children in the remote learning era. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163095 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163095 Important: Cap and Gown Distribution Schedule To access the Amityville Memorial High School Cap and Gown Distribution Schedule, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163097 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163097 VIDEO: Northwest Elementary School Shining Stars Click here to view the video: https://safeyoutube.net/w/K7e6 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163057 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163057 Important: Ballot Canvassing will Continue on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 8:30 AM Ballot canvassing for the Board of Education Election and Budget Vote will continue on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 8:30 am. The link to the live stream will be posted on the district website before 8:30 am. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163093 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163093 Important School Budget Vote and Election Announcement To access important information regarding the Board of Education Vote and Election, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163087 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 18:30:00 GMT false163087 Scientific Endeavors Continue for Northwest Students Young scientists at Northwest Elementary School are continuing to explore the curiosities of the world even while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditional science lessons have gone digital so children don’t miss out on meaningful learning experiences. Every spring, second grade classes hatch baby chicks in their classrooms to learn about animal life cycles. This year, several teachers received the eggs and incubators at their homes, providing second graders with regular updates and videos. Children got to watch as the teachers turned the eggs, keeping track of the progress in their science notebooks, and anxiously awaited the day the baby chicks would hatch. ENL teacher Rachel Pariser taught a lesson on plant life and showed her students a video of how she used a regular dry bean from the supermarket to grow a plant. They then planted bean found around their own homes, provided water and sunlight, and made Flipgrid videos to share their successes. Ms. Pariser also used Seesaw, a digital learning platform, to post “The Sunflower House” for students to read. She mailed out sunflower seeds to several students who were interested in growing their own. First grade teacher Jaclynn Wittschiebe’s turtle quickly became a star among her students. Children learned about the reptiles by reading books and watching videos, with her pet Turtus also making appearances during lessons. Students completed writing assignments explaining what they learned about turtles. Ms. Wittschiebe also had caterpillars at her house and posted daily videos of their progress through their hatching as butterflies. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163092 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163092 Welcome to Park Avenue Elementary School Videos To access the Welcome to Park Avenue Elementary School videos, click the following links. New student/Parent Orientation - Watch Video Virtual Tour of PAMES - Watch Video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163091 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163091 Important: Northwest Farewell Parade To access information about Northwest Elementary School's Farewell Parade, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163090 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163090 Amityville Memorial High School's End of Year Ceremonies Schedule and Videos To access the Amityville Memorial High School's end of year ceremonies schedule, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163080 Thu, 11 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163080 Important Information regarding High School Graduation To access important information regarding Amityville Memorial High School's graduation, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163089 Wed, 10 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163089 Park Avenue-Elementary Grading Letter during COVID-19 To access information regarding Park Avenue's Elementary Grading Letter, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163088 Mon, 08 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163088 2020-2021 Proposed Budget Facts & Figures Click here to view http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163078 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163078 Important Information Regarding Returning Ballots Click on the following links to access information regarding returning absentee ballots. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163086 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163086 Important: Park Avenue Elementary School's Pick-Up Schedule for Student Belongings To access the Park Avenue Elementary School's pick-up schedule for student belongings, click the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163085 Wed, 03 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163085 Important Note Important Note: A Newsday article regarding the 2020-2021 budget from March 15, 2020 has recently been circulating via social media. Please be aware, the information included in that article is no longer correct. The 2020-2021 proposed budget for the Amityville UFSD represents a zero percent tax levy increase. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163084 Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163084 Important: High School End of Year Celebrations Letter To access the High School End of Year Celebrations Letter, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163082 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163082 Technology Support and Help Desk With this unprecedented closure of our schools, we want to ensure that your child's education continues to be our priority. With this in mind, the district is committed to providing technology support and assistance. If you have any questions or need tech support you can email helpdesk@amityvilleufsd.org or call our technology department at 631-565-6487. Additionally, we will continue to add user guides and tutorials for all software being used in our distance learning program, such as Google Classroom and Google Hangouts. You can find these resources by clicking on this link. This link will be continuously updated, so visit often for updated information, resources, and tutorials. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163031 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163031 Important Information About Senior Week To access information about Senior Week, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163083 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163083 Important: Northwest Elementary School Pick-Up Schedule for Students' Belongings To access the Northwest Elementary School pick-up schedule for students' belongings, click this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163079 Fri, 29 May 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163079 Important: Student and Parent Distance Learning Survey Links Amityville Union Free School District is always seeking ways to better meet the needs of our students and you.While the district and our schools are closed, our educators continue to serve students. To better support students during closure, we are asking you to complete this distance learning survey that asks questions about your family's experiences with distance learning this semester. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey is available in English and Spanish. If you have children in more than one school who participated in distance learning this semester, you will have the opportunity to take the survey for another child by clicking the link that will appear in the thank you message at the end of this survey response. Thank you for joining us in this important work. Parents:https://survey.k12insight.com/r/2020DLParents Students:https://survey.k12insight.com/r/2020DLStudents http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163077 Tue, 26 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163077 Park Avenue Elementary School We Miss You Video Park Avenue Elementary School We Miss You Video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163075 Thu, 21 May 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163075 PAMES Letter to Parents May 20, 2020 Click this link to access the Park Avenue Elementary School Parent Letter May 20, 2020. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163074 Wed, 20 May 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163074 Language Honor Society Welcomes New Members More than 30 students from French and Spanish classes at Amityville Memorial High School were selected to the World Language Honor Society for their high achievement and commitment to language acquisition. Although an induction ceremony scheduled for April was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 36 students are officially new members of this prestigious organization. It is open to students maintaining a grade point average of 85 or higher in their language classes. Inductees from Spanish classes included Diana Alvarez, Yaneli Amaya, Jackeline Andino, Neyri Ayala, Brian Candia Flores, Alexa Echevarria-Chavez, Tatiana Escolero, Kimberly Garcia, Vanessa Garcia, Amaya Gomez, Brandon Fernandez, Kenia Hernandez, Abdullah Khan, Andielynn Llamas, Maykelen Y. Maradiaga, Evelyn Maricela Rivas Onofre, Keiry Martinez, Gianely McCatty, Anayiah McCloud-Griffin, Brianna McQueen, Nurys Matos Mejia, Samanta Molina, Gabriella Norris, Marilyn Ortiz, Yisel Ramirez, Alisson Ramos Lopez, Mariajose Rivera, Helen N. Rodriguez, Randy Rodriguez and Stephanie Urbina. Inductees from French classes are Mikhail Ankudovych, Nivana Benoit, Melissa Contreras, Amaya Gomez, Randy Jerez and Marie Wic Jironard. World Language teachers are Reynaldo Bueno, Elisa Castro and Sandra Whitney for Spanish and Francesca Chery for French. Ms. Castro is the adviser of the World Language Honor Society. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163073 Wed, 20 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163073 5/19/2020 - Update from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, Regarding the Last Day of School for the 2019-2020 School Year Update from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools(English) (En Español) – May 19, 2020 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163072 Tue, 19 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163072 Information Regarding Support Services, Mental Health Information, and Community Resources To access resources and information regarding mental health, community resources, and social-emotional supports, visit this link. The link will be continuously updated, so visit often for updated information and resources. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163048 Mon, 18 May 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163048 Amityville Seniors Find New Ways to Celebrate With traditional end-of-the-year senior milestones impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, students and staff at Amityville Memorial High School are finding alternative ways to honor the Class of 2020. Senior class officers Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal, Nil Patel, Jordan Tobin and Trinity Tobin, along with adviser Dawn Mizrachi, communicate regularly to discuss ways to make the rest of senior year as fun and memorable as possible despite the circumstances. Jeffrey, the class president, created an Instagram page – @amhs.classof2020 – to recognize the seniors’ future plans including commitments to colleges, trade school and the military. “As officers of the senior class, we were elected to make sure that the hard work from our classmates is celebrated,” he said, noting that more plans are in the works. On May 8, seniors were invited to the high school’s front lawn to pick up a personalized sign to place in front of their own homes. Each sign included the student’s name along with the district logo and “2020 AMITYVILLE MEMORIAL H.S. SENIOR Congratulations” in red and black type. To keep the gathering small, students picked up their signs during specific time blocks. Donning face masks and gloves, several teachers were also on hand to help students find the signs and write personal messages on the back. Principal Edward Plaia said the 266 signs were funded by donations from the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council and the administrator and teacher unions, as well as personal contributions from Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Board of Education trustees and staff members. A second set of identical signs will be delivered the following week to remain on the front lawn of the high school through the end of the school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163069 Wed, 13 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163069 5/1/2020 - Update from Dr. Kelly Regarding School Closure Update from Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools(English) (En Español) – May 1, 2020 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163064 Fri, 01 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163064 Important Letter From Dr. Kelly Regarding Federal Assistance Petition Please click the link to see the letter from Dr. Kelly, regarding the Federal Assistance Petition. (English) (En Español) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163065 Fri, 01 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163065 Community Mental Health Resources To access resources and information regarding community mental health services, visit the links found below. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163035 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163035 Community Food Pantries and Supply Distribution Centers To access information regarding community food pantries and supply distribution centers use the following links. (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163030 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163030 All-County Accolades for Amityville Musicians Eleven student-musicians from the Amityville Union Free School District earned All-County honors from the Suffolk County Music Educators Association for their instrumental and vocal talents. From Amityville Memorial High School, choral students Jeff Cruz (bass) and Keiry Martinez (soprano) were recognized. Edmund W. Miles Middle School had three selections from the chorus, Melissa Fearrington (soprano), Destiny Harding (soprano) and Bryant Rivas (bass), and one selection from the orchestra, Madeline Shingleton (cello). Sophia Castigione, Kimberly Guevara Torres and Gabrielle Scott were honored from the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School chorus and Joseph Biju (cello) and Ayaanah Ellis (violin) were All-County orchestra selections. Music teachers for the honored students include Megan Ashe, Bianca Ferrante, Christine Klimek and Debra Koraus. Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez congratulated all students and their music teachers past and present on these accomplishments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163061 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163061 Important Information Regarding Island Harvest Food Bank To access information regarding a new partnership between Island Harvest Food Bank and Lyft, visit this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163059 Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163059 Amityville Artists Earn Regional Recognition Several students from the Amityville Union Free School District had their artwork selected for regional exhibitions. Two students represented the district in the 24th annual Long Island’s Best display sponsored by the Heckscher Museum of Art. Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth grader Nicholas Brown and Amityville Memorial High School 10th grader Javier Rodriguez had their work included in this highly competitive exhibition. Only 100 pieces of student-created artwork were chosen, out of nearly 400 submissions from 58 schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Long Island’s Best program challenges students in grades 9-12 to choose a work of art that is on view in the museum as inspiration for their own creative expression. This year’s exhibit is available for viewing online following a virtual opening on April 17. Viewers of the online gallery will also be able to vote for the winner of the Virtual Visitors Choice Award. More than 20 art students from the district had pieces selected for the annual Children’s Art Show, hosted by the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association. Selections were: Northeast Elementary School: were Tatiana Argueta, Farrah Giron, Havah Ishchayil, Samantha Ramos and Arielle Taylor. Northwest Elementary School: Allison Yanes Bonilla, Micanni DeJesus, Grayson Egan, Gabriel Farnum, Thania Hernandez Ipina and Jaysalyn Diaz Mendoza. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School: Josiah Albarracin, Lisbeth Benitez, Chellsie Ramirez Canales, Jorge Hernandez Gamez, Robert Johnson and Laura Hernandez Quintanilla Edmund W. Miles Middle School: Kayla Faublas, Annabella Hernandez, Armando Hernandez, Hans Torres Paternina and Timothy Pratt. Students for both exhibitions completed their pieces under the direction of art teachers Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Nicole Pappas, Lydia Robinson and Nicole Scoca. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163060 Thu, 23 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163060 VIDEO: “We Miss You” from the Edmund W. Miles Middle School Staff Click here to watch the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163058 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163058 Important Update from Dr. Kelly: School Closure Extended to 5/15; June Regents Exams Canceled by Board of Regents Governor Cuomo has extended school closures until May 15, 2020, and the Board of Regents has canceled New York State Regents exams scheduled for June, 2020. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163056 Mon, 20 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163056 Amityville Kindergartners Continue Learning From Home Through distance learning, kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School are continuing their education in all subject areas. In Writer’s Workshop, students are immersed in their persuasive writing unit by writing letters or making up songs and chants about changes they would like to see that could make their classroom, school or the world a better place. They are writing to bring awareness to issues that are important to them. Kindergartners are immersed in books through Reader’s Workshop. They are learning how to become avid readers by exploring different types of literature including story books, information books, poetry and songs. By reading frequently, children develop their looking, listening and thinking skills. In math, students are learning about 3D shapes and playing sorting games, while in science they are exploring weather. Needs and wants is the focus of a social studies unit on economics. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163053 Thu, 16 Apr 2020 12:00:00 GMT false163053 COVID-19 Testing Available in Amityville To access important information regarding COVID-19 testing in Amityville, visit the links below. COVID-19 Testing Available in Amityville_English COVID-19 Testing Available in Amityville_Spanish COVID-19 Testing Available in Amityville_Creole http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163054 Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163054 Middle School Students Reminded to Speak up for Safety Creating a community of caring and compassionate individuals is a guiding principle at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, which is why students and staff took part in Say Something Week, a national call-to-action to celebrate the role of “upstanders.” Thousands of schools and youth organizations from across the United States participated in Say Something Week from March 2-6.During social studies classes, Amityville students learned how to recognize warning signs and threats of potential violence as well as strategies to take action. They discussed how to become “upstanders” instead of “bystanders” and how to choose a trusted adult, which is someone to tell when they have concerns. On March 5, students and staff were encouraged to wear green, the official color of the Sandy Hook Promise, which sponsors the Say Something initiative. The organization aims to unite people of all backgrounds and beliefs in an effort to protect children from gun violence. Guidance counselor Keri Kearney and social worker Beatriz Offitto visited students during their lunch periods to take photos with the #SaySomething photo booth, as a way of reminding them about the importance of speaking up. This was the school’s third year participating in Say Something Week. Activities and lessons were coordinated by committee members Ms. Kearney, Ms. Offitto and Humanities Chairwoman Leslie Ciliotta. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163052 Tue, 14 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163052 “Hello From Northeast” YouTube Video Click here to watch the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163051 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163051 Amityville Music Program Earns National Distinction The music program in the Amityville Union Free School District once again earned national recognition with its inclusion on the 2020 list of Best Communities for Music Education. Amityville has received this distinction from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation nine times in the past decade. Amityville’s extensive program begins with general music instruction in kindergarten and students are exposed to different musical concepts, instruments and styles throughout their elementary years. Upon entering fourth grade, children can select an instrument to play in the band or orchestra, and also join the chorus. Concert, percussion and symphonic ensembles are offered at the middle school and high school, and elective courses music exploration, music theory and piano. This year, Amityville students were selected to the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Symphonic Orchestra, Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Music Festival and Long Island String Festival Association orchestras. The high school marching band participates in the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival. Vocal and instrumental groups from Amityville Memorial High School, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School performed at the district’s Pathways to Peace program with the Shanti Fund. The BestCommunitiesfor Music Education program acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support of music education in schools.A survey measures a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified, certified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition, among others. “I am very thankful to the NAMM Foundation for this prestigious, nationwide recognition,” Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez said. “Thank you to our Board of Education, our administrators, our teachers, our students, and our parents and families for their continued support and participation in our music programs.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163050 Fri, 10 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163050 Amityville Celebrates Autism Awareness Month To access information regarding Autism Awareness Month, visit the links found below. Amityville Celebrates Autism Awareness Month (English) Amityville Celebrates Autism Awareness Month (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163049 Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163049 Amityville Juniors Advance in Oral History Contest Three students from Amityville Memorial High School were selected as semifinalists in the Theodore Roosevelt Public Speaking Contest, sponsored by Long Island University. Juniors Kimberly Garcia, Darius Mobley and Keniese Pryce entered the competition as students in Jennifer Schulken’s Advanced Placement U.S. History class. Participants had to answer the question, “Why does Theodore Roosevelt matter in the 21st Century?” The topic of the speech aligns with the A.P. curriculum which focuses on historical reasoning skills likecontinuityand change over time.One of the goals of the course is to get students to think like historians so they can identify the significance of a specific historical figure in a larger pattern of development. Kimberly, Darius and Keniese presented their speeches in class to their peers before submitting theirspeeches to the contest, which featured entries from students from across the nation. The top 10 finalists will be announced on April 13 and they will compete in a virtual contest on April 25. To view the videos and vote for the students, click here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163047 Wed, 08 Apr 2020 19:00:00 GMT false163047 Amityville Strong YouTube Video Click on the following link to view the Amityville Strong video. Amityville Strong http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163046 Tue, 07 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163046 Information Regarding Accessing Tonight's Board of Education Meeting To listen to tonight's remote Board of Education Meeting dial in using the information found below. Phone Number: 1-646-434-0485 Dial in Access: 391 426 1030 Presentations Budget Presentation Capital Projects http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163045 Tue, 07 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163045 Park Avenue Student’s Artwork Honors a Female Pioneer Jenny Cividanes, a fifth grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District was a winner in the Women’s History Month Art Contest hosted by New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre. The contest was open to fifth grade students in the Town of Babylon. Jenny drew a picture of Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who calculated and analyzed flight paths for spacecraft, including journeys to the moon. In 2015, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. She died earlier this year at the age of 101. Jenny said she was very inspired by Katherine Johnson’s story which was documented in the 206 movie, “Hidden Figures.” Park Avenue art teacher Susan Zaratin, who offered students the opportunity to enter the contest, said that Jenny is now a finalist to have her work featured on the cover of next year’s Women’s History Month Art Contest entry booklet. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163043 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163043 Information Re: SCOPE Emergency School Age Care At the request of the school district, SCOPE Education Services is pleased to provide emergency extended school age care during this difficult time. Priority registration will be given to First Responders and Medical Personnel in the Amityville, Copiague and Lindenhurst School Districts and currently enrolled SCOPE families in the Lindenhurst School District. This is a five day a week program (3/23/2020 – 3/31/2020). End date may change based on need. This program is dependent upon sufficient enrollment. The program will be held at the Albany Avenue Elementary School in the Lindenhurst School District, 180 Albany Avenue, Lindenhurst. CLICK HERE for information regarding registration if you are: - A current SCOPE family in the district - A new SCOPE family in the district (First Responders and Medical Personnel only) - Registering for the district's Extended Day Program If you have any questions or problems, please call (631)360-0800, Barbara R. (ext.100) or Angela (ext. 123.) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163036 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163036 Child Nutrition Survey The Amityville Union Free School District is committed to supporting the community through these challenging times. The School District has established a pre-packaged meal to-go program with pick-up sites at Park Avenue and the Middle School. The meal program is available Monday through Friday. The School District would like to collect information from the community regarding the meal distribution program in an effort to enhance the current program. Please take a couple of moments to complete the survey. Use the following links to access the survey. Child Nutrition Survey_English Child Nutrition Survey_Spanish El Distrito Escolar de Amityville está comprometido a apoyar a la comunidad en estos tiempos difíciles. El Distrito Escolar ha establecido un programa de comida para llevar pre-empacada con sitios de recogida en Park Avenue y la Escuela Intermedia. El programa de comidas está disponible de lunes a viernes. El Distrito Escolar desea recopilar información de la comunidad sobre el programa de distribución de comidas en un esfuerzo por mejorar el programa actual. Tómese algunos minutos para completar la encuesta. La encuesta se publica en el sitio web del Distrito en amityvilleschools.org. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163041 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163041 Non-Public School Transportation Request Deadline Extended until April 15, 2020 Non-public Transportation Deadline Extended to April 15, 2020 Please note that due to the closure of schools, the deadline for non-public school transportation requests has been extended until April 15, 2020. The Amityville Union Free School District will be accepting applications for transportation to non-public schools by mail or email. Applications do not have to be hand-delivered. Completed forms can be emailed to transportation@amityvilleufsd.org or mailed to 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701. Note, an application must be completed for every student who will require transportation for the 2020-2021 school year, whether the student currently receives transportation services, or not. Applications are not automatically renewed annually. Click on the following link to access the Non-Public Schools Transportation Form in English and Spanish. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163040 Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163040 3-21-2020 Update From Dr. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, Regarding Incident of Coronavirus Among Students (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163039 Sat, 21 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163039 United States Census 2020 To access resources and information regarding the United States Census 2020, visit this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163033 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163033 Distance Learning Resources To access resources and information regarding distance learning, accessing resources, and Google/Chromebook tutorials, please visit this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163029 Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163029 3/16/2020 Message from Dr. Kelly re: School Closings Good evening, this is Mary Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, calling with an important update regarding the coronavirus health emergency. Suffolk County Executive Bellone has ordered all Suffolk County schools to be closed for a period of two weeks beginning Monday, March 16 - March 27, 2020. Any adjustments to our school calendar, including scheduled school recess days, will occur after we receive guidance from the New York State Education Department. Executive Bellone’s order allows for employees to come into the building for planning purposes and to take care of essential duties. As such, we are in the process of coordinating additional building cleaning, preparing additional instructional materials for students, and processing essential operational tasks. Additional communication will be forthcoming shortly from the school principals regarding access to instructional materials. I will continue to update you regularly throughout this emergency. Please stay safe, heed the guidance of state and local officials, and engage in the social distancing recommendations made by the Department of Health. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163026 Sun, 15 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false163026 SAT Scheduled for 3/14/20 at AMHS has been Canceled The SAT's scheduled for tomorrow 3/14/20 at Amityville Memorial High School have been cancelled. Please monitor the College Board Web-site for updates. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/test-center-closings http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163022 Fri, 13 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT false163022 Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Updates and Resources To access resources and information regarding 2019 Novel (new) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), visit this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163016 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false163016 DTSDE Survey for Parents and Guardians Dear Parents and Guardians: The District is committed to providing your children with the best education; meaningful, consistent communication between home and school is critical to this endeavor. That's why we're asking you to participate in our School and District Effectiveness Survey. Please use the link below to access the survey. DTSDE Survey for Parents and Guardians http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163009 Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163009 APTC Supermarket Bingo & Chinese Auction The Amityville Parent-Teacher Council will host Supermarket Bingo & Chinese Auction on Friday, March 6, 2020, at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Click the link below to get more information about this exciting event. APTC Supermarket Bingo & Chinese Auction http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163003 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163003 Amityville World Language Night Click the links below to get more information about Amityville's World Language Night. World Language Night (English) World Language Night (Spanish) World Language Night (French) World Language Night (Haitian Creole) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163004 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT false163004 Important Information Regarding the Novel (New) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Please use the links found below to access important information regarding the Novel (New) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163000 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 13:00:00 GMT false163000 High School Block Schedule Letter to Parents Click here to read the letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162995 Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162995 High School Orientation Letter to Parents Click here to read the letter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162996 Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162996 College, Career & Financial Aid Information College, Career & Financial Aid Information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162992 Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:00:00 GMT false162992 New Full Day Pre-Kindergarten Registration Information/Información de registro sobre el nuevo programa de prekindergarten de día completo New Full Day Pre-Kindergarten Registration Information_Informacio´n para Registracion Preescholar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162989 Mon, 20 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162989 Middle School Chorus Serenades Dominican Village Residents Nearly 50 members of the Edmund W. Miles Middle School chorus, under the direction of Debra Koraus, sang for residents of the Dominican Village Long Island Assisted Living Community, as part of the middle school’s ongoing initiative to foster a culture of compassion and kindness. Chorus members visited the assisted living facility on Dec. 19 and performed songs from their recent winter concert as well as other seasonal favorites including a “Deck the Halls” medley, the traditional “Dona Nobis Pacem,” “Nutcracker Jingle Bells” and “Feliz Navidad.” Students gave their time prior to the trip to hand-write holiday cards with personalized messages to Dominican Village residents, which were then handed out at the conclusion of the performance, during which the chorus sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” “It was a truly touching experience for both the students and residents alike,” Ms. Koraus said. “Dominican Village residents and employees in attendance were so pleased with the music and the students’ presence, that an invitation was immediately extended to return.” The chorus is looking forward to a “Spring Sing” at Dominican Village in the coming months. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162986 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162986 January 15, 2020 Board of Education Meeting-Location Change to AMHS Auditorium *Location Change* The January 15, 2020 Board of Education meeting has been moved from Park Avenue Elementary to the High School auditorium. The date and time of the meeting have not changed. Date: January 15, 2020 Time: 7:30 pm Location: High School Auditorium http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162984 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:00:00 GMT false162984 Learning Caught on Camera at Northwest Technology is creating new ways for students in Amityville to express themselves as Northwest Elementary School, as students are using Padcaster to reinforce learning in multiple subject areas. Padcaster equipment includes an iPad and holder, light, microphone, tripod and green screen background. Videos are made on iMovie and with green screen technology each student can superimpose a picture related to his or her topic in the background. In Lori Heavey’s third grade class, students completed holiday research projects. In addition to writing a paper, each child added a digital component by summarizing his or her research in a short video. Ms. Heavey explained that this activity was possible through the district’s Skin in the Game initiative, which included training for two of her students on the use of the equipment, so they could serve as directors and assist their classmates. For another assignment, her students dabbled in persuasive writing by crafting restaurant reviews and creating accompanying videos. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162985 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162985 Amityville DECA Garners Multiple Awards Amityville Memorial High School’s chapter of the Distributive Clubs of America had an impressive showing at the regional competition on Jan. 8 at Suffolk County Community College. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in business management and administration, finance, hospitality and marketing in high schools around the world. Senior Amelia Tisk took first place in the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism category and sophomore Mikhail Ankudovych was a first-place winner in the Principles of Business Management category. Both students participated in role-playing exercises before judges with mock scenarios based on their topics. Amityville also boasted several other regional winners including Crystal Fells in the Apparel and Accessories Marketing category, Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal in Human Resource Management, Trinity Tobin in Quick Serve Restaurant Management, Alexa Victor in Marketing Communications and Kevin Zelaya in Entrepreneurship. All winners advance to the state competition in Rochester in February. The students are led by business teacher and DECA adviser Jennifer Schweigert. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162983 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162983 Amityville Students Connect With Long Island Peers Amityville Memorial High School students and their peers from across Long Island are exploring issues affecting society through the Breaking Borders program. This is the second year Amityville has partnered with high schools in other districts, including Freeport, Levittown, Oyster Bay-East Norwich and Syosset, to spark meaningful and productive conversations about serious topics. Each school hosts a gathering of students, who bond over a pizza lunch before splitting in smaller groups to talk about the topic of the day. Every group is led by a student facilitator who introduces discussion prompts. When Amityville hosted, the topic was “How does racism affect our society?” Sophomores Alexia Gordon and Carlos Reyes began the program by introducing their guests to Amityville and its diverse student population. Amityville social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi explained that the premise of Breaking Borders is to give students a chance to interact with their peers from different backgrounds. He said that when people step out of their comfort zones, it makes the world more inclusive. While the transformation is not overnight, Mr. Tomasi explained that holding these discussions are “the first steps” toward change. “They are getting to see how different people live their lives,” he said, “and gain an understanding of how people are both similar and different.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162982 Wed, 08 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false162982 Northwest Gamers Bring Holiday Stories to Life “Every video game begins with a story,” Lori Heavey told her third graders at Northwest Elementary School to begin a seasonal technology activity in the days before the holiday break. Students wrote holiday stories, then created video games based upon these stories using the Bloxels app on mini iPads. Ms. Heavey explained the essential components of video games including a hero, a villain and obstacles. The young programmers were able to select their characters, background, coins and other features to make custom games on the touchscreen devices. Games also had to include story boxes that related back to each student’s original writing piece. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162980 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162980 Amityville Students Introduced to Health Care Careers Nearly 20 students from Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School learned about different professions in the medical field this past summer and were recently recognized for their participation in Stony Brook University’s Health Careers Academic and Readiness Excellence program. The students took part in the free, six-day program. Medical professionals including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, radiologists, hospital administrators and more visited the high school to talk about their vital roles in health care and answer roles. HCARE Educational Specialist Erik Flynn said that the program gives students an opportunity to learn about “all careers that are part of the health care team.” Participants in the program were recognized at a white coat ceremony at the Dec. 11 Amityville Board of Education meeting. Mr. Flynn presented students with certificates and white medical coats. The students were seniors Kayla Campbell, Kaeia Fuller, Aaliyah Hunt, Nurys Matos-Mejia and Tamara Stuart, juniors Monica Mejia and Derick Rodriguez, sophomores Diana Alvarez, Leah Friedland, Kenia Hernandez, Samantha Molina, Kameron Muirhead, Alisson Ramos-Lopez, Randy Rodriguez, Stephanie Urbina and Shane Wright, and freshman Adrianna Velasquez-Bautista. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162979 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162979 High School Students Play Santa for Amityville Kids Amityville Memorial High School students are making the holidays better for children right in their own community through the Christmas Magic program. Members of the Warrior Awareness Club, known as the WAC PAC, recently purchased more than 200 toys to benefit 62 children at Northwest Elementary School. WAC PAC adviser Jason McGowan said the school has had a long-term partnership with nonprofit organization Christmas Magic to help grant the wishes of children across Long Island. Every year, the organization provides the WAC PAC with Christmas lists for dozens of children along with funds to purchase the gifts. With a budget of $60 per child, the students made three trips to Target to shop, then returned to the high school to wrap the presents. Mr. McGowan said that this is not the first time they have provided toys for Amityville children, but it has been several years. It meant a lot to the high school students to know their efforts were helping youngsters in their own community. “I love doing this,” senior Isabella Mohan said. “It’s great to give back and we’re giving back within the district.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162978 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162978 Warriors Walk the World Antarctica Night The Amityville Health and Wellness Committee presents Antarctica Night on December 19th at 6:00 pm at Park Avenue Elementary School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162977 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:00:00 GMT false162977 Athletic Administrator Earns Distinction Evan Farkas, the district’s director of athletics, physical education and health, has been recognized as a Certified Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. The distinction is in addition to his administrator certification in school district leadership from Stony Brook. Mr. Farkas holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Hofstra University and a master’s degree in sports management from Brooklyn College. He began his teaching career in Georgia in 2006, then spent nine years in Brooklyn as a physical education and health teacher, dean, assistant principal and director of athletics. Mr. Farkas joined the Amityville team in February 2016. During that time, he has spearheaded several initiatives to grow the department, including the addition of competitive cheerleading programs at Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and girls lacrosse at the high school. This spring, a girls lacrosse team will debut at the middle school. One of Mr. Farkas’ goals has been to increase awareness of Amityville athletics within and beyond the community. That has been accomplished with the creation of a website, www.amityvillewarriors.com, an increased presence on social media and a new weekly newsletter. During his tenure, Amityville has captured four state championships. The boys basketball boys team and boys soccer team each won titles in 2018, and there were individual state champions in wrestling and track and field. As part of his training to become a Certified Athletic Administrator, Mr. Farkas took online courses on several topics including legal issues in Title 9 and risk management, strategies for organizational management and emergency management of interscholastic athletic events. He will continue his training as he strives to pursue his the Certified Master Athletic Administrator distinction from NIAAA. “I want to take as many courses as I can and grow and as athletic director,” Mr. Farkas said. I’m always trying to learn and improve the opportunities we give our children here in Amityville.” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly publicly recognized Mr. Farkas at the December Board of Education meeting and noted that he joins a select group of athletic administrators from across the country in earning this distinction. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162976 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162976 Amityville Art Students Make Their Mark for the Holidays The artistic talents of students at Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School will be on full display to shoppers and motorists passing through the Village of Amityville this holiday season. For the second consecutive year, students painted holiday scenes on the windows of several local businesses. Under the guidance of art teachers Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Pickard and Nicole Scoca, more than 20 students spent the morning of Dec. 4 creating the festive holiday displays. The windows of The Cheesecake Spot, Family Dollar and Gerald’s Market on Broadway were covered in designs created by students, as well as the Marks of Excellence child care center on Albany Avenue in North Amityville. Teachers outlined the designs with white paint a day in advance before students arrived to add color. The displays featured Christmas lights, holly, ornaments, snowmen, wreathes and more. Participating students include members of the National Art Honor Society at the high school and interested art students from the middle school. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez and high school transition coordinator Karen Gross partnered with the Amityville Chamber of Commerce to beautify the community for the holidays. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162975 Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162975 Video: What Are You Reading? Northwest Elementary School students talk about the books that are exciting them. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162974 Tue, 10 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162974 High School Musicians Devote a Day to Tuba A trio of musicians from Amityville Memorial High School joined their peers from across Suffolk County at Day of Tuba, an annual exhibition that provides opportunities for students to learn from professionals and each other, and to hone their music skills. High school band members Christina Cross, Brandon Dennis and Scott Friske were among more than 200 students at the event, hosted by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. They participated in music workshops at Central Islip High School in early November. One of the highlights was attending a performance by guest artist, Lauren Veronie Curran, euphonium virtuoso from the U.S. Army Field Band. Christina, Brandon and Scott shared their musical talents as members of a mass tuba ensemble as the evening culminated with a student performance. Amityville band director Jolene Maccarone accompanied the three students at Day of Tuba. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162973 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162973 Amityville Artists Accepted Into Advanced Exhibition Two art students from Amityville Memorial High School had their work selected for the Advanced Visions 16: High School Artists of Excellence exhibition at LIU Post. Senior Ash Dixon and junior Kaya Branscum completed their projects in their Advanced Placement Studio in Art class under the direction of teacher Jayne Grasso. Ash completed a mixed media painting using colored pencils and acrylic painted titled “Culpability.” Kaya’s three-dimensional mixed media piece, “J3NN1,” combined sculpture with photography. The Advanced Visions exhibition, sponsored by the LIU Post Art Department, features the work of talented art students from across Long Island in advanced level art programs. The exhibition runs from Dec. 9 to Jan. 22 at the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library, with a closing reception and awards presentation on the final day. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162972 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162972 Awareness Weekend Brings High School Community Together Amityville Memorial High School students strengthened their bonds with each other at Awareness Weekend in November, an annual tradition that includes a sleepover in the school. Warrior Awareness Club adviser Jason McGowan, who coordinated the event, said that 115 students participated in addition to 19 teachers and staff members. After bringing in their sleeping bags and suitcases following the end of the school day on Nov. 8, students gathered in the auditorium for opening remarks and the first of three guest presenters. Steven Prescod performed his inspirational one-man show. The following day, students welcomed tap dancer Carter Williams and Harlem Wizard basketball player Jack “Blackjack” Ryan. Students were split into small family groups and participated in team-building activities throughout their 30-hour stay in the school, along with discussions led by the group facilitators. There was also a student panel in which participants shared their difference experiences. The experience allowed students to get to know each other better and many left having formed new friendships. Several students said that the weekend was a transformative event filled with valuable life lessons, such as the importance of supporting each other. “Words can’t even express the love I felt at this event and how closer I felt with kids that I didn't even know before,” student Jamarie Henry said about her first time attending Awareness Weekend. “Those nights taught me a lot, which include not to judge someone because of their outside appearance, but what’s really inside their heart.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162971 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162971 APTC Holiday Sing-Along-Location Change The December 6th APTC Holiday Sing-Along has moved from the Middle School to PAMES. The Holiday Sing-Along will start at 7 pm at PAMES. We hope that all can attend this exciting and fun event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162970 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 12:00:00 GMT false162970 Northeast Kindergartners Feast and Give Thanks Kindergartners learned about the true meaning of Thanksgiving, and also improved their literacy and math skills, during classroom activities at Northeast Elementary School. As kindergartners sat around the table in Renee Chandler’s classroom on Nov. 27, they discussed what they are thankful for before enjoying apple and pumpkin pie. Ms. Chandler also used it as an opportunity to teach her students about etiquette, noting that they shouldn’t start eating until everyone had their slices of pie. Lisa Iannotta’s students gathered for a Thanksgiving feast with turkey and all of the trimmings, prepared by parents and staff. Before the meal, they disguised paper turkeys and wrote an accompanying story. Kindergartners in Maria Lievano’s bilingual class made handprint turkeys to accompany poems as a gift for their parents. In Spanish, the children wrote about their reasons for giving thanks this year. They also made a Thanksgiving-themed snack by using candy corn and candy eyes to make turkeys out of chocolate-frosted cookies. Teacher Andrew Babington taught children about the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native American tribe, and how they came together to celebrate a successful corn harvest. Children then enjoyed a snack of corn muffins and grape juice. Turkey math in Nicole Faber’s room taught children all the different ways to make 10, while Dyan Aversa’s students honed their math skills by counting turkeys. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162969 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162969 Long Island Cares Mobile Food Pantry Amityville School District and Long Island Cares are working together to provide resources for the Amityville Community. On December 3, 2019, from 5:00-7:00 pm, Long Island Cares will have a mobile food pantry at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Click on the link below for more information. Long Island Cares Mobile Food Pantry (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162954 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:00:00 GMT false162954 Northwest Students Float Their Ideas The floats of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade inspired a STEM activity in third grade classrooms at Northwest Elementary School. Students in Adrienne Hartung’s and Julie Kirschen’s classes built models of parade floats with balloons. After reading “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet, watching video footage of the famed parade and studying simple machines in science, students got to work on their projects. Working in groups, they brainstormed ideas and planned out their designs before building. In addition to balloons, the young engineers had plastic and wooden sticks to support their floats which had to rise above a flat cardboard surface. The task incorporated problem-solving strategies as children overcame different challenges, such as the balloons popping when connecting the sticks, to successfully complete their floats. Completed floats included Mickey Mouse, a teddy bear, a snowman, an ice cream sundae and more. Ms. Hartung and Ms. Kirschen said that they were very impressed with the creativity of the students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162968 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162968 Cultivating Kindness With Art at Miles Middle School Students in Jennifer Dibble’s art classes recently worked on a collaborative project at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Using watercolor paints, they made colorful feathers that were then used to create a peace dove on a bulletin board, which every student passes by on their way to the cafeteria and gymnasium. The middle school is designated as a No Place for Hate school by the Anti-Defamation League, and the creation of the dove is part of the ongoing initiative to foster a culture of compassion and kindness. Ms. Dibble coordinated with social worker Beatriz Offitto on the project. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162967 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162967 Park Educators Share Skin in the Game Success A pair of educators from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School presented at the 2019 Long Island Technology and Education Summit on Oct. 18 at the Huntington Hilton. Amy Stein, a fifth grade teacher, and Timothy Quinn, the library media specialist and STREAM program leader, highlighted the Skin in the Game initiative which was implemented last year as a result of a grant awarded to the district. Through this collaborative effort, students to create board games with technology features. Groups choose topics related to the curriculum as inspiration for the games, so the project helps reinforce grade-level content. Project-based learning activities, such as Skin in the Game help teach students the essentials of collaboration and communication between each other as they become game developers. Students enhance their games by incorporating technology-based applications, such as making game pieces on a 3D printer. Children become highly engaged and challenged throughout this process and gain a new perspective of what they could achieve using these technological tools. Mr. Tim Quinn and Ms. Stein also gave the Amityville Board of Education a brief overview of their presentation at Nov. 13 meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162965 Fri, 22 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162965 Park Avenue Students on the Path to Prosperous Professions More than 30 professionals helped spark career interest for students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Nov. 8. The annual Career Day program featured guest speakers who were happy to lend their expertise to the future workforce. Students learned about a variety of different fields including communications, finance, law enforcement, medicine, public service, social work and more. Speakers included parents of Park Avenue students, representatives of the local business community and Amityville Memorial High School alumni. They talked about the qualifications needed for their respective careers, job responsibilities and what they find most exciting, in addition to fielding questions from students. Representatives from the Science and Technology department at Farmingdale State College generated excitement for careers in STEM fields with hands-on activities. Other children were able to explore an Amityville fire truck as well as police cars from the Amityville and Suffolk County police departments. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci, who organized the event, thanked all of the participants for giving their time to talk to students about various careers. She said it was especially exciting to have several Amityville graduates come in to share their success stories. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162964 Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162964 Warriors Walk the World http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162963 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 12:00:00 GMT false162963 Amityville Senior Achieves Ambassador Status Amityville Memorial High School senior Jasmin Lucero has been named a Junior Achievement Ambassador for the 2019-2020 school year. She competed in the 2019 Junior Achievement of New York Student of the Year scholarship program and finished in the top five out of 90 students from Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley. Jasmin has been involved with Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes program, in which high school students educate youngsters at the elementary level about community, careers, financial literacy and more. She participated in the program as a sophomore and junior. Additionally, she took part in Junior Achievement’s Financial Park program. Jasmin and her fellow leaders facilitated lessons for students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on topics such as budgeting, career planning, goal setting, saving and investing, taxes and income deductions, and the advantages of disadvantages of credit and debit cards. Active in student life at Amityville Memorial High School, Jasmin belongs to the Key Club, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. She is also a member of the Warrior Awareness Club, or WAC PAC, participating in its Christmas Magic and Cultural Exchange programs. Jasmin was nominated for the Junior Achievement award by her guidance counselor, Ashley Borja, transition coordinator, Karen Gross, and business educator, Dr. Diane Impagliazzo. Her experience, determination to succeed and poise during interviews impressed Junior Achievement’s Executive Board members, who served as judges. As an ambassador, she is invited to attend several Junior Achievement events in New York. Jasmin recently addressed more than 100 people at the annual golf tournament fundraiser and she will be a guest at the annual dinner in November, as well as an upcoming Board of Directors meeting. Jasmin also receives a $1,000 award and will be profiled in the organization’s New York newsletter and on its website. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162962 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162962 Veterans Make Connection With Amityville Students The district marked Veterans Day by providing students with first-hand accounts of history, as past and present servicemen and women visited Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Nov. 8 and Amityville Memorial High School on Nov. 14 to share their personal experiences. The middle school welcomed 18 veterans who visited social studies classes throughout the day. They represented all branches of the military and served during different time periods, giving students perspective on several decades worth of world events. Volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society escorted them to the classrooms. Among the speakers were several members of the school district who have served their country including Board of Education trustee Juan Leon, Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services Peter Paternostro, Assistant Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services Virginia Figueroa, social studies teacher Frank O’Brien and security guard Sikes Reese. Other guests included parents and representatives of local veterans organizations. Many veterans brought in artifacts to share including books, equipment, maps and photos. “Students were able to hear multiple stories and perspectives about being in the service,” said Leslie Ciliotta, chairwoman for humanities. “We want students to not only show their appreciation for the people who fight for our country and our freedom, but also ask questions and explore a potential career path.” Veterans also went to social studies classes at the high school. Department Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi said that 25 men and women met with students to discuss their reasons for joining the armed forces, share stories from their service and talk about post-military life. She explained that by having veterans visit classes, students can establish connections with them and participate in meaningful dialogue about the historical events they have witnessed. Additional Veterans Day speakers at the middle school and high school included Loreal Best, Pierre Best, Donna Boyle, Jami Lyn Butto, Bill Coppola, Bill Demakakos, Director of Veterans’ Affairs from Farmingdale State College Eric Farina, Warren Hart, Ed Hayde, Ahad Ikram, Justin Jorgansen, Steven Labate, Nick LaLota, Chris Levi, Gene Murray, Tiffany Paurolo, Dwight Powers, Jason Rosser, Gabrielle Stewart, Mark Suckle, Jonathan Tisk, Chuck Vincuilla and Bill Walden. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162961 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162961 Park Students, Parents Explore Music Together Six students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were participants in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s annual PEAK Music Festival. Students, their families and music teacher Megan Ashe attended the event on Oct. 26 at Northport High School. Fourth graders Ingrid Dixon, Mackenzie Joyce, Fernando Mejia-Aguilar, Neveah Mitchell, Cayden Morselli and Kailyn Vaquerano joined their peers from across the county for a day of music learning experiences. Activities included world drumming, chorus, singing games, folk dancing, musical theater and ukulele. Ms. Ashe said it was an exciting opportunity for students in that they were able to select workshops they wanted to attend and also could share the experience with their parents. Mackenzie said she had a great time playing music games and singing in a vocal group with her mother. Neveah really liked the workshop in which participants used wooden sticks called claves to create a song. “I like going to the PEAK festival,” Neveah said, “because I got to meet new friends and talk with them about music.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162960 Thu, 14 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162960 Amityville, Bayport-Blue Point Students Make Connections Lining the path to Amityville Memorial High School’s main entrance, students applauded and offered high-fives as their peers from Bayport-Blue Point High School arrived on Oct. 28. The two schools participated in their longstanding cultural exchange program, in which students spend a day at another Suffolk County high school. Each of the 30 students from Bayport-Blue Point was paired with an Amityville student, and attended his or her buddy’s classes throughout the day. But first, students from the two schools gathered in the cafeteria for breakfast and icebreaker activities. Jason McGowan, adviser of the Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, said that the icebreaker activities help the students get to know each other better. In one game, Link it Up, each student found a peer they shared a commonality with, such as the same birthday month or favorite color. After linking arms, they were then given a discussion topic. Another engaging activity was a rock, paper, scissors competition. As the day concluded, students came together to reflect on the experience in Amityville’s recently refurbished library, followed by a pizza lunch in the cafeteria. Several WAC PAC students also recorded the activities and conducted interviews with the participants to put together a small video documentary on the program. Amityville senior Jasmin Lucero said she was excited to see the perspective of the Bayport-Blue Point students, who attend high school about 25 miles away. She also said the cultural exchange was a great chance to showcase one of Amityville’s greatest assets – it’s diversity. “We’re meeting new people and learning more about what’s out there other than our area,” Jasmin said. “We’re expanding our horizons.” This year’s cultural exchange program was extra special for Mr. McGowan, who welcomed his son, Trey, a Bayport-Blue Point High School student. In November, Amityville will host students from East Islip High School and in the spring Amityville students will visit the two high schools. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162959 Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162959 Young Writers Take a Trip Down Memory Lane After several weeks of writing, editing and revising, eighth graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School celebrated the completion of their first major writing assignment of the year. Teacher Dawn Attanasio said the celebration was the culmination of much hard work by students in the memoir writing unit. Each student had to pick a meaningful moment in his or her life to write about. Many chose a memory from a place they visited, while others shared an experience with a family member or friend. Students brainstormed different moments in their lives and wrote those down in their writers notebooks. From there, each young author picked one memory to develop into a longer piece. Ms. Attanasio shared memoirs she had written over the years as examples. At the celebration, a few students recited their pieces in front of the class. Then, they were able to go around the room, read each other’s memoirs and leave feedback on compliment pages. It closed out with a sharing circle, in which students discussed all that they learned about memoir writing. “Students were given the experience of being real authors in making their work public, having a real audience and being proud of their writing,” she said. “They all did an excellent job with their memoirs and there was some very sophisticated writing.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162958 Tue, 12 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162958 Park Avenue Library Transforms Into Innovation Center The library is the place to be at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. No longer just a place to check out books, the library has been transformed into a makerspace center full of activities that provide opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Librarian Tim Quinn now also serves as the school’s STREAM specialist, engaging students in projects that blend science, technology, reading, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Classes visit the library at least once a month for a STREAM activity that relates to the grade-level curriculum. These lessons are planned together by Mr. Quinn and the classroom teachers. Additionally, students are welcome to come to open library sessions during lunch and recess, in which they may avail themselves of the vast array of makerspace resources, both high-tech and low-tech. At the engineering table, children can build with Legos or Fiddlestix wood connector tools. They can also put together tubular pieces from the Marble Run set to make a custom track. There is a robot station with Dash and Sphero robots, that students can control using iPads. Bloxels introduces to game design as children can use colorful cubes to make a character, take a picture with it on an iPad and import it into a video game. There are also circuitry kits, a 3D printer and a zSpace virtual reality station. “This is a space designed so students can expand their creative horizons,” Mr. Quinn said, noting that many students take advantage of the open library sessions because they enjoy the different challenges. He added that some students have a favorite activity, while others like to move among the different centers. Sixth grader Jazzmine Reynolds comes to the library frequently to use the robots and strengthen her technological acumen. “It’s fun because I’m really into robots and I like the engineering in it,” she said. “I’m learning more about how to control them.” Fifth grader Alex Ayala attended his first session at the suggestion of Mr. Quinn, and now is a regular. A longtime fan of Legos, Alex explained that he likes exploring other resources that allow him to design and build. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162957 Fri, 08 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162957 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated With Bilingual Poetry Slam Suzanne Carlucci and Grace Giordano’s English ENL class at Amityville Memorial High School recently hosted a bilingual poetry slam to celebrate the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. In September, students read and analyzed the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon. They then wrote their own poems in English and Spanish based on this classic piece. The students celebrated where they are from, and their poems praised countries including Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. The teachers emphasized that to students that it is important to celebrate where they are from, as well as where they are going. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162956 Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162956 Amityville Paves the Path to Peace Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peace and nonviolence was the inspiration for the district’s Pathways to Peace program on Oct. 28, presented in partnership with the Shanti Fund. Students, teachers, administrators, board of education trustees and community members came together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth in the evening event at the high school. The lobby was filled with artwork and messages of peace created by the district’s elementary, middle and high school students. Jayne Grasso’s drawing and painting students at Amityville Memorial High School made chalkboard designs inspired by Gandhi’s quotes. Peace posters were drawn by high school artists in Heather Rickard’s class and by Northwest Elementary School students with art teacher Lydia Robinson. On each side of the auditorium stage was a banner – one from Northwest and one from Northeast – with 150 handprints in the different colors of the rainbow. In their social studies classes, students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School and the high school wrote messages about how they would change the world for the better, which were attached to large banners that were hung in the library. Peter Paternostro, administrator for pupil personnel services and the Pathways to Peace emcee, noted that the program featured student contributions from all five schools. Musical performances included the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “Dona Nobis Pacem” by the middle school and high school chorus under the direction of Debra Koraus, “Crank It Up” and “Pressure Point” by the high school band conducted by Jolene Maccarone, and “Ribbons in the Sky” by the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School chorus led by Megan Ashe. The program concluded with the high school and middle school chorus returning for “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” with all guests invited to sing along. In a pair of video presentations, Northwest, middle school and high school students shared their thoughts on what peace means to them, while children from Park Avenue spotlighted books that have messages of peace. Guest speaker Arvind Vora, from the Shanti Fund, spoke about the history and purpose of the organization. He discussed how Gandhi has been memorialized locally in Suffolk County, in the United States and throughout the world. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that Gandhi’s commitment to peace and nonviolence has been emulated globally and inspired other leaders fighting against injustice including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. She explained how grassroots, non-violent movements have brought people together for the common good and created meaningful change in the world. Dr. Kelly praised the work of the Shanti Fund to spread the message of peace and nonviolence through education. Park Avenue fifth grader Joel Biju spoke about Gandhi’s leadership in advocating for India’s independence from Great Britain. High school students from the Warrior Awareness Club presented peace rocks, which they created with messages and symbols of peace, to people who have made a difference in their lives. Advisor Jason McGowan said that the recipient of each rock should then pass it on to someone important. “Our goal,” he said, “is for these rocks to keep going and going throughout the year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162955 Wed, 06 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162955 High School Students Make Halloween a Treat Children throughout Amityville got a full taste of Halloween on Oct. 29 as the high school was transformed into a place of spooky sights and sweet delights. Amityville Memorial High School hosted its second annual Safe Halloween after school, which was organized by a pair of student organizations, the Key Club and DECA. Dozens of high school students volunteered their time to welcome and assist children as they traversed the building. As kids walked down the hallway, past the lockers covered in spiderwebs, they could stop at each room to trick or treat. Every classroom offered a different activity including bingo, face painting, and a dance party. Children could be wrapped up in the mummy room and color pictures of ghosts, haunted houses and pumpkins in the arts and crafts room. There was also a cupcake-decorating station in the cafeteria and a haunted house in the gymnasium lobby. Key Club co-presidents Bryan Canales and Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal thanked all of their classmates who prepared the high school for the Safe Halloween event and helped out a the different centers. The Key Club also received several donations, including candy. “We really appreciate all the work that was put into this,” Bryan said, “and we are really grateful to the people in the community for helping out toward this great cause. It brings Amityville together and gives kids a true Halloween experience.” Bryan added that it gave him joy to see children in the community having a great time and it brought back his own memories of trick-of-treating as a child. Money raised from donations was given to the Thirst Project, a non-profit organization that works globally to provide people with clean and safe drinking water. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162952 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162952 Middle School Celebrates Hispanic Culture With Flair Students celebrated Hispanic culture through song, dance and poetry at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Oct. 25. The annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration featured the talents of dozens of student performers. After Luna Caicedo recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, choral students sang the national anthem, followed by the Gipsy Kings song “Bamboleo.” The orchestra performed “El Toro” and the band closed out the afternoon with “Hot Hot Hot.” Señora Calderon’s dance troupe performed a variety of Latin dances including Punta, Salsa and Zumba. Drama students presented a skit on the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez, and several students read poems. Teachers participated in a flag salute highlighting Spanish-speaking countries and territories including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Teacher Charles Martine, who served as the program’s emcee, said the purpose of the celebration was to pay tribute to community members of Hispanic and Latino heritage. Schools throughout the district hosted Hispanic Heritage month celebrations throughout the week of Oct. 21-25. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162951 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162951 Location and Time Change for Today's Boys Varsity Soccer Playoff Game Today’s boys varsity soccer playoff game will now be played at 4:30 pm at Berner Middle School in Massapequa. Berner middle school is located at 50 Carman Mill Road.Admission is Free. Go Warriors! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162953 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 13:00:00 GMT false162953 Warriors are Ready to Walk the World Completion of a 25,000-mile journey is the goal in the Amityville Union Free School District, which recently launched its Warriors Walk the World initiative. Evan Farkas, the director of athletics, physical education and health, said that the mission is to have students, staff and community members walk a collective 66 million steps over the course of the year. Warriors Walk the World is a districtwide health initiative from the School Health and Wellness Committee, a group of board of education members, administrators and teachers, with representation from all five schools. The distance to be traveled is roughly the equivalent of the Earth’s circumference. At the elementary level, physical education teachers will show children how to keep journals to track their steps, while at the secondary level students will learn how to use fitness apps available on their phones. Teachers will also work with students to develop personal fitness goals. The initiative includes stops at each continent in the form of family fun nights. Mr. Farkas explained that the purpose is to celebrate the diversity of the district and give children an opportunity to learn about other cultures. Each school will host at least one event, beginning with South America Night on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. at Amityville Memorial High School. Warriors Walk the World nights will include food, music, games and a fitness activity. For example, Mr. Farkas said, Antarctica Night on Dec. 13 at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School will feature a game of freeze tag. Students began receiving their passports at the Homecoming Festival on Oct. 18. The passports are stamped for each activity night they attend, and the number of stamps a child has determines the number of raffle tickets they get for prize giveaways. The culminating event will be a color run and barbecue in the spring. “Warriors Walk the World is a motivational initiative to get children active and keep them active,” Mr. Farkas said. “This is a fun and exciting way to encourage fitness at our schools.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162949 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162949 Social Studies Teachers Present at Regional Conference Amityville Memorial High School social studies teachers Margot Howard, Dawn Mizrachi and Matthew Tomasi presented at the 39th annual Long Island Council for Social Studies conference on Oct. 25 in Melville. Social studies teachers from across the state came to participate in various workshops. Ms. Howard, Ms. Mizrachi and Mr. Tomasi led a workshop on how to dissect the Regents constructed response questions (CRQs) for diverse learners. They provided insight on how to teach various skills towards the new Global Regents. Approximately 80 teachers were present to listen to their ideas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162948 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162948 Amityville High School's Safe Halloween Amityville High School's Safe Halloween When: Tuesday, Oct 29th - 3 - 5 PM Where: Amityville Memorial High School Safe Halloween Flyer http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162950 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 13:00:00 GMT false162950 Second Graders Study Autumn After declaring themselves as scientists, second graders at Northwest Elementary School went on an autumn walk to make observations about nature. Students in Kerrin Faulkner and Jenny Smith’s class ventured outside on Oct. 16 to study their surroundings. Attached to each of their clipboards was an observation sheet so children could document the weather, any animals they saw and what they saw, heard, smelled and felt in their nature exploration. As part of the autumn walk, students were asked to find leaves that had changed color and fallen off the trees. They brought these leaves back to the classroom for a science lesson on chlorophyll and to observe them more closely using magnifying glasses. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162947 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162947 College Guides To support the transition to college, Amityville School District would like to highlight key resources and programs available for students and their families. Use the following link to access College Guides that will assist students as they navigate the college enrollment process. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162945 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:00:00 GMT false162945 Warriors Take On the Fight Against Breast Cancer Two Amityville Memorial High School athletic teams combined to raise nearly $1,000 for breast cancer research and to support people battling the disease. October is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The girls varsity soccer team hosted its annual Kicks for Cancer Game on Oct. 2. Players baked together and then sold their goods during the Warriors’ contest against Southampton High School, raising about $700. Amityville head coach Angela Steiger said that Kicks for Cancer is an initiative spearheaded by Hauppauge High School, and teams from all over Suffolk County participate and donate to the cause. Proceeds benefit several organizations dedicated to cancer research and providing comfort for patients. On Oct. 11, the girls volleyball team held its Dig Pink game. Players from the varsity and junior varsity squads wore special pink shirts for their respective matches against Sayville High School. The court was also outlined in pink tape and pink streamers were hung throughout the gym. To raise money, the girls sold Dig Pink T-shirts and baked goods, generating about $300. The funds were donated to Pink S.H.O.E.S., an Amityville-based charity that was founded by a pair of breast cancer survivors and Amityville Memorial High School graduates. The organization provides financial support to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Senior Sabitha Joseph said it meant a lot to her and her teammates to take part in the Dig Pink game and raise money for an important cause. “When you’re going through the worst thing in your life, the last thing you want to worry about is money for treatment,” Sabitha said. “If every team can contribute a little, it comes out to a big amount.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162944 Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162944 Jose Peralta DREAM Act Financial Aid Opportunities for High School Students Please use the following link to access a step-by-step user guide on completing the NEW York State Dream Act Application entitled the Jose Peralta DREAM Act Financial Aid Opportunities for High School Students. Jose Peralta DREAM Act Financial Aid Opportunities for High School Students (English) (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162942 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:00:00 GMT false162942 Homecoming Festival an Afternoon of Fun and Pride Warrior Pride was on full display at the third annual Homecoming Festival, with hundreds of students, staff and community members coming together at Amityville Memorial High School afterschool on Oct. 18. The festival featured something for everyone. The Class of 2022 had a giant Jenga game while the high school yearbook club set up a photo station. The elementary schools had fall-themed activities including pumpkin bowling at Northeast’s booth, pumpkin stem ring toss at Northwest and pumpkin decorating at Park Avenue. The high school drama club promoted the spring musical, “Once on This Island” and the middle school drama club spread the word about its production, “Into the Woods Jr.” As popular music played, dancing broke out on the handball courts. Burgers and snacks were also served. The marching band performed in the parking lot before everyone moved over to the baseball field for the festival’s finale. After the band played the National Anthem, the Amityville Fire Department lit a stack of wooden pallets for the annual bonfire. Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez, who chaired the festival planning committee, thanked all of the schools and organizations that provided games and activities, as well as the community members who joined them for an afternoon fun. “I’m very pleased because there were so many activities, and so many children and families came out to enjoy themselves,” she said. “It was a great day of community pride.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162941 Tue, 22 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162941 Homecoming Features Cartoon Floats and Football Cartoon-themed floats rolled down Broadway and then along Merrick Road for Amityville Memorial High School’s annual homecoming parade on Oct. 19. It was just the beginning of the day’s festivities, which culminated with the Warriors football game against Half Hollow Hills West. The entire school community joined in, with floats created by the high school classes, the elementary schools and even district administration. Sesame Street was the inspiration for the freshmen float, the Cartoon Network for the sophomores, Disney Channel for the juniors and Nickelodeon for the seniors. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School had a Looney Tunes-themed float, and Northwest and Northeast elementary schools were inspired by Paw Patrol. District administrators, including Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, waved to the crowed from their Spongebob Squarepants float. Director of Physical Athletics, Physical Education and Health Evan Farkas drove a Cookie Monster golf cart while Director of ENL and World Languages Mary Stephens tossed out small packs of cookies to parade-goers. Even the Amityville Parent Teacher Council got involved with their recreation of Rosie the robot from the Jetsons. At the high school, the floats were parked near the football field so guests could get a closer look at the clever and creative designs. The varsity game began after the marching band performed the National Anthem. Halftime featured the marching band’s tribute to Queen and a performance by the cheerleaders. The homecoming court was introduced with Bryan Canales and Carina Wong-Schultz crowned as king and queen. Principal Edward Plaia presented Bryan with his crown and Carina with her tiara. Other members of the court included Marco Iorio, Nil Patel, Samuel Wong-Schultz, Jazmin Ruiz Marcelo, Jordan Tobin and Trinity Tobin. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162940 Mon, 21 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162940 Kindergartners Show, Spell and Tell at Northeast Show and tell, a time-honored tradition in elementary school classrooms, just got a little more interesting in Amityville. Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School are not only sharing their favorite items with their classmates, they are also writing about them and building their literacy skills. For the Show and Tell unit in Writer’s Workshop, an initiative through Columbia University Teacher’s College, each student was asked to bring in three items that are meaningful. For the first assignment, children picked one object to draw and label. They became “brave spellers” by using their alphabet charts, the classroom word wall and labeled objects around the room to spell out words they didn’t know. As the unit progresses, students will write full sentences and eventually craft full stories about these objects. “It helps them enjoy writing more because it’s meaningful to them,” kindergarten teacher Renee Chandler said about having students use personal belongings as inspiration. “The pictures also come out better because they have something right in front of them.” Ms. Chandler said this writing unit helps children expand their vocabulary in learning words to describe the look and feel of their objects. She said that the finished works will become part of their writing journals. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162939 Thu, 17 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162939 Northwest Hispanic Heritage Celebration October 22, 2019 Northwest Elementary School will be hosting a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on October 22, 2019, at 6:00 pm. All are encouraged to attend this exciting event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162937 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 20:00:00 GMT false162937 Amityville UFSD Chain of Communication The Amityville School District’s communication protocol helps to promote direct, open and respectful interactions so that problems and concerns can be worked out quickly and efficiently. The district encourages any and all questions from parents and residents regarding school matters. Phone numbers can be found on the district website, www.amityvilleschools.org. Use the following link to access the Amityville UFSD Chain of Communication. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162938 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 20:00:00 GMT false162938 ‘Ryan’s Story’ Brings Powerful Anti-Bullying Message to Amityville On the 16th anniversary of a day that changed his life, John Halligan told students in the district a powerful story about his son, Ryan, who was bullied in school and took his own life. He spoke to sixth graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and seventh, eighth and ninth graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Oct. 7. “Ryan’s Story,” which has been presented at more than 2,000 schools across the country including the middle school three years ago, began with Mr. Halligan introducing students to Ryan through photos and videos. He then went on to tell the story of how Ryan was bullied in his Vermont middle school and the tragic consequences that resulted. Ryan was 13 when he died. Within a year, Mr. Halligan’s efforts resulted in a Vermont law establishing bullying prevention programs in schools. Many states, including New York, have followed suit. His presentation had several core messages including suicide prevention, forgiveness and the role of bystanders in allowing bullying to happen. He encourages students to examine how they treat each other and apologize to someone they may have wrongly treated, and also reminds them that they are loved dearly. Middle school Principal Earl Mitchell explained that Mr. Halligan has taken a painful and tragic experience and turned it into a learning experience for others. He thanked Mr. Halligan for sharing his personal story with Amityville students. Middle school social worker Beatriz Offitto added that October is National Bullying Prevention Month and Mr. Halligan’s presentation is one of several character education initiatives, including unity day and mix-it-up day. She said the goal of these different activities are to encourage students to talk to others outside of their normal social circles, make new friends and foster a bully-free culture. Park Avenue sixth graders said the emotional presentation shined a light on bullying, and how it can manifest itself in several ways, including in person and over the computer. Jeffrey Lopez said he learned not to get involved in cyberbullying, while Ryan Daly said she hopes that Mr. Halligan’s words inspire her classmates to take action if they notice someone being bullied. Nicholas Leon noted that Ryan was bullied a lot in middle school, and felt this presentation was important because he and his classmates are on the cusp of middle school. He said he expects Mr. Halligan’s messages to stick with him for years to come. Nasir Grant added that small insults can become bigger over time and a situation can get out of hand. He said no student should ever strive to make others miserable, but instead should treat his or her peers with kindness and respect. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162936 Tue, 15 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162936 AP History Students Step in the Shoes of Renaissance Artists It’s not every day that high school students are out coloring the sidewalks with chalk, but at Amityville Memorial High School recently, it helped bring history alive. Students from the Advanced Placement European History participated in a hands-on Renaissance gallery art activity by recreating several famous works. Juniors and seniors have been studying the Renaissance time period, which spanned from the early 14th to the early 17th century. Students delved into the characteristics of both Italian and Northern Renaissance art by forming groups and conducting research on particular artists, the artwork they created and the techniques they used. After explaining the significance of each piece of artwork, students went outside to recreate it. Two groups focused on Leonardo Da Vinci, with one replicating “The Last Supper” and another drawing the “Mona Lisa.” A third group focused on the Northern Renaissance and depicted Jan van Eyck’s “The Arnolfini Portrait.” by Jan van Eyck. Teacher Matthew Tomasi said this is the third year students from the AP European History class have completed this project and they enjoy the experience of recreating famous artwork from centuries ago. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162934 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162934 Teachers Organize Breast Cancer Walk at Amityville Beach It was an exciting weekend in Amityville! The Amityville Teachers' Association hosted a fundraiser the afternoon of Oct. 4 and a walk at the Amityville Beach the morning of Oct. 6 in support of breast cancer awareness. The events were organized by ATA representatives Kathleen Thorn and Kristina Komsic. ATA members, along with students, parents, families, school board members, pets, local residents, faculty and staff walked for the cause. It was a successful and emotional weekend as the participants, unfortunately, know that many family members and colleagues who have been affected by this prevalent illness. Ms. Thorn and Ms. Komsic express their thanks to all who contributed and were part of this amazing weekend! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162935 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162935 FLES Program Launches at Park Avenue With French The flags of France, Canada, Haiti and other French-speaking countries line the back wall of a classroom at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, where students are learning a new language. This year, the district introduced the Foreign Language for Elementary Students program, commonly referred to as FLES. All fourth, fifth and sixth graders are learning French during the first half of the year, and then will begin Spanish instruction in the second half. Students have the option of taking French of Spanish upon entering Edmund W. Miles Middle School and the FLES program will give them a prior understanding of each upon entering seventh grade. Teacher Francesca Chery meets with each class for a full period once a week and began the year by teaching students their names in French as well as the pronunciations of the letters of the alphabet. She has also taught them greetings and other basic sayings. As the year progresses, students will learn words relating to topics such as family and food. Every class features at least one song, as Ms. Chery said music is a way to make language learning fun while also helping with pronunciation. She also infuses French culture and customs into her class. She has introduced them to countries around the world where there are large French-speaking populations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162933 Tue, 08 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162933 Chromebooks Create Modern Learning Community in Amityville More than 800 students in the district received Chromebooks for the first time, expanding the 1:1 initiative to ensure that everyone at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School have their own take-home devices. Seventh graders at the middle school received their Chromebooks on Sept. 23, followed by the high school’s 11th and 12th graders the following evening. Eighth, ninth and 10th graders new to the district also were able to pick up their devices, which are available for use both in school and at home. Students and parents sat through a short presentation about the benefits of the 1:1 technology program, as well as computer care, student responsibility and digital citizenship. Each student then left with a Chromebook, a charger and a set of earbuds. Amityville Memorial High School Principal Edward Plaia said that gone are the days of teachers writing notes on a chalkboard, and students copying them down in their notebooks. Schools must evolve to reflect the ever-changing world, he explained, to ensure that students are active participants in the educational process. “The research is very clear,” Mr. Plaia said. “Students are engaged when they’re using technology. That’s the world we live, so we have to adapt to it, and that’s why we are rolling out the Chromebooks.” Dr. Thomas DeNicola, the assistant superintendent for technology and administrative services, said that Acer Chromebooks use the Google platform. With Google Classroom, teachers can post assignments and students can submit their completed work digitally. There are many useful applications such as Google Docs for text documents, Google Sheets for spreadsheets and Google Slides for interactive presentations. Teachers have received training on how to incorporate this technology into their lessons, and will continue to receive professional development throughout the year. Dr. DeNicola said he is particularly excited about the increased collaboration among students, or between students and their teachers, provided by the Chromebooks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162930 Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162930 High School String Musician Adds Another Accolade Amityville Memorial High School junior Alex Diaz continues to add to his list of musical achievements. Alex will represent the district in the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Symphonic Orchestra, for which he will play the viola. As a fifth grader, Alex began learning the violin, then added the viola to his repertoire in eighth grade. He plays the violin for the school orchestra, holding a leadership position as the ensemble’s concertmaster, and plays viola with the chamber orchestra. His musical talents have also been shared on stage, as he has performed in two musicals at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and two at the high school, including starring as the title role in last year’s production of “Shrek.” Last year, Alex earned selection to the Long Island String Festival Association’s secondary school orchestra and the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s All-County musical festival. He will now add All-State musician to his credentials. This past spring, thousands of students from across New York State, including Alex, auditioned for NYSSMA ensembles. The selection process was highly competitive and based upon evaluation scores and comments from the spring 2019 NYSSMA assessment, along with teacher recommendations. The Symphonic Orchestra will rehearse and perform at the All-State festival in Rochester from Dec. 5-8. Outside of school, Alex plays viola for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and spends his Saturdays honing his music skills at Mannes Prep in New York City. This past summer, he participated in a six-week music camp through Kinhaven Music School in Vermont. “I’m extremely proud of Alex and I look forward to all of the music that he’s going to continue to produce,” said his orchestra teacher, Bianca Ferrante. “He is a leader in our music program and sets an example for other students.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162929 Wed, 02 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162929 Pinwheels and Performances in the Name of Peace A tranquil sunny morning invoked feelings of peace at Amityville Memorial High School on Sept. 20, as the school hosted its 10th annual World Peace Day celebration. More than 100 students gathered on the front lawn to pledge their commitments to peace, through the placing of colorful pinwheels in the ground. Members of the National Art Honor Society, which organized the event, spoke about the meaning of World Peace Day, which is observed in many nations. Amityville joined two international organizations that advocate globally for ceasefire and nonviolence, Pinwheels for Peace and Peace One Day. Student Joshua Fernandez asked all of his peers to reflect on the question, “Who will you make peace with today?” “The purpose of this day is for all walks of life, all over the planet, to set aside our differences and to promote a culture of peace and to improve humanity,” Principal Edward Plaia said. “After all, when people get together regardless of race, religion, sex, socioeconomic status or age, we often find out that we have many more similarities than we do differences.” The event was organized by Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez and art teacher Jayne Grasso. It featured several student performances including poetry readings and songs. Students from the Latino Club, advised by world language teacher Elisa Castro, shared messages of peace. The Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, had its annual peace rock ceremony. Adviser Jason McGowan said it is a “pay it forward” initiative, in which the painted rocks are continually passed along. Several students presented peace rocks to others who have inspired them, including friends and teachers. Students formed a human peace sign on the front lawn of the school and created an art installation by putting their pinwheels in the ground, also in the shape of a peace sign. Three students were recognized for their pinwheel designs: Estephany Barrera, most colorful; Serraia Goodman, most creative; and Kevin Zelaya, most meaningful. National Art Honor Society members said the pinwheels placed in front of the school that morning would be among several million spinning around the world in the promotion of peace. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162928 Fri, 27 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162928 New Administrator Excited to be Part of the Amityville Team The district welcomes Virginia Figueroa as the new assistant administrator for pupil personnel services. Among her responsibilities are supervising special education programs in kindergarten through sixth grade and coordinating the assignments of special education support staff. Ms. Figueroa comes to Amityville from the Riverhead School District, where she was the assistant director of special education for four years. Prior to that, she worked in New York City schools as a special education teacher at the middle school level and an assistant principal. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University in political science, a master’s degree in public administration from New York University and a master’s degree in school building leadership from Mercy College. Ms. Figueroa is presently working on her doctorate in administration and instructional leadership at St. John’s University. Ms. Figueroa served in the United States Army Reserves from 1995 to 2004, with tours of duty in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq. She is a bilingual speaker and is the mother of three girls. “I am proud to join a team committed to research-based best practices and to work under leadership of Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services Peter Paternostro,” Ms. Figueroa said. “I look forward to growing with and contributing to the Amityville community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162927 Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162927 Middle School Hosts STEM and Tech Fair Students got a look at jobs opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as the district and New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre hosted a STEM and Tech Fair at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Sept. 18. It was open to middle and high school students as well as their families and community members. Several science- and technology-based institutions were on hand to showcase products that would excite students about careers in STEM fields. Farmingdale State College highlighted its nursing program while Wilson Tech, which offers 30 programs for high school sophomores and juniors, showcased its aviation program and allowed students to use a computer flight simulator. Brookhaven National Laboratories had a hands-on gravity and surface tension experiment. The New York Institute of Technology, Microsoft and the Long Island Gaming League partnered to showcase several technology initiatives including Xbox video games, Sphero robots and virtual reality headsets. In one activity, students were asked to use an iPad and control the Sphero robot and roll over numbers in a grid, finding a path that added up to exactly 24. The event also provided an opportunity for the district to show how science and technology are infused into the elementary, middle and high school curriculum. Northwest Elementary School Principal Kathleen Hyland, Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo and teachers Jenny Smith and Kerrin Faulker set up laptops that allowed guests to try their hands at coding using KidOYO, or view projects made by students using iMovie or Flipgrid. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School librarian Tim Quinn showed several of the items using the Makerspace program including green screen technology. He set up an interactive station for the circuitry invention kit Makey Makey. By holding a piece of foil connected to a wire and tapping on bananas, visitors could play the bongos. Amityville Memorial High School social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi had a presentation on Brain Pop and Flocabulary, two programs filled with interactive content in all subject areas. The middle school had display boards filled with photos from activities that students have done in STEAM classes. The fair was held to mark STEM and Tech Week in New York from Sept. 16-22. Dr. Thomas DeNicola, the assistant superintendent for technology and administrative services, said that it was an opportunity for the community to learn about technology integration in Amityville schools and throughout the region by seeing it and experiencing it for themselves. He noted that the fair was a collaborative effort among the district’s administration and faculty, Assemblywoman Jean-Pierre’s office, technology companies and Long Island science institutions. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162926 Mon, 23 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162926 United Way Stuff-A-Bus Visits Middle School Boxes and boxes of school supplies were delivered to Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Sept. 11 thanks to the United Way’s Stuff-A-Bus program. United Way chose the date to coincide with the National Day of Service. Shortly after 10:30 a.m., a big yellow school bus pulled up, provided by Educational Bus Transportation, one of the district’s transportation providers. United Way volunteers emerged and unloaded dozens of boxes. Members of the middle school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions club also helped out. Jeannine Darcy, a member of United Way’s Resource Development Department, said the Stuff-A-Bus program is in its 11th year and has helped thousands of children at multiple Long Island school districts. She said this year United Way collected and distributed approximately 185,000 school supplies including backpacks, notebooks, binders, rulers, pens, pencils and more. “We want children to have the best start to the school year so they can be successful,” she said. Middle school social worker Beatriz Offitto said that this year was the first time Amityville participated in Stuff-A-Bus. She said that the donations will be provided to any child in need of supplies, and also will be given out to new students enrolling at the school. After the items were sorted by students from the SADD club, supplies more appropriate for younger students were delivered to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. “I’m excited that we are able to help students by giving them supplies, to make their learning easier,” Ms. Offitto said. “Having good school supplies makes their educational experiences better.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162925 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162925 New Amityville Principals are Familiar Faces Two veteran administrators in the district have moved into new roles. Edward Plaia has been named the principal of Amityville Memorial High School and Earl Mitchell has assumed the role of principal at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Mr. Plaia taught social studies at Amityville Memorial High School from 2000 to 2007. After a stint as an assistant principal and principal in the William Floyd School District, he rejoined Amityville as middle school principal in 2014, serving in that role for five years. “The high school is where I spent half my career teaching, before going into the leadership ranks,” Mr. Plaia said. “It's where I learned about kids, community, teaching and learning. The high school shaped me as an educator, as a leader, as a human being. Aside from my family, I am who I am because of Amityville Memorial High School.” Mr. Mitchell, an educator for 20 years, came to the district in 2015 after working as a social studies teacher and department chairman at Baldwin Middle School. He was the dean of students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School for three years and last year served as assistant principal. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville community,” Mr. Mitchell said. “To serve and to teach are gifts, and my challenge is to both with excellence and consistency every day.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162923 Tue, 17 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162923 Warm Welcome for Pre-K Students at Northeast Amityville welcomed its newest learners on Sept. 11 as it was the first day of pre-K at Northeast Elementary School. Children in the morning and afternoon sessions met their teachers, learned different classroom routines and sang a hello song. The first day followed on orientation program for students and their parents on Sept. 10. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162922 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162922 Anniversary Prompts History Lesson for Middle School Students The local, national and global impacts of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were the focal points of discussions in social studies classes at Edmund W. Miles Middle School as people across the nation marked the 18th anniversary. Ninth grade social studies teacher Jack Zider recalled how the attacks occurred during his first week as a freshman in high school. Now, he teaches September 11 as a historical event to students who were born several years after the attacks. He showed students video clips from the day and asked them to discuss their reactions with each other. Additionally, because of Amityville’s proximity to New York City, he talked to students about the impact it had on people in the community. In 2001, Frank O’Brien worked for the MTA and was just a half-mile away from the World Trade Center. Now a social studies teacher at the middle school, he shared his personal experiences from the day. Mr. O’Brien emphasized the importance of being thankful to and showing respect for the people who fight to preserve freedom. He works with an organization, Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages to members of the armed forces overseas. His students wrote thank-you letters to be including in those packages. Since the attacks, Sept. 11 has become known as Patriot Day, and students and staff at the middle school were encouraged to wear red, white and blue. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162921 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162921 Marching Band Camp Features the Sounds of Queen The Amityville Memorial High School marching band will pay tribute to notable British rock band Queen for its 2019 show. At the four-day marching band camp during the last week of August, student musicians practiced the music and choreography. Featured in this year’s show will be three Queen songs, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “We are the Champions.” It will be performed at all home football games, including the Homecoming halftime show, and at the Newsday Marching Band Festival in October. Band director Jolene Maccarone was joined by elementary music teacher Megan Ashe in helping students prepare for the show along with two Amityville music alumni, Shiloh Bennett and Jose Coto. This year’s student drum majors are Bryan Canales, Tatiana Escolero and Karyn Franklin. The musicians practiced both by instrument section and as a full group during the camp. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162920 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162920 Joy and Reflection at Amityville Convocation Hundreds of staff members in the Amityville Union Free School District returned with energy and enthusiasm on Aug. 29 for the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. Board of Education trustees, administrators, teachers and staff members came together for Convocation at Amityville Memorial High School, which served as opportunity to share ideas before students arrived the following week. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly noted that Amityville is “a district that never sleeps” with numerous summer activities involving both teachers and student including special education and feeding programs, sports camps, curriculum writing and professional development workshops. She introduced new teachers and staff members, and thanked the dedicated custodial and secretarial staffs for their hard work in getting the buildings ready to open for the new school year. The district enters its fourth year of its Strategic Plan, and Dr. Kelly explained that Amityville is making significant strides in three areas: academic achievement, school culture and climate, and family and community involvement. “We have the data to prove that our investment and efforts are paying off – to the benefit of our kids and our community,” she said. “We are well on our way to putting ‘Amityville on the Map’ – our vision for becoming a high-performing school district.” Dr. Kelly said that those achievements are because of the hard work of every staff member in the district. She reminded them to come to school every day with the goal of making a difference in the lives of children. “Every single one of us has tremendous power to positively impact the life of a child, every day, in countless ways,” she said. “This is a tremendous opportunity and an awesome responsibility. This is our purpose, this is our passion, this is our mission, this is our reason for existence as a school system.” Dr. Kelly led a moment of silence for Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School teacher Marc Engler, who passed away during the summer and had taught in Amityville for 20 years. High school guidance secretary Brooke Brown, a former secretary at Park Avenue, presented Principal Robyn Santiago and Assistant Principal Melissa Wiederhold with a shadow box honoring Mr. Engler. It included a picture of him celebrating his birthday – because he was known for remembering everyone’s birthday – and an engraved plaque. “It is fitting that we begin this new year in the spirit of Marc’s kindness, care, and unwavering commitment to the children of Amityville,” Dr. Kelly said. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Bryant Marks, the founding director and chief equity officer of the National Training Institute on Race and Equity, and an associate professor of psychology of Morehouse College. His dynamic presentation, “Acknowledging and Managing the Hidden Biases of Good People: Implications for K-12 Educators and Administrators” analyzed the implicit biases in people based on overexposure and how to overcome those biases in their professional life. Following his presentation, he hosted breakout sessions for faculty members from each building. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162919 Thu, 05 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162919 First Day of School Marks New Beginnings It was a big moment for students in Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2032 as they started kindergarten on Sept. 3, the first step on their 13-year path to graduation. Faculty and staff at Northeast Elementary School warmly greeted children as they were dropped off by their parents or arrived by bus. “Today is an exciting day,” Principal Dr. Pauline Collins said. “We are thrilled to meet our new students starting their educational journey.” While some students became familiar with the building last year in pre-K, Dr. Collins said that kindergarten is the first full year of school for the children so it is a big transition. She said the goal is to create a warm and nurturing environment, where children feel comfortable and supported. All students wore nametags that were color-coded to their class, to help everyone find their way on the first day. Throughout the district, approximately 3,000 students started school at five buildings following a busy summer that upgraded the facilities. The 2019-20 school year features the introduction and expansion of several academic programs at all levels. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162918 Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162918 Seventh Graders Encouraged to Go Beyond the Expected “Exceeding expectations” is the mission for the 2019-20 school year at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, Acting Principal Earl Mitchell announced at orientation on Aug. 22. He outlined his vision for success for every student in speaking to the incoming seventh graders and their parents. Mr. Mitchell was joined by Assistant Principal Paul Duguay as well as teachers and guidance counselors in welcoming the students who just two months ago completed elementary school. With ninth grade slated to move to the high school in 2020, they will have short two-year stay at the middle school, but staff members want them to make the most out of that time. Students learned about the wealth of academic offerings, athletic programs and extracurricular opportunities. A goal at the middle school is to create interested and engaged learners, and Mr. Mitchell explained that even the most challenging courses are infused with fun lessons and activities. Orientation was held in the cafeteria, dubbed College Café, because it is filled with pennants from colleges all over the state and country to inspire students to reach their full potential. Following discussions on the bell schedule, Chromebooks and character-building programs, seventh graders went on tours of the building, led by students from the National Junior Honor Society. They also were able to take home free school supplies including binders, notebooks, pens and pencils. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162916 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162916 Amityville District-Wide Safety Plan Amityville District-Wide Safety Plan 2019-2020 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162917 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162917 Incoming 10th Graders Hear Words of Wisdom “This is your time to shine,” Amityville Memorial High School Acting Principal Edward Plaia told incoming 10th graders, who were joined by their parents for orientation on Aug. 21. The program featured a comprehensive overview of high school, including academic expectations, athletic and extracurricular opportunities, and words of encouragement for the Class of 2022. The students have a familiar face in Mr. Plaia, their former principal at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. He said that all of the high school administrators, teachers and support staff are committed to helping them succeed. “Classes become a little more challenging,” he said. “Colleges and careers are a little bit closer. High school is going to be what you make of it. Find your passion and do something about it.” Teachers and guidance counselors were on hand to greet the students. Juniors and seniors spoke about the wealth of opportunities at the high school, from Advanced Placement and elective courses, to afterschool clubs and sports, to student government and class events. Mr. Plaia encouraged students to challenge themselves by taking AP courses, noting that some members of Amityville’s most recent graduating class finished high school with as many as 15 college credits. He reminded the new 10th graders that colleges are looking for students who distinguish themselves, so they should take advantage of all that is offered at the high school. The incoming students will witness a transformation of the building, which is being renovated and expanded as part of the $69.9 million bond approved by voters in March 2016. This year they will get to take advantage of the upgraded library media center, and the following year will feature new classrooms, state-of-the-art science labs, a new indoor athletic complex, expanded cafeteria and a new art and music suite. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162915 Wed, 21 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162915 District-Wide Safety Plan Amityville UFSD District-Wide Safety Plan 2019-2020 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162914 Wed, 21 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162914 Summer School Regents Exam Transportation Summer School Regents Exam Bus Schedule - 2019 Robert Moses Middle School 631-620-7370 250 Phelps Lane, North Babylon, NY 11703 Bus # 1 Dismissal times are - 10:am, 2:15pm, 3:30pm & 4:30pm Pick Up Pick Up 1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 6:45 AM 10:40 AM AUSTIN AVE & BAYVIEW AVE 2 6:47 AM 10:42 AM BAYVIEW AVE & BEDELL PL 3 6:51 AM 10:46 AM MACDONALD AVE & S BAYVIEW AVE 4 6:53 AM 10:48 AM GRAND CENTRAL AVE & PERKINS AVE 5 6:56 AM 10:51 AM OCEAN AVE & S IRELAND PL 6 6:57 AM 10:52 AM BAYSIDE AVE & OCEAN AVE 7 6:59 AM 10:54 AM BOURDETTE PL & RICHMOND AVE 8 7:01 AM 10:56 AM HAMILTON ST & RICHMOND AVE 9 7:03 AM 10:58 AM S KETCHAM AVE & VAN NOSTRAND PL 10 7:40 AM 11:35 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Bus # 2 Pick Up Pick Up ​​1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 6:50 AM 10:45 AM CLOCKS BLVD & TREBOR RD 2 6:53 AM 10:48 AM E HAMILTON AVE & E LINCOLN AVE 3 6:55 AM 10:50 AM CARMAN BLVD & COVE ST 4 6:56 AM 10:51 AM MARINE ST & ROOSEVELT BLVD 5 6:59 AM 10:54 AM DOVER ST & JEFFERSON ST 6 7:00 AM 10:55 AM DOVER ST & MARSHALL ST 7 7:02 AM 10:57 AM MELROSE AVE & OAKLEY ST 8 7:03 AM 10:58 AM HOMESTEAD AVE & ORCHARD PL 9 7:06 AM 11:01 AM E MAPLE ST & KENWOOD AVE 10 7:07 AM 11:02 AM COUNTY LINE RD & STERLING PL 11 7:38 AM 11:33 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Bus #3 Pick Up Pick Up 1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 7:05 AM 11:00 AM COUNTY LINE RD & LAFAYETTE AVE 2 7:06 AM 11:01 AM COUNTY LINE RD & LOCUST DR 3 7:07 AM 11:02 AM COUNTY LINE RD & MAPLE DR 4 7:08 AM 11:03 AM AMBER DR & CAMP RD 5 7:09 AM 11:04 AM AMBER DR & FORD DR W 6 7:11 AM 11:06 AM EMILY ST & SOLOFF RD 7 7:12 AM 11:07 AM FRANCINE DR N & ROBERT AVE 8 7:40 AM 11:35 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Regents Exams are Tuesday, August 13 & Wednesday, August 14. Summer School Regents Exam Bus Schedule - 2019 Robert Moses Middle School 631-620-7370 250 Phelps Lane, North Babylon, NY 11703 Bus #4 Dismissal times are - 10:am, 2:15pm, 3:30pm & 4:30pm Pick Up Pick Up 1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 6:55 AM 10:50 AM COUNTY LINE RD & PLYMOUTH DR 2 6:56 AM 10:51 AM COUNTY LINE RD & RITTER AVE 3 6:58 AM 10:53 AM BROADWAY & MARILYN AVE 4 7:00 AM 10:55 AM BROADWAY & W SMITH ST 5 7:01 AM 10:56 AM BROADWAY & WASHINGTON AVE 6 7:03 AM 10:58 AM 290 BROADWAY 7 7:05 AM 11:00 AM 47 WELLINGTON PL 8 7:07 AM 11:02 AM ALBANY AVE & MAPLE PL 9 7:39 AM 11:34 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Bus #5 Pick Up Pick Up 1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 6:55 AM 10:50AM DIXON AVE & OVERLAND AVE 2 6:57 AM 10:52AM BAYVIEW AVE & GILBERT PL 3 6:58 AM 10:53 AM BAYVIEW AVE & BAYVIEW 4 7:01 AM 10:56 AM COOLIDGE AVE & E SMITH ST 5 7:03 AM 10:58 AM HARRISON AVE & WASHINGTON AVE 6 7:07 AM 11:02 AM BROADWAY & HARRISON AVE 7 7:08 AM 11:03 AM BROADWAY & RONALD DR N 8 7:09 AM 11:04 AM BROADWAY & JEFFERSON AVE 9 7:10 AM 11:05 AM JEFFERSON AVE & MOORE ST 10 7:11 AM 11:06 AM MOORE ST & NATHALIE AVE 11 7:39 AM 11:34 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Bus #6 Pick Up Pick Up 1st Exam 2nd Exam 1 6:58 AM 10:50 AM GERALDINE AVE & GLENMALURE ST 2 7:00 AM 10:52 AM COLUMBA AVE & OFFALY ST 3 7:01 AM 10:53 AM BRANDON AVE & TYRCONNELL ST 4 7:02 AM 10:54 AM BRANDON AVE & DARERKA ST 5 7:04 AM 10:56 AM 10 MILLER AVE 6 7:08 AM 11:00 AM ESSEN DR & SURREY DR 7 7:11 AM 11:03 AM BENJOE DR & FLORAL DR 8 7:12 AM 11:04 AM BETA DR & FLORAL DR 9 7:13 AM 11:05 AM ALBANY AVE & RAINBOW LN 10 7:14 AM 11:06 AM MELODY LN & SUMMER LN 11 7:40 AM 11:32 AM ROBERT MOSES MIDDLE SCHOOL (SS) Regents Exams are Tuesday, August 13 & Wednesday, August 14. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162913 Mon, 12 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162913 Welcome Back Bash! Tools for School Amityville School District Parents and Students are Welcome Free notebooks, pencils, folders, backpacks, etc Monday, August 26th 4:00 – 5:30 pm Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Sponsored by the Amityville Teachers’ Association Serving your Children and the Community Please bring your summer letter from your school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162912 Fri, 09 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162912 Information Regarding the District-Wide School Safety Plan As a result of recent amendments to the Education Law, school districts that employ security personnel are now required to have an agreement developed with stakeholder input regarding school discipline and school security. The District’s draft memorandum of understanding is available by clicking here. If you would like to submit any input into this memorandum, please submit it tosfreifelder@amityvilleufsd.orgby August7, 2019, at 12:00p.m. The 2019-2020 District-Wide School Safety Plan is required by law to be made available for public comment prior to its adoption. You can review the draft plan by clicking here. If you have any questions or feedback on the draft 2019-2020 District-Wide School Safety Plan, please submit it tosfreifelder@amityvilleufsd.orgby August7,2019, at 12:00 p.m. The Board of Education will hold a Public Hearing at the North Administration Building on August 7, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. regarding the District-Wide School Safety Plan. During the public hearing, school personnel, parents, students and any other interested parties will be given the opportunity to participate and be heard. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162910 Fri, 02 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162910 Thank You Letter from Engler-Berozi Family Dear Amityville School Community, On behalf of our entire family, we would like to thank you for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. It was evident the impact Marc had at Amityville and he will be truly missed by all of us. We will carry his memory in our hearts. Thank you again, The Engler-Berozi Family http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162909 Thu, 01 Aug 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162909 2019-2020 Full District Calendar Now Available Click here to view the calendar. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162908 Thu, 01 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162908 VIDEO: What Did You Like About Kindergarten This Year? http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162906 Tue, 23 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162906 Summer Sports Camp Fosters Fun and Fitness Edmund W. Miles Middle School was full activity during the first two weeks of summer as it played host to the annual sports camp. Attendance each day averaged more than 50 children who came for basketball, baseball, cheerleading, football, soccer, softball and volleyball. The eight-day camp was open to all children living within the district’s boundaries who are entering fourth, fifth and sixth grade. Program coordinator Kimberly Thompson said it gave students who attend different schools an opportunity to create new friendships while also giving them some exercise. The activities were supervised by Amityville coaches with support from volunteer middle and high school students, who were able to earn community service hours. For the coaches, it allowed them to meet some of their future athletes and teach the fundamentals of the different sports. They promoted physical fitness by showing children exercises that could be done at home. John Katsigiorgis, who led the soccer camp, said his goal was foster a love of athletics while keeping the children active. He taught them valuable communication skills which not only will lead them to success on the soccer field but in all aspects of their lives. Every day, he arrived at camp with energy and enthusiasm. “If I’m having fun, it’s going to be contagious and they’re going to have fun,” Mr. Katsigiorgis said. Baseball coach Robert Claps said each day consisted of about an hour of skill development, including hitting, throwing, catching and fielding. Children could then hone those skills in game play. Enrollment was up significantly this year in the cheerleading camp. Coaches Amanda O’Connell and Kelly Wilson attributed that to its growing popularity in Amityville, as this coming year will be the third competition season for the junior varsity team and first for a middle school squad. As their skills progressed, the girls developed a routine for the last day of camp that incorporated dancing, jumping and stunting. This was the first year that parents could register their children online for the free camp. Breakfast and lunch were provided each day along with water breaks. “The children really enjoy this,” Ms. Thompson said. “They’re the future of Amityville athletics.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162904 Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162904 An Important Message from Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools ............ In Memoriam - Mr. Marc Engler, Amityville UFSD Teacher An Important Message from Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Superintendent of Schools: In Memoriam - Mr. Marc Engler, Amityville UFSD Teacher Please Click Here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162905 Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162905 Park Avenue Educators to Present at Technology Summit Fifth grade teacher Amy Stein and librarian Tim Quinn, from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District, have been chosen to present at the Long Island Technology and Education Summit in October for their work with the Skin in the Game program. The summit is co-sponsored by Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES and Nassau BOCES. Ms. Stein and Mr. Quinn will highlight they work they have done to incorporate technology into an educational board game project. The Skin in the Game initiative was launched in the district during the 2018-19 school year. As a culminating project, fifth graders in Ms. Stein’s class worked in teams to create board games that reflected a unit of study from either science or social studies. Among the topics that children chose were biomes, body systems, human rights, natural disasters and the solar system. Each group had to create a board game that resembled the style of existing popular board games. Every student in the group had a roll including the story teller, the rule maker, the question maker and the designer. With support from Mr. Quinn, children created their game pieces on iPads, which then came to fruition using the 3D printer in the library. The group that created a game about biomes made pieces to look like different animals. Students also used a Selphy photo printer to add visual elements to their games. Other digital elements were incorporated into the project. Students who made the solar system game — called Space Catastrophes — included spots that could be scanned by an iPad revealing a video of students explaining the rules or facts about the different planets. Other games had QR codes that could be scanned to get a question. “Each game had some component that made it unique,” Ms. Stein said. Student Cheryl Mejia said the key to make a successful board game was teamwork. “You’ve got to work together to make a project,” she said. “You have to support each other and help each other out.” After creating, students played each other’s games to give constructive feedback, such as the ease or difficulty of the rules. Ms. Stein and Mr. Quinn will bring the games with them to the technology summit to share with educators from across Long Island. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162903 Tue, 16 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162903 Ninth Graders Promoted to High School A winning attitude and self-discipline are the keys to success, Edmund W. Miles Middle School Acting Principal Earl Mitchell told ninth graders as they prepare to embark on their journey to Amityville Memorial High School. The middle school hosted its ninth grade awards ceremony on June 25, celebrating the high school Class of 2022. Mr. Mitchell encouraged each student to read at least two good books over the summer to keep their minds sharp. When they return in September, they should enter their new school with a positive mindset. “Don’t let any excuse hinder your success,” he said. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that just weeks prior, the ninth graders saw members of this year’s graduating class traverse through the middle school halls for the annual senior walk. In three years, it will be their turn, and by that time they will be well prepared for the challenges of college, careers and the world. Dr. Kelly noted that it is an exciting time in the district for the ninth graders. A major renovation and expansion project is under way at the high school, and once completed in about a year those students will get to enjoy new classrooms, state-of-the-art science labs, an indoor athletic complex and upgraded library media center. Administrators and teachers presented students with several awards. They recognized the ninth graders with the top grade in each subject as well as those who have sustained high grades during their middle school years. The Amityville Teachers Association Award of Excellence went to Mikhail Ankudovych and Andielynn Llamas while New York State Comptroller Award was presented to Brandon Dennis. Brandon and Samanta Molina also earned the Attorney General’s Triple C award for courage, character and commitment. Scott Pineda was recognized for his perfect attendance. Warrior of the Year honors went to Kayla Marrero and Bryan Vanegas. Mr. Mitchell introduced a new award this year, Warrior the Year faculty members, which was presented to Erica Azzara and Kerry Kearney. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162902 Wed, 10 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162902 A Special Class Moves on From Park Avenue Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Principal Robyn Santiago looked out from the stage at the 213 sixth graders sitting in front of her and smiled. She and the students shared a common bond, one that she will remember for the rest of her life. “This class of sixth graders is very special to me,” she said, “as both they and I entered Park Avenue together three years ago.” She became principal when they became fourth graders, moving up from Northwest Elementary School. Now, she is sending them off to seventh grade at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, which happened to be the setting for their moving up ceremony on June 25. “I can’t wait to watch your future success,” Ms. Santiago told the students, boasting about their achievements in academics, art and music, while also highlighting their great character. “Stay kind,” she added. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly told students that they had been well cared for over the last three years by Park Avenue teachers and staff who were dedicated to their success. Now, the staff at the middle school awaits them and will be ready to help the students follow their dreams. Dr. Kelly said new opportunities lie ahead such as learning a new language, receiving a Chromebook to use both in school and at home, joining clubs and conducting science research. “There is something here for everyone,” she said. The sixth graders heard from National Junior Honor Society President Daniella Henriquez, who recalled making the same transition two years earlier and how quickly she felt comfortable in her new school. “Coming to the middle school is a new beginning and fresh start,” she said. The Park Avenue chorus, led by Megan Ashe, performed “A Million Dreams” with sixth grade soloists Tiffany Asbell, Sydney Carter, Karina Escobar Rivera and Madelyne Martinez. Certificates were presented to students earning the Presidents’ Award for Academic Achievement and Educational Excellence. Ms. Santiago and Assistant Principal Melissa Wiederhold also recognized John Arango, who earned the New York State Comptroller Achievement Award, and Alessandra Pons who received the Suffolk County Executive Certificate of Achievement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162901 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162901 Northeast Kindergartners are Moving on and Dreaming Big “A Million Dreams” was the theme of this year’s kindergarten moving-up program at Northeast Elementary School on June 21. Kindergartners performed songs at morning and afternoon ceremonies for their families. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins said that all songs were about dreams and aspirations including “Big Dreams,” “Get Fired Up,” “The Climb,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and more. Students worked with their kindergarten teachers as well as music teacher Nicole Altamura to learn the lyrics and choreography. Children performed on a stage flanked by rainbow balloon displays. Posters throughout the gymnasium had inspiration messages like “Everything starts with a dream” and “Keep calm and dream big.” Before each ceremony began, guests enjoyed a photo slideshow set to music featuring class photos and pictures of activities throughout the year. Dr. Collins had high praise for the students, who worked hard this year and completed the first step on their journey to becoming Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2031. “They are ready for first grade,” she said. “They’re reading and they’re writing. We are so proud of them.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162900 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162900 Northwest Third Graders Reach a Milestone Moment Hard work and perseverance are the keys to success, speakers told third graders at Northwest Elementary School’s moving up ceremony on June 24. The students, who comprise Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2028, celebrated their achievements over the past three years as they grew as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, artists, musicians and thinkers. Principal Kathleen Hyland said that this group of students holds a special place in heart as they entered Northwest as first graders the same year she came to the school. She explained that it is has been a pleasure watching them grow through so many “wonderful educational experiences.” Ms. Hyland reminded students that mistakes are part of the learning process and should never deter them from trying to achieve their goals. “You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to work for it,” she said. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly not only emphasized the value of hard work, but also spoke about the importance of good character. She reminded students to always be courteous, kind, respectful and responsible. While the summer vacation is well deserved after a prosperous school year, Dr. Kelly encouraged students to keep their minds sharp by going to the local library and checking out books. The ceremony included musical selections by the students including “Count on Me” and “Roar,” led by music teacher Roxanne Tannenbaum. Dr. Kelly and Ms. Hyland both recognized Ms. Tannenbaum, who is retiring, for her years of dedication to the students. Class by class, the 219 third graders were called up to the stage to receive their moving up certificates, where they exchanged handshakes, high-fives and hugs with Ms. Hyland, Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo and their teachers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162899 Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162899 Northwest Memories Video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162898 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162898 Amityville’s Class of 2019 Shines Bright As Amityville Memorial High School graduates made their way along the track, cheers erupted from the crowd. Proud family members, who filled the bleachers, enthusiastically welcomed the Class of 2019 to the football field where commencement exercises were held on June 27. Acting Principal Edward Plaia announced that it was the first time graduation had been in the evening. It also marked the return of the ceremony to the outdoors after two years of inclement weather. This year the sun shined bright as speakers talked about the bright futures ahead for the graduates. “We are all extraordinarily proud of you,” said Mr. Plaia, who was their principal at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. “We are here to celebrate your achievements and your accomplishments over all your years of schooling.” Mr. Plaia cited their “Warrior work ethic” which led them to success and will help them through the bigger challenges ahead. He noted that the graduates have been accepted into some of the top colleges on the planet. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly told the graduates to thank all those who have helped them reach this level of achievement. As they move on, she asked graduates to cherish the memories, friendships and experiences from their time in Amityville and use it as a source of comfort. Dr. Kelly discussed the Apollo 11 moon landing, and how it was the culmination of many years of hard work from people from all different backgrounds. She said the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, would never have imagined doing that when he graduated college, yet a little more than a decade later he made history. “As I look out at you this evening,” Dr. Kelly told the graduates, “I am very optimistic, because I see the future, and I am confident that theworld will be assured of many more giant leaps for mankind because you will lead the way.” Valedictorian Raiphy Jerez, who will major in electrical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said that most people can’t point to one big moment that has led to the their success. Instead, it is a series of little decisions that creates each person’s path. Salutatorian Aleyna Kokoglu spoke about how she moved to Amityville from Turkey when she was 9, spoke little English, and learned to communicate through art. Nine years later, she is preparing to attend Stony Brook University with ambitions of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. The end of high school, she explained, isn’t the end of a journey but just another step along the way. “It marks the beginning of a much more exciting chapter for all of us,” she said. “This is where our lives truly begin.” Senior class adviser Margot Howard said her first introduction to the Class of 2019 was when they were in seventh grade, and she was a student teacher. Meeting them assured her that education was her right path, and soon after she began teaching in Amityville. She encouraged the graduates to seek a meaningful purpose in life. “Go out into the world and do well,” she said, “but more importantly, go out into the world and do good.” Senior class President Britney Colas reflected on the years the graduates spent together. Although they will head in different directions, she hopes Warrior pride will remain in the hearts forever and the friendships will remain intact. “As I stand here today and look upon my fellow graduates, I see potential, potential for greatness,” she said, adding, “This is not a goodbye, this is simply a see you later.” Under an arch of red and gray balloons, graduates received their diplomas from Mr. Plaia and were congratulated on stage by Dr. Kelly and board of education members. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162897 Fri, 28 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162897 Park Avenue Posters Promote Water Conservation A pair of sixth graders from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary Schoolwere recognized for their creative efforts to encourage water conservation. Kaytlin Valerio was a third place winner in the 2019 Water Conservation Poster Contest hosted by the Long Island chapter of the New York Water Environment Association. Christasha McNeil earned honorable mention. Each student received a certificate and an Amazon gift card. Students completed their submissions after learning about the water cycle. The lesson included guest speakers from NYWEA. The poster contest is designed to encourage students to learn about their roles in the watersheds in which they live, and how to conserve and protect water resources for future generations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162896 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162896 High School Social Studies Teacher Earns Regional Honor Amityville Memorial High School social studies teacher Margot Howard was recognized by the Long Island Council for the Social Studies with the Robert P. Flinn Award. It is presented to a non-tenured social studies teacher on Long Island who has demonstrated strong knowledge of social studies content and current issues, is effective and inspiring, and has the ability to convey the importance and vitality of social studies to students. Ms. Howard has taught at the high school for four years, including global history and Advanced Placement human geography. Joining her at the awards ceremony were Assistant Principal Brian Suckle and Social Studies Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162895 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162895 Middle School Awards Ceremony Moved to EWMMS The Middle School Awards Ceremony has been moved to EWMMS. The ceremony will begin at 11. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162894 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:00:00 GMT false162894 Nature Knowledge Hatches at Northwest “Peep peep peep” could be heard throughout the second grade hallway for about a week in June after baby chicks arrived in several classrooms at Northwest Elementary School. It was part of an annual hands-on science lesson about animal life cycles. The eggs and incubators were supplied by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Suffolk County Farm. During the 21-day incubation period, students made predictions about how many eggs would hatch and also candled the eggs by holding up a special light to see the development taking place in side. After the chicks were born — some during the school day to the delight of students — they were moved to large plastic bins lined with bedding. Children took care of the young animals by ensuring that there was always a supply of food and water. They even learned how to delicately hold the chicks, and also gave them names. Second grade teacher Annette Fox said that literacy activities were included in the project as students practiced their sequence structure in writing about the life cycles and used descriptive language from their observations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162892 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162892 Amityville Staff Recognized for Service The Amityville Union Free School District Board of Education honored approximately 60 staff members for their dedicated service on June 12. Two dozen of the honorees are retiring from the district, while others were recognized for milestone anniversaries. Retirees included teachers Dr. Nicola Beckles, Barbara Bielecka-O’Doherty, Ricki Budnick, Robin Golub, Reynolds Hawkins, Dr. Judy Ann Hurst, Donna Jones, James Napoli, Peggy O’Connor, Jo Anne Rubin, Laurie Scott, Carol Seehof, Diane Smith, Karen Starkey, Roxanne Tannenbaum and Charles Zuar, teacher assistant Theresa O’Connor, custodians Keith Ambrosino, William Carmen and Ruth Corporan, nurse Carol Bosch, cook Alice Samuel and food service worker Caroline Rund. The board additionally recognized staff members who have reached 20, 25 and 30 years of employment in Amityville. Reaching 20 years were Margaret Brooks, Jacqueline Brown-Fields, Steve Butler, Robert Claps, Michelle Dale, Nancy Davi-Ortiz, Anther Gail Davis, Marc Engler, Annette Fox, Shannon Griffin, David Joyner, Frank McKelvie, Terron Newsome, Brenda Norman, Donna Pescitelli, Elbert Platt, Joseph Puglisi, Howard Reiner, Laurette Roddin, Kathleen Rousseau, Christopher Sarlo, Carl Spatola, Marie Thomas, Jennifer Trotman and Nakia Wolfe-Williams. At 25 years were Deborah Cammaroto, Angela Harris, Greta Joyner, Debra O’Rourke, Jean Reese, Juliane Roman and Linda Stallworth. At 30 years of service were Andrew Gwathney, Dr. Judy Ann Hurst, Alfreta Lidge, Bernard Ricks and Frederick Shepherd. Colleagues shared kind words and told stories about the honorees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162891 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162891 Amityville’s Orchestra Groups are Golden A trio of orchestra ensembles from the district received gold ratings at the New York State School Music Association’s Major Organization Assessment Festival. Earning the top honors were the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School sixth grade orchestra under the direction of Christine Klimek, the Edmund W. Miles Middle School orchestra conducted by Bianca Ferrante and the Amityville Memorial High School orchestra led by Ms. Ferrante. According to NYSSMA assessment guidelines, a gold rating is awarded to ensembles that have demonstrated an “outstanding level of technical and artistic skill in each of the evaluated categories.” Those areas included tone, intonation, balance, technique, accuracy/execution, rhythm and interpretation. Each ensemble performed three pieces for the judges. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162890 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162890 Park Avenue Music Students are on Their Game The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Game was created by students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, inspired by a book read in their music class, “The Really Awful Musicians.” The activity supported the district’s Skin in the Game initiative and included a technology component as students used the school’s 3D printer to make the game pieces. Students made board games based upon the book, which is about the royal musicians during the Medieval time period. Music teacher Megan Ashe said that creation of the games served as a culminating activity for the year, as it had to feature different musical concepts students learned such as rhythms, note values and the EGBDF and FACE note staffs. Each game had to be designed following the format of other popular board or card games, and represent all of the characters from the books and the instruments they used. Fifth graders from Amy Stein’s class were selected to create moveable game pieces using the MakerBot 3D printer, located in the library. Students used the Tinkercad program to design the pieces. Ms. Ashe explained that every five game pieces took about 45 minutes to print. Student Cesia Guevara said it was exciting that she and her classmates were among the first in the school to use the 3D printer. As someone who avidly plays board games at home, she explained that it was also a great experience to learn about the work that goes into creating a game. Marvin Barnes added that it was fun to work together as a group, to help build their teamwork skills. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162888 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162888 Doing Things With Dad at Northeast Northeast Elementary School hosted its annual pre-K Father’s Day picnic on June 7. Fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other family members were invited to participate in some hands-on activities. Together, the children and their guests built birdhouses, played hopscotch and hula hoops, blew bubbles and enjoyed a picnic lunch. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162887 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162887 Memories Revisited for Amityville Seniors Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on June 6, yellow school buses pulled up in the driveway of Northwest Elementary School, but it wasn’t young children who stepped off. Instead, it was the 241 members of Amityville Memorial High School’s senior class. The soon-to-be graduates visited all of their former schools during the senior walk, an annual tradition to celebrate the impending milestone. Led by Assistant Principal Brian Suckle and Dean of Students John Cardone, the Class of 2019 walked through the first, second and third grade hallways in order, as the elementary students lined the halls to cheer them on. Many made signs congratulating the seniors who were clad in their red caps and gowns. Pomp and Circumstance played over the speakers. The scene was repeated as the seniors moved on to Northeast Elementary School — where they began their educational careers in pre-K or kindergarten — then to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Seniors exchanged hugs with former teachers, who beamed with pride in seeing past students all grown up, having achieved so much and ready to accomplish so much more. Northeast kindergarten teacher Dyan Aversa said this year’s senior class included students she had during her first year teaching kindergarten in Amityville. Pre-K teacher Lisa Carey pulled her son, James Carey, out of the line of graduates to give him a big hug in front of a poster she hung up filled with pictures from his childhood. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162886 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162886 Amityville Music Groups Earn Silver Ratings Five music ensembles from the district received silver ratings at the Major Organization Assessment Festival this year hosted by the New York State School Music Association. The groups receiving the designation were the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School chorus led by Megan Ashe, the Edmund W. Miles Middle School band led by Michael Bonasera, the middle school chorus and the Amityville Memorial High School chorus, both directed by Debra Koraus, and the high school band, conducted by Jolene Maccarone. According to NYSSMA assessment guidelines, a silver rating is awarded to ensembles that demonstrate “an excellent level of technical and artistic skill in each of the evaluated categories for all three selections.” Those categories include tone, intonation, balance, technique, accuracy and execution, rhythm and interpretation. Two Park Avenue ensembles also received “superior” ratings at the Long Island Music Festival, the chorus, directed by Ms. Ashe, and the orchestra, conducted by Christine Klimek. “I extend my congratulations to all of the participating music students and their teachers for a job well done,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of fine arts. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162885 Wed, 12 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162885 Northwest & Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremonies Moved to the Middle School The Northwest Grade 3 moving up ceremony on June 24th has been moved to the Middle School. Additionally, the Park Avenue Grade 6 moving up ceremony on June 25th has been moved to the Middle School. The times for each moving up ceremony have not changed. Times can be found on the district calendar. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162884 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162884 Accomplishments Shine Among Senior Class The district honored seniors who have earned scholarships during an awards ceremony on May 23. Amityville Memorial High School’s annual Senior Awards Night celebrated achievements in academics, athletics, the arts and community involvement. Following opening remarks and performance of the National Anthem, honorees and audience members viewed a video that spotlighted the top 25 members of the Class of 2019. The presentation of awards brought applause to the students who are recipients of scholarships, and pride among their family members. Each student accepted their awards and received congratulations from members of the administration and board of education. Many of the local scholarship sponsors were in attendance and personally acknowledged the students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162883 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162883 Warriors Taking Their Talents to the Next Level After representing the Warriors for several years, a dozen athletes from Amityville Memorial High School are prepared to compete at the next level. The students, who have made commitments to play for college teams locally and in other states, were recognized at the annual Senior Athlete College Celebration Day on May 30 in the school library. Joined by administrators, board of education trustees, coaches, teammates and family members, the athletes proudly adorned the attire of their new schools. Each student was invited to say a few words about his or her future plans and thank influential people. The recognized athletes were: • Nina Babington, St. John’s University, track and field • Joel Barrett, University of Bridgeport, track and field • Victoria Erwat, Binghamton University, volleyball • Rolman Guardado, Hofstra University, soccer • Shiyah Hamlet, SUNY Sullivan, basketball • Indya Hunter, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, track and field • Alton Kimbrough Jr., Bowie State University, track and field • D’andre King, Alfred State College, football • Patrick Meyerrose, St. Joseph’s College, soccer • Jada Miley, Morgan State University, dance • Carlos Ponce, Molloy College, soccer • Kalani Soloman-Shand, Nassau Community College, cross country The ceremony was simulcast live on the Amityville Broadcast Network. As each senior came to the podium, student commentators said a few words about his or her athletic accomplishments in Amityville. “This is an exciting day to recognize the hard work and commitment of all of our athletes,” said Evan Farkas, the director of athletics, physical education and health. He thanked them for their contributions to their teams and also acknowledged all of the supporters of Amityville’s athletic programs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162882 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162882 History Prompts a Digital Debate in Amityville Diving deep into their study of the American Revolution, fourth graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School made videos to share their thoughts about the war that led to the independence of the United States. After learning about patriots and loyalists, the young historians had a digital debate using Flipgrid. Each student had to decide if he or she would have supported independence of the 13 colonies or would have defended staying with Great Britain. They had to cite historical evidence to back up their arguments in the 90-second videos. The videos were shared on teacher Leighann Ruggiero’s class page, and students had to create response videos to two of their classmates, giving reasons why they either agreed or disagreed. Students said they enjoyed the opportunity to use technology to share their opinions and have respectful debate with their peers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162880 Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162880 Junior Tapped for Selective Summer Science Program Amityville Memorial High School junior Z’Dhanne Williams was accepted to the prestigious High School Summer Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Z’Dhanne has been a member of the district’s Elite research group since ninth grade, working with her team on a treatment for polycythemia vera, a form of blood cancer. They have presented their research at several regional science exhibitions including the Kathy Belton Science Fair at Molloy College and the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College. They earned first-place finishes at the Diversity Summit in 2017 and 2018. This is Z’Dhanne’s second acceptance into a prestigious science program. As a freshman, she was selected for BNL’s STEM-Prep Summer Institute. Beginning in July she will participate in the highly competitive High School Research Program. During this six-week educational offering, Z’Dhanne and other selected students will collaborate with BNL’s scientific staff on projects that supports its mission. “Z’Dhanne’s continued involvement in research and competitions have made her a candidate for acceptance into BNL’s rigorous summer research program,” science teacher Alexis Charles said. Ms. Charles will be working with Z'Dhanne, who will be a co-author for the scientific paper that will be published on the polycythemia vera by SUNY Farmingdale professor Andrew Michaelson and his research team. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162879 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162879 Senior Walk Rescheduled to 6/6/19 The Senior Walk scheduled for Monday, June 3rd has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 6th. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162881 Sun, 02 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162881 High School Students Take Research to the Next Level Aspiring scientists at Amityville Memorial High School spent several months exploring the work of noted researchers in preparation for conducting their own science studies next year. The school hosted its first Science Research Symposium on May 16, with three students sharing their projects. They are enrolled in science research, a new course this year offered in partnership with SUNY Albany. Teacher Jennifer Galasso said that it is a three-year program in which students can earn up to 12 college credits. The presenters were sophomore Colleen Compitello and juniors Ameila Tisk and Z’Dhanne Williams. The audience included teachers, administrators, board of education trustees and family members. For the first year of the program, students developed their research and presentation skills by selecting a topic and finding scientists who studied that topic extensively. Each student read professional journal articles to thoroughly analyze existing research. This helped them understand the process that scientists go through to gather information. Next year, Amelia, Colleen and Z’Dhanne will begin their own original research projects. Each will develop a research question and find a mentor scientist to guide them through the process. They will collect their own data in the hopes of making meaningful contributions to the scientific community. “This year was to build the foundation,” Ms. Galasso said. “The students were really proud of the work that they did, and they are excited about continuing it.” Ms. Galasso said that one of the benefits of the class is that students can pick topics of interest to them. Colleen, who is involved in Amityville’s music program, chose as her topic, “Music Therapy and Autism.” Amelia’s presentation was on “The Effect of Antidepressants on Bipolar Disorder.” Z’Dhanne said that while her topic, “Resensitizing Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria,” may sound complex, she enjoyed the chance to present it in a way that made the information relatable to everyone. “I loved being able to connect with my audience,” she said. “The fact that I was able to pick my own topic, something I’m passionate about, has given me the opportunity to shine.” After the three students presented, they stood with their presentation posters to answer any questions from guests. The symposium also featured a guest speaker from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Watson School of Biological Science, Lyndsey Aguirre, who discussed her research on genetic regulatory circuits in plants. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162878 Thu, 30 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162878 Spark! Challenge Creates Interest in Medical Professions A team of students from Amityville Memorial High School earned a monetary prize in Northwell Health’s 2019 Spark! Challenge. For the third consecutive year, students were invited by Northwell to explore careers in the STEM and medical fields. Amityville students were given a unique opportunity to preview clinical and non-clinical career paths in the hospital through practical and engaging encounters with professionals in the field. One group visited the department of radiation medicine in which they learned about radiation treatments. The second group of students explored a variety of career scenarios and simulations in infection control, material management, environment services, finance, accounting and project management. In April, students had to present their findings to a panel of top executives from Northwell Health. At the competition, they were asked to create a marketing plan highlighting one of the careers they had seen at the health facility, and present their knowledge about that specialization. The event was held at the Crest Hollow Country Club where 50 schools competed for prizes. Amityville’s team earned a $2,000 prize as a first-place winner in the presentation category. It consisted of seniors Alyssa Graham, Ariel Graham, Alyena Kokoglu, Rachelle Louis Jean and Nathan Odige and junior Jazmin Ruiz Marcelo, along with senior Raiphy Jerez as the graphic designer. In addition to learning more about medical careers, the students were able to cultivate essential skills, such as teamwork and communication. This event played a pivotal role assisting students with career direction. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162877 Tue, 28 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162877 Chromebooks Transform Teaching and Learning at Middle School Across every subject area, Chromebooks are serving as valuable learning tools at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Every student in seventh, eighth and ninth grade received a device in February for use both in school and at home. Teachers say that one of the biggest benefits is having the technology readily available, so students can easily access information and participate in interactive learning experiences. Through Google Classroom, teachers can share course assignments, reading passages, worksheets and more. Eighth and ninth grade math teacher David Takseraas posts multiple choice questions and can see student responses right away. This allows him to know how well they are understanding a concept. He also posts daily videos reviewing the homework, which students can watch on their own so more class time can be devoted to teaching new material. “This is what they’re going to be doing in college,” Mr. Takseraas said of technology-centric learning. “We’re preparing them for their future educations and future careers.” Seventh and eighth grade English teacher Justin Uliano had his students use Chromebooks extensively during a recent poetry unit. Using various online resources, they located and read different types of poems to inspire their own writing. Students then created poetry anthologies filled with original works. “It’s really opened up options for them as to what information they can find,” Mr. Uliano said. “It gives them a lot more independence and a lot more choice.” Mr. Uliano added that having students use Google Docs for writing assignments makes it easier to edit and revise their pieces. There is also a comment feature which allows him to give feedback to his students throughout the writing process. Additionally, he has students use a program called Plot Factory to plan out the different elements of their stories for better structure and organization. Social studies teacher Frank O’Brien said the Chromebooks allow students to easily access the historical documents he regularly shares. He also likes that the devices provide opportunities for easy collaboration on group projects. To bring excitement into his lessons, Mr. O’Brien also uses interactive games for review during each topic. With Kahoot, students independently answer questions on the Chromebooks, and the class results are displayed on the SmartBoard, with rankings based on both correct answers and speed. Quizlet creates a competitive review session in a team format. Science teachers Ann Poulin, Christine Quigley and Jennifer Sanchez have found numerous ways to support the curriculum with Chromebooks. Students can take part in virtual labs, which gets them familiar with equipment and terminology before conducting hands-on experiments. They like to use Nearpod, an interactive learning platform featuring slideshows, videos and quizzes. Teachers say they particularly like the interactive games because they get every student involved. “When you don’t have technology, you can only pick on two or three kids who raise their hands,” Ms. Sanchez said. Teachers noted that because today’s learners are very proficient in technology, there is almost no learning curve when a new program is introduced. Students are quick to grasp the features of the different learning tools, maximizing instructional time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162876 Fri, 24 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162876 Poetry is in the Spotlight at Northwest Poetry is in season at Northwest Elementary School. Throughout April, which is National Poetry Month, second graders wrote their own poems before sharing their original works in early May. As a Mother’s Day treat, students in Nancy Davi-Ortiz’s class welcomed in parents for a poetry reading on May 9. Children wrote poems about their mothers, which they shared aloud when their special guests arrived. The Adams Family Poetry Café returned on May 10. The annual event in Franca Adams’ classroom highlights the hard work of her young poets as well as the confidence they have gained as writers throughout the school year. Students wrote dozens of poems and each selected his or her favorite piece to share. Parents were encouraged to snap, instead of clap, after each reader just like at a real poetry slam. Ms. Adams sent their pieces off to the Student Treasures Publishing Company to be turned into a book, which will be used in her classroom as a mentor text. Her future students will be able to use the book to see examples of good poetry. “The students have grown so much as writers,” she said. “They’ve done an amazing job and now they actually are published authors.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162874 Wed, 22 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162874 Budget and Board of Education Results/Resultados del Presupuesto y Junta de Educacion Budget Approved/Presupuesto Aprobado Yes (Si) 856 No 398 Board of Education Election/Elecciones de la Junta de Educacion: Seat of Terry Fulton (Asiento de Terry Fulton): *Terry Fulton 696 Faith Robinson 512 Seat of Laura Pawlewicz (Asiento de of Laura Pawlewicz) *Laura Pawlewicz 656 Andrew Ayodeji 619 * Elected (fideicomisarios electos) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162875 Tue, 21 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162875 Tea Time Celebrates Moms at Northeast Brightly colored tablecloths and floral centerpieces helped transform the cafeteria into a café at Northeast Elementary School on May 10. Pre-K students welcomed mothers, grandmothers, aunts, siblings and even a few fathers for the annual Mother’s Day. Teacher Yvette Carman said that the tea is a long-standing tradition at the school as a way to show appreciation for the parents who do so much to support their children’s educations. During the morning and afternoon programs, each of the four classes sang a special song for their mothers before a group performance of “Skidamarink.” Children then joined their special guests at the tables for snacks, iced tea and juice. They made gifts including cards, picture frames and artwork. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162873 Mon, 20 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162873 Middle School Drama Club to Stage ‘Fame Junior’ The 1980s comes to Amityville this weekend as the Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club will perform “Fame Junior.” The show is set at a performing arts high school in New York City and follows the journeys of student actors, dancers and musicians throughout their four years. The cast and stage crew consists of approximately 30 students. Lead actors include Wilnori Bouzy as Carmen Diaz, Aniyah Law as Serena Katz, Javier Rodriguez as Nick Piazza and Ashley Diaz as Schlomo Metzenbaum. There are several musical numbers including “Hard Work,” “There She Goes/Fame” and “Bring on Tomorrow.” Director Shannon McCann and Assistant Director Carolyn Mejia say the show has a great message about the importance of the arts in education. Show times for “Fame Junior” are Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium. Tickets are $5 at the door. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162872 Wed, 15 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162872 VIDEO: Students Gain Broadcasting Experience The Amityville Memorial High School Broadcast Club is bringing Warriors sports to the forefront. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162871 Tue, 14 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162871 National Junior Honor Society Welcomes 22 The National Junior Honor Society chapter at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in 22 members stronger as students were recognized for both academic achievement and good character at an induction ceremony on April 29. Celebrating their accomplishment were fellow seventh graders, teachers and proud family members along with representatives from the Amityville Board of Education and administration. Principal Edward Plaia welcomed the inductees into the prestigious organization and commended their parents for instilling in them the values of education and character. Amityville’s National Junior Honor Society chapter participates in several community service initiatives each year. Students do academic tutoring and volunteer their time at the elementary school family learning nights and the middle school’s veterans appreciation day, among other activities. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly also spoke with the inductees, focusing on the honor society’s five virtues – character, citizenship, leadership, scholarship and service. Eighth grade honor society members lit candles symbolizing each of those values. The inductees include Bryce Benymon, Sydni Blake, Christopher Blanchard, Jeiliz Cardenas, Ayden Catron, Margaret Catron, Kyndai Chandler, Jayson Chicas, Brayan Cisneros, Winifert Espinal, Lindsay Guevara, Donovan McRae, Kyra Lee, Danyella McAlpin, Osauyi Ojo, Kristen Preza, Katya Ramos Rojas, Ashlyn Rodriguez Orellana, Taylor Rollins, Madeline Shingleton, Amin Shah and Ramon Yanes. They were called up to the stage where they received their certificates and congratulated by Mr. Plaia, assistant principals Paul Duguay and Earl Mitchell, and adviser Carlee Brunson. At the end of the ceremony, each student presented a blue carnation to an influential person in his or her life. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162870 Fri, 10 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162870 School Libraries Becomes Spaces to Create Libraries are being reimagined in the district with the adoption of the Makerspace movement to provide students with new opportunities for hands-on discovery. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School library Timothy Quinn has introduced a variety of high-tech and low-tech resources that stimulate creativity and support the development of problem-solving abilities. Fiddlestix is a 104-piece building kit of wooden sticks and circular connectors. Little Bits allow students to explore circuitry by putting different elements together to produce light and sound. Mr. Quinn said that one popular resource is Makey Makey, in which students connect wires between a computer and ordinary objects to make music. They played the piano from scallions and the bongo drums using bananas. Makerspace at Park Avenue is based on the UTEC model — using, tinkering, experimenting and creating. Mr. Quinn said his STREAM team, a group of fifth and sixth grade students, used the resources first to help him identify ways to best incorporate them into the library curriculum. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “The Makerspace program is only going to get better because the possibilities are endless. We’re trying to build this space to so students can create something from nothing.” Northeast Elementary School librarian Tina Smith recently debuted the Makerspace program for kindergartners. She has dedicated a corner of the library to the initiative and filled it with different building materials. Ms. Smith’s approach to Makerspace is to have students participate in literacy-based, team-building challenges. Recently, kindergartners used recycled materials to build boats that could float in a tub of water. Before constructing, they explored scientific concepts including buoyancy and gravity. The idea came from a page that features a beach scene in the Debbie Clement book, “Red, White and Blue.” Although the book features illustrations representing locations all over America, Ms. Smith that page stood out to her because of Amityville’s proximity to the water. At Northeast, the Makerspace philosophy is “try and try again,” and Ms. Smith said that mistakes are just a normal part of the learning process. While she has facilitated the first few projects, students will have more independence in completing the challenges once they become familiar with the Makerspace expectations and materials. “I would like students to experience their learning, to ask questions, to try,” she said. “I want to encourage them to think, play and create and come up with a lot of different solutions to solve problems.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162869 Wed, 08 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162869 High School Students to Receive Bridge Builder Awards Amityville Memorial High School students Scott Friske and Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal have been selected to receive the Students Building Bridges Award by Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. They will be presented with their certificates at the Suffolk County’s Yom HaShoah program on May 9 to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. The award, presented in partnership with the county’s State Senate and Assembly delegations, honors Suffolk County youth who work to create a more civil society. Student recipients are recognized for their efforts in bridging the community, teaching tolerance and completing services that aim to advocate change and improve lives of others. Scott and Jeffrey were nominated by social studies Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162867 Mon, 06 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162867 Second Graders Capture the Small Moments in Pictures The small and special moments were recalled fondly by second graders who recently presented their personal timeline projects at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. The assignment connected English language arts and social studies, noted teacher Nancy Davi-Ortiz. Throughout the year, students have been writing non-fiction pieces about the small moments in their lives. Children learn the importance of using details and description in their writing to create pieces that engage readers. In social studies, students learned about the evolution of communities. As a culminating activity, they made timeline posters capturing the evolution of themselves, including pictures from different milestones in their lives such as the first day of school, holidays, family vacations and the births of younger siblings. Ms. Davi-Ortiz said the goal was for children to capture those “small moments” that have made them who they are. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162865 Thu, 02 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162865 Saturday Regents Review Classes Start Date: Saturday, April 6th Time: 9am-12pm, A light breakfast will be served!! Class Room Assigned U.S. History & Government Room 119A Global Studies Room 119B Living Environment Room 113 English Language Arts Room 114 Algebra Room 116 Regents Review classes will take place on the following Saturdays: April 6th, April 13th, May 4th, May 11th, May 18th, June 1st, and June 8th. Transportation will be provided to students that are eligible! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162866 Wed, 01 May 2019 15:00:00 GMT false162866 Old Stuff Gets New Life at Northeast The motto “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was the inspiration behind Earth Day projects at Northeast Elementary School. Students were charged with use old materials to create new products. Children in pre-K and kindergarten classes expressed their creativity in many different ways, making artwork, games, household items and school supplies. Students made butterflies from use coffee filters and clothes pins, pencil cases from cereal boxes and a birdfeeder from a milk carton. A pre-K class created a bowling alley using flattened boxes for the lane, decorated water bottles for the pins and a ball of aluminum foil. Kindergartners made flower pots by cutting water bottles in half and filling them with soil and seeds. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162864 Wed, 01 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162864 Video: Kindergarten Writing Celebration After completing their persuasive writing pieces, kindergartners proudly shared their work. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162860 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162860 Park Avenue Displays Appeal to the Senses To mark Autism Awareness Month, students at Park Avenue Elementary School created sensory walls throughout the first floor. Park Avenue houses the district’s TEACCH program, which serves about 25 students with autism from kindergarten through sixth grade. Principal Robyn Santiago said that the school fosters an inclusive environment for the children, who take part in all school activities and programs. Several students from fourth through sixth grade classes serves as buddies for the TEACCH students by reading with them or playing together during recess. The sensory walls were created by students in the afterschool art and gaming clubs. They decorated several bulletin boards with spring-themed displays and objects that students and staff were encouraged to touch. On one board, children made clouds from cups, foam balls, paper plates and string. Another featured butterflies with colorful textured paint designs. There were sunflowers with gems and cut-up tissue on paper plates underneath a paper chain rainbow. A paper-plate caterpillar stretched across one bulletin board with a different texture on each circle. Ms. Santiago noted that while the puzzle piece is the traditional symbol for autism, the school created a different display. Every child at Park Avenue traced his or her hand on construction paper. The cut-out hands were put together on a wall to form a pair of wings, with just the right sized gap in between so students could take photos in front of it. “We’re all individual pieces, we’re all unique,” she said, “but put us together and we create these beautiful wings.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162861 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162861 Going the Extra Mile for Scientific Discovery Science was all around the circular-shaped cafeteria on April 11 as Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted its annual science fair. Students shared information about their projects with teachers, administrators, board of education trustees, family members and other visitors. Each seventh grader completed an experiment following the scientific method, and had to create a poster board presentation outlining the process and results. Science Chairwoman Natasha Lim said that the goal was to have students gain an understanding of the different steps of the scientific method through a hands-on project, as well as collect their own data and determine whether it proved or disproved their hypotheses. There were a wide variety of topics as students explored scientific concepts such as air flow, electricity, gravity and pressure. Several students completed experiments analyzing food and other household products, while others conducted surveys and performed statistical analysis. No science fair would be complete without a volcano, and there was also a slime-making station. Students in the STEAM classes, an elective for seventh, eighth and ninth graders that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts and math, displayed projects they have been working on throughout the year including boats, bridges, catapults, hydrogen cars and paper rollercoasters. Science research students also presented their projects, including their creation of ecosystems for betta splendens and leopard geckos, research on the vaping epidemic is schools and its nanoscribe 3D printing of a scaffold for dentinogenesis. They also showcased their mag lev vehicles which helped them earn first place in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s MAGLEV competition. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162859 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162859 Northeast Students Spring Into Learning Spring was the theme at Northeast Elementary School, which hosted a family learning night. There were seasonal literacy, math and science activities. Pre-K and kindergarten students played rhyming games and learned about the different parts of flower, among other activities. A photo station with spring-themed props was a popular spot. Each child was able to plant a seed in a cup of dirt to bring home and parents also received packets with additional learning resources. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162858 Wed, 17 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162858 A Community Reading Effort at Northwest A lot of reading is taking place in April by students at Northwest Elementary School. The school launched its annual Pick a Reading Partner program with an assembly on April 5 to get children excited about the literacy initiative. The two weeks leading up to spring break features a reading competition. Students are asked to read at least 20 minutes a day at home with a parent, grandparent, older sibling or any partner of their choosing. Children are logging their minutes and reporting back to the their teachers. At the end of the program, the class on each grade level with the most combined minutes read earns a prize. There will be many activities during the program at school. During Drop Everything and Read moments, an announcement will be made and every child and adult in the building will stop whatever they are doing and grab a book. There will be book buddy events with students from different grades partnering up to read together. Students will be encouraged to wear shirts with words and carry poems in their pockets. PARP culminates with a read-in day, in which parents and other special guests will be invited to come to school and read with small groups of students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162857 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162857 Chromebooks Engage Learners at Park Avenue The addition of hundreds of Chromebooks at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School is opening up new doors for digital learning. Every fourth- through sixth-grade classroom is equipped with a Chromebook cart with enough devices for every student. Sixth-grade teacher Steve Gafarian uses the Chromebooks extensively to give students access to assignments on Google Classroom. He provides reading passages, and students can answer questions digitally, providing him with instant feedback on their understanding of the material. Recently, he had students compare two artists, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, by giving them articles and examples of their work. For students who are hesitant to answer a question out loud, Mr. Gafarian said that the Chromebooks provide them with an outlet to respond. When they aren’t in school, they can still use Google Classroom to access their assignments from a home computer or personal device. Teacher Howard Reiner likes to use the Chromebooks to review and reinforce material. Nearpod and Prodigy are an interactive tools that have become popular in his classroom. Nearpod includes review questions in any subject area along with tutorials that help students better understand a concept. Prodigy features math games which engages students because of the competition format. “Students love working on the Chromebooks,” Mr. Reiner said, “and it’s great for me to be able to assess them individually. These programs are a great tool to further my instruction.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162855 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162855 Repeat Recognition for Amityville Music Program The district has again been recognized for its outstanding music education program by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. Amityville joined more than 600 other districts nationwide in earning the Best Communities for Music Education distinction in 2019. It was the eighth time in the last nine years that the district has received this honor. For the past two decades, the Best Communities for Music Education program has acknowledged schools and districts across the country for their commitment to and support of music education in schools. The survey measured a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition. “We are very happy that we were once included in the list of Best Communities for Music Education,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of fine arts. “Our students and staff have worked diligently over the years to attain this honor. Amityville’s music program is designed to meet the needs of our students while helping our young performers make the most of their musical abilities.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162854 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162854 Smart Schools Bond Act Presentation The Smart Schools Bond Act authorized the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure to enhance learning for students throughout the State. Additional information regarding the Smart Schools Bond Act can be found at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/smart_schools/. The proposed Amityville School District Smart Schools Investment Plan is attached for public review. Please submit any questions or comments with regard to the plan no later than May 13, 2019, to: Dr. Thomas DeNicola Assistant Superintendent for Technology and Administrative Services tdenicola@amityvilleufsd.org 631-565-6017 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162853 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162853 Author Shares His Story Quests at Northwest Author Stephen R. Swinburne’s name can be found on many books in classroom libraries at Northwest Elementary School, so students were delighted when he recently visited. Swinburne, who writes about science and nature, talked to students about the inspiration for his nonfiction books. He shared stories, photos and videos from the his excursions with scientists to gather information. Many of his books are about animals, a topic of particular interest to young readers. In his presentation to students, Swinburne talked to students about the writing process. He emphasized determination and perseverance, reminding children that they should never give up, even if a writing task seems difficult. “Our students love nonfiction books and reading about things that are real,” instructional coach Abbey Hunter said. “We hope that children learn that their ideas can grow into books and the good readers become good writers.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162851 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162851 APTC Parent Survey The Amityville Parent Teacher Council (APTC) is the parent-teacher organization for the Amityville School District. The APTC supports activities, programming, and student needs throughout the year such as: assemblies, author visits, refreshments for dances and celebrations, class t-shirts, scholarships and more. The goal of the APTC is to foster open communication between the parents, caregivers, teachers and administrators of the Amityville School District and to increase parental/caregiver involvement in each student's education. We'd like to learn more about your thoughts about the APTC and your suggestions and recommendations as to its future direction by filling out this quick survey. (Click Here) Your survey responses are confidential and will help the APTC shape programming and activities in the coming months. Thank you! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162852 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162852 High School Drama Club to Perform ‘Shrek’ The animated tale of an ogre who finds love will be told on the Amityville Memorial High School stage with the Drama Club’s upcoming production of “Shrek the Musical.” There will be four performances by the cast of 40 student actors. Junior Alexander Diaz stars as the title character. Additional lead roles include Colleen Compitello as Fiona, Johnatan Blanchard as Donkey, Shaakirah Nazim-Harris as Dragon, Alexa Victor as Lord Farquaad and Nathalie Larin as Pinocchio. While the story is based upon the 2001 movie, the musical adaptation also features several other well-known fairy tale characters. Musical numbers include “Story of My Life,” “ Freak Flag” and “What’s Up Duloc.” There is also a surprise closing number. The show is directed by Megan Ashe. The assistant director is Bianca Ferrante and the technical director is Paul Cimmino. Several high school students are also serving on the tech crew. Show times are Friday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $10 per person at the door. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162850 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162850 Middle School Students Shine Spotlight on Remarkable Women Notable females from the past and present were celebrated at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on March 29. Students and teachers took part in the Women’s History Month celebration that included poems, songs and interviews. Teacher Latessa Clairborne portrayed Oprah Winfrey and served as the host of the show. Throughout the program, she interviewed students taking on the roles of several famous females including Michelle Obama, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Maya Angelou, Madam C.J. Walker and Malala Yousafzai. Jonathan Jacas sang and danced along to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” That served as a segue for an interview with female tennis legends Billie Jean King, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Librarian Lynn Cesiro’s dance team accompanied Aaliyah Precil as she sang “That’s My Girl.” They also performed to medley of songs by female artists in a dance through the decades routine. The ninth-grade orchestra also performed under the direction of conductor Bianca Ferrante. The program concluded with a historical figures dance, as middle school teachers took on the roles of Pocahontas, Cleopatra, Rosie the Riveter and more. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162849 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162849 Amityville Celebrates Female Athletes and Coaches There was a strong sense of Warrior pride as the district celebrated its female athletes and coaches during a special ceremony on March 22. The inaugural Warriors Girls and Women in Sports Day was held in the Amityville Memorial High School cafeteria to coincide with Women’s History Month. All varsity and junior varsity athletes from the three sports seasons were invited to attend, along with their coaches. The program featured guest speakers, dinner and a photo station, and each athlete received an “I am a Warrior” T-shirt. “This is just a wonderful way for us to honor all of the female athletes and coaches we have in our district and to show them our appreciation,” said Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health. Coach Margot Howard opened the program by speaking about Women’s History Month and noting ways that opportunities have expanded for Amityville’s female athletes, including the introduction of a competitive cheer team and girls lacrosse program. Board of Education Second Vice President Laura Pawlewicz and trustee Allie McDonough, who were both Amityville athletes, helped coordinate the event. Ms. Pawlewicz, a four-year varsity soccer player, said they wanted to show the present-day female athletes just how much support they have from their community. She noted that the Amityville Parent Teacher Council and several local businesses helped make the event possible with generous contributions. Ms. McDonough said playing soccer and softball were among the best memories of her life. She told all of the girls that there are numerous opportunities for them to continue their athletic pursuits after high school. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, a volleyball, basketball and softball player in high school, said that Amityville’s female athletes are wonderful competitors who have had great successes in their sports, in addition to demonstrating great sportsmanship, remaining committed to their academics and carrying themselves with pride. The keynote speaker was girls varsity basketball coach Cherese Hinckson. She graduated from Amityville Memorial High School in 1997, and played soccer and basketball. Ms. Hinckson shared stories from her playing days and explained how that gave her a sense of determination. If she had just given up when times got tough, she said she never would have made the second All-Long Island team in basketball, received a college scholarship of been inducted into Amityville’s Sports Hall of Fame. She reminded today’s athletes that they should never let temporary bad moments stand in the way of greatness. The athletes participated in an interactive game to get to know each other better by having to find 25 people who met certain descriptions, such as someone who plays multiple sports, is a team captain, plans to play in college or has won a national championship. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162848 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162848 High School Students Explore Medical Careers Six Amityville Memorial High School students, who participated in a summer medical program, were recently recognized at a white coat ceremony. The students attended the two-week Health Careers Academic and Readiness Excellence program through the School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. The participants included Albiery Amaya-Gomez, Jeffrey Reyes Espinal, Jeffrey Garcia, Sukhleen Kaur Nathalie Larin and Z’Dhanne Williams. HCARE administrator, Erik Flynn, presented certificates and white coats to the participants at the March Board of Education meeting. He then led the students in the white coat oath. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162847 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162847 Young Artists Featured in Children’s Exhibit Several young artists from the district had their work featured in the Children’s Art Show on March 16, sponsored by the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association. The featured students included: Northeast Elementary School: Amy Roca Cjumo, Marisela Bayona Coca, Daniel Magnani, Estefany Orellana Betancourt and Katelyn Sanchez Alfaro. Northwest Elementary School: Gabriela Cabrera, Breanna Edwards, Jaiden Giron, Justin Hernandez, Deysi Martinez and Tiarra Ruddock. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School: Kesi Allen, Christian Brown, Leslie Carranza, Oscar Espinal, Kaitlyn Garrett, Melanie Mangru Narine, Marilyn Peroza, Alessandra Pons, Morgen Slinger and Saige Smith. Edmund W. Miles Middle School: Gloria Nolasco Ramos, Ignacio Sanchez, Aniya Rudolph, Jerry Jeanty and Kimberly Maltez. The students completed their work under the direction of art teachers Jennifer Dibble, Nicole Pappas, Lydia Robinson, Nicole Scoca and Susan Zaratin. SCALA hosted an artist reception for students, their families and teachers on Saturday, March 16 at Old Town Hall in Babylon. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162846 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162846 Park Avenue Students are Reading Champions March was a celebration of reading at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. This year’s month-long Parents as Reading Partners program featured a variety of activities to encourage students to spend more time with books. It kicked off with classroom read alouds as teachers shared their favorite books with their students. Each week there was a mystery reader over the school intercom, and students guessed who the reader was and what book he or she was reading. Volunteer readers visited classrooms throughout the school, including parents, teachers and administrators. On March 20, guests in sixth-grade classes included Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Assistant Superintendents Andrea Pekar and Dr. Thomas DeNicola, and Principal Robyn Santiago. Students kept track of their minutes read at home, with rewards for the top readers in each grade level, as well as the top class. Prizes included books, pencils and bookmarks that related to the PARP theme, “Reading Like a Champion.” Spirit days encouraged students to wear jerseys, dress like their favorite athletes and come clad in school colors. A bulletin board featured pictures of teachers as youngsters along with their favorite childhood books. Art teacher Susan Zaratin hosted a bookmark design contest. The winning entry from each grade level would be reproduced for every student in that grade. PARP culminated with an evening celebration for students and parents on March 28. In addition to literacy activities, the school welcomed author Lysa Mullady to talk about two of her books, “Bye Bye Pesky Fly” and “Three Little Birds.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162845 Fri, 29 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162845 Creating Skillful Musicians in Amityville Before having the opportunity to join the band, chorus or orchestra in fourth-grade, students in the district are introduced to different musical concepts during their early elementary years. March is annually designated as Music in Our Schools Month by the National Association for Music Educators. Amityville has a robust, year-round music program with numerous instrumental and vocal groups at the secondary level and a consistent selection of students to highly selective regional ensembles. It begins with a strong, progressive elementary program. At Northeast Elementary School, kindergartners learn fast and slow, loud and soft, and high and low pitch. They listen to many songs to find the steady beat and use percussion instruments to play along. Students also learn music for winter and spring concerts and for different celebrations throughout the year including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month. “I want them to leave here loving music,” said teacher Nicole Altamura, who engages students through “happy and upbeat” lessons that involve a lot of movement. As students enter first grade at Northwest Elementary School, they continue their study of beat, speed and tempo, and learn about quarter notes, eighth notes and rests. Teacher Roxanne Tannenbaum uses the song “Carnival of the Animals” to reinforce these concepts. In second grade, they learn about the different instruments that comprise an orchestra. She plays them “Peter and the Wolf” to help with their instrument recognition. Third-graders learn to read music and are introduced to more intricate rhythmic patterns. Additionally, they play the recorder for the first time. There are grade-level music performances each winter and spring. Ms. Tannenbaum said the shows feature either a collection of songs or a short musical production. Past shows have included “Aladdin” and “Seussical,” and the second grade is preparing “Annie” as its upcoming performance. Ms. Tannenbaum said she wants to expose children to a wide array of music by the end of third grade so that each student can make his or her best decision on how to pursue music in the future. “I want them to enrich their lives through music and broaden their options,” she said. “Music brings a lot of happiness and joy.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162844 Wed, 27 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162844 Holocaust Survivor Preaches Acceptance and Kindness Amityville Memorial High School sophomores received a first-hand account of one of the darkest periods in the human history as they gathered in the library to hear from Holocaust survivor Werner Reich. Through personal stories and pictures, Mr. Reich vividly described the historical event that resulted in the death millions of people. He shared his own tales of persecution, capture and imprisonment before liberation by American military forces when he was 17. After returning to Yugoslavia for two years, he moved to England and then the United States, where he was finally able to complete his education. Mr. Reich said that while the Holocaust occurred many decades ago, there are lessons that apply to modern society. He called on students to fight any and all forms of oppression, including bullying. Even if someone isn't the victim of bullying, they should not be a bystander if they see it happening. “Be the first to act,” he said. “Help without being asked.” He added that speaking up is not snitching. Before concluding his presentation, Mr. Reich asked students to reflect on the question, “What kind of person will you be when others are in need?” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162843 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162843 Northeast Transforms Into Women’s History Museum In recognition of Women’s History Month in March, students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District learned about the important contributions women have made throughout history. Each pre-K and kindergarten class picked a notable female to spotlight. Students did research and decided which important facts should be included on its poster. The school was turned into a women’s history museum as the projects were hung throughout the hallways, highlighting artists, athletes, entertainers, political figures and scientists. Northeast had a museum walk on March 18 as teachers led their students around the building to read the posters. The selections ranged from historical figures such as pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart and notable chemist and physicist Marie Curie, to contemporary figures like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162842 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162842 Sharing Without Borders in Amityville Forty students from three Long Island high schools came together after school at Amityville Memorial High School on March 12 to continue their discussion on issues affecting society. Through the Breaking Borders program, Amityville students welcomed their peers from Oyster Bay and Syosset high schools to share their thoughts about inequality. After bonding over pizza in the cafeteria, students moved to the gymnasium where they met in small groups. Discussion prompts included their perceptions of inequality and why it exists, gender pay equality, reasons some people don’t stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and personal experiences with inequality. Each group had a student leader to facilitate conversation. Amityville social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi said the rules were simple: students had to come in with an open mind and respect each other’s opinions. The purpose was to foster an honest dialogue among teenagers who have grown up in different communities. “It’s nice to learn about other people on Long Island and to speak to people with different perspectives,” Amityville sophomore Johnatan Blanchard said about his reasons for taking part in the Breaking Borders program. Earlier this year, Mr. Tomasi took a group of 12 Amityville students from his Advanced Placement European History class to Freeport High School for a Breaking Borders program on family traditions. In addition to thoughtful and productive discussions, students also wrapped Christmas presents for children in the community. Mr. Tomasi said that word quickly spread among the Amityville student body about the experience. He then took a group of 30 interested students to the next program at Elmont Memorial High School, where the conversation centered on immigration. Students also brought canned goods to donate to Elmont’s food drive. Joining students and Mr. Tomasi on that trip were Assistant Principal Brian Suckle, social studies teacher Robert Annese and science teacher Patrick Fallot. “It’s good for the students to meet different people from different parts of Long Island to bring issues to light,” Mr. Tomasi said. “It allows the students to face the challenges currently in our society, because they are going to be the generation that finds solutions.” Breaking Borders is a student-run leadership program which aims to break down ethnic, socio-economic, racial and religious barriers among students from different Long Island school districts. The program fosters respect, tolerance and understanding by encouraging open and honest dialogue among students. Mr. Tomasi said after the sessions at three different high schools, Amityville students “walked away seeing things from a different perspective.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162841 Fri, 22 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162841 From Brainstorming to Bridge-Building at Northwest Third-graders put their heads together and came up with bridge designs for a St. Patrick’s Day activity in Dana Herz’s class at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Building materials included pipe cleaners, clay and paper cup. Each student came up with his or her idea, then the young engineers in every group discussed their plans and selected a design. When the projects were complete, Ms. Herz filled the cups with gold coins to see how much each bridge could hold. She added that the sturdiest bridges had multiple pipe cleaners in an arch and anchored into clay bases, resembling a rainbow. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162840 Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162840 Middle School Students Get New Chromebooks Edmund W. Miles Middle School students now have increased access to technology as a learning tool, as the district launched its 1:1 Chromebook initiative. Students in grades 7-9 and their parents were invited to an informational meeting on Feb. 26. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly discussed the educational advantages of the Chromebooks, which students will use in school and at home. They will have around-the-clock access to their assignments through Google Classroom. It also increases opportunities to collaborate with classmates, communicate with teachers and become responsible digital citizens. Dr. Kelly explained that research shows that providing members of this tech-savvy generation with their own devices has a positive effect on academic outcomes because of the corresponding increase in student engagement and research-based best practices in teaching and learning. She added that it also prepares them for the technology-based learning environments at the college level. “We are preparing our students for success in a world that is dynamic and ever changing,” she said. “The research demonstrates that 1:1 initiatives transform teaching and learning by fostering students’ ownership of their learning, and by providing opportunities for active learning, problem-solving, critical thinking, digital literacy and citizenship, and collaboration with their teachers and peers. Ninth-grade social studies teacher Jack Zider and his Advanced Placement Human Geography students demonstrated educational tools such a Quizlet, an interactive platform for content review. Mr. Zider said that he and his fellow teachers are excited about the possibilities for enriched lessons now that all students have their own devices. Students received their Acer Chromebooks, which come equipped with the G-Suite for Education including Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. They were also given protective cases, chargers and ear buds. In January, all first- through sixth-grade classrooms at Northwest and Park Avenue elementary schools were outfitted with Chromebook carts with enough devices for every child. Middle school students were the first to receive take-home Chromebooks. Next year, the 1:1 initiative will be expanded to the high school. It is being funded through a $125,000 grant from State Sen. John Brooks and money from Amityville’s share of the Smart Schools Bond Act. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162839 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162839 Cultural Exchange Program Comes Full Circle Amityville Memorial High School students are making friends all over Suffolk County. Through the school’s popular Cultural Exchange program, they welcomed peers from Bayport-Blue Point and East Islip high schools earlier in the year. In February, it was their turn to be the visitors. Recently, students from Amityville’s Warrior Awareness Club, known as the WAC PAC, spent the day in East Islip. Students were welcomed with a big breakfast and took part in icebreaker activities. Each Amityville student paired up an East Islip student and followed the schedule of his or her host. East Islip staff members made T-shirts for all participants. “I had a lot of fun spending the day my partner,” said Amityville sophomore Allany McCatty. “I enjoyed participating in her classes and I look forward to keeping in touch with her.” Added senior Noah Odige, “It’s always interesting to see how other schools function throughout the day and I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to get a glimpse into the life of an East Islip student.” This was the first visit by Amityville to the home of the Redmen and they loved it, according to WAC PAC adviser Jason McGowan. Amityville hosted the East Islip students back in January for the inaugural visit. The WAC PAC also sent 30 students to Bayport-Blue Point High School for their visit to the home of the Phantoms. Amityville students and staff were greeted by the orchestra as they walked into the cafeteria. Bayport-Blue Point School District administrators led icebreaker activities in a conference room and students, who initially met in Amityville in November, were reintroduced to each other over breakfast. In a true double exchange, Amityville senior Letizia Cazzaniga, an exchange student from Milan, Italy, was a part of the program and she connected with her partner, Emily. Sophomore Abel Tejada was paired up with Mr. McGowan's son, Trey, and won a badminton tournament together in physical education class. “I loved spending the day in their high school,” junior Bryan Canales said. “All of the students were friendly toward us." After gathering together for a pizza lunch, the Amityville and Bayport-Blue Point students parted ways but not before exchanging phone numbers and social media information. “Teenagers are teenagers, and that’s the point I am trying to make with this program,” Mr. McGowan said. “Even though we are a few zip codes away, connections can be made regardless of your background. It was beautiful to see the laughter and the hugs as we left each school. The major goal of this program is for students to learn about diversity by experiencing dissimilar school populations. Rather than discussing diversity in a typical classroom lesson, participants have the opportunity to experience it first-hand.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162838 Mon, 18 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162838 Amityville Artists Earn All-County Nods Four students from Amityville had their work selected for the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association’s annual All-County exhibit. Their art was recently displayed at Old Town Hall in Babylon. The featured student artists included Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth-grader Ulric Farrier (block printing) and Amityville Memorial High School juniors Brianna Desire (photography) and Astrid Dixon (drawing/mixed media). Additionally, senior Maiya Bryant displayed her artwork within the senior scholarship portion of the SCALA All-County exhibition. Students completed their work under the direction of art teachers Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso and Nicole Pappas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162837 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162837 Skyscraper Models Rise at Park Avenue They weren’t hundreds of feet tall, but skyscrapers built by sixth-graders still made a visual impact at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. The interdisciplinary project under the direction of teachers Patti Dieck and Nakia Williams incorporated math, science and research skills. Students could work independently or with a partner to research a famous skyscraper anywhere in the world. Popular selections included the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia. They used the mathematical concepts of ratio and proportion to build their models to scale. With Chromebooks now available in every classroom, students were able to easily access information about their chosen skyscrapers and watched YouTube tutorials on model construction. They also found aerial images to recreate the landscape around the buildings. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162835 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162835 Students Present Drone Study at LISEF Fair Amityville Memorial High School students Darius Mobley Jr. and Z’Dhanne Williams recently presented their research project at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Their topic was, “Are autonomous drones more efficient than human programmed drones in rescue missions?” After conducting extensive research on present-day drone usage, Darius and Z’Dhanne conducted their own study comparing flight times of autonomous drones with the flight times of drones driven by human operators. With help from fellow robotics club members Raiphy Jerez and Trae’von Smith, they concluded that while the autonomous drones had a faster flight time by 15 seconds on average compared to human programmed drones, they lacked responsiveness and were more likely to have disrupted flight due to lapse time in communication with the computer server. The students set up an obstacle course in the cafeteria to conduct their study. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162834 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false162834 Northwest Students Get in the Game Skin in the Game learning has debuted at Northwest Elementary School as students are creating their own board games. Several second- and third-grade classes are taking part in the initiative, which will eventually be expanded to the entire school. Skin in the Game supports the curriculum as students use their knowledge of different subject areas to create their games. They come up with a concept, create rules and directions and design game boards, pieces and question cards. Math has been a popular choice for students as they explore the intricacies of game design. In Kelli Geilman’s third-grade class, one group worked on a multiplication and division game that has an “under the sea” theme. Juliane Roman and Stacey Tloczkowski’s class made a frog-themed game focusing on number sense and multiplication. Lori Heavey’s third-graders came up with “Escape from Northwest.” The board game starts at a picture of their school and ends at a picture of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, where they will attend in fourth grade. Questions are broken up in to four progressive levels: addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, single-step problems, and double-step problems. Skin in the Game also includes a technology component. Once students understand the basics of game design, they will transition into video game creation to learn about computer programming. The Skin in the Game initiative is funded through a federal Academic Enrichment grant that the district received last summer. Amityville was one of 38 school districts selected by the New York State Education Department to receive funds through the Every Student Succeeds Act for technology enhancement. Teachers from multiple schools were trained last summer during an in-district professional development session, and more staff will be trained in February. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162832 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162832 High School Musicians Shine at Day of Horn Three French horn players from Amityville Memorial High School represented the district at the annual Day of Horn festival, hosted by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. Participating students included seniors James Carey and Michael Gordon, and sophomore Tristan Angus. Hundreds of French Horn players from across Suffolk County schools participated in this festival at Northport High School, which included workshops, rehearsals and a performance by all musicians in a Massed Horn Ensemble concert. “Congratulations to James, Michael and Tristan for setting this additional musical goal for themselves,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. “Also, special thanks goes out to their families and their present and past music teachers for their guidance and support.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162831 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162831 Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Registration 2019-2020 Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Registration 2019-2020 Location: Central Registration Office, Edmund W. Miles Middle School, 501 Route 110 Amityville, NY Dates & Times: April 2nd & April 3rd- 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM Evening Hours:April 2nd & April 3rd- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162833 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162833 High School Researchers Spread Knowledge After months of intense research, 35 students in the Advanced Placement Seminar course at Amityville Memorial High School presented their findings during a symposium in the auditorium on Jan. 31. The first half of the year in the 10th-grade course was devoted to team research projects. Teacher Allison Reichel assigned each group a broad topic, and students then had to select a focus. Among the areas that students explored were video game violence, immigration policies and the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes. Ms. Reichel said that every team member was charged with looking at the problem “through a different lens.” Students then worked together to analyze their collective research, propose potential solutions and create a multimedia presentation. Noah Laforest and his teammates looked into the negative influences of social media. He said he learned that the research process is very intense and requires hard work and commitment. “I liked how well my team and I worked together, and it make me enjoy working with others more,” he said. “It helped me see other people’s opinions and perspectives.” The second half of AP Seminar will be devoted to individual research projects. The course is the first half of AP Capstone, a college readiness program now in its third year at Amityville Memorial High School, with AP Research offered for juniors. In that class, students will work on individual projects by selecting a topic, identifying gaps in existing research, compiling data and making their own contributions to a particular field. Students who earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional Advanced Placement exams can earn an AP Capstone diploma. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162830 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162830 Track and Field Athletes Qualify for States A pair of Amityville Memorial High School track and field athletes are ready to compete for state titles. Seniors Nina Babington and Alton Kimbrough Jr. will participate in the New York State championships on March 2 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Nina will take part in the shotput and discus events. Earlier this year, she set her personal best mark in shotput with a distance of 39 feet, 9.5 inches, which ranked her sixth in the state. This is her third season on the varsity squad. Alton will compete in shotput, also setting his career high by throwing a distance of 54 feet, 3.25 inches, good for third in New York. He has been on the varsity team since eighth grade. Both students are three-season athletes. Nina plays soccer in the fall, and is a member of the winter and spring track and field teams. Alton plays football in the fall followed by two seasons of track and field. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162828 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162828 High School Celebrates Black History and Culture Amityville Memorial High School students expressed themselves through art, song, dance and poetry to celebrate Black History Month during an afternoon assembly on Feb. 15. The entire student body gathered for the program which included numerous captivating performances. The auditorium stage was flanked by two large black, green, red and yellow banners with inspirational words such as beauty, love, power, strength and wisdom. The show opened with the high school chorus performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the black national anthem. Host Justin Bethea asked his classmates to show their enthusiasm by shouting “ashay” after each performance. The percussion ensemble played an African beat on the drums and the dance team delighted the crowd with a Caribbean dance. Nate Odige showcased his Haitian pride painting, which paid tribute to both the nation’s history and the spirit of its people. Elliot Herrero sang “Big Love” by the Black Eyed Peas, Kayla Barrett danced to “Still I Rise” and Noah Odige and Tiana Spence performed 2Pac’s “Changes.” The performances were intertwined with history lessons. A slideshow presentation on African-American success highlighted several individuals, such as Claudette Colvin, Bayard Rustin and Augusta Savage, who made great contributions to society but aren’t as prominently known. Students also learned about the origins of black newspapers. Student Rachelle Louis-Jean spoke about Major Nancy Leftenant-Colón, an Amityville Memorial High School graduate, who later returned as the school nurse after a distinguished career as a military nurse. The high school library was recently named in her honor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162827 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162827 Kindergartners Turn 100 (Days Smarter) Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School reached a milestone on Feb. 13 when they attended school for the 100th day. Upon hitting triple digits for the 2018-19 school year, students participated in a variety of 100-themed literacy and math activities. Many children envisioned themselves about 95 years into the future by dressing up as 100-year-olds. They saw pictures of centenarians — people who have reached the age of 100 — and wrote about all they want to accomplish before turning 100. Students colored 100-day crowns which they then wore with pride, counted 100 of different objects and imagined how they would spend $100. They practiced their math skills by counting to 100 by fives and tens. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162825 Wed, 27 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162825 High School Announces Top 2019 Graduates Amityville Memorial High School has announced the top graduates for the Class of 2019. Raiphy Jerez, with a grade point average of 108.61, is the valedictorian and Aleyna Kokogu is the salutatorian with an average of 105.11. Raiphy will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study electrical engineering. He is a member of the math club and the National Honor Society, and is president of the Key Club. Aleyna, who is still in the process of selecting a college, plans to study biology or pre-medicine. She is a member of the math club, Key Club and National Honor Society and president of the National Art Honor Society. Rounding out the top 10, in order of rank, are Leslie Washington, Meghan Luders, Kerianne Victor, James Carey, Courtney Evans, Carlos Ponce, Kayla Barrett and Patrick Abate. “They are the best of an outstanding senior class,” Principal Maria Andreotti said. “They make us proud in everything that they do and I know they will continue to do so.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162824 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162824 Middle School Spotlights Civil Rights Era Students, teachers and administrators contributed their talents to celebrate Black History Month at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The annual production on Feb. 15 honored famous members of the Black community and highlighted important moments of the Civil Rights movement. The middle school drama club reenacted the Children’s Crusade, a 1963 movement in which children protested segregation by leaving their Birmingham, Alabama school and marching to a church. “We felt this was important to highlight because the event gained a lot of media coverage and was a pivotal event in the Civil Rights movement,” said social studies Chairwoman Leslie Ciliota. “It was also one of the first examples of child advocacy.” The chorus performed a song widely associated with that era, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has become known as the Black national anthem, while the jazz band played “Avenue Swing.” Principal Edward Plaia and his band, The Warriors, performed “Stand By Me” and “Three Little Birds.” Joining him were teachers Michael Bonasera, Luis Colón and Charles Martine, monitor Colin Seehoff and aide Chris Grant along with student Zackary Rodriguez on drums. Student Jonathon Jacas broke out his Michael Jackson impression for “Smooth Criminal,” and the Step Dance team demonstrated a step battle between sororities at a Historically Black College and University. There were additional musical performances and poetry readings. The show was hosted by Gerald Asbell. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162823 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162823 After School an Enriching Time at Park Avenue Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School is the place to be in the afternoon, as the popular afterschool enrichment program has returned for the district’s fourth- through sixth-graders. Principal Robyn Santiago said 236 students are taking part in the program, known as Park Avenue Clubs. Activities include art, dance, gaming, journalism, martial arts and robotics. There is also a character education program hosted in partnership with United North Amityville Youth Organization. The robotics course, led by fifth-grade teacher James Replak, engages students through hands-on projects. The young engineers can build robots from Lego Mindstorm kits, or they can create their own from available pieces in boxes of spare Lego parts. Mr. Replak said that whether children choose to follow a plan or free build, they develop problem-solving and teamwork abilities. “They’re very engaged,” he said. “Many children like the freedom to create based on their imaginations. They also enjoy the opportunity to try something and improve upon it.” The journalism course is led by former sports reporter John Boell. Students explore both news and creative writing, and learn how to generate story ideas. They are planning to publish their own newspaper before the end of the year. In the dance class, with teacher Amanda O’Connell, students learn basic dance moves and choreographed routines. During the holiday season, they performed for other students in the afterschool program and led an interactive dance activity. For February, students are putting together a routine for Park Avenue’s Black History Month celebration. Teacher Joanna Conboy leads the gaming class. Using the Skin in the Game curriculum, students learned the elements of board games by playing games with different styles, then creating their own. As the program progresses, students will then design video games, which will give them an introduction to computer programming. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162822 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162822 Fiction Brings History to Life at Middle School Not only are seventh-graders becoming stronger readers, but they are also learning about the past at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. English language arts teacher Katie Pallini recently launched the historical fiction unit through Reader’s Workshop. The district has adopted the literacy initiative through Columbia University Teachers College which gives students the opportunity to read books based on their interests. Ms. Pallini and her co-teachers Suparna Basu and Alyssa DelGiorno opened the lesson with book tasting, in which students could sample dozens of historical fiction books before choosing one to read. While characters are typically fictitious, the stories are based on actual historical events. In a follow-up lesson, Ms. Pallini read excerpts from Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Book Chains,” stopping periodically and asking students to share their thoughts with each other during turn-and-talk discussions. She also demonstrated jots, in which a reader pauses and writes down their thoughts about a text. Students are asked to note their feelings, predictions and questions, as well as any personal connections to a story. Jots, which are kept in reader’s notebooks, are used for their own reflections and to spark class discussions. The readers make connections to each other’s independent books. “Students are not only deepening their analytical stills, they’re deepening their understanding of different historical time periods,” she said. “They are also learning how to communicate with their classmates by engaging in discussion about the topics and issues presented in the books.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162821 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162821 After-School & Evening Activities Cancelled Today 2/12 All after-school and evening activities are canceled for today, Tuesday, February 12, 2019. This includes the Chromebook Information Night at the Middle School, which will be rescheduled. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162820 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162820 Books Build Bridges for Northwest Students Third-graders made digital connections to celebrate their love of reading at Northwest Elementary School. To mark World Read Aloud Day on Feb. 1, students in Lori Heavey’s class used their Chromebooks to read with children at other schools. Through Google Hangout, they participated in video chats with Melissa McCormack’s class at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and with a third-grade class at P.S. 193 in Queens. Children on each end of the connection selected books to share with their video pen pals. Using Flipgrid, Ms. Heavey’s students recorded themselves reading aloud, and those videos were shared with a third-grade class in Uniondale. She said that students enjoyed the opportunity to read using a different medium. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162819 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162819 Northeast Teachers Inspire Young Readers “Llama Llama Red Pajama” was the selection for World Read Aloud Day at Northeast Elementary School. Kindergarten and pre-K classes gathered together throughout the day on Feb. 1 as teachers read the book aloud. Kindergarten teacher Maria Lievano said that the book was chosen off of the World Read Aloud Day’s suggested list because it supports early literacy skills such as rhyming and making predictions. It also sparked discussions between students and their teachers about the difference between fiction and non-fiction texts. Children participated in turn and talk discussions about different vocabulary words in the book, along with various writing and craft activities. Ms. Lievano said the because there are many books in the “Llama Llama” series, hopefully students would be inspired to follow the adventures of the character and keep reading. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162818 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162818 VIDEO: Winter Wonderland Northwest Elementary School held its Winter Wonderland family learning night with literacy, math and science activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162816 Tue, 05 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162816 Learning in a Winter Wonderland Just hours before a light snow coated the ground, students and their families gathered to celebrate winter at Northwest Elementary School. The school hosted its annual Winter Wonderland family learning night on Jan. 17. Activities celebrated art, literacy, math, music and science. It began with a sing-along in the cafeteria led by first-grade teacher Margaret Brooks, followed by a group game of winter bingo. Principal Kathleen Hyland and Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo called out the numbers, and winners got to take home prizes. In classrooms, children made snowmen crafts, rolled dice and added up the numbers inside of paper snowmen and listened to winter-themed stories. They also mixed ingredients to create their own snow. As they left, students got to choose from dozens of free books to take home. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162815 Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162815 Park Avenue Boasts Award-Winning Artist Alessandra Pons, a sixth-grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, was chosen as the elementary school-level winner in the Youth Art Month Flag Design competition, sponsored by the New York State Art Teachers Association. Her artwork will be featured on the New York State display panel at the Youth Art Month Museum Exhibition during the 2019 National Art Educators Association Conference in Boston. Alessandra’s sponsoring art teacher is Susan Zaratin. She will receive a student award of art supplies valued at $100 from Sargent Art for her effort, and the Park Avenue art program will also receive supplies valued at $300. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162813 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162813 Amityville Warriors vs Wyandanch Live Stream You can watch the Amityville Warriors take on Wyandanch High School LIVE at12:00 pmonSaturday,February 2, 2019, by tuning into the Amityville Broadcasting Network on YouTube. Link:Amityville Broadcasting Network http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162814 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162814 Middle School Students Analyze Dr. King’s Legacy American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped ninth-graders make connections to international events in their global studies classes at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Co-teachers Jack Zider and Charles Martine engaged students in discussions about segregation in other parts of the world, past and present. The ninth-graders also made comparisons between non-violence movements in the United States and India. In small groups, students created and shared their own definitions of non-violence. “Our curriculum is ancient history, so we have to make it something that they can relate to,” Mr. Zider said. In Michele Rudden’s eighth-grade social studies classes, students analyzed Dr. King’s dreams for equality and discussed whether or not they felt his dreams had come true. They made connections between the Civil Rights era and modern society. Students used Chromebooks to access a hyperdoc, which had links to articles, passages and videos about Dr. King. Ms. Rudden explained that by eighth-grade, students know about Dr. King and his accomplishments, so she wanted them to perform a deeper analysis of his legacy by using the online resources and their knowledge of current events. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162812 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162812 Studying Abroad in Amityville A love of language brought Letizia Cazzaniga nearly 4,000 miles from Milan, Italy to Amityville Memorial High School. The senior said she is thoroughly enjoying her year as a foreign exchange student and her immersion in American culture. Growing up in Italy with a mother from Lebanon, she learned to speak both Italian and Arabic as a child. Since then, her linguistic interests have grown and Letizia is now fluent in five languages including English, French and Spanish, along with a little Portuguese. “I really like languages,” she said. “Being here and studying here for a year is good for my skills.” Several of her courses foster her language development including dystopian literature, journalism, college French and Advanced Placement Spanish. She is taking algebra, plays the violin for the orchestra and sings in the chorus. Letizia was excited to participate in the winter concerts. She noted that schools in Italy typically do not have instrumental music instruction. She said two differences about going to high school in the United States are the earlier start time and changing classes. There is also a greater emphasis on critical thinking while in Italy the focus is learning material and studying for tests. When she returns home, she will have one more year of high school remaining. Letizia hopes to attend college in Paris or the Netherlands and said possible majors include architecture or interior design. Her host family in Amityville and the students at the high school have been very welcoming, she said. Letizia spent much of her holiday break visiting sights in New York City including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Christmas tree and World Trade Center memorial site. She has also been to Washington, D.C. and North Carolina since her arrival. While she misses her family and friends in Milan, Letizia said she is able to stay in contact with them through telephone and Facetime. Family members who live in Texas have come to New York to visit her. “We are very pleased that Letizia decided to spend the year with us here in Amityville,” Principal Maria Andreotti said. “We have amazing programs and activities at the high school and are happy Letizia will get the share those experiences with our students. Through knowing her, students are learning more about Italy, and, as an Italian-American myself, I take great pride in that as well.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162811 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162811 Student Musicians Tapped for Regional Ensembles Several students from the district have been chosen to participate in regional music festivals. Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Alex Diaz and Edmund W. Miles Middle School seventh-grader Madeline Shingleton were selected to Long Island String Festival Association ensembles. Alex played the viola with the secondary school orchestra on Jan. 12 at St. John the Baptist High School. Madeline will showcase her skills on the cello with the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra on Jan. 27 at Hauppauge High School. Dr. Fran Fernandez, the district’s director of fine and performing arts, said the selection process for LISFA ensembles was extremely competitive. Students were chosen based on their New York State School Music Association evaluation scores from the spring 2018 festival and on teacher recommendation. Alex and Madeline were also among six Amityville students selected for the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s All-County music festival in March. Alex will represent the high school while Madeline will join bass clarinet player Donovan Graham McRae from the middle school. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School choral students Tiffany Asbell, Sydney Carter and Brianna Cuevas will share their vocal talents. Music teachers for the students include Megan Ashe, Michael Bonasera and Bianca Ferrante. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162810 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162810 Northeast Students Learn, Sing About Martin Pre-K and kindergarten students came together to celebrate renowned Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during an assembly on Jan. 18 at Northeast Elementary School. Students studied Dr. King’s life and his contributions to the United States and the world in their classes. When they gathered for the schoolwide celebration, Principal Dr. Pauline Collins asked several students to share what they learned. The youngsters cited Dr. King’s commitments to kindness and peace, and how he fought hard to ensure that all students could attend school together regardless of race. Led by music teacher Nicole Altamura, students joined hands for a vocal performance of “Sing About Martin.” They concluded the assembly by singing “This Little Light of Mine.” In between, they heard an excerpt of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. Collins said it is important for students to understand why they have a day off from school each January — to celebrate Dr. King’s efforts toward peace and equality. She also reminded them to incorporate the values he preached into their everyday lives. “We should have respect for each other regardless of our differences,” she said. “We actually share a lot more in common.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162809 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162809 Soccer Star Earns All-American Honors The district congratulates Amityville Memorial High School senior Henry Martinez on his numerous accolades a member of the state championship boys varsity soccer team. The midfielder was instrumental in bringing the team its second title in four years. Henry was one of only two players on Long Island to earn a selection to the United Soccer Coaches Association’s 2018 fall high school boys All-America team. He recently was honored at an awards ceremony in Chicago. “It is certainly an amazing accomplishment to be recognized as an All-American athlete,” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said. Henry was additionally named as an All-County, All-State and All-Region player as well as the Section XI Small Schools Player of the Year. He had 14 goals in the regular season along with both goals in the title-clinching game. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162808 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162808 Amityville, East Islip Students Create New Bonds Amityville Memorial High School welcomed 39 students from East Islip High School, who made the 15-mile journey west on Jan. 7 to take part in the Cultural Exchange program. East Islip students were warmly greeted by their peers from Amityville shortly after 7 a.m. The groups gathered in the auditorium for breakfast, light conversation and icebreaker activities to explore common interests. Each East Islip student then attended classes with his or her Amityville buddy from the Warrior Awareness Club before everyone reconvened at the end of the day for lunch. “I just love the new connections that are made,” said Jason McGowan, advisor of the Warrior Awareness Club and coordinator of the Cultural Exchange program. “It doesn’t end today. The students will continue these relationships.” Amityville students will visit East Islip High School in February. Each year, Amityville partners other districts on Long Island for the Cultural Exchange program which is designed to foster new friendships and have students appreciate the cultural diversity of the world. Earlier this year, students from Bayport-Blue Point High School came to Amityville, and past partnerships have included Islip and Sayville. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162807 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162807 Ninth-Graders Get a Taste of College Life Although they are few years away from applying for colleges, ninth-graders from Edmund W. Miles Middle School recently learned about the expectations for higher education. More than three dozen students attended College Awareness Day at Adelphi University. There were presentations on the admissions process, study abroad opportunities and summer pre-college programs, as well as pep rally, panel discussion, question and answer session, lunch and campus tour. It helped students gain an understanding about the decisions they need to make in high school to be accepted in the colleges they desire. The 39 Amityville students who attended were chosen based on essays they submitted about honoring veterans and members of the armed forces. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162806 Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162806 Students, Sheriffs Partner for Safe Schools Suffolk County deputy sheriffs recently visited Amityville Memorial High School to present the “Say Something” program. The initiative is a collaboration between County Sheriff Errol Toulon’s office and the Sandy Hook Promise. The deputy sheriffs spoke to students in social studies about how to notice the signs and symptoms of a fellow student in distress or with bad intentions. Students learned how to approach a trusted adult to intervene, the pros and cons of social media and the efforts taken by school and law enforcement officials to keep them safe. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162805 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162805 Park Avenue Student has a Thoughtful Message Ryan Daly, a fifth-grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, had her work selected for the Long Island-based Child Abuse Prevention Services 2018-19 calendar. Ryan was one of 12 winners selected from more than 600 entries. As a fourth-grader, Ryan and her classmates took part in the Steer Clear of Bullies program led by CAPS educators, then were given a chance to enter the contest. Her “Before You Speak, Think” design appears on the January calendar page. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162803 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162803 Historical Society Honors Superintendent Dr. Kelly Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly was recently presented with the William T. Lauder Award by the Amityville Historical Society at its autumn dinner. She was selected by the historical society’s board of directors, who recognized Dr. Kelly as a highly-respected educator with numerous, outstanding accomplishments during her tenure as superintendent. They cited her active participation in numerous Amityville organizations and her devotion to providing a quality education for all students. Dr. Kelly is an enthusiastic supporter of the historical society’s educational programs for the district’s youngsters. The William T. Lauder Award was established in honor of the third-generation Amityville resident, World War II resident and village historian. The Lauder Museum, a community, cultural and educational institution in the village of Amityville, is named in his honor and features local history exhibits. Dr. Kelly was the sixth recipient of the award since its inception in 2018. Dr. Kelly began her career as a social studies teacher in East Meadow. She came to Amityville as an assistant superintendent in 2008 and was named superintendent in 2014. “Dr. Kelly guides and inspires by her own example, shows her caring with a word of support and her understanding with a smile,” said Ellen Ricciuti, chairwoman of the historical society’s autumn dinner committee. “She embodies Bill Lauder’s leadership, commitment and wisdom, and is an extraordinary and excellent superintendent of the Amityville school system.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162804 Fri, 04 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162804 High School Student Shutterbugs Honored A pair of student-artists from Amityville Memorial High School had their work selected for the Advanced Visions 15: High School Artists of Excellence showcase at LIU Post. Juniors Brianna Desire and Jonathan Gambella are enrolled in Advanced Placement art classes with teacher Jayne Grasso. Brianna’s digital photography piece, “Space,” and Jonathan’s digital photo, “Johnny Pump,” are on display in the S.A.L. Gallery, located in the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library at LIU Post. The students will be honored during a closing reception on Jan. 9. “We are so proud to have two of our talented artists represent Amityville at this regional exhibit,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. “Congratulations to Brianna, Jonathan, their families, and their past and present art teachers on this fine accomplishment.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162802 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false162802 Northwest Students Spread Joy to Seniors With songs, crafts and games, students from Northwest Elementary School made the holidays a little brighter for seniors at Bristal Assisted Living in Amityville. More than 40 children made the short trip down County Line Road on Dec. 17. Participants included first-graders from Margaret Brooks’ class and second-graders from Kerrin Faulkner and Jenny Smith’s class. Ms. Brooks accompanied students on the guitar as they began their set with “If You’re Happy and You Know it” before moving on to a slate of popular Christmas tunes. During their hour stay, children and seniors did other activities together including playing bingo, balloon volleyball and gingerbread house crafts. Ms. Smith explained that the second-grade social studies curriculum focuses on communities, so her class does several community service activities throughout the year. This is the third year they have visited the Bristal. “The students were so excited to come and spread some Christmas cheer to people right within their own community,” Ms. Smith said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162801 Fri, 21 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162801 Greeting the Grinch at Northeast The Grinch may not be as revered by children as Santa Claus, but children at Northeast Elementary School still celebrated the character who first appeared in a Dr. Seuss book and has been the subject of several popular Christmas movies. Northeast hosted its first Grinch pajama day on Dec. 14. Pre-K and kindergarten students marched through the halls in their pajamas and Grinch hats before settling into the gymnasium to sing a few Christmas songs. Santa arrived on a bike to great the energetic youngsters. Leading up to pajama day, students completed numerous holiday-themed reading and writing assignments and art projects. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162800 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162800 Amityville High School Students Play Santa Amityville Memorial High School students are bringing joy to children on Long Island for the holidays. The Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, recently worked with the non-profit Christmas Magic organization for provide gifts for 69 children at a shelter in Mastic Beach. Students went shopping at Target to fulfill the “Dear Santa” lists, then returned to the high school to wrap the gifts. Adviser Jason McGowan said the presents were then picked up by Christmas Magic to be delivered to the children. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162799 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162799 High School Library Named for Distinguished Nurse Approximately 150 people came out to Amityville Memorial High School on Dec. 10 to pay tribute to an American hero and a local legend. The library media center was renamed in honor of Major Nancy Leftenant-Colón, who had a distinguished career as a nurse in the United States armed forces and in Amityville. Major Leftenant-Colón was born in 1920 and graduated from Amityville Memorial High School in 1939. She became the first member of her family to pursue higher education by attending the Lincoln School of Nursing in New York City. Her military nursing career spanned from 1945 to 1965, including service as an elite flight nurse with the Air Force. She made history as the first African-American woman to serve in the Army nursing corps, and later as the first woman to become president of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. From 1971 to 1984, Major Leftenant-Colón was the nurse at Amityville Memorial High School. She became an inspirational figure for students with her well-known line, “The sky’s the limit.” “It is an honor to welcome home Major Leftenant-Colón,” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said in her opening remarks. “She is one of Amityville’s own. She taught students to believe in themselves and believe in their dreams. She is fondly remembered by Amityville alumni.” Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris, inspector general of the Air Force, said the library dedication was an “incredible and most-deserved honor” for Major Leftenant-Colón. She presented her with an artistic piece that blended two photos together on a canvas — one from Leftenant-Colón’s time as a major, and another of the two women together in 2009. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Cambria} Col. Ralph Smith, retired from the Air Force, presented a gold coin, one of only four in existence, commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen and Airwomen to be housed in the rededicated library. Dr. Kelly explained that as part of the upcoming project to renovate and expand the high school, the library media center will be updated and will include a display for Major Leftenant-Colón featuring numerous artifacts. Retired Army Lt. Col. Jacqueline A. Gordon, spoke of the path that Major Leftenant-Colón paved for women in the armed forces. Lenore Braithewaite, of American Legion Hunter Squires Jackson Post 1218 in Amityville, fondly recalled her former school nurse and presented Major Leftenant-Colón with the American Legion’s 100th anniversary commander’s pin. Several elected officials presented Major Leftenant-Colón with proclamations included Gordon, a Town of Babylon councilwoman, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory and state Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre. Keynote speaker Chaplain Joanne Bedford Boyd, spoke highly of her aunt and how she has always been a role model for young people. She cited Major Leftenant-Colón’s desire to succeed and achieve her dreams, and her refusal to back down from challenges. Chaplain Boyd explained the value that Major Leftenant-Colón has always placed on education, so it is fitting to have the school’s center of knowledge — the library media center — named in her honor. Following presentations in the cafeteria, all guests were invited up to the library to see the new dedication sign along with pictures of Major Leftenant-Colón from her military service and her years as high school nurse. Student Council members presented Major Leftenant-Colón with flowers, and there were musical performances by the Amityville Memorial High School jazz ensemble and Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth-grade string ensemble. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162798 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162798 Creating the Coders of the Future at Park Avenue The jobs that many elementary students will have don’t yet exist, but that didn’t stop youngsters from getting a head start on their futures at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. The school celebrated Computer Science Week from Dec. 3-9 by having students participate in the Hour of Code during their library periods. After a short introduction by librarian Timothy Quinn, children did coding activities on the KidOYO platform using laptops. Fourth- and fifth-graders did Maze Code, a leveled application in which students had to drag and drop directions to have a white arrow reach a green X. Each level got progressively harder. Although they weren’t writing the code themselves, they were able to see it to gain an understanding of the work that goes into computer programming. Sixth-graders used Hatch, which gave them an introduction to the Scratch coding language. Mr. Quinn said the KidOYO mission is “on your own,” so he provided limited support to students as they used their critical thinking and problem solving abilities to complete the challenges. He added that the Hour of Code helps prepare them for STEAM-based courses in middle school and high school, and for careers in the ever-growing field of programming. “Computer science is a key component of advanced technology,” he said. “This is the beginning for them in understanding that concept.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162797 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162797 Students Decorate Amityville With Holiday Paintings Art students from Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles made their community more festive for the holiday season. The community window project was a collaborative effort among the two school, led by art teachers Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Rickard and Nicole Scoca as well as Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. The project started with a drawing contest among middle and high school students with high school teachers judging the submissions. The winners attended an outdoor field trip in Amityville in which they painted their drawings on the windows of local businesses on Nov. 29. The inspiration for the project was generated by high school guidance Transition Coordinator Karen Gross and the Amityville Chamber of Commerce. Participating businesses included Gerald's Market, Great South Bay Dance Studio, Wrapping It Up, Amityville Men's Shop, Park Avenue Grill and Francesco's Pizza “Students were able to see their personal creations come to life,” Ms. Dibble said, “It was a wonderful experience for them, their art teachers, and the Amityville community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162796 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162796 Creating a Community of Learners in Amityville More than a dozen courses in health and wellness, language, technology and more were offered by the Amityville Union Free School District this fall as part of its Adult and Continuing Education program. Relaunched last spring, the program is part of the district’s effort to strengthen community connections and provide residents with opportunities for growth. This fall’s catalog included 18 courses which ran from mid-October through early December and are taught by Amityville teacher and local experts. Learn to Love Your iPad or iPhone was a personalized technology course. Instructor Terrylynn Bayon, who also taught a Microsoft Word and Excel course, helped participants with basic and advanced skills like texting, downloading and using apps, and taking and storing photos. “My kids are thrilled that I’m learning this,” said Amityville resident Linda Walker. Residents have been able to learn life-saving first aid and CPR skills, research their family genealogy, understand the rules of Mah Jongg, train to be a notary public or stay fit with Zumba or T’ai Chi Chaun. Other courses included defensive driving, ESL, knitting, photography, self-defense, Spanish and yoga. “It’s great,” Corky Amico said of the knitting class. “I learn something different and I get to socialize. I’ve always wanted to learn how to knit.” Program coordinator Dr. Diane Impagliazzo said that all of the courses were cost-effective and bring the community together to learn life and career skills and pursue their interests. “There’s a sprinkling of courses for everybody’s tastes,” Dr. Impagliazzo said, adding that the spring 2019 session will include both new and repeat courses. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162795 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162795 High School Students Make a Cross County Connection Members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club eagerly waited at the front door for their guests to arrive on Nov. 15. After a 23-mile ride across Suffolk County, 28 students from Bayport-Blue Point High School and their chaperones pulled up on a school bus and were warmly greeted by their hosts. The Cultural Exchange program, an annual tradition in Amityville, is designed to connect students from across Long Island. It creates bonds and establishes new friendships, as the teens typically keep in touch through text message or social media. Students from both schools gathered in the cafeteria for breakfast and icebreaker activities that helped them find common interests. WAC PAC adviser Jason McGowan called out two words, like bacon or sausage, or Christmas or Halloween, and students went to one side of the room or the other. There was also great enthusiasm during a rock-paper-scissors competition. Each Bayport-Blue Point student was paired up with an Amityville student and they attended classes together throughout the day before coming together again for a pizza lunch. The students will meet up in the spring when Amityville students will visit Bayport-Blue Point High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162793 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162793 Physical Education Students of the Year Seniors Carlos Ponce and Ashley Sanz were named physical education students of the year for Amityville Memorial High School by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162794 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162794 Learning Will go Virtual in Amityville Appealing to a generation of tech-savvy students, the district will be introducing the virtual reality experience zSpace to support the curriculum. The district will add a laptop cart of zSpace systems, becoming the first on Long Island to have this resource. It will be available for use at Amityville Memorial High School, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, along with desktop units for each of those schools. By using the software, students will have the opportunity to interact through augmented and virtual reality with a variety of content that supports all subjects areas. They will be able to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, the anatomy of a human heart and the history of flight, and explore famous artwork. “Students are drawn to technology, and zSpace provides an engaging way to support our curriculum,” said Dr. Carole Polney, the assistant superintendent for technology and administrative services. “We always look to add new and innovative resources that provide meaningful learning experiences.” Park Avenue students had a chance to experience the technology when the zSpace mobile classroom stopped by for a few hours on Nov. 9. The children were able to put on the virtual reality glasses and explore the interactive educational content. The purchase of the hardware and software will come from the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant that the district received in the summer. Amityville was one of 38 school districts selected by the New York State Education Department to receive federal funds for technology enhancement through the Every Student Succeeds Act. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162792 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162792 Awareness Weekend Builds Bridges at High School For 97 Amityville Memorial High School students, their school day didn’t have a typical ending on Nov. 9. Instead of going home for the weekend, those students spent the next 32 hours in the school participating in bonding activities and listening to inspirational speakers. Awareness Weekend has been an annual tradition for 15 years. The 10th-, 11th and 12th-graders who participate say it is a transformative experience that cultivates new friendships and leads to self-reflection. “You feel welcome,” said senior Jeridania Rodriguez, a first-time participant this year. “This is an opportunity to express yourself in a different environment and no one judges you here.” An essential part of Awareness Weekend are the family groups. Students are typically paired with others who are not part of their normal friendship circle, and each team has a facilitator. Family groups have follow-up discussions based on the speakers, share personal experiences and participate in icebreaker activities. This year’s keynote speaker was Bobby Petrocelli, whose “You Matter” presentation kicked off Awareness Weekend on Friday afternoon. He told students that the world deserves their greatness and that they should never be hindered by something in their past. He spoke of a tragedy in his life, and how bad decisions by one person can have consequences for many. Chris Memoli was involved in a car accident at 16 and suffered brain injuries as a result of no wearing a seatbelt. He communicates through typing device and shared his story about he overcame tragedy to earn his master’s degree in computer science. Hashim Garrett, a former gang member who paralyzed from waist down, spoke about forgiveness, overcoming adversity and learning from mistakes. Alisha Armellini, mother of senior Imagine Halyard, said Awareness Weekend has been tremendously valuable for her daughter. During her sophomore year, Imagine was able to share a personal story about a traumatic event in her past. That revelation ultimately had a positive impact on her home life and her emotional well-being. “Awareness Weekend saves lives and saves families,” Ms. Armellini said. “It has brought so much goodness to our family. Every student should participate in this program.” Students and their faculty chaperones spent the night in the school in sleeping bags and on air mattresses in classrooms. Awareness Weekend ended at 10 p.m. on Saturday night with goodbyes and hugs. Special education teacher Jason McGowan, who coordinated the event, said it was inspirational weekend for both the students and the teachers. “Our 97 participants truly did break down walls and build bridges,” said Mr. McGowan, citing the weekend’s theme. “These students left here on Saturday night as new people. They learned a little about themselves and more importantly, learned from their peers. They also realized is that they are not alone and that they matter.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162791 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162791 VIDEO: Career Day at Park Avenue Students learned the keys to success from speakers representing dozens of professions. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162790 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162790 Experts Dole Out Career Advice in Amityville Nearly three dozen professionals visited Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Nov. 2 to share their words of wisdom. The guest speakers visited fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classes for Career Day to inspire children to do well in school so they can achieve their dreams. Among the guests were a Broadway producer, state assemblywoman, karate instructor, radio DJ and Amityville police officers and firefighters. Others represented the financial industry, the medical field and the United States military. Several speakers discussed their journeys in starting their own businesses. There were numerous interactive presentations. Risa Stein, director of the science and technology program at Farmingdale State College, led students in a STEAM-activity. Sixth-graders worked in groups to build wind-powered cars using a piece of paper, two straws, four Life Savers, paper clips and tape. Local entrepreneur Denise Totter of Mama T’s Herbaceous Teas led students in a beverage tasting. The school partnered with the Amityville Chamber of Commerce and Amityville Parent-Teacher Council to bring in presenters, who spoke about their job responsibilities and the necessary qualifications. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci said that this is the culminating event in College and Career Week. The purpose is to inspire students to start thinking about their futures so they can take the necessary steps in elementary, middle and high schools to achieve success and attain their career goals. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162788 Tue, 27 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162788 Board of Education Recognized for Service Before they got down to business, trustees on the Amityville Board of Education heard words of gratitude at their Nov. 14 meeting in honor of School Board Recognition Week. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that the seven board members are volunteers who spend much time learning about policy and governance, in addition to attending meetings and school events. She gifted each trustee a mug with the Amityville Warriors logo. “Amityville is blessed to have a very supportive school board, serving the needs of the children and the community,” she said. Art teacher Nicole Scoca and students in the TEACCH program at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School created a thank-you banner for the board. A group of Park Avenue choral students, under the direction of Megan Ashe, sang John Lennon’s “Imagine.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162787 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162787 Second-Graders Sample Stories at Northwest “Non-fiction is tasty” was theme in a second-grade classroom at Northwest Elementary School where students participated in a book tasting. To begin the non-fiction unit in Reader’s Workshop, students on Nov. 5 visited the Smaulkner Café, named for second-grade co-teachers Jenny Smith and Kerrin Faulkner. With red tablecloths and teachers wearing chef hats, the room truly resembled a restaurant. There were seven tables and each had a different theme: animals, holidays, insects, people, polar animals, weather and vehicles. Each seat had several books on that topic for students to sample. After five minutes of reading, students discussed the books with their classmates while also enjoying themed snacks like candy corn at the holidays table and gummy worms at the insects table. They rotated through all seven stations. Before their tasting, students learned about the different elements of non-fiction books such as the table of contents, headings, glossary and diagrams. Ms. Faulkner said that students will soon be creating their own non-fiction stories through Writer’s Workshop. Each child will be charged with selecting a topic to become an expert about. “The book tasting exposes them to a lot of different non-fiction stories to broaden their horizons and find topics they want to learn more about,” she said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162785 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162785 Veterans Share Their Stories in Amityville History came alive for students in the district as veterans, representing different branches of the military and different conflict periods, shared their experiences. Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted Veterans Appreciation Day on Nov. 13, and Amityville Memorial High School’s program followed on Nov. 15. At the middle school, a dozen veterans spent the day visiting social studies classes. Among the speakers were Board of Education First Vice President Juan Leon, Amityville Village Trustee Nick LaLota and district staff members. A few active servicemen communicated with the students through videoconferences. They discussed their reasons for joining the armed force, basic training, military life, responsibilities, challenges and return to civilian life. Many of the speakers said what they enjoyed most about serving was having the opportunity to travel all over the world. “The military is so much more than combat and war,” ninth-grade social studies teacher Jack Zider said. “We wanted to give our students an appreciation for our veterans and their many roles in serving our country.” Veterans also spoke to students in their social studies classes at the high school. Social studies department Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi said that their personal experiences provided students with a deeper understanding of history. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162784 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162784 Videos Support Middle School Math Instruction Math teacher David Takseraas is creating a more interactive learning environment for his students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. He recently began creating videos that connect the technology-savvy students to the content and also creates more time for instruction. Mr. Takseraas said he was inspired by YouTube videos created by other teachers that review mathematical concepts, and decided to make his own to personalize it for his students. His videos specifically review the nightly homework and show students how to solve the word problems. The videos allow Mr. Takseraas to spend less class time reviewing homework and more time teaching new material. That is important because all students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School are accelerated in math, meaning they take algebra in eighth grade and geometry in ninth grade. Both of those high school-credit-bearing courses end with Regents exams. “The students can watch the videos at their own pace,” he said. “There’s a lot of material in the curriculum and this is a different idea that helps make the most out of our class time.” Mr. Takseraas makes the videos in his classroom during free periods and shares them with students through Google Classroom along with the homework assignment sheets and notes. They can watch on their phones, home computers or any devices. Students can also ask questions in the comments section and get support outside of school hours from their teacher or classmates. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162783 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162783 Northwest Students Make Personal Connections With Veterans To foster an appreciation for the men and women who served their nation, local veterans spoke to students at Northwest Elementary School on Nov. 9. Veterans and spouses visited first-, second- and third-grade classes to share stories, experiences and photos. The school partnered with American Legion Hunter Squire Jackson Post 1218 in Amityville. Guests included veterans Lenore Braithwaite, Bob Jones and Yvette Nosworthy, as well as Jaculynne Jackson who spoke about her husband who was a medic during the Vietnam War. Classes presented gifts to the special guests, such as Franca Adams’ second-graders who made a large thank-you card out of red and blue construction paper. Instructional Coach Abbey Hunter said many of the students may not have met a veteran before, and this was an opportunity to give them an understanding of the sacrifice made by citizens who join the military and defend their country. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162782 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162782 Middle School Readers Make Literary Connections The shades were closed, the lights were off and the sound of a beating heart echoed through the classroom. That was the scene in Katie Rosario and Christina Romeo’s eighth-grade English language arts classroom at Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Oct. 30. Ms. Rosario read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell Tale Heart” to her students with her classroom resembling the book’s dark setting. Students only had light from flashlights to jot down their observations. The reading culminated a comparative literature unit, in which students read “The Tell Tale Heart” and “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. They noted similarities in setting, character actions and conflict. Students took their jots and wrote longer responses. “It gets the students to compare text and come up with their own original ideas,” Ms. Rosario said. “They had to use evidence from the books to support their ideas.” The lesson was part of the Columbia University Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, a literacy initiative adopted several years ago by the district. Since September, middle school students have been involved in numerous hands-on literacy activities in their ELA classes including book tastings, reader conferences, publishing parties and author videoconferences. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162781 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162781 Boys Soccer Team Captures State Title A dominant season for the Amityville Memorial High School boys soccer team culminated with a state championship. The Warriors defeated the Somers High School Tuskers, 2-1, in the NYSPHSAA Class A Finals on Nov. 11 in Middletown. After going undefeated in the regular season, along with one tie, the Warriors breezed through the playoffs. They beat Hauppauge High School, 3-1, on Nov. 1 to win the Suffolk Class A championship and captured the Long Island title three days later with a 5-0 win over Mepham High School. In the state semifinals, Amityville defeated Rochester Brighton 2-0 on Nov. 10 to set up their match with Somers. Led by coach Mike Abbondondolo and assistant coach Chris Gannon, the Warriors captured their second championship in school history, with the first coming in 2015. Henry Martinez scored both goals in the clinching game, but Amityville got contributions from up and down the roster in its playoff run including Rolman Guardado, Kymani Hines, Angel Zavala and goaltender Kyle Barsic. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162780 Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162780 History-Making Coach Inspires Park Avenue Students The first female coach in the history of the New York Jets provided words of encouragement to students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Oct. 29. Collette Smith, a coaching intern who worked with the defensive backs during the 2017 training camp, was the keynote speaker to kick off the school’s annual College and Career Week. Ms. Smith was a professional football player with the New York Sharks in the Women’s Alliance, beginning her three-year career at 42 before coaching. She became only the third female coach in NFL history and the first African-American woman to coach. After her stint with the Jets, she founded Believe N You and serves as a motivational speaker. During assemblies for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, Ms. Smith encouraged students to believe in themselves and understand that they can accomplish anything they want. She told students her motto, “Making tomorrow better today,” to remind them that the steps they take now can lead them to future success. Working hard in school, treating others respectfully and making healthy choices are among those steps, she said. Ms. Smith said that football players, just like students, have homework. They have to study their playbooks to be effective on the field. “Her message is so important, that our students can do anything they put their minds to,” said guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci. She added that many students have a passion for sports, and this shows them that there are many career opportunities in athletics. In addition to Ms. Smith’s speech, each assembly included a slideshow featuring graduation photos of Park Avenue teachers and administrators, to remind students of the end goal. Principal Robyn Santiago said the goal of the program was to boost self-esteem and inspire each child to be his or her own personal cheerleader. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162779 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162779 Middle School Teachers Share Their Knowledge Edmund W. Miles Middle School teacher Michele Rudden and Jack Zider were presenters at the Long Island Council for the Social Studies conference on Oct. 26. Ms. Rudden was the 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Middle School Social Studies Teacher Award by LICSS. As part of the honor, she was invited to present at the annual conference at the Melville Marriott Hotel. Ms. Rudden, an eighth-grade teacher, partnered with ninth-grade teacher Mr. Zider so they could give perspectives on teaching two different levels. They spoke to a crowd of about 80 teachers from across Long Island. Their presentation focused on teaching and learning strategies for challenged students to succeed on the long response sections of the new social studies Regents exams, including special education students, English language learners and poor readers. The revised Global History Regents, which is given at the end of 10th grade, includes document analysis for constructed response questions and an enduring issues essay. The workshop highlighted various methods of differentiation to achieve greater student outcomes. Ms. Rudden and Mr. Zider cited their use of technology to provide students with access to digital content to provide a greater understanding of historical events. They said that while students don’t take the Regents until sophomore year of high school, it is important to introduce the format in middle school so they are poised for success. “Like true professionals, they are not only helping our students, but sharing with teachers all over Long Island who are facing the same obstacles,” said Assistant Principal Paul Duguay, who previously served as social studies chairperson. “I am proud to have them as colleagues and I congratulate them on this great achievement.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162778 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162778 A Peek at Music for Park Avenue Students Five students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, along with their parents, participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association PEAK Music Festival. The event was held on Oct. 27 at Northport High School. Fourth-graders Liana Diaz, Grace Lewis, Sarai Mullings, Morgen Slinger and Kimberly Torres joined their peers from across Suffolk County for a day of musical experiences. Workshops included chorus, folk dancing, musical theater, recorder, ukulele and world drumming. The students were chosen to participate in the festival based upon the recommendation of Roxanne Tannenbaum, their third-grade music teacher at Northwest Elementary School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162777 Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162777 Creations Connect Communities at Northwest As part of the second-grade social studies curriculum, students learn about different types of communities. Children at Northwest Elementary School took the lesson to the next level with the creation of an elaborate hallway display. Students learned about the characteristics of rural, suburban and urban communities. Each class was assigned one of three types and had to create a large-scale art project. The rural section of the hallway featured a barn with animals, while the suburban area was filled with pictures of cars, houses and stores. Second-grade teachers said that purpose of the project was to help students understand the differences in the three types of a communities through a visual representation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162776 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162776 Kindergartners Celebrate Writing Success Completing the first writing assignment of the year was a milestone moment for kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Children proudly marched around the building with their non-fiction pieces during a celebratory parade on Oct. 19. Students wrote short narrative pieces as part of their introduction to Writer’s Workshop, an initiative that creates personal writing experiences through the self-selection of topics. For their initial assignment, kindergartners could pick any memory or special moment in their lives to share. “Celebration,” with the well-known lyric, “Celebrate good times, come on!” played over the loudspeaker during the parade. Three students were then chosen to share their pieces with the entire school. All of the young writers took their stories home to read to family members. “They’re writers now, and we wanted to celebrate that,” said instructional coach Theresa McCormack, adding that kindergartners will complete books with a cover sheet and three pages of content as part of their next unit of study. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162775 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162775 Science Research Students Take on Ambitious 3D Printing Project While 3D printing has become increasingly popular in recent years, students in the Amityville Union Free School District will be getting a unique experience with the technology. Middle and high school students in the Independent Science Research program will be taking part in a nano 3D printing project in partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Teacher Alexis Charles and students drafted a proposal that was accepted by BNL to use its nanofabrication facility. The project required Ms. Charles to visit several times over the summer to be trained on the machine because she will be the one allowed into BNL’s “clean room.” Students will dictate the procedure to create a microscopic structure to grow cells. Students involved in the project include John Hermann, Randy Jerez, Keiry Martinez, Maurice Pettway, Keniese Price, Rene Santos, Trea’von Smith, and Z’Dhanne Williams. Amityville’s science research students work closely on other projects with Farmingdale State College biology professor Dr. Andrew Michaelson, and from him they learned about two dental procedures that have a high rate of failure. Indirect pulp capping has a 10 percent rate of failure, and direct pulp capping fails at 20 percent, which Ms. Charles explained is high for such costly procedures. The students are looking to grow dentin cells, and if their project is successful, it could revolutionize the procedure and increase the rate of success. Dentin cells are the part of teeth sensitive to hot and cold. The cells would be grown in vitro — outside of the mouth — which is why a small structure is required. Students will design the structure using computer assisted drawing software. Ninth-grader Rene Santos said that creating the structure will pose some challenges because of its small size. Once it is made, it has to be carefully dried as an air gun would blow it away. Additionally, it will require a high-powered microscope to see. Ms. Charles said that in order to have the proposal accepted by a panel of three BNL scientists, it had to meet two standards. It had to contribute merit to the scientific community and also be feasible to make on the available equipment. Scientist Ming Lu has joined the project and is providing support to the group, such as giving students tips on how to overcome common problems encountered when designing an on object of a microscopic scale. In preparation for the upcoming project, the science research students have already had some experience designing objects using CAD software. They have learned about the difference between 3D printing and nano 3D printing, the latter using a gel to create a microscopic object as opposed to a plastic filament that builds layer by layer. “This type of project isn’t what the average ninth- or 10th-grader does,” said freshman Randy Jerez. “It’s a blessing to be in a group like this at such as young age, and to be able to make a difference in the dental industry.” Ms. Charles said that the project has attracted students with many different interests, and that there is a place for everyone to contribute. Some are interested in the scientific and medical aspects, while others want to contribute their creativity and imagination to the design process. She added that the group is hoping to have the project substantially complete so they can compete in next year’s Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162774 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162774 Kicks and Serves for a Cure in Amityville The Warriors took on the fight against breast cancer as Amityville Memorial High School athletic teams raised nearly $750 during October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Money was donated to various causes that support research and assist patients. The girls varsity soccer team played their Kicks for Cancer home game on Oct. 15 against neighboring Copiague. It culminated a fundraising effort which included selling raffle tickets for various prizes and hosting a bake sale. The girls wore special uniforms with pink lettering along with pink socks hair ribbons. The fence adjoining the field was adorned with pink streamers and pink and white balloons. “They were enthusiastic about it and wanted to help the cause,” said head coach Angela Steiger. That same afternoon, the girls junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams held their Dig Pink games against Islip. The team sold baked goods, pink lemonade and pink “Just Cure It” shirts to raise money. Amityville was among dozens of high schools participating in the Dig Pink initiative which supports the Side-Out Foundation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162773 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162773 Building Bonds at Amityville Beach From A to Z, Amityville Memorial High School seniors lined up by first name during an activity at Amityville Beach on Oct. 10. The trick was, they had to do it without talking. It was one of several bonding activities that seniors participated in during Awareness Day, an annual fall event for the senior class. Special education teacher Jason McGowan, who organized the day, said it was an opportunity for students to get to know each other better before they graduate and head off in different directions. A popular activity was the rock-paper-scissors competition. Students randomly paired up, and winners continued playing until a champion emerged. During Link It Up, each student found a peer who shared something in common like his or her birthday months or favorite food. Mr. McGowan posed questions to them to prompt discussions. Later in the day, students formed groups of eight to 10, and that became their “family group” for the day. They were encouraged to join up with people who weren’t in their normal circle of friends. Noah Odige is in his second year at Amityville Memorial High School, so as a newcomer to a class that has largely been together since kindergarten, he enjoyed the experience. In addition to getting know his classmates better, Noah said Awareness Day helped strengthen existing friendships and created new ones. “It’s a great bonding experience for the seniors,” he said. “It makes us stronger as a class.” In November, the school will host Awareness Weekend, which is open to students in grades 10-12. The Friday afternoon to Saturday night event will include bonding activities, guest speakers and a sleepover in the school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162772 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162772 Conference Inspires a Strong Stand Against Bullying More than 30 sixth-graders from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School attended the Take A Stand anti-bullying program at Hofstra University on Oct. 12. Students from schools across Long Island took part in the conference, sponsored by Hofstra’s WRHU radio station and Northwell Health’s Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center. A few students from each sixth-grade class were selected for the program, in which they attended various workshops. Teacher Deborah Ross said the Take A Stand facilitators addressed a serious topic in fun and engaging ways with skits, games and personal discussions. In one exercise, students sat in circles and learned about the “masks” other children often hide behind. The Park Avenue students will now serve as ambassadors in school and educate their peers about the perils of bullying. The have vowed to not be bystanders if they see bullying taking place, and will stand up for each other. Sixth-grader Tiffany Asbell said she learned how to look out for a bully, as well as how to spot someone who is being bullied, so she and her classmates can help. Added Nathalia Moreno, “It gives us more confidence to step up our game to stop bullying.”' http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162771 Thu, 25 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162771 Safe Halloween Event Amityville Memorial High School’s Key Club, Student Council, & Edmund W. Miles Middle School's Builders present… "Safe Trick or Treat Halloween" Friday, October 26th, 2018 3pm-6pm, Amityville Memorial High School *Enter through front door entrance Ages 0-10, $2 admission Adults, free Click Here For Flyer http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162770 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162770 District Breaks Ground on High School Expansion Amityville Memorial High School will soon be doubling in size. District officials and students celebrated the beginning of a major expansion project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 9. The addition to the early 1950s school is the marquee project in the $69.9 million bond approved by voters in March 2016, which includes upgrades to all five of the district’s schools and administration building. The new wing at the high school will include a gymnasium with locker rooms, science labs, classrooms and added cafeteria space. Enhancements to the current building will include a renovated library media center, a new music and art suite created from the existing gymnasium and locker room, new windows, and mechanical system upgrades. Preliminary work began in September with the installation of construction fencing and site preparation. The concrete foundation will be poured and soon after the calendar turns to 2019 the steel frame should begin to rise. “This was a community effort,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, who spoke about the planning that began in 2014 to identify facilities needs in the district. “A lot of study went into this process. We’ve needed this space for a long time, and a lot of great changes are about to begin because of this. It will be a state-of-the-art high school.” Joining Dr. Kelly in the celebration were board of education trustees, central office and high school administrators, students, the marching band and representatives from BBS Architects and Park East Construction. The expansion and renovations are expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2020-21 school year, at which point the ninth-grade will move from the middle school to the high school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162768 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162768 Amityville Science Research Students on the Radio Click here to listen http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162769 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162769 Amityville Art Projects Starts With a Single Dot During their art classes, students at Northwest Elementary School read popular Peter Reynolds book, “The Dot,” then followed with their own inspired creations. The main idea is to encourage students to “Make your mark and see where it takes you!” The story is about a girl who thinks she can't draw and gives up, but her art teacher encourages her to try by having her sign her name to a simple dot. That single mark inspires the girl's creativity and confidence. By the end of the story, she is encouraging another timid artist. After the story, each Northwest student was given a small piece of paper and encouraged to draw whatever they wanted — whether they started with a dot or not. Children had access to paint, markers and crayons and were able to use those materials in any way or combination they chose. All of the creations from each class were collected together on a single colorful dot and put on display for all to see. This was a very liberating experience for our young artists and many expanded their own ideas beyond the idea of a dot,” said art teacher Lydia Robinson. “The only requirement was that they sign their name to the front of their art to show off their dot experience, which they did so proudly.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162766 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162766 Fall Festival Kicks off Homecoming weekend Warrior pride was on full display at Amityville Memorial High School’s second annual Homecoming festival on Oct. 12, an event that brought the entire community together. Students of all ages, teachers, administrators, board of education trustees and parents were among those who attended. Each school was represented, along with middle school and high school student clubs, the Amityville Teachers Association, Amityville Parent Teacher Council and community organizations. There was a large turnout of Amityville athletes, who came to the fair following their afternoon practices. Activities included fall-themed games like pumpkin bowling and a spider ring toss. There were burgers and hot dogs, a pumpkin decorating station and an Amityville Pride photo booth complete with props. The event was coordinated by the Homecoming Festival Committee comprised of board of education members, administrators and staff. Fine Arts Director Dr. Fran Fernandez said the purpose of the event was to promote unity and get the community excited for the following day’s Homecoming celebration. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162765 Fri, 19 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162765 Warrior Pride Shines at Homecoming Community members, administrators, staff and students did not let the rain hinder their spirits as the Amityville Union Free School District hosted its 2018 Homecoming festivities on Oct. 13. Although the parade was canceled due to the inclement weather, the skies cleared and the football game went on without a hitch at Amityville Memorial High School. Stands filled with supporters who dressed in their best red and white to watch the Warriors take on the East Islip Redmen. To kick off the game, players stood on the field in their pink socks in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month as the school’s marching band performed the “Star-Spangled Banner.” During the game, snacks, refreshments and Amityville apparel were sold. Attendees were also encouraged to visit and vote for the best superhero-themed class float, which were displayed outside the field. Throughout the game, community members and students held their red foam fingers high as they cheered on the Warriors with the cheerleaders. The halftime show featured performances by the marching band and cheerleaders. The Homecoming court, dressed in their best outfits, were announced onto the field where seniors Devontay Rickenbacker and Kayla Barrett were crowned the Homecoming king and queen. The senior class also earned first place in the float contest with their Avengers-themed creation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162764 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162764 Amityville Honors its Athletic Legends The eight inductees into the Amityville Memorial High School Sports Hall of Fame represented generations of athletes and coaches whose accomplishments were celebrated at a ceremony on Oct. 5. The members of the Class of 2018 included Leighton Clarke, Theresa Findlay, Aaron Garrett, Eugene Nottingham, James Porr, Barbour Williams and Darrel Young. Miles Borden, a former coach, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Sports Hall of Fame now boasts 91 members. Leighton Clarke, a 1984 graduate, was a member of the cross country and track and field teams. He was a four-year varsity letterman, an All-League, All-Conference, All-County and All-Long Island athlete, and captain during his junior and senior years. As a senior, he finished second at the Eastern States in the 1600-meter race walk and won the C.W. Post Suffolk County Coaches Invitational 5K race walk with a record-setting time. Theresa Findlay (1992) played four sports during her time at Amityville Memorial High School. She was a captain for her basketball, soccer and track and field teams, and earned athletic scholarships in those sports. Theresa was a three-sport All-County and All-League athlete and All-Long Island in basketball and track and field. Additionally, she was a member of the girls volleyball team. Aaron Garrett (1999) was on the varsity track and field team for four years and wrestling and football for three years. He achieved All-League honors in football, All-League and All-County in wrestling, and All-League, All-Division and All-County in track and field. Aaron played in the Suffolk County All-Star football game in 1999, was part of the 1997 boys track and field League V Division III championship team, and was a track and field county champion in the pentathlon. Eugene Nottingham (2000) played football and basketball for Amityville. He was a three-year starter on the varsity football team, earning All-League honors three times, All-County honors twice and All-Long Island honors as a senior. Additionally, he received the Hanson Award in 2000 which is given to the Outstanding Football Player in Suffolk County. James “Jimmy” Porr (1977) wrestled and ran for the track and field team. He finished second in the Amityville Wrestling Tournament as a junior and won the event as a senior. His track and field accomplishments include an undefeated freshman season in which he set the school record in the 880-yard sprint, a victory in the conference championships in the 440-yard sprint as a junior and a gold medal at the New York State Track and Field Championships in the distance medley as a senior. Barbour “Bob” Williams (1936) was a member of the football and track teams. The football team was undefeated during his senior year. In track, he was known as the “Amityville Flash” for his dominance in sprint events and the 100-yard and 220-yard dashes. He passed away in 1994 and was represented by his daughter, Ella, at the ceremony. Darrell Young (2005) has the only retired football jersey in Amityville, with his number 31 banner hanging in the gymnasium. He was named an All-County athlete as a sophomore, junior and senior, and was the team’s MVP for three seasons. Recognition included the Collotta Award for Most Outstanding Linebacker in Suffolk County as a junior and a selection to the Boomer Esiason Foundation Empire Challenge High School All-Star game. Darrel went to Villanova University on a full scholarship and played for the Washington Redskins for six seasons. Miles Borden worked in the district for 32 years as a mechanical drawing teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He coached cross country and track from 1952 to 1957. Celebrating the accomplishments of the inductees were family members, friends, coaches, high school and central office administrators and board of education trustees. Student volunteers from the high school served dinner. The eight honorees were selected by the Sports Hall of Fame Committee, with First Vice Chairman Bruce Pescitelli serving as emcee and introducing the honorees. Committee Chairman Reynolds Hawkins said the Hall of Fame was founded to honor the legacy of Amityville athletics and bring recognition to its legendary athletes. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly added that all of the inductees embody the Warriors’ ideals and values, such as good sportsmanship and pride. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162762 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162762 Homecoming Parade Cancelled, Football Game Still On! Due to inclement weather, the Homecoming Parade has been cancelled. The Varsity Football game will begin at 1:30 pm. We hope to see you there to cheer on our team. Go Warriors! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162763 Sat, 13 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162763 VIDEO: No Place for Hate Students and staff at Edmund W. Miles Middle School celebrate its positive culture and climate. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162761 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162761 A Pledge to Stop Bullying at Middle School More than 300 hundred students committed to maintaining a bully-free zone at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. To begin National Bullying Prevention Month, students signed anti-bullying pledges during their lunch periods on Oct. 1. As part of the pledge, students vowed to take a stand against bullying by speaking up if they see it happening. They also promised to stick up for others in need of help and serve as role models by not using their phones or computers to spread hurtful messages about others. Students received No Place for Hate bracelet after signing the pledge. Earlier this year, the school received the No Place for Hate designation by the Anti-Defamation League for its commitment in creating a culture of kindness and respect. Many students and staff wore orange to school, which is the awareness color for National Bullying Prevention Month. The school also began Project Connect, with students writing on paper links their ideas for helping others. The links will be connected to spell “Unite.” “We are uniting for a common cause,” social worker Beatriz Offitto said. “While one person can speak out against bullying, our message is much stronger when we come together to make a difference.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162759 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162759 Having a Grand Time at Northeast Grandparents turned back the clock and experienced a day in kindergarten at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District on Sept. 28. The school hosted Grandparents Day, an annual event which celebrates and honors important family members in the lives of children. Many of the special guests came and observed literacy and math lessons, sat in on art and music classes, or got involved in hands-on projects. Students proudly shared stories about what makes their grandparents special. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162758 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162758 College Tour Inspires Juniors and Seniors Continuing a 10-year tradition at Amityville Memorial High School, social worker Reynolds Hawkins took 33 juniors and seniors on the Historically Black Colleges and Universities tour. The students visited six schools from Sept. 9-13. The schools included Winston Salem University State University, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State University and Duke University. Students went on tours, met with admissions officers and experienced campus life. “It was really informative,” said senior Rachelle Louis Jean. “I asked a lot of questions because I could see myself at some of the schools.” Rachelle said she asked questions about biology, health science, engineering and broadcasting programs, volunteer and internship opportunities, and the success of graduates. She added that it was a great experience to talk with students who attend the colleges. Kayla Barrett said had previously only visited colleges in New York, and now plans to apply to at least three of the schools from the HBCU tour. The students learned that Historically Black Colleges and Universities actually have very diverse student populations. Junior Trey Fulton noted the connection the schools have with their surrounding communities, as well as strong alumni support and rigorous admissions standards. He said one of the biggest appeals was the high-level of energy at the universities. Senior Joel Barrett said he particularly appreciated the history lessons that were incorporated into the trip. The students went to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, N.C., and learned about four North Carolina A&T students who were instrumental in the Civil Rights movement by leading a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter. “I just learned so much that I never knew before,” Rachelle added. “I was in a town in which so much history happened.” Students were required to dress up for the college tours, as Trey noted their mentality was, “This isn’t a vacation, this is a business trip.” Mr. Hawkins said that 93 percent of students who have attended the trips over the last decade have gone on to college, with many choosing an HBCU. Students were able to meet several Amityville graduates attending schools during this year’s tour. Joel was one of the students who went on the tour during both his junior and senior years, and Trey hopes to go again next year. Mr. Hawkins selects different colleges each year, and has taken students as far south as Florida. Not all colleges, like Duke, are HBCUs, but are incorporated into the trip to show students other notable universities while traveling through the southern part of the country. “The students who have the opportunity to go on this tour twice will never see the same schools,” he said. Senior James Carey said that he appreciated the opportunity to see several schools in a few days, as opposed to over several months, because it made it easier to compare schools. He plans to major in biology and said he will likely apply to three of the colleges. “It was one of the most beneficial experiences of my high school career,” James said. “It was so much more than I expected, and that’s what I loved about it.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162755 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162755 Adult Education Fall 2018 Course Guide It is not too late if you missed the registrationdate. If you are still interested in attending one of our exciting courses, please bring your registration down the first night of class or place your registration in the mail. We have many exciting courses this fall and hope that you can join us. If you have any questions, please send an email toadulted@amityvilleufsd.org. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162754 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162754 Promoting Peace with Performance and Pinwheels To mark the International Day of Peace, Amityville Memorial High School hosted its ninth annual peace celebration on Sept. 21. Students formed a human piece sign on the front lawn of the school and listened to readings, poems and songs performed by their classmates and teachers. They were also asked to reflect upon the question, “Who will you make peace with?” The high school partnered with two organizations, Peace One Day and Pinwheels for Peace. Art students made peace posters which served as the backdrop for the performances. They also designed more than 200 colorful pinwheels, which were then placed in the ground at the end of the ceremony. This year’s peace celebration included a pinwheel design contest. Winners were Rachelle Louis Jean for most colorful, Odalys Murcia for most creative and Katerine Hernandez for most meaningful. The Warrior Awareness Club, known as the WAC PAC, continued its peace rock tradition. Four students presented rocks painted with positive messages to someone special in their lives, with the hope that those rocks will be passed on to others throughout the year in a “pay it forward” manner. The International Day of Peace ceremony was organized by art teacher Jayne Grasso and the National Art Honor Society, along with support from Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. The United Nations initiative is annually celebrated by billions of people throughout the world. “This event is important for the students because it gives them an opportunity to make a difference and express themselves,” Ms. Grasso said. “It’s very personal to them and it brings the school community together.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162753 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162753 High School Teacher Earns Outstanding Educator Award Amityville Memorial High School teacher Jodi Wilsher received the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award. She was nominated by Class of 2018 valedictorian Trevony Palmer, who is attending the University of Chicago. Ms. Wilsher is in her 17th year as an English language arts teacher in the district, having taught five years at Edmund W. Miles Middle School before moving to the high school. She is the high school’s English department chairwoman and adviser to the National Honor Society. This year, she is teaching Advanced Placement language and composition, and film and literature. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education English from York College of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and a school building and district leadership certificate from Stony Brook. The Outstanding Educator Award has been presented to teachers across the country for more than three decades. First-year students are invited to nominate an educator who has influenced them, challenged them or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162752 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162752 Social Studies Teacher Named EWMMS Assistant Principal Paul Duguay, a teacher in the Amityville Union Free School District for more than a decade, has been named assistant principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School. He joins the administrative team of Principal Edward Plaia and fellow Assistant Principal Earl Mitchell. Mr. Duguay was a social studies teacher at Amityville Memorial High School for three years and at the middle school for eight years. He was the middle school’s social studies department chairman in the 2017-18 school year, and has also coached the varsity girls track team and the middle school baseball team. His responsibilities as assistant principal will include master schedule planning and supervising extracurricular activities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and education from SUNY Albany, a master’s degree in social studies secondary education from Hofstra University and his administration certificate from the College of St. Rose. His professional memberships include the Long Island Council for Social Studies and ASCD. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162750 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162750 Hispanic Culture Comes Alive Through Dance Amityville Memorial High School students shouted “Olé” after each dance performed by the members of the Sol Y Sombra Dance Company on Sept. 14. The 45-minute show kicked off the school’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The experienced dancers highlighted the Spanish art form of flamenco, which is performed all over the world. Students learned that the dancing, the music and the words are all equally important parts of flamenco. They also were given information about the history and cultural significance of the dances. Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the school’s daily announcements will include facts about Hispanic culture. World language teachers will show movies about notable people in Spanish culture. In October, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and the elementary schools will host cultural performances. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162749 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162749 Amityville Welcomes its Youngest Learners The high school Class of 2032 joined the district on Sept. 14 as it was the first day of prekindergarten at Northeast Elementary School. Students in eight pre-K classes met their teachers and their new classmates for the first time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162748 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162748 Title: Educating the Future Enjoy this video highlighting Amityville schools. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162747 Wed, 12 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162747 Middle School Dean Named Assistant Principal The district announces that Earl Mitchell has been named the Assistant Principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School, which serves seventh- through ninth-grade students. Mr. Mitchell is beginning his 20th year in education, and was the middle school’s Dean of Students for the previous three years. Prior to coming to Amityville in 2015, Mr. Mitchell was a social studies teacher and department chairman at Baldwin Middle School, and a social studies teacher at J.W. Dodd Middle School in Freeport as well as the high school’s junior varsity basketball coach. He also served as a social studies teacher and College Now program director at the East New York Family Academy in Brooklyn. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education and history, a master’s degree in education and social studies from Adelphi University, and an administrative certificate from the College of Saint Rose. “I’m honored to be able to serve students, parents, faculty and the community in a greater capacity,” Mr. Mitchell said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162746 Fri, 07 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162746 A New School Year Begins The buses rolled up, children stepped off and learning began in a new school year in the district on Sept. 4. Teachers and students were excited for the year ahead and the limitless possibilities for growth. At Amityville Memorial High School, members of the Class of 2019 arrived for their last first day, while the Class of 2031 entered kindergarten at Northeast Elementary School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162745 Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162745 New Year, New Energy in Amityville Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly wished the staff a “happy new year” as they returned for the start of the 2018-19 school year on Aug. 30, five days ahead of students. At the annual convocation in the high school auditorium, the district’s approximately 700 staff members gathered to hear about the accomplishments of the past year and what’s ahead for the coming year. Dr. Kelly spoke about the construction work that will soon be starting at the high school to add a new gymnasium, science labs and classrooms, as well as renovations to the existing building, all part of a $69.9 million bond passed by voters in March 2016. “The end result is going to be so fabulous for our students and for our community,” she said of the work which also includes upgrades to the middle school and three elementary schools. The district is entering the third year of the five-year strategic plan, “Putting Amityville on the Map.” Dr. Kelly said that there are measured successes in the plan’s three areas: student achievement, school culture and climate, and parent and community partnerships. Principals and directors will discuss progress and present data at an upcoming Board of Education meeting. “Our district has made tremendous strides in all areas,” Dr. Kelly said. “We have much to be proud of and we have much to be optimistic about. We are well on our way to putting Amityville on the map and achieving our vision of becoming a high-performing school district.” Dr. Kelly cited the district’s inclusion on the College Board’s AP District Honor Roll for its student participation and achievement in Advanced Placement courses. She noted the award-winning art and music programs, partnerships with area colleges, and athletes who are recognized equally for sportsmanship and scholarship as they are for their athletic accomplishments. She spoke about the importance of building positive relationships and called on every staff member to “be that one person who makes a difference” in the life of a child. Keynote speaker Dr. Ruby Payne, an author and educator, provided staff with tools and strategies to deal with the emotional realities of students. She taught them several calming techniques and provided copies of one of her books. Staff members participated in professional development workshops throughout the day and teachers also had time to set up their classrooms for the start of the new school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162744 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162744 New Students Welcomed to High School Family For Amityville Memorial High School’s incoming 10th graders, the building will transform before their eyes. The school will be a different place when they graduate in June 2021 than it was on Aug. 28, when they attended new student orientation. Principal Maria Andreotti greeted the incoming class a week before the new school year was set to begin and spoke about the upcoming construction project. It will include a significant expansion to the school with state-of-the-art classrooms and science labs, as well as a new a gymnasium. By the time they are seniors, they are also expected to enjoy a new music and art suite, expanded cafeteria and other upgrades that are part of the $69.9 million facilities bond approved by voters in March 2016. Ms. Andreotti introduced students and their parents to the administrative team and guidance counselors. She spoke about the importance of contributing positively to the school community by working hard, getting good grades, being on time to class, getting involved in activities and treating each other with respect. “We consider this place to be our home and you are our family,” she told the new sophomores. Student Council President Jeffrey Reyes-Espinal discussed the wide range of opportunities for students including Advanced Placement courses, the independent science research program and dozens of afterschool clubs. Participation in challenging courses and extracurricular activities “are what colleges want to see,” he said. Social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi showed students and parents how to sign up for the Remind App, a tool that the school will be using this year for important notifications. Juniors and seniors from the National Honor Society led tours of the building to help the new students find their classes and lockers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162743 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162743 Amityville 101 For New Teachers The district warmly greeted its 20 newest teachers, who are joining the district for the 2018-19 school year. Among the new staff are three elementary teachers, three English language arts teachers, three social studies teachers, two science teachers, two literacy teachers, a high school guidance counselor, a social worker and French, music and ENL teachers. The district also welcomes new instructional coaches at Park Avenue and Northwest elementary schools. They attended new teacher orientation on Aug. 27 at the Park North Administration Building. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly and board of education trustees greeted them during a welcome breakfast. Throughout the day, they learned about district protocols and policies, as well as technology services and professional development opportunities. Amityville prides itself on fostering a collegial environment in which teachers are encouraged to share their expertise by leading workshops for their colleagues. New teachers learned about the history of Amityville from lifelong resident Ken Lang before taking a trolley tour around the district, which includes the village of Amityville, North Amityville and East Massapequa. After lunch provided by the Amityville Teachers Association, the new staff visited their respective buildings for meetings with the principals. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Lois Etzel provided them with goody bags featuring educational books, a district calendar and a supply every teacher needs: Post-it notes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162742 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162742 Middle School Welcomes Seventh-Graders Administrators, teachers and support staff greeted incoming seventh-graders as they attended orientation on Aug. 23 at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Back in June, as sixth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, they made the trip a mile north to experience a typical day in the middle school. For their second visit, they were invited to orientation with their parents to learn about the opportunities and expectations. Principal Ed Plaia reviewed the courses that they will take as seventh-graders including math, science and social studies, a double period of English, physical education and health, Spanish or French, and electives. He spoke about the eighth-grade curriculum, in which students are accelerated in math and science to earn high school credit, and the rigorous academic demands in seventh grade to prepare for that. Mr. Plaia encouraged students to make the most out of middle school by attending extra help, joining an extracurricular activity or sports team, and making sure they are on time for their classes. Students were able to take home free binders and notebooks as they gather their school supplies for the upcoming school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162741 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162741 Major League Lesson for Amityville Ballplayers Players from the Amityville Union Free School District’s baseball program got to learn from the professionals when they were invited to Citi Field to work with the New York Mets. Nearly 30 players from the varsity, junior varsity and middle school levels recently spent three hours at Citi Field. Mets players Dominic Smith, Jeurys Familia and Luis Guillorme worked with the players on hitting, pitching and fielding. Also participating were former Mets pitcher and SNY broadcaster Nelson Figueroa, bullpen coach Ricky Bones and Director of Player Relations Donovan Mitchell. “It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said head coach Chris Diot. “Our players had a great time and were even invited back for next year. It was just an incredible day for the Amityville baseball program.” Assistant Coach Jack Zider said in addition to baseball skills, the young players learned life lessons such as perseverance. The Mets players, coaches and staff shared stories of their baseball journeys. “The opportunity to learn from Major League players and coaches is something that we could only dream about before that day,” Coach Zider said. “I’m confident that I speak for all of us when I say that we are forever grateful to the Mets for their generosity and enthusiasm when providing this baseball education and sharing their passion and love for the game.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162739 Thu, 16 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162739 Regional Summer School Bus and Examination Schedule All students who are scheduled to attend the Regents Review Sessions at the Regional Summer School site, Robert Moses Middle School, fromAugust6th-15thto please follow the Period 3 Summer School Bus Schedule posted below. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162737 Fri, 03 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162737 ‘Seussical’ Cast Earns Numerous Awards The Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club received the Outstanding Ensemble of a Musical award from the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts. The group was honored for its spring production of “Seussical the Musical.” Additionally, several students received special recognition for their contributions to the musical, including Trinity Tobin and Colleen Compitello who earned student choreographer awards. The Teens in Tune award was presented to students for their outstanding group work within the show, including the Bird Girls — Kaela Fuller, Bryanna Leguizamon, Aalany McCatty and Genesis Perez — and the Wickersham Brothers — Trey Fulton, John Hermann and Andrew Thompson. The Future Star award for younger students participating in a high school production was presented to Alexander Andino, Annabella Arezzo, Tiffany Asbell, Cheyenne Benymon, Tamiya Bullard, Sydney Carter, Ayden Catron, Arianna Cuevas, Brianna Cuevas, Kaitlyn Garrett, Nevaeh Hankins, Gisele Jimenez, Kyra Lee, Madelyne Martinez, Alliyah McQueen, Eghosa Ojo, Janaiya Randolph, Emma Reme, Christian Rochester-Chandler, Vash Schiavetta, Andrew Thompson, Katya Ramos-Rojas and Denym Wilder. “Seussical the Musical” was directed by Drama Club advisers Melissa Asbell and Megan Ashe. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162735 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162735 2018-19 Calendar Now Available The 2018-2019 district calendar is now available online. Printed copies will be delivered to homes mid-August. Click here to download the full calendar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162736 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162736 District Receives Grant for 21st Century Learning The district was one of 38 school districts selected by the New York State Education Department to receive a Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant. The district is getting $889,241 in federal funds through the Every Student Succeeds Act for technology enhancement. Amityville students will engage in a technology-supported, team-building approach in which they will participate as designers, engineers, documenters and strategists to create board games and video games based on informational and fictional texts selected from the existing curriculum. A focus on STREAM — science, technology, reading, engineering, the arts and math — will engage teachers in creating and facilitating hands-on rigorous interdisciplinary units of study with their students. Teachers will learn to use online support tools such as coding platform kidOYO. Google Classroom will be used both as a professional learning network for teacher communication and ongoing collaboration, as well as a cloud-based curriculum platform to scaffold student learning from grade to grade. Students will transition from the board game design process in elementary schools to robotics, coding and video game development at the middle school level. This will provide opportunities for school-to-career pathways in advanced coding, visual media and mobile app design at the high school level. In addition, teacher specialists supporting ENL and students with disabilities will learn to use visual media, such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality tools, to make science and social studies curriculum come alive, while enriching vocabulary development and oral language fluency. The district will continue its partnership with Digital Age Learning, an educational technology consulting company, to support these new initiatives. “The district is proud to be awarded the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grant,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “We will utilize these funds to create a personalized learning experience in essential 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity to support college and career readiness across all content areas.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162733 Tue, 17 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162733 Sports Camps Features Skills and Drills More than 100 youngsters kicked off their summer by getting some exercise at the Amityville Union Free School District’s sports skills camps. Held in the high school gymnasium and on the athletic fields, students entering fourth, fifth and sixth grades were able to choose between basketball, flag football, soccer and volleyball. The free eight-day program was open to any child living within the district boundaries and included breakfast, lunch and three hours of sports instruction from coaches and teachers. A typical day included lessons and drills followed by scrimmage games in which the young athletes could put into practice their new skills. Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity soccer coach Mike Abbondondolo explained that this year’s soccer camp had a World Cup theme, so the children played games representing different countries. Girls varsity volleyball coach Julie Dexter said that participants in her camp worked on skills such as serving, hitting and passing. Allan Dodson-Isabel, who will be entering fourth grade at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, has aspirations to play in the NBA so he participated in the basketball camp. At minimum, he said he wants to play for Amityville’s varsity team and win a state title like the local players he looks up to. “I like basketball and I wanted to learn more,” Allan said. “I want to be an MVP.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162731 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162731 Board of Education Names Officers The Board of Education hosted its reorganization meeting on July 2, with re-elected trustees Juan Leon and Jeannette Santos sworn into office to begin their new three-year terms. The board returned the same leadership for the 2018-19 school year, with Carolyn Dodd elected president, Mr. Leon selected as first vice president and Laura Pawlewicz chosen as second vice president. They also appointed Barbara Miller as the new district clerk. As an annual tradition, Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly took the oath of office. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162730 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162730 Suffolk Legislature Honors Three Amityville Teachers Three teachers in the district were honored by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory with the Outstanding Teacher Recognition Award. The honorees were Northwest Elementary School reading teacher Jennifer Bianco, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School special education teacher Marisa Krepil and Edmund W. Miles Middle School English language arts teacher John Katsigiorgis. Ms. Bianco just completed her fifth year as Northwest, where she provides reading support services to students in first, second and third grades. She sets high expectations for her students and models positive behaviors that help them reach their goals. Additionally, she strives to grow as an educator by attending professional development workshops and also facilitates model lessons for her colleagues. At the most recent Superintendent Conference Day, Ms. Bianco planned and delivered a staff development workshop for teachers utilizing the Leveled Literacy Intervention reading program. “Ms. Bianco is a gifted and caring instructor who has tremendous initiative and a desire to continue to learn,” said Principal Kathleen Hyland. “Her approach is one where students feel nurtured, supported and free to take risks. She fosters a love of learning and encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning while providing them with guidance and mentoring.” Ms. Krepil has worked in the district for more than 10 years and is a resource room teacher for students in fourth through sixth grades, using student data to provide personalized instruction. She also serves as a special education coordinator in which she organizes and facilitates various meetings, and provides professional development to her colleagues on creating action plans to increase academic, social and emotional support for students. Among her accomplishments were organizing fall and winter celebrations for students with autism, which provided them with opportunities for language development. “Ms. Krepil is a dedicated educator who is a true asset to our school,” said Principal Robyn Santiago. “She regularly goes above and beyond to support students, and is a true leader in the building by sharing her teaching expertise with her colleagues. Mr. Katsigiorgis has worked in the district for 15 years and currently teaches seventh grade. He was nominated by Principal Edward Plaia and the middle school’s leadership team. “I was honored and very excited that I was nominated and received this award,” Mr. Katsigiorgis said. “The one thing that helps me as a teacher is the fact I am willing to look at myself honestly and objectively. I am willing to acknowledge when something is not working and then try to rectify it by asking for help or researching a better way to make it work.” Mr. Plaia noted that Mr. Katsigiorgis came to the United States when he was in high school as an English language learner. “Now he is an English teacher, and motivates all of his students each day with his passion for learning,” Mr. Plaia said. “He embraces new methods of instruction, new ideas, and all things which help his students. He’s the type of teacher that students and colleagues will remember forever.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162729 Thu, 05 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162729 Park Avenue Boasts Superior Musicians Young musicians from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School recently impressed judges at the Long Island Music Festival assessment. The chorus and sixth-grade band each received “superior” ratings following their performances on June 8. The groups performed for trained ensemble adjudicators at the regional festival and received immediate feedback in response to their performances. The chorus was led by music teacher Megan Ashe and the band was conducted by Jolene Maccarone. Dr. Fran Fernandez, director of fine and performing arts, said, “Congratulations to the students of these performing ensembles and to their teachers, Ms. Ashe and Mrs. Maccarone, for their fine performances and for representing our district in such a positive way.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162728 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162728 Milestone Moments for Elementary Students The district hosted moving up ceremonies for its elementary school students, beginning with pre-K on June 15. Kindergartners said goodbye to Northeast Elementary School on June 19. The theme for this year’s program was “A Broadway Spectacular,” which was coordinated by music teacher Nicole Altamura. Each of the 11 classes performed a song from a child-friendly Broadway show such as “Under the Sea” from the “The Little Mermaid” and “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from “The Lion King.” A group performance of “We Go Together” from “Grease” closed out each of the three moving up ceremonies. Northwest Elementary School held its third-grade moving up ceremony on June 20 at the high school. Principal Kathleen Hyland said that it marked an important milestone in the students’ educational journeys. She noted they have grown as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists and young citizens since they entered the school as first-graders. Going forward, Ms. Hyland reminded them to have good manners and a respectful attitude while showing a willingness to keep learning and try new experiences. The program included musical selections by students, “I Can’t Stop the Feeling” and “Count on Me.” It also featured a video presentation in which students shared their fondest Northwest memories. Middle school awaits 220 students who were recognized at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School’s moving up ceremony on June 21. The sixth-grade class left an impression on administrators, teachers and staff, with ideas that helped both their school and the world. Students designed a mural to brighten up on of the school’s hallways and came up with a plan to help people in Puerto Rico following the devastating hurricane. “I have high hopes for you and I believe in you,” Principal Robyn Santiago told the students. “There are great things coming.” Mikhail Ankudovych and Samantha Molina, co-presidents of the middle school’s National Junior Honor School chapter, addressed their future peers. They talked about the importance of good character and highlighted the community service activities that NJHS member perform. The ceremony also featured the presentation of the President’s Award of Educational Excellence and Educational Achievement to a recipient from each sixth-grade class. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that the summer is a good time to rest and reenergize as they prepare for middle school. In between playing and swimming, she reminded them to read to keep their minds sharp. “Reading helps you stretch your imagination,” she said. “I really encourage everyone to spend some time with books over the summer.” Park Avenue Moving Up Ceremony Northwest Moving Up Ceremony Northeast Kindergarten Celebration http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162727 Fri, 29 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162727 Middle School Celebrates Student Achievements Students were recognized for their academic performance, good character and perfect attendance at the annual ninth-grade awards ceremony for Edmund W. Miles Middle School on June 21. The ceremony was held in the high school auditorium, introducing the students to the school they will attend in the fall. Principal Edward Plaia, Dean of Students Earl Mitchell and teachers presented the awards. The Warriors of the Year were Ryanne Zamora and Edwin Sanchez for best exemplifying grit, perseverance, integrity and respect. There was also a Warrior of the Year presentation for each subject. Winners included Tristan Angus (band), Kaya Branscum (earth science), Kevin Contreras (orchestra), Myles Goddard (physical education), Nicole Jimenez (health), Gabrielle Knight (foreign language), Noah Laforest (social studies), Aalany McCatty (math), Gabrielle McGinnis (English language arts), Yesenia Mendoza Rojas (chorus), Yomary Orellana (art) and Carlos Santos Hernandez (ENL). The school recognized students who had the top grade point average in each subject, as well as those who were named to the honor roll during each of their three years in middle school. Additional honors included the Amityville Teachers Association Award of Excellence, the New York State Comptroller Achievement Award, the New York State Triple C Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Award. Noah Laforest, Justin Mullings and Keniese Pryce each received an award for perfect attendance. All ninth-graders received promotion certificates for their successful completion of middle school. The program ended with a video montage. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162726 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162726 Distinguished Graduates Set Sail From Amityville There were reflections, thank-you’s and words of encouragement as 226 students graduated from Amityville Memorial High School on June 23. This year’s ceremony featured new attire, with all graduates clad in red gowns with gray stoles. Principal Maria Andreotti wished members of the Class of 2018 much success as they begin the next chapter of their lives, whether it be in college, in the workforce or serving their country in a branch of the military. She added that she has high hopes for a senior class that distinguished itself in academics, the arts and athletics, and encouraged them to use their talents to make a positive difference in the world. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that this year’s graduates were entering third grade when she arrived in Amityville, and it was her honor to watch them grow and mature. “It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of your journey,” she said to the students, reminding them to treasure the high school memories, experiences and friendships as they set sail on the next part of their lives. Valedictorian Trevony Palmer, in addressing his fellow graduates, told them to take care of their minds and bodies. “Be creative and unique with your own decisions,” he said, “so that they won’t set you up for failure but rather for success.” Salutatorian Jerinna Solanges recited words of wisdom from her teachers and her friends. She said it was their guidance that helped her achieve a high level of success in Amityville. “Remember those who helped you on your journey,” she said. After remarks by senior class President Jacob Marrero and senior class adviser Cara Garofalo-Westphal, graduates were called up on stage to receive their diplomas where they were congratulated by Ms. Andreotti, Dr. Kelly and board of education trustees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162725 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162725 District Celebrates Staff Milestones The Board of Education honored retirees and celebrated milestone anniversaries during Staff Recognition Night on June 13. Retiring staff members included special education teacher Susan Koopman, clerical staff Eileen Becker, Patricia Jordan and Theresa Perry, and monitors Joanne Hernandez, Glenda John-Scott and Joan Wexler-Lamantia. Assistant Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services Sandra Parmentier was recognized for 20 years of service to the district and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Frances Fernandez celebrated 25 years with Amityville. Teachers and staff members to reach 20 years included Brenda Allen, Brian Callahan, Jennifer Callahan, Lynn Cesiro, Michael Dispenziere, Dorothy Haverty, Andrew Henricksen, Glenda John-Scott, Brian McCormack, Jeanne Patrick, Kathy Paul, Michael Rogers, Juliann Russell, Anne Silva, Jean Surlin, Lisa Thomas, Anthony Tolliver, Margaret Watkins, Larry Williams and Ellen Wunderlich. Honored for 25 years were Melissa Asbell, Christine Franchi, Patricia Monaco, Keryn Naso, Diane O’Neill and Barbara Perez. John Kelly was recognized for 30 years of service. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162724 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162724 District Accepts Technology Donation From Rotary Club Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students now have additional technology at their disposal following the donation of three Chromebooks by the Amityville Rotary Club. Rotary Club members presented the donation to district officials on June 7 in the Park Avenue library. The three Acer touchscreen Chromebooks are in addition to devices already available in the school. Sixth-grade students demonstrated how they use Chromebooks to learn computer programming by participating in coding activities through KidOYO. “We know that these Chromebooks will be put to good use as it prepares us to get ready for the modern technology world,” said sixth-grader Donovan Graham, a student member of the district Technology Committee. Amityville Rotary Club Foundation Chairwoman Virginia Belling explained to students about the purpose of the organization and its local and global service projects. She encouraged students to join the Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored community service club for youth, when they get to high school. “We thank the Amityville Rotary Club for their generous donation and their continued support of our students and our community,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “This helps further our mission of providing students with access to a wide variety of engaging technological tools and resources.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162723 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162723 VIDEO: What Kindergartners Learned This Year http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162720 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162720 Amityville Seniors Walk the Halls of the Past Amityville Memorial High School seniors returned to their roots for the annual Senior Walk on June 7, in which they visited the district’s elementary schools and middle school. After departing from the high school on six buses, the seniors arrived a short time later at Northwest Elementary School. Clad in their red caps and gowns, they walked through the halls as “Pomp and Circumstance” played over the public address system. Students and teachers lined the halls to cheer the soon-to-be graduates. Many children displayed their handmade congratulatory signs and held out their hands for high fives, while teachers snapped pictures and hugged many of their former students. Accompanied by Principal Maria Andreotti, Dean of Students John Cardone and several teachers, the seniors then traveled to Northeast Elementary School where they got their starts as either pre-K or kindergarten students. Following trips through Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School, the seniors returned to the high school for lunch. The Senior Walk was one of many celebratory activities leading up to graduation including the senior and sports awards ceremonies, college athlete celebration day and the senior prom. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162722 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162722 A Delightful Day With Dads at Northeast Fathers, grandfathers, uncle and other special guests came to Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District for the annual pre-K Father’s Day celebration on June 8. Children and their visitors gathered in the courtyard on the warm and sunny day to build and decorate birdhouses, which they were able to take home. They also participated in various recreational activities such as creating large bubbles and participating in hula-hoop contests. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162719 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162719 Amityville Athletes Commit to Their Sports Sixteen of the district’s finest senior athletes will continue their athletic pursuits as they take their talents to colleges and universities on Long Island, regionally and across the United States. During College Athlete Celebration Day, held in Amityville Memorial High School’s library on June 1, administrators and coaches congratulated the seniors on their next step. “Today is a celebration of their decision to continue their sports on the college and university level,” said Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health. “They have worked hard their whole lives to get to the next level and have paved the way for future Amityville athletes.” The district congratulates the following athletes: Jala Coad, football, SUNY Brockport Julius Goddard, basketball, SUNY Oneonta Deandre Harding, football, Morrisville State College Nyleek Hendricks, football, Utica College Bri’Anna Jones, basketball, Nassau Community College Jacob Marrero, track and field, Norfolk State University Damion McPhaul, football, Jacksonville University Deonte Palmer, football, Hampton University or Clark Atlanta University Donte Palmer, football, Hampton University or Clark Atlanta University Jayson Robinson, basketball, Springfield Commonwealth Academy Joshua Serrano, basketball, Iona College Kacey Smith, volleyball, Suffolk County Community College Sabrina Tobin, track and field, Niagara University Enroy Toney, football, undecided Ashley Wilson, dance, SUNY Brockport Deonte Wilson, wrestling, North Carolina State University http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162718 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162718 Northwest Students Welcome Their Fluffy Friends “They look so cute,” second-grader Gilberto Carranza said of the baby chicks that hatched in his classroom at Northwest Elementary School. In early June, baby chickens were born in all of the second-grade classrooms, part of an annual unit on animal life cycles. Incubators with eggs were delivered to each room, and students had to ensure that they were kept at 100 degrees for three weeks. Once the baby chicks broke through their shells, they were moved to other containers and cared for by the students for about a week until going back to Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank. Teacher Annette Fox said that her students hypothesized about how many eggs would hatch. They also completed writing assignments about the development of the baby chicks and practiced using transition words. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162717 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162717 Message from the Superintendent Regarding Today's Bus Accident June 12, 2018 Earlier this morning, a school bus was involved in an accident while transporting five of our elementary students to Western Suffolk BOCES’ James E. Allen Elementary School. The non-district school bus is owned by Educational Bus Company. Parents were notified and all students were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The crash is currently being investigated by Suffolk County Police Department. The safety of our students is our top priority. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162716 Tue, 12 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162716 District Honors Standout Seniors Nearly 200 awards and scholarships were presented to members of Amityville Memorial High School’s senior class on May 31. The Senior Awards Ceremony was an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the soon-to-be graduates. The seniors were joined by administrators, board of education trustees, teachers, guidance counselors, families and fellow students. Also on hand were representatives of the dozens of organizations that sponsor awards and scholarships. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that the Class of 2018 is receiving approximately $1.5 million in scholarship money, “a very significant contribution to our young men and women.” Awards recognized accomplishments in academics, the arts, athletics, community service and leadership. The honored seniors were called up one by one, and guidance counselors announced each individual’s awards and scholarships. A video presentation featured the top 25 graduates, who spoke about their college plans and what they would miss most about Amityville. “Members of the Class of 2018 have been positive role models whose outstanding achievements are cause for celebration,” Principal Maria Andreotti said. “Their dedication, hard work and commitment to success in all areas the school are truly appreciated by the Amityville school community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162715 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162715 High School Students Explore Medical Careers Amityville Memorial High School students learned about dozens of job possibilities in the healthcare field during the first Medical Career Day on May 24. The fair was coordinated by Northwell Health’s Plainview and Syosset hospitals. At a medical career fair in the gymnasium, students were able to visit tables to learn about different healthcare departments including radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, patient experience, human resources, marketing and communications, food and nutrition, dental and many more. “What makes Medical Career Day unique is that students have the opportunity to learn about so many different careers in healthcare, not just clinical ones,” said Christine Patti, Plainview and Syosset hospital’s community relations director. “Any position that they can think of can relate back to healthcare and is featured at Northwell Health.” There were several interactive activities. At the dermatology station, students could look into a DermaScan machine, which used a LED black light to show sun damage on their skin. The occupational therapist table had a game of Jenga in which students had to use their non-dominant hand to remove the pieces. They could also practice hands-on CPR on dummies, and see the various instruments used by doctors and nurses. South Oaks Hospital of Amityville had information about its art therapy program and Project C.A.R.E., its team-building adventure course. Doctors, nurses and other professionals led workshops in the library and auditorium on various topics such as healthy lifestyles, coping with anxiety and how to obtain careers in nutrition, pharmacy and healthcare finance. Students heard from people with military backgrounds who have transitioned into healthcare and from a doctor who immigrated to the United States and became one of the nation’s leading cardiologists. “The range of options out there for our students is amazing, and they were recently able to learn about these opportunities from the experts,” said Principal Maria Andreotti. “Students took advantage of this hands-on experience to engage in conversations with some of the leading healthcare professionals. They learned that they can achieve anything if they work hard and set their mind to it.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162713 Fri, 08 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162713 First Season in the Books for Girls Lacrosse Amityville Memorial High School’s girls lacrosse team recently finished its inaugural season, as the popular sport was added for the spring 2018 schedule. The junior varsity team was coached by a pair of Amityville teachers with experience playing at the collegiate level. Northwest Elementary School third-grade teacher Nicole Bass was part of three NCAA championship teams at Adelphi University and high school social studies teacher Margot Howard was an inaugural member of St. Joseph College’s women’s lacrosse team. The Warriors played a 13-game schedule from late March through early May against Suffolk County opponents from Lindenhurst to Hampton Bays. Homes games were held at Lou Howard Field. Coach Howard said the team was more competitive as the season went on, and successfully increased their goal-scoring ability. It also continued to gain players as word spread about the new team, finishing with about 20 players. Senior captains Gaby Alberto, Kimberly Bonilla and Allison Martinez led the group of mostly freshman, sophomores and juniors. Next year’s team will have many returning players with a full year of playing experience. “It’s a young team and we have a lot of potential,” Coach Howard said. “The girls were so amazing and so dedicated. I’m just really excited about the future of this program.” Coach Howard said she was extremely proud of her players, who added lacrosse to their rigorous academic schedules. They committed themselves to learning the rules and strategies, and played well together as a team. Evan Farkas, the district’s director of athletics, physical education and health, said the hope is to expand the girls program to include a varsity team in the near future. Amityville will introduce intramural boys lacrosse next year to eventually grow into a full program. “We’re incredibly proud of the girls and the coaches,” Mr. Farkas said. “It’s a challenge to start up a new team. I think this is going to be one of our great programs in Amityville. Watching a game, it felt like lacrosse was always here.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162712 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162712 Middle School Educator a Standout in Social Studies Michele Rudden, an eighth-grade teacher at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, was selected as the 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Middle School Social Studies Teacher Award by the Long Island Council for the Social Studies. Ms. Rudden has taught in Amityville since 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Hofstra University and a master’s degree in education from Molloy College. “I’ve always loved history,” Ms. Rudden said. “You don’t have an understanding of the way things are today if you don’t look at the past.” Ms. Rudden said that she always puts her students first and gives them opportunities to express their opinions through active classroom discussions. She incorporates different teaching strategies into her lessons, particularly with technology. For a lesson on the Civil Rights movement, she had her students make Flipgrid videos on Chromebooks about an event from that era. She said she also uses music and movies to bring historical events to life. The award is presented to a teacher who demonstrates knowledge of social studies content and current social studies issues, and is an effective and inspiring teacher with the ability to convey the importance and vitality of social studies for the students. Ms. Rudden was nominated by social studies Chairman Paul Duguay. “Ms. Rudden has been an amazing asset to the Amityville Union Free School District for more than 15 years,” he said. “She is someone that strives to create meaningful and exciting lessons for her students each and every day. With the many changes in social studies recently, she is someone the entire social studies department looks to for guidance, which is why I cannot think of a more deserving person for this award.” Added Ms. Rudden, “I feel that this award could have been given to any of my colleagues in this department. I’m incredibly honored and it’s nice to have your work recognized.” She was honored at the LICSS annual awards ceremony on May 31 in Hauppauge and had been invited to submit a proposal to present at the annual conference in October. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162711 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162711 Important Message from the Superintendent of Schools June 1, 2018 Dear Parents and Guardians, Earlier this afternoon, the district was made aware by the Amityville Village Police Department that an Amityville resident is a defendant in a criminal case for possession of images of child pornography. While this person has no affiliation with the district, our students or our staff, his residence is within close proximity to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. While the investigation is still ongoing, law enforcement officials have assured us that, at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that any of the district’s children are involved in this case. The district is in regular communication with the police department and will remain so during the duration of its investigation. The safety and security of our students is our top priority and I will keep you apprised of additional information, as it becomes available. As always, if you have any concerns and/or questions, please feel free to contact my office. Additionally, if you have any information regarding the ongoing police investigation, please contact the police department. Yours truly, Mary T. Kelly, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162714 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162714 Poetry is a Snap for Second-Graders Young poets at Northwest Elementary School recently shared their original works during the Adams Family Poetry Café. Second-graders in Franca Adams’ class spent several weeks writing different styles of poetry, and each child picked one piece to share at the poetry café. Family members were invited to attend the writing celebration. The class began by sharing a poem the students wrote together, “We Are,” which was modeled after a poetry mentor text, “I Am.” After that, each child came to the microphone to share a selected piece. Guests were asked to acknowledge the poets by snapping instead of clapping. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162710 Thu, 31 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162710 Presentation Matters at Park Avenue Science Fair After learning about erosion, rocks, plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes, and the water cycle, sixth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School shared their knowledge with their younger peers. The school hosted its annual Science Project Fair on May 17, and sixth-graders set up their displays in the auditorium. Fourth- and fifth-graders visited the fair to learn about the different scientific concepts. Students worked in teams and one group per class was assigned to each of the five topics that comprised the sixth-grade science curriculum. The teams had to create poster board presentations. Teacher Deborah Ross said that in addition to mastering the content, the students had to put great thought into their projects and create well-organized poster boards. She explained that presentation skills will become increasingly more important as they get older and even could be necessary when interviewing for jobs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162709 Tue, 29 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162709 Northeast Gives Naval Officer First Class Treatment Petty Officer First Class Joshua Candon made his third visit to Northeast Elementary School as he visited pre-K and kindergarten classrooms on May 17. The Naval officer last came to the school in September 2016, when he presented a folded American flag that had been flown during several Joint Task Force missions. Mr. Candon recently returned from a deployment in Africa, and during that time Northeast students sent his unit personalized cards for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter, as well as candy, Girl Scout cookies and other goodies. During his recent visit, Mr. Candon showed students an African war club and answered questions about his role in the military. He also thanked the students for their kind words and generosity during his recent deployment. Students, in return, shouted “Thank you for your service” as he left each room. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162708 Fri, 25 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162708 Middle School Fosters Kindness and Respect Students and staff at Edmund W. Miles Middle School are striving to create a culture of kindness and respect. Those efforts are paying off as the school recently received the No Place for Hate designation by the Anti-Defamation League. The national initiative is a school climate improvement framework to combat bias, bullying and hatred. The goals are to build inclusive and safe communities in which all students can thrive, empower students, staff and families to take a stand against bullying and hatred, and send a clear unified message that all students have a place to belong. A team of students and staff, led by guidance counselor Keri Kearney and social worker Beatriz Offitto spearheaded several initiatives this year that helped achieve the designation. The school created a kindness rock garden in the fall, and everyone in the school was invited to paint a rock with an inspirational message. A Black History Month student celebration in February emphasized the appreciation of diversity through song, dance, poetry and artwork. Recently, students created trees of respect in the cafeteria. They wrote messages on paper leaves about ways they can show respect and foster kindness within the school such as “Smile to make someone’s day,” “Congratulate people on their achievements” and “Say thank you!” The school participates in Olweus Bully Prevention, a research-based program that is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer. It includes schoolwide rules and consequences, classroom level meetings to build community, individual interventions for students who bully or are bullied along with parental involvement, and community efforts to increase support of anti-bullying messages and strategies. All students also signed a Resolution of Respect. Six students are members of the No Place for Hate committee including seventh-graders Nataly Carbajal and Samantha Molino, eighth-graders Kayla Marrero and Gianely McCatty and ninth-graders Vanessa Garcia and Amber Palmer. They were chosen for their exemplary character and embodying the values of a No Place for Hate school. They will attend the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate Recognition Ceremony on May 25 at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162707 Wed, 23 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162707 Sophomores Make a Personal Connection to History Sophomores at Amityville Memorial High School heard a powerful story from a Long Island man who, more than seven decades ago, survived the Holocaust. The first-hand account from Werner Reich gave students insight into one of the biggest atrocities in history. Mr. Reich has been visiting the high school for the past decade to support the 10th-grade social studies curriculum, which focuses on world history and includes extensive study of World War II. He told students that as a teenager, he was arrested and held in a concentration camp before finally being liberated at 17 years old and later moving to the United States. A PowerPoint presentation with photographs, maps and cartoons illustrated his tales of capture and survival while providing historical context of the Holocaust. His story served as inspiration for students to lead lives based upon kindness and respect. Mr. Reich urged them to fight injustice and oppression, and to stand up for anyone being mistreated. “Ask yourself, ‘What is the right thing to?’ Then do it,” he said. Social studies teachers explained that students learn how to cite primary sources in their writing, and there is no greater primary source than hearing from a person who lived through a historical event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162706 Mon, 21 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162706 Pre-K Students Say ‘Thank You’ to Mom Mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other special guests visited Northeast Elementary School on May 11 for the annual pre-K Mother’s Day. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins said that the event is a long-standing tradition at the school and a chance to recognize family members for the support they provide throughout the year. Each class performed a song, and selections included “Mommy, Mommy, I Love You Mommy,” “You’re My Mom,” “You're Amazing” and “I Want a Mom That Will Last Forever.” It concluded with a group performance of “Skidamarink.” After the songs, the students joined their family members for refreshments and iced tea. Children provided gifts to their loved ones including handmade cards and crafts. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162705 Fri, 18 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162705 ‘Aladdin’ Coming to Middle School Stage ‘Aladdin’ Coming to Middle School Stage The Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club will present the musical “Aladdin Junior” this weekend. The show is based on the popular Disney animated movie. The show will include popular songs such as “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me.” Lead actors include Alexander Diaz as Aladdin, Keiry Martinez as Jasmine, Johnatan Blanchard as the genie, Kayla Fisher as Kassim, Wilmory Bouzy as Babkak and Joel Rodriguez as Omar. The director is Gerald Asbell and the assistant director is Carl Ferrara. Show times are Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium. Tickets are $5 at the door. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162703 Wed, 16 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162703 District Celebrates its Champions Amityville Memorial High School’s state championship basketball team marched through the streets of town on May 12 as the community came out to celebrate their accomplishment. The Parade of Champions began at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and was followed by a recognition ceremony in the high school auditorium. Marchers included administrators, board of education trustees, cheerleaders, junior varsity athletes, representatives from the middle and elementary schools, elected officials and community leaders. After winning the county and Long Island championships, the Warriors defeated Irondequoit High School, 52-42 on March 17, then captured the state title the following day with a 74-54 win over defending champion Ardsley High School. Amityville’s first state title in 15 years was a cause for celebration. “They are a tremendous source of pride for our entire community,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “Our student athletes truly embody the Warrior ethic. They are gentlemen of character.” On hand to honor the team were Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry and Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith, Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer, Town Councilman Terence McSweeney, Town Clerk Gerry Compitello, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory and State Sen. John Brooks. The varsity basketball players, along with head coach Gordon Thomas and assistant coach Paul Robinson, were presented with citations. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a championship sign that was donated by the Town of Babylon. School officials also honored New York State wrestling champion and three-time All-American Deonte Wilson, who was unable to attend because he was competing that day in the discus throw for Amityville’s track and field team. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162702 Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162702 Budget Passed School Budget Passed, Yes: 515 No: 230. Trustees Juan Leon and Jeannette Santos re-elected to Board of Education. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162704 Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162704 Medical Research Earns Science Students First Place A team of student scientists from the district took first place in the project competition at the recent STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College. The group of Amityville Memorial High School students, including Jeffrey Garcia, Nathalie Larin, Amber Palmer, Amelia Tisk, Alexa Victor and Z’Dhanne Williams, are part of the Independent Science Research program. They presented their project, “Treatment of Polycythemia Vera with Resveratrol and Other Small Molecules,” which they have been working on since middle school. The students have been trying to determine molecules that would be best for the treatment of Polycythemia Vera, a rare blood cancer. They have been working one day a week at Farmingdale alongside biology professor Dr. Andrew Michaelson, with support from science research teacher Alexis Charles and retired science teacher Deborah Charles. “All of this research is for a good cause,” Jeffrey said. “This can one day save lives.” The five students were honored at the May 9 board of education and presented with certificates and plaques from Dr. Veronica Henry, the executive assistant to the president at Farmingdale. Amityville’s Independent Science Research program, now its third year, continues to grow in terms of enrollment and participation in regional science competitions. This year, students took part in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair and Molloy College’s Kathy Belton Science Fair for the first time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162701 Mon, 14 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162701 Video: High School Heroes at Northwest Elementary students learned about business, communities and financial literacy from their peers at the high school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162700 Thu, 10 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162700 Three Receive Tenure in Amityville The Board of Education awarded tenure to three staff members at their meeting on April 18. The tenure recipients were Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Diane Castonguay, Northwest Elementary School instructional coach Lorie Beard and Northeast Elementary School instructional coach Theresa McCormack. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly recommended them for tenure. Ms. Castonguay came to the district three years ago after working in the private sector as a certified public account and then as a school district treasurer. She oversees all financial operations and the development of the annual budget, along with facilities, transportation and the school lunch program. Dr. Kelly cited the outstanding job she has done in Amityville. Ms. Beard and Ms. McCormack support teachers at their respective buildings with instructional and technology needs. They have helped to implement the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project workshops. Dr. Kelly said they are both highly respected among the faculty. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162699 Tue, 08 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162699 Science Fair Showcases Middle School’s Inquiring Minds After months of exploration and inquiry, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School presented their findings at the annual science fair. The students showcased their work for their classmates, teachers and families during the evening event. Projects explored a variety of different scientific concepts including electricity, density, magnetics and nature. Students explored which type of gum keeps its flavor longer, if adding salt to water can make an egg float and the impact of sunlight on growing grass. Each seventh-grade student completed a project by conducting an experiment using the scientific method. They were allowed to work independently or with a partner. Science department Chairwoman Natasha Lim said she was proud on how hard the students worked as they explored challenging topics and conducted rigorous investigations. The goal of the project, Ms. Lim said, is to get students excited about science and find a topic they are passionate about. She added that the science fair is their opportunity to be the experts. Students in the science research program, under the direction of teacher Alexis Charles, also presented their work. Throughout the year, they have been studying the causes and impacts of climate change, and also taking care of animals including beta fish, guppies and leopard geckos. A group of ninth-grade science research students, who have been studying a rare type of cancer known as polycythemia vera since last year, also presented on their latest findings. The students also competed at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, Molloy College’s Kathy Belton Science Fair, and the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College, which included a first-place finish. Students also showcased their work from the middle school’s new STEAM classes, which focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Teacher Mark Marchino said students have been participating in many hands-on activities throughout the year. They built cars to protect eggs from breaking, bridges out of straws that could hold a certain amount of weight, water filters using rocks, sand, cotton balls and coffee filters, and backyard design drawings. Adjacent to the science fair was the first Miles Pride Showcase. Sixth-graders from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were invited to learn about the athletic and extracurricular opportunities that will be available upon entering middle school in the fall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162697 Fri, 04 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162697 Northwest Students Step Back in Time Second-graders at Northwest Elementary School explored the past with help from members of the Amityville Historical Society. The students recently visited Lauder Museum in the village to learn about the history of Amityville through displays, photos and maps. As a follow up, historical society representatives Patricia Cahaney, Seth Purdy and Doris Reynolds visited Olimpia Karounos’s class and showed off various artifacts, some at least a century old, such as a rotary telephone, washboard and coffee grinder. The field trip and classroom visit supported the second-grade social studies curriculum, which focuses on communities and how they change over time. Students also created their own personal timelines with photos of themselves from birth through the present. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162698 Wed, 02 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162698 District Earns Distinction for Music Program The district has once again been recognized for its music program by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation with a Best Communities for Music Education distinction. Amityville joined 583 school districts in the nation in receiving the designation, the seventh time in the last eight years for the district. For 19 years, the Best Communities for Music Education program has acknowledged schools and districts across the country for their commitment to and support of music education in schools. The survey measured a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition. In Amityville, general music instruction begins in kindergarten, and students learn to play the recorder in third grade. Upon entering Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in fourth grade, children can select an instrument to play in the band or orchestra, and also join the chorus. Jazz ensembles are available at the middle school and high school, and elective courses include piano and music theory. “It is a great honor that the Amityville Union Free School District has again been designated as one the Best Communities for Music Education,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of fine arts. “Our music program gives all students a chance to shine in the performing arts, and our dedicated music teachers are second to none. Amityville continues to remain a community that is committed to access and high standards for music education.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162695 Mon, 30 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162695 Middle School Honor Society Welcomes New Members In recognition of their academic achievements and good character, 17 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. The inductees were joined by their families and their fellow seventh-graders during an afternoon ceremony on April 16. Principal Ed Plaia told the new members that the National Junior Honor Society is not a club but rather a prestigious national organization that has specific and demanding criteria for admittance. He reminded them to “keep up the good work.” Honor society co-presidents Mikhail Ankudovych and Samantha Molina lit the golden candle of knowledge, which was then used to light blue candles representing the five core values of the organization: character, citizenship, leadership, scholarship and service. Amityville’s chapter participates in several community service activities each year including volunteering at family learning nights at the elementary schools and raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The new members are Wilnory Bouzy, Nicholas Brown, Luna Caicedo, Ashley Campos, Nataly Carbajal, Denisse Diaz Marte, Dimarion Donaldson, Martha Gonzalez, Jacob Griffin, Daniella Henriquez, Jose Hernandez, Irene Pineda, Ryan Rose, Micoh Sterling, Adrianna Velasquez Bautista, Florian Victor and Makayla Warrick. As they walked across the stage to receive their certificates, they were congratulated by Mr. Plaia, Assistant Principal Kristy Pagliari, Dean of Student Earl Mitchell and adviser Carlee Wallenstein-Brunson. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly remarked to the inductees, “Your accomplishments are a tremendous source of pride for your parents, your teachers and all of us in the Amityville community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162694 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162694 Amityville Athletics Are on the Air Reporting live from Amityville Memorial High School, it’s Justin Bethea and Devontay Rickenbacker. The two students have added a new dimension to Amityville athletics by broadcasting several Warriors contests. Justin, a sophomore, and Devontay, a junior, called all of the home games for the boys and girls varsity basketball teams as well as select road games. They were also able to travel with the boys team throughout its playoff run that culminated in a state championship. In addition to calling the plays and providing in-game commentary, the duo conducted postgame interviews with players, coaches and administrators. The games were livestreamed on The Cube and filmed using Padcaster, a kit that includes an iPad, case, tripod and microphone. Justin and Devontay were supported by fellow students Brian Portillo and Sabitha Joseph, who operated the camera, and technology teacher Paul Cimmino. “I found something that I enjoy doing,” Justin said. “Broadcasting is what I now want to do as a career.” Devontay, who used to make YouTube videos about the NFL and NBA when he was younger, said he has always had an interest in sports commentary and this experience opened his eyes to the preparation that professional broadcasters must undertake. He and Justin both spoke of the importance of good pronunciation and cutting down on saying words such as “like” and “umm” while on camera. Additionally, they had to learn to be unbiased by referring to the team as “Amityville” or “the Warriors” instead of “we.” The pair learned how to fill an entire broadcast with commentary. For each game, they had statistics at the ready for both Amityville and the away team. Because they are classmates with Warriors players, they also had several anecdotes they could tell when there were breaks in the action. Although they weren’t able to broadcast the state championship game in Binghamton, Justin and Devontay both were given seats on press row, in which they were able to take photos and videos and network with members of the media. Devontay said that one of the greatest moments of the season they did get to call was when senior captain Josh Serrano scored his 1,500th career point. Evan Farkas, the director of athletics, physical education and health, said a group visited Harborfields High School last year to learn about their broadcasting program, and this year’s goal was to livestream a handful of games. “Little did we know that Justin and Devontay would come in and take it to a whole new level,” he said. “We’ve quickly become a model school for broadcasting.” Mr. Farkas said the goal for next year is to add even more sports to the broadcasting lineup. Additionally, they are looking to add some new equipment such as noise-canceling headphones. Justin said that having several hundred people tune in to the games and hear him and Devontay’s commentary was a rewarding experience. It was just as thrilling as being on the sidelines for the basketball team’s title run. “There was a huge learning curve,” Justin said, “but it was a great experience.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162693 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162693 An Exciting Earth Exploration at Northeast From below the ground to the sky above, pre-K students at Northeast Elementary School learned all they could about earth. During a week’s work of activities leading up to Earth Day, children in Lisa Carey’s class acquired new knowledge about the planet they call home through a variety of hands-on activities, such as when they explored a large box filled with dirt, grass, roots and worms. They performed a science experiment to learn how rain falls from the clouds and built a birdhouse that will be filled with seed and hung in the school’s garden. Each child made his her own Chia pet by filling a cup with dirt, adding grass seed and drawing a face on the cup. Ms. Carey said once the grass grows, the children would be encouraged to take it home and plant it. As a culminating activity, children made edible cups of dirt from chocolate pudding, crushed graham crackers and gummy worms. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162692 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162692 High School Students Check Out College Choices Amityville Memorial High School students had a chance to explore their futures during the annual spring college fair on March 29. Representatives were in attendance from more than 100 colleges and universities on Long Island, in the city, upstate and throughout the Northeast. Attendees could also earn about opportunities in the military and law enforcement. Students traveled throughout the gymnasium and were able to ask questions about academic programs, athletics and extracurricular activities, scholarship opportunities, on-campus housing and more. For underclassman, the college fair gave them a chance to understand admissions requirements, while seniors could learn about the next steps in the application process. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162691 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162691 High School Bridge Builders Earn Recognition Amityville Memorial High School sophomores Jared Davis and Alexa Victor were selected to receive the Students Building Bridges Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. They were nominated by social studies Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi, their Advanced Placement world history teacher. The award recognizes students for their efforts in bridging the community, teaching tolerance and completing services that aim to advocate change and improve lives of others. Jared and Alexa will be publicly honored at Suffolk County’s Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day program on Thursday, May 3, at Suffolk County Community College. They will each receive a citation from an elected official and a certificate from JCRC-LI. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162690 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162690 Language Learners Celebrate Success The National World Language Honor Society at Amityville Memorial High School welcomed 53 new members at its March 27 induction ceremony. New members were recognized for their achievement in learning new languages and embracing other cultures. Membership was offered to students with an average of 85 or above in Spanish or French classes. Each inductee received a certificate and a medal. Teachers Elisa Castro and Sandra Whitney introduced the 43 Spanish language students who were selected for membership, joining 10 students from Brooke Prestano’s French classes. New members of the Spanish Honor Society are Cedric Agenor, Albiery Amaya, Jasmine Ambrose, Celian Aracena, Karina Aracena, Kayla Barrett, Olivia Bennett, Makhai Barton, Daniela Campos, Bryan Canales, Nayeliz Canas, Hasson Cantarero Hernandez, Mary Dexter, Jeffrey Garcia, Ariel Graham, Natalya Grant, Andrea Grijalva, Chantel Hinds, Krystian Hobson, Aaliyah Hunt, Marco Iorio, Maksymilian Kiec, Aleyna Kokoglu, Mert Kokoglu, Nathalie Larin, Jessica Licona, Rachelle Louisjean, Jasmin Lucero, Meghan Luders, Ryan McPherson, Nidia Mendoza, Odalys Murcia, Brayan Nieto, William Orellano, Nil Patel, Ashley Pico, Chelsie Rodriguez, Stephanie Rodriguez, Gleny Inoa Rodriguez, Jazmin Ruiz, Ameila Tisk, Katirya Tyson-Cardona and Z’Dhanne Williams. New members of the French Honor Society are Stephany Carbajal, Brianna Mazzilli, Ernesto Monzon, Amaya Pelzer-Covington, Aatyra Robinson, Ava Sutherland, Anneth Taylor, Jordan Tobin, Trinity Tobin and Alexa Victor. The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance in English, French and Spanish. There was a merengue dance presentation, candle-lighting ceremony and recognition of senior honor society members. Congratulatory remarks came from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Director of ENL and World Languages Mary Stephens, and high school Principal Maria Andreotti. “Being multilingual will prepare you to be successful in a global community,” Ms. Andreotti told the inductees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162689 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162689 Building a Community of Readers at Park Avenue To celebrate Pick a Reading Partner month, guest readers visited classrooms throughout March at Park Avenue Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Among the visitors were school and central office administrators, board of education trustees, parents, grandparents and community members. The goal of PARP is to get students excited about reading and this year’s theme was “Wild About Reading.” Children were encouraged to read every day at home and log their minutes. The top three readers in every grade were recognized at the end of each week. There were several other activities throughout the month. Students were visited by mystery readers, wore shirts and hats with words, brought their favorite books to schools, dressed up as book characters and designed bookmarks. “We were excited to welcome our special guests to share the joy of reading,” said Principal Robyn Santiago. “We want to instill in our students a love of reading, and it is important for them to see different people from different professions reading and reading for enjoyment.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162688 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162688 Northwest Students Go on an Art Adventure The classrooms and hallways at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District will soon be full of color, thanks to the students who completed several projects under the direction of professional artist John DiNaro. Mr. DiNaro, who previously spearheaded mural projects at Amityville Memorial High School, visited Lydia Robinson’s art classes in March. Children worked together to create a half-dozen murals including one for the music room and several for the hallways. They used paint and glued on bottle caps to make the colorful creations. Students created the sketches that were the inspiration for the mural designs. Ms. Robinson and Mr. DiNaro were both impressed with the creativity of the students, who came up with a wide variety of ideas. Under Mr. DiNaro’s supervision, the students also painted two buddy benches, which will be placed in the school library. All first- through third-graders contributed their artistic talents to either the benches or the murals. “Every student had a part in this,” Ms. Robinson said. “We worked together as a school community to create a beautiful space for ourselves.” Ms. Robinson added that the projects allowed students to further develop their artistic abilities but on a much larger scale. Students learned the importance of cooperation and collaboration. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162686 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162686 Amityville Celebrates Deonte Wilson Day New York State wrestling champion Deonte Wilson has brought great pride to his school and community with his athletic prowess and kind heart, and he was fittingly honored during a special ceremony at Amityville Memorial High School. The Town of Babylon declared March 29 Deonte Wilson Day and Supervisor Richard Schaffer presented him with a proclamation. Deonte was joined by his family, coaches, high school and district administrators, and board of education trustees, who all attended to personally congratulate the senior. Among the words and phrases used to describe him: “determination,” “amazing young man” and “role model.” One of the top ranked high school wrestlers in the United States, Deonte was the state wrestling champion in the 285-pound weight class and became a three-time All-American Wrestler as he finished second in the country at the wrestling nationals on March 25. He plans to continue wrestling in college and is currently in the process of selecting a school. “It feels pretty good when people call you one of the best in the nation,” Deonte said. “Knowing I accomplished so much, it means something to me and to the community.” Deonte, a member of the varsity team since eighth grade, said he wouldn’t have been able to make his dream come true without the support from his coaches and family. After winning the state title, he called his mother to wish her a happy birthday before sharing his news. He also discussed the importance of having a strong work ethic and maintaining good grades. In addition to wrestling, he plays football in the fall and runs for the track team in the spring. “Aside from being an outstanding athlete, he’s the kindest, most caring person you would ever want to meet,” Principal Maria Andreotti said. “Deonte represents the best of what we have to offer as a school and as a district.” Speakers at the ceremony included Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Evan Farkas, head wrestling coach Greg McCoy and volunteer assistant coach Billy Maisel. “He’s worked extremely hard toward this goal and has put in so much work when it comes to his sport,” said coach McCoy. “He has reignited the Amityville wrestling program.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162685 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162685 PreK/K Registration Dates and Times PreK and K registration will be held at the Central Registration Office located in the EW Miles Middle School on Tuesday, April 10th and Wednesday, April 11th from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm and also from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162687 Fri, 06 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162687 Middle School Marks Women’s History Month March is Women’s History Month and students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School paid tribute to many women who have made great contributions to society. The theme for the women’s history celebration on March 23 was “Women in History Shouldn’t be a Mystery.” Teacher Latessa Clairborne hosted the program as Oprah Winfrey. Students shared original poetry and performed choreographed dances. They also played the part of notable women in politics, science and entertainment such as Michelle Obama, Marie Curie and Beyonce. The jazz band, under the direction of Joseph Sciolino, performed “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing” accompanied by student vocalist Shaakirah Nazim-Haris who portrayed Ella Fitzgerald. The ninth-grade orchestra, led by Bianca Ferrante, played “Dragon Dances,” written by female composer Soon Hee Newbold. The show was organized by librarian Lynn Cesiro and middle school social studies Chairman Paul Duguay. “Back in history, women were not allowed to do the same things as men,” said ninth-grade D’Layzia Williams who portrayed Michelle Obama. “We came together to celebrate that women can do anything and honor those who made a difference.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162684 Thu, 29 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162684 Amityville Actors Tell Seuss Stories Through Song The characters from more than a dozen Dr. Seuss books came alive on the Amityville Memorial High School stage as the Drama Club hosted its spring musical, “Seussical,” with four performances from March 23-25. The show featured 35 students from the high school, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, along with two alumni. It was based upon the works of the renowned children’s author, and followed the adventures of Horton and Jojo as they traveled through the Jungle of Nool and Who-ville, as the Cat in the Hat narrated. Lead actors included senior Shival Sohan as the Cat in the Hat, sixth-grader Ayden Carton as Jojo, fifth-graders Arianna and Brianna Cuevas as Thing 1 and Thing 2, senior Jacob Marrero as Horton the Elephant, freshman Colleen Compitello as Gertrude McFuzz, sophomore Trinity Tobin as Mayzie LaBird, sophomore Alexa Victor as General Gengus Khan Schmitz and freshman Alexander Diaz as the leader of the Wickersham Brothers. Shaakirah Nazim-Harris played Sour Kangaroo, Tiffany Asbell was Young Kangaroo and Daniel Lutz and Imagine Halyard starred as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor. There was also Amber Palmer as Yurtle the Turtle, Johnatan Blanchard as the Grinch, Kyra Lee as the Lorax and DeAsia McCorvey as Vlad Vladikoff. The show was directed by Melissa Asbell and Megan Ashe, and the pit orchestra director was Jolene Maccarone. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162682 Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162682 Spring 2018 Adult Ed Brochure Now Available Click here to download the inaugural brochure for the district’s new Adult Education Program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162683 Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162683 VIDEO: Technology at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162681 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162681 High School Pays Tribute to Parkland Victims Amityville Memorial High School students joined their peers from across the country on March 14 in paying tribute to the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and other schools over the last 20 years. During a morning assembly in the auditorium, student leaders spoke about the 17 people who lost their lives in the Florida tragedy, held a 17-second moment of silence and shared a video, which included the father of Parkland victim Alex Schachter reading a poem his son wrote a few weeks before his death. Additionally, 17 Amityville students took a vow of silence for the day to honor the victims. The assembly was part of nationwide movement by students to show solidarity for improved school safety. Principal Maria Andreotti spoke about security procedures that are in place in Amityville schools. She also encouraged students to be the “eyes and ears” of their community by reporting any concerns, including social media posts. “The students, staff and administration of Amityville Memorial High School all want to create a safe and secure environment where the focus is on learning,” Ms. Andreotti said. “I am very proud of our students who paid tribute to their peers in Parkland and engaged in meaningful discussions about school safety.” Sophomore Jeffrey Reyes Espinal said students need to make their voices heard. Students wrote letters to several lawmakers expressing their desire for legislation that addresses school safety. “It is important to make sure that something like this will never happen again,” he said. “We can change for the better.” Junior Meghan Luders, one of the student speakers at the assembly, spoke of the importance of having a respectful dialogue with school administrators about safety within their own school. She was one of several hundred students who signed a banner that will be sent to Parkland, which read, “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, We Hear You, We See You, Amityville Memorial High School Stands With You.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162678 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162678 See ‘Seussical’ at Amityville High School The Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club will present “Seussical” from March 23-25. The musical production features 35 students from the high school, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, along with two alumni. The show is based upon the works of renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss and features popular characters from at least 15 of his stories. Follow the adventures of Horton and Jojo as they travel through the Jungle of Nool and Who-ville, as the Cat in the Hat narrates. Lead actors include senior Shival Sohan as the Cat in the Hat, sixth-grader Ayden Carton as Jojo, fifth-graders Arianna and Brianna Cuevas as Thing 1 and Thing 2, senior Jacob Marrero as Horton the Elephant, freshman Colleen Compitello as Gertrude McFuzz, sophomore Trinity Tobin as Mayzie LaBird, sophomore Alexa Victor as General Gengus Khan Schmitz and freshman Alexander Diaz as the leader of the Wickersham Brothers. Shaakirah Nazim-Harris plays Sour Kangaroo, Tiffany Asbell is Young Kangaroo and Daniel Lutz and Imagine Halyard star as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor. There’s also Amber Palmer as Yurtle the Turtle, Johnatan Blanchard as the Grinch, Kyra Lee as the Lorax and DeAsia McCorvey as Vlad Vladikoff. The show is directed by Melissa Asbell and Megan Ashe, and the pit orchestra director is Jolene Maccarone. Show times are Friday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162677 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162677 Boys Win State Basketball Title Amityville Memorial High School’s boys varsity basketball team captured the Class A New York State championship with two wins at the Final Four tournament. The team earned the berth after winning the Suffolk County and Long Island championships. The Warriors defeated Irondequoit High School, 52-42 on March 17. After knocking off the defending state champions, Amityville played Ardsley High School the following day. With a 74-54 win, the boys in red and gray earned their first state title since 2003. Including the regular season and playoffs, Amityville finished the season with a 27-1 record, and have a 19-game winning streak. Senior captain Josh Serrano had 29 points in the clinching game and Jayson Robinson had 18 points. The team was guided by head coach Gordon Thomas and assistant coach Paul Robinson. Season highlights included Josh scoring his 1,500th career point for Amityville and Mr. Thomas earning the Suffolk County Coach of the Year award. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162676 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162676 Wear RED to support the Warriors! Heading to the State Championship game to watch our Boys’ Varsity Basketball team? be sure to wear RED! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162675 Sat, 17 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162675 SPECTATOR BUS PERMISSION SLIP FOR March 18, 2018 Permission Slip: to participate in the field trip to Floyd Maines Arena in Binghamton, NY for the New York State Boys Basketball Championship Tournament. The spectator bus will be leaving from Amityville Memorial High School on Sunday , March 18, 2018 at 6:00am and will be returning to Amityville Memorial High School on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at approximately 6:00pm. PERMISSION SLIP Going to the game?!! Be sure to wear RED to support our Warriors!! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162674 Sat, 17 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162674 Amityville Artists Selected to SCALA Show Four art students from Amityville Memorial High School had their work selected for local exhibitions hosted by the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association. Senior Jennifer Ayala Martinez and sophomores Astrid Dixon and Odalys Murcia were part of SCALA All-County Art Exhibition. The selected pieces included Jennifer’s pen and ink drawing “Identity Hand Design,” Astrid’s colored pencil and gel pen drawing “Pink Lady” and Odalys’s watercolor pencil drawing “Trees.” Sarah Isaac entered her artwork within the Senior Scholarship portion of the SCALA All-County Exhibition. The students completed their work under the direction of art teachers Jayne Grasso and Heather Rickard. A reception for the show was recently held at the Old Town Hall in Babylon. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162673 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT false162673 Boys Basketball Wins Long Island Title Amityville Memorial High School’s boys varsity basketball team brought home the Class A Long Island championship, its first since 2013. The Warriors defeated Nassau County champion Garden City 84-71 on March 10 at Farmingdale State College. It was an impressive year for Amityville, which finished with an overall record of 25-1, won the Suffolk County Class A title and the overall Suffolk County title. The team now heads to the state tournament in Binghamton. The Warriors will take on defending state champion Irondequoit High School, from Rochester, in the first game of the Class A Final Four on March 17 at 9 a.m. In the championship game, Jayson Robinson and Josh Serrano paced Amityville with 23 and 29 points, respectively. The team was led by coach Gordon Thomas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162672 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162672 Northeast Celebrates Dr. Seuss Renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss inspired a night of educational exploration at Northeast Elementary School. To celebrate the man born Theodor Seuss Geisel in 1904, the school hosted its annual Dr. Seuss Family Learning Night on March 1. After playing sight word bingo in the cafeteria, students then rotated through various centers in the gymnasium. There was a bean bag toss with words and a charting activity with goldfish that focused on the mathematical concept of more than and less than. Children used do-a-dots to make hats inspired by “The Cat in the Cat” and took photos at a selfie station using Dr. Seuss-themed props created by the middle school art department. Volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School assisted the children. Librarian Tina Smith said that all students received a bag with activities they could do with their families at home to reinforce literacy and math skills. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162671 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false162671 Speaker Brings Black History Alive at Park Avenue NY1 news anchor Cheryl Wills inspired students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary to learn more about their family histories. Ms. Wills, a Long Island resident who speaks at schools across the country, visited Park Avenue on Feb. 26 for Black History Month. She shared the tale of her great-great-great-grandfather Sandy Wills who was a slave in Tennessee and later became a freedom fighter as a member of the United States Army in the Civil War. The story inspired her two books, “The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills” and “Emancipated: My Family’s Fight for Freedom.” She provided signed copies of each for the school library. “The best education is knowing who you are,” Ms. Wills told the students. “We all have incredible stories.” With nonfiction writing a major component of literacy instruction at Park Avenue, Ms. Wills spoke to students about using primary sources of information when they research a topic. She explained how she used census data and other records to learn about her family history. Ms. Wills encouraged the children to take full advantage of their educational opportunities and asked them to salute their teachers with a round of applause. Her visit was coordinated by librarian Timothy Quinn with support from the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council. Mr. Quinn said the presentation supported Black History Month lessons that have taken place at the school throughout February. Classroom teachers focused on significant yet lesser-known African-American figures in American history. In art, students made Kente cloth designs, African mask scratch art and African necklaces. Music classes featured lessons on how escaping slaves used music as code on the Underground Railroad. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162670 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162670 Class of 2018 Top Graduates Announced Amityville Memorial High School has announced its top 10 graduates for the Class of 2018. Trevony Palmer has been named the valedictorian for achieving the highest grade point average among seniors, and Jerinna Solanges is the salutatorian. Ranking third through 10th in the class are Isaiah Williams, Eddie Marrero, Gemma Rojas, Shival Sohan, Brandon Gonzalez, Mario Iorio, Ana Candia-Flores and Uhlensky Pierre-Louis. “I admire these students for their dedication and perseverance,” Principal Maria Andreotti said. “They’ve certainly distinguished themselves among the graduating class. They worked extremely hard and were committed to their studies.” Trevony will attend the University of Chicago on a full scholarship to study economics or mathematics. He has taken eight Advanced Placement courses in multiple subject areas. Additionally, he is president of the National Honor Society, treasurer of student government, and played junior varsity football in 10th grade. Jerinna plans to study psychology and is currently deciding among several prestigious universities. In addition to taking numerous Advanced Placement courses, she is a member of the National Honor Society and president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is first chair clarinet in the school band, and conducted Amityville’s marching band at the Newsday Marching Band Festival. With an interest in writing and helping others, she has written several books about teenagers overcoming adversity. Trevony volunteers in the transport department at Stony Brook University Hospital and Jerinna interns at Cold Spring Harbor National Laboratories studying the decision-making process of rats. Both tutor other students at the Amityville Public Library and have taken courses at Farmingdale State College through the Smart Scholars program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162668 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162668 Board of Education Meeting Cancelled 3/7/18 The Board of Education Special Meeting and Budget Workshop for tonight, March 7th has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Have a safe evening. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162669 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162669 Amityville Schools Celebrate Black History Month Students throughout the district marked Black History Month with a series of performances that included skits and songs. Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School dressed up in the colors of the rainbow for their singalong, which included “Funga Alafia,” “Sing About Martin,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “Scat Like That.” The performance closed with a short musical production, “The Crayon Box That Talked,” which celebrates the creation of harmony through diversity. Northwest Elementary School hosted an evening presentation for families in which students depicted renowned activists, athletes and entertainers and also recreated significant moments in history. The show started with a scene of two children at home deciding what to watch on television. They flipped through various channels and learned more about Black history. On the History Channel, they saw “live” reporting from the news field at the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, Ruby Bridges becoming the first African-American child to attend school in New Orleans and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. making his “I Have a Dream Speech.” The Oprah Winfrey Show included interviews with C.J. Walker, Will Smith and President Barack Obama, ESPN featured clips on gymnast Simone Biles, boxer Muhammad Ali and basketball player LeBron James, and the music channel had performances by the third-grade Select Choir of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sometimes referred to as the black national anthem, “I’ve Been to Harlem” and a Kwanzaa poem. Edmund W. Miles Middle School students performed “A Walk Through Time.” It focused on a student who questioned her teacher on why she needed to learn Black history. Later, she had a dream in which she was spoken to by Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey and Thurgood Marshall, experienced music by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and TLC, and saw a reenactment of a debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on his path to becoming the Democratic presidential nominee in 2008. Amityville Memorial High School’s presentation included individual and group performances. Musical acts included the “Rise Up,” “Shades of Blue” and a modern African dance. There were informational pieces on African-American inventors and abolitionists, historically black colleges and universities, and the Black Panther Party movement. The audience experienced African-American history in both the United States and worldwide through music and the spoken word. At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, the theme for black history night was emancipation. Students focused on black history figures who played keys parts in the freeing of the slaves as well as the Emancipation Proclamation. The chorus performed the Black National Anthem ("Lift Every Voice") as well as sang along to the story, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," which relates to journey of the underground railroad. There was also had a step performance. Mr. Williams, the MC played a Trivia game at the end with parents and students using information from the presentations throughout the night. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Calibri; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162667 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162667 Thinking Like a Team at Park Avenue Teamwork was the focus of an assembly hosted by the New York Islanders hockey team at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Feb. 16. Program host Dina Tsiorvas, who was joined by Islanders mascot Sparky the Dragon, spoke to sixth-graders about the importance of teamwork and how working together, as either a class or a school, can accomplish more than doing something alone. To demonstrate this point, one student and one staff members had a race to dress in goalie equipment. The student had the assistance of his classmates, while the staff member — Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Evan Farkas — tried to accomplish the task solo. Students were also encouraged to register for the “Blades for Grades” program, in which earning good grades could score them two tickets to a future Islanders game. Principal Robyn Santiago said that the program was offered to sixth-graders to help them develop their interpersonal skills as they prepare to enter middle school. She added that as they get older and have access to more opportunities such as clubs and sports, teamwork takes on a greater importance. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162666 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162666 Boys Earn County Hoops Title The Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity basketball team is headed to the Long Island Championship. With an 83-66 win over Westhampton on Feb. 23 at SUNY Farmingdale, the Warriors captured the Suffolk County Class A title. The team, led by the strong play of captain and returning All-Long Island player Josh Serrano as well as fellow seniors Jayson Robinson and Julius Goddard, finished with a regular season record of 19-1. The Warriors were undefeated in conference play. One of the highlights of the season was the Jan. 31 game against Hampton Bays in which Josh scored his 1,500th career point for Amityville. Head coach Gordon Thomas was named the league Coach of the Year. He was assisted by Paul Robinson. Evan Farkas, the director of athletics, physical education and health, said the team was full of talented, fast and athletic players who worked hard to achieve their goal of capturing a county title. “They had a great season,” Mr. Farkas said. “It was their mission to do everything they needed to do, on the court and off the court, to accomplish this.” The Warriors will play the Nassau County Class A champion in the Long Island title game on March 10, at 6 p.m., at SUNY Farmingdale. The winner moves on to the state championship tournament. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162665 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162665 Deonte Wilson Wins State Wrestling Title Amityville Memorial High School wrestler Deonte Wilson is a New York State champion. With four match wins in the state finals, the senior captured the title in the 285-pound weight class. Deonte finished the season with a 31-2 record, then won his second consecutive Suffolk County championship on Feb. 11 at Suffolk County Community College. That earned him a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s 2018 wrestling championships at the Times Union Center in Albany on Feb. 23 and 24, which he entered as the top-seeded wrestler in his weight class. With a win in the finals over a wrestler from Commack, he became Amityville’s first state champion in 17 years. “Deonte is a model athlete,” said Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health. “He leads by example and is a role model to our younger athletes. He is disciplined, has a great work ethic and is overall an amazing student.” Deonte was led this season by head coach Greg McCoy and assistant coaches Mike Albano, Pat Fallot and Billy Maisel. From March 23-25, Deonte will compete at the National High School Coaches Association competition in Virginia Beach. He plans to continue wrestling in college and is in the process of selecting a school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162663 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162663 Northwest Students Love a Good Book Second-graders at Northwest Elementary School District spent Valentine’s Day learning to love. Love reading, that is. Teacher Adeline Karniewich hosted Love a Book Day on Feb. 14. Her goal was to teach children that books are their friends. The students selected books and read independently and with partners. There were also guest readers throughout the day. Principal Kathleen Hyland got in Valentine’s Day spirit by reading “Love” by Matt de la Pena. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162661 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162661 Boys' Varsity Basketball Playoff Game! The Boys' Varsity Basketball team will be facing Westhampton Beach HSthis Fridaynight, February 23, at7:30 pmat SUNY Farmingdale for the Suffolk County Championship! All attendees will be required to pay a $6 entry fee for admission. If you cannot make the game...DONT WORRY......You can watch it LIVE on The Cube!! The Amityville Warriors CUBE Channel http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162662 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162662 Northeast Marks 100-Day Milestone Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School celebrated a milestone on Feb. 13, as it was the 100th day of the year in Amityville. Many children wore festive hats declaring themselves “100 Days Smarter” while others dressed up as if they were 100 years old. Students participated in various math, literacy and art activities. They wrote short stories based on the prompt, “When I’m 100 years old,” counted 100 Fruit Loops to make special necklaces and stamped 100 dots on paper plates to look like gumball machines. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162659 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162659 Request for Transportation to Non-Public Schools April 9, 2018 is the deadline to submit an application for transportation to a non public school. The transportation office is open Monday – Friday 8:00am- 3:00pm and will also be open February 21 & 22 between 8:30am-2:30pm, to receive applications. You may mail your application to the District office at 150 Park Ave, Amityville, NY 11701, and a receipt will be mailed back. Any questions, please contact the transportation office at (631) 565-6021. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162660 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162660 Students Tapped for Local Music Festivals A dozen students were selected to represent the district at a pair of music festivals. Eleven students will participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County festival in March. Choral students Shacquan Swaby and Jordan Tobin were chosen from Amityville Memorial High School. Performers from Edmund W. Miles Middle School will include vocalists Jeff Cruz and Keiry Martinez, and violinist Kayla Marrero. From Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, band students Donovan Graham Martinez (bass clarinet) and Tatiana Martinez (oboe) were selected. Alanna Gayle will play the violin with the All-County orchestra, and Cherice Quintyne-Best, Katya Ramos Rojas and Madeline Shingleton will join the chorus. Kayla and Madeline, as well as Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth-grader Alex Diaz, all participated in the Long Island Strings Festival in January. Alex played the viola with the secondary school orchestra, Kayla played the violin with the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra, and Madeline was a cellist with the sixth-grade orchestra. “We congratulate these fine young musicians, along with their parents and music teachers, on being selected to participate and perform in these prestigious festivals,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162657 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162657 Josh Serrano Nets 1,500th Career Point The district congratulates boys basketball player Josh Serrano, who recently scored his 1,500th point as a member of Warriors. The senior achieved the milestone on a three-point shot in a home game against Hampton Bays on Jan. 31. This is Josh’s fourth season on the varsity squad, and he leads the Warriors in scoring. For his accomplishment, Josh was named as the male Athlete of the Week in Section XI Athletics by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162656 Fri, 09 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162656 Student Explore Health Care Professions Amityville Memorial High School students who participated in a summer medical program were recognized at the district’s Board of Education meeting on Jan. 12. Ten Amityville Memorial High School students attended the two-week Health Careers Academic and Readiness Excellence program through the School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. HCARE is designed to give high school students an introduction to various professions in the health care field. HCARE administrator, Erik Flynn, attended the board meeting to present certificates and white coats to the participants. He then led the students in the white coat oath. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162655 Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162655 Northwest Instructional Coach Honored by ASSET Lorie Beard, the instructional coach at Northwest Elementary School, was recognized at the annual Bright Lights luncheon hosted by the Association of Suffolk Supervisors for Educational Technologies. As the instructional coach for the past three years at Northwest, Ms. Beard works with teachers on all facets of the curriculum, with technology integration becoming an increasing part of her role. She supports the district’s first-, second- and third-grade classes by helping teachers grow their technology skills through classroom support and professional development opportunities. Chromebooks have become a popular learning tool and Ms. Beard has worked with teachers to create technology-based lessons. She uses Google’s GSuite as a method for communication and collaboration on all academic fronts and also uses technology to share and manage student data to help drive instructional decisions. Ms. Beard has been working to create “one place access” for Northwest’s English language arts curriculum. The expanding Google Document includes links to the standards, lessons and useful resources for teachers. “It’s definitely an honor and nice to be recognized,” she said of the Bright Lights award. “Sometimes you’re just doing your thing, and this gives you a moment to pause and reflect, and realize that you are doing good work.” Ms. Beard was nominated by Carole Polney, the assistant superintendent for technology and administrative services, a past president of ASSET. They serve as co-chairs of Amityville’s Technology Committee. “Lorie is an invaluable member of the staff at her building and always supports district technology efforts with enthusiasm,” Ms. Polney said. “She works with teachers so they can empower each other, as well as their students.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162654 Mon, 05 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162654 Amityville students bring kindness to their peers Students teaching students was the basis of a character education lesson that recently took place at Northwest Elementary School. A group of about 30 ninth-graders from Edmund W. Miles Middle School made the short journey to Northwest on Jan. 12. They split into teams and visited third-grade classrooms to present their Positive Interactions program. The middle school students emphasized friendship, integrity, kindness and respect to their younger peers. The presentation included videos on bullying and cyberbullying. The ninth-graders also led small-group discussions in which they presented various scenarios to the third-graders, and talked about how to handle each situation. The scenarios were circumstances that could happen inside or outside of school, and included topics such as how to deal with being teased, how to handle untrue rumors and how to stick up for friends. The program was organized by ninth-grade social studies teacher Jack Zider and third-grade teacher Jennifer Flyntz-Zider. Student facilitators were chosen from the National Junior Honor Society and from teacher recommendations. Ms. Flyntz-Zider said the hope is that the message will stay in the hearts and minds of the students as they get older so that they “treat each other the right way.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162653 Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162653 Robotics Competition a First for Middle School Team The robotics club at Edmund W. Miles Middle School recently took part in its first competition. The Amityville Robot Warriors competed against teams from across Long Island at the Lego First event at Great Hollow Middle School in Nesconset on Jan. 21. The team finished ninth out of 15 teams. Amityville students spent approximately 20 hours working afterschool in the three weeks leading up to the competition. They had to built robots, then program them to complete missions without any human intervention. Teams were given a problem facing communities and had to incorporate a solution into their designs. This year’s theme was hydro dynamics, and students had to explore the location, use, storage and movement of water. Amityville also received the Judges Award, a special recognition given to a team that stands out for reasons other than the performance of its robot, such as perseverance, dedication and overcoming adversity. Team members included seventh-graders Wilnory Bouzy, Jose Hernandez, Hasslyn Hurtado, Luca Mazzilli and Kaya McCloud and eighth-graders Alex Hargrove, Randy Jerez and Jiovani Saint Jean, under the direction of their coach, technology teacher John Rodriguez. “The team worked extremely hard and dedicated themselves to the process,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “Each team member enjoyed the experience as the competition hall was buzzing with excitement and activity. There were teams that have been competing for years, and the Amityville Robot Warriors finished ahead of six more experienced teams. The community should be proud.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162652 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162652 Learning has a Winter Twist at Northwest More than 100 students, along with family members, came out to the Winter Wonderland family learning night at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District on Jan. 18. Children participated in literacy, math, science and art activities. The program began with a group singalong before students went into classrooms to work on various projects. They made snowman thermometer crafts and ornaments filled with fake snow, with help from volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Teachers read aloud winter-themed books and led snowman math games on the Smart Board. Each student was able to take home a goodie bag and a free book, in addition to their crafts. Parents left with educational resources so they could do reading and math activities with their children at home. The evening was coordinated by the Winter Wonderland committee led by librarian Christine Bloom, social worker Debra Lee and art teacher Lydia Robinson. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162651 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162651 Landmarks Rise at Park Avenue To learn about the mathematical concept of scale, sixth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School built models of famous landmarks from all over the world. The projects were done as part of the measurement unit. Students worked in groups and used cardboard from cereal and tissue boxes to create their replicas of landmarks, which included the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Empire State Building, Canton Tower and Burj Khalifa. They based their models off of the actual height of the buildings. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162649 Fri, 26 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162649 Give Kids A Smile Give Kids A Smile Flyer (English and Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162650 Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:02:00 GMT false162650 Forensics Class Comes to Life Forensics students at Amityville Memorial High School put their deductive skills to the test during a three-day lesson using Breakout EDU kits. They investigated a mock crime scene in the library, conducted interviews and determined suspects and motives. From all the clues, students had to figure out combinations to a series of locks. The lesson was planned by librarian Kathryn Beleckas and forensics teacher Jenna Ellis. Students had to apply the investigative skills they have been learning throughout the year to “break out.” They interviewed other teachers who played different characters in the scenario and had to identify their top suspect, which served as the clue to open the final lock. It turned out to be Spanish teacher Reynaldo Bueno, who said he enjoyed taking part in the activity. Ms. Ellis explained that the activity gave students an opportunity to apply the course content through hands-on inquiry. They had to work in teams to collect evidence and analyze data. Students completed police and witness reports, evidence logs, fingerprint sheets and crime scene sketches. Senior Jada Roberts said the breakout activity made her feel like a part of a television crime show, and it has her considering a career in forensics. Classmate Argelio Reyes said it brought the classroom lessons to life, such as when he had to take fingerprints. “It was interesting to find all of the clues,” said junior Zainab Mujeeb. “I felt like a real forensic scientist.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162648 Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162648 Smart Scholars Spring 2018 Registration Final Spring Registration will take place for high school students and 9th graders on Friday, January 26 - January 31, 2018. Both active and inactive students are invited to register. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Impagliazzo, at dimpagliazzo@amityvilleufsd.org or by phone at 631 565-6154. We look forward to working with you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162647 Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162647 Author Inspires Young Writers at Northwest When children work on writing assignments at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District, they follow the same process used by authors. They received some inspiration when popular children’s author and illustrator Chris Soentpiet visited the school on Jan. 11. During presentations for each grade, Soentpiet discussed how he comes up with ideas for stories and how he works with other authors to create illustrations for their books. He explained that he uses real children as models for his book characters, and drew some quick sketches based on Northwest students. He ended with a simple message to students: “Follow your dreams and believe in yourselves.” The young writers, who are taught to think of themselves as authors during Teacher’s College Writing Workshop activities, then were able to pick his brain during question and answer sessions. “This gives students something to aspire to,” said Lorie Beard, the instructional coach at Northwest, who coordinated the author visit. “Mr. Soentpiet’s visit brings the writing process to life from someone who does it for a living.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162646 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162646 Northwest Artists in Statewide MLK Exhibit Four students from Northwest Elementary School had their artwork submitted into the 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Fine Arts and Essay Exhibition, sponsored by the New York State Education Department. Third-graders Demetri Dabrio, Deja Henry, Hugo Molina Vasquez and Daniel Vayner completed their projects under the direction of art teacher Lydia Robinson. The exhibition, which runs through Feb. 28 on the concourse level of Empire State Plaza, is a statewide event in recognition of the life and teachings of Dr. King. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162645 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162645 Park Avenue Assistant Principal is a Familiar Face The Board of Education appointed Melissa Wiederhold as assistant principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, which serves the district’s fourth- through sixth-grade students, effective Jan. 11. Ms. Wiederhold joined the district in December 2015 as Park Avenue’s instructional coach. In that capacity, she has helped develop the building’s master schedule, supported the implementation of Teacher’s College Reading and Writing workshops, provided professional development opportunities for teachers, and helped organize events to encourage family and community participation. She has also compiled and analyzed student data, and met with teachers to support data-driven instruction. She previously worked in Brooklyn as an elementary school teacher and data specialist, and as an assistant supervisor with SCOPE childcare services. Ms. Wiederhold has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology from Hofstra University, a master’s degree in literacy education from Touro College and certificate of advanced studies in building and district leadership from the College of Saint Rose. “Ms. Wiederhold knows our students, our faculty and our staff very well,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “She will do a wonderful job and we are very happy to welcome her to our administrative team.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162644 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162644 Student Impress at Business Competition Seven students from Amityville Memorial High School’s chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America participated in the Suffolk County Regional Competition on Jan. 3 at Suffolk County Community College, with four advancing to the state championship. Ana Candia in the Human Resource Management Decision Making category, Eddie Marrero and John Quinone in the Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making category, and Gemma Rojas in Apparel and Accessories Marketing will compete against students from across New York State in Rochester from March 7-9. Other participants from Amityville included Kimone Green in the Job Interview category, Deonte Palmer in Sports and Entertainment Marketing, and Laurie Herard in Principals of Business Management and Administration. DECA is a nationwide, business-themed organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. This is the third year of the chapter at Amityville Memorial High School, which is advised by business teacher Jennifer Schweigert. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162643 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162643 After School an Enriching Time at Park Avenue When the day ends at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, many students decide to stick around for an extra hour or two. A new after-school program, which began in November, is full of exciting courses that allow students in grades 4-6 to enrich their minds. Classes are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and Principal Robyn Santiago estimates that at least half of Park Avenue students are taking part in at least one course. The program includes robotics, French, martial arts, dance, art club and character education. There is also a math enrichment program. In the robotics class with fifth-grade teachers Paul Grasso and James Replak, students can use Lego robotics kits to build their own creations or explore computer programming by making simple video games using the Scratch coding language. The district’s French teacher, Brooke Prestano, is giving students an introduction to another spoken language, teaching them greetings, numbers, colors, animals and basic conversational phrases. Park Avenue has partnered with the United North Amityville Youth Organization to offer taekwondo, as well as character education and anti-bullying classes. The after-school program will continue until the end of the school year. “We are pleased at how popular our new after-school program has quickly become,” Ms. Santiago said. “The courses were created with student interests in mind and both the children and instructors have shown great enthusiasm. We hope this is only the beginning.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162642 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162642 Cheerleaders Have First Taste of Competition Amityville Memorial High School’s varsity cheerleading squad participated in its first ever competition on Dec. 17 at Centereach High School. This is the first year that Amityville has had a competitive cheerleading squad. There are 17 girls from ninth through 12th grades coached by Sally Anne Rexach, a social studies teacher at the middle school and high school. Cheerleaders perform at football games in the fall before moving on to their competitive season in the winter. The Warriors cheer squad performs a one-minute routine with dancing, tumbling, stunting and jumping. Coach Rexach developed the routine along with input from senior captains Kayla Gayle, Kamyce Tyson-Cardona and Ashley Wilson. The team competes against other schools from Suffolk County during Sunday afternoon events. “This provides a wonderful opportunity for our cheerleaders to experience their sport in a competitive environment,” said Evan Farkas, the district director of athletics, physical education and health. “The girls embody the Warrior spirit and are representing their school with pride. We wish them much success in their inaugural season of competition.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162641 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162641 Middle Schoolers Introduced to Coding “You have to work on it until you figure it out. It’s not going to be easy but you have to stick with it,” Edmund W. Miles Middle School math teacher Dr. Linda Pfaffe told her ninth-grade geometry students as they participated in the Hour of Code. With ever-growing job opportunities, students in Amityville are being introduced to computer programming and seventh- through ninth-graders recently joined the Hour of Code global initiative, which take place every December to get more youngsters interested in careers in the field. Students learned about coding during a kick-off assembly on Dec. 13 with representatives from KidOYO, a computer science-learning platform being used in Amityville. The presenters discussed the job outlook for computer programmers and made students aware of different coding applications. Since then, coding sessions have been taking place in math classes to give students hands-on experience. Dr. Pfaffe said both math and coding deal with logic and sequence, so the two naturally fit together. Computer programming also takes place regularly in the STEAM classes that were introduced this year, which focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. Dr. Pfaffe’s students used Chromebooks to work with Maze Code, an application through KidOYO in which they had to move blocks to create commands to make specific designs. Once successful, students were able to view the code. There were 24 levels with each getting progressively harder. “It’s just to give them a taste of what computer programming is like,” Dr. Pfaffe said. “It’s a great field and it’s important to introduce this to our students so it can be an option for them.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162640 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162640 Kindergartners Take A Ride on the Polar Express All comfy and cozy in their pajamas, kindergartners gathered around the big screen for one of their favorite Christmas tales, the “Polar Express,” which played in the gymnasium at Northeast Elementary School on Dec. 21. The hallways were transformed to look like scenes from the story, including the train, the forest and the North Pole. Black tape was put down throughout the building to resemble railroad tracks, leading children to the viewing of the last 20 minutes of the movie. Teachers Dr. Janice Grillo and Lissa Varas served as the train conductors, punching each child’s ticket. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162638 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false162638 Amityville Students Grant Christmas Wishes Amityville Memorial High School students are spreading joy to others this holiday season through the Christmas Magic program. In early December, they shopped at Target to fulfill holiday wishes for 74 children, then went back to the school and wrapped all the gifts. The program was spearheaded by the Warrior Awareness Program, known as the WAC PAC, under the direction of advisor Jason McGowan. Gifts will go to Christmas Magic, a non-profit organization that distributes toys to needy children. Senior Erika Garcia said that participating in the program shows that students at Amityville Memorial High School have good character and are willing to help others. Jayda Davis explained that every child deserves to have a special Christmas, and she was happy to help make that come true. “You get to help kids who don’t have a lot,” added senior Kacey Smith. “It puts a good feeling in my heart, knowing that I’m going something good.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162637 Mon, 25 Dec 2017 14:00:00 GMT false162637 High School Students Crack the Code to Knowledge Breakout EDU kits have come to the district, and the new learning tool is already becoming popular. Recently, students in the Spanish for Native Speakers class at Amityville Memorial High School participated in an interdisciplinary activity that required them to find several clues around the library to open a series of locks. The project, which focused on world religions, was planned by librarian Kathryn Beleckas, foreign language teacher Reynaldo Bueno and social studies teacher Matthew Tomasi. Students learned about six religions — Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism — by searching for clues. At the Animism table, students had to put together a puzzle that created an animal picture and had a secret message in invisible ink. For Buddhism, they had to identify the spread of the religion to open a directional lock. The clues were in English to help students improve their language proficiency. Once the class cracked the final code, they opened a box that had some reflection cards on the lesson, as well as a treat for their hard work. “It’s a way to get students engaged in the content,” Ms. Beleckas said of the Breakout EDU kits, of which there are four at the high school. “The library is a nice place to do it, as it gives you space to work with.” She said that Breakout EDU kits could be used in any subject and for any topic. Supplies include number, letter, key and directional locks along with boxes, an invisible ink pen, black light and hint cards. Teachers can use pre-planned lessons or create their own, as she did for the world religions activity. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162636 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162636 Northwest Students Study Holidays Around the World Second-graders recently visited several continents without leaving their classroom at Northwest Elementary School. It was part of their Holidays Around the World study with teachers Kerrin Faulkner and Jenny Smith. During the two-week unit, children learned about holiday traditions and customs in the United States and eight other countries. Each day featured a craft and a snack, such as the study on Sweden in which students made St. Lucia crowns and ate cinnamon buns. For Israel, they were treated to chocolate candy known as gelt and jelly doughnuts called sufganiyah in addition to making paper dreidels. The German tradition of hiding a pickle led to a scavenger hunt in the classroom, followed by a gingerbread treat. The activity taught students about the origins of many traditions they are accustomed to. It also supported the nonfiction reading and writing unit in the second-grade English language arts curriculum. Students were able to learn more “expert” words, which are vocabulary words that relate to a specific topic. Additionally, students expanded their literacy skills beyond the English language, such as by learning how to write “Merry Christmas” in Russian. The children kept all of their work in Around the World suitcases and received passport stickers for each country they visited. They improved their knowledge of geography by coloring in each of the nations on a world map. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162635 Thu, 21 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162635 Accomplished Artists at Amityville High School Three students at Amityville Memorial High School have been recognized for their artistic abilities. Seniors Sarah Isaac and Tereza Perez were accepted into the For the Love of Art Foundations program at Adelphi University, taught by accomplished figurative artists. During the 10-week intensive program, the students will have three hours of studio time each week to focus on their drawing. It provides high school juniors and seniors a chance to expand their skills while building their portfolios. At the conclusion of the program, there is a reception with an exhibit featuring student work. Sarah and junior Aleyna Kokoglu had their work accepted into the Advanced Visions 14 art exhibition for high school artists of excellence. Two students per high school in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Portfolio Art classes were selected. The show runs through Jan. 24 at the Student Art League Gallery, B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library at LIU Post, with a reception on the final day. Aleyna, Sarah and Tereza all are students of art teacher Jayne Grasso. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162634 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162634 Amityville High School students build bridges The school week ended just before 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 for most students at Amityville Memorial High School, but approximately 100 sophomores, juniors and seniors wouldn’t go home for another 32 hours. They took part in the annual Awareness Weekend, a 15-year tradition that includes an overnight stay in the school along with bonding activities. The program began in the auditorium with keynote speaker Eric Moss, whose presentation, “The Strongman Experience,” included various feats of strengths such as breaking chains and locks. Students were inspired to believe in themselves and realize that they are capable of achieving greatness. The theme for the weekend was “Knock Down Walls, Build Bridges.” There was a student panel with personal stories, a presentation on strength and hope, a guest speaker on distracted driving and free time. Students were split into family groups, led by a staff member and a student facilitator, in which they participated in discussions and role-playing exercises. Teacher Jason McGowan, who coordinates the event, said the students gain insight into each other and themselves. They foster a sense of acceptance and respect that continues when the weekend is over. “Our multi-cultural population has an opportunity to understand our similarities and to celebrate our uniqueness,” he said. “The bond that occurs between students and staff will help our building to be a physically and emotionally safe place.” Added junior Angela Kalin, “Awareness Weekend was one of the greatest moments in my life and I feel like I've grown as a person.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162633 Tue, 19 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162633 Fostering Reading in Amityville Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School were able to increase their personal book collections thanks to the annual Free Book Fair in the library. Librarian Lynn Cesiro, who received donations from the Book Fairies and other organizations, organized the event. During their English language arts classes, students visited the library and were allowed to choose one book, which were separated by fiction and non-fiction, as well as by topic. There were also children’s books that they could choose from to bring home to younger siblings. The book fair also included a family night, which followed parent-teacher conferences. At the end of the week, students were able to return after school and choose as many books as they wanted from the remaining stock. Ms. Cesiro estimated that the fair began with more than 3,000 books. “The purpose of this is to get books in the students’ hands, so they have something to read,” she said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162632 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162632 Learning Through Giving at Northeast Giving was the theme of the Holiday Family Learning Night at Northeast Elementary School on Dec. 12. Children participated in literacy and craft activities that benefitted others. The event was open to Northeast’s pre-K and kindergarten students, as well as parents, guardians, siblings and other family members. After playing bingo with holiday symbols and sight words, children then rotated through various stations in the gymnasium. They made cards and hot chocolate packages for troops in Africa and also colored in a banner that read “Happy Holidays to our Heroes.” Additionally, the students wrapped presents for local families that the school has adopted for the holidays. “This is a night of giving in the season of giving,” said librarian Tina Smith. “All of the activities are about doing for others. At our school, we always talk about building good character.” Pastor Jeff Cole of Calvary Chapel of Hope in Amityville read “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” as children gathered around. That was followed by a visit from a special guest. Santa Claus arrived on a bicycle and took requests from eager girls and boys. At the stations, volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School assisted students with the activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162631 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162631 Orchestra Shares Musical Talents With Seniors The Amityville Memorial High School orchestra performed at the Golden Gathering, hosted by New York State Sen. John Brooks, at the Dominican Village Retirement and Assisted Living Community in North Amityville. The orchestra, under the direction of music teacher Bianca Ferrante, performed a set of patriotic tunes at the senior fair. The group was accompanied by student vocalist Brianna Mazzilli. The musicians recently received certificates of appreciation from Sen. Brooks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162630 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162630 Amityville Recognized for Advanced Placement Program The district was honored by the College Board with placement on the eighth annual AP District Honor Roll. To be included on this list, a district had to increase the number of students participating in Advanced Placement courses while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Amityville Memorial High School offers more than 20 Advanced Placement courses in art, English, math, music, science, social studies and world languages. This year alone, five courses were added including AP research, human geography, European history, psychology and computer science. All eighth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School are accelerated in math and science, which gives them the opportunity to take more higher-level courses in high school. “We have been steadily increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses offered at Amityville Memorial High School, which are rigorous and challenging,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “Participation in these courses prepares our students for college-level work and offers them the opportunity to earn college credits. The Board of Education and administration are committed to offering a rich program that prepares students for the demands of college and the work place.” Participation in AP classes climbed from 122 students in the 2015-16 school year to 222 students in the 2016-17 school year. Amityville students took a total of 411 AP exams in 2017, a 51 percent increase from the previous year. The number of students scoring a 3 or higher grew by 55 percent. Amityville was one of 447 school districts in the U.S. and Canada to be named to the AP District Honor Roll. Placement on the list indicates that a district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP. It also shows that students among different subgroups are taking these exams and succeeding. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162629 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162629 Middle School Students Create Through Coding With a growing demand for computer programmers, Amityville is giving its students a chance to explore career possibilities with lessons in coding. The district has introduced the kidOYO program, an online educational community that delivers personalized project-based learning in computer science and engineering. Edmund W. Miles Middle School math teacher Dr. Linda Pfaffe has made this the focus of her seventh-grade STEAM class, a new elective that meets every other day. Throughout the year, students will learn five different programming languages, including commonly used ones like Scratch and Python. They began by making simple video games in which the arrow keys control movement. Challenges will become tougher as the year progresses, and students move at their own pace. “Computer programming is an essential skill for today’s students,” Dr. Pfaffe said. “In a world where the internet can satisfy almost any question in seconds, technical skills will enable them to succeed.” Dr. Pfaffe added that while many students are adept at using technology, they do not necessarily understand what makes it work. Coding is the logic and science that controls technology, and by learning to code students move from consumers to producers. She explained that programming is very literal and precise, which gives students a chance to develop their problem-solving skills. In addition to her own instruction, Dr. Pfaffe provides students with video tutorials on computer programming. KidOYO offers a moderated bulletin board so the youngsters can ask questions and share ideas. Much class time is devoted to independent inquiry in which students are thinking, collaborating, designing and refining. Seventh-grader Agin Shehu said he enjoys programming because it allows him to be creative and explore new ideas. He said he would consider a career in computer science and this class gives him a head start for the future. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162626 Fri, 08 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162626 Breakfast with Santa! 12/9 at 10:00 AM The AMHS National Honor Society is sponsoring Breakfast with Santa for children of all ages. Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 AM to 1 PM in the AMHS Cafeteria There will be games, face painting, balloon animals, crafts, live music, stories and music. Please come, meet Santa, and enjoy! $5.00 per child, $3.00 per adult See the flyer here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162628 Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162628 Park Avenue Students Spell it Out Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School hosted its annual spelling bee on Nov. 15 and for the first time a fourth-grade student was the winner. Ayaanah Ellis will represent the district at the regional competition of the Scripps National Spelling in March at Hofstra University. She emerged as Park Avenue’s top speller after getting the word “aerodynamic” correct. More than 100 students took part in the preliminary round of the spelling bee, which was narrowed down to 20 finalists who took the stage for the evening competition. After it was down to the top three, those students continued to spell their words correctly for multiple rounds before a winner emerged. Fifth-grade teacher Howard Reiner, who coordinated the event, said some of the more complicated words that students got right included anonymity, carcinogen, circumstantial, collegiate and dodecahedron. Sixth-grader Ramon Yanes won the Spanish spelling bee among 10 participants. He correctly spelled “refresco” which means “soft drink.” Both winners received medals and trophies. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162625 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162625 High School Students Make Cross-County Connections Students from Amityville Memorial High School twice welcomed their peers from out east through the Cultural Exchange program. The school hosted 30 students from Bayport-Blue Point High School on Oct. 19 and 40 students from Sayville High School on Nov. 30. As the students from each district arrived from their 20-mile journeys, they were greeted warmly by their peers from Amityville High School. The marching band played “Carry On My Wayward Son” for Bayport-Blue Point’s arrival, since it was the first time those students have come to Amityville. Each program began with breakfast in the cafeteria followed by icebreaker activities to allow the teens to discover common interests. Each Bayport-Blue Point and Sayville student was partnered with an Amityville student and followed their schedule for the day. Amityville student-leaders from the Warrior Awareness Club, or WAC PAC, served as the hosts. Advisor Jason McGowan said the purpose was to establish new friendships and create bonds between students from different districts. Many of the students followed up by connecting with each other on social media. “By immersing students in another school’s culture, they are provided the opportunity to broaden their view of people who are different from themselves and hopefully become more accepting of others,” Mr. McGowan said. “The exchange between the visiting students and the Amityville students was wonderful. Many connections were made among these diverse groups.” The Cultural Exchange program has become an annual tradition at Amityville High School, and this was the fourth year it is has partnered with Sayville. Amityville students will have a chance to visit Bayport-Blue Point High School and Sayville High School in the spring. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162624 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162624 New History Course is Rich and Engaging A new college-level course at Amityville Memorial High School is giving students a deeper understanding of history through engaging discussions and activities. Advanced Placement European History was added as a social studies elective for the 2017-18 school year, and 17 juniors and seniors enrolled in the course with teacher Matthew Tomasi. Students have an opportunity to earn college credit if they score a 3 or higher on the end-of-year AP exam. During a unit on the Renaissance, which focused on the art and cultural achievements in Europe and particularly Italy, students from the class gathered in front of the school and drew famous art pieces and landmarks with chalk on the sidewalk. The drawings included the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel. To study the Protestant reformation, students engaged in a mock speed dating activity. The boys were assigned men from the time period like Martin Luther and Henry VIII, and the girls portrayed women such as Queen Elizabeth and Catherine the Great. Each student had to research their character and then find people with common points of view during the exercise. Mr. Tomasi explained that the class is focused on Europe from 1450 to the present and explores how historical events from the past influence today’s society. He said the class promotes college and career readiness and affords students the opportunity to improve their writing, research and public speaking skills. “Students really get a feel for what it was like during these time periods,” Mr. Tomasi said of the class. “They’re really engaged in the content. The papers that they’re writing are preparing them for the rigors of college.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162623 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162623 A Boost to Middle School Book Collection Classroom libraries will be more plentiful at Edmund W. Miles Middle School following the donation of two large boxes of books by non-profit organization the Book Fairies. Each box contains thousands of used books of all different genres. Students have been helping select books that are in good condition and of interest to them to add to the existing libraries in English language arts classrooms. This supports the Reader’s Workshop initiative through Teacher’s College, Columbia University, which gives students more choice in the books they read for class. “It’s a resource that we can use,” seventh-grade ELA teacher John Katsigiorgis said of the new books. “We need to have a vast array of genres. You can never have too many good books.” Mr. Katsigiorgis said that each box typically nets 500 to 800 useable books, so more than 1,000 total books will be added to classroom libraries throughout the school. He said that there were also many children’s books in the boxes, which will be passed on the Amityville Public Library. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162622 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162622 A History Exploration at Park Avenue After studying famous explorers, fourth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School made life-size versions of these historical figures. Students in Kelly Darling and Alexia Nyholm’s class learned about European explorers including Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Henry Hudson, Giovanni de Verrazzano and Samuel de Champlain. They split into groups, with each responsible for depicting one of those five explorers. Materials included construction paper, tin foil and yarn. Each group also had to create a manifest that included the explorer’s sponsoring country, planned destination and actual destination, along with a map of their route. Students learned about landmarks or natural features in the United States named for those pioneers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162621 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162621 Veterans Recount Their Service at High School More than a dozen veterans visited Amityville Memorial High School on Nov. 14 to tell the stories of their military service. They visited social studies classes during the third annual Veterans Appreciation Day. The guests came from all branches of the military and different periods of conflict. Among the 17 veterans in attendance were Amityville Board of Education Vice President Juan Leon, who served in Afghanistan, and Chuck Vinciulla, who is commander of Amityville VFW Post 7223. Social studies department Chairwoman Dawn Mizrachi said that the program gave students an “eyewitness account” of the historical events they are learning about in their classes. The veterans discussed their military service, how and why they joined the armed forces, and their participation in veterans organizations. Many of the visitors shared photos. Ms. Mizrachi said she hoped that students gained an appreciation for the sacrifices others are willing to make for their country. “We appreciate all that our veterans do,” she said. “They like coming here and sharing their stories because they think it is a great way to connect the school to the community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162620 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162620 Happy Thanksgiving, Amityville! Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students say what they are thankful for this year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162618 Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162618 New Site Devoted to Amityville Athletics The district has launched a new website devoted to Amityville Warriors athletics. The website, www.amityvillewarriors.com, includes recent results, a schedule of upcoming games and information on all fall, winter and spring teams. There are valuable resources for students and parents including information on NCAA eligibility, sports physical forms, first aid and CPR guidelines, and online activity registration. Follow the district’s athletic teams on Twitter @AmityWarriors, Instagram @Amityville_Warriors and on Facebook at Amityville Warriors. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162619 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162619 Northwest Celebrates Young Authors Writing is a reason for celebration at Northwest Elementary School. Students in Jenny Smith and Kerrin Faulkner’s second-grade class shared their recently completed works at a publishing party. Children spent the last two months writing narrative stories and selected one to turn into a book. They were tasked with creating pieces, four or five pages long, that elicited feeling and thinking from small moments in their lives. Following weeks of editing and illustrating, parents and special guests were invited to come to the classroom on Nov. 9 and read the stories. Each book was bound and included a cover page and about the author page. The theme of the event was “Donut Miss the Party.” The visitors were encouraged to “sprinkle” compliments around the room by writing positive messages on the last page of each child’s book. There was also a short video presentation, which featured photos of the children in the writing process, as well as the youngsters talking about new writing techniques they used in their stories. The assignment was part of Writer’s Workshop through Teacher’s College, Columbia University, an initiative that gives students greater choice in selecting topics to write about. Next, the students will write informational stories before moving on to opinion writing. “The students need to feel like accomplished authors to gain a sense of confidence about their writing,” Ms. Faulkner said. “They should know that their writing is important.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162617 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162617 Park Avenue Musicians Make an Impression Young musicians from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School recently took part in a pair of events hosted by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. Three fourth-grade students participated in SCMEA’s PEAK Music Festival at Northport High School. Krystal Gomez, Deanna Murray and Madisyn Parachico were chosen based on the recommendation of their music teacher, Megan Ashe. They were able to take part in various music learning experiences such as world drumming, chorus, folk dancing, recorder, musical theater and ukulele throughout the day with their parents. Sixth-grader Katya Ramos-Rojas attended the SCMEA Day of Tuba and Euphonium at Central Islip High School. She was selected for the performance, in which she played the baritone tuba, by her band teacher, Jolene Maccarone. “Congratulations to all of these students and their music teachers on these outstanding achievements,” said Dr. Fran Fernandez, director of fine arts. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162616 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162616 VIDEO: Cultivating a Love of Literacy Edmund W. Miles Middle School students and teachers share their experiences with the Readers and Writers Workshop initiative through Teachers College, Columbia University. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162614 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162614 An Important Message from the Superintendent of Schools Following the Friday, November 3, 2017 Amityville Memorial High School varsity football qualifying round playoff loss, the District received multiple complaints that a player on the opposing team was ineligible to participate in the game. On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Amityville UFSD filed a formal complaint with Section XI alleging the basis for the ineligibility of that player, and requested that Section XI investigate prior to the November 10 semifinal playoff game. Despite multiple attempts by the District and its lawyers to contact Section XI, the District did not receive a formal response from Section XI prior to the November 10 game. The District is disheartened by the lack of response from Section XI. However, we will continue to vigorously advocate on behalf of our student-athletes by contesting what we believe to be a blatant violation of the NYSPHSAA’s bylaws and eligibility standards and the New York State Commissioner of Education’s rules and regulations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162613 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 21:00:00 GMT false162613 Professionals Share Their Expertise at Park Avenue People from all walks of life visited Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Nov. 3 to give students a glimpse of the future. More than three dozen professionals visited classrooms at the 10th annual Career Day. Many of the speakers were parents of Park Avenue students while others came from local businesses. The school partnered with the Amityville Chamber of Commerce and Amityville Parent-Teacher Council to bring in presenters. The guests represented a variety of professions including law enforcement, the military, business and finance, medicine, engineering, human resources and retail. The speakers discussed the responsibilities and challenges of their jobs, as well as the necessary qualifications to work in their respective fields. They also took questions from the curious students. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci, who organized the event, said that although the students are only in fourth through sixth grades, it is never too early for them to start thinking about their futures. By interacting with successful professionals, children understand the importance of education and recognize that working hard in school can positively affect their ability to achieve their goals. The event was the culmination of College and Career Week, which began with a kickoff assembly on Oct. 30. Keynote speaker Felicia Fleitman from Savvy Hires motivated students with four important messages: the word “can’t” should not exist in their vocabulary, failure is an opportunity, there is no substitute for hard work, and be a good person. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162612 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162612 Middle School Welcomes Military Heroes Veterans and active members of the United States military received a warm welcome when they visited Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Nov. 6. A dozen guests visited classes on Take a Veteran to School Day, a national initiative sponsored by the History Channel. This was the middle school’s third year participating, according to social studies Chairwoman Jaclyn O’Hagan. “Each year our students learn so much from the veterans and make personal connections with them,” she said, adding that the goal was to give students an appreciation for their service. Veterans discussed their reasons for joining the military, their experiences serving the U.S. and their lives after leaving the armed forces. Some showed photo slideshows, while others brought in memorabilia. Among the guests were Edward Plaia, father of the middle school principal, and Juan Leon, Amityville Board of Education vice president and Army veteran. Current servicemen discussed how the education they received growing up has benefitted them in their military service. They also taught students about the differences between Veterans Day, Independence Day and Memorial Day, and who each holiday was created to honor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162611 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162611 A Meal and a Mystery at Amityville High School “Brenda and Eddie’s Wedding,” a hilarious murder mystery, delighted the 120 guests who attended the sold-out dinner theater production at Amityville Memorial High School on Nov. 4. The show took place in the cafeteria, so audience members were right in the middle of the action along with the 39 student-actors. Lead characters included Jacob Marrero as the groom, Amelia Tisk as the bride, Alexander Diaz and Isabella Mohan as the bride’s parents, Alanna Graham as the mother of the groom, Nicolas Sohan as both Elvis and the victim Mr. Throckmorton, Justin Bethea as the best man Benny Goombots, Imagine Halyard as Bunny, Daniel Lutz as Yablonowitz, Shaakirah Nazim-Perez as parker, Nathalie Larin as society columnist Mary Berger and Jonathan Blanchare as the DJ. At the end of the 1 ½ hour show, the audience learned the true identity of the killer, who was played by Colleen Compitello. The play was directed by Melissa Asbell and Megan Ashe, with technical support from Eric Lee, Ginger Lee and Gerry Compitello. Guests were treated to a comfort food dinner of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, string beans, cornbread and salad, along with wedding cake for dessert. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the high school Drama Club, which will present “Seussical: The Musical” in the spring. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162610 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162610 Middle School Students Spread Kindness Colorful rocks are appearing around Edmund W. Miles Middle School as a way of promoting peace and kindness. Every student was recently invited to paint a rock during his or her lunch period. The result was dozens of rocks in many different colors with inspiring messages such as “Love,” “Believe,” “Don’t Give Up,” and “Follow Your Dreams.” “It’s a nice project that all the students can do together,” said guidance counselor Kerry Kearney, who organized the project along with special education teacher Renee Silon. “We’re always looking for ways to promote peace, unity and kindness, and for our students this is a visual reminder.” Ms. Kearney said that the project was planned for October which was National Bullying Prevention Month. The rocks are being spread around the outside of the school to create a Kindness Garden. Several teachers and staff members also painted rocks. Ninth-grader Tylaya L. said that the rocks would bring beauty to the school and show that Amityville students are committed to kindness. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162609 Wed, 08 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162609 Northwest Students Get in Character “Character Counts” was the theme at Northwest Elementary School during the week of Oct. 16-20, with different activities that focused on the six pillars of character. During Spirit Week, each day focused on a different character trait and students were asked to wear the color associated with that trait, such as red for caring and yellow for respect. The goal was to create unity among students in the school and show that they share the same values. Each class created its own friendship flower in art class with teacher Lydia Robinson. Students decorated petals with colorful drawings and positive messages. Ms. Robinson read students “The Little Bully” by Beth Bracken to teach them about the value of friendship and treating others kindly. Librarian Christine Bloom read books relating to each of the six pillars of character such as “Pigsty” by Mark Teague, which taught students about personal responsibility. She also had them complete related assignments like when students had to identify ways they could be responsible at home, at school and on the bus. In physical education classes, children learned about good sportsmanship, and in music they sung an anti-bullying song. Social Worker Debra Lee, who organized Spirit Week, said the message was to teach children “to be a buddy not a bully.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162608 Mon, 06 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162608 Winter Athletic Registration is now OPEN! Winter Athletic Registration is now OPEN! https://amityvillewarriors-ar.rschooltoday.com/node/26 All junior varsity and varsity athletes must use this link to register for winter season. Students must have this form completed and submitted before the first day of tryouts/practice. Please contact Evan Farkas, Director of Athletics, with any questions. Evan Farkas Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health Amityville Union Free School District Follow us on Twitter @amitywarriors http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162607 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162607 Inaugural Homecoming Festival a Hit The district’s inaugural homecoming festival brought students from all five schools together along with teachers, administrators, parents and community members. The event was held on the afternoon of Oct. 27 on the Amityville Memorial High School fields, a day before the traditional homecoming celebration. The varsity football team was practicing in the background in preparation for their final game of the season and the boys varsity soccer team was getting its work in on another field in between playoff games. Closer to the school, tables were set up representing the different schools and high school organizations. There were many activities for families including face painting by the varsity cheerleaders, pumpkin bowling at the Northeast Elementary School booth, a pumpkin weight-guessing contest at the Northwest Elementary School table and a football toss. A popular attraction was the Amityville Pride photo booth with homecoming-themed props. Students could also sign their name to a large “Go Warriors” banner. Guests were treated to burgers and hot dogs. For those looking for something sweet, the TEACCH program hosted a bake sale. A late afternoon bonfire capped off the festival, which was organized by a committee of administrators, teachers and students. “This was a gathering to promote school spirit and unity within the entire Amityville community,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of fine arts. “It was a great way to build upon the existing homecoming festivities and we hope to make it an annual tradition.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162605 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162605 Fall Autism Conference Information Fall Autism Conference Teaching to Successful Outcomes: Supporting Children with Autism in the Home, School & Community November 7, 2017 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162606 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162606 Halloween-Themed Learning at Northeast Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School participated in a variety of fun and educational activities to celebrate Halloween. Each class decorated its own pumpkin. Many were designed to look like popular children’s characters including Cookie Monster and Winnie the Pooh, while others were based on books that support Reader’s Workshop. Some pumpkins featured the handprints of all the students in a class. There were several science activities related to Halloween, as children learned about the parts and lifecycle of a pumpkin. To support literacy instruction, children wrote short stories following Halloween-themed prompts such as “If I could fly like a bat, I would…” Other students worked on their math skills by making graphs based on different Halloween symbols. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162604 Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162604 Celebrating Amityville Pride at Homecoming It was certainly a day of celebration for students and staff members from Amityville Memorial High School on Oct. 28, as well as visiting guests, as the football team clinched a spot in the playoffs in their homecoming football game against Wyandanch. This culminated a day of merriment that included the annual parade, crowning of the homecoming king and queen, and halftime performances by the marching band and cheerleaders. Marchers started their journey at the LIRR Amityville station and paraded down the local streets as onlookers cheered. Students dressed up and floats were decorated to represent this year’s theme of ancient civilizations. The best float award was given to the freshman class for their depiction of the Great Wall of China. Before the game, senior cheerleaders and football players were recognized and commended for their dedication to Amityville. The football team wasted no time establishing themselves once the game was underway, as a 14-0 lead after one quarter set the tone for a 33-6 win. The victory secured a place in the upcoming playoffs. At halftime, the crowd roared as Joshua Serrano and Irach’e Teague were named homecoming king and queen, and impressive performances from the cheerleaders and marching band capped off another homecoming celebration for Amityville. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162602 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162602 October 30, 201: Northeast Elementary School Due to power outages in the area, there will be NO morning Pre-K and a ONE HOUR delayed opening for kindergarten at Northeast Elementary School today. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162601 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162601 Seniors Are All in This Together Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2018 had a day of bonding and sharing during the annual Senior Awareness Day program on Oct. 12. Following icebreaker activities at the high school, the group traveled to Amityville Beach for team-building exercises. Special education teacher Jason McGowan, who organized the event, said it has been an annual tradition since 2005. Approximately 175 seniors, three-quarters of the senior class, participated in this year’s Awareness Day. “This gives us the opportunity to come together,” said class President Jacob Marrero. “Getting along with other people is one of the key factors of being successful in life.” There were several activities that required teamwork, and students were split into groups with people they might not normally interact with. They built human pyramids, played basketball and participated in a tug of war. In their “family groups,” students asked questions to learn more about each other. Senior Sabrina Tobin enjoyed they activities in which students had to find commonalities with each other, such as if they share a birthday month or like the same food. She said it was a good chance to bond before many of the traditional senior activities such as homecoming and prom. Mr. McGowan said it is important for the seniors to create a sense of community that can serve as an example for the sophomores and juniors at the school. He added that Awareness Day was a prelude to Awareness Weekend in November, in which participating students will spend 30 hours together in the high school including an overnight stay. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162600 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162600 VIDEO: Learning to Save Lives Students are learning valuable life-saving skills in the First Aid and CPR class at Amityville Memorial High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162599 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162599 Making Reading Cozy at Northwest Young readers are making themselves comfortable at Northwest Elementary School, as teachers have taken a new approach in helping children develop a love for literature. Students are no longer confined to just their desks, as many teachers have reconfigured their classrooms to provide alternate settings to read. First-grade teacher Kristee Lovett has designed her classroom to look like a campsite with a tent, camping chairs and log-themed pillows and seat cushions. “Ms. Lovett’s Happy Campers” visit the classroom library to select books on their level, and then spread out around the room for independent reading. She visits each of them during this time for individual conferences to assess how each child is growing as a reader. Second-grade co-teachers Jennie Smith and Kerrin Faulkner have brought alternative seating into their classroom for reading time. Students can choose an option that is right for them, selecting from gaming chairs, large pillows, beanbag chairs, yoga mats, rubber donuts and scoop rockers. Ms. Faulkner said that children need to move in order to focus, and all the seating choices allow them to do so. She added that if students are in a comfortable spot, they are more likely to read for a longer period of time. “Reading is an experience in which we want students engaged,” she said, “so we encourage them to find a comfy spot, just like they would at home.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162598 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162598 Homecoming Fall Festival Amityville students and family members: Come join us for our first Homecoming Fall Festival on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the AMHS Fields. The festivities begin at 3:00 pm and there will be food and fun for all! We look forward to seeing you all there! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/Assets/District_Documents/Poster_and_Flyer_2017.pdf http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162597 Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162597 Click here to watch the Dig Pink Volleyball Game Live – October 20 at 4:00pm Click here to watch the livestream http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162596 Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162596 Artists Earn Statewide Recognition Two students from the Amityville Union Free School District had their artwork selected for display at a statewide exhibit. Amityville Memorial High School sophomores Maksymilian Kiec and Kevin Zelaya had pieces chosen for the student art exhibit at the New York State School Boards Association conference in Lake Placid, which was held on Oct. 12 and 13. The students completed these projects when they were ninth-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, under the direction of art teacher Nicole Scoca. Kevin created an Egyptian-inspired sneaker design using colored pencils in his art appreciation class. Maksymilian’s pen and ink piece of a Mexican sugar skull was made for Hispanic Heritage Month in his studio in art class. The exhibit was co-sponsored by NYSSBA and the New York State Art Teachers Association and highlights achievement in the visual arts. Work displayed demonstrates a high level of student ability using different mediums and techniques. “Kevin and Maksymilian definitely created standout pieces,” Ms. Scoca said. “They’re both very creative, have their own vision and have a very strong skill set.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162595 Thu, 19 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162595 More Milestones for Boys Soccer Team Oscar Hernandez, a member of the Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity soccer team, has set the single-season record for goals scored. The senior netted his 22nd goal of the season in a 4-0 win at Bayport-Blue Point High School on Oct. 12, a game that also clinched the league championship for the Warriors. The forward is a four-year starter for Amityville. Oscar was an All-Long Island and All-State player as a junior for the team, which captured the Suffolk County and Long Island championships, and is on the Fall 2017 High School All-America Watch List. His milestone goal broke a 49-year-old school record held by Ralph Forman IV, a member of the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame. Assistant Coach Christopher Gannon earned his 100th win in Section XI in the team’s 2-1 win at Bay Shore High School on Oct. 7, including 44 victories with Amityville. His is former Division I College soccer player. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162594 Tue, 17 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162594 Supporting Reading and Writing at Park Avenue A consultant from Teachers College, Columbia University recently visited Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School to support teachers with the continued implementation of the Reading and Writing Project. Instructional coach Anna Sheehan spent time with fourth- through sixth-grade teachers in an effort to support the literacy initiative that Amityville first adopted two years ago. Ms. Sheehan modeled a group lesson in one classroom at each grade level, as all English Language Arts teachers from that grade observed. She then demonstrated small-group and individual conferences with students, to discuss their reading and writing progress. After each model lesson, Ms. Sheehan met with the teachers from that grade for a debriefing session. Park Avenue teachers were able to ask questions based on their own classroom experiences. Principal Robyn Santiago said that Ms. Sheehan will visit 10 times during the school year for in-house professional development. This builds upon the four-day Reading and Writing Institute that was held in the district in the summer of 2016, attended by more than 100 Amityville teachers. In between Ms. Sheehan’s visits, Park Avenue Instructional Coach Melissa Wiederhold provides support to the teachers. The purpose of the literacy initiative is to have students more engaged in reading and writing through individual choices. Teachers work with students to find “just right” books — literature that a child finds interesting, is on his or her reading level and is not too hard but not too easy. “Every child has a different book in their hands,” Ms. Santiago. “They’re reading books that they’re interested in. Children have to read every single day because that is how they get better.” Students keep reading logs to document the stories they read, how many pages at a time, how many minutes and whether it is at school or at home. These logs provide teachers with valuable information during the one-on-one conferences. Ms. Santiago noted that the improvements in reading and writing abilities are already being noticed within the school as a majority of students have moved up two or more reading levels within the past year. It is also contributing to improved performance in other subject areas, as Ms. Santiago said math teachers are seeing improved comprehension of word problems. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162593 Fri, 13 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162593 Learning Math in Many Ways at Northwest Children are learning math in many different ways at Northwest Elementary School. Teachers Jaclyn Wittschiebe and Mackenzie Sipp, who co-teach a first-grade class, have implemented math rotations. Using resources from Go Math, students are divided into groups of no more than six and rotate through various centers. The children review skills with their teachers using manipulatives such as blocks and small white boards. They play math games in pairs, work independently to solve problems in their workbooks, and do activities on Chromebooks to become more familiar with technology. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162592 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:00:00 GMT false162592 Grandparents are Special Guests at Northeast Grandparents Day has become an annual tradition at Northeast Elementary School, and on Sept. 29 students enthusiastically welcomed their grandmothers and grandfathers to their classrooms. The special guests visited kindergarten and pre-K classes throughout the day. They read aloud books, volunteered at ELA and math learning centers and helped students make fall-themed crafts. Several children wore “We Love Our Grandparents” hats. “It’s nice for the children to have family coming in and volunteering,” said kindergarten teacher Nicole Faber. “It’s also nice for the grandparents to get a glimpse of what’s going on in our classrooms.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162591 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162591 High School CPR Class Pays Dividends More than 100 Amityville Memorial High School students have learned life-saving skills through the First Aid/CPR course, and for one senior that training recently paid off. Dennis Cisneros, who took the half-year course in spring 2016 as a sophomore, used his training last month to assist a co-worker who suffered a medical emergency. During a work shift as a server at a restaurant in Farmingdale, a fellow employee passed out in the bathroom from an apparent overdose. Dennis administered CPR, giving the victim chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until first responders arrived. His immediate intervention contributed to his co-worker’s survival. “Unfortunately, there are situations like this that do happen,” Dennis said. “This is one of those things that I was prepared for. This is what any human would do for anyone else, a stranger or a friend.” Amityville Memorial High School has offered the course for the past three years, and students who successfully complete it are certified for two years through the American Red Cross. The course, taught by health teacher Chris Gannon, provides training for situations that students may encounter at home, in school or in the workplace. Topics include basic first aid, injury control, choking, CPR, AED usage and concussion awareness. “This is why we offer the course,” Mr. Gannon said. “These are skills that students learn for real-life moments that could help save a life.” Dennis enrolled in the course because he plans to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduation and wanted the medical training. He is a three-year member of the varsity soccer team including the 2015 New York State champions and the 2016 Long Island champions. Additionally, he is a member of the Liberty Partnership Program and the Hispanic Heritage Club, and is a kicker for the varsity football team. He will be honored publicly for his life-saving actions at the November Amityville Board of Education meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162590 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162590 A Colorful Tribute to Hispanic Heritage Students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School created Mexican sugar skull projects in Susan Zaratin’s art class. After learning about the history of sugar skills, students designed their own using markers, glitter and tissue paper. The project was done to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162588 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162588 Northwest Art Project a Dream Come True The new year at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District began with a building-wide art project. Under the direction of art teacher Lydia Robinson, students in first through third grades decorated small paper clouds. Each child was asked to include their name, a self-portrait and drawings that reflect their likes and interests. The approximately 700 colorful paper clouds were hung on the wall outside the art room surrounding the phrase, “Art is like a dream and we are the dreamers.” “I wanted to give every student a chance to get their work on the wall at the beginning of the year,” Ms. Robinson said. “They really enjoyed doing this project.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162587 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162587 High School Students Give Peace a Chance Colorful pinwheels symbolized peace, harmony and unity at Amityville Memorial High School where International Peace Day recently celebrated. Hundreds of pinwheels were made by the school’s art students and handed out to attendees at the eighth annual celebration. Students and teachers shared their wishes for peace through poems, readings and songs. At the end of the program, they came up on stage and tacked the pinwheels to two moveable bulletin boards, which were then moved to the lobby to be displayed for the rest of the month. Student Imagine Halyard, who served as the emcee of the celebration, said the purpose of International Peace Day is to renew the dedication to peace and non-violence. The school partnered with two organizations, Pinwheels for Peace and Peace One Day. Art teacher Jayne Grasso announced the winners of the pinwheel contest. Allen Ventura won most colorful, Alyssa Graham was most creative and Linda Mendosa won most meaningful. The Warriors Awareness Program, known as the Wac Pac, continued its tradition of spreading the message through peace rocks. Two students were chosen to give out painted rocks to someone who has made a positive difference, and the hope is the rocks will continue to be passed along. Lena Vazquez presented one to Ashley Pico to thank Ashley for helping her adjust to a new school last year. Brianna Mazzilli gave the other one to new principal Maria Andreotti as a welcoming gift. “Peace has to be at the forefront of everything, locally and globally,” Ms. Andreotti said. “I’m tremendously proud of the effort that has been put into this event and that is put in on a daily basis to spread peace.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162586 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162586 Eighth-Graders Get a Taste of Good Literature The days of an English teacher assigning every student in a class the same book to read are over at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. As part of Reader’s Workshop, an initiative through Columbia University Teacher’s College, students are now choosing books that match their interests. Eighth-grade English language arts teachers Katie Rosario and Janine Katsigiorgis transformed their classrooms into book tasting cafés on Sept. 19. The desks were covered in tablecloths with placemats that read “Eat, Read and Be Merry.” In the middle were dozens of books for students to sample as they each selected their first novel of the year to read. On book tasting menus, students were asked to analyze five different books after looking at the covers and reading a few inside pages. They then ranked the books based on which ones they would be most interested in reading. “We don’t do classwide novels anymore,” Ms. Rosario said. “Having students select their books increases engagement and reading stamina. If they pick books that they want to read, they’re more inclined to go home and read every day. We want them to have that feeling that they can’t put it down.” Ms. Katsigiorgis said that there were more than 200 books from her classroom library available for students to review, from classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” to recent graphic novel “Drama.” Genres included high-interest fiction, mystery, sports and fantasy. Through Reader’s Workshop, Ms. Katsigiorgis, Ms. Rosario and their colleagues continue to teach reading comprehension skills, but students now apply those skills using books they select. Teachers then follow up during small-group conferences in which students share their observations about their respective books. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162585 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162585 High School Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month got off to an energetic start at Amityville Memorial High School as the school hosted a performance by the Sol Y Sombra Spanish Dance Company on Sept. 15. Experienced dancers donned colorful garb and entertained students and teachers, who gathered in the auditorium for the afternoon show. The program included a folk dance from Spain, the flamenco and the tango. Several students were then invited up on stage to learn and perform traditional Latin dances like the merengue slide. The performance was hosted by the Hispanic Heritage Club, under the direction of advisers Elisa Castro and Maria Leon-Pineros. Throughout the month, there will be daily announcements with facts about Latin culture and Hispanic-Americans who have made significant contributions to society. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162584 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162584 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Through Dance http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162583 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162583 Northeast Welcomes Pre-K Students Amityville’s youngest students took the first steps of their educational journey as they arrived at Northeast Elementary School for the first day of pre-kindergarten classes on Sept. 13. After being welcomed by their teachers during the morning and afternoon sessions, the youngsters unpacked their new school supplies and learned classroom routines. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162582 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162582 October 2017 Board of Education Meeting Information PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES BELOW: The Regular Business meeting of the Board of Education will now be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 6:30 PM at the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Auditorium and it is anticipated the Board of Education will immediately entertain a motion to enter to Executive Session, and thereafter resume the public meeting at approximately 7:30 PM. This is in lieu of the Special Meeting. The meeting scheduled for October 11th is cancelled. There is only one meeting scheduled for October. The next Special Meeting is Wednesday, November 1st. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162570 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162570 Feedback Requested – Adult Education Program The Amityville Union Free School District is gathering information regarding residents’ interest in an Adult Education Program. Please take a few minutes to participate in a short online survey about courses that would be of most interest for the district to offer. The survey will be live until Sept. 29. To take the survey, visit this link. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162579 Tue, 12 Sep 2017 10:00:00 GMT false162579 SOLICITAMOS SUS COMENTARIOS (OPINIÓN) - Programa de Educación para Adultos El distrito escolar de Amityville está reuniendo información acerca del interés que los residentes puedan tener en participar en un programa de educación para adultos. Por favor, tómese unos minutos para llenar una corta encuesta acerca de las clases en las que usted estaría interesado que el distrito ofrezca. La encuesta estará disponible hasta la Septiembre 29. la encuesta acerca: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9ZQHW7 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162580 Tue, 12 Sep 2017 10:00:00 GMT false162580 Welcome back, Amityville. Let’s make it a great year! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162577 Thu, 07 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT false162577 Embarking on a New Learning Adventure More than 3,000 students returned to the district’s five schools on Sept. 5 enthusiastic for the year ahead. “I want to get good grades and I’m excited to meet my new teacher,” said Tyjae Moore, a sixth-grader at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Just as important as the academics, she said, is displaying good character and serving as a role model for the fourth- and fifth-graders. Northwest Elementary School Principal Kathleen Hyland said she is excited that students will be able to take advantage of several new resources this year. First-graders will use Lego kits to explore science and engineering, and additional Chromebooks with Google Suite will provide all students with increased access to state-of-the-art technology. “We are excited that the school is buzzing again,” Ms. Hyland said, as new Assistant Principal Sonia Rodrigo joined her in walking around the building and greeting students and teachers. “It is great to see the children’s smiles and hear their laughter. This year, they will go on wonderful learning adventures filled with opportunities to explore and grow.” Northeast Elementary School welcomed about 220 kindergartners. Many of those students attended the school last year for the pre-K program, but the beginning of kindergarten meant a full day of school, lunch in the cafeteria, recess and attending all of the special subject areas. Several teachers read their classes “The Kissing Hand,” a book about a child going to school for the first time. The first day also included tours of the school, an introduction to classroom routines and some crafts. “It’s a whole new world for them,” said kindergarten teacher Renee Chandler, who helped her students make “I Love Kindergarten” hats. “I’m just ready to jump back and in and see how much they learn and grow this year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162576 Wed, 06 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162576 Amityville Staff Energized for New Year “For us in the education business, this is our new year,” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said in addressing the nearly 600 staff members that gathered in the high school auditorium for the district’s annual convocation on Aug. 31. In advance of the first day of school, administrators, teachers and support staff came together to celebrate past accomplishments and learn about the goals for 2017-18 and beyond. Dr. Kelly reviewed the district’s mission, belief statement and vision. She renewed the call to “Put Amityville on the map” as a successful, high-performing school district and said data that will be released in the coming weeks and months will show that efforts are paying off. “I believe that our possibilities are endless,” she said. “Our district has made tremendous strides and I am very optimistic about the future.” Dr. Kelly introduced new staff members and welcomed them to a team that lives by the theme, “Achieving Excellence Together.” She also spoke about the five-year strategic plan, which sets goals in the areas of student achievement, positive culture and climate, and parent and community partnerships. This year’s keynote speaker was Regina Calcaterra, an attorney and best-selling author who grew up in Suffolk County living in homeless shelters and foster care. She related her own childhood experiences about the teachers who inspired her to succeed to encourage Amityville’s educators to do the same for their students. “I came to remind everyone of the impact they can have on a child in need,” she said. “No child is a lost cause.” After the presentation, Ms. Calcaterra chatted with teachers and signed copies of her memoir, “Etched in Sand.” In the afternoon, teachers returned to their buildings for meetings with their principals and professional development workshops. Support staff members participated in various training sessions. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162575 Tue, 05 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162575 Amityville Welcomes New Teachers The district recently welcomed more than a dozen new educators for the 2017-18 school year who are eager and anxious to make a positive difference in students’ lives. New teachers attended orientation on Aug. 28 at the Park North Administration Building. Participants included new teachers in the district, as well as those who have moved into permanent positions. The program included welcome messages from Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly and board of education members, followed by presentations on the district’s academic programs, instructional technology resources, business manners and evaluation process. Teachers were treated to a trolley ride of the district with Village of Amityville historian Richard Handler. Orientation concluded with teachers visiting their assigned buildings to meet with their respective principals. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162574 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162574 Stepping into Sophomore Year On an uncharacteristically cool morning for late August, the incoming class of 2020 at Amityville Memorial High School trickled into the auditorium. Students found their seats and awaited the start of their sophomore orientation. Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly took the podium and welcomed everyone, remarking that it seemed that their moving up ceremony wasn’t too long ago. She also introduced Amityville’s new high school principal, Maria Andreotti. “We’re lucky to have her with us,” Dr. Kelly said. Ms. Andreotti welcomed the sophomores to high school, and opened with a few words expressing her excitement for the upcoming year. “I can’t wait to see what you all are capable of and to help you along the way,” she told the students. “I want you to feel like the people in this building are your family.” Ms. Andreotti discussed the expectations for students, including the importance of striving for their academic best, good attendance and being on time, and getting involved in extracurricular activities — all aspects that prepare them for life outside of high school. The acronym R.I.C.H. — Responsibility, Integrity, Courage and Humility — represented her hopes for the type of character they would practice during their three years of high school. Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health, reiterated the importance of their academics, and explained that they must pass their classes to maintain their eligibility to play on the school’s various sports teams. After the introductory program, students were given their schedules and encouraged to walk around the school, with tours led by students from the National Honor Society. The newcomers compared schedules amongst their friends. When reflecting on what she was most excited for this upcoming year, sophomore Briyanna Covington said, “To play basketball for Amityville. I’m hoping to play my favorite position, which is center.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162571 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162571 Players to Watch Congratulations to Amityville’s Rolman Guardado and Oscar Hernandez for being named to News 12 Varsity’s 2017 Long Island Boys Soccer Players to Watch. http://www.news12varsity.com/forecast-2017-long-island-boys-soccer-1.1878485 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162572 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162572 Bus Route Update, August 30, 2017 Bus routes were inadvertently excluded from the mailings that went home to Amityville students and families this week and will be sent home in backpacks during the first week of school. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162573 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162573 Ready to Take on Middle School The district’s newest seventh-graders visited Edmund W. Miles Middle School on Aug. 24 to learn about the place where they will spend the next three years. The seventh-grade orientation followed their visit to the school in the spring during which they were able to tour the building. Principal Edward Plaia reviewed the classes that students will take, extra-curricular activities and sports that are offered, academic and behavioral expectations and the differences from elementary school. Students and parents were given the opportunities to ask questions. The approximately 215 incoming seventh-graders received their class schedules and also were able to take home free binders. They were also able to meet their guidance counselor for the coming year, Kerry Kearney, and several teachers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162569 Mon, 28 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162569 UPDATE: 2017-2018 District Calendar The 2017-2018 district calendars were delivered to the post office this morning! You should be receiving your copy at home within the next few days. For immediate access,CLICK HEREfor the online version. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162563 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162563 Welcome Back Bash All students in the Amityville School District are welcome!Click Here For Details http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162568 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162568 Bond Work Gets Underway Construction has been taking place at all five schools this summer, the first phase of the $69.9 million bond referendum that was passed by voters in March 2016. One of the major projects is the installation of security vestibules at each school. It will add a second set of locked doors at the main entrances to create another layer of safety for students and staff. Visitors would be buzzed in through the first set of doors, then have to present their identification to security staff before being allowed into the building. Demolition has already taken place and entranceways are being reconfigured with new interior doors and windows. Additional security cameras will also be installed. Window panes have been replaced at Northwest and Northeast elementary schools. The window frames remained but all of the old Lexan glass was removed, which became cloudy over the years. It was replaced with new glass that will allow more natural light into classrooms. Approximately 280 window panes were replaced at Northeast, the district’s pre-K and kindergarten center, and about 320 at Northwest, which serves first through third grades. The new parking lot, containing about two dozen spots, has been finished on the north side of Northwest Elementary School, replacing a gravel lot. The project included new asphalt, sidewalks, curbs and drainage. The masonry reconstruction project has begun at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Pieces of cast stone on the front of the building that were chipped and cracked will be replaced. The stone dates back to the original construction of the south wing in 1923 and north wing in 1932. Scaffolding has been erected around the facade and work will continue during the evening once the school year begins. Duct work has been replaced on the roof of Park Avenue. Replacement of interior doors and hardware at all schools will take place during the first few months of the school year. Construction on the addition to Amityville Memorial High School, which includes a new gymnasium, classrooms and science labs, is set to begin in June 2018. Plans have already been submitted to the State Education Department, with approval expected in February. Capital projects are also scheduled to begin next summer at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, including the replacement of original windows. The exterior portable classroom wing at Northwest is being repainted this summer as a district maintenance project. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162567 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162567 Back to School School opens for students on September 5. See you then! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162566 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162566 Summer Program Supports Skill Development More than 60 students received additional academic support during six weeks as they took part in the Extended Year Summer Program at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. The program was open to students entering first grade through high school. There were full-day and half-day classes, depending upon needs. Site coordinator Yvette Carman said the purpose of the program was to help children avoid a regression in academic skills during summer vacation. “This program helps children develop socialization skills, and it helps maintain and grow the skills that they need help with,” Ms. Carman said. “Their days are full of meaningful learning activities.” Students received personalized attention in small classes led by certified teachers and support staff. Elementary school students worked on English language arts skills such as identifying site words and reading comprehension, and math skills like number recognition, addition and subtraction. The youngsters took ELA and math tests at the beginning and end of the program so teachers could monitor the progress they made. Participants in the high school program not only worked on grade-level academic skills but participated in travel training by walking to the train station, riding the bus to the mall and learning how to use the computer to plan a trip. They also spent part of their days working at local businesses including retail stories, restaurants, gyms and yacht clubs. Family day was held during the last week of the program. There was basketball and soccer, an inflatable slide, water balloons and a picnic lunch. It also gave parents and guardians a chance to see the progress their children were making and learn strategies to support their academic, social and emotional growth at home http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162565 Fri, 11 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162565 Fall Sports Information Sports Physicals for All Student Athletes!! Wednesday, August 9 Wednesday, August 16 10:00 am-12:00 pm Location: High School Nurse’s Office NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!! **Must have Medical Form signed by a Parent/Guardian (ATTACHED) Important First Practice Dates!!! (ALL AT HIGH SCHOOL) Monday, August 14 @ 7:30am Football- Varsity and JV Monday August 21 @ 7:30am Boys Soccer- Varsity and JV Girls Soccer- Varsity and JV Girls Volleyball- Varsity and JV Cross Country- Varsity Only Girls Tennis- JV Only Monday August 28 @ 7:30am Cheerleading- Varsity Only **Must have completed Medical Form and Sports Update Form to participate in any practice (ATTACHED) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162564 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162564 Summer School Transportation Click here to access the Transportation page http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162562 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162562 District Welcomes Pair of Administrators The Board of Education has appointed new building administrators. Maria Andreotti was named principal of Amityville Memorial High School and Sonia Rodrigo will be the new assistant principal of Northwest Elementary School. Ms. Andreotti’s educational career began 24 years ago as an English literature teacher in New York City. Most recently, she served as director of humanities for the South Country School District and has held other administrative posts including assistant principal, principal, director of guidance and director of literature and reading. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brooklyn College, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Adelphi University. Ms. Rodrigo comes to the district from the New York City School District, where she worked for 16 years as an elementary teacher, leadership team chairwoman, staff developer and assistant principal. She hold a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, a master’s degree in early childhood education from Queens College and a leadership certificate from the College of St. Rose. “Ms. Andreotti and Ms. Rodrigo are exemplary educators and proven leaders who will make a fine addition to our administrative team,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “They are dedicated to helping all students reach their full potential, which is the core of our mission in Amityville.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162561 Mon, 31 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162561 District Recognizes Staff Milestones The Board of Education recently honored retiring staff members, as well as those who have reached milestone years of service with the district. Retirees include teachers Karen Annett-Grzunov from Northwest Elementary School and Jack Agostino from Amityville Memorial High School; teaching assistants Angela Mack-Brown from the high school and Beatrice Polaski, Lynn Durant and Gail Kaiser from Edmund W. Miles Middle School; clerical staff Barbara Dascoli from district office, Andrea Lottman and Linda Pollock from the high school and Theresa Culotta from Northwest; custodian Milton Allen from the middle school; monitors Jane Nieves and Geraldine Booth from the high school; cook Nora Walker from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and nurse Louise Dell’Isola from Northeast Elementary School. Faculty and staff members reaching 30 years of service were Nicole Beckles-Brown, Ricki Budnick, William Carmen, James Carrington, Donna Jones, Alfreta Lidge, Beatrice Polaski, Linda Pollock, Debra Ross, Joan Wexler-LaMantia and George Williams. Recognized for 25 years were Joan Ahl, Jeanne O’Neill, Deborah Ross and Steven Wexler, and hitting the 20-year milestone were George Alexander, Milton Allen, Carol Bosch, Carmel Ferriola, Angela Gibson, Michael Greco, Magdalena O’Brien, Beverly Powell, Diane Smith, Erica Spence and Roxanne Tannenbaum. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162560 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162560 Statement from Dr. Mary Kelly, Superintendent of Schools The Amityville School District is saddened to learn of the passing of our Director of Facilities Michael Butler. Mr. Butler was a respected member of our staff and he will be missed. His leadership and experience within the facilities department was invaluable to our district. Mr. Butler was well-liked and respected by his colleagues and always went out of his way to help others. He will be remembered for his warm, caring and friendly disposition. The Amityville School District community extends its deepest sympathy to Mr. Butler's family and loved ones. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162559 Sat, 22 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162559 The Amityville Tide: Summer 2017 Edition View the latest district newsletter http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162558 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162558 Board Welcomes New Trustee, Installs Officers The Board of Education welcomed its newest member and selected officers for the 2017-18 school year at the annual reorganization meeting at the Park North Administration Building. Newly elected trustee Allie McDonough and returning board members Susan Benard-Handler and Carolyn Dodd were installed by attorney Anthony Fasano. Ms. Dodd was elected president of the board, Juan Leon was named first vice president and Laura Pawlewicz was chosen as second vice president. The Board of Education appointed Dr. Lois Etzel as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, a position she held on an interim basis last year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162557 Thu, 13 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162557 Technology Makes Math Fun at Northwest Third-graders used technology to improve their math and analytical skills at Northwest Elementary School. Students in Lori Heavey’s class surveyed their classmates “favorites” and used Google Slides to present their results. Each child had to pick a topic, such as favorite color, food, pet or sport, create four options and get responses from their peers. They used Google Slides on Chromebooks to represent their findings in three different ways: a frequency table, a bar graph and a pie chart. Students presented their data charts to the whole class using the SmartBoard. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162556 Mon, 10 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162556 SUMMER SCHOOL 2017 TRANSPORTATION INFO Please Click Here to view the 2017 Summer School Transportation Information. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162555 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162555 Author Inspires Park Avenue readers and writers Author Peter Catalanotto visited Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on June 13 to share his expertise as both a writer and illustrator. Mr. Catalanotto spoke to students about how he generates ideas for stories. When he first became a professional writer, he remembered advice from his elementary school teachers: write about something you know about or care about. That led to his first book, “Dylan’s Day Out,” inspired by his dog. “Writing is about exploring ideas and finding your best idea,” he said in telling students that brainstorming is an integral part of the process. He talked about how he was an illustrator for other authors before publishing his own books. Students excitedly watched as Mr. Catalanotto drew a face, demonstrating and explaining the steps he takes to created detailed facial features. The author visit was sponsored by the Amityville Parent Teacher Council and organized by Library Media Specialist Timothy Quinn. The goal was to get students excited about reading before summer break, and staff from the Amityville Public Library also visited to talk about summer reading programs for children and teens. The school also hosted a book fair in the days prior to Mr. Catalanotto’s visit. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162554 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162554 Moving on Up in Amityville Elementary and middle school students celebrated their academic achievements during moving up ceremonies, which were held in the days leading up to the high school graduation. A trend-setting class graduated from Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and they did so at the place where they will spend the next three years of their educational journey. During the ninth-grade awards ceremony at the high school on June 22, Principal Edward Plaia reviewed all the “firsts” that the class experienced. They were the first ninth graders in the district to take Advanced Placement courses and to build Lego robots. The 180 members of the class received their promotion certificates, and numerous awards were handed out. Middle school now awaits the sixth-graders who graduated from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on June 22. Principal Robyn Santiago said that while they have great achievements to celebrate, they should strive to do even better next year. She reminded the youngsters that they don’t always have to follow the crowd and should always make good choices, even when no one is looking. The 238 third-graders at Northwest Elementary School completed another step in their educational journeys when they were recognized for their achievements at the moving-up ceremony on June 21. Following a video in which students shared their memories of Northwest, teachers from each class announced their graduates and handed out completion certificates. Principal Kathleen Hyland reminded the students that “what’s worth learning is worth working for.” Kindergartners completed one of their first major milestones when they graduated from Northeast Elementary School on June 20. The youngsters performed songs for their family members and Principal Dr. Pauline Collins presented perfect attendance awards. The students will comprise Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2029. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly wished the students luck as they head to their next schools. She encouraged them to continue reading over the summer and said the public library has a lot of good books available. Edmund W. Miles Middle School Ninth-Grade Moving Up Miles Middle School Ninth-Grade Moving Up Northwest Third-Grade Moving Up Northeast Kindergarten Moving Up http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162553 Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162553 High School Students Learn Life-Saving Techniques Amityville Memorial High School health teacher Chris Gannon recently certified 22 students in adult and pediatric CPR/AED and first aid through the American Red Cross. These students were part of a CPR and first aid course offered at the high school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162551 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162551 Warriors Ready to Take on the World Clad in red and silver caps and gowns, Amityville Memorial High School’s senior class had their final moment together. The 208 members of the Class of 2017 received their diplomas on June 24 during a ceremony filled with excitement and encouragement. Principal Dr. Lois Etzel said that their successes are a testament to the love and support of their families. She also asked the graduates to reflect on the teachers and staff members who have touched their lives in high school and throughout their time in the district. “Where did the time go?” commented Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, who noted that much of the class has been together since kindergarten. She encouraged them to value their friendships and treasure their memories as they move on to the next chapter of their lives. Valedictorian Esteban Idrovo Ponce and Salutatorian Lawrence Haave told their classmates that their best days are still to come. “These past years shouldn’t be the highlight of your life,” Lawrence said. “Go on to do amazing things.” “None of us have made it just yet,” Esteban added. Class President Madison Daly compared the last 13 years of school to a book. They had their introduction in kindergarten, the rising plot of high school, the climax of senior year and the resolution of graduation. “My only hope that we’ll meet again,” she said. Graduation marked the end of a month of celebratory activities including senior awards, the senior walk through the middle school and elementary schools, and college athlete signings. The graduates were handed their bright red diploma holders from Dr. Etzel and Dr. Kelly, and received congratulatory handshakes and hugs from Board of Education members as they crossed the stage. The ceremony concluded with an impassioned speech by Board of Education President Terry Fulton, who encouraged the graduates to use the wisdom and insight they have gained to make good decisions going forward. He said it is now up to them how far they will continue their educations. “You are Amityville Warriors,” he said. “Never, ever give up.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162552 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162552 Video: Character Counts at Park Avenue Learn how students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School live by the six pillars of character. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162549 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162549 Middle School Boasts Educators of Excellence Three educators from Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District were honored at Teacher Appreciation Awards Night hosted by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory. The honorees were ninth-grade guidance counselor Kerry Kearney, social studies chairwoman and ninth-grade teacher Jaclyn O’Hagan and eighth-grade special education teacher Renee Silone. They were recognized for working above and beyond what is required, collaborating with colleagues to improve student achievement, inspiring students to become lifelong learners and for making a positive impact on education. “These educators have extraordinary relationships with our students, and our students really look up to them,” said Principal Edward Plaia. “Their expectations are high, they make no excuses and are always willing to learn and grow themselves. They epitomize excellence.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162548 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162548 Park Avenue Student Makes His Own Music Donovan Graham, a student at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, recently took his interest in music to the next level when he composed a piece that was played at the school’s spring concert. The fifth-grader used music-writing software Noteflight, to create a ballad-style piece, “Bird Song,” approximately two and a half minutes long. Donovan conducted a woodwind ensemble comprised of teachers and fellow students, which he named Super Sound. Music teacher Jolene Maccarone said she was very impressed when he brought her the music, and very few changes were made before the performance. She said this was the first time in her 23 years teaching at Park Avenue that a student-written piece was included in a school concert. “His enthusiasm and his passion for music stimulates his creativity,” she said. “He’s a great musician. Donovan has only been playing for two years and he can play two instruments beyond his level.” Donovan plays bass clarinet in the fifth-grade band and clarinet in the sixth-grade band. He is now composing a piece for a brass ensemble that he hopes will be performed at a school concert next year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162547 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162547 Celebrating Father’s Day at Northeast School Families came together at Northeast Elementary School on June 9 for the pre-K Father’s Day celebration. Children and their fathers or special guests took advantage of the warm, sunny weather by doing activities together in the courtyard. They painted birdhouses, participated in hula-hoop contests and played hopscotch. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162546 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162546 Amityville Seniors Take a Trip Down Memory Lane An Amityville Memorial High School tradition continued on June 8 when the soon-to-be graduates visited each school in the district. The students filled five buses which traveled from building to building for the annual Senior Walk. Clad in their caps and gowns and with “Pomp and Circumstance” blaring over the public address systems, the seniors walked through the halls of their former elementary schools and middle school, which were lined with today’s students. Many stopped to high-five the admiring youngsters or hug their former teachers. “I heard over and over again from the students that the Senior Walk was a ‘walk down memory lane,’” said Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel. “For the younger students, it was very motivating for them to see the seniors in their caps and gowns parading through the halls.” The Senior Walk capped off a week of celebratory activities including senior awards, Senior Athlete College Celebration Day and sports awards. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162544 Mon, 19 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162544 The Amityville Tide: Spring 2017 Edition View the latest district newsletter. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162545 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162545 Amityville Athletes Make College Commitments Sixteen seniors at Amityville Memorial High School will continue their athletic pursuits at the next level as they will take their talents to colleges across Long Island, New York and the United States. They were honored at Senior Athlete College Celebration Day on June 2. The Suffolk County champion boys track and field team will have six of its members compete for college squads including Emmanuel Oguntoye and Alijah Benymon at Virginia State University, Terrance Hinds at Bowie State University, Jowell Dixon at the University at Albany, Brandon Gilpin at Morehouse College and Kalvin O’Neal at Johnson C. Smith University. Kayla Miller, from the girls track and field team, also will head to Johnson C. Smith University. La’Niya Clark, who scored her 1,000th career point earlier this year, will suit up for the SUNY Old Westbury basketball team. Destiny Knox will play volleyball at Nassau Community College and Diana Bernard will join the softball team at Suffolk Community College. Three members of the Long Island champion boys soccer team will continue playing including Timothy Hermann for New England College, Aaron Mathurin for Morrisville State College and Elvis Amaya for St. Joseph’s College. Denis Douglas will play football for Wagner College, Nicholas Clark joins the football team at Monroe College and Marquell Sterling will play basketball for St. Thomas Aquinas College. During the event, the first to be live-streamed on the school district’s website, each athlete spoke about their future plans, thanked those who have supported them over the year, and put on the hat of their new school. Joining in the celebration were administrators, coaches and family members. “We’re very proud of these young men and women for all of their accomplishments at Amityville Memorial High School,” said Athletic Director Evan Farkas. “We look forward to seeing them excel in college, both in the classroom and on the playing field.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162543 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162543 Middle School Library Earns Recognition The library at Edmund W. Miles Middle recently received an Advanced Level Certificate as a Statewide Internet Ready Library. To qualify for this distinction, a school library must meet certain requirements including minimum Internet connection and download speeds, access to online databases and library catalogs, available computer workstations with printing capability, the ability to deliver downloadable or streaming digital content, remote access to library services and technology training opportunities. Librarian Lynn Cesiro accepted the award at the Western Suffolk BOCES Leadership and Information Symposium. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162542 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162542 Senior Awards View all of the senior awards at Amityville Memorial High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162541 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162541 Reading Skills Take Center Stage at Northwest Popular children’s characters were recently found in a second-grade classroom at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District during fairy tale Reader’s Theater. Students in Jenny Smith’s class performed “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Little Red Riding Hood” for their parents. The children dressed up as the characters and even used props such as a picnic basket and paper beanstalk. Ms. Smith said that Reader’s Theater helps students improve their fluency, their ability to read with expression and their confidence in reading and public speaking. One of the skills practiced in class is re-reading books to improve comprehension and word recognition, and the scripts proved to be the perfect motivator to get students to read and read again. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162540 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162540 Amityville Seniors Awarded for Achievements More than 100 seniors at Amityville Memorial High School were recognized for their academic accomplishments and service to their school and community at the annual Senior Awards Ceremony on June 1. Students received certificates for their achievement in various classes and their leadership in school clubs. Several local organizations, businesses and families sponsored scholarships. Guidance counselors Maria Leon-Pineros, Stacy Murphy and Jacqueline Noon read off each student’s awards and post-high school plans. “June is a wonderful month for celebrations, especially for our graduating class of 2017,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly in congratulating not only the seniors but also all those who have supported them. Joining in the celebration were family members, Board of Education trustees and administrators. The ceremony included remarks from Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel, a video tribute to the top 25 graduates and a photo montage. A reception followed in the courtyard. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162539 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162539 Top Graduate Honored at Valedictorians Luncheon The district congratulates Amityville Memorial High School senior Esteban Idrovo Ponce, who was honored at the Suffolk County School Superintendent’s Association 23rd annual valedictorians luncheon on June 1 at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge. The event honored the top graduates from Suffolk County’s Class of 2017. Esteban, who earned the top spot in his class with a weighted grade point average of 112.13, was joined by Board of Education President Terry Fulton, Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel, guidance counselor Jacqueline Noon and his family. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162538 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162538 LIVE: Watch the Amityville HS Senior Athlete College Celebration Day LIVE: Watch the Amityville HS Senior Athlete College Celebration Day Right mouse click on the link above and choose "Open Link in New Window" to watch it live! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162537 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162537 Northwest Students Share Poetry in a Café Setting After writing poems for six weeks, second-graders at Northwest Elementary School were given a forum to share their work. Teacher Franca Adams recently welcomed parents to the Adams Family Poetry Café. To simulate a real-life poetry reading, the room was illuminated with battery-powered candles and guests were encouraged to snap their fingers instead of applauding. After a group poetry reading, children came up one-by-one to read a piece. Ms. Adams said that each student wrote about two dozen poems during the poetry unit using various techniques. Everyone selected a favorite piece to share at the poetry café with topics ranging from watermelons to dogs to monster trucks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162536 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162536 Art Shows Have Amityville’s Touch Several students from the district were recognized for their contributions to local art shows. At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, fourth-graders Jesus Barrios, Timothy Pratt and Emma Reme, and sixth-graders Messiah Marshall, Amaya Nelson and Makayla Warrick had their pieces selected for the Suffolk County Arts Leaders Association children’s art show. The SCALA show was held at Old Town Hall in Babylon. Messiah and fifth-grader Aysia Francis represented their school in the Colors of Long Island Art Exhibition at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. All students completed their work under the direction of art teacher Susan Zaratin. Astrid Dixon, a ninth-grader at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and her art teacher, Nicole Scoca, will have their self-portraits displayed in the sixth annual SCALA Invitational Art Show at Farmingdale State College. Suffolk County art students have their exceptional artwork on display next to the artwork of their teachers in a side-by-side format. The reception will take place on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Gallery of Hale Hall and the show runs through June 8. Eight students represented the district in the 14th annual 12x12 High School Art Exhibition at LIU Post including ninth-graders Odalys Murcia and Ebony Toney, 10th graders Milagro Arevalo, Sharmin Arshad, Angela Kalin and Katherin Rojas and seniors Christina Brown and Kayla James. There art teachers are Nicole Scoca, Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Rickard and Nicole Pappas. Aleyna Kokoglu, a student at Amityville Memorial High School, received the Visitor’s Choice Award in the Long Island’s Best Art Exhibition/Competition this year for her artwork, “Elegance.” He piece was exhibited at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162535 Tue, 30 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162535 National Junior Honor Society Welcomes New Members Sixteen students were recognized for their academic achievements and good character when they were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District. The afternoon ceremony on May 15 featured a candle-lighting ceremony to mark the five traits required for membership: scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship. Speakers included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Principal Edward Plaia and Assistant Principal Kristy Pagliari, who told the inductees to continue to embrace those values. Honor society members, under the direction of adviser Carlee Wallenstein, perform several community service activities a year. They volunteer at the family learning nights at Northeast and Northwest elementary schools and raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. The new members are Yaneli Amaya, Mikhail Ankudovych, Saniya Bryant, Melissa Contreras, Brandon Dennis, Sanabria Denixon, Brandon Fernandez, Julianna Figueroa, David Fuentes, Alex Hargrove, Randy Jerez, Andielynn Llama, Gianely McCatty, Samanta Molina, Scott Pineda and Samirah Rouzier. They were joined by family members and their fellow seventh-grade classmates. “These students are our future,” Mr. Plaia said. “Our future is bright because they are going to be in charge.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162534 Fri, 26 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162534 Learning With Legos at Northwest Legos are the newest educational tool in Margaret Brooks’ first-grade class at Northwest Elementary School. Twice a week, her students use the popular building blocks to participate in STEM activities, reinforcing skills in science, technology engineering and math. Each student has his or her own Lego kit complete with dozens of blocks in different sizes and colors. The children are tasked with building projects from the LearnToLearn Lego Education curriculum pack. So far, they have made bridges, wheelchairs and machines. After the children were introduced to the kits, they earned their building licenses. They learned that in order to successfully complete each project, they must follow the engineering process: plan and design, construct and test. Ms. Brooks said that the students are developing their problem-solving skills and learning how to work together through engaging, hands-on activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162533 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162533 Park Avenue Students Say ‘No’ to Bullying Two students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were recognized by Child Abuse Prevention Services for their efforts to fight bullying through art. Fourth-graders Tiffany Asbell and Hilary Escobar Mejia took part in the CAPS bullying prevention poster contest, and were both awarded honorable mention. The theme of Tiffany’s poster was “Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out,” and the slogan for Hilary’s piece was “Stop the bullying. Let’s be friends.” The students created the posters after participating in anti-bullying workshop at the school, presented by CAPS, as part of Park Avenue’s character education program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162532 Mon, 22 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162532 Thanking the Moms of Northeast Smiles from ear to ear could be found on the faces of prekindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District and their mothers who came together on May 12. The school hosted its annual Mother’s Day Tea, which began with the students performing songs for their special guests including “Mommy, Mommy, I Love You Mommy,” “You’re My Mom,” “If I Had a Little Red Box,” “L.O.V.E.” and “Skidamarink.” Children and their mothers then shared iced tea, juice and cookies at tables draped in colorful clothes. The students dressed up for the occasion with the boys in shirts and ties and girls in dresses. They presented handmade gifts to their mothers such as drawings, picture frames, flower crafts, cards and necklaces. Said teacher Barbara Perez, “It was a beautiful day for mothers and children to come together, and for us to show appreciation to the mothers.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162529 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162529 Video: A Focus on Community Service Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School participate in numerous community service initiatives and talk about why it’s important to give back. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162531 Wed, 17 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162531 Passion Through Poetry at Middle School Students and staff celebrated the written word at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District, which hosted its fourth annual Poetry Slam and Literacy Night on May 1. As guests arrived, they received booklets featuring 230 original poems written by seventh- through ninth-graders. Several dozen students got on stage to share their poems, which were written on topics that evidenced their individual interests and passions. The presentation also included a video featuring Amityville students in “Just Read On,” a parody of the Aoki song “Just Hold On.” Following the poetry slam, students visited the library and filled up bags with free books, many of which were donated by the Book Fairies. Dinner and raffles followed in the cafeteria. The event was organized by librarian Lynn Cesiro with support from the Middle School Literacy Team, ELA teachers and administrators. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162528 Tue, 16 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162528 Amityville Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2017-18 budget vote and trustee election. The budget passed by a vote of 897 to 443. In addition, congratulations to Carolyn Dodd and Susan Benard-Handler for being re-elected to the Board of Education and Allie McDonough for her election. Again, thank you to all who voted and for supporting our schools! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162530 Tue, 16 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162530 Aspiring Scientists Bring Pride to Amityville Students from the district’s independent science research program took home awards at the 2017 STEM Diversity Summit hosted by Farmingdale State College. This year’s theme was “Broadening the STEM/STEAM Education Pipeline and Workforce.” A team of ninth-graders from Edmund W. Miles Middle School won first place in the Technology category for their project, “A Targeted Molecular Modeling Approach to Find Novel Treatments for Polycythemia Vera.” The students, Jeffrey Garcia, Nathalie Larin, Jazmin Ruiz-Marcelo, Amelia Tisk, Alexa Victor and Z’Dhanne Williams, presented their findings on the rare blood disorder and their use of molecular modeling software. An eighth-grade team from the middle school earned fourth place for their project, “Scientific Practices and Our Open Ecosystem” in the Life category. The group, consisting of Kaya Branscum, Alexander Diaz, Shawn Fields, Myla Griffin, Brianna McQueen, Amber Palmer and Lenesha Swan, established a tank with a fish, java moss, and beneficial bacteria, and discussed and maintained the nitrogen cycle within the tank. The two groups were mentored by science research teacher Alexis Charles. The future scientists were recognized publicly at the April 19 Board of Education meeting by Farmingdale’s Executive Assistant to the President Dr. Veronica Henry. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162527 Fri, 12 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162527 Statement from Board of Education President - May 10, 2017 Statement from Terry Fulton, Board of Education President Amityville UFSD It has recently come to the attention of the Board of Education and central administration that, due to a printing error by an outside printing company, the return address on some of the absentee ballots for our budget vote and trustee election was incorrect. We are correcting the error; please be assuredthatwe will continue to do our due diligence to ensure that all absentee ballots are returned to the District in time to be canvassed at the annual meeting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have mailed an absentee ballot and want to confirm the district is in receipt of your ballot, please contact our district clerk at631-565-6019. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162526 Thu, 11 May 2017 01:00:00 GMT false162526 ‘Lion King’ This Weekend at Middle School The Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club will present Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.” on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Show times are 7:30 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium. The play features a cast of 20 student-actors. Lead roles will be played by Saniya Bryant as young Simba, Levi McCatty as older Simba, Justin Bethea as Scar, Amelia Tisk as Shenzi, Trinity Tobin as Nala and Trey Fulton as Mufasa. Students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School will perform as lionesses. The director is Gerald Asbell and the assistant director is Carl Ferrara, along with support from Melissa Asbell, Erik Lee and Ginger Lee. High school students assisted with set construction. Tickets are $5 each, and at Saturday’s show two people will be admitted for the price of one. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162525 Wed, 10 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162525 Three Cheers for Amityville High School band The Amityville Memorial High School Band received numerous honors for its performance during its assessment trip to Music in the Parks in Westfield, Massachusetts on April 28. The band, under the direction of Brian Wishin, received a rating of “Superior” for its performance, the highest classification that could have been earned. It also earned first place for bands overall within the festival and the Esprit De Corps award which acknowledged the ensemble that showed best overall performance, stage presence and behavior throughout the festival. “As the recipient of these three awards, the Amityville Memorial High School band was the most decorated ensemble within this performance assessment festival,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of fine arts. “The district congratulates the band members and Mr. Wishin on this outstanding accomplishment.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162524 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162524 Middle School Students Hear Anti-Bullying Message A powerful story about the tragic consequences of bullying that has been told at schools across the nation made a lasting impression on students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. In an effort to raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying, the school hosted “Ryan’s Story,” in which John Halligan chronicled the life of his son, the bullying he endured and his eventual suicide. The presentation began with a slideshow of pictures and videos of Ryan, followed by Halligan recounting the struggles the young boy faced. Halligan went on to speak of the emotional toll that the death took on Ryan’s family and friends. He made comparisons to the technology used by teenagers then and now, noting that texting and social media has replaced instant messaging and chat rooms as ways for bullies to hide behind their screens. Bullies get their power from having an audience and Halligan said that those who act as bystanders are just as guilty. He said that students should use peer pressure a positive tool by encouraging their friends to make good decisions and treat others with respect and dignity. Halligan’s message was that “any ink blot could be turned into a butterfly,” meaning that it’s never too late for someone to become a good person. He expressed hope that anyone hearing his message who has bullied others would think twice about their actions and apologize to the people they have mistreated. “Being an upstander and sticking up for each other is a huge component of our anti-bullying program,” Principal Edward Plaia said. “We want our students to follow the golden rule — treat people the way you want to be treated.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162523 Mon, 08 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162523 13 Amityville Educators Earn Tenure The Amityville Board of Education awarded tenure to 13 staff members at its monthly meeting on April 19. Three administrators received tenure including Edward Plaia, principal of Edmund W. Miles Middle School; Kristy Pagliari, assistant principal of the middle school; and Sandra Parmentier, assistant administrator for pupil personnel services and special education. Teachers earning tenure were Jennifer Ellis (high school, science); Christopher Gannon (high school, health); Ally Kretz (special education, middle school); William Kretz (high school, special education); Krystle Kuletsky (Park Avenue, special education); Kelly Morenus (high school, social studies); Sylvin Ramgadoo (Northwest, third-grade); Jack Zider (middle school, social studies); and Corey Zwerling (high school, mathematics). Teacher assistant Lauren Baum also received tenure, and the board also recognized Park Avenue ENL teacher Nicole Steinberg who earned it in January. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said all probationary employees go through a rigorous review process and everyone awarded tenure is well-deserving. “I am so pleased to call them my colleagues,” she said, “and so proud of the work they’ve done.” The recipients were also congratulated by leaders from the Amityville Teachers Assoication and the Amityville Administrators Association. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162522 Thu, 04 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162522 Video: Northeast Family Learning Night http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162520 Tue, 02 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162520 Students Become the Teachers in Amityville Eight students from Amityville Memorial High School got to experience the classroom from the other side, as they spent a day as teachers at Northwest Elementary School. Split into teams of four, one group worked with a first-grade class and the other with a second-grade class. They were trained through Junior Achievement, a volunteer-delivered program to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy. The young teachers led literacy and math activities through Junior Achievement’s curriculum that focused on communities, families and careers. Elementary students got to explore the business world by starting their own pretend company and learn about democracy by participating in a mock vote. Karen Gross, the transition coordinator for the Amityville Union Free School District, said the high school students who took part in the program are interested in careers working with children. This opportunity provided them with needed organization and leadership skills while teaching them how to be prepared for the workplace such as dressing professionally. In a program that focused on citizenship, they demonstrated for Northwest students just how to be good citizens. “This was a good experience,” added junior Annastassia Baines. “We set an example for the younger kids so they can be role models in the future.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162519 Mon, 01 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162519 5/1/2017: Letter from the Superintendent regarding Twenty-first Century Community Learning Center Grant May 1, 2017 Please see the letterfrom Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly regarding the Twenty-first Century Community Learning Center Grant. View in English View in Spanish http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162518 Mon, 01 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162518 Students Celebrate Earth Day at Northwest To celebrate Earth Day, students at Northwest Elementary School participated in literacy, science and art activities to learn how to make the planet a better place. First-graders in Kristina Komsic’s class used tracings of their hands and blue and green paper circles to create “I’ve Got the Whole World in My Hands” posters. They also wrote sentences about what they can do to protect the planet. In Nancy Davi-Ortiz’s second-grade class, children learned about the life cycle of plants by sprouting lima beans. They placed their beans into mason jars, which are more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, and added a paper towel and water. Once the beans sprout, they will plant them in small pots to bring home in time for Mother’s Day. The students also watched a video about the harmful effects of plastics, particularly on animals and marine life. After reading Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” students in Kelli Geilman’s third-grade class made their own foldable lapbooks analyzing the environmentally themed book’s lessons. They also signed pledges promising to take care of the Earth, wrote actions that they could do and penned essays on the theme “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” “At such a young age, the students can take part in this effort,” Ms. Geilman said. “I wanted them to learn that Earth Day is not just one day, it’s every day.” Third-graders in Sylvin Ramgadoo’s class came up with their ideas for Earth-friendly cities. They created drawings and wrote about their plans, which included recycling centers, compost piles and bicycled-centered transportation. The project allowed students to think creatively and build their literacy skills. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162517 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162517 The Amityville Tide: Special 2017-18 Budget Edition Learn more about the district’s proposed 2017-18 budget. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162515 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162515 World Language Honor Society Welcomes 35 Amityville Memorial High School’s chapter of the National World Language Honor Society welcomed 35 new members at an induction ceremony on March 30. Membership was offered to students achieving an average of 85 or above in their Spanish or French classes. The program featured congratulatory remarks from Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel and Director of ENL and World Languages Mary Stephens, a candlelighting ceremony and an awards presentation. Dr. Etzel said it is important for students to learn other languages in order to create meaningful global connections. Honor Society President Emily Cisneros and Vice President Esteban Idrovo served as the evening’s hosts and introduced the newest members. Joining the Honor Society were Spanish language students Annastassia Baines, Jessalynn Brito, Angelica Castillo, Yossleyn Castillo-Turcios, Melvin Castro, Leyla Echevarria, Wuendis Ferrufino, Erika Garcia, Laurie Herard, Katherine Inoa Rodriguez, Ashley Izaguirre-Rivera, Angel Leon Zavala, Eddie Marrero Jr., Alejandra Mercado-Torres, Bianca Molina, Gisselle Monge, Salome Piedrahita Montoya, Ayana Myles, Briana Nunez, Trevony Palmer, John Quinane, Juan Reyes, Natalie Reyes, Jeridania Rodriguez, Gemma Rojas, Johana Sanchez, Irache Teague, Kenny Torres Mata and Ashley Ventura. Their teachers are Reynaldo Bueno, Elisa Castro and Sandra Whitney. Students in the French language program, taught by Brooke Prestano, who earned induction were Stephany Carbajal, Britney Colas, Courtney Evans, Josefa Hernandez, Raiphy Jerez and Kerianne Victor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162514 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162514 High School Students Look to the Future Recruiters from more than 100 colleges, as well as the armed forces, recently visited Amityville Memorial High School for the annual spring college fair. The gymnasium was buzzing as students collected informational items to help them make educated decisions about their post-high school plans. They learned about each school’s academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings, scholarship opportunities, job placement services and campus life. The fair was open to students in all grades. Guidance counselor Maria Leon-Pineros said it was particularly important for underclassmen to attend to learn about the requirements needed to get into the college of their choice, such as grade point average and SAT scores. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162513 Fri, 21 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162513 Baseball Lesson a Home Run at Northwest The arrival of baseball season provided new opportunities for learning in Heather Tortorici’s first-grade classroom at Northwest Elementary School. Ms. Tortorici created literacy and math lessons centered on the sport, along with some fun arts and crafts. Students studied literary devices in the book “Casey at the Bat” and the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” In math journals, they answered baseball-themed word problems. As a class project, each student wrote his or her own acrostic poem by using the first letters of baseball words and phrases to start each sentence. The poems were then combined to create a book and sent to the New York Yankees. “The students loved these activities,” said Ms. Tortorici, who co-teaches the ENL class with Patricia Meisser. “They were thinking about baseball while reinforcing the skills they have been learning all year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162512 Wed, 19 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162512 Park Avenue Pupils Get Poetic Poetry has been on the minds of students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, where all classes are participating in literacy activities to coincide with National Poetry Month. The new unit of study is part Columbia Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project, in which students become immersed in the written word. Classroom libraries are filled with poetry books that give children exposure to different kinds of poems such as rhyming, free prose and acrostic. Students have been working in pairs to analyze poems and write down their observations such as the tone, purpose and structure of a piece. Using these examples, students are becoming poets themselves and honing their craft in poetry notebooks. Candice Laviano’s fourth-graders have found new and fresh ways to write poems, like when they recently created fantasy pieces about ordinary objects found in the home or classroom. In several classes, students are completing entries for the Amityville Teachers Association’s annual poetry contest. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162511 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162511 District Recognized for Music Education Amityville schools continue to be good places for young musicians to cultivate their talents. For the sixth time in the past seven years, the district has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the curriculum. Designations are made to districts and schools across the nation that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. “It’s rewarding because the teachers and the students in our district work very hard at what they do and it’s nice to be acknowledged for that dedication,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, the district’s director of fine arts, who oversees a staff of 10 music teachers. The district offers general music instruction beginning in kindergarten and students learn to play the recorder in third grade. A comprehensive instrumental program is offered in fourth grade and up. Upon entering Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, children can select an instrument to play in the band or orchestra, and also join the chorus. Park Avenue, Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School hold winter and spring concerts. Jazz ensembles are available at the middle school and high school, and elective courses include piano and music theory. Every year, several students are selected to participate in music festivals hosted by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association and Long Island String Festival Association. “The districts which have been recognized as Best Communities for Music Education were chosen based on their accessibility to music education for students,” added Dr. Fernandez. “We have many opportunities for children to explore their creative side through music starting at an early age and continuing on through middle school and high school.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162510 Fri, 07 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162510 High School Tech Teacher a ‘Bright Light’ Steve Carbo shines as a teacher in the Amityville, which is why he was recognized at the annual Bright Lights luncheon hosted by the Association of Suffolk Supervisors for Educational Technologies. Mr. Carbo has been a technology and media communications teacher at Amityville Memorial High School for 11 years. He teaches several courses including digital photography, 3D design and media arts. With the support of district leadership, he has transformed his classroom to add state-of-the-art technology. In his media arts class, students learn audio and video production as well as special effects creation. His 3D design class focus on video game creation, and in digital photography students are able to explore their specific visual interests. “The students have a real interest in these classes,” Mr. Carbo said. “There are crucial skills they're learning by using technology creatively. It’s not even the future anymore, it’s the present. This is where the jobs are.” He described himself as a “facilitator” who believes students learn best when they can work hands-on with technology. Mr. Carbo explained that in addition to learning practical skills, his courses allow students to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. “There is no greater moment for me as a teacher then when I see a students excel beyond expectations,” he added. Through his hobbies as a filmmaker and musician, Mr. Carbo keeps abreast of the latest trends and most current technology. He also attends conferences and trade shows, and this year Amityville was the only school to have students attend the ASSET Conference, which featured the latest in educational software and hardware. In addition to his classes, he is the stage crew advisor and audio visual coordinator. Mr. Carbo was nominated for the award by Carole Polney, Amityville’s assistant superintendent for technology and administrative services, and the president of ASSET. She noted his dedication to students inside the classroom and after school hours, and said his school counts on him as the “go-to-guy” for technology needs. “Mr. Carbo is a team player and visionary teacher,” Ms. Polney said. “He not only keeps up his professional growth regarding technology, but he's also sure to expose Amityville students to some of the newest technologies. His kind heart and passion for technology is evident in his classroom teaching, his collaboration with his colleagues and his commitment to our schools.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162509 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162509 Aspiring Doctors Land Illustrious Internship Three science research students from Amityville Memorial High School have been selected for a prestigious summer internship at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Nidia Mendoza, Ernesto Monzon and Harris Martinez Garcia will have the opportunity to work alongside doctors and scientists performing cutting-edge medical research. They had to complete a rigorous application process, which included submitting a resume and answering essay questions, while competing against undergraduate through doctoral-level college students for the internship. “This is an amazing program and it can get me closer to my goal of working in the medical field,” Ernesto said. “We are very lucky to have been selected.” The students will be eligible for a grant that can help offset their travel expenses. At the conclusion of their internship, they will present their research and that work can be entered into science competitions. The district’s science research program is in its second year and led by teachers Deborah Charles and Alexis Charles. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162508 Tue, 04 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162508 Park Avenue Students are Reading a Latte Reading has been the focal point at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, which is celebrated Parents as Reading Partners month in March. The theme is “Let’s Read a Latte.” Guest readers have visited classrooms including parents, community members, district administrators and board of education trustees. During her visit to a sixth-grade class, Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said that reading is a way for people to use their imagination and also to learn about the world. The PARP program began on what would have been the 113th birthday of popular children’s author Dr. Seuss. Students were encouraged to wear pajamas to school to make reading synonymous with comfort. Mystery Mondays featured schoolwide announcements in which students had to guess either a mystery reader or the message of a mystery poem. Parents and their children came together on PARP Reading Night for various literacy activities, such as writing the ending to a story and drawing pictures based on their favorite books. Students throughout the school are keeping track of their independent reading time at home. Each week, the children with the most minutes receive prizes such as books, bookmarks and pencils. Principal Robyn Santiago said that the books being given away were based on student input so they would receive titles that they enjoy. She also said that in classes, teachers are matching students with books that fit their interests. “If you enjoy something, you’re going to do more of it and you’re going to do better,” she said of the school’s effort to build a reading community. “We hope that PARP instills a love of reading in the students.” At the end of the month, the grade with the most combined reading minutes wins a hot chocolate party, and the top student in the school receives two tickets to a Brooklyn Nets basketball game. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162507 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162507 Harlem Wizards Are Visiting Amityville! Watch this video for a sneak peek at what you'll see when the Harlem Wizards visit Amityville! https://goo.gl/1cSyD1 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162506 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162506 Middle School Classrooms get a New Look Several English Language Arts classrooms at Edmund W. Miles Middle School have gotten a new look to support a growing reading and writing program in the district. This year, the district has expanded its participation in the Reading and Writing Project Institute through Columbia Teachers College, which takes a new approach to literacy instruction. Three classrooms at the middle school have been transformed with new furniture and greater book collections. Trapezoid tables, paired with lightweight red chairs have replaced traditional desks. Beanbag chairs provide students alternative places to sit and read, and new bookshelves house leveled libraries. ELA Chairman Reinaldo Latorre, who teaches ninth-grade classes, said the new tables can be arranged in many ways, allowing students to sit in groups to discuss their reading and writing activities. The set up promotes turn and talk discussions, which are used for students to share their thoughts on reading passages or writing activities. “There’s more collaboration among the students, and it’s just natural,” Mr. Latorre said. “They are able to gather ideas from one another. By listening to what someone else is doing, the students can strengthen their own writing.” Eighth-grade co-teachers Janine Katsigiorgis and Carolyn Mejia have placed anchor charts on the tables which include thought prompts for students, suggestions for transitions in their writing, and parts of books they should be analyzing such as character development, conflict and symbolism. Their classroom is filled with hundreds of books in the new leveled library, which are used for both book clubs and independent reading. Students can find literature at their level. A core mission of the Columbia Teachers College program is to create communities of readers and writers. Katie Rosario, an eighth-grade teacher, said she now does more small-group instruction to support students based on their individual needs. The trapezoid desks can be formed into shapes to support these small groups, or arranged in a large circle for a full class discussion. “My classroom also has comfortable beanbags and other seating options, along with lamps to give kids that living room feel,” she said “I love reading in my cozy spot, so why not try and create that for our students? Both the new desks and the new program has increased student engagement and motivation to learn.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162505 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162505 Josh Serrano a Newsday All-Long Island Athlete Congratulations to Amityville Memorial High School student-athlete Josh Serrano, who was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island basketball team for the winter sports season. The point guard was one of 10 students from across the island to earn the distinction. Josh had a banner year for the Warriors. In addition to being Long Island’s second-leading scorer with an average of 25.7 points per game, he set Amityville’s single-game record with 45 points. The junior also reached 1,000 points for his high school career, and will have an opportunity to build on that total next year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162504 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162504 Holocaust Survivor Gives a Call to Action Holocaust survivor Werner Reich visited Amityville Memorial High School on March 7 to not only speak about one of the biggest atrocities in history, but to relay a message to students about character. Mr. Reich met with 10th-graders, who study European history as part of the social studies curriculum. His PowerPoint presentation included photographs, maps and cartoons, which illustrated his story about being arrested, held in a concentration camp and finally liberated at 17 years old. The 90-year-old Suffolk County resident and author used his story to spread an anti-bullying message. He said an act of oppression has four groups of people: the victim, the bully, the good people who do nothing and the good people who do something. He encouraged students to be the latter by standing up for others who are being treated unfairly. His advice to them was, “Don’t wait for others. Be the first to act.” Dawn Mizrachi, chairwoman of the high school social studies department, said that there are very few Holocaust survivors still alive, and it was a rewarding experience for students to hear from Mr. Reich and to ask him questions. She explained that they not only received a history lesson from someone who lived it, but learned how to apply that knowledge to their own lives. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162503 Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162503 Exemplary Pair Leads Class of 2017 Amityville Memorial High School has announced the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2017. Esteban Idrovo Ponce has achieved the top ranking with a weighted grade point average of 112.13, and Lawrence Haave earned the second spot in the class with a GPA of 106.45. Esteban, who plans to major in physics in college, is parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, vice president of the National World Language Honor Society, president of the Key Club and treasurer of the Drama Club. He has also been an active member of student government, the Debate Club, the Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, Mathletes and the track and field team while serving as a tutor and a volunteer with the Amityville Fire Department. Lawrence, also planning to pursue a career in physics, is president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Drama Club, past president of the Key Club and a member of WAC PAC, the National World Language Honor Society and student government. He is a founder of AVTV, a film-creating club at the school, and has also volunteered his time as a tutor. Both seniors are enrolled in the district’s science research program, and are participating in research internships at Farmingdale State College. Esteban has been working with several complex software programs, while Lawrence is working with computer programming languages and studying data from active satellites to learn about massive galaxy clusters. “Esteban and Lawrence have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills at Amityville Memorial High School,” said Acting Principal Dr. Lois Etzel. “We congratulate them on their achievements, both inside and outside of the classroom, and are proud to have them representing the Class of 2017.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162502 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162502 A Day and Night Devoted to Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss is such a beloved children’s author that a school day just wasn’t enough to recognize his work. At Northeast Elementary School, the celebration extended into the evening hours with Dr. Seuss family learning night on March 2. To mark what would have been his 113th birthday, pre-K students and kindergartners participated in activities throughout the day such as making word family hats, counting and adding Swedish fish, writing about what escapades they could get into like the Cat in the Hat did, and reading lots of Dr. Seuss books. The fun continued at night, and this time their parents were able to join in the excitement. At various learning stations, children sorted colored goldfish, found rhyming words and made Cat in the Hat inspired hats. There was also a group game of word bingo and a demonstration of educational iPad apps. “There were a lot of literacy and math games,” said Principal Dr. Pauline Collins. “The activities at each center reinforced the learning that takes place in school and allows the parents to see these activities so they can help their children at home.” Throughout the week, guest readers including administrators, board of education members and members of the middle school’s National Junior Honor Society visited classrooms to serve as guest readers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162501 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162501 Photos and Videos: Middle School Lip Sync Competition Teachers at Edmund W. Miles Middle School recently participated in a Lip Sync Battle, sponsored by the GSA. Click here to see an album of photos and videos from the event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162500 Thu, 16 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162500 Seuss-inspired Learning at Northwest The works of children’s author Dr. Seuss were celebrated at Northwest Elementary School on March 2 with read alouds, crafts and writing activities. The students joined their peers from around the country to mark Read Across America Day on what would have been the renowned writer’s 113th birthday. Second-grade teacher Dana Herz welcomed guest readers, including staff members and parents and grandparents of students. The children completed activity sheets about their favorite Dr. Seuss book they heard that day. They also made their own “Cat in the Hat” inspired hats and created filmstrip biographies about Dr. Seuss. “Dr. Seuss was a pioneer in children’s reading,” Ms. Herz said. “It’s a great day for the students to see that reading can be fun, and to inspire them to become better readers.” Children in Hilda Brown’s first-grade bilingual class read “The Cat in the Hat,” then watched a portion of the animated movie, and compared the two. Second-graders in Olimpia Karounos’ class made their own green slime using cornstarch, water and food coloring after reading “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162499 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162499 Boys Track Teams Makes its Mark The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates the boys varsity track team for its accomplishments at the New Balance Nationals on March 12. The 800-meter relay team of Terrance Hinds, Jowell Dixon, Emmanuel Oguntoye and Kerron Gonzales placed sixth in the Emerging Elite. Emmanuel capped off an amazing season by competing in the championship triple jump and placing fifth in the United States to earn the title of All-American. He is the only track athlete in Suffolk over the past 30 years that held the New York State No. 1 ranking the entire season and capped it off with the state title. The team, which won the county championship and had several students compete at the state meet, was coached by Reynolds Hawkins. He was recently named the Suffolk County coach of the year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162498 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162498 ‘Addams Family’ Coming to AMHS Stage They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, and they’ll be appearing the Amityville Memorial High School stage this coming weekend. The Drama Club presents “The Addams Family” the musical from March 17-19. Seniors Esteban Idrovo and Lawrence Haave will share the role of Gomez Addams. Meghan Jacobsen stars as his wife, Morticia, with Lena Vazquez and Carlos Vazquez playing their children, Wednesday and Pugsley. Other leading roles include Tyler Corbisiero as Uncle Fester, Trinity Tobin as Grandma Addams and Jacob Marrero as Lurch. The play is directed by Melissa Asbell. Show times are Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 18 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 each. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162497 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162497 2017/18 School/Holiday Calendar Available To access the approved calendar for the 2017/18 school year, please click here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162496 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false162496 Meet the Top 25 of the Class of 2017 Amityville Memorial High School has announced the top 25 graduates of the Class of 2017, including the valedictorian and salutatorian. The students spoke about their college plans, and what they will miss most about high school. Click here to view a video on the Top 25. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162495 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162495 Black History Comes Alive at Park Avenue African-American athletes, musicians and scientists were portrayed by students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on Feb. 27. The 21st Century B.E.S.T. Program hosted its Black History Month celebration, “Our History Comes Alive.” Students Dimarion Donaldson and Imani McPhaul played the parts of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama while introducing each skit. Sophia Hernandez Morency and Natalyah Smith sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black American national anthem. Singer and storyteller April Armstrong was the special guest and performed traditional African songs. With the help of students, she told the story of Stagecoach Mary, the first African-American woman to serve as a star route mail carrier. The students portrayed African-American icons such as Arthur Ashe, Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, as well as some “hidden figures” like Dorothy Vaughan, a leading mathematician, and Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker water gun. They did their own research and wrote speeches. Sixth-grade teacher Denise Graham, site coordinator of the 21st Century program, said the purpose of the event was to teach students about the various contributions that African-Americans have made in society, and inspire them to work hard. She also noted that Park Avenue has a diverse population and that children of all cultures enthusiastically came together to celebrate. “The students did a wonderful job in capturing the essence of the people they portrayed,” said Ms. Graham. “There was a lot of work that went into it, and they put on a great performance.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162494 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162494 Middle School Students Have a New Reading Buddy Buddy the dog has quickly become a favorite friend at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. He visits Ricki Budnick’s class every Monday morning, and students gather around to read to him. Reading to dogs has proved to be a therapeutic approach in the development of literacy skills. Ms. Budnick explained that the students find it relaxing because the dog is nonjudgmental. Children select the books they want to read and sometimes do a theme, such as on Feb. 6 when they all picked animal stories. Buddy comes with his handler, Joan Kemnitzer, a volunteer from Bideawee’s Pet Partners program. Ms. Budnick found out about the program from school librarian Lynn Cesiro, and said she plans to continue it for the rest of the school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162493 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162493 Winning Is Their Business Four aspiring business leaders will represent Amityville High School at the Distributive Education Club of America’s upcoming state competition. Seniors Elvis Amaya, Kevin Barrios and Aaron Mathurin, and junior Ana Candia placed at the Suffolk County regional competition on Jan. 4 at Suffolk County Community College. Elvis will continue on in the public speaking category and his topic at the state competition will be, “How will you use DECA to shape the future?” Ana and Kevin are competing together in the buying and merchandising marketing event and Aaron’s category is business management and administration. DECA is a nationwide, business-themed organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. This is the second year of the chapter at Amityville Memorial High School. The winners, under adviser Matthew Tomasi, will compete against students from across New York at the state championship in Rochester from March 7-10. “If they want to pursue a career in business, this is a great opportunity,” Mr. Tomasi said. “Participation in DECA gives them a chance to see what makes a business successful.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162492 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162492 Celebrating Black History Month Through Song Diversity was celebrated at Northeast Elementary School during the Black History Month program on Feb. 17. Students in pre-K and kindergarten created self-portraits, which served as the backdrop for a performance that drew a large crowd of parents and family members. In the week leading up to the celebration, each child wrote about why he or she is special and unique, and participated in a schoolwide read aloud. The program opened with a welcoming song from West Africa, “Funga Alafia.” A kindergarten singalong was followed by a musical production, “The Crayon Box That Talked.” Each class dressed in a different color, turning the center of the gymnasium into a large rainbow. The message of the show was: “We are like a box of crayons. Every one of us is unique. And when we get together, our classroom is complete.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162491 Fri, 03 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162491 Boys Track Wins County Title Congratulations to the Amityville High School boys varsity track team which recently won league and county titles. The Warriors had a standout performance to win the Small Schools Suffolk championship on Feb. 4 at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood campus. Terrance Hinds won the 55-meter dash. Jumper Emmanuel Oguntoye took first both the triple jump and the long jump, and hurdler Alijah Benymon won the 55-meter hurdles. Terrance, Emmanuel, Kerron Gonzales and Kalvin O’Neal combined to win the 4 x 200-meter relay. The boys, led by coach Reynolds Hawkins, were ranked as the top track team and fifth overall winter sports team on Long Island by Newsday. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162490 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162490 History Told Through Talent at Middle School With poetry, song and dance, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School took to the stage to mark Black History Month. The Feb. 16 talent show featured “Lean On Me” sang by the chorus under the direction of Kate Dickson; a jazz band performance led by Joseph Sciolino; and an orchestral rendition of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” conducted by Bianca Ferrante. There were also various individual and group performances such as a modern rap, an African dance, a presentation on women in the arts and a skit about first African-American baseball player Jackie Robinson and his welcoming teammate Pee Wee Reese. Tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Barack Obama and Michelle Obama brought a half-century of history to life. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162489 Mon, 27 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162489 Northwest Celebrates African-American Icons Children of different cultures recently came together to celebrate Black History Month at Northwest Elementary School. The evening program, organized by teachers Sandra James and Jessica Ferguson, featured numerous songs and skits. Parents and family members filled the gymnasium for the event, “Celebrating Black Excellence: Then and Now.” Students highlighted the civil rights era and spoke about activists Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ruby Bridges and Rosa Parks. With a depiction of the Lincoln Memorial serving as the backdrop, one student shared a portion of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech.” A performance on the Motown era featured a tribute to Michael Jackson and Diana Ross that had the crowd cheering. Famous African-American athletes were portrayed by students, including Jackie Robinson, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan and Gabby Douglas. The evening closed with recognition of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The Select Chorus performed various songs throughout the evening such as “Amazing Grace” and “Scat Like That.” Teachers and students also came together for “Kwanzaa Time,” a celebration of African fashion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162488 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162488 Northwest Celebrates 100th Day of School http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162487 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162487 Amityville Wrestler Off to States Amityville Memorial High School junior Deonte Wilson will represent the district at the New York State wrestling championships on Feb. 24-25 at the Times Union Center in Albany. Deonte captured the Section XI championship on Feb. 12 at Suffolk County Community College in the 285-pound weight class. He had a 33-2 record this season, and now has 132 wins in his four years on the Amityville varsity squad. “It’s not easy to get to the state championship,” said wrestling head coach Greg McCoy. “Deonte gives us the chance to get our fourth state champion for Amityville, and first since 2002.” Deonte, a three-sport athlete who also is on the football and track teams, has been training for the upcoming tournament with former state wrestling champion and past Olympic alternate Kyle Seminara, as well as former Amityville head coach Bill Maisel. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162486 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162486 No Smart Scholars Program February 18th There is no SMART SCHOLARS this Saturday, February, 18, 2017, but will resume on Saturday, February 25, 2017. For more details, Click Here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162485 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162485 Flapjack Fundraiser Rescheduled for February 18th You're invited to a Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast to support Amityville High School Key Club. For more details click here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162484 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162484 Northeast Students Are 100 Days Smarter Kindergartners at Northeast Elementary School are 100 days smarter. The school recently celebrated the milestone moment in the 2016-17 school year. Many students dressed up to look like they were 100 years old by coloring their hair gray or donning canes. Activities included taking 100 steps, completing 100-day journals, stacking 100 cups labeled with sight words and making special hats. At home, children made collages with their parents using 100 pieces of a certain object such as candy or stickers. The teachers explained that the 100th day of school afforded many opportunities to have the students build their literacy and numeracy skills. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162483 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162483 Northwest Students Show Love for Veterans More than 400 veterans will have a happy Valentine’s Day, thanks to students at Northwest Elementary School. New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre recently picked up a box of cards created by children for the Valentines for Veterans program. First- through third-graders wrote custom messages for veterans to thank them for their service to the United States. The assemblywoman noted how important it was for them to share love and kind words with people they don’t even know. During her visit, Ms. Jean-Pierre read “Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood” to Olimpia Karounos’ second-grade class. She was joined by Navy veteran Charlie Martin, commander of the Amityville American Legion, who held a question and answer session with students about his military service. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162482 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162482 Amityville Artists Chosen for SCALA Exhibit Four art students have been chosen to represent the school district in the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association exhibit. Amityville Memorial High School seniors Juliana Maher and Keriese Pryce, and Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth-grader Astrid Dixon had their work selected for the SCALA All-County Art Exhibition. Juliana completed a pencil drawing, “Lion,” Keriese created a self-portrait using charcoal and Astrid’s piece, “Sundae,” used oil pastels. Senior Kenyi Zelaya entered her artwork into the Senior Scholarship portion of the exhibit. A reception for the artists was held on Feb. 4 at Old Town Hall in Babylon. The district congratulates the students as well as their art teachers, Nidia Keaveny at the high school and Nicole Scoca at the middle school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162480 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162480 SCHOOLS CLOSED 2/10/2017 Due to inclement weather, our schools will be closed on Friday, February 10, 2017. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162481 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162481 Suffolk Police Officer Visits Northwest Suffolk County Police Officer Sabrina Pitch in the Amityville Union Free School District during the week of Jan. 23, speaking to students in first- through third-grade about the role of the police in the community. Officer Pitch reviewed with students the different parts of her uniform and turned on her radio to let students hear a live call. She also discussed what constitutes and emergency for calling 911, and gave stranger danger tips. With third-graders, she also led a discussion on bullying. The goal of the program was to teach students how to make good choices and give them a positive interaction with a police officer at a young age. Officer Pitch, a member of the Community Relations Bureau, said the idea for the presentation at Northwest was made by Amityville Memorial High School students following a recent community forum. “We hope that the students feel more comfortable with the police and know that we are here to help them and keep them safe,” she said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162479 Tue, 07 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162479 Newsday Athlete of the Week Congratulations to varsity boys basketball player Josh Serrano for being named Newsday’s Athlete of the Week! Click here to learn more about the honor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162478 Fri, 03 Feb 2017 07:00:00 GMT false162478 A Winter Wonderland at Northwest Spring-like temperatures outside didn’t stop a successful Winter Wonderland at Northwest Elementary School. Students and their families came together for a night of learning and fun on Jan. 26. The program began with children gathering in the gymnasium for a singalong led by teachers Margaret Brooks and Mackenzie Sipp featuring songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “Jingle Bells.” Activities followed in classrooms. Students made snowman glyphs, in which their answers to questions determined what kinds of eyes, noses, mouths and buttons their snowman drawing would have. They used sticky cardboard pieces to build igloos, made their own snow, and gathered for readalouds. Each child received a gift bag with a book, a pencil and a Rice Krispies treat on their way out, along with worksheets that included reading, writing and math strategies for home. “It’s all about getting the families in here with their children and having some fun,” said Principal Kathleen Hyland. “With literacy and science pieces, there was also plenty of learning that took place.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162477 Fri, 03 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162477 AMHS Flapjack Fundraiser 2017 You're invited to a Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast to support Amityville High School Key Club.Click here for more details. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162476 Thu, 02 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162476 High School Art Students Selected For Exhibits Five Advanced Placement art students from Amityville Memorial High School were selected to have their work displayed at regional exhibits. Seniors Yasli Reyes and Kelly O’Neill were part of Advanced Visions 13: High School Artists of Excellence show, sponsored by LIU Post, which ran through Jan. 25. Reyes completed a self-portrait using charcoal on vellum, and O’Neill took a portrait using digital photography. The exhibit too place at the S.A.L. Gallery in the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library. Kelly O’Neill, Ashley Colas, Nia Dennis and Kenyi Zelaya, were chosen to have their work included in the Go APE Advanced Placement Student Art Exhibition. Their art will be displayed in the gallery of the Art League of Long Island at Dix Hills, which runs through Feb. 12. It includes work representing a wide spectrum of visual art categories, including drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, photography and computer graphics. Kelly’s digital photography piece, “In the Dark,” has been recognized with an honorable mention award. She will be recognized at the Go APE reception on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Art League of Long Island Gallery. “We are very pleased that our talented art students will represent our school district in these regional exhibits,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, director of Fine Arts. “We commend them and their teachers, present and past.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162475 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162475 Middle School Scientists Explore the World Project boards detailing the scientific method lined the tables in the cafeteria at Edmund W. Miles Middle School which recently hosted its annual science fair. Parents and family members were invited to come see the discoveries their children made. Each seventh-grade student picked a topic of interest and completed an experiment at home. Their inquiry, which included making a hypothesis, analyzing data and drawing conclusions, was highlighted on project boards. Students studied a variety of areas including volcanoes, electricity, air pressure, the human body and astronomy. Many of the projects centered on food including, “Which cereal stays crunchy in milk longer?” and “Which bread grows mold faster?” Eighth-graders in the Science Research program also presented the work they have been doing with area scientists at institutions such as Farmingdale State College, Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratories. A group of students studying a rare type of cancer known as polycythemia vera built a model to demonstrate the blood flow of people with disease compared to people without it. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162474 Mon, 30 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162474 Students Trained to Save Lives Amityville Memorial High School health teacher Chris Gannon recently certified 14 students in pediatric and adult CPR/AED and first aid through the American Red Cross. These students were part of a first-aid course offered at the high school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162473 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162473 Children’s Author Visits Northwest Students Barbara Garriel, a Long Island children’s author, visited Northwest Elementary School on Jan. 18 and 19 to talk to students about the importance of reading and writing. Garriel, who has published more than a dozen books, read “I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello” to the children. She discussed the ways she comes up with ideas for stories, the editing and revision process, and working with an illustrator. Her visit supported the district’s new Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop initiative, an approach that creates more personalized instruction for students through the use of reading and writing conferences, mentor texts and leveled libraries. Garriel, a former elementary school teacher, spoke about the literary devices she uses in her own writing such as rhyming and creating imagery with action words. “Students are now seeing themselves as readers and writers,” said instructional coach Lorie Beard. “We felt it was important to bring someone in who does this for a living, so they can see the connection. We’re trying to really foster a genuine, authentic love for reading and writing.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162472 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162472 District Boasts 16 Music Festival Selections More than a dozen student musicians from the district have been selected to perform at the Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County festival in March. Representing Amityville Memorial High School are band students Patrick Abate (alto saxophone) and Dakota Willenbrock (clarinet), and chorus students Ryans Janviers and Brianna Mazzilli. From Edmund W. Miles Middle School, chorus students Jeff Cruz, Keiry Martinez and Nil Patel were chosen, along with violinist Brianna McQueen for the orchestra. Four members of the chorus will represent Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School including Jessica Melford, Cherice Quintyne-Best, Madeline Shingleton and Adrianna Velasquez. Messiah Marshall (flute) was selected for the All-County band. Two French horn players represented Amityville in the annual SCMEA Day of Horn festival on Jan. 20 at Northport High School. The participating students were 10th-grader Michael Gordon and eighth-grader Tristan Angus. Nia Scott, a ninth-grader at the middle school, will be a member of the 2016-17 Long Island String Festival Association’s Secondary School Orchestra. The cello player will join an ensemble that will perform on Jan. 29 at Ward Melville High School. “Congratulations to all of the students on these outstanding achievements,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, district director of fine arts. “Also, special thanks goes out to their families, and their present and past music teachers for their guidance and support.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162471 Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162471 Deonte Wilson Places in Wrestling Tournament Amityville Memorial High School wrestler Deonte Wilson placed third at this year's Eastern States Classic tournament, making him a front-runner to win a New York state title this February. Deonte, a junior who wrestled in the 285-pound weight class, was a sectional finalist last year. The tournament has earned the reputation as one of the most competitive high school wrestling competitions in the Northeast. This year featured 19 state champions, 22 state runner-ups, 72 other All-State wrestlers and 169 who have previously won section titles. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162470 Mon, 23 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162470 Lady Warrior Reaches 1,000-Point Mark Amityville Memorial High School senior La’Niya Clark reached a significant milestone as a member of the girls varsity basketball team. In a game at Sayville on Jan. 5, she scored the 1,000th point of her high school career. La’Niya has been a member of the varsity squad since eighth grade and is a four-year varsity starter. The point guard achieved the accomplishment on a three-point shot in the first quarter of the game. Play was briefly stopped so she could be honored by her coach, Shabue Mosley, and fellow players. “It’s pretty impressive because on average she scores more than 10 points a game,” said Athletic Director Evan Farkas. “She’s just been a consistent player over the last five years.” La’Niya has had several games in which she has scored 30 or more points during her Amityville career. She got her start playing CYO basketball in elementary school, and plans to continue next year at the collegiate level. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162466 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162466 Middle School Students Celebrate Equality Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were among the civil rights leaders that students recently learned about at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Students listened to two famed speeches — “I Have a Dream” by Dr. King and “By Any Means Necessary” by Malcolm X. Under the direction of social studies Chairwoman Jaclyn O’Hagan and art teacher Nicole Scoca, they created abstract paintings based on their emotions from hearing the speeches. Students had to paint without any recognizable words or imagery while focusing on line, shape, texture and color. For the second part of the project, they chose quotes from either civil rights leader and added the words on top of their abstract painting, along with an image of the person. Teacher Allyson Kretz created a lesson to show students the similarities they share. They each received a white egg and a brown egg, and had to break both into a bowl. Once the shells were removed, they tried to tell which one was which. “Just like people, even though we may look different on the outside, we’re all the same on the inside,” said Ms. Kretz. “The overall message was that we should all treat each other the same and we are all equal.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162465 Thu, 19 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162465 Regents Review Global Regents Review 2017 Room: 116 Wednesday, January 11th – 2:30PM Thursday, January 12th – 2:30PM Friday, January 13th – 2:30PM Saturday, January 14th – 9:00AM Tuesday, January 17th – 2:30PM Wednesday, January 18th – 2:30PM Thursday, January 19th – 2:30PM Friday, January 20th – 6:30AM, 2:30PM Monday, January 23rd – 6:30AM, 2:30PM Tuesday, January 24th – 6:30AM US Regents Review 2017 Room: 119A Monday January 9th, 2:30-4:30 Wednesday, January 11th, 2:30-4:30 Thursday, January 12th, 2:30-4:30 Tuesday, January 17th, 3:00-4:30 Wednesday, January 18th, 2:30-4:30 Thursday, January 19th, 2:30-4:30 Friday, January 20th, 2:30-4:30 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162464 Thu, 19 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162464 Book Scavenger Hunt Encourages Reading Students were on the hunt for books at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Librarian Lynn Cesiro recently led a scavenger hunt with English language arts classes. Ms. Cesiro hid 300 books throughout the building, which were covered in plain brown paper with the label #AvilleGoRead. Any student who found a book received three Warrior Bucks, and if they took a picture with the book and shared it on Twitter, they earned three more. Students were also rewarded for reading at least 30 pages of a book and writing a review in Google Classroom. Ninth-grader Katherine Cruz was the first student to complete five reviews. Warrior Bucks is an incentive through the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program. Students can earn bucks for doing the right thing or participating positively in activities. They can save them for rewards such as a free yearbook, special snacks or admission to a schoolwide activity. “The purpose of the program is to create a culture of readers,” said Ms. Cesiro. “We want to promote positive literacy opportunities for students to have fun with books and encourage them to read.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162463 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162463 Tracks Athletes Advance to Millrose Games Congratulations to the Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity track team. Four members of the team competed and qualified to run in the Millrose Games on Feb. 11. The boys, who completed the 4 x 400-meter relay with the second fastest time in Suffolk County, are Alijah Benymon, Jowell Dixon, Kerron Gonzales and Kalvin O'Neal. They are led by Coach Reynolds Hawkins. The Millrose Games will be held at the Armory in New York City. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162462 Fri, 13 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162462 Essay Writing Creates a Sense of Wonder Eighth-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School recently completed thematic essays based on the novel “Wonder,” then shared their writing with their classmates. Under the direction of English language arts teacher Marcia Ippolito, students read the book. In analyzing the characters, setting and theme patterns, they created characterization charts and story maps. Each students then selected a theme for the story and wrote an essay. They had to discuss it in detail by locating specific examples from the book. Some of the themes that students wrote about included bullying, acceptance and making friends. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162461 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162461 Park Avenue Students Celebrate Three Kings Day The bilingual classes at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District marked the official end of the Christmas season as they came together to celebrate Three Kings Day. Students in Johanna Feliz’s fourth-grade class and Joanne Cruz’s fifth-grade took part in various activities throughout the week before a culminating celebration on Jan. 6. They created artwork depicting the three wise men walking through the desert with gifts. The children also listened to a reading of “Three Kings Day” in both English and Spanish, compared and contrasted the holiday with Christmas, made paper shoes which their teachers filled with goodies, and shared rosca de reyes, a traditional Mexican bread known as the king’s pastry. The celebration ended as students exchanged handmade cards with each other. “I wanted them to be able to celebrate their cultural traditions, in addition to the American festivities for the holidays,” said Ms. Feliz. “This was a fun and enjoyable way for the two classes to come together.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162460 Tue, 10 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162460 A Sharing of Cultures at Middle School Ninth-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District learned about other cultures as three foreign exchange students recently visited. The students, freshman Anh, from Vietnam, sophomore Li, from Germany, and sophomore Tom, from China, all attend St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip. They were joined by Eastin Deverna, St. John’s manager of international programs, and spoke with students in Jack Zider’s Advanced Placement human geography course at Edmund W. Miles. The international students talked about what education is like in their native countries and how they adjusted to their new school in the United States. They answered questions from the Amityville students about the music and food they like, activities they are involved with, career aspirations and why they wanted to study in America. The visit was a culminating activity for the students in Mr. Zider’s class, who recently finished up a unit of study on culture in which they discussed the differences between pop and folk culture in different nations across the world. He said that having the exchange students come to Amityville was a chance to “bring the conversation to life.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162459 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162459 Kathleen Hyland named Northwest principal The Amityville Union Free School District has named Kathleen Hyland as the new principal of Northwest Elementary School, which serves the district’s first, second and third graders. She has been the assistant principal since August. Ms. Hyland, of Bay Shore, has been with the district since 2004, serving as a math and science teacher at Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Park Avenue Elementary School. She has held several leadership positions including as a site coordinator for the 21st Century BEST Program at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and a site coordinator for the Summer Enrichment Academy at Northwest. She has also served as a grade-level subject leader and mentor for other teachers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University, and a master’s degree and advanced certificate in school and building leadership from Dowling College. “Ms. Hyland has been a dedicated, child-centered educator in Amityville for the past 13 years, and she has quickly proven herself to be a capable school leader,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “I am confident that Ms. Hyland will be successful in her new role as principal of the Northwest Elementary School.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162457 Tue, 03 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162457 CANCELLED: Claude Byer Basketball Tournament Due to predicted weather, the basketball tournament is cancelled for today, Saturday, January 7, 2017. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162458 Tue, 03 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false162458 Northeast Students Ride the ‘Polar Express’ The popular Christmas tale “The Polar Express” came to life at Northeast Elementary School, as the school was transformed to make students feel like they were part of the story. One hallway was decorated to look like a train, another like a forest and a third like the North Pole, representing the three main settings in the book and animated movie. Black tape was used to make it look like train tracks ran throughout the building. After watching parts of the movie every day, all students wore their pajamas to school on Dec. 15 and gathered in the gymnasium to watch the final 20 minutes. The children could enter after their golden ticket was punched by teachers serving as the train conductors. Santa then visited and handed out jingle bells. Kindergarten teacher Maria Leviano explained that “Polar Express” week was a multi-curricular celebration with themed activities to help students improve their ELA and math skills. They read the book, wrote about the first Christmas present they would want to receive, and counted marshmallows during hot chocolate and cookie parties. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162456 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162456 A Sweet Way to Learn at Northwest To celebrate the holidays in a fun and tasty way, students at Northwest Elementary School made gingerbread houses on Dec. 15. First-grade teacher Rebecca Feehan, second-grade teacher Dana Herz and third-grade teacher Christine Hoffman gathered their students together for a morning of construction and creativity. Children wrapped small milk cartons in tin foil, added frosting and covered them in graham crackers before decorating their houses with an assortment of candy, marshmallows and other sweet treats. The activity, which fostered socialization and listening skills, was the culmination of a gingerbread unit. Students read books about the Gingerbread Man and studied the literacy elements of each story. They were able to take their completed gingerbread houses home to share with their families. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162455 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162455 Northeast Family Learning Night Has Holiday Flair Northeast Elementary School’s annual Winter Family Learning Night combined academics with character education while adding a holiday twist. About 50 students in pre-K and kindergarten attended the evening event with their families on Dec. 13. Stations throughout the gymnasium were staffed by teachers and volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Children filled bags with hot chocolate and marshmallows, then decorated them to look like reindeer, to send to troops. They wrapped books for needy children and made cards for heroes. They were then greeted by a mystery reader, Principal Dr. Pauline Collins, who read “The Missing Mitten Mystery.” Shortly after, Santa arrived to pose for photos and hand out candy canes. Children then had the opportunity to make reindeer cookies using frosting, pretzels and marshmallows. Teacher Tina Smith, who coordinated the event, said the purpose of the night was to further develop the relationship between the school and its families, and provide parents and their children with fun yet meaningful activities to do together. Students also learned about generosity and the importance of giving to others. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162452 Tue, 20 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162452 Spring 2017 Smart Scholar Program Information REGISTRATION FOR THE SMART SCHOLAR PROGRAM FOR THE SPRING 2017 SEMESTER is taking place through January 7, 2017. If you are interested in becoming a Smart Scholar this spring, please contact Dr. Impagliazzodimpagliazzo@amityvilleufsd.org, or contact her at 1631 565-6154. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162454 Tue, 20 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162454 Amityville Track Coach Receives Accolades Congratulations to Reynolds Hawkins, the head coach of the Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity track team, who received a medal for serving on the Team USA coaching staff at the Parlympics in Rio do Janiero. Tysheem Griffin, a 2016 graduate and Amityville track star, was one of the runners. Mr. Hawkins is a social worker at the high school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162453 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162453 Amityville students create bonds beyond their borders Students at Amityville Memorial High School have been getting to know their peers in other Suffolk County school districts. As part of the school’s Cultural Exchange program, the WAC PAC welcomed 40 students from Sayville High School on Nov. 22 and 40 from Islip High School on Dec. 7. Led by WAC PAC coordinator Jason McGowan, the students participated in ice breakers and had breakfast together to start the day during each visit. The students were then paired up and each Amityville student host brought their partner to their classes throughout the day. Each visit ended with lunch and a debriefing session. The purpose of the Cultural Exchange program is to establish new friendships and create bonds were between these students. Amityville students will visit Sayville and Islip high schools in the spring for a similar experience. Amityville senior Esteban Idrovo, who participated in both exchanges, said he enjoyed having the opportunity to make connections with other students, and to learn about their morals and values. “The goal of this program is to expose students to the diversity that may be only a zip code away,” said WAC PAC coordinator Jason McGowan. “By immersing students in another school’s culture, they are provided the opportunity to broaden their view of people who are different from themselves and hopefully become more accepting of others. These students realized that teenagers are teenagers, regardless of their race, social class or economic background.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162451 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162451 High School Students Bring Christmas To Others Students from the WAC PAC Club at Amityville Memorial High School under the leadership of adviser Jason McGowan shopped for presents for 70 children in shelters. After buying clothes and toys at Target, they got together at the school to wrap the gifts. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162450 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162450 Alumni Welcome High School Students to Courthouse Amityville Memorial High School students of Ms. Kretz, Mr. Ammirati and Ms. Gross recently visited the Cohalan Courthouse in Central Islip. The group was welcomed by Amityville alumnus, Hon. Judge Toni Bean. The students observed Judge Bean in session followed by a discussion where they were given the opportunity to ask questions about the judicial system. Students were then given a tour of the courthouse by Major Len Badia, where the students learned of career options. Major Badia escorted the students to the drug court room to observe and have a discussion with Hon. Judge Robinson, also an Amityville alumnus and resident. It was a great day and exciting learning experience for all. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162449 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162449 Middle school students get the gift of reading The tables in the library at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District were covered with books as the school hosted its annual free book fair. It was organized by librarian Lynn Cesiro to foster reading in the school and at home. During parent-teacher conferences on Dec. 1, parents were able to select books for themselves as well as their children. The following day, students were invited down to choose a book to take home. There were fiction and nonfiction books on a variety of topics, along with a special section for ninth-graders and picture books that students could take for a sibling. This year’s theme was “Warm Up With a Good Book.” Ms. Cesiro said that all of the books were donated and the fair opened with thousands of available selections. She said this is the third time she has done the free event, and the goal was to allow students to find books that interest them without them being limited by price. “The purpose is to get books in the kids’ hands,” said Ms. Cesiro. “We’re trying to create a culture of reading.” After selecting their books, students were able to have their pictures taken in a large social media-inspired frame in front of books shaped to look like a Christmas tree. The library is now using mobile technology to communication with students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162448 Wed, 14 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162448 Liberty Partnership Programs Spreads Holiday Cheer Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School are looking to spread some Christmas cheer. Members of the Liberty Partnerships Program, an afterschool group funded through a grant from SUNY Farmingdale, recently made Christmas cards for residents of Broadlawn Manor. The students visit the Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Amityville once a month to play bingo with the residents. For their Dec. 16 visit, the students will hand out Christmas cards and sing holiday songs. They made the cards using blue pieces of construction paper, the fronts of old Christmas cards and printed holiday greetings, along with scissors, glue and markers. “We’ll bring some holiday cheer,” said Bea Polaski, the district coordinator of the Liberty Partnership Program, citing the group’s annual tradition. “The students really look forward to connecting with the residents.” In October, the students and Broadlawn Manor residents went to White Post Farm to go pumpkin picking. In the spring, they will go to the mall together for a shopping trip. Eighth-grader Jasmine Nunez said she looks forward to visiting Broadlawn Manor each month and enjoys getting to know the seniors. “I love to spend time with the residents,” she said. “The thing that makes me happy is seeing them smile.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162442 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162442 Important Message From The Suffolk County Executive Regarding The Community Protection Act (CPA) Important Message From The Suffolk County Executive Regarding Community Protection Act (CPA) (Click Here To View) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162446 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162446 Community Protection Act Fact Sheet SAVE Suffolk County's Community Protection Act Fact Sheet(Click Here To View) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162447 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162447 All-Long Island Congratulations to junior Oscar Hernandez, a forward on the two-time Long Island championship soccer team, for being named to Newsday’s All-Long Island boys soccer team. Congratulations are also extended to coach Mike Abbondondolo for being named Suffolk County coach of the year by Newsday. To see the full listing, click here (subscription to Newsday may be required) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162445 Fri, 09 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162445 High School Names Students of the Month Amityville Memorial High School has named its Students of the Month for September and October. This is a new initiative this year, with the idea coming from the faculty as a way to recognize students. The September recipients were Karina Aracena, Excel Arguenta, Oscar Hernandez Anyssa Hunter, Maurice McQueen and Kristina Smith. Earning the honor in October were Quanisha Alexandre, Christina Davis, Rosa Galvez, Tim Hermann, Everlyn Lucero and Jacob Marrero. Three students each month receive the Character Award and three receive the Leadership Award, and are nominated by their teachers. To qualify for the Character Award, students must complete their homework and classwork, have good attendance and display a positive attitude. Students earning the Leadership Award must show the ability to be a good team player, be involved in the school, achieve mastery in their course material and demonstrate excellence during a sports event, club or school-sponsored activity. Assistant Principal Donna DeFreitas said that it is an honor to be named a Student of the Month, as only six are chosen each month from about 700 in the school. Each honored student will have their photo and certificate displayed outside of the main office. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162441 Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162441 Physical Education Award Winners Congratulations to Amityville Memorial High School students Esteban Idrovo and Meghan Jacobson who received the Suffolk Zone Physical Education Senior Leadership Award. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162444 Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162444 Super Spellers at Park Avenue “Quintessential” was the word that made sixth-grader Shameer Rose the repeat champion in the annual spelling bee at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District. Shameer won for the second straight year and will advance to the Scripps Howard regional spelling bee at Hofstra University in February. The school spelling bee, under the direction of fourth-grade teacher Howard Reiner, began with classroom competitions. The top five students from each class then participated in school-wide semifinals, and 27 advanced to the finals. With words getting progressively harder, Shameer’s victory came in the sixth round. The school also hosted a bilingual spelling bee that night, with six students competing in a Spanish spelling competition. Sixth-grader Josue Garcia won with the word “tarantula.” Both winners received trophies. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162440 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162440 Breakfast With Santa Saturday, Dec. 10 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. Amityville Memorial High School http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162439 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162439 Seniors bond during Awareness Weekend Approximately 130 seniors and staff members at Amityville Memorial High School continued a long-standing tradition by trading their beds for sleeping bags and staying overnight at the school. The annual Awareness Weekend was held from Nov. 18-19, which featured guest speakers and bonding activities. The students spent 30 consecutive hours at the school from afterschool Friday through Saturday night, sleeping in classrooms. They were divided into 13 “family groups,” with each consisting of an adult facilitator, a student facilitator and about a half-dozen seniors. In those groups, they participated in role playing activities, communication exercises and games, and had follow-up discussions after the speakers. “It’s probably the most vital part of the weekend,” said Jason McGowan, a special education teacher and coordinator of Awareness Weekend, of the groups. “That’s where most of the bonding goes on.” The purpose of the weekend is to get students out of their comfort zones and interact with students who might not be part of their social circle. This year’s theme was “Knock Down Walls and Build Bridges.” The keynote speaker was Victoria Ruvolo, a Long Island woman who was hit in the face with a frozen turkey after it was thrown at her car and who speaks about forgiveness. There was also a student panel during which members of the senior class discussed ways they overcame adversity. On Saturday morning, students enjoyed a wonderful breakfast provided by the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council and Kiwanis Club, and then listened to guest speaker Erin O’Bannon, who delivered an inspiring message about her physical disability and how she dealt with being different. Students and adults ended the emotional weekend hugging and saying goodbye as “Lean on Me” played in the background. All participants will write a reaction paper sharing their thoughts and feelings about the event. “I loved Awareness Weekend and I will remember this program for the rest of my life,” said senior leader Eshti Sookram. “I wish we could have stayed another night. I didn’t want it to end.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162438 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162438 English Teachers Receive Statewide Honors Three teachers from the district were recently recognized at the New York State English Council’s 66th annual conference. The honorees, Kathryn Rosario, Janine Katsigiorgis and Reinaldo Latorre, all teach at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Mr. Latorre, the middle school’s English Department chairman for the past two years and a ninth-grade ELA teacher, was one of four recipients of the NYSEC’s mini-grant, receiving $500. He plans to use the funds to purchase more books for classroom libraries to give students more access to literature. “Students want to read books that are engaging and interesting,” Mr. Latorre said. “These classroom libraries will allow for more student selection of books which will in turn boost reading levels.” Eighth-grade ELA teachers Ms. Rosario and Ms. Katsigiorgis were named Educators of Excellence. They were among eight teachers from the state chosen at the middle-school level. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162437 Wed, 30 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162437 Northwest Students Give Thanks The history of Thanksgiving came alive for students at Northwest Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District on Nov. 23. Second-graders in Jenny Smith and Ada Harris’s class performed a play for first-grade students. Ms. Smith’s students split into groups of four and visited other classrooms throughout the day. In each group, two students played Pilgrims while the other two portrayed Native Americans. As part of the social studies curriculum, Smith’s students learned about the first Thanksgiving. Using Reader’s Theater, which helps children develop fluency and expression, the children then rehearsed the short play before visiting their younger peers. The story was about children experiencing the first Thanksgiving, and had messages about friendship and sharing. Throughout the school, students participated in several Thanksgiving themed-activities, including coloring paper turkeys and making special hats. Several classes also held Thanksgiving feasts that afternoon. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162436 Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162436 Veterans Share Stories With High School Students Veterans shared their military experiences and life lessons with students at Amityville Memorial High School on Nov. 15 during the second annual Veteran’s Appreciation Day. Throughout the day, the more than dozen veterans in attendance visited social studies classrooms talked about their service. The guests covered all branches of the military as well as different periods, from World War II to the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions. “I think it’s important that they know the histories of the people who came before them and the sacrifices that people have made,” said Amityville resident Anthony Abate, who served during the Persian Gulf War. The veterans shared stories of the hero’s welcomes they received upon returning from service and talked about their post-military careers. They also gave advice to students who may be considering joining the Armed Forces after high school. Dawn Mizrachi, chairwoman of the social studies department, said that the purpose of the event was to give the students an appreciation for veterans and the sacrifices they have made, and emphasize the importance of service, whether to one’s country or community. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162433 Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162433 Warriors of the Month for October http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162435 Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162435 Park Avenue Students Learn About Careers Even though they are several years away from entering the workforce, students at Park Avenue Elementary School are already thinking about their futures. The school recently held College and Career Week, which culminated with Career Day when a variety of professionals came in to speak to the students. The children learned about careers in business, law enforcement, health care, government, education and more. Guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci explained that the purpose of exposing students to different careers in elementary school is to show them the importance of the next several years of their education. Speakers talked about their job responsibilities and expectations, the necessary schooling for their careers, and the importance of setting goals. “I hope the students learn about careers they might not have know about,” Ms. Balducci said. “It’s never too early to get them thinking about their futures. It shows them that what they’re learning now is important.” The school partnered with the Amityville Chamber of Commerce and Amityville Parent Teacher Council to bring in speakers. Earlier in the week, a kick-off assembly was held with Amityville Memorial High School graduate and current Edmund W. Miles Middle School teacher David Jackson, who told students to have inquiring minds and always be opening to learning new things. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162432 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162432 Amityville seniors bond on Awareness Day The senior class at Amityville Memorial High School recently attended the annual Senior Awareness Day trip held at Amityville Beach. Special education teacher and WAC PAC coordinator Jason McGowan organized the event. The students started out in the cafeteria where they had breakfast before walking out to the football field for large group activities and a family group. They then got on the bus to the beach and continued with the day’s activities. The seniors enjoyed beautiful weather as they participated in ice-breaking activities. Following lunch, students had the opportunity to play basketball, Kan Jam, softball, soccer and other activities with teachers. The day concluded with group competitions including a mummy wrap and tug-of-war. “I really had a great time,” said senior Brandon Gilpin. “The activities were fun. I bonded with my classmates and had a chance to hang out with a few of my teachers which was cool.” “I loved senior awareness day,” added senior Eshti Sookram. “I had the chance to hang out with my friends and plus I got to know a few seniors in my family group that I didn’t know too well before today.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162431 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162431 Veterans Share Their Experiences at Middle School More than a dozen local veterans shared their stories with students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District during Take a Veteran to School Day on Nov. 7. The veterans came from all different branches of the military, having served as far back as World War II and as recently as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They talked about why they joined the military, their overseas experiences, the difficulties they faced being away from their families, and the pride they still feel today knowing they served their country. Students asked questions and documented what they learned on a Participation Passport. “It’s such a great learning experience for the students and a great way for them to understand Veterans Day,” said Jaclyn O’Hagan, chairwoman of the social studies department. “We want our students to honor the veterans and to learn from them.” As veterans arrived, they were met with a colorful banner in the lobby with all of their names written on red stars. Members of the National Junior Honor Society escorted them to the classes. Among the speakers was Amityville Board of Education Trustee Juan Leon, who served in the Army from 2003 to 2010 was deployed to Afghanistan. He shared many photos from his service abroad in a presentation to students. “We have veterans from all different eras coming here and sharing their experiences,” Mr. Leon said. “It’s living history right in our community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162429 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162429 Letter from Superintendent, Dr. Mary T. Kelly 11/14/2016 Letter from Superintendent, Dr. Mary T. Kelly 11/14/2016 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162430 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162430 Amityville Students Study the Election Students throughout the Amityville Union Free School District were actively engaged in this year’s presidential election. At Edmund W. Miles Middle School, students in the pre-Advanced Placement Human Geography course recently took part in mock debates. They were divided into teams representing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and spent two weeks researching the candidates’ positions on several topics, including women’s issues, economy and trade, immigration, foreign policy, terrorism and the environment. The students then presented their arguments at a pair of debates on Oct. 26 and 27 in the library. Each debate included opening and closing statements, questions from the moderators and opportunities for rebuttal. Students were judged by a panel of teachers and administrators and critiqued on their strength of their arguments. Social studies chairwoman Jaclyn O’Hagan and teacher Jack Zider, who served as the moderators, said the purpose of the assignment was to teach students about the importance of backing up their opinions with facts and evidence while enhancing their communication skills. The teachers were impressed with the passion and enthusiasm shown by the students as they presented their cases. A mock election was held at the school on Nov. 7, with students choosing between the two candidates during their lunch periods. At Amityville Memorial High School, students from the Advanced Placement government classes became experts in Republican and Democratic ideals. They were each assigned a candidate and researched that person’s stance on various issues such as foreign policy, immigration, health care and economics. The students then split into pairs and visited social studies classes throughout the day on Nov. 4. Each debate featured opening statements as well as questions from teachers and students, often leading to spirited back-and-forth dialogue. The debaters identified themselves only as Candidate A and Candidate B, so students would cast their votes in a mock election on Nov. 7 solely based on the candidates’ ideals. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School also hosted a mock election. The teachers taught their students about the electoral process and how to respectfully disagree with one another. At all three schools, it was a landslide victory for Clinton. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162428 Wed, 09 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162428 Mock Election Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School held a mock presidential election. It was organized by teacher Ms. Stein who trained her students to work as election staff. The teachers taught their students about the electoral process, as well as how to respectfully disagree with one another. Principal Robyn Shockley-Santiago announced the results on Nov. 7, with Donald Trump receiving 34 votes and Hillary Clinton getting 596 votes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162425 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162425 Northeast holds Fall Family Learning Night Education extended beyond the school day for pre-K and kindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School as they participated in Fall Family Learning Night on Oct. 26. Parents and children were treated to dinner before the learning began. Children, dressed in costumes, rotated among the many Halloween-themed stations in the gymnasium, which focused on English Language Arts and math skills. At spider math, students would role dice, identify the number and put that many toy spiders on a web. For candy corn puzzles, children had to match uppercase and lowercase letters, along with a picture of an object that started with that letter. Other games included sight word bowling, a skeleton letter game and bingo. The stations were led by teachers and members of the National Junior Honor Society from Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Each activity came with a sheet of suggested activities that parents and their children could do at home together to further develop ELA and math skills. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins presented a Title I workshop for parents. She explained the academic expectations at Northeast, how children are assessed and monitored, and how to increase family involvement in the education process. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162426 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162426 NYS Boys' Varsity Soccer Championship Game Information and Permission Slip BOYS' VARSITY SOCCER SEMI FINALS NEW YORK STATE PLAYOFF GAME Somers High School vs. Amityville Memorial High School DATE: Saturday November 12th TIME: 8:30am LOCATION: Middletown High School **Sunday November 13th at 10:30am Championship Game @ Middletown High School **If necessary PERMISSION SLIPfor Spectator Bus (must be brought to the Athletic Office by 2:30pm on Thursday, November 10th) Entry Fee $8 Advanced Ticket (Click Here for Advanced Ticket) $10 at Gate Parking Free Parking at the Orange County Fairgrounds on Carpenter Avenue. $5 in the school district parking lot Accommodations and Directions Click Here for Accommodations and Directions Evan Farkas Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health Amityville Union Free School District Office- 631-565-6121 Follow us on Twitter @amitywarriors http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162427 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162427 Congratulations: Boys' Varsity Soccer Long Island Champions! Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Soccer team for becoming the Long Island Champions!! It was a nail biting, suspenseful game on Sunday, 11/6 where the Warriors played against Glen Cove and won with a penalty kick. Our Amityville Warriors look to win the semifinal State Championship game on Saturday, November 12th in Middletown, NY at 8:30 AM. GO AMITYVILLE WARRIORS! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162424 Sun, 06 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162424 Creating A Culture of Caring at Park Avenue The six pillars of character were prominently on display throughout Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District as it hosted Character Counts Week in October. The highlight of the week was a door-decorating contest. Each class was assigned a pillar of character — caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness — and had to dress up the door to reflect that trait. Student Council members judged the finished doors and chose the winners. Throughout October, there has been a Character Counts weekly raffle. Students received tickets for performing good deeds and making good choices, and each week four names were drawn. During Character Counts Week, the prize was a pizza lunch with Principal Robyn Santiago. The students also created a colorful paper chain in the lobby. Each child wrote their name on a link, then picked one of the six traits and wrote what that means to them. The links were connected to show the school’s unity. Sixth-grader Amaya Nelson said of all the traits, the most important one is respect. “You have to treat other students with respect and you have to be fair,” she said. “You have to include them, not exclude.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162423 Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162423 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with flair The Amityville Union Free School District concluded its month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a trio of evening celebrations at the three elementary schools. During the week of Oct. 17-21, festivities took place at Northeast, Northwest and Park Avenue. Northwest Elementary School welcomed singer Raffi Caballero who performed a variety of songs, as well as a zumba instructor. Guests danced the salsa, merengue and bachata before eating dinner. Students from the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School volunteered their time. At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, audience members sat at table representing different Latin American nations and noshed on chips and salsa as they were entertained and educated. Students portrayed famous Latin Americans such as Roberto Clemente, Oscar de la Hoya and Selena Gomez. They also showed flags from Spanish-speaking countries and shared facts about those nations. Following a musical performance, guests were treated to a buffet dinner featuring empanadas, rice, beans, chicken, pork and more. “This was an opportunity for our students to celebrate their cultures and share information with their friends, family and neighbors,” said Park Avenue Principal Robyn Santiago. “It was all about the kids and bringing the school community together.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162422 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162422 Sixth-Graders Learn About Middle School Members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School came to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School to talk to each sixth-grade class on Oct. 14. The members explained what NJHS is — character, scholarship, leadership, service and citizenship — how to become part of it, and what its members do. The NJHS students also talked to Park Avenue students about how their grades and behavior in sixth-grade decide what students are chosen for the honor society. NJHS members also talked to sixth-graders about the expectations of middle school and answered questions. After reflecting about the visit, one sixth-grade student said, “I learned that I have to try hard now.” The event was coordinated by National Junior Honor Society advisor Carlee Wallenstein and Park Avenue school counselor Kim Balducci. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162420 Mon, 31 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162420 Boys’ soccer advances in playoffs The Amityville Memorial High School boys’ varsity soccer team captured its first league title since 1969. The team won its quarterfinal playoff game on Oct. 27, 2-0, against Wyandach. The Warriors will play their semifinal playoff game on Monday, Oct. 31 at home at 2:30 p.m. against Sayville. Tickets are $6, and $2 for Amityville students with their ID. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162419 Fri, 28 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162419 Character matters at Northwest At Northwest Elementary School, good character matters. First- through third-grade students in the Amityville Union Free School District spent a week learning about the positive behavioral traits they should display at school and in all aspects of their lives. For Spirit Week, from Oct. 17-21, children were asked to wear a different color each day for the different pillars of character: yellow for respect, blue for trustworthiness, orange for fairness, green for responsibility and red for caring. The students learned to be tolerant of others, help people in need, consider the consequences of their actions, play by the rules and have the courage to do the right thing. In art, each class made a friendship flower. Art teacher Lydia Robinson had every child design a pedal. Using markers, crayons and pencils, they wrote their name and a friendly message, and made a drawing. The pedals were then arranged to form a flower and laminated. Each class will keep the poster for the rest of the year as a reminder of the spirit of collaboration. Ms. Robinson also read them two anti-bullying books, “Stick and Stone,” and “Playgrond Push Around.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162418 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162418 Trustees Honored for School Board Recognition Week School Board Recognition Week is celebrated during the last week of October across New York State, and Amityville Union Free School District Board of Education trustees were recognized at their monthly meeting on Oct. 13. Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly read a proclamation from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, honoring the men and women across the state who volunteer as school board members. Dr. Kelly recognized the seven members of Amityville’s board, presenting them with certificates of appreciation from herself on behalf of the district’s staff and students, and from Michael Flynn, the chief operating officer of Western Suffolk BOCES. The members of the board include President Terry Fulton, First Vice President Jeannette Santos, Vice President Carolyn Dodd, and Trustees Susan Benard-Handler, Lisa Johnson, Juan Leon and Laura Pawlewicz. To further recognize the board, there was a performance by a small group of students from the high school marching band, as well as a student art display. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162417 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162417 Amityville student-artists are recognized Several artists from the Amityville Union Free School District have had their work selected for regional and state exhibits. Twenty-one student-artists had their work displayed at the Town of Babylon’s Hispanic Heritage Festival and Art Exhibition on Oct. 15. Representing the district from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were fourth-graders Yadira Aragon-Gonzalez, Tiffany Asbell, Jesus Barrios, April Kenny, Julissa McGhee, Sasha Urias and Camryn Williams; fifth-graders Robert Chester, Khaleil Pryce, Martin Siri, Jimmie Stewart and Zaid Headley; and sixth-graders Kiana Grant, Jose Hernandez, Daviana Lucas, Amaya Nelson and Angel Dilone Rodriguez. From Edmund W. Miles Middle School, ninth-graders Astrid Dixon, Marco Iorio, Arlene Pena Jimenez and Alliyah Prince had their work displayed. The students completed their projects under the direction of art teachers Susan Zaratin and Nicole Scoca. The district congratulates the students and their teachers for their participation in the regional exhibit. A pair of students from Park Avenue will have their artwork on display when school officials from across the state gather for the New York State School Boards Association conference. Sixth-graders Karlie Meyerrose and Lauren Schilling will have their work included in a statewide student art exhibit during the conference, which runs from Oct. 27-29 in Buffalo. The exhibit, which is co-sponsored by NYSSBA and the New York State Art Teachers Association, highlights achievement in the visual arts and demonstrates a high level of artistic ability by the selected students. “We congratulate all the students, their families, and their art teachers on these wonderful achievements,” said Dr. Frances Fernandez, the district’s fine arts director. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162416 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162416 Middle school hosts Hispanic Heritage Fair Seventh-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District have recently been learning about the world, specifically Latin America. The school hosted a Hispanic Heritage Fair in the library on Oct. 13 and 14, organized by librarian Lynn Cesiro. It is an annual event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Working in groups, the students rotated through three stations to learn about these nations in North America, South America and Europe. Spanish music played in the background as students collaborated. At the first station, the seventh-graders learned about the capitals. Next, they had to identify the flags of 17 Spanish-speaking countries, which were hung around the library. The final station had students finding these nations on maps and globes. During lunch periods, children were invited in to participate in Makerspace activities, where they could color Mexican sugar skulls and create piñatas. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162415 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162415 Sports Hall of Fame welcomes 14 Fourteen local sports legends were inducted into Amityville Memorial High School’s Sports Hall of Fame during an evening ceremony on Oct. 7. The inductees included coaches, athletes and others who contributed to the district’s sports program. Melvin Miller received the Lifetime Achievement Award after having coached middle school and junior varsity sports in the district for 38 years, including volleyball, basketball, track, softball and football. He also ran sports camps and clinics in the community. Jon Shebar was honored for coaching dominant and respected handball teams from 1981 to 1987. Kevin White, the director of athletics for Duke University and a former track, cross country and volleyball player at Amityville, received the Distinguished Athletic Alumnus Award. The evening’s host, Bruce Pescitelli, was recognized as Sports Contributor. The member of the class of 1978 playd soccer and baseball but was recognized for his efforts to support Amityville’s teams after graduating, including during his time working for the village’s police department. Ten athletes who participated in the athletic program from the 1940s to the 1990s were inducted into the Hall of Fame including: Audrey Doherty Nordland — Class of 1944, field hockey, cheerleading and basketball Valentin “Vally” Davis — Class of 1958, football, basketball and track Dimitria “Demi” Bineares — Class of 1964, field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball Charles William Garran III — Class of 1964, basketball, soccer and track Ruth Goehring — Class of 1964, basketball, field hockey and volleyball Ralph Forman IV — Class of 1967, volleyball, soccer, wrestling and track Reginald “Reggie” Quintyne — Class of 1973, basketball and soccer Mark Epps — Class of 1983, football, basketball and track Jauron McKelvin — Class of 1994, football and baseball William E. “Billy” Kertz — Class of 2001, football, basketball and baseball; current coach of Amityville’s varsity football team The inductees were joined by family, friends, district administrators and Board of Education members. Guest enjoyed dinner, served by current Amityville High School students, in the gymnasium surrounded by the banner that mark all of the school’s athletic accomplishments. A video presentation featured interviews with the evening’s honorees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162414 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162414 Warriors Win for Homecoming A spirited crowd cheered Amityville Memorial High School’s football team on to victory during the annual homecoming celebration on Oct. 8. The festivities began with the homecoming parade, which went from the train station to the high school. It featured the marching band, cheerleaders, student organizations, Disney movie-themed floats, school district officials and the homecoming court. After enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs served up by the senior class, fans settled into their seats to watch the Warriors take on the West Babylon Eagles. Players, wearing pink socks for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, stormed onto the field through a “Let’s Go Warriors” banner held up by the cheerleaders. With a 35-32 score, Amityville earned its first win of the season. The halftime show featured performances by the marching band and cheerleaders. Members inducted into the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame the night before were honored on the field. Seniors Christian Bethea and Meybel Orellano were crowned the homecoming king and queen. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162413 Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162413 Coming together to celebrate Hispanic culture Students old and young from the Amityville Union Free School District came together on Sept. 30 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Hispanic Heritage Club performed a variety of dance routines at Northwest Elementary School, delighting the first-, second- and third-graders who cheered and clapped along. The high school students began with a flag dance, a choreographed performance featuring the flags of countries with large Hispanic populations. That followed with several Latin dances including the Bachata, Merengue and Cumbia. Northwest will hold an evening Hispanic Heritage Month celebration for students and their parents on Oct. 19 featuring Latin food, music and dance. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162412 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162412 Grandparents get involved at Northeast In the Amityville Union Free School District, educating children is a family affair. Northeast Elementary School welcomed grandparents on Sept. 30, allowing them to not only observe the lessons but to participate in the day’s activities. In honor of National Grandparents Day, which was observed earlier in the month, the special guests visited the pre-K and kindergarten classes. They assisted with a variety of activities, from coloring in pictures of grandmas and grandpas to fall-themed art projects. Kindergarten teacher Dyan Aversa read her students and guests “How to Babysit a Grandpa,” while in Nicole Faber’s class, grandparents helped the children glue down different-colored paper leaves on their tree projects. “It’s an opportunity to give the grandparents a chance to come in and be a part of their grandchild’s education,” Principal Dr. Pauline Collins said. “It’s our effort to involve the whole family.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162411 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162411 High school hosts college fair Representatives from more than 100 colleges were at Amityville Memorial High School on Sept. 29, giving students the opportunity to learn about their options after graduation. The gymnasium was lined with tables for the evening fair, which drew a large crowd of students, as well as their parents. They had the chance to speak with admissions officers from colleges on Long Island and across the state and country to learn about programs and entrance requirements. Guidance counselor Maria Leon-Pineros said that to build excitement before the fair, college banners were hung throughout the hallways and teachers were asked to wear their college shirts to school. Teachers also reviewed questions to ask college recruiters. The fair was open to students as young as seventh grade, to encourage them to work hard throughout middle school and high school to get into the college of their choice. There were also workshops about scholarships, financial aid and the transition from high school. Another college fair will be held during the day in the spring. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162410 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162410 High school promotes peace through the arts Amityville Memorial High School students joined together on Sept. 21 to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Peace, supporting the cause by forming a human peace sign on the school’s front lawn. Partnering with organizations Peace One Day and Pinwheels for Peace, students from art classes, the National Art Honor Society and the Warriors Awareness Program, also known as the Wac Pac, took part in a 45-minute ceremony on a sunny morning. It was the seventh year that Amityville has participated in the international movement. The program featured song and poetry performances by students, who also shared quotes about peace from historical figures. The Wac Pac, under the direction of advisor Jason McGowan, presented five peace rocks to students and staff, which will be then be passed on to others throughout the year in a “pay it forward” program to reward those who perform acts of kindness. After a performance of “God Bless America” by Christian Bethea, Shanice Jacobs and Tyler Gil, and a moment of silence, students and teachers placed the colorful pinwheels they made on the lawn in the shape of a peace sign. Art teacher Jayne Grasso, one of the organizers of the program, said the purpose was to teach students about tolerance and acceptance, while reminding them that their actions can make the world a better place. “This gives them an opportunity to take a stand and show that they can make a difference,” she said. “It’s a great way to start the year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162409 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162409 High School Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month The auditorium at Amityville Memorial High School was full of energy on Sept. 15, as the school kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with flair. The entire student body gathered to celebrate Spanish culture through song, dance and video presentations. The Hispanic Heritage Club performed a flag dance, paying tribute to the many nations with significant Latino populations. A video featured famous Hispanics in history, including politicians, scientists and entertainers. Drawing the biggest ovation from students was a performance by singer Raffi, who highlighted different types of Spanish music such as salsa and tango, while accompanied by student dancers. For his last of five songs, he invited all students and teachers up front to dance along. The program was organized by the Hispanic Heritage Club under the direction of guidance counselor Maria Leon-Piñeros and Spanish teacher Elisa Castro. They said the goal was to celebrate an energetic culture with a dynamic and informative assembly. Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, will be celebrated during assembly programs at other schools throughout the Amityville Union Free School District. At the high school, there will also be class discussions about different Hispanics who have made significant contributions in the United States. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162407 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162407 21st Century BEST Program Applications: Now Available 21st Century BEST Program Applications are now available for the 2016-2017 School Year! Click here for more information. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162408 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162408 Breakfast/Lunch Program Applications Available Free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch applications are available to download by clicking here. A new application, one per family, should be returned to the Food Service Office by October 18, 2016. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162406 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162406 Patriotism on display at Northeast School Northeast Elementary School in the Amityville Union Free School District has a special connection with the military. For the past year, students have been sending items to a Joint Task Force of members of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. On Sept. 9, the favor was returned in a big way. Naval Petty Officer First Class Josh Candon visited the school and presented a folded American flag that had flown during several of Task Force’s overseas missions, along with a certificate. It was to thank Northeast for an effort spearheaded by Maria Lievano, who teaches the bilingual kindergarten class, in which students sent hot chocolate, Girl Scout cookies, candy, cards, artwork and pictures to the troops. The Task Force also sent some pictures from its missions in Afghanistan and Africa, along with carved wooden animals, all of which are on display in the school’s lobby. Kindergarten students, dressed in red, white and blue, saluted and then applauded as Petty Officer Candon entered the gymnasium for a small assembly. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “My County Tis of Thee,” Principal Dr. Pauline Collins spoke to students about the role that the military plays in the United States. “We’re teaching them about patriotism and to honor our troops,” Dr. Collins said, noting that a few kindergartners have parents serving in the military. “We try to educate kids about the global community. They’re not too young to learn that there’s a bigger world outside their home and school.” Petty Officer Candon’s visited coincided with Patriot Day. That afternoon, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, students placed small American flags in front of the school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162405 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162405 New school year begins in Amityville Nearly 3,200 students filled the hallways and classrooms of Amityville’s five schools on Sept. 6, marking the start of the 2016-17 school year. As students arrived on foot and by bus, they sported new backpacks and toted bags filled with school supplies. The Amityville Union Free School District begins the new year with the theme “Achieving Excellence Together.” That spirit was obvious as teachers warmly welcomed their students and reviewed the expectations that will lead to a prosperous year. Ninth-grader Trey Fulton enthusiastically talked about the year ahead, saying he hopes to make high honor roll at Edmund W. Miles Middle School all four quarters while playing on the junior varsity football and baseball teams. He also recognized his role in his last year of middle school. “I just want to have a good year and stay focused,” he said. “I’m trying to set a good example for the seventh-graders.” At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, new principal Robyn Shockley-Santiago greeted arriving students for the first time as one bus after another rolled into the driveway. Northeast Elementary School Principal Pauline Collins welcomed the approximately 180 kindergartners who will form Amityville Memorial High School’s class of 2029. She shared her excitement for the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshops that have been introduced in the district to improve student achievement in literacy. “The teachers have been working all summer and their rooms are ready,” Collins said. “We’re ready to go and we’re excited about having another great year.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162404 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162404 Teachers receive training on literacy initiative The Amityville Union Free School District is expanding a literacy initiative this year at the elementary and middle school levels that takes a new approach to reading and writing instruction, and teachers recently spent four days learning about the program. Three staff developers from the Columbia Teachers College hosted the Reading and Writing Project Institute in August. Nearly 100 teachers took part in the workshop at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Implementation of the program followed a year of study by the English Language Arts subcommittee of the district’s Curriculum Advisory Council. The mission of the Reading and Writing Project is to help students become avid and skilled readers, writers and inquirers. Teachers were trained to deliver instruction to meet the students at their reading level and put them on a path to greater achievement. The focus is on individual and small-group reading assignments, in which students choose appropriate books with guidance from their teachers. Each classroom will receive a leveled library. “The only way to improve reading is to read more,” said Mary O’Meara, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “Students will have the opportunity to do more reading and more writing on current, relevant topics. We are excited to bring this new program to Amityville.” The staff developers simulated Reading and Writing Project lessons with the teachers throughout the training. Teachers learned how to confer with individual and small groups of students over their reading selections. The Reading and Writing Project outlines a yearly curriculum with six to eight units of study per grade. Second graders will focus much of the year on non-fiction books while fourth graders will tackle fiction, journalism and poetry. By eighth grade, students will be exploring multiple genres while analyzing their reading through position papers, essays and memoirs. Kelly Ann Wilson, a seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher, said she is looking forward to implementing the new program in her classes and allowing students to have more input in their literacy development. “I’ve definitely gotten the opportunity to understand how to better teach our children how to love reading,” she said. Over the summer, Amityville’s principals participated in a weeklong training program, and throughout the school year there will be monthly job-embedded coaching for the teachers. They will also be able to attend one-day workshops each month at Columbia Teacher’s College. Ms. O’Meara said this is part of the district’s “robust and comprehensive” implementation of the new program to support the teachers and, ultimately, the students. “I am thrilled that so many teachers took part in this invaluable training program that will put our students on a path to success,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162403 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162403 Amityville Appoints ENL, World Languages Director The Amityville Union Free School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Stephens as the new director of English as a New Language and World Languages. She began her new position on Sept. 1. Stephens has been the supervisor of Language Programs and Assessment Services at Nassau BOCES for the past 11 years. She has previously served as the coordinator of ESL in the Glen Cove School District and was an ESL teacher in White Plains for five years. She holds a certificate of advanced studies in educational administration from SUNY New Paltz, a master’s degree for teachers of English to speakers of other languages from Hofstra University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Binghamton University. “I am very excited about coming to Amityville and using my experience to help students learn new languages,” Stephens said. “I am pleased that there is a focus on student achievement in the district and I think that I can help.” In Amityville, she will supervise a staff of more than two dozen teachers, and will work to implement new regulations from the New York State Commissioner of Education to better serve the multilingual population. The Amityville School District offers a strong and supportive ENL program for students in kindergarten through 12th grade with instruction centered on the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. The World Languages program offers opportunities for students to learn Spanish or French from seventh grade through college-level courses as juniors and seniors. “We welcome Ms. Stephens to the Amityville School District and she is a welcome addition to our administrative team,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “She brings a wealth of experience and leadership abilities that will benefit our diverse population of language learners.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162402 Fri, 02 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162402 Northwest Welcomes New Assistant Principal The Amityville Union Free School District has appointed Kathleen Hyland as the new assistant principal of Northwest Elementary School, which serves grades 1-3. She has worked in the district for a dozen years. Ms. Hyland joined Amityville’s faculty in 2004 as a math and science teacher. During that time she has also held several leadership positions in the district. Since 2014, she has been a site coordinator for the 21st Century BEST Program at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School in which she worked with the director to supervise and enhance the program. This summer, she was a site coordinator for the Summer Enrichment Academy at Northwest. She has also served as a mentor for other teachers, facilitated weekly fifth-grade math and science meetings, and was a member of several school and districtwide committees. As a delegation leader for the People to People Student Ambassador Program, she supervised a trip of 36 middle school students to Italy, France and England. She holds both a master’s degree in literacy education and an advanced certificate in school building and district leadership from Dowling College. “Ms. Hyland is an excellent teacher who has demonstrated great leadership abilities during her time in Amityville,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “I am confident that she will be successful in her new role as assistant principal.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162401 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162401 A New Principal for Park Avenue The Amityville Union Free School District welcomes Robyn Shockley-Santiago as the new principal of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, which serves grades 4-6. Shockley-Santiago comes to Amityville from the New York City School District. Shockley-Santiago has served as assistant principal of P.S. 120 Magnet School of Multi-Cultural Education in Brooklyn since 2012. She has previously served as an academic intervention leader, data specialist, technology assistant, literacy coach and elementary classroom teacher. “I’m looking forward to using my background in data analysis and intervention to challenge all of the students of Amityville and support their success,” Ms. Shockley-Santiago said. “I hope to instill in them a love of learning and to create life-long learners.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Queens College, a master’s degree in elementary education from Long Island University Brooklyn and a specialist diploma in educational leadership from Queens College. “Ms. Shockley-Santiago comes to us with a wealth of experience and is a proven leader,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “Her expertise in areas such as literacy and technology will help us continue to improve student achievement.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162400 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162400 Middle School Welcomes Seventh Graders Students in Amityville’s class of 2022 began their secondary journey on Aug. 25 as they gathered at Edmund W. Miles Middle School for seventh-grade orientation. The school will welcome approximately 220 seventh graders this September. They received an introduction to the place where they will spend the next three years of their lives. Administrators spoke to the students and their parents about the expectations of middle school. They reviewed topics such as the course offerings, grading system, dress code, electronics policy and lunchtime procedure. Students also learned about the sports and after-school activities that are available, including a new robotics club. Principal Edward Plaia held a raffle, picking tickets and awarding 10 incoming students with black and red canvas bags filled with goodies such as an Amityville T-shirt, a novel and school supplies. All students took home a binder and a marble notebook. Before leaving, the seventh graders received their schedules for the 2016-17 school year, and were able to tour the school to find the location of their classes. Mr. Plaia said that orientation is designed to ease anxiety for the students as they transition to a new school. “It was great to see the excitement on the faces of our incoming seventh graders,” he said. “I welcome them to the school and wish them much success.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162399 Thu, 25 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162399 School Board, Public Receive Bond Update Extensive planning has begun for renovations and expansions that will take place as part of the $69.9 million bond approved by Amityville Union Free School District voters in March. The Board of Education heard a report at its Aug. 10 meeting from representatives from BBS Architects and Park East Construction Management. They provided the first of what will be regular updates to the Board and the community on the status of the capital projects that will include improvements at all five schools. The focus at the August meeting was on the high school, which will be expanded to accommodate growing enrollment and the addition of ninth-graders. Since the bond was approved, changes have been made to the floor plan of the new wing in the back of the building, which will include classrooms, science labs and a gymnasium with locker rooms. The plan was reconfigured after taking into account suggestions from administrators, teachers and staff. While the overall size of the addition has increased, a more efficient design will keep construction costs the same. A second connection to the new wing from the second floor was also added to provide better flow through the hallways. The architects announced that the new wing would be completed before renovations to the existing building begin, including converting the old gymnasium into a music suite. Factoring in design time and New York State Education Department approval, the anticipated groundbreaking is early 2018. Projects expected to take place next summer include window replacements at Northwest and Northeast elementary schools, masonry repairs to the façade of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, and the construction of security vestibules throughout the district. To view the presentation click here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162397 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162397 August Graduation The Amityville Memorial High School graduation ceremony for August graduates will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 6:00 pm at Amityville Memorial High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162398 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162398 Dr. Kelly Named Educator of the Year Dr. Mary T. Kelly, superintendent of the Amityville Union Free School District, has been named Educator of the Year by United North Amityville Youth Organization. She will be honored at an awards dinner on Saturday, Sept. 24. Dr. Kelly joined the district in 2008 as an assistant superintendent and became the superintendent in 2014. As superintendent, Dr. Kelly oversees a district of approximately 3,200 students from North Amityville, Amityville and East Massapequa, as well as 650 employees. “Dr. Kelly was chosen for this honor due to her care, commitment, dedication and steadfast support to the children and families of our community,” said Sonji Crawford-Clark, executive director of UNAYO. “She is an extraordinary leader who makes a difference by striving to bring out the best in all.” UNAYO offers academic, cultural, leadership and recreational programs for youth ages 5 to 18. UNAYO is also a strategic partner in the district’s 21st Century Learning Center, and provides afterschool programs in character education, bullying awareness and prevention, and martial arts. Dr. Kelly is instrumental in cultivating and supporting this relationship. “I am very thankful to have UNAYO as a partner in our shared mission to provide our children with every opportunity for achievement, growth and success," Dr. Kelly said. “It is an honor to have been chosen for this recognition by such a wonderful organization which gives so much to the children and families of our community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162394 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162394 Elementary Students Expand Their Horizons Instead of sleeping late or playing video games, dozens of Amityville students spent the first two weeks of August expanding their minds this summer at the Summer Enrichment Camp, held at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. The eight-day program, in its second year, was sponsored by the district’s 21st Century Community Learning Center. Close to 70 students, entering fourth through sixth grades, selected two courses from a variety of art and science-based offerings. A husband-and-wife team taught a pair of performance courses. Gerald Asbell, the Drama Club advisor at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, led “Acting Up,” a basic theater class. Melissa Asbell, who directs the shows at Amityville Memorial High School, taught “Finding Our Voices,” which focused on singing and dancing — and doing both at the same time. Students learned how to play the recorder in a music class led by Debra Lee, a social worker at Northwest Elementary School. Pottery, watercolor paintings and T-shirt making were among the projects in art class “Exploring the World Through Color” with Kristyn Langstred. In an environmental science class with Park Avenue teacher Alexia Nyholm, students explored animal habitats. A Lego robotics class led by teachers Arlene Farkash and Laurie Malatesta had students build robots from kits, program their actions on a computer and test them. The second week featured a “Battlebots” competition. Rounding out the schedule was an archery class with Joseph Puglisi. Amityville 21st Century Program Director Darleen Peterson said the enrichment camp, which followed the popular four-week summer enrichment program at Northwest, gave students the opportunity to learn new skills in a relaxed atmosphere. “This is meant to be fun,” she said. “I’m really looking to expand my students’ horizons and their life experiences.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162393 Fri, 12 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162393 August Regents • The regents exams are being administered on August 17 and 18 at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station. • Students should arrive for the morning exams by 8:00 am and the afternoon exams by 12:00 pm. • All students must have photo ID in order to gain admittance into the regents exam. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162396 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162396 Students Step Back in Time During the last week of the Amityville School District’s Summer Enrichment Program, students in fourth through seventh grade visited the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Students traveled from Northwest Elementary School to Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a 209-acre living history museum that provides visitors with the unique opportunity to step back in time and experience life as it was on Long Island during the 19th century. The village consists of 36 houses, barns and buildings dating from 1765 through 1865. The students were able to see many historical artifacts in learning what life was like more than 150 years ago. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162391 Mon, 08 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162391 District Pilots New Hands-on Science Program The Amityville School District is piloting a new science program this year, and students got a taste of the hands-on projects it offers during the Summer Enrichment Program at Northwest Elementary School. In the elementary grades this coming school year, the district will be using materials provided by the Full Option Science System program, or FOSS. By participating in various lab activities, students will have the opportunity to learn science in a fun way. The summer program, which was held in July and is served about 550 students in the district, included a dedicated STEAM period for science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities. During this time, students explored the world around them using the new materials. Kindergarten students studied nature and weather. They learned about the different parts of plants and trees, and were able to look at different types of leaves. Students in third- through fifth-grades have been working with rocks and minerals. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162390 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162390 2016-17 Calendar Update A PDF of the 2016-17 district calendar can be found by clicking the link below. The printed calendars should be arriving in home mailboxes early next week! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162392 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162392 Literacy and Science Come Together Students participating in the district’s Summer Enrichment Program recently had the opportunity to become engineers. Literacy and science were combined in Ms. Harris and Mrs. Ahl’s classroom had the opportunity to become engineers. The children compared and contrasted three different versions of “The Three Little Pigs.” During a three-day study, they worked in teams to construct houses out of a variety of materials such as sticks, candy and marshmallows to withstand the force of the Big Bad Wolf – a blow dryer. About 550 students participated in Summer Enrichment, which ended on July 28. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162389 Fri, 29 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162389 Amityville Graduate Gets Call to Paralympics The Amityville Union Free School District is pleased to announce that recent graduate Tysheem Griffin will be a participant in the 2016 Paralympic Games, which will be held in Rio following the Summer Olympics. Tysheem, a member of Amityville Memorial High School’s class of 2016 and standout track athlete, has qualified to take part in the 400-meter race during the games, which will be held from Sept. 7-18. He was selected as a member of Team USA by the U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee. Last year, Tysheem competed in the 2015 International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games held in Ecuador. He placed first in the 200-meter race finale, and second in the 100-meter dash. In Amityville, he was a member of the track team under the direction of coach Reynolds Hawkins. This past year, Tysheem set the Suffolk County Division III Boys’ Spring Track and Field record in the 400-meter dash. “We are thrilled that Tysheem, who has always represented Amityville so well, will now have the opportunity to proudly represent our nation at the upcoming Paralympic Games,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly. “He is an outstanding athlete and a wonderful young man who has worked hard for this fantastic and well-deserved opportunity. We are rooting for him and know that he will do well!” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162388 Wed, 27 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162388 Bubble magic at Northwest School Students have been expanding their minds this summer at Northwest Elementary School, and nowhere was that more evident than in a first-grade classroom where they learned how to make bubbles. As part of the Summer Enrichment Program, children in Mrs. Smith’s and Mrs. Farber’s class conducted experiments with bubbles. The students followed the scientific method by making a guess, or hypothesis, about the ratio of soap to water they would need. They then carried out their experiments by making different bubble wands and testing them along with their soap and water mixtures to find out which combination made the best bubbles. STEAM activities, for science, technology, engineering, art and math, are part of the Summer Enrichment Program, which is serving approximately 550 students entering kindergarten through seventh grade. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162387 Mon, 25 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162387 District Receives Book Donation from Lt. Governor Earlier this month, the district’s summer enrichment program welcomed special guest New York State Lt. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul in an effort to promote reading. During her visit to Northwest Elementary School, Hochul presented 500 books to the district, courtesy of Scholastic, for students of many different reading levels. As part of Scholastic’s summer reading challenge, “Be a Reading Superhero,” the company is giving away more than 20,000 books this summer throughout the country, and Amityville was selected as New York State’s recipient. Hochul also spent time telling the students about her job and reading “Julius,” written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, about a girl and her new large pet pig. She reminded the students how important it is to read during the summer to keep their minds sharp. “We were thrilled to have the lieutenant governor visit our students in our summer enrichment program and very grateful to her for her very generous gift to our students of books from Scholastic,” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said. “The students will make great use of the books throughout the summer and during the school year.” The summer enrichment program, housed at Northwest, has approximately 550 students who will be entering kindergarten through seventh grade. The program is held every Monday through Thursday in July, and includes reading, writing, math and STEAM activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162386 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162386 A High Flying lesson at Northwest Amityville elementary students were feeling the pressure as they participated in a fun science activity as part of the Summer Enrichment Program. Fifth-graders in the Amityville Union Free School District, under the direction of teachers Joseph Puglisi and James Replak, studied air pressure as part of their STEAM period. Then, they went out to the field at Northwest Elementary School and launched bottle rockets. The experiment showed students how the buildup of air pressure can launch a rocket. STEAM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math, is part of the Summer Enrichment Program, which is serving approximately 550 students entering kindergarten through seventh grade. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162385 Tue, 19 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162385 Educator Receives NYS English Council Mini-Grant The District is pleased to announce that Edmund W. Miles Middle School teacher and English chairperson Reinaldo Latorre was selected to receive a 2016 New York State English Council Mini-Grant Award. To be considered for the $500 mini-grant award, Latorre completed a detailed application where he explained how the grant money would be spent. The project plan included an essential question, instructional focus, rationale, purpose, Common Core Learning Standards that are addressed, objectives, educational learning activities and assessment. The Mini-Grant Program is intended to support NYSCE members who strive to create, explore or enrich instruction in ELA. “We are happy to receive this funding which will enable us to purchase more books for our students, so they can continue to raise their reading levels,” said Latorre. Latorre will be presented the award at the NYSEC Awards Luncheon held at The Albany Marriott on Oct. 21. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162382 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162382 EWMMS Students Engage in Electoral Debate In recognition of the upcoming presidential election, eighth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School showcased their knowledge about the 2016 presidential candidates during an election debate. In preparation for the event, students in their ELA classes created personal narratives and investigative journal pieces about the current candidates. These writing pieces were displayed in the library during the activity. For the election debate, students chose to represent Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump and disputed the candidate’s view on modern issues. Moderated by social studies teacher Paul Duguay, students deliberated on the concerns of gun control, women’s issues, immigration, healthcare, foreign policy and LGBT rights. The eighth-graders presented for a panel of judges who decided which team of students best defended their candidate’s view on the topic. While students engaged in debate, their peers worked on Chromebooks in Google Classroom to comment on how well their classmates represented their candidate’s stand on the issue. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162381 Tue, 12 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162381 Educator of Excellence Kathryn Dodd, an English teacher at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, has been named an Educator of Excellence by the New York State English Council. “It is amazing to be awarded for something that you love to do,” said Dodd. “Teaching is my passion and I put my heart and soul into everything that I do as an educator.” Each year, the NYSEC recognizes excellence in teaching by presenting awards at its annual conference to ELA educators nominated by their schools and then selected by the council. To be selected for this honor, EWMMS Principal Edward Plaia completed an application on Dodd’s behalf and submitted letters in support of the application written by Plaia, Assistant Principal Kristy Pagliari and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Mary O’Meara. “I have learned so much from our administrators and other teachers in the building and I am grateful for every opportunity they have given me, yet, it is my students that deserve the real praise,” said Dodd. “I have pushed them to work on higher levels than ever before by introducing advanced literature, writing programs and new technology. They constantly impress me and make me proud to be their teacher.” Dodd will be presented her award at the NYSEC Awards Luncheon held at the Albany Marriott Hotel and Conference Center on Oct. 21. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162380 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162380 District Honors Retirees for Dedicated Years of Service At its business meeting on June 8, the Board of Education recognized 36 faculty and staff members who are retiring from the district. Touching words of tribute were shared about the retirees and the board offered its thanks to the staff members for their years of service and dedication to the students of Amityville. In addition to recognizing retirees, the board acknowledged employees with distinguished years of service to the district. The following staff members were honored for 20 years of service: Adriana Gray, Patricia Jordan, Barbra Lynch, William Maisel, Peggy O’ Connor, Diane O’ Neill, Sherefer Penick, Anthony Powell, Sikes Reese and Carol Seehof. Employees honored for 25 years of service were Andrea Drost, Margaret Gonser, Donnell Lewis, Joan Pryer, Fred Shepherd and Gail Wittke. Those recognized for 30 years of dedication to Amityville were Jack Agostino, Barbra Dascoli, Adeline Karniewich, Bernadette Kraljic, Shari-Lyn Krauss, Theresa Perry, Jo Anne Rubin, Richard Romeo, Thomas Siegel and Charles Zuar. The district extends its best wishes to all the retiring staff and faculty members and much appreciation for their dedicated years of service. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162379 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162379 Out of This World Artwork The district is pleased to announce that the artwork of Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School sixth-grade students, Samantha Lima and Juliette Slack, received outstanding recognition in the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Art and Poetry Exhibition. Earlier this spring, the students created astronomy-inspired art pieces that they submitted to the museum’s showcase. For their artistic efforts, Slack received a first-place ribbon for her art piece titled “My Galaxy,” while Lima was awarded a second-place ribbon for her painting, “Outer Space.” Congratulations to these fine students as well as their art teacher Christina Marcolla for mentoring them through their preparation for the exhibition. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162377 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162377 Milestone Moments Leading up to the weekend’s high school commencement exercises, Northeast, Northwest and Park Avenue Memorial elementary schools, along with Edmund W. Miles Middle School, conducted moving up ceremonies to honor kindergartners, third-graders, sixth-graders and ninth-graders, respectively as they advance to their next school and reach yet another milestone in their educational journey. Congratulations to all the students on their academic achievements! Northeast Kindergarten Moving Up Northwest Third-Grade Moving Up Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Sixth-Grade Moving Up Edmund W. Miles Middle School Ninth-Grade Moving Up http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162378 Wed, 29 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162378 Congrats, Class of 2016! Amityville Memorial High School’s Lou Howard field was filled with pride and beaming smiles on June 25 as the AMHS Class of 2016 celebrated their graduation. Seniors entered the field dressed in the traditional Warrior gowns of red and silver, and were greeted with an outpouring of cheers from the stands by family, friends and invited guests. More information on the graduation ceremony will be featured in the summer edition of The Amityville Tide. Please enjoy this slide show of photos from the Class of 2016 graduation ceremony. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162374 Sat, 25 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162374 PAMES Literacy Day As part of the school’s Literacy Day program, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School received a visit from award winning author David Adler. The Literacy Day program, coordinated by school librarian Tim Quinn, was created to help encourage students to read during the summer months. Leading up to the day, students attended the school’s book fair and selected from dozens of books and literature to purchase. To begin the assembly, they listened to a presentation by a representative from the Amityville Public Library who discussed the reading programs they offer during the summer. As an accomplished author, Mr. Adler explained to the students how he develops his ideas for book characters and the process of getting a book published. Since he began writing in 1967, after a career shift as a mathematics teacher, he has published nearly 200 fiction and nonfiction books. Some students were familiar with his popular children’s book series “Cam Jansen,” while others know him from his nonfiction texts that include biographies, historical and mathematics literature. In addition, students had the opportunity to participate in a meet-and-greet with Mr. Adler, during which he autographed their books. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162373 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162373 Father’s Day Fun at NE In honor of Father’s Day on June 19, Northeast School hosted a Father’s Day event to help pre-kindergartners celebrate the father and father figures in their lives. During the celebration, students with their special guest gathered in the school’s garden where they worked together to paint a birdhouse. In the beautiful spring weather, students enjoyed spending quality time with their fathers as they read books and participated in various outdoor activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162372 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162372 Celebrating Amityville Pride To continue tradition, Amityville residents and members of the school community gathered on the field at Amityville Memorial High School to celebrate the annual districtwide Pride Day. Coordinated by Dr. Fran Fernandez, director of fine arts, and Eileen Becker, secretary to the superintendent, the event kicked off with a performance from the high school jazz ensemble as students and their families enjoyed a variety of complimentary food and beverages. Fourth-grade teacher and returning Master of Ceremonies Marc Engler as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly provided a few opening remarks to welcome an arena of students, family, friends, faculty, board members, staff, administration and other invited guests. Students performed songs of celebration to set the upbeat tone for the remainder of the evening during which students were recognized as Star Awards recipients, commending their achievements in music, art and academics. Audience members enjoyed performances by the choruses from Park Avenue Elementary, Edmund W. Miles Middle School, the high school, Northwest and Northeast schools as well as an instrumental performance from the middle school jazz ensemble. The annual celebration was a success and the district thanks all those who participated in this festive occasion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162371 Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162371 Senior Receives Full Academic Scholarship On Monday, June 13, representatives from Mercy College were on hand at Amityville Memorial high School to surprise senior Cindy Ayala with a full academic scholarship. In presenting Cindy with the scholarship, Toral Bhatt, associate directory of recruitment for Mercy College, said, “You are gutsy, driven and unstoppable – three main qualities of a Mercy student.” When describing Cindy, Guidance Counselor Stacy Murphy said, “She is the hardest working student I have ever come across during my time in Amityville. She gives 100% to everything she does and always has the ‘big picture’ in mind.” Cindy will study psychology during her time at Mercy. The district congratulates Cindy on her outstanding achievement and wishes her much success in the years ahead! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162369 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162369 Educators Honored By Legislator DuWayne Gregory Six Edmund W. Miles Middle School educators from the Amityville Union Free School District were honored at the Teacher Appreciation Awards Night hosted by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory. To be selected for the Outstanding Teacher Recognition Program for the 15th Legislative District, educators are nominated by administrators, faculty and/or staff members. Nominated by EWMMS Principal Edward Plaia, English teacher Jennifer Bisulca, science chairperson Deborah Charles, guidance counselor Mary Garrison-Dennis, learning specialist David Jackson Jr., band teacher Joseph Sciolino and social studies teacher Jack Zider were among the evening’s award recipients for their commitment in making a positive impact on the teaching profession, students and public education. These educators were recognized for their effort to “go the second mile” by working above and beyond what is required; collaborating with colleagues to improve student achievement; for being an inspiration to his or her peers; and encouraging students’ lifelong learning. Each award honoree was presented with a Proclamation Certificate presented by Legislator Gregory during the evening ceremony held at North Babylon High School. The district extends its congratulations to the teachers on this exceptional recognition. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162368 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162368 Theater Students Earn Top Recognitions Following their high-energy performance of its spring musical production of “Hairspray,” Amityville Memorial High School theater students earned top awards at the Babylon Citizens Council of the Arts Teen Theatre Awards. During the ceremony, Amanda Boegle was bestowed the designation of Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, for her role as Tracy Turnblad, while Shiloh Bennett earned Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, for his role as Seaweed. Additionally, student Meghan Jacobsen received a special recognition for her work as the play’s choreographer and Ruben Fernandez was honored for his contributions as the student director. Future Star Awards were presented to the following young student actors and actresses from Northwest and Park Avenue Memorial elementary schools that participated in the performance: Tiffany Asbell, Sydney Carter, Synia Carter, Kaitlyn Garrett, Ariana Herazo, Erin Kreuder, Kyra Lee, Madelyne Martinez, Morgen McGroary, Imani McPhaul, Emma Raleigh, Janaiya Randolph and Denym Wilder. The district congratulates all the award recipients. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162367 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162367 College Athlete Celebration Day To celebrate the student-athletes who plan to continue playing their sport at the collegiate level, the Amityville Memorial High School athletic department hosted a College Athlete Celebration. Coordinated by Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health, parents, coaches and district administrators gathered to honor the students’ dedication and commitment to their sport and to continuing their academic careers. During the event, each of the nine student-athletes shared information about themselves including, the sport they play, what college they are headed to and what they look forward to most about attending college. After each student spoke, in unison, they placed the hat or helmet of the college they will attend on their head. “Today is about celebrating the hard work, dedication and the commitment they made for, not only the last four years, but way beyond that,” said Farkas. The district congratulates the following students on their academic and athletic accomplishments: Jonas Archer, Nassau Community College, football; Victor Cobos, Nassau Community College, soccer; Elijah Duff, Stony Brook University, football; Katherine Eastwood, Mount Ida College, volleyball; Haubry Gomez, Suffolk County Community College, soccer; Josue Martinez Garcia, Suffolk County Community College, soccer (not pictured); Jimmy Pierre Saint, Nassau Community College, football; Kevin Ramirez, Suffolk County Community College, soccer; Juan Salazar, Suffolk County Community College, soccer; and Michael Trant, Nassau Community College, baseball. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162366 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162366 Students Work with BVCA to Beautify Amityville More than 20 students from Amityville Memorial High School recently volunteered their time and joined forces with members of the Bay Village Civic Association to clean up the woods preserve on Ketcham Creek, as well as improve the landscaping appearance of the high school grounds. The cleanup event was support by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Stop & Shop and Raimo’s Pizza with assistance from AMHS teacher Cara Garofalo. Students worked diligently to remove plastic bags and debris from the wetlands. At the high school, volunteers pulled weeds and pruned garden beds at the main entrance. Purchased by the BVCA, new plants were added to garden beds and flowers were added around the electric sign facing Merrick Road, as well as the sign in the western parking lot. Following the event, students and civic association volunteers enjoyed pizza and refreshments from Raimo’s Pizza in the high school cafeteria. For their efforts, students were awarded community service hours. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162365 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162365 Awarding Outstanding Seniors During the school’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony, more than 75 graduating seniors at Amityville Memorial High School received an excess of 200 scholarships and awards on June 2. The ceremony featured opening remarks from Principal Dr. Clinton Grant, followed by Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly and a rousing rendition of the national anthem from senior Amanda Boegle. Produced by Steve Carbo, the audience enjoyed a video montage of the seniors’ high school year. The awards and scholarships were a combination of in-district recognitions for academic, athletic or artistic excellence, and local community organizations wishing to bestow endowments for a range of accomplishments including community service. Organizations sponsoring scholarships included the American Legion Post 1015, the U.S. Army, the Kiwanis Club of Amityville, the Amityville Women’s Club, Amityville Chamber of Commerce, Bay Village Civic Association and the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council, among others. In an auditorium filled with students, family and friends, administrators, faculty and members of the board of education were on hand to congratulate the students for their accomplishments. With recessional music performed by Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez, Dr. Grant concluded the event with closing comments and attendees were invited to the courtyard for light refreshments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162364 Tue, 07 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162364 Honoring Student-Athletes The athletics department held its annual Sports Awards Ceremony to celebrate the hard work, dedication and success of its junior varsity and varsity student-athletes on May 31. Gathered in the high school auditorium, members of the track, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, football, soccer, cheerleading, wrestling and basketball teams took the stage to be recognized by their respective coaches. Each coach handed out the Coach’s Award, Most Improved Award and the season MVP Award to deserving athletes. In the audience to laud the students for their achievements were parents, faculty, classmates, Second Vice President of the Board of Education Jeannette Santos, administrators and Superintendent of Schools Dr. T. Mary Kelly. “It is wonderful to be here and celebrate our student-athletes for all their accomplishments,” said Evan Farkas, director of athletics, physical education and health. “We know how hard they work during the school year and not only in the classroom but on the field.” Following the distribution of Gold Key Awards, students Jonas Archer and Kayla Miller were respectively presented with Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards. Additionally, student-athlete Lynda Pierre was designated Female Senior Athlete of the Year, while Tysheem Griffin and Josue Martinez Garcia tied for Male Senior Athlete of the Year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162363 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162363 Caring with Crayons http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162362 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162362 EWMMS Inducts 22 Students into NJHS Twenty-two Edmund W. Miles Middle School students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Their academic and extracurricular achievements were celebrated during an annual candle lighting ceremony. To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative average of at least 90 percent. During the ceremony, members of the NJHS executive board explained the high standards of leadership, service, citizenship, character and scholarship that candidates must meet to be inducted into the society. With friends, family and members of the board of education in attendance, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly, Middle School Principal Edward Plaia, Assistant Principal Kristy Pagliari, Dean of Students Earl Mitchell and NJHS adviser Carlee Wallenstein were on hand to congratulate the students on this special achievement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162360 Tue, 31 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162360 A'Ville Jam Session Join the Amityville Community for an evening of Music. The A'Ville Jam Session is a celebration of the wonderful musicians and the amazing music programs in our schools. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students. All proceeds will go to the J. Chris LaMarca Memorial Scholarship Fund. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162361 Tue, 31 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162361 First-Graders in Training Kindergarten students at Northeast School recently traveled to Northwest School to explore and learn about their new school, beginning in September. NW Principal Dr. Brenda Triplett and NE Principal Dr. Pauline Collins greeted the students as they walked off the school bus and made their way into the building. During the visit, the kindergartners met with first-graders in their classroom, watched a musical performance by the NW select choir and enjoyed a slideshow presentation that featured highlights of the school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162357 Thu, 26 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162357 Free Book Fair http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162358 Wed, 25 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162358 Poetry Slam http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162359 Wed, 25 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162359 United In Support Administrators, faculty and staff members at Northwest School recently rallied together to raise nearly $800 to support an ill student and his family. Representatives from the school and a local community church visited the child to offer encouragement and adorned his hospital room with colorful letters created with love by first-, second- and third-grade students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162356 Tue, 24 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162356 EWMMS Third-Quarter High Honor Roll Students During a special ceremony held in the cafeteria at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, Principal Edward Plaia recognized 30 students in grades 7-9 who earned the top 10 spots on the school’s third-quarter high honor roll. Citing their incredible accomplishments and hard work, Plaia acknowledged each of the top 10 students as teacher Carlee Wallenstein presented him or her with a high honor roll certificate. To achieve a spot on the honor roll, students must maintain a grade-point average between 85 and 92, while students with an average between 93 and 100 are designated to high honor roll. The district extends its congratulates to the students for their hard work and academic accomplishments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162355 Mon, 23 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162355 Sharing Knowledge As a culmination to their informational writing unit, students in Stacey Katt and Juliane Roman’s third-grade class at Northwest School hosted a publishing celebration from May 11-13. To begin the unit, each student was tasked with selecting a topic to research. Based on their own interests, the young writers chose to research penguins, bunnies, basketball, spiders and horses, among other topics. During the writing process, the third-graders used Google Chromebooks to research information and create a four to five Google Slides presentation. In their final project, they selected a presentation template and incorporated headlines, facts and photos. As a visual accompaniment, some students imbedded video clips from YouTube into their presentation. Following two months of hard work, students had the opportunity to present their informative Google Slides projects to family members, faculty, staff and administrators. As a fun challenge, students asked their audience two questions about the topic he or she shared. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162354 Fri, 20 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162354 Students Honored for Leadership and Service For their leadership and dedicated service to the community, Amityville Memorial High School juniors Kyle Hobson and Esteban Idrovo and sophomore Uhlensky Pierre-Louis were honored at the Jewish Community Relations Council – Long Island’s Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) dinner reception held at the Suffolk County Community College’s Huntington Library in Selden on May 12. The annual commemoration program honored Holocaust survivor and Suffolk County resident Ruth Minsky Sender as well as students in Suffolk County who are working to create a more civil society. During the evening’s presentations, Amityville students Hobson, Idrovo and Pierre-Louis respectively received the 2016 Students Building Bridges Award presented by the JCRC for being positive role models to their peers and their continuous service to their school and local community. For earning this award, they also received a Proclamation signed by New York State Sen. Michael Venditto, a Certificate of Appreciation authorized by Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and a Certificate of Merit signed by New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre. Among their many contributions, the students are individually involved in a number of school and community programs including Key Club, student government, National Honor Society and Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory’s Youth Leadership Caucus. Additionally, the students volunteer at their respective churches where they help collect, organize and distribute items in the food pantry. The district extends its congratulations to the students for this deserving recognition. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162352 Wed, 18 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162352 Amityville Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2016-17 budget vote and trustee election. The budget passed by a vote of 549 to 145. In addition, congratulations to Laura Pawlewicz for being elected to the Board of Education and Terry Fulton for his re-election. Again, thank you to all who voted and for supporting our schools! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162353 Tue, 17 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162353 EWMMS Students Raise $1,300 for Make-A-Wish Coordinated by members of the National Junior Honor Society, along with their adviser Carlee Wallenstein, Edmund W. Miles Middle School raised $1,300 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Coins for Wishes program. In an effort to raise money for this charity while engaging in friendly competition within their school community, students in their homerooms were encouraged to raise funds for the organization. Jack Zider’s homeroom class collectively raised the most with a total of $500, which allowed them to participate in a “Castle Ball” game against their teachers. Students in the NJHS had the opportunity to meet the two Make-A-Wish children who would benefit from their contributions during a gathering at TD Bank in Lake Ronkonkoma. Their donations will help send a 17-year-old girl to Comic-Con in California this July and a 9-year-old boy whose wish is to go to Legoland. “The kids work so hard every year to raise money for charity,” said Wallenstein. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162350 Mon, 16 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162350 Mother’s Day Tea To celebrate Mother’s Day, pre-K students at Northeast School sang songs and created artwork to share with the special women in their lives at a Mother’s Day Tea. In preparation for the event, the cafeteria was beautifully decorated with banners, balloons, stuffed animals and student artwork. Following words of welcome from Principal Dr. Pauline Collins, students took to the stage to begin the celebration. Led by their classroom teachers, each pre-K class sang a song that honored their mothers. Some of the songs they sung included “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor, Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E” and “Just the Way You Are” arranged by Bruno Mars. The students used props and hand movements that coordinated with the song lyrics. Following the musical performance, the pre-k students enjoyed cookies and beverages as they spent time with their special guests. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162349 Thu, 12 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162349 Challenging Creativity Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School recently took part in the Earth Day Challenge, coordinated by school librarian Lynn Cesiro. The students were tasked with constructing a tower entirely out of recycled materials without using any adhesive. During their lunch periods, students visited the library, where they were given a hole puncher, scissors, biodegradable Popsicle sticks, six large paper towel tubes, six small tubes and 10 cardboard panels to complete the challenge. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162348 Mon, 09 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162348 Students Participate in Cultural Exchange Members of the Warrior Awareness Club at Amityville Memorial High School hosted students in the Golden Flashes Leadership Club at Sayville High School as part of its Cultural Exchange Program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162347 Fri, 06 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162347 Boys Soccer Team Receives NYS Championship Rings The auditorium at Amityville Memorial High School was filled with Warrior pride as members of the 2015 Amityville boys varsity soccer team received their New York State Class ‘A’ Championship rings during a special ceremony. Students, friends, family, administrators and board of education members gathered to witness the championship team receive their rings and celebrate their monumental feat. During the ceremony, Superintendent of School Dr. Mary T. Kelly and AMHS Principal Dr. Clinton Grant lauded the students and coaches for their hard work and dedication to earn such a prestigious title and becoming the first NYS soccer champions in the history of Amityville athletics. As they heard their name called, team members made their way to the stage where their coach, Mike Abondondolo, presented them with a championship ring. Simultaneously, the players opened the ring box and placed the new piece of jewelry on their finger. The NYS soccer champions and attendees enjoyed a 45-minute highlights reel of the team’s successful athletic season. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162346 Wed, 04 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162346 Opening the Door to Reading Creativity filled the hallways at Edmund W. Miles Middle School as students and faculty members at EWMMS participated in an “Open the Door to Reading Contest.” Coordinated by school librarian Lynn Cesiro, teachers along with help from students, colorfully decorated the outside of their classroom doors to represent a book or book series. Some of the book themes included, “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins, Laura Numeroff’s “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” “Holes” written by Louis Sachar and Dr. Seuss’ “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” During their English class, students walked to participating classrooms where they took selfies with the doors. They selected their favorite decorated door to post and share with the EWWMS library’s Instagram, @ewmmslibrary. English teacher Kathryn Dodd’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go” book door theme had the most selfies shared on Instagram, which deemed her to the winner of the contest. As the winner, she earned a $10 gift card to The Yearbook Café. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162345 Tue, 03 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162345 Amityville Memorial High School presents: "Hairspray" http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162344 Mon, 02 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162344 Alumni Return to Their Roots More than 25 Amityville alumni returned to their alma mater as Amityville Memorial High School hosted its inaugural Alumni Career Day. The event kicked off with an alumni welcome breakfast, followed by a presentation led by keynote speaker Chemene Pelzer, Class of ’91, who is a producer on the Emmy award-winning NBC “Today” show. Amityville alumni, ranging from the Class of 1961 to 2013, with professions in various industries, traveled in pairs to classrooms where they offered a PowerPoint presentation, pictures and/or handouts. They also shared stories, advice and answered students’ questions. The event, coordinated by high school business teacher, Susan Tietje, concluded with an alumni thank you lunch, affording them the opportunity to network with their fellow alumni. “By establishing the first alumni career day, my hope is that students learn about different job and career opportunities that perhaps they never thought about,” said Tietje. “We wanted the alumni to come back as role models, who experienced sitting in the seats these kids are sitting in today.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162342 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162342 Exploring Academic and Career Opportunities Each spring, the gymnasium at Amityville Memorial High School transforms into a forum for educational and career advancement during the school’s Spring College Fair, this year held on April 7. Coordinated by the high school guidance department, more than 100 colleges, universities and academic institutions were represented at the event. Students spoke with representatives and received informational brochures from institutions they are interested in attending. To meet students’ diverse needs, representatives from a variety of top-tier universities, trade schools and military service academies attended the fair. The purpose of hosting this event is to expose high school students to the options higher education holds and instill the message that it’s never too early or too late to start the college process. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162338 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162338 Perfectly Published To celebrate the completion of their review-writing unit for writers’ workshop, students in Jane Dady and Kerrin Faulkner’s first-grade class at Northwest School in the participated in a publishing party. During the five-week unit, students wrote about their interests, such as their favorite sport, vacation and friend. Showcasing their artistic abilities, the first-graders drew illustrations to go along with their writing topic. Students colorfully decorated “I Am a Star Author” headbands to wear for the celebration. Each first-grader read their paper to the class then paired up with a second-grade student to share their work in a one-on-one setting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162341 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162341 PAMES Students Find a “Minion” Reasons to Read As a culmination to its Parents As Reading Partners monthlong event, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School hosted a PARP Night for students and their families. Following the theme “A Minion Reasons to Read,” students, along with their family members, participated in a variety of reading and writing activities. To spark students’ creativity, the event kicked off with a read aloud that concluded with a cliffhanger. With the chance to win a prize, the young writers were encouraged to predict and create their own ending for the story. During the evening, students and their families played board games that fostered reading skills, created a book jacket for their favorite book and colorfully decorated a cupcake to resemble a Minion. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162337 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162337 Newly Tenured Teachers At the district’s April 13 Board of Education meeting, 18 Amityville educators were recommended for tenure, signifying their dedication and commitment to preserving the district’s excellence in education. Upon hearing their names read aloud, teacher honorees made their way to the podium where members of the Amityville Teachers Association presented him or her with a white rose. Newly tenured teachers, along with administrators, board members and family members, enjoyed a dessert reception as they celebrated this milestone achievement in their careers. The district extends its congratulations to the following teachers: Michael Albano, High school English teacher Andrew Babington, Northeast elementary teacher Jennifer Bianco, Northwest literacy teacher Trish Cammaroto, Park Avenue special education teacher Danielle Carrero, Northwest special education teacher Joanna Conboy, Park Avenue elementary teacher Jessica Driscoll, Park Avenue ESL teacher Jessica Ferguson, Northwest elementary teacher Cara Garofalo, High school art teacher Janice Grillo, Northeast elementary teacher Sandra James, Northwest elementary teacher Gregory McCoy, High school physical education teacher Alexia Nyholm, Park Avenue special education teacher James Replak, Park Avenue elementary teacher Leighann Ruggiero, Park Avenue elementary teacher Ximena Skaliotis, Northwest elementary/bilingual teacher Georgette Thompson, Park Avenue elementary teacher Kimberly Thompson, High school special education teacher http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162340 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162340 First-Hand Lesson on a Tragic Event in History Eighth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School received a first-hand lesson about the Holocaust from survivor Stephen Berger. Born and raised in Debrecen, Hungary, Mr. Berger was 16 years old living with his parents and younger sister when Adolf Hitler and his army invaded Hungary and set up a temporary ghetto for Jewish Hungarians. Mr. Berger, along with his parents and sister, were forced from their home into the ghetto and then sent to the Strasshof concentration camp. Separated from his father, Mr. Berger, his mother and sister were sent to a slave labor camp in Vienna, Austria. Suffering from a lack of food, medical care and numerous beatings from his Nazi captors and collaborators, Mr. Berger and his family survived these brutal conditions until liberated by the Russian Army in April 1945. Upon his return to Hungary, Stephen sadly learned that 26 members of his family had perished at Auschwitz. In December 1945, Mr. Berger and his family immigrated to the United States. While sharing his inspirational story and experiences, he cautioned the students about the harmful effects of discrimination. Following his presentation, Mr. Berger answered questions from students and took time to meet with them individually. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162336 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162336 AMHS Wrestler Claims “All-American” Title For the first time in the history of Amityville Memorial High School athletics, 15-year-old sophomore, Deonte Wilson, earned the title of “Sophomore All-American” wrestler following his impressive performance at the 2016 National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships. Wilson, along with his coaches, traveled to the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia to compete against some of the top wrestlers in the nation from April 1-3. After dropping his opening bout in a sudden 3-2 victory, Wilson went on to win seven straight matches including wins against two state champions, two overtime wins, two major decisions and a victory over fellow Long Islander, Maguire Horl, from St. Anthony’s High School. Wilson finished the competition in third-place in the 220-weight class, earning him the title of “Sophomore All-American” wrestler. During his successful 2015-16 athletic season, Wilson was also named League VI Champion, Second XI Runner-up and State Qualifier. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162335 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162335 Senior Receives Suffolk Regional PTA Scholarship Shaneka Bernard, a senior at Amityville Memorial High School and second-year student in Aviation Science/Flight program at Wilson Tech’s Republic campus, was presented a $500 scholarship from Suffolk Region PTA Director Kathy Vento at the BOCES annual PTA Night for her outstanding performance at Wilson Tech. At Wilson Tech, Bernard is a member of the National Technical Honor Society, Renaissance Award Program and the president of the afternoon session of SkillsUSA, a national leadership organization for students in career and technical education. For the second consecutive year, Bernard won first place in the Aviation contest of SkillsUSA’s regional competition and will represent Long Island at the New York State competition in April. Among many achievements, she is an Advanced Placement student in the top 10 percent of her class as well as a member of several honor societies and a recipient of countless awards, recently receiving a Congressional Nomination to attend the Military Service Academy at West Point. She has also been granted admission and offered a lucrative scholarship to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Connecticut. Furthering her future in aviation, she aspires to be a first officer and/or captain for a major air carrier. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162334 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162334 EWMMS Students Shine at STEM Summit The district is pleased to announce that Edmund W. Miles Middle School students Anthony Adams, Jazmin Ruiz Marcelo, Amelia Tisk, Carina Wong-Schultz and Amber Wright collectively received first place at the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College for their “Smart House, Renewable Energy” project. The event drew in more than 1,200 attendees and featured approximately 100 projects by students ranging from elementary to college level. According to the Farmingdale State College website, the STEM Diversity Summit, in alliance with Long Island Science and Technology Entry Program/Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, aims to inspire K-12, higher education, business and industries to explore STEM teaching and learning in the 21st century. For their Smart House project, the team of EWMMS students researched energy efficient application for the home. They constructed a model house to represent and incorporate new technology to optimize energy efficiency. “Students understand the value of research and incorporating technology for real-life STEM/STEAM applications,” said EWMMS science chairperson Deborah Charles. “We are preparing our students for jobs in the future, which will require engineering credential and skills for our new emerging job market.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162333 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162333 Twenty-Six Students Inducted into World Language Honor Society The Amityville Memorial High School held its annual National World Language Honor Society Induction Ceremony to recognize and honor students who have excelled in the study of their chosen world language. To be inducted into the society, students must maintain an average of 85 percent or higher in their foreign language classes. During the event, new inductees participated in a candlelighting ceremony and recited the NWLHS oath. The society, along with NWLHS adviser and ceremony coordinator Elias Castro, welcomed 26 new inductees, while simultaneously biding farewell and honoring four graduating seniors. To signify their membership, each new inductee received a certificate and a medal. The well-attended event also featured presentations by guest speakers Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Amityville Memorial High School Principal Dr. Clinton Grant and English as a Second Language District and Foreign Language Coordinator Susanne Peña. Additionally, members of the El Teatro Rodante Hispanico, a non-profit organization that promotes and celebrates foreign cultures through dance, performed various dance styles including the flamenco and bachata for attendees to enjoy. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162331 Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162331 Students Launch into Women’s History In honor of Women’s History Month, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School created and raced paper airplanes to celebrate women pilots in history. During their lunch periods, students assembled and designed their paper airplanes and launched them in the hallway outside the library. Performing for a panel of teacher judges, they competed for best design, best aim and furthest distance. Student Syed Hassan successfully flew his airplane the furthest, at 48 feet. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162332 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162332 Exploring Future Career Options While they still have a few years before entering the workforce, seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School learned about a wide range of professions during the school’s annual Career Fair. Sponsored by the EWMMS guidance department, students spoke with professionals from fields such as real estate, culinary arts, law enforcement, healthcare, forensic science, finance and automotive repair in a one-on-one setting. Students circulated the gymnasium asking professionals questions about their job responsibilities and the path they took that led them to their chosen career. Students also witnessed a live demonstration by U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection officers and their canines. The event, aligned with Common Core Standards, aims to spark an interest in the career path students might be interested in pursuing as they prepare for college and the work field. “As our students start to explore different career opportunities and plan for their future, we anticipate this Career Fair to be an integral part of their development and success,” said guidance counselor Keri Kearney. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162328 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162328 District Named a Best Community for Music Education The district is proud to boast that it was among 476 school districts from across the nation to be named to the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation’s 2016 Best Communities for Music Education list. According to the NAMM Foundation website, the BCME recognizes the outstanding efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who work together to ensure that all students have access to music education as part of the school curriculum. The BCME program evaluates schools and districts based on funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards, community support, participation and access to music instruction. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162329 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162329 Reminder: Harlem Wizards Visit April 8 The Harlem Wizards basketball team will visit the Amityville Union School District for a fun-filled basketball theatrical performance on April 8, at 6 p.m., at Amityville Memorial High School. Coordinated by the Amityville Parent Teacher Council (APTC), the event is geared for children of all ages, as well as adults. During the two-hour game, fans will witness an array of basketball exhibitions, which includes tricks, sophisticated passing and aerodynamic athleticism combined with high-energy comedy and audience interaction. Tickets can be purchased through order forms that are available at the main office in each of the five school buildings by calling APTC President Maresa Dealy at 631-464-5622 or online at www.harlemwizards.com. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for children. The price changes on the day of the event to $15 for adults and $12 for children. For an added experience, reserved tickets can be bought for $25, which includes a seat in the first two rows of the bleachers and a free event poster. Also available are courtside plus seats for $30. Courtside plus ticket holders enjoy courtside reserved seating, an exclusive 10-minute meet-and-greet with two Wizards players, a free team poster and a $15 discount on Wizards replica jerseys. Courtside plus tickets are limited and will not be sold online. If interested in courtside plus seats, please call 631-464-5622. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162330 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162330 Successful, Accomplished and Published Students in Kathryn Dodd’s eighth-grade English classes at Edmund W. Miles Middle School celebrated the completion of their position papers during a publishing party. With a little over a week to complete the writing assignment, students were responsible for selecting a topic, conducting research and developing a claim to support an argument. Eighth-graders used Chromebooks to write their papers and find at least three articles that supported their claim. The young writers submitted their paper through Google Classroom where they edited and revised their essay until it was ready for publishing. During the party, students shared the topic of their papers and position on the issue with their peers. They then placed their papers on a bulletin board in the classroom titled “Successful, Accomplished and Published.” To commemorate their writing success, Dodd presented the students with a Certificate for Publication. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162327 Mon, 04 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162327 Students Participate in Horn Festival Earlier this year, ninth-graders James Carey and Michael Gordon and seventh-grader Tristan Angus from Edmund W. Miles Middle School represented their school in the annual Suffolk County Music Educators Association Day of Horn Festival. Held at Northport High School, hundreds of French horn student-musicians from across Suffolk County gathered to participate in this event, which featured workshops, rehearsals and a culminating performance by all musicians in a massed horn ensemble. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162322 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162322 Board Members Honored for Leadership During the March Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly presented certificates from the New York School Boards Association to Second Vice President Jeannette Santos and trustees Carolyn Dodd and Juan Leon. Santos was presented the Board Mastery Award for her participation in NYSSBA’s leadership development opportunities totaling 250 points. Dodd received the Board Excellence Award for her participation in NYSSBA’s leadership development training totaling 150 points, while Leon earned his Board Achievement Award totaling 75 points of leadership development. Throughout New York State, Board of Education members qualify for recognition by participating in varied NYSSBA developmental activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162321 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162321 The "Write" Way to Party http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162323 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162323 NE School Spring Concert Rescheduled The Northeast School Spring Concert has been rescheduled from Friday, April 1 to Friday, May 27 at 10 a.m. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162325 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162325 AMHS Certified to Charter DECA Club The district is pleased to announce that Amityville Memorial High School has satisfied all the requirements set forth by the National DECA and New York State Association of DECA to commission its own DECA Club. DECA is an international association that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management in high schools and colleges around the globe. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162324 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162324 Women’s History Month Tea Party In honor of Women’s History Month, students in Dawn Attanasio’s and Reinaldo Latorre’s seventh- and ninth-grade ELA classes at Edmund W. Miles Middle School participated in a Women’s History Tea Party. As an optional writing assignment, students were asked to submit an essay in regards to the following topic: It is 20 years in the future and you are being inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame. Write about the accomplishments of your life and how you have made a difference to women and to society. For the assignment, girls were asked to answer the question about themselves, while boys selected a female figure to write about for the essay. Those who completed the assignment were invited to the tea party. During the tea, students circulated around the library to read their classmates’ essays and write a comment about what they read. The seventh- and ninth-graders were then invited to enjoy a slice of pizza, tea or a beverage of their choice and an array of desserts as they discussed and reflected on their writing. Each student received a certificate for their participation in the school’s Women’s History Tea. “The goal of this event was to promote literacy and celebrate their writing together,” said Attanasio. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162320 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162320 Student-Artwork Displayed at SCALA Children’s Show A group of talented student-artists from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were selected to have their artwork displayed at the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association Children’s Art Show held at Old Town Hall in Babylon. (Pictured: Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School students with Principal Scott Bullis and art teacher Christina Marcolla) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162319 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162319 Holocaust Survivor Visits AMHS Students During their social studies class, 10th-grade students at Amityville Memorial High School received a visited from Holocaust survivor, Werner Reich. He shared with the class his inspirational story and his thoughts on the issue of bullying. He reinforced the power of words and expressed that bullying is a problem that cannot be ignored. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162318 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162318 Assistant Superintendent for Technology and Administrative Services Appointed At its regular meeting on March 9, the Board of Education appointed Ms. Carole Polney to the position of assistant superintendent for Technology and Administrative Services. Ms. Polney brings 23 years of experience to Amityville. She began her career with the West Babylon School District as an English teacher and then became their director of Instructional Technology. She moved to the Babylon School District in 2004 to become an assistant principal, and was then promoted to coordinator of Assessments, Data, Learning and Technology, a position she has held for the past seven years. Ms. Polney is the vice president of the Association of Suffolk Supervisors for Educational Technologies (ASSET), which is an organization that supports technology integration across Long Island. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Arts in communications from New York Institute of Technology, her Master of Science in English education from Long Island University C.W. Post and her professional diploma in School District Administration from Stony Brook University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at St. John’s University. “I am looking forward to joining the Amityville team and community,” said Polney. “My goal is to offer meaningful contributions to the district’s development of technology and also expose all students to learning experiences that will benefit them in the present and the future.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162317 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162317 Local Author Helps PAMES Kick Off PARP As a kick off for their Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) monthlong event, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School received a visit from Newsday editor and self-published author Sandra H. Miller. During the visit, Miller explained how her life experiences were her inspiration for writing “Saplings and Sisters.” Written in a poetic structure, she read the story aloud as the students followed along on the projector screen and yelled out the rhyming words. After the reading, Miller shared examples of life lessons that are evident throughout the story and offered students some creative writing techniques. “It’s [the story] a compilation of experiences and wishes for a legacy of kids to learn to nourish each other and the planet,” said Miller. For the entire month of March, parents are encouraged to read with their children and help them achieve new reading goals at home. Students will log the total amount of minutes they read each night and the most dedicated readers will receive a prize. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162315 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162315 EWMMS Student Recites 250 Digits of Pi In honor of Pi Day on March 14, students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School completed assignments that showcased information about Pi in a creative way. For their projects, students created Pi Day posters, wrote an essay about the history of Pi and created an original a poem or song. Students were also tasked with memorizing digits in the infinite 3.14 Pi number. Up for the challenge, eighth-grader Mert Kokoglu in Dave Takseraas’ class successfully recited 250 digits of Pi and holds the school’s record for memorizing the most digits of Pi. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162316 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162316 Evolution Explored Through DNA The library at Edmund W. Miles Middle School was transformed into a space for scientific discovery as eighth- and ninth-graders performed DNA analysis lab experiments using samples provided by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Over the course of two-days, students participated in DNA fingerprinting and executed comparative analysis to examine the skull of hominids. To begin, students learned about forensic DNA fingerprinting and genetic diagnosis. For the experiment, they prepared a sample of their own DNA from cells obtained by saline mouthwash. The automated technique of polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the DNA fragments and was analyzed by performing agarose gel electrophoresis. Students were able to trace their evolutionary track through mitochondrial DNA. The following day, the library was converted into New York City’s Museum of National History laboratory as the young scientists used fossil evidence and DNA analysis to understand human evolution. Students measured the brain cases and features of different hominids to determine how closely they are related to humans. They also observed the earliest stone tool technologies to determine how early ancestors hunted and survived in their environment. Students were able to determine the type of food source each hominid consumed, how they walked, bipedal or quadrupedal, bone structure and comparative evolutionary growth. They constructed an evolutionary tree to illustrate their findings. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162314 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162314 Reading with Friends Across Amityville In honor of National Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’ birthday, members of the Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society read aloud picture books to students at Northwest Elementary School and led class discussions about the story. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162313 Mon, 14 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false162313 Students Stay Cyber Safe In an effort to promote Internet safety and address the topic of cyberbullying, students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in an interactive assembly titled “NetSmartz” led by Deputy Sheriff Jacob Gross from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. During the presentation, students heard an age-appropriate message about ways to be safe on the Internet and the importance of treating others with respect. Students watched an educational video that identified four rules of online safety: tell a trusted adult if you see something that makes you uncomfortable, do not share personal information, do not meet up with people from the internet and use good “netiquette.” Students were afforded time at the end of the assembly to ask questions about information discussed during the presentation. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162307 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162307 Jazz Ensemble Performs at BOE Meeting Students in the Amityville Memorial High School jazz ensemble, under the direction of Frank Abel, performed a variety of musical pieces for board members, administrators and community members during the March Board of Education regular business meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162311 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162311 Wrestling Success During the March Board of Education regular business meeting, Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Devonte Wilson was recognized for his successful wrestling season. Wilson, along with varsity head coach Greg McCoy, will travel in April to Virginia Beach where he will compete in the National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Championship Sophomore Division. Through fundraising efforts and generous contributions from the community, the AMHS wrestling program collected $6,750 for wrestling pad wall mats. The Board of Education accepted the check during its meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162312 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162312 Greensboro 4 Activist Visits AMHS Students On March 8, 11th- and 12th-graders at Amityville Memorial High School received a visit from racial segregation activist and member of the 1960s civil rights Greensboro 4 group, Mr. Joseph McNeil. After being refused service in 1960 at the five-and-dime store Woolworth, Mr. McNeil, along with three of his college friends, participated in a series of nonviolent sit-in protests in Greensboro, North Carolina, forming the Greensboro 4. This protest led to Woolworth removing its policy of racial segregation in the southern United States and was an instrumental action in the civil rights movement. During the visit, students watched a portion of the PBS television station documentary on the Greensboro 4, which consisted of historical footage, interviews and reenactments. For the remainder of the visit, they listened to Mr. McNeil speak about his life experiences and asked questions. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162309 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162309 AMHS Student Meets Assemblywoman Amityville Memorial High School student Esteban Idrovo recently had the opportunity to represent his school at the Puerto Rican Latino Youth Leadership program. Along with two students from Copiague, Idrovo met and interviewed Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre as well as her office staff. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162310 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162310 NE Students Celebrate Black History To celebrate Black History Month, kindergarten students at Northeast School in the hosted a special musical performance for family members and peers. For the celebration, each class collectively dressed in the same color to represent colors of the rainbow. Under the direction of music teacher Nicole Altamura, students sang a variety of songs that represented unity, culture and historical figures in black history. Featured songs included “Sing about Martin,” arranged by Jackie Silberg, “The World is a Rainbow” by Greg & Steve, and the students’ version of Addison Road’s “This Little Light of Mine.” While singing, students used hand gestures and body movements that coincided with the song lyrics. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162306 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162306 Bond Referendum Approved by Community On Tuesday, March 8, community residents within the Amityville School District approved the district's capital bond referendum by a vote of 650 to 529. The district would like to thank all of those who voted and for the community's support of the project. Our school and community pride remains strong and we have a bright future ahead! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162308 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162308 PAMES Performance for Black History Celebration Students, faculty, administrators, family and members of the Amityville Board of Education gathered in the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School auditorium for the school’s Black History Month Celebration. Coordinated by the PAMES Black History Month Celebration committee and chaired by Denise Graham and Kathy Hyland, the event featured students singing, dancing and reading informational pieces to honor the culture, traditions and legacy of historical figures in black history. The celebration began on a high note with students Orchid Delaleu, Samantha Molina and Raychel Preza singing their rendition of James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Throughout the show, students educated the audience about historical landmarks founded by and in honor of men and women in black history. The 21st Century Dance Group and Step Group performed an array of routines under the choreography of Dee Coghiel and Danielle Coles. Emceed by student Mikhail Ankudovych, the evening also featured a vocal performance by PAMES alumna Shaakirah Nazim-Harris. The night closed on an upbeat note as Jackeline Andiono and Makayla Frisby sang Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162305 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162305 Top of Their Class Amityville Memorial High School is pleased to announce that Casey Terbaniesingh and Vanessa Nevers Ottey have respectively been named the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Amityville graduating Class of 2016. Dedicated to his academics, Terbaniesingh is enrolled in four Advanced Placement courses and was named a 2015 AP Scholar. At school, he is a member of the National Honor Society. He also participates in various community service projects in his community and served in an internship with the Town of Babylon last summer. Furthering his academic career, he hopes to attend the University of California, Berkeley with a major in mechanical engineering. “I feel like I am prepared for the future,” he said. Nevers Ottey is also enrolled in four Advanced Placement courses. In addition to her academic commitments, she is a member of the band, student council, Interact Club, Tri-M Music Honor Society and is president of the National Honor Society. She hopes to attend New York University or University of Rochester with a major in physics. “I have been in the school district since kindergarten and I have really liked it here,” Nevers Ottey said. “They have done a lot to help us prepare for the future.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162303 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162303 Donate and Deliver As a way to give back to the community, members of the student council at Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted a food drive with all donations benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. The school collected more than 100 cans and various items from the nonprofit’s wish list, which included toiletry products, snacks and toys. Under the advisement of Allyson Kretz, student council members participated in a field trip to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park on Feb. 23 to drop off the items collected. Students in the school’s newspaper club also took part in the field trip and wrote an article on their experience as well as the purpose of the organization. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162302 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162302 EWMMS Drama Production Rescheduled The Edmund W. Miles Middle School drama production scheduled for Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. has been postponed. It has been rescheduled for Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the middle school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162304 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162304 Student Nominated into U.S. Military Academy The district is pleased to congratulate Amityville Memorial High School student Shaneka Bernard on receiving a congressional nomination to the United States Military Academy. To receive the nomination, Bernard followed the multistep application process. First, she wrote a letter of request to Congressman Peter King for the nomination. Once her request was approved, she received an application from Congressman King along with three character reference forms to be completed. After submitting the application, character references and her school grades, which the program required she hold at least a 95 weighted grade point average, she was selected to participate in an interview with a panel of five West Point alumni. Bernard was one of two candidates selected to receive Congressman King’s congressional nomination for West Point. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162301 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162301 Artists of Excellence Amityville Memorial High School students Katherine Eastwood and Carmen Mori Millet recently had their artwork showcased in the Long Island University Post Art Department’s Advance Visions 12: High School Artists of Excellence Exhibition. These talented students were chosen based on teacher recommendations to represent their high school in this elite art showcase. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162298 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162298 A Walk Through Black History For the third-consecutive year, Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted an interactive Black History Month Museum from Feb. 10-12. As part of the social studies curriculum, seventh- and eighth-grade students created colorful poster boards that represented important people and events during the Civil Rights Movement and Harlem Renaissance. After presenting their projects in class, students displayed their posters, writing pieces and artifacts in the library. As an addition to the museum, students created a game with the object of matching the picture of a notable person in black history to the quote he or she said. During their visit, seventh- and eighth-graders completed a worksheet based on the information they learned from the projects. On the worksheet, students wrote the name of a person or event of black history achievement, an important fact and reflected on how this person or event influenced history. To help create a more authentic museum experience, school librarian Lynn Cesiro hung additional informational posters, pictures and banners around the library. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162297 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162297 Bond Community Forum Wednesday, Feb. 24th at 7:00 PM at Park Avenue Elementary School All Amityville residents to attend a community forum on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Park Avenue Elementary School to learn more about the district’s building needs, the bond proposal and the associated tax impact to residents. During this time, residents will also have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the referendum. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162299 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 15:00:00 GMT false162299 Soccer Champs Honored by Town of Babylon On Feb. 10, members of the Amityville Memorial High School varsity boys soccer team were honored by the Town of Babylon for winning the New York State Soccer Championship during their athletic season. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162300 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162300 Artistic Talent Showcased The district is pleased to congratulate four Amityville Memorial High School students for having their artwork displayed in the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association Art Exhibition held at Old Town Hall in Babylon from Jan. 21 to Feb. 9. Based on teacher recommendations, the artwork of senior Deon Clark, sophomore Gabrielle Mercado and junior Keriese Pryce were showcased in the All-County SCALA Show, while student Jeoprey Delos Santos had his art piece in the Senior Scholarship segment of the exhibit. On Feb. 6, the students were honored for their exceptional artwork during a special reception held at Old Town Hall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162296 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162296 Honoring High Achievement During a special ceremony, Edmund W. Miles Middle School Principal Edward Plaia recognized 30 students in grades 7-9 who earned the top 10 spots on the school’s second-quarter Honor Roll. Citing their incredible accomplishments and hard work, Plaia acknowledged each top 10 student and presented certificates to those in attendance. To achieve a spot on the Honor Roll, students must maintain a grade point average between 85 and 92.9 and must not have below a 75 average in any subject. Students with a 93 average or higher were designated to High Honor Roll. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162294 Tue, 16 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162294 Preparing Business Leaders of Tomorrow As a first glance into the workforce, fifth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in a full-day field trip to the Commerce Plaza in Levittown. It is a simulated business community that promotes understanding of the world of business and its economics while meeting New York State Learning Standards. Prior to the trip, students took part in a six-week preparation cycle that introduced them to the Commerce Plaza Curriculum and basic principles of economics. Funded by a Capital One grant, students traveled to the center for a unique activity-based experience. With the support of local businesses, Hofstra University and United Way of Long Island, students chose from a variety of industries ranging from banking, news media to public service. Upon arriving at the business center, each student assumed a specific role in the business community that allows them to apply life skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication and teamwork. In this work environment, students learned business operations, banking skills such as writing checks and balancing checkbooks, applying for bank loans and completing job applications. While immersed in the business community, instructors facilitated and guided the students through their experiences, ensuring they successfully applied their knowledge and put their skills to practice. With funding from the New York State Department of Education’s School of Work Initiative in 2000, Commerce Plaza was founded to help provide students with practical experience in their preparation for the workforce. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162293 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162293 Harlem Wizards Ticket Information The Harlem Wizards basketball team will visit the Amityville Union School District for a fun-filled basketball theatrical performance on April 8, at 6 p.m., at Amityville Memorial High School. Coordinated by the Amityville Parent Teacher Council (APTC), the event is geared for children of all ages, as well as adults. During the two-hour game, fans will witness an array of basketball exhibitions, which includes tricks, sophisticated passing and aerodynamic athleticism combined with high-energy comedy and audience interaction. Tickets can be purchased through order forms that are available at the main office in each of the five school buildings by calling APTC President Maresa Dealy at 631-464-5622 or online at www.harlemwizards.com. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for children. The price changes on the day of the event to $15 for adults and $12 for children. For an added experience, reserved tickets can be bought for $25, which includes a seat in the first two rows of the bleachers and a free event poster. Also available are courtside plus seats for $30. Courtside plus ticket holders enjoy courtside reserved seating, an exclusive 10-minute meet-and-greet with two Wizards players, a free team poster and a $15 discount on Wizards replica jerseys. Courtside plus tickets are limited and will not be sold online. If interested in courtside plus seats, please call 631-464-5622. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162292 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162292 All after school and evening activities including: 21st Century, Virtual Academy, YMCA, ENL Academy and the Middle School Bond tour are cancelled for Monday, February 8th, 2016. All after school and evening activities including: 21st Century, Virtual Academy, YMCA, ENL Academy and the Middle School Bond tour are cancelled for Monday, February 8th, 2016. The Bond Tour will be rescheduled for Thursday, February 11th at 6:00 PM. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162291 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 16:00:00 GMT false162291 Lip Sync Battle of the Teachers Inspired by the popular television show on the Spike network, members of the Love 4 All Club at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, under the advisement of Bernadette Kraljic, hosted a Lip Sync Battle of the Teachers on Jan. 29. The well-attended event showcased the creative dance talents of more than 15 administrators and faculty members as they lip sang to classic and modern day songs including “I Will Survive” by Diana Ross, Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” and “Hello” by Adele. Similar to the on-air show, contestants dressed in character and used a variety of props while performing in front of an audience and panel of student-judges. In the end, social studies teacher Paul Duguay’s lip sync performance to the song “Sorry” by Justin Bieber won him the title of King of the Lip Sync Battle. The event raised nearly $300, which the club will use to purchase T-shirts for National Day of Silence on April 15, a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Please enjoy below a slideshow of photos and video clips from the event: http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162290 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162290 Bond Building Tour Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 9 AM Edmund W. Miles Middle School & 10:30 AM Amityville High School The Board of Education and administration have announced a series of building tours for community residents, as well as a special community forum, in preparation for the bond vote set for Tuesday, March 8. Saturday, Feb. 6 Edmund W. Miles Middle School, 9 a.m. Amityville High School, 10:30 a.m. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162289 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:00:00 GMT false162289 Parenting in the Digital Age In an effort to help parents become more knowledgeable about the types of digital media their children are using, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School recently hosted a parent workshop entitled, “Parenting in the Digital Age.” The purpose of the workshop was to identify dangers associated with Internet usage, indicate ways parents and guardians can protect their children from these dangers and how children can protect themselves on the Internet. During the workshop, parents listened to individual presentations led by private investigator Jonathan Tisk, Principal Scott Bullis, Assistant Principal Rose Hutcherson and school guidance counselor Kimberly Balducci. Prior to the workshop, a school-wide survey was conducted that identified the popular apps students at Park Avenue are using. To help familiarize parents with these apps, members of the Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society explained how the apps are used and the dangers associated to them. “It is important for parents to be aware of what their kids are doing on the Internet and social media so they can monitor and keep them safe,” said Balducci. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162286 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162286 Schools are closed today, Friday, February 5, 2016 as a result of the inclement weather. ConnectEd system is down. No phone calls are being received. Please check your email provided to the district. Schools are closed today, Friday, February 5, 2016 as a result of the inclement weather. Connect Ed system is down so no phone calls been received. Please check the email address you provided to the district. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162288 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162288 Questions regarding the Amityville Bond? Please call 631-565-6015 or email bond@amityvilleufsd.org Questions regarding the Amityville Bond?Please call 631-565-6015 or emailbond@amityvilleufsd.org http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162287 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162287 Students Explore Scientific Concepts Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted its annual science fair to showcase the hard work and accomplishments of seventh- and eighth-grade students. With weeks of preparation, students worked individually and in groups to complete their science project. During the school day, students were welcomed to visit the fair to ask their fellow classmates questions about their project. Dressed in lab coats, students stood by their project boards to explain the research and experiment procedure they employed to achieve their outcome. Parents and family members were welcomed to attend the science fair in the evening to admire the students’ creativity and scientific success. To draw the connection between science and technology, students in the LEGO Robotics class were on hand to explain the process of programing a LEGO robot and demonstrated how to make the robot complete tasks. Additionally, students and parents witnessed a live demonstration of a 3-D printer. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162285 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162285 Bond Referendum Video Spanish Version http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162284 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162284 Art Rhythm and Repetition Fifth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in an in-school field trip program entitled, “Rhythm and Repetition: Art, Music and Math,” presented by the Heckscher Museum of Art. During the program, students explored how visual artists create rhythm through repetition of color, shape, line and image. They also learned about mixed mediums while using different color schemes including warm, cool, primary and secondary colors. Professional museum art educators assisted fifth-graders as they created a colorful grid art collage of mixed mediums using construction paper, a glue stick and colored pencils. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162278 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162278 District Welcomes Two New Administrators At its special business meeting on Jan. 21, the Board of Education appointed Evan Farkas to the position of Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health and appointed Dr. Brenda Triplett as the Principal of Northwest Elementary School. Mr. Farkas will assume his duties on Feb. 9, 2016 and Dr. Triplett will officially begin her role on Feb. 22, 2016. Mr. Farkas brings to his new role a wealth of knowledge and experience as an instructional leader, athletic director and teacher. He began his education at Hofstra University where he received a Bachelor of Science in physical education, followed by a Master of Science in sports management from Brooklyn College. He furthered his education at Stony Brook University where he earned his Post-Masters Advanced Graduate Certification in educational leadership. During his eight years at Erasmus Hall Campus High School in Brooklyn, he served in various of roles including assistant principal for supervision and security, athletic director, dean and head of security, and physical education and health teacher. “I am very excited and honored to be joining the Amityville School District,” said Mr. Farkas. “It is clear to me that the Amityville community stands behind its students and student-athletes. I look forward to working collaboratively with the staff, parents, administration, and most importantly, the students. Whether in the classroom, gymnasium, or on the playing field, it is important to place emphasis on hard work, character, and commitment. Therefore, I am committed to continuing the outstanding legacy that exists in Amityville. Go Warriors!” Dr. Triplett received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management and a Master of Science in teaching from Fordham University. Furthering her education, she received her Master of Science in educational administration/staff development from the College of New Rochelle and her Doctor of Education in executive leadership from Saint John Fisher College. In addition, Dr. Triplett holds her New York State Permanent SDA Certification. With extensive experience in elementary education as an instructional leader and teacher, Dr. Triplett previously worked in the Uniondale School District where she served in the capacity of assistant principal at Smith Street School, project director for the Safe Schools Healthy Students initiative, summer school principal for the sixth-grade enrichment program and taught as an elementary ELA and Math teacher. “I believe in the power of collaboration, instructional teaming, and home-school partnerships,” said Dr. Triplett. “It takes vested villagers, not a village, to create scholars. I intend to work tirelessly toward cultivating true partnerships with teachers, parents, and the school community. It is important to me as principal, that our students, parents, and teachers feel pride in being a part of the school community and are equally committed to not only growing our students academically, but socially and emotionally as well.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162281 Tue, 26 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162281 Students Create Book Trailer Using iMovie As part of a class project, students in Jennifer Bisulca’s ninth-grade English Language Arts class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School created book trailers about their independent reading book using iMovie on iPads in the library. Students submitted their trailers through Google Classroom then watched and voted for the trailer they believe was the best. The best submissions were hosted on a Book Trailer Google site organized by school librarian Lynn Cesiro. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162279 Mon, 25 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162279 Amityville Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening schedule, Monday, January 25, 2016. In addition, the AM Pre-K and the morning YMCA program are canceled for Monday. Amityville Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening schedule, Monday, January 25, 2016. In addition, the AM Pre-K and the morning YMCA program are canceled for Monday. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162280 Sun, 24 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162280 Bond Building Tours and Community Forum Planned The Board of Education and administration have announced a series of building tours for community residents, as well as a special community forum, in preparation for the bond vote set for Tuesday, March 8. “We invite all interested residents to take a tour of our buildings to see firsthand the conditions that our students learn in,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly. “It is our hope that as many community members as possible will take the time to tour our facilities, ask questions and become informed of our capital needs before the vote in early March.” The tour schedule is as follows: Saturday, Jan. 30 Northeast Elementary School, 8:30 a.m. Northwest Elementary School, 9:30 a.m. Park Avenue Elementary School, 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1 Northeast Elementary School, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 Northwest Elementary School, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 Park Avenue Elementary School, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 Edmund W. Miles Middle School, 9 a.m. Amityville High School, 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8 Edmund W. Miles Middle School, 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 Amityville High School, 7 p.m. In addition, the district invites all residents to attend a community forum on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Park Avenue Elementary School to learn more about the district’s building needs, the bond proposal and the associated tax impact to residents. During this time, residents will also have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the referendum. The bond vote is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8 from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. at Northeast Elementary School and Amityville High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162276 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162276 Board of Ed Adopts Bond Resolution; Vote Set for March 8 At the Jan. 13 meeting of the Board of Education, the Board supported a resolution to hold a public vote on Tuesday, March 8 to improve and expand district facilities through a bond. The process began in early 2014 with a demographic, enrollment and facilities study by Western Suffolk BOCES and the district’s architect. Studies showed that student enrollment in the district is projected to increase over the next 10 years. While other districts on Long Island are seeing a decrease in enrollment, Amityville is one of the few where enrollment is projected to increase. “This presents an enormous challenge to our district,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly. “Northwest and Northeast elementary schools and Amityville High School are already at full student occupancy. Students are being educated in spaces inappropriate for learning, such as on stages and in converted closets. The district cannot properly accommodate its current population of students, let alone a growing population.” “Our district has made great efforts over the past several years to increase academic rigor for our students,” added Board of Education President Ronald Moss. “We have increased the number of Advanced Placement courses offered to our children, increased our use of technology and continue to focus on STEM initiatives. Updating our facilities to accommodate 21st-century learning is just one part of improving our district for the children of Amityville.” To study the district’s facility needs, the district formed a community committee, comprised of community residents and administrators. The committee met throughout the summer and fall and ultimately presented its recommendations to the Board of Education in mid-November. The proposed bond includes a number of infrastructural improvements to buildings throughout the district that have met or exceeded their life span, such as HVAC systems, masonry and windows. The plan also calls for building expansions at both Northwest Elementary School and Amityville High School to accommodate current and future enrollment needs. “The proposal would allow us to restructure the grade levels within our schools and convert Northeast Elementary School to a full-day prekindergarten center for the community,” said Dr. Kelly. “It would also allow us to move the ninth grade back to Amityville High School, a huge benefit to students and the entire Amityville community.” The total cost of the bond proposition is approximately $69.9 million; however, the district would receive 55.7 percent of the project’s total cost through New York State building aid. While individual assessments may vary, for the average homeowner in the Town of Babylon, the project will cost approximately $242.62 a year or approximately $20.22 a month. For the average homeowner in the Town of Oyster Bay, the project will cost approximately $223.70 per year, or $18.64 per month. The bond vote is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8 from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. at Northeast Elementary School and Amityville High School. Over the course of the next two months, the district will host a community forum and a series of building tours for interested community members. Dates and times will be publicized shortly. “We look forward to meeting with community residents so that they can become informed about our current facility challenges and how the proposed plan addresses these needs,” Dr. Kelly said. Para ver la versión de este artículo en español, por favor haga clic aquí. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162274 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162274 Students Learn to Step Up and Speak Out Against Bullying As part of the school’s character education program, sixth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School received an informative lesson from Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) representatives on the importance of stepping up and speaking out against bullying. As a two-part lesson, students first watched a 20-minute video that demonstrated the harmful effects of bullying and ways to stand up against bullying. The following day, a CAPS representative visited their classroom and engaged the students in a conversation about the proper actions and protocol to take when faced with a bullying situation. Students discussed positive choices they can make and learned to STEP UP, an acronym for stick up for others, travel in groups, explore choices, practice confidence, plan ahead and use humor. The representative also explained the difference between teasing and bullying and read the Dignity for All Students Act, a New York State law that protects all students from discrimination, intimidation, harassment and bullying on public school property. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162275 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162275 Chorus Students Perform at BOE Meeting http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162295 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162295 Student Programs Robot to Solve Rubik’s Cube Raiphy Jerez, a ninth-grade student at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, programmed his LEGO Robotics robot to solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than three minutes. As part of an enrichment project for his LEGO Robotics class, Jerez, along with assistance from teacher Ron Weber, conducted extensive research to identify the algorithms and programming sensors necessary for the robot to solve the Rubik’s Cube. Having the ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube himself in less than a minute, Jerez said “I know how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, so I wanted to see if I could teach something else to do it.” To watch the Jerez’s robot solve the Rubik’s Cube, check out the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIBut7pyOcE. For his next project, Jerez plans to build a LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robot that stands on two wheels. The Mindstorms EV3 is an advanced design robot that requires specific sensors to maintain its balance while moving on two wheels. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162268 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162268 Empowered Through Music Long Island teen celebrity and singer/song writer Meredith O’Connor delivered an important message about anti-bullying to seventh- and eighth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. During the 45-minute presentation, O’Connor shared her personal testimony about how she overcame bullying and named the people in her life that helped her along the journey. She shared her inspiration behind some of her most popular songs and performed “The Game,” “Just the Thing” and “Being Me.” She welcomed questions from the students about her experiences with bullying, personal life and success as a singer. Following the assembly, O’Connor signed autographs and took photos with the students. Based on her personal experiences, O’Connor became an advocate for victims of bullying and an anti-bulling spokesperson for thousands of young people in their schools, taking questions and raising awareness about bullying. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162270 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false162270 Troops Receive Crafts Created By Northeast Students During the school’s Holiday Family Fun Night, students at Northeast School and their families created a variety of crafts that were packaged and sent to troops in Afghanistan. The troops received the packages and took a photo with the colorful holiday mural and letter the students made. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162272 Tue, 29 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162272 2015 Amityville Boys Varsity Season Awards Josue Martinez (Senior): All-State, Newsday All-Long Island Player, Small Schools Player of the Year, All-County, All-Conference, Nassau vs. Suffolk All-Star player Juan Salazar (Senior): State Finals MVP, All-Conference Kevin Ramirez (Senior): All-Conference, 10+ Shoutouts Award, Nassau vs. Suffolk All-Star player Haubry Gomez (Senior): Academic All-County, All-League Rolman Guardado (Freshman): All-League Mike Abbondondolo along with Assistant Chris Gannon and Assistant Michael Abbondondolo Sr. (Papa Mike): Suffolk Coach of the Year, Long Island Coach of the Year, MSG Varsity (Tri-State) Coach of the Year Playoff Run to becoming State Champions! Beat Shoreham Wading River on PK's (4-3) Beat John Glenn (#2 in the State) 3-2 Double Overtime Beat Harborfields 3-0 to win Suffolk County Final Beat Floral Park 1-0 Double Overtime to win Long Island Championship Beat Grand Island (#1 in the state) 3-2 in State Semi-Finals Beat Pearl River (#3 in the state) 2-0 to win the State Championship http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162271 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162271 Taking Part in the Holiday Magic In collaboration with the Christmas Magic organization, a non-profit dedicated to collecting toys, gifts and donations for the homeless and children in need on Long Island, members of the WAC PAC Club at Amityville Memorial High School helped bring holiday magic to the lives of 84 children at the Middle Island Caring for Kids/Lifeline Mediation Center. Each WAC PAC member received a letter with the name of the child, age and the three items he or she had on their wish list. Under the advisement of Jason McGowan, students were given $100, provided by the Christmas Magic organization, and participated in a shopping trip to Target where they purchased items on the wish lists. For three days after school, students wrapped the presents they purchased with decorate paper and ribbons. The organization picked up the wrapped gifts and delivered them to the children at the center. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162269 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162269 Sharing Holiday Happiness As part of an annual community service trip, 30 members of the Amityville Memorial High School Key Club, along with advisor Dawn Mizrachi, visited residents at the Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Amityville on Dec. 15. While at the center, students sang carols, distributed handmade holiday cards and played games with the residents. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162267 Mon, 21 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162267 Amityville Athletes Honored by the Suffolk County Legislature! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162266 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162266 Book Fairies Fly to Northwest With a wave of their wands, members of The Book Fairies organization arrived at Northwest School with hundreds of free books for first-, second- and third-grade students on Dec. 4. Since 2012, The Book Fairies, a non-for-profit organization that collects and distributes reading materials for people in need through metropolitan New York, has donated a quarter of a million new and gently used books. Prior to each of the four free book fairs the organization hosts a year, a reading specialist levels the books to ensure they are grade-appropriate. While visiting the free book fair with their classmates, students circulated the room to decide which books they wanted to take home. Assisted by members from the organization, each student selected two books and received a bookmark. “We want to help kids build their own home libraries,” said The Book Fairies Founder Amy Zaslansky. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162265 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162265 Holiday Family Fun Night http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162261 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162261 Girls Volleyball ‘Spike’ of Success The evening was a celebration of athletic success as members of the Amityville Memorial High School varsity volleyball team and their coach were honored during the Suffolk County Girls Volleyball Coaches Association Awards Dinner held at The East Wind on Dec. 7. At the awards reception, varsity coach Jenna Ellis was named the League VI Varsity Coach of the Year for the 2015 season. Additionally, senior Christina Dexter and junior Destiny Knox were recipients of the All-League award and senior Katherine Eastwood received Honorable Mention. The district extends its congratulations to Coach Jenna Ellis and team members Ashley Colas, Angela Cruz, Christina Dexter, Mary Dexter, Katherine Eastwood, Victoria Erwat, Kayla Jacobs, Destiny Knox and Tianna Rookwood on a successful season. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162263 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162263 PEAK Performance Six fourth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were selected to participate in the seventh annual Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s Parents, Educators and Kids Festival held at Northport High School. Selected by teacher recommendations, students Ayden Catron, Margaret Catron, Alanna Gayle, Madeline Shingleton, Caylen Williams and Z’Nya Williams joined other fourth-graders from across Suffolk County to attend this unique music learning experience. During the event, students participated in three 45-minute workshops based on diverse music and dance styles including African drumming, singing games, folk dance, musical theater and improvisation. To conclude the event, students were called to the stage by their clinician to perform and share what they learned. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162260 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162260 Amityville Wrestling Tournament Highlights During the first weekend in December, the Amityville Memorial High School wrestling program hosted the Lonnie Kittle Wrestling Tournament. Congratulations to the Amityville wrestlers who placed in the top six in their respective weight classes. Omar Asadbey – 6th place @ HWT Jah-Shante Creary – 6th place @ 182 lbs. Denis Douglas – 4th place @ 182 lbs. Abdul Granville – 6th place @ 152 lbs. Deziah Guerrier – 3rd place @ 113 lbs. Justin King – 5th place @HWT Jihad Marshall – 3rd place @ 106 lbs. Steven Moran – Tournament champion @ 195 lbs. Victor Tavarez – 2nd place @ 99 lbs. Jamori Walrond – 6th place @ 132 lbs. Deonte Wilson – Tournament champion @ 220 lbs. Thanks to all who supported these young men. The Amityville wrestling team will travel to Deer Park on Friday, Dec. 11 for a non-league dual meet. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162258 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162258 Track Athlete Sets a New Record On Saturday, Dec. 5, Amityville Memorial High School student-athlete Tysheem Griffin broke the school record in the 60-meter dash with a finish time of 00:7.22. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162259 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162259 Cultural Exchange Experience In an effort to expose students to diversity among their peers, 40 members of the Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club (WAC PAC) participated in a Cultural Exchange Program where they visited students at Sayville High School for an entire school day. To kick off the day, Amityville students enjoyed a breakfast and participated in various icebreaker activities with Sayville students. Amityville students were paired with students in the Golden Flashes Leadership Club at Sayville High School and followed their counterpart’s school schedule. All the students reunited for a Thanksgiving feast and both Amityville and Sayville students shared their experience with the group. “By immersing students in another school’s culture, they are provided the opportunity to broaden their view of people who are different from themselves, and hopefully become more accepting of others,” said WAC PAC advisor Jason McGowan. In April, Amityville Memorial High School will host Sayville students for the program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162257 Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162257 Give Thanks For Books In an effort to provide students with the resources to help foster a love for reading, Edmund W. Miles Middle School hosted its annual free book fair, with this year’s theme “Give Thanks for Books.” To gather books for the event, librarian Lynn Cesiro collected gently used donated books from The Book Fairies organization, discarded books from the Oceanside Public Library, the library in her community and the Carle Place High School as well as other sources. During parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 19, students and their parents were able to select one free book from the fair. Students visited the fair with their English classes and had the opportunity selected books until the day before Thanksgiving break. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162255 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162255 Supporting No Shave November As part of the “No Shave November” challenge, administrators and teachers at Edmund W. Miles Middle School raised more than $300 to donate to a teacher in the district who was diagnosed with cancer. According to No-Shave.org, No-Shave November is a web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research and education. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162254 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162254 Teaching Children to Save In an effort to foster students’ abilities to develop sound spending and saving habits, fifth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in a financial literacy lesson led by representatives from Valley National Bank on Nov. 19-20. During the lesson, fifth-graders heard a story about twin brothers, one a “spender” and the other a “saver.” After listening to the story, students complete a worksheet that calculated how much each twin earned, saved and spent. Following the lesson, representatives answered students’ questions about their careers in the financial services industry and ways to save money at a young age. Through the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children to Save Program, students receive an age-appropriate education lesson designed to meet educational standards in personal finance and reinforce concepts being taught in math, language arts and other disciplines. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162250 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162250 Amityville's Playoff Run http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162251 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162251 Naval Academy Student Visits EWMMS Alessandra Altruda, a Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School alumna, visited students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School to share her experiences as a Naval Academy student. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162252 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162252 Milk and Bookies As part of the literacy team’s Milk and Bookies program, spearheaded by librarian Lynn Cesiro, students in the Liberty Partnership program at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, along with advisor Bea Polaski, helped prepare for the Give Thanks for Books Free Book Fair. In return for their hard work, students were rewarded with a bag full of goodies including milk and cookies. These students were also first to select a book from the Free Book Fair. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162253 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162253 WAC PAC Participates in Zombie Run Members of the Amityville Memorial High School WAC PAC, along with teacher Jason McGowan, participated in a Zombie Run. Pictured are Zah-Niyah Jerrick, Frankie Pryz, Jason McGowan, Trey and Renee McGowan and Mrs. Pryz http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162249 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162249 Awareness Weekend More than 120 students and faculty members spent a total of 30 hours at Amityville Memorial High School for the school’s Awareness Weekend on Nov. 13-14, an event designed to give participants an opportunity to learn about their peers and express themselves in a comfortable atmosphere. The weekend, organized by Jason McGowan and Barbara Lynch, kicked off on Friday afternoon with keynote speaker Jamel Hudson, who delivered a message of hope and inspiration realized through working hard, setting goals, taking a stand against bullying and never giving up. Later that evening, four Amityville students shared their stories of adversity with the group and what they did to overcome those hardships. During the program, students were put into “family groups,” where they talked about the guest speakers, participated in activities to get to know each other and performed skits to present to the rest of the group. “Being in family group with kids I wasn’t really close to gave me an opportunity to connect with people I never thought I would have anything in common with,” said senior John Jack. “When we left that Saturday night, I felt like we were a real family.” On Saturday morning, students enjoyed a breakfast provided by the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council and listened to guest speaker Ann Marie Da’Liso who shared the story of her son’s suicide. As a former gang member, guest speaker Hashim Garrett spoke about his trials and tribulations, living life paralyzed from the waist down after being shot. He connected with the students, and his message of forgiveness resonated with the group. “I had one of the best weekends of my life and I was very sad when it was over,” said senior facilitator Jonas Archer. “I didn’t realize that spending 30 hours with my classmates and teachers could bring us as close as it did. I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162248 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162248 Veterans Return to School In honor of Veterans Day, Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School held Veterans Day events to celebrate the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States military. Coordinated by middle school Social Studies Chairperson Jaclyn O’Hagan, EWMMS hosted its first Take a Vet to School Day on Nov. 10. Local veterans in the community were welcomed to the school to share their experiences while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to the event, students prepared questions in their social studies classes to ask the veterans. Veterans described the branch of military in which they served, answered the students’ questions, and displayed photos and souvenirs from their years of service. Toward the end of the visit, students had the opportunity to ask for the veterans’ autographs and thank them for visiting the class. Each veteran received a patriotic thank-you card created by a member of the National Junior Honor Society. AMHS hosted Veterans Return to School Day, organized by high school Social Studies Chairperson Dawn Mizrachi, on Nov. 13, during which more than 20 local veterans were welcomed to the school to speak with students in their social studies classes. During the 45-minute class period, veterans shared stories about their time in the service and answered students’ questions. Students created colorful cards to thank the veterans for their service, and a select group of students enjoyed one-on-one time with the veterans during a special luncheon. Photos from the Middle School Photos from the High School http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162245 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162245 Boys Varsity Soccer Team Named State Champions Congratulations to the Amityville Warriors boys varsity soccer team for claiming the title of Class A State Champions during their game in Middletown, NY against the Pearl River Pirates on Nov. 15. With a final score of 2-0, the Amityville team clinched its first Class A soccer state champion title. Highlights from the game included player Josue Martinez’s involvement in both goals, as he set up the first while finishing the second. He fed the ball to player Oscar Hernandez to take the lead in the 20th minute. Martinez then sealed the victory in the 73rd minute, depositing the ball into the back of the net. Congratulations on this great accomplishment and a terrific season! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162244 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 07:00:00 GMT false162244 Letters to Local Veteran In honor of Veterans Day, students in Dana Herz’s second-grade class at Northwest Elementary School read the book, “The Wall” by Eve Bunting. Following the read aloud, students wrote and sent letters to veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162243 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162243 Children Educated on Career Options Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School opened its doors to parent volunteers and local business professionals representing a wide array of occupations in order to have them speak with students about their career paths. Prior to the Nov. 6 event, the school hosted a College and Career Day kickoff assembly, which featured a keynote speaker, a slideshow presentation and a raffle for college prizes. On the day of the event, students heard from professionals including Legislator DuWayne Gregory, an architect, a Major League Soccer player, police officers, a nursing manager, a News 12 videographer, a radio personality from 106.1 BLI, pharmacists and financial consultants. Coordinated by school counselor Kim Balducci, PAMES’ Career Day was designed to offer students information and the requirements needed to pursue future careers. Through their interesting and engaging presentations, parent volunteers and local business professionals opened students’ eyes and introduced them to occupations with which they might not have been familiar. The guest speakers not only captivated students with their presentations, but also shared personal stories and dispensed practical advice. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162240 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162240 Diversity in Dance with a Latin Twist http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162241 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162241 Astounding Artists The district is proud to announce that the artwork of Amityville Memorial High School senior Jeoprey Delos Santos and junior Kenyi Zelaya was selected for display in a statewide student art exhibit at the New York State School Boards Association Conference, held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel from Oct. 18-20. The exhibit, co-sponsored by the New York State Art Teachers Association and NYSSBA, was established as a way to highlight student achievement in the visual arts across the state. The exhibit demonstrates a high level of student ability at every grade level in a range of media, techniques and genres. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162239 Wed, 11 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162239 Boys Soccer Team Plays in Middletown Congratulations to the high school boys varsity soccer team for claiming the title of Suffolk County and Long Island Class A Champions! The soccer team will play Grand Island High School on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:15 a.m. at Middletown High School, 24 Gardner Ave. Extension, Middletown, NY, at the Faller Field Complex. Please Note: Only if the soccer team wins on Saturday, Nov. 14 will the team advance and play on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 12:30 p.m. at the Faller Field Complex. Lets Go Warriors! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162237 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162237 Boys Varsity Team Claims LI Championship For the first time in the history of Amityville athletics, the high school varsity boys soccer team claimed the title of Long Island Champions. During their Class A championship game at Farmingdale State on Nov. 8, Amityville defeated Floral Park with a final score of 1-0. In a close finish, freshman Rolman Guardado clinched the championship with his winning goal during double overtime. Congratulations to the Warriors varsity boys soccer team on this extraordinary accomplishment! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162238 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162238 Flowers of Friendship As part of its character education program, Northwest Elementary School held its Character Counts Spirit Week from Oct. 19-23. Throughout the week, students were encouraged to wear a different color that represented a positive character trait. Each day offered a new theme for students to show off their best Character Counts spirit; in addition to “Golden Rule Monday” and “True Blue Tuesday,” students wore orange for “Bully-Free Wednesday,” green for “Responsibility Thursday” and red on “Fabulous Friday” to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Character Counts-themed lessons were incorporated into classroom instruction as well as in art, music and library specials. Students participated in activities that reinforced good behavior and bullying prevention. During art classes, teacher Lydia Robinson read “The Little Bully” by Beth Bracken. Following the story, students discussed ways to be a good friend. Each student received a flower petal on which to write his or her name and one character trait that represents a good friend, and to illustrate that trait. The petals were arranged in the shape of a flower on a stem and displayed in the hallway. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162235 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162235 Varsity Boys Soccer Team vs. Harborfields in the Suffolk County Finals - November 5, 2015 The Amityville Varsity Boys Soccer Team will meet Harborfields in the Suffolk County Finals @ Dowling Sports Complex. The game will be played on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, at 4 P.M. The address is 1300, William Floyd Pkwy. Shirley,N.Y. 11967. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162236 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162236 Literary Pumpkin Creations As a fun extracurricular project for Halloween, students at Northwest Elementary School worked collectively with their parents and family members at home to decorate a pumpkin inspired by their favorite storybook. Some of the book characters the students’ pumpkin creations represented include Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin,” “Batman,” the girl from the story “Pinkalicious,” Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan “Sully” from “Monster, Inc.” and a minion from the book “Minions.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162233 Mon, 02 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162233 A Happy Halloween http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162234 Mon, 02 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162234 Hispanic Heritage Celebration Kindergarten students at Northeast School celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a musical performance for family and friends on Oct. 15. In the weeks leading up to the celebration, teachers worked with students to research and create a poster about a famous Hispanic celebrity. In an effort to promote family participation, students and parents were asked to create a poster that represents their family heritage. These posters were put on display in the gymnasium for the performance and hung throughout the school building. During the performance, kindergartners sang “Mi Cuerpo Hace Música” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” in Spanish and English. While showcasing their colorful poster, teachers and students from each class shared information about the Hispanic celebrity the class researched. To conclude the event, students performed a choreographed dance to the song “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162228 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162228 Bond Committee to Present Recommendations At the Nov. 12 Amityville Board of Education business meeting, the district’s bond committee, comprised of district administrators and community residents, will present their recommendations to the Board regarding capital improvements for the district’s schools. The meeting will begin at 7 pm at Park Avenue Elementary School. “The bond committee has worked very hard over the course of the past several months to study our facility needs and how they relate to anticipated student enrollment growth,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly. “The committee’s recommendations will serve as a starting point for the Board’s discussion regarding the improvements that will ultimately be presented to the community for a public vote.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162232 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162232 Student Video Promotes Anti-Bullying At the October Board of Education meeting, students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School presented their Students United for Safe Schools bullying awareness video. Following the presentation, students were presented with a certificate for playing an active role in bully prevention. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162227 Thu, 29 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162227 2015 Homecoming Warrior Pride Warrior pride filled the community as the district held its annual homecoming parade and game on Oct. 24. Community members, beaming in red and black, filled the bleachers at Lou Howard Field in support of the Amityville Warriors varsity football team as they took on the East Islip Redmen. To kick off the celebration, the community was treated to a parade of colorful class floats and vibrant banners representing school clubs, music programs and sport teams. Members of the Board of Education, district administrators and the high school marching band helped lead the parade through the town and onto the field. At 3 p.m., the Warriors took on East Islip, but despite their best efforts, Amityville fell short of a homecoming victory. During halftime, members of the homecoming court were announced and homecoming king Elijah Duff and queen Zah-Niyah Jerrick were crowned. The crowd was also treated to performances by the high school cheerleading team and marching band. Please enjoy a slideshow of photos from the homecoming festivities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162230 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162230 Boys Varsity Soccer Team Playoff Game On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Amityville Memorial High School boys varsity soccer team will take on Shoreham-Wading River in the playoff game. The game will be played on the field at Shoreham-Wading River High School at 2 p.m. Please come out and show your support for the Warriors! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162231 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162231 CAPS Off for Bullying Prevention Fourth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in a two-session multimedia workshop designed to promote empathy and build social skills and assertiveness when interacting with classmates and dealing with conflict resolution. Child Abuse Prevention Services, a nonprofit organization, presented the program in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month. During the lessons, CAPS representatives engaged the students in discussions and stories aimed at teaching kids to steer clear of bullying. In addition to hands-on activities, the presenters used the classroom Smart Boards and played an anti-bullying DVD for the fourth-grade classes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162225 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162225 Newsday Marching Band Festival On Monday Oct. 19, the Amityville Memorial High School marching band provided an outstanding performance of their halftime show, “A Tribute to Bruno Mars,” at the 2015 Newsday Marching Festival. Held at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale, the regional marching band festival featured bands from across Nassau and Suffolk counties. The district congratulates high school band director Brian Wishin, drum majors Torriann Christie, Graciela Rivera and Jose Coto, and associate drum majors Shiloh Bennett, Terrance Hinds and Kenneth Dinnoo for their leadership efforts in preparation of the festival performance. To view a video of the performance, please visit the below link: http://www.msgvarsity.com/long-island/amityville-2015-newsday-marching-band-festival-1.1738372 To view photos from the event, please visit the below link: http://www.newsday.com/services/programs/marching-bands/newsday-marching-band-festival-2015-amityville-1.10972870 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162226 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162226 Vote for your Favorite Homecoming Float! After viewing the floats, please use the link below to vote for your favorite! http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AMHShomecomingFLOAT Voting poll closes at midnight on Monday evening. The winner of the float building competition will be announced on Tuesday October 27, 2015. Please note: The electronic survey system will only register one vote from each electronic device of IP address. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162229 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162229 Spanish Jeopardy Across the district, students and teachers are participating in activities that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. At Edmund W. Miles Middle School, seventh-graders in Virginia Meric-Mallia’s, Lisa Powers’ and Maria Calderon’s Spanish classes put their knowledge to the test as they participated in “Spanish Jeopardy.” Coordinated by the foreign language teachers and school librarian Lynn Cesiro, students worked collaboratively in teams to answer “Jeopardy”-style questions that pertained to the following categories: objects in a classroom, musical instruments, days of the week/month and sports. In addition, ninth-grade Spanish language students researched a positive Hispanic role model and presented their projects during class. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162223 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162223 Strides of Support Members of the Edmund W. Miles Middle School student council, accompanied by advisor Allyson Kretz, took strides to support breast cancer awareness at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Amityville Beach on Oct. 18. In addition, the entire Amityville Memorial High School varsity football team attended the walk to show their support. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162222 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162222 Senior Awareness Day To celebrate the graduating Class of 2016, Amityville Memorial High School held its annual Senior Awareness Day trip on Oct. 14. The day kicked off with a senior breakfast and icebreaker activities in the cafeteria. Students moved onto the football field, where they engaged in games with members of their “family group.” Accompanied by Senior Day coordinator and Warrior Awareness Club advisor Jason McGowan, seniors headed to Amityville Beach, where they ate lunch and participated in recreational activities such as basketball, cornhole, soccer and KanJam. The day concluded with family group competitions, including a mummy wrap and tug-of-war. “I loved Senior Awareness Day,” said high school senior Vika Hermann. “I had the chance to hang out with my friends and get to know a few seniors in my family group who I didn’t know too well before today.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162221 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162221 Rhythms of Hispanic Heritage In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Northwest Elementary School hosted its annual Hispanic Heritage event on Oct. 13, during which students and their families enjoyed music, dancing, artwork and food that celebrate Hispanic culture. To kick off the evening’s festivities, Principal Vincent Todisco offered words of welcome and expressed the pride he possesses for his heritage. “It is with much pride that I welcome you, because I could not be more proud of my culture along with all the traditions and values I grew up with,” he said. “It is wonderful to celebrate my culture and all the other cultures with you here tonight.” Coordinator and second-grade teacher Melissa Asbell introduced guest presenter Alfred Pena, founder of social Latin dance studio Rhythmology. In his presentation, Pena shared the history of the salsa, mambo and bachata and demonstrated the different movements and rhythms of each style. Parents and students were welcomed to dance along with Pena as he led the group through simple bachata steps. The event continued with traditional Hispanic cuisine served by staff and members of the National Junior Honor Society. The dinner featured a variety of foods and desserts, including rice, empanadas, quesadillas and coconut bread pudding. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162220 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162220 Students Explore College Opportunities The guidance department at Amityville Memorial High School sponsored a college fair on Oct. 8 to educate students and their parents on academic opportunities after high school. More than 100 colleges, universities and trade schools were present to provide students with further insight of their options after graduation. Many students attended the fair to gather more information on prospective schools and speak with representatives. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162218 Fri, 16 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162218 Boys Varsity Soccer Team Advances to Playoffs The Warriors high school varsity soccer team clinched a spot in the playoffs after defeating Comsewogue on Oct. 13. With a final score of 2-1, the game-winning goal was scored by Amityville freshman Rolman Guardado in overtime. Guardado’s impressive goal was featured in Newsday, which can be viewed at the link below. http://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/boys-soccer/amityville-s-rolman-guardado-makes-first-varsity-goal-count-1.10967793 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162219 Fri, 16 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162219 AP Student Achievement Amityville Memorial High School students continue to achieve academic excellence in the classroom and on exams while enrolled in the district’s most challenging courses of study. As a result of this commitment, the College Board recognized 12 current students and Class of 2015 graduates as Advanced Placement Scholars. Amityville 2015 graduates Yundai Hu and Alexyss Robinson were named AP Scholars with Distinction for earning average scores of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The recognition of being named an AP Scholar with Honor was given to Class of 2015 graduates Edward Friske and Julia Wood, who received 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. Eight past and current students were named AP Scholars based on earning scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. These students are: Andrew Abate, Ebony Derr, Aidan McGlone, Harshil Patel, Xavier Phillips, Josue Reyes, Casey Terbaniesingh and Joselyn Umana. The AP Program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. Although there is no monetary award in addition to receiving an award certificate, this achievement is acknowledged on any score report that is sent to colleges the following fall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162216 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162216 Bully Awareness Project http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162217 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162217 Network with NASA Students at Amityville Memorial High School participated in NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Journey to Mars Education event, called “So You Want to Be a Martian.” The event featured a live video chat with NASA experts and actors from the new movie “The Martian.” During the digital learning program, students were educated on various facts about NASA as it prepares for humans’ first steps on Mars in the 2030s. The event also featured a curated panel discussion with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, NASA Planetary Science Division Director Dr. Jim Green, a NASA astronaut, a NASA botanist and two stars from “The Martian.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162215 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162215 Former Amityville Athletes Inducted into Sports Hall of Fame It was an evening to celebrate past accomplishments and reminisce about high school memories as former Amityville School District athletes and their families came together to attend the 2015 Sports Hall of Fame, held in the high school gymnasium. After a welcome from Master of Ceremonies Bruce Pescitelli and an invocation and blessing by Reverend Dwayne Meadows, the Board of Directors and distinguished guests were introduced. Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Reynolds Hawkins then explained the purpose and importance of the Sports Hall of Fame as an organization to inspire present and future athletes. The following athletes were inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame: Jessica Thole Bernius – field hockey – Class of 1962 Curtis Hollomon – football and track – Class of 1994 Edmond Jones – soccer, basketball and track – Class of 1989 William “Billy” Maisel (coach/athlete) – wrestling – Class of 1989 Dale Pescitelli – football and wrestling – Class of 1975 Tristan Smith – football and basketball – Class of 2001 Fred Thompson – basketball and track – Class of 1982 Ernest “Ernie” Wyatt (sports contributor) – wrestling – Class of 1989 In addition, members of the 1946 and 1947 girls hockey team, as well as the 2001 and 2002 New York State boys track team, were also honored. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162213 Thu, 08 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162213 Collaborating Together at Community Forum Following this year’s Superintendent’s Conference Day theme of “Planning for Excellence,” the district hosted its first annual community forum on Oct. 1. The well-attended event kicked off with a “Taste of Amityville,” organized by the Amityville Parent Teacher Council. Community residents were welcomed to enjoy a variety of catered foods sponsored by more than 10 restaurants and eateries in the Amityville area. Coordinated jointly by the Amityville Teachers’ Association and Amityville Administrators’ Association, the event featured a “Gallery Walk” which included a diverse representation of academic displays, student writing and art pieces and information about different programs throughout the district. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly provided words of welcome and enlightenment of the bright future and vision for the Amityville School District. In her address, Dr. Kelly noted that student achievement, a positive culture, and community and family connection are essential in their strategic plan. Leading the next portion of the event was Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Mary O’Meara who welcomed members of the Board of Education administrators, faculty, students and community residents to participate in a “world café.” Seated at tables, students led their table in a discussion on three questions that correlated to the three fundamental concepts Dr. Kelly mentioned. Following each question, students volunteered to share what was discussed at their table. Please enjoy a slide show of photos from the community forum. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162212 Mon, 05 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162212 Homecoming Rescheduled As a result of the weather forecast for this weekend, the homecoming parade has been rescheduled. The new date is Saturday, October 24, 2015. The Homecoming parade will begin at 1:30 PM and the football game will begin at 3 PM. Please note that any decisions regarding this weekend's football game will be made in conjunction with Section XI no later than Saturday morning and communicated accordingly. As it stands right now, the football game against Rocky Point is still on for Saturday. Como resultado del pronostico meteorológico para este fin de semana, el desfile de bienvenida ha sido aplazado. La nueva fecha será el sábado, 24 de octubre del 2015. El desfile comenzará a las 1:30 de la tarde y el partido de fútbol americano contra East Islip comenzará a las 3:00 de la tarde Por favor tenga en cuenta que cualquier decisión sobre el partido de fútbol americano este sábado será determinado por el distrito en conjunto con la oficina de Sección XI no más tarde que el sábado en la mañana y se les comunicara. Por el momento, el partido de fútbol americano contra Rocky Point sigue programado para el sábado. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162210 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162210 Senior Claims Gold at INAS Global Games The district is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School senior Tysheem Griffin placed first in the 200-meter race and earned second place in the 100-meter race at the 2015 International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability Global Games held in Quito, Ecuador. Congratulations to Tysheem and varsity track coach Reynolds Hawkins on their success at the Global Games! Please enjoy this video of Tysheem during his 200-meter race. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162209 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162209 Celebrating Grandparents In honor of National Grandparents Day, grandparents of students at Northeast School were invited into their grandchild’s classroom to read a story and participate in various activities to celebrate the day. According to Legacyproject.org, the purposes of National Grandparents Day is to honor grandparents, give grandparents the opportunity to show love for their children’s children and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can provide. “It takes a whole family and community to help our children succeed,” said Northeast School Principal Dr. Pauline Collins. “It is important for everyone to be involved in that learning process and for the school to maintain a close partnership between school and home.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162207 Tue, 29 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162207 Musical Excellence As a result of their outstanding performances at the New York State School Music Association solo and ensemble festivals held last spring, Amityville Memorial High School seniors Shiloh Bennett and Kristian Morgan have been selected to sing in the mixed chorus at the 2015 NYSCAME/SCMEA All-County Music Festival in November. Students were chosen based on their proficiency score achieved at the festival and teacher recommendations. At the All-County Festival, Bennett and Morgan will perform with the top high school junior and senior student-vocalists from across Suffolk County. The district extends its congratulations to both seniors on this exceptional achievement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162206 Fri, 25 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162206 Students Partner with Pinwheels for Peace As a sign of unity and solidarity, Amityville Memorial High School students, teachers and administrators took part in a “Pinwheels for Peace” ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Peace and promote their commitment to world peace initiatives on Sept. 21. Coordinated by art teacher and National Art Honor Society advisor Jayne Grasso, the ceremony included special student performances by members of the NAHS reading original poetry and singing songs that promote peace. Gathered on the high school’s front lawn, participants planted colorful pinwheels in the ground, creating the shape of a peace sign. “While promoting peace through music, art and poetry, students can contribute to our society,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. Please click here to view highlights of the Pinwheels for Peace ceremony featured on News 12 Long Island. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162205 Tue, 22 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162205 In Honor of Patriot Day To commemorate 9/11, students in Dana Herz’s second-grade class at Northwest School created a Patriot Day Book, in which they provided examples of how to be a good citizen at home, at school and in their community. In addition, students constructed American flag hats and ribbons to show remembrance to all of the heroic first responders, lost lives and families left behind on that momentous day in history. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162203 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162203 The NE Annual Grandparents Day which was originally scheduled for 9/18 had been RESCHEDULED for 9/22 10:00am-11:00am for morning Pre-K session 1:30pm-2:30pm for afternoon Pre-K Session 10:am-2:30pm for Kindergarten http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162204 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162204 Community Forum – All Invited! District residents are invited to a community forum on Thursday, October 1 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Amityville Memorial High School. During the forum, district administrators will share the programmatic initiatives happening around the district and also gather feedback from community members to help shape the district's strategic plan. The forum will include dinner; displays from academic, athletic, and music departments; and an opportunity to participate in discussions with teachers, administrators, and members of the Board of Education. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for dinner and childcare will be provided. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162202 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162202 Celebrating our Heroes http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162200 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162200 First Days Smiles for Students Students throughout the district kicked off the 2015-16 school year with excitement and smiles on September 1, as the district welcomed students back following summer break. From pre-kindergarten students at Northeast Elementary School to members of the Class of 2016 who are beginning their senior year, the first day was a time for students to reconnect with friends, settle into their new routine and become familiar with the opportunities that await them this year. The district wishes all students a successful, enriching and wonderful year ahead! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162194 Wed, 02 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162194 Student-Athlete Qualifies for INAS Games Tysheem Griffin, a senior at Amityville Memorial High School, has qualified to compete in the 2015 International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability Global Games held in Quito, Ecuador, in late September. The INAS Global Games occur every four years and are a celebration of international competition and sportsmanship for nearly 1,000 elite athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 35 countries. To qualify for the competition, athletes must meet the eligibility criteria and performance times, competing at a high level in their sport. For the fourth INAS Global Games, para-athletes have the opportunity to compete for the world championship in nine sports – athletics, basketball, cycling, futsal, rowing, swimming, tennis, taekwondo and tennis table. The district extends its congratulations to Tysheem Griffin and Boys Track Coach Reynolds Hawkins and wishes them the best of luck at the INAS Global Games! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162197 Tue, 01 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162197 Supplying School Supplies On Aug. 31, the Amityville Teachers’ Association hosted their annual welcome back bash at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. Sponsored by the ATA and coordinated by teacher Kathleen Thorn, members of the teachers’ association and volunteers distributed backpacks and school supplies including glue sticks, pens, pencils and notebooks to help students prepare for the new school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162198 Tue, 01 Sep 2015 03:00:00 GMT false162198 A ‘Super’ Conference Day While students were enjoying their last day of summer, district administrators, teachers and staff members gathered to participate in the district’s annual Superintendent’s Conference Day on Aug. 31. Congregated in the Amityville Memorial High School auditorium, staff members from the district’s five school buildings were a captive audience as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly extended words of welcome and introduced members of the Board of Education, building administrators and new faculty. In her address, Dr. Kelly provided a recap of accomplishments from the 2014-15 school year and discussed the new and expanding academic and extracurricular programs that have been implemented for the 2015-16 school year. Following warm remarks by Board of Education President Ronald Moss, the audience was treated to keynote addresses from Carlton S. Ashby, an educational speaker focused on developing the internal motivation of 21st-century students, and Dr. John W. Hodge, an educational consultant and co-founder of the Urban Learning and Leadership Center. “The positive energy that everyone brings to the first day of school is really contagious, as we recommit ourselves and join together for one common purpose: the academic, social and emotional well-being of our children,” said Dr. Kelly. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162195 Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT false162195 Seventh-Graders Transition to Middle School Students entering seventh grade received warm greetings from faculty and administration at Edmund W. Miles Middle School’s seventh-grade orientation on Aug. 27. During the orientation, parents and students listened to Principal Edward Plaia and Assistant Principal Kristy Middleton speak about what to expect at the middle school, building policies, and the various clubs and music and athletic programs the school offers. Following the presentation, the soon-to-be seventh-graders received their class schedules and had the opportunity to roam the halls to familiarize themselves with their new school building. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162193 Mon, 31 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162193 District Welcomes Newest Educators As an official kickoff to the 2015-16 school year, the district hosted its annual new teacher orientation on Aug. 24 to welcome new faculty members. Following breakfast, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly offered welcoming remarks and introduced district administrators and Board of Education members. Board President Ronald Moss addressed the audience to share some of his personal experience in the district and provide sage words of advice. “I started here, graduated from here, left and came back,” said Moss. “Life is an experience. I tell everyone that if you treat it as such, you will have an experience with these students.” District administrators led presentations on topics including teacher certification, technology in the schools and the Annual Professional Performance Review process. To help familiarize them with the area, the new faculty were given a bus tour of the district’s five school buildings. Following the tour, they met with the principals at their respective schools to discuss building goals and procedures and receive a building tour and schedule. “I believe that each of you has the passion, drive and commitment to take our district and our students to the next level of achievement,” said Dr. Kelly. “I am very confident in your ability to be a champion for our children and know that you will make a positive contribution to our schools and community.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162190 Fri, 28 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162190 Now available Individual Students Reports on the Parent Portal Individual Student Reports are available for students in the 3rd through 8th grade who took the 2014-15 ELA and Math Assessments. Please log onto the Parent Portal https://parentportal.eschooldata.com to view your child’s results along with explanations of the scores. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162188 Thu, 27 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162188 Eligibility for Co-Curricular and Extra -Curricular Activities Policy now available Click here for more information Click here for more information (Spanish) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162189 Thu, 27 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162189 Information About Possible Bond Referendum Click here for more information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162180 Wed, 19 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162180 Robots Ready to Rumble To exercise their knowledge of Lego robotics, more than 30 fourth- through sixth-grade students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in a sumo wrestling competition on Aug. 12. During the district’s 21st Century Community Learning summer enrichment program, students learned to design and program their Lego robots to complete tasks and navigate through different routes. As a culminating activity, students in teams of two programmed their robots to compete in a sumo wrestling competition. Each team, divided into a red group and a blue group, participated in sumo wrestling matches to advance in the tournament. The winning robot from the red and blue groups went head-to-head in the final round, where students Alex and Luca were declared the sumo wrestling robotics champions. “I hope they understand that science and technology can be fun,” said Darleen Peterson, director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162179 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162179 Amityville Students Highlighted on News 12 Click here for more information http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162178 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162178 District calendars will be mailed to families next week Click Here to View the Calendar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162176 Thu, 06 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162176 Summer Program Spells Success Amityville students got a leg up on the coming school year when they participated in the Summer Academy. Held at Northwest, the program ran until the end of July and was operated under the guidance of Principal Vincent Todisco. It provided students with interactive lessons to keep them sharp over the summer break. Northwest librarian Tina Smith led her class of incoming kindergartners through a lesson on sounding out words such as “shark” and “thumb.” She had students color images of those nouns and then post them to their respective sound boards. Students also used Play-Doh to roll out shapes of letters. In Mackenzie Sipp’s class, technology and literacy were combined in an interactive lesson where students took turns to circle key words on a Smart Board with their fingers. The exercise helped kinesthetic learners make deeper connections with words and their starting sounds. The Summer Academy also included weekly field trips that made real-world application to the lessons taught in the classroom. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162175 Thu, 30 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162175 AP Scholars NAME GRADE LEVEL YEAR(S) AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION Yundai Hu 12th Grade AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION 2015 Alexyss Robinson 12th Grade AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION 2015 AP SCHOLARS WITH HONOR Julia Wood 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR 2015 Edward Friske 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR (2014 & 2015) AP SCHOLARS Andrew Abate 11th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Ebony Derr 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Aidan McGlone 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Harshil Patel 11th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Xavier Phillips 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Josue Reyes 12th Grade AP SCHOLAR (2014 & 2015) Casey Terbaniesingh 11th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 Joselyn Umana 11th Grade AP SCHOLAR 2015 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162171 Mon, 13 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162171 Change of Location for July 8, 2015 Board of Education Meeting The Board of Education regular meeting scheduled for July 8, 2015 will now be held at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, located at 140 Park Avenue, in the auditorium. It is anticipated the Board of Education will immediately entertain a motion to enter to Executive Session, and thereafter resume the public meeting at approximately 7:00 PM. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162170 Wed, 08 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162170 New Board Member Takes Oath of Office On July 1, the Amityville Board of Education welcomed Juan Leon as its newest trustee. Mr. Leon took his oath of office alongside re-elected trustee Jeanette Santos at the Board’s annual reorganization meeting. Each is beginning a three-year term, ending on June 30, 2018. Also at the meeting, the Board of Education elected Ronald Moss as its new president, Terry Fulton as the first vice president and Jeanette Santos as the second vice president. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly also took her oath office for the 2015-16 school year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162167 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162167 Free Breakfast and Lunch Program For Kids During Summer Amityville’s summer feeding program is currently underway, with two schools functioning as open sites throughout the summer. On July 30, the feeding program at Northwest Elementary School will finish its final day, serving breakfast from 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. On August 14, Park Avenue Elementary will close out its feeding program, serving breakfast from 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Both programs began on July 6. Earlier this summer, Amityville High School hosted a four-day program for children in the district. The summer feeding program offers free breakfast and lunch to all children between the ages of 2 and 18. There is no application process, and it is free and open to the public. This is the program’s eighth year in existence. For more information about the program, visit the official flier and menu schedule here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162168 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162168 Class of 2015 Says Goodbye More than 225 students made the official transition to adulthood at the high school’s commencement exercise for the Class of 2015. In front of family members, friends, faculty and administrators gathered on the football field on June 27, the graduating class moved their tassels and tossed their caps into the air before they walked off the field for the last time in their high school career. The commencement featured a processional of the graduates walking out to “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the high school’s symphonic band, and the presentation of colors by members of the local VFW and American Legion posts. Amityville High School’s outgoing interim principal, Dr. Mary DeRose and Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly both addressed the students as they sat in rows before the grandstand. Dr. DeRose called out individual students for their contribution to the school’s climate of talent and character. Dr. Kelly supplied words of encouragement and urged students to pursue their passions and continue to develop characteristics that change the world. After a musical interlude by the symphonic band (featuring some seniors making their last performance with the band), salutatorian Alexyss Robinson addressed her graduating classmates. Robinson quoted from civil rights leader Malcolm X, emphasizing the importance of education as a path to success and to building a better future. Valedictorian Yundai Hu followed Robinson’s address, echoing her sentiments that education will lead to many accomplishments down the road. “Wherever we come from,” she said. “Whatever our race or gender…we can go on to do great things. Class of 2015: good luck!” Senior Advisor Cara Garofalo and class president Ahliyah Hunter also spoke to the class just before the presentation of diplomas. Amityville Board President Lisa Johnson officially presented the Class of 2015 as having completed their requirements for graduation. Each student was then called up by name to receive their diploma. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162164 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:00:00 GMT false162164 A New Beginning Family, friends, administrators, faculty members and Board of Education members gathered in the high school auditorium on June 24 to celebrate the moving up of Park Avenue sixth-graders to Edmund W. Miles Middle School. A select group of sixth-graders kicked off the ceremony by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by a number from the Park Avenue chorus. Principal Scott Bullis and National Junior Honor Society President Dakota Willenbrock offered motivational words and encouraged the students to continue to strive high. As the students made their way to the stage, their classroom teachers presented each of them with certificates of completion. Assistant Principal Rose Hutcherson delivered the closing remarks before family and friends gathered with the graduates to enjoy refreshments and rejoice in this milestone achievement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162163 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:00:00 GMT false162163 Moving Up and Moving On Northeast School held its annual moving up ceremony on June 23 to celebrate kindergarten students advancing to the next level in their educational journeys. During each of the school’s three kindergarten ceremonies, family, friends, faculty, administrators and Board of Education members were musically and visually entertained as kindergarten students sang and danced to songs selected by their teachers. The sounds of popular songs such as “Firework,” made famous by Katy Perry, and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” filled the gymnasium along with applause from the audience. Additionally, students from Maria Lievano’s class had members of the audience up on their feet dancing and clapping along to an upbeat performance of “Anything” by Hedley. Prior to Principal Dr. Pauline Collins’ closing remarks, select students were acknowledged and presented with perfect attendance awards. Under the direction of music teacher Nicole Altamura, kindergartners concluded the ceremony singing “Just Imagine” from the children’s television show “Barney” and “All for One,” performed in Disney’s “High School Musical 2.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162162 Fri, 26 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162162 Northwest Third-Graders Move Up to PAMES More than 230 students at Northwest Elementary made the official transition from third grade to fourth grade at a new school when they walked in their moving-up ceremony on June 24. Held in the high school auditorium, the students filed into their seats to “Pomp and Circumstance” and took part in a class-wide singing of “We Are The World,” led by music teacher Roxanne Tannenbaum. Each student was called up to receive their certificate of completion. Principal Vincent Todisco emceed the event and delivered closing remarks, congratulating all the youngsters on this important milestone. The students will be attending Park Avenue in the fall. The students sang “What a Wonderful World” to close out the ceremony. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162161 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162161 Amityville Honors Varsity Athletes Amityville students who earned spots on varsity rosters across the school’s athletics program were honored under one roof when the district held its Varsity Athletic Award Night on June 11. Gathered in the high school auditorium, members of the track, volleyball, baseball, softball, football, soccer, cheerleading, wrestling and basketball teams took the stage to be recognized by their respective coaches. Each coach handed out varsity certificates, a Coach’s Award, a Scholar-Athlete Award, a Most Improved Award and the season MVP Award to his or her most accomplished athletes. Emceeing the event was Athletic Director Ted Tsirigotis, who spoke about the importance of not only recognizing accomplishments on the field, but also promoting a family of athletes in the district. Tsirigotis introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Jauron McKelvin, an Amitvyille alumnus who earned a football scholarship to Hofstra University and now has a successful career at pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. McKelvin stressed the importance of hard work and determination in everything one does, whether that includes professional sports aspirations or not. He was presented with a framed photograph of the 1991 Amityville football team, on which he played while in high school. The evening also featured a photo slideshow highlighting this year’s sports seasons. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162166 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162166 A Delicious Lesson in Plant Life Earlier this year, students from Northwest planted lettuce and carrots in the courtyard garden with help from Pastor Jeff from Calvary Chapel of Hope in Amityville. Last week, Pastor Jeff and Northwest social worker Debra Lee assisted the students with harvesting the lettuce. The students were able to see the life cycle of plants and enjoyed preparing and eating their salad, which included lettuce, strawberries, apples and Italian dressing. Northwest Principal Vincent Todisco expressed his pride in the garden, as it has beautified the courtyard. He also took time to thank the Amityville Parent Teacher Council for making a generous monetary donation to the Northwest Garden Committee and Pastor Jeff for all of his hard work and collaboration with the school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162160 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162160 Summer Reading Kicks off at PAMES http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162159 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162159 Pre-K Ready to Move Up Preschool students at Northeast received their pre-K completion certificates during two moving up ceremonies on June 19. In front of a packed audience of family members and faculty, the toddlers in each of the classes performed songs and choreographed dances for the crowd. Songs included “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors and “I Can Do Anything” by Disney’s Fresh Beat Band. Principal Dr. Pauline Collins emceed the event and handed out the completion certificates to each student moving on to kindergarten in the fall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162158 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162158 Varsity Track Team Races to League Championship The Amityville boys spring track team captured both league and division championships during their incredible run this season. The Warriors wrapped up their winning campaign at Comsewogue High School, where they competed against 16 other teams in the meet. Under the coaching of Reynolds Hawkins and Jerry Pollock, the boys took the title by 53 points and went undefeated in league meets this year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162157 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162157 Stars And Sun Shine On Pride Day On the evening of June 8, the sun was shining and so was the school spirit of the Amityville community as the high school hosted its annual district-wide Pride Day. The celebration kicked off with a performance from the high school jazz ensemble, under the direction of Jason O'Connor, as students and their families enjoyed a variety of complimentary food and beverages. Fourth-grade teacher and returning Master of Ceremonies Marc Engler provided a few opening remarks to welcome a field full of students, family, friends, faculty, staff and administration. Students from Northeast led guests in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. They also performed songs of celebration to set the upbeat tone for the remainder of the evening during which students were recognized as Star Awards recipients, commending their achievements in music, art and academics. Celebrating music and dance, the high school step team made a surprise appearance and showcased their various dance moves. The gathering continued with performances by Park Avenue Elementary, Edmund W. Miles Middle School, the high school choruses, as well as a Disney song medley performance by Northwest students, directed by Roxanne Tannenbaum. Concluding the event, Dr. Kelly thanked all in attendance and the jazz ensemble played their final song. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162156 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162156 Birdhouses, Bubbles and Bonding at Northeast It was a fun-filled day at Northeast School on June 5 when fathers and male guardians arrived for a Father’s Day pre-K celebration. Students in the school’s pre-K program joined their guardians in the outdoor courtyard for a host of activities. To begin, the toddlers painted birdhouses in a wide assortment of colors. They wrote their names on the bottom of the houses so they could take them home as keepsakes. The preschoolers and their charges also got to play with bubbles set up at bubble stations around the courtyard and engage in hopscotch games. After the activities in the courtyard, the parents joined their children in the classroom for some learning exercises. Snacks and light refreshments were served during the celebration. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162155 Tue, 16 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162155 A Fond Farewell At its business meeting on June 10, the Board of Education recognized 11 staff members who are retiring from the district. Touching words of tribute were shared about the retirees and the Board offered its thanks to the staff members for their years of service and dedication to the students of Amityville. Those recognized were: Annette Brown, elementary teacher at Northeast; Susan Kaminski, elementary teacher at Park Avenue, Linda Lipowski, special education teacher at Northwest; Deborah Schmertzler, special education teacher at Edmund W. Miles Middle School; Sharon Bailey, teaching assistant at Northeast, Grace La Torre, teaching assistant at Edmund W. Miles Middle School; Mary Gero, school nurse at St. Martins; Marion Johnson, school nurse at Amityville Memorial High School; Pete Crowell, head custodian at Northwest; Pamela Jean-Baptiste, secretary at Northeast; and Judith O’Neill, district clerk. In addition to recognizing retirees, the Board honored those employees with distinguished years of service to the district. The following staff members were honored for 20 years of service: Dave Becker, Geraldine Booth, Deborah Cammaroto, Jane Dady, Reynolds Hawkins, Jolene Maccarone, Kathleen Thorn and Nora Walker. Employees honored for 25 years of service were Theresa Culotta and Grace La Torre, and those recognized for 30 years of dedication to Amityville were Stephanie Brown, Colleen Kretz and Catherine Wells. Special recognition was also paid to Dr. Mary DeRose, interim principal of Amityville Memorial High School; John Dziedzic, interim plant facilities manager; Sydney Freifelder, interim assistant superintendent for finance and operations; and Dr. Joan Lange, interim assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162152 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 14:00:00 GMT false162152 2015 Valedictorian Honored at Luncheon Amityville Class of 2015 valedictorian Yundai Hu was recognized by school superintendents, administrators and parents during the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s 21st annual Valedictorian Luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge. Hu was joined at the luncheon by supporters, including Amityville High School’s interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose, Amityville Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly and Board of Education trustee Terry Fulton. The celebratory event was punctuated with music by the Islip High School Jazz Ensemble, who performed under the direction of Steve Campanella. Congratulating the students on their hard work and academic achievements were Dr. Roberta A. Gerold, SCSSA president and Middle Country School District superintendent of schools; Susan A. Schnebel, SCSSA president-elect and Islip School District superintendent of schools; Dr. Charles T. Russo, SCSSA vice president and East Moriches School District superintendent of schools; and Lars Clemensen, SCSSA secretary and Hampton Bays School District superintendent of schools. Keynote speaker Roger Tilles, a member of the New York State Board of Regents, encouraged the valedictorians to always put things in perspective, develop a backbone, become proactive and involved, use imagination and creativity to propel forward, and find a job that matters. “Love what you do and feel that it matters,” Tilles said. “There is no greater fun than that.” Each valedictorian was called to the stage to receive a certificate and gift of recognition. During the valedictorians’ acknowledgment, the universities they plan to attend were announced, along with their intended majors. The impressive and prestigious list of schools included Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Duke University, Fordham University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Villanova University and Yale University. Also on hand to receive an award was Amityville senior Alexis Bosse, who received a scholarship from CORE BTS, Inc., one of the SCSSA’s corporate partners. Ten scholarships in total were awarded to graduates planning to pursue a career in education or social services. This was the only event in which the Class of 2015 valedictorians were honored together, and it was a truly memorable occasion for all in attendance. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162153 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 06:00:00 GMT false162153 Seniors Recognized at Awards Ceremony Approximately 80 graduating seniors received more than 200 scholarships and awards at the Amityville’s annual Senior Awards Ceremony on June 4. The morning session featured opening remarks from interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose, Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly and a rousing rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from award-recipient Aidan McGlone. The awards and scholarships were a combination of in-district recognitions for academic, athletic or artistic excellence, and local community organizations bestowing endowments for a range of accomplishments including community service. Organizations sponsoring scholarships included the American Legion Post 1015, U.S. Army, Kiwanis Club of Amityville, he Amityville Women’s Club and the Mary M. Myton Literary Society of Amityville, among others. Dr. DeRose concluded the event, followed by the musical processional of award winners led by Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. Students, family members, friends and faculty gathered in the courtyard after the ceremony for refreshments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162149 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162149 Hatching a Love of Science at Northwest Second-grade students at Northwest received a hands-on lesson in biology this spring when they watched fertilized chicken eggs develop into full-grown baby chicks. In teacher Franca Adams’s class, students learned about the 21-week process with the help of a video program on an educational website. Each week, the students learned which stage of development the baby chicks were experiencing, all while watching that development unfold with the use of a special light that shined through the eggs while they stayed warm in the incubator. On June 2, one of the dozen or so developing chicks in Ms. Adams’s class hatched, using its egg tooth, a knob of bone set on top of all baby chicks’ little beaks. The students got to learn about biology and cuddle up to friendly pets at the same time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162151 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162151 Third-Graders Write to Peers Across America Students in Kelli Geilman’s third-grade class at Northwest recently wrote letters to students they’ve never met in states across the country as part of a unique letter-writing chain. Dubbed “The Great Mail Race,” the Northwest students received a letter from a student in California with a questionnaire enclosed, urging them to pass along a similar letter to a random elementary school in the U.S. Ms. Geilman’s class decided to participate. The third-graders began by filling out the questionnaire, writing a friendly letter and then researching two states to narrow down their search. Once the states were chosen, the students researched a town within that state and an elementary school within that town to address their letter. The letter also contained a questionnaire and instructions, so the selected elementary schools could continue the race. The exercise encouraged students to develop skills in geography, research and writing as they compiled all the information needed to go into the letters. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162147 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162147 WAC PAC Volunteers at Special Olympics Warrior Awareness Club (WAC PAC) advisor Jason McGowan and 25 members of the club spent May 3 at Walt Whitman High School for the annual Long Island Special Olympics. Students partnered with a Special Olympics athlete and escorted them to their events throughout the day. The student volunteers took their athletes to the Olympic Village, joined them for lunch and danced with them as the DJ played throughout the day. The event created a lifetime of memories and fostered strong connections between students and athletes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162148 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162148 Amityville HS Club Helps the Homeless Earlier this spring, 30 members of the high school Warrior Awareness Club (WAC PAC) attended the annual Have a Heart for the Homeless event at Farmingdale State College. Each participant brought in items such as jackets, clothing, toiletries and canned goods to hand out at the event. The students also face painted, helped out with an Easter egg hunt, handed out candles and assisted in other ways throughout the evening. The students learned from the experience and felt good about helping those who are less fortunate. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162146 Wed, 03 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162146 A Patriotic Gathering At Northwest First, second and third-graders at Northwest got into the spirit of Memorial Day by wearing red, white and blue in their respective grades on May 21. Just before the Memorial Day break, the students gathered in the school’s gymnasium and lined up to form the shape of the American flag. The event was a culmination of lessons taught throughout the week about the importance of Memorial Day as well as its origins. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162145 Tue, 02 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162145 HS Holds UN World’s Fair The culminating event of Amityville High School’s participation in the Model UN Conference this year was its World’s Fair, held in the school’s gymnasium on May 21. Throughout the year, social studies students at the high school were assigned a specific country, which they were required to study, research, write about and argue on behalf of during the Model UN Conference. After months of this intensive study, the students were tasked with creating visual presentations of their assigned country, drawing attention to its language, culture, foods, clothing, music, politics and history. The World’s Fair gave students the opportunity to present their countries to other social studies classes and offer their peers an interactive experience. Visitors to the World’s Fair were treated to samples of traditional cuisine, such as Russia’s borscht, a juice derived from beets, and Venezuelan tequenos, a fried dish of cheese and flour. Students also created models of historical landmarks, such as the Tower of London, and some provided live jazz music to accompany their presentations on the United States. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162142 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162142 HS Students Visit Sayville in Cultural Exchange Forty-one Amityville High School students spent the day at Sayville High School as part of the Warrior Awareness Club’s cultural exchange program on April 16. The Sayville students stood outside the building to greet their Amityville counterparts. The students walked off the bus to a standing ovation and were led into the cafeteria where they had breakfast and participated in activities. Students were then paired off with a Sayville student and followed their partner to their classes during the school day. At the end of the day, participants went to the cafeteria to eat pizza and debrief the day’s activities. The students exchanged numbers and had an enriching experience. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162139 Wed, 27 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162139 Mother’s Day Tea at Northeast Preschool and kindergarten students at Northeast got an early start to Mother’s Day during a Mother’s Day tea party on May 8. Dozens of mothers (and some fathers and grandmothers too) filled the cafeteria where the students assembled on the stage for a choral performance. The students sang classic Mother’s Day songs such as “I Want A Mom That Will Last Forever,” and “I’ll Always Love My Mama.” Afterward, the children sat with their family and enjoyed snacks and light refreshments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162140 Wed, 27 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162140 Northwest Plant Sale Blossoms Northwest School recently held its annual Mother's Day Plant Sale, welcoming over 12 carts of beautiful and colorful plants to be sold to students and staff members. Over the course of three days, a wide variety of plants were sold by the dozens, and the significant profits from the sale will be used to continue the beautification of the Northwest courtyard garden. The plant sale’s success was due to the work and support of Northwest’s staff members, volunteers. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162141 Wed, 27 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162141 Disney Authors Visit Amityville Park Avenue students learned more about the writing process behind some of their favorite superheroes during a visit from Disney authors Tomas Palacios and Michael Siglain. New York State Sen. Michael Venditto joined Optimum in bringing the authors of “Avengers Beginnings” and “Captain America – The Tomorrow Army” to the school to discuss what it takes to be an author and to read sections of their books. Prior to the event, a schoolwide contest determined whose questions for the authors were best. Those chosen were the lucky recipients of press passes, which allowed them to ask the authors questions during the presentation. In speaking about the writing process, Palacios explained that authors write and rewrite their work, often showing their final product to colleagues. He also said his interest in superheroes was piqued as a child upon finding comics at a flea market. Siglain said his interest in superheroes was developed through watching movies. “I liked the idea that superheroes say ‘I’m here to help,’” he said. After the presentation, the students received a free copy of one of the authors’ books. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162137 Fri, 22 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162137 Amityville Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2015-16 budget vote and trustee election. The budget passed by a vote of 859 to 375. In addition, Juan Leon was elected to the Board of Education and Jeannette Santos was re-elected. The vote totals for the Board race were as follows: Nathan King: 322 Juan Leon: 926 Jeannette Santos: 743 Sydney Martin: 422 Again, thank you to all who voted and for supporting our schools! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162135 Tue, 19 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162135 Harlem Wizards Cast Spell on Amityville Students Students at Park Avenue, Northwest and Northeast met a member of the Harlem Wizards on May 11. David Paul, also known as “DP,” dropped by the schools for a sneak peek of the Wizards upcoming performance at the high school. Combining comedy with basketball tricks, Paul dazzled the students with an interactive and hilarious show. Paul called students out to show off their basketball skills, and he even took showed them a few new tricks. The 6’6” athlete out of Staten Island College then handed out a few free tickets and met with a few students one-on-one. The Harlem Wizards are an interactive comedy and basketball-playing troupe that travels across the U.S. performing for schools and local communities. The entire Wizards team will be performing at Amityville High School on May 29 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance start at $12. Tickets at the door start at $15. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162134 Mon, 18 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162134 Soccer Star Commits to St. John’s Amityville’s two-time captain of the varsity soccer team, Mauricio Rivas, signed his Letter of Intent on May 7 to play Division I soccer at St. John’s University this fall. This year, Rivas scored 17 goals, many of them game-winners, on his way to leading the Warriors to the playoffs the past two out of three years. He helped Amityville soccer win its first playoff game since 1986. The soccer star is also at the head of the classroom, ranked 15th in this year’s graduating class. Rivas will play under the Red Storm’s head coach David Masur, a former professional soccer player. As head coach, Masur led St. John’s to a NCAA National Championship in 1996. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162132 Fri, 15 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162132 Earth Day Recognized at Northeast It was an afternoon of dirt and daffodils for students at Northeast Elementary on April 23. In recognition of Earth Day, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students got a chance to head outside and explore the earth. In the front of the building, students and faculty dug holes and planted new flowers in the beds facing Albany Avenue. In the courtyard, some students built their own kites with paper, string, crayons and creativity, while others overturned large stones to explore the bugs and organisms living beneath. Teachers held out earthworms for students to examine with a magnifying glass. Other students refilled the bird feeders and studied the new buds blooming along the edge of the courtyard property. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162129 Mon, 11 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162129 Northwest Celebrates National Poetry Month In honor of National Poetry month, Dana Herz’s third-grade class studied and created original poetry. Students used elements in nature to create one-of-a-kind haikus and used their first names to create personalized alliterations. The students’ poetry was displayed on a Poetry Tower. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162127 Fri, 08 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162127 Amityville Art Honor Society Inducts Eight New Members Eight students were recently inducted into the High School Chapter of Amityville’s National Art Honor Society in a ceremony at the high school auditorium. National Art Honor Society advisor Jayne Grasso welcomed guests before turning the program over to student officers – Etiana Coley Mells, Brianna York, Ebony Derr. Asatria Wade, Julissa Velasquez. Josue Reyes, and Julia Wood. The induction featured the traditional candle-lighting ceremony and a year-in-review video montage, followed by the presentation of the NAHS senior tassels to be worn at this year’s commencement. Special guest Eric Hutchison, an artist, writer and computer engineer, addressed the audience as well as current and new inductees. Amityville now boasts 25 members of the National Art Honor Society. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162128 Fri, 08 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162128 Faculty Faces Students in Friendly Volleyball Contest Students in Mark Marchino’s science class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School got a chance to take their fundraising bragging rights onto the volleyball court in a friendly contest against faculty members. As a reward for being the homeroom that gathered the most amount of change in the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s “Coins for Wishes” challenge, the students faced off against their teachers and administrators in front of a packed gymnasium of boosters. The Coins for Wishes challenge was carried out by members of the National Junior Honor Society, who placed coin boxes in each homeroom and collected the boxes at the end of each week throughout the month of March. All told, Edmund W. Miles raised $1,880.60, placing second among other schools that participated in the challenge. The NJHS met with Make-A-Wish recipients at the TD Bank in Lake Ronkonkoma last month. Mr. Marchino’s class raised $500 of the total amount raised by the school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162125 Wed, 06 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162125 Student Artwork on Display at Local Museum Amityville art students had their artwork showcased in the annual “Colors of Long Island” student art exhibit at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. The students representing Amityville in this regional exhibit were Sarai Mullings and Justice Wright (Northeast); Giselle Yarborough and Malachi Davis (Northwest); Samantha Lima and Daniela Moore (Park Avenue Elementary); Anjelia Cortes and Mary Dexter (Edmund W. Miles MS); and Brianna York, Jimmy Tavarez, and Brianna Alvarenga (Amityville High School). The exhibition, which loosely compiles student interpretations of its title theme, was held at the Visitor’s Center building of the Long Island Museum through April 26. A student reception was held on March 8. Congratulations to all of the district art teachers who assisted these students as they prepared their work for submission to this regional event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162124 Tue, 05 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162124 Seven Amityville Faculty Earn Tenure Six teachers and one school counselor received tenure at Amityville this month. The Board of Education officially approved their tenure status at the April 15 general meeting and budget adoption at Park Avenue. The newly tenured staff members are: Sakina Britt, Tim Brower, Matt Greiss, David Jackson, Christina Marcolla, Tiffany Mendelson and Mackenzie Sipp. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162121 Thu, 30 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162121 National Junior Honor Society Helps Make Wishes Come True The Edmund W. Miles chapter of the National Junior Honor Society was asked to participate in the Coins for Wishes challenge by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. During the month of March, they raised money for two boys from Suffolk County suffering from a serious illness. Each NJHS member was assigned to a homeroom and each Friday, they visited the homerooms to collect the Make-A-Wish boxes. At the end of the campaign, the students were invited to meet the children for whom they raised the money. A sendoff ceremony was held at the TD Bank in Lake Ronkonkoma. Edmund W. Miles came in second place in the challenge, raising $1,880.60. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162120 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162120 Northwest Gets Ready for Spring Foliage The Garden Committee at Northwest School spent spring break cleaning up the school’s planter boxes and getting them ready for this year’s growth. Twenty-three students from Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California, visited the local community church, Calvary Chapel of Hope in Amityville, looking to help the community. Calvary Chapel of Hope’s pastor Jeff and the students spent hours at Northwest School cleaning and preparing the garden beds so Northwest students can plant vegetables and flowers in the upcoming weeks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162119 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162119 PAMES Lights It Up Blue Faculty, administrators and staff at Park Avenue Elementary have been spending the month of April “Lighting It Up Blue” for autism awareness. Wearing trademark blue shirts, the staff at PAMES kicked off World Autism Awareness Day, which was April 2, and continued the show of solidarity every Friday throughout the month. The Light It Up Blue campaign was created by Autism Speaks, the leading global nonprofit organization that advocates for research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162118 Wed, 22 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162118 Holocaust Survivor Visits MS A Hungarian citizen who survived Hitler’s concentration camps paid a visit to Edmund W. Miles – not to share his experience of the past, but to warn students of the dangers posed in the present. Stephen Berger was a 16-year-old living in German-allied Hungary with his parents and younger sister when Hitler caught wind of a conspiracy among Hungarian leaders to withdraw the country’s support for Germany. As a result, Hitler invaded Hungary in March 1944 and set up a temporary ghetto for Jewish Hungarians. Berger and his family were sent to the ghetto before they were shipped off in a cattle car with their Hungarian neighbors to be divided among the concentration camps in Austria and Germany. It was Berger’s quick thinking and skilled background that saved his family’s life. Rather than sending his mother and sister off to Auschwitz, Berger was permitted by the SS to take them with him to work as slave labor in a Vienna factory. Eventually, the Russian army broke through German lines and liberated Vienna in April 1945. Berger hid his mother and sister in a laundry cubicle in the basement of an apartment building where residents were waiting out the street fighting. Berger tried to assimilate among the apartment building residents, fearful that one of them might turn him over to the SS. In a final stroke of luck, the SS soldier who was just about to check everyone’s identification in the building was shot by a Russian soldier before he could enter. Berger and his mother and sister walked back to Hungary from Vienna, where they were eventually reunited with his father. His mother’s parents, along with 27 other members of his family, died during the Holocaust. Berger, 87, tells his story to young adults to make them aware of the dangerous ideologies that can lead to another genocide in the future. “History is so important,” Berger said. “The next generation of victims are those who neglect to study their history and don’t heed the warnings.” Berger’s visit was coordinated by social studies teacher Frank O’Brien. After his presentation, Berger answered questions from students and took time to meet with them individually. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162115 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162115 FMA Live Comes to Amityville Edmund W. Miles Middle School was a recent stop for the traveling education program FMA Live, an interactive, hip-hop-influenced crash course in physics. Created in collaboration with Honeywell Hometown Solutions and NASA, the popular show visited the school on April 1 to teach Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion in a fun and memorable way. The show, titled “Forces in Motion,” featured three actors using hip-hop lyrics and dance to teach the laws of physics while demonstrating those laws with humor and hands-on experiments. Selected students volunteered to take the stage and participate in a variety of physical demonstrations, such as jumping onto a Velcro wall wearing a special suit and kicking a massive soccer ball to illustrate the effect of mass on velocity. Teachers also got involved, as social studies teacher Frank O’Brien and English teacher John Katsigiorgis battled it out in sumo wrestling suits. Special education teacher Allyson Kretz volunteered to have applesauce dumped on her head as a lesson, in part, on gravity. FMA Live travels all over the country and has brought its STEM-inspired lessons to more than 400,000 students. The program aims to inspire students to learn and possibly pursue a career in science, math, engineering and technology. It allows students to experience STEM concepts firsthand, rather than by reading about them in a textbook. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162114 Thu, 16 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162114 Students Take Honors at STEM Diversity Summit Amityville students in grades 8-12 participated in the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College on March 20. The students submitted projects in life and physical sciences during the all-day summit and received awards at the end of the workshop. The STEM Diversity Summit is an educationally driven networking event that brings together students with teachers, administrators, college professors, business leaders and nonprofit organizations to discuss ways in which Long Island can remain a focal point in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics industries. The event featured individual workshops and keynote speakers from leading voices in STEM education. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162112 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162112 Winter Track Team Runs Away with League Championship Congratulations to the 2014-15 boys varsity winter track team! The boys secured a league championship this winter after the league champion meet at Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood campus. The boys were small school runner-ups for the county championship held the following week. The student-athletes who contributed to another successful season at Amityville are: Omar Asadbey Alijah Benymon Stephan Bramwell Deon Clark Isaiah Davidson Kenneth Dinnoo Travon Duncan* Kerron Gonzales* Tysheem Griffin* Terrance Hinds Esteban Idrovo Wesley Jean-Pierre Jacob Marrero Aaron Mathurin Hassan Matthews* Shemar Meade Kalvin O’Neal Emmanuel Oguntoye* Giovanni Palmer Brenden Paula* Uhlensky Pierre-Louis Samuel Riggsbee Sheldon Riley Shival Sohan Samuel Thompson * Indicates students selected as All-Long Island athletes in track. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162107 Mon, 13 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162107 New Assistant Superintendent Announced The district welcomes Diane Castonguay as its new assistant superintendent for finance and operations, replacing Interim Assistant Superintendent Sydney Freifelder, effective July 1. Ms. Castonguay joins Amityville with seven years of educational business experience and a rich background as a CPA in the private sector. Most recently, she was the assistant business administrator and district treasurer in the Jericho School District, where she helped oversee a $120 million budget with nearly 3,000 pupils. Her duties included working on year-end audits as well as control audits to assure all accounting processes are correct, managing the district’s change in financial software, tax levy calculations, budget preparation and a host of other financial responsibilities. Prior to her tenure at Jericho, she served as the district treasurer of the West Hempstead School District, where she helped manage a $54 million budget with nearly 2,200 students. Her experience as a CPA helped her effectively prepare financial statements, track expenditures and revenue, and monitor debt services, including West Hempstead’s Energy Performance Contracts. Ms. Castonguay worked for more than 15 years for private enterprises such as Ernst & Young, the News Corporation and Canon. She is a member of both the New York State Society of CPAs (on the Public Schools Committee) and the American Institute of CPAs. She holds a master’s degree in professional studies from Stony Brook University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairfield University. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Castonguay to our administrative team,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly. “Her wealth of experience will be a positive asset to the district and we look forward to the contributions she will make here.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162106 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162106 Baskets Arrive at Northwest For Easter Students at the Northwest School were the grateful recipients of a shipment of stuffed Easter baskets thanks to a local parent organization. Elizabeth Nehring and her local organization, Amityville Moms Group, spearheaded the campaign to help bring smiles to Northwest children in time for the Easter holiday. The baskets contained boys and girls toys, candy and Easter eggs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162105 Mon, 06 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162105 Drama Club Presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ The Amityville High School Drama Club put on a weekend performance of the classic Broadway show “Little Shop of Horrors” on March 20-22 in the high school auditorium. Starring Andrew Abate as Seymour, Aidan McGlone and Meghan Jacobsen as Audrey, and Ruben Fernandez as the cranky Mr. Mushnik, along with an ensemble cast of street urchins and townsfolk, the performance dazzled audiences with a sharp set and talented singers. The offbeat hit show about a down-and-out young man living on skid row and his flesh-eating plant was originally a low-budget film produced in 1960, and again in 1986 starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. The Amityville drama production was directed by Melissa Asbell, with help from assistant director Gerald Asbell. Other stars of the show included Patrick Abate, Alisha Alexandre, Quanisha Alexandre, Shiloh Bennett, Melissa Beresoff, Deborah Bichotte, Amanda Boegle, Jahleel Butler, Lawrence Haave, Kyle Hobson and Kiara Kearse, along with little stars Tiffany Asbell and Kira Lee. A dedicated crew of student stagehands made the plant, Audrey II, and set design come to life. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162104 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162104 HS Students Are Reading Buddies at Northwest Members of the 10th-grade student council at Amityville High School dropped by Northwest on March 25 to read their favorite children’s books to second-graders. Gathered in the school’s library, students in Tom Siegel’s second-grade class sat at the round tables with the bigger kids, listening to the stories and asking questions. The high school students spent the better part of the morning volunteering their time with the youngsters. The Amityville student council is led by president Madison Daly, who read to the students along with fellow council members Fajeann Charles, Meghan Jacobsen, sisters Kiana Kearse and Kiara Kearse, Lezly Preza and Ariana Sims. High school teacher Kelly Morenus accompanied the 10th-grade reading buddies. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162102 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162102 Three New Administrators Join District At its March 25 meeting, the Board of Education approved the appointment of three new administrators who will join the district effective July 1, 2015. The district welcomes Mary O’Meara as its new assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, replacing Interim Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joan Lange. Ms. O’Meara joins Amityville with a wealth of educational experience, most recently serving as the chair for P-12 English language arts, reading and library media services for the Hewlett-Woodmere School District. In this position, Ms. O’Meara supervised reading and English language arts programs and teachers. She brings to Amityville her experience in writing curriculum, implementing programs, and providing teachers and administrators with professional development in the areas of literacy and the Common Core Learning Standards. From 2000-2012, Ms. O’Meara served as an English teacher and chairperson of English language arts in A.G. Berner Middle School in the Massapequa School District. While in Massapequa, she piloted and taught in programs including: integrated, co-teaching, the Honors by Achievement Program, and interdisciplinary exploratory courses for middle school students. Under her leadership, students in both districts enjoyed increased success on state assessments and Regents exams. Mrs. O’Meara earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and secondary education from Molloy College, her Master of Science in literacy from Dowling College, and is currently a doctoral student at St. John’s University. “I am honored to join the Amityville School District,” said Ms. O’Meara. “I believe all students deserve a first-class education, and it will be a privilege to support teachers, students, administrators and parents to ensure all students flourish under the opportunities afforded them in our schools.” In addition to Ms. O’Meara, the Board appointed Dr. Clinton Grant as the new principal of Amityville High School, replacing Dr. Mary DeRose, who has served as interim principal since the fall of 2012. Dr. Grant presently serves as assistant principal at Uniondale High School, a position he has held since 2005. In his role as assistant principal, Dr. Grant has coordinated the administration of all New York State Regents, PSAT and Advanced Placement examinations, and has been responsible for supervising the mathematics and social studies departments. In addition, he has supervised building, district and community activities for student cohorts as well as the Mercy First Advantage Program, an after-school mentoring and tutoring program for at-risk students. Dr. Grant holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Hofstra University, a professional diploma in administration and supervision from the College of New Rochelle, and a Doctor of Education from St. John’s University. At its meeting, the Board also appointed Karenann Volinski as the director for data and instructional technology. Ms. Volinski comes to Amityville from the Southampton School District, where she currently serves as the district data coordinator. In this position, Ms. Volinski works collaboratively with guidance, special education and administrative staff to support student learning through evaluation analysis and curriculum support. She also provides research-based professional development content to district faculty in data-driven instruction methodology. Ms. Volinski holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stony Brook University and a master’s degree in secondary education from Dowling College. She also holds certifications in school building leader/school district leader and teaching. “We are very excited to welcome Ms. O’Meara, Dr. Grant and Ms. Volinski to our administrative team,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly. “Their wealth of experience will be a positive asset to the district and we look forward to the contributions they will make here in Amityville.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162101 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162101 Northwest Builds Crystal Rainbows In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, students in Dana Herz’s third-grade class at Northwest School created rainbow-colored crystals using Borax and other common materials. During this three-day project, students applied the scientific method and a host of mathematical skills to grow the crystals. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162100 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162100 HS Band Marches in Iconic Parade The Amityville High School Marching Band took part in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, joining in on a New York tradition of more than 250 years. Marching behind the leadership of the 2015 grand marshal, Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Amityville band paraded down 5th Avenue from 44th Street, past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and finished at 79th Street. Band director Brian Wishin escorted the group and led the section. Browse the photo gallery for a look at some of the band members in action. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162098 Fri, 20 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162098 AMHS Marching Band Marches In NYC Today If you’re watching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City on Channel 4 at 11 a.m., keep your eyes peeled for the Amityville High School Marching Band, who were invited to march in the parade this year! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162097 Tue, 17 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162097 Northwest Celebrates Dr. Seuss’s Birthday In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Maria Cottone and her second-grade students at Northwest learned about the measurement of tablespoons and cups. The class had the chance to cook real green eggs and ham. It was a great opportunity for vocabulary development and text comprehension as Ms. Cottone’s students experienced one of the great classics of children’s literature, “Green Eggs and Ham.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162096 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162096 Character Counts at Northwest http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162093 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162093 EWMMS Recognizes Black History Month The library at Edmund W. Miles was transformed into an interactive museum in February to honor Black History Month. From Selma and the civil rights movement to Jackie Robinson and Lena Horne, students created broad displays that illustrated key moments in African-American History and its contribution to American history at large. During the final week of February, students in all grades visited the library museum during scheduled class time to view the displays and interact with other elements of the showcase. For example, after the students toured the various stations, they were asked to contribute to a paper Twitter and Instagram “feed,” where they’d share what they learned about black history throughout the month. The interactive museum also featured brief video documentaries created by ESL and social studies students that highlighted a prominent black figure in history. The videos were viewable through Aurasma, a software application similar to a QR code. To upload the video, the students held a tablet over the image of the prominent figure, and the video would begin playing. Edmund W. Miles Middle School librarian Lynn Cesiro curated the museum displays and led each class through its assigned tasks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162091 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false162091 Northeast Celebrates Black History Month http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162090 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162090 Two-Hour Delayed Opening: Friday, March 6th As a result of the inclement weather, Amityville Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening schedule on Friday, March 6th. The Am pre-K program and the YMCA program are cancelled. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162089 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162089 Northwest Celebrates Black History Month Northwest School held its Black History Month celebration on Feb. 26. First-, second- and third-grade students, along with parents, teachers, administrators and fellow students, packed the gymnasium for an evening of songs, drumming, choreographed dance and step routines, and African American-influenced food and beverages. Northwest Principal Vincent Todisco emceed the event, delivering opening remarks about the importance of Black History Month. He introduced singers in teacher Melissa Asbell’s class, who sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” He also introduced a full cast of students who had researched and composed biographical readings about prominent African-American figures in history, from President Barack Obama and Rosa Parks to Harriet Tubman and George Washington Carver. The presenting students added to the flavor of their readings by dressing up as their assigned historical figure. The audience was also treated to a step and dance routine from high school students in the 21st Century Dance Group and the Interact Club under teacher Brenda King. Students in music teacher Roxanne Tannenbaum’s choir closed out the evening with songs and drumming. Browse the photo gallery to relive all the action. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162087 Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162087 A STEM Lesson with Heart at Northeast Kindergarten students at Northeast School got a hands-on lesson about the heart and how to keep it healthy on Feb. 25. With the help of Dr. Veronica Henry, a former nurse and current vice president at Farmingdale State College, students in Andrew Babington’s class learned how the heart rate and pulse rate can go up and down based on exercise. To assist with the interactive science lesson, Bill Waibel, COO of Mobile Solutions, brought along part of his Mobile STEM Lab. Students had wireless heart rate monitors clipped to their index fingers and were asked to record their heart rates before exercise, and then again after dancing for three minutes to the “Elmo Slide.” After the science experiment, Dr. Henry explained why the numbers on their heart rate monitors changed after exercise. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162086 Mon, 02 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162086 Two-Hour Delayed Opening Schedule: Monday, March 2nd. As a result of the inclement weather, Amityville schools will open on a two-hour delayed opening schedule tomorrow, Monday, March 2nd. In addition, the YMCA program and the AM pre-K program are cancelled for tomorrow. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162085 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162085 PAMES Celebrates Black History Month With a thrilling program that featured dance, step and drumming, Park Avenue Elementary observed Black History Month on Feb. 24. Beginning with a stunning performance on the steel drums from Caribbean drum band Steel Impressions, the audience gathered in the auditorium heard from students about famous black dancers and choreographers and watched the 21st Century Dance Group perform an array of routines under the choreography of Dee Coghiel and Danielle Coles. The evening also featured a vocal performance by student Jackeline Andino and closed with an audience participation step session led by Kenneth Williams. Sixth-grade teacher Nakia Williams emceed the event. Special guest, Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory, was in attendance for the vibrant and informative evening. This year’s program was organized and chaired by Denise Graham and Kathy Hyland, with the help of the Black History Month Committee. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162084 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162084 EWMMS Holds Science Fair Students, parents, administrators and faculty at Edmund W. Miles gathered for its science fair and exposition on Feb. 12. The fair highlighted the scientific projects of students in all grades. Students displayed the results of their research projects and lab experiments using foam boards and oak tag presentations. Some of the projects, for example, studied the aerodynamics of a football, the properties of Coke and Diet Coke, the characteristics of a condition called Gilbert Syndrome and a contraption called a “Ping Pong Catapult” by seventh-grader Samuel Wong-Schultz. Also on display at the fair was the collaborative work on DNA and the origin of man’s ancestors from student-scientists Christina Davis, Christy Farrier, Laurie Herard, Mario Iorio, Jacob Marrero and Irache Teague. All six students will be representing the Amityville School District at a statewide science competition in Albany. Ninth-graders Kellie Fowler, Keara Greene and Carlos Hargrove will also have their respective projects presented at the STEM Diversity Summit at Farmingdale State College in March. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162082 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162082 PAMES Student Receives Letter from President What started out as a journal assignment earned a fourth-grade Park Avenue student a correspondence with the President of the United States. Earlier this month, Dimarion Donaldson was carrying out a journal writing assignment in teacher Georgette Thompson’s class. When Donaldson received his assignment, he decided to draft a letter to President Obama. The letter was signed, sealed and delivered to the president, and after a few short weeks, Donaldson received a reply from the Oval Office. “I am glad you took the time to share your thoughts with me,” President Obama said in the letter. “During my time as President, I have met families from every part of America who are having trouble making ends meet. [We] are building more ladders of opportunity so every family can work their way into the middle class. Whether we succeed in that goal will depend a lot on young people like you getting a good education. So keep dreaming big and studying hard.” Ms. Thompson, an ELA and social studies teacher at Park Avenue, carries out journal writing sessions every morning with her students. Each month, the students in her class receive a journal sheet with a different topic for each day. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162081 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162081 EWMMS Recognizes Warriors of the Month Exemplary students at Edmund Miles were recently honored with the January “Warrior of the Month” award. The Warrior of the Month, including the weekly “Warrior Shout Outs,” is a new program implemented to help encourage students who are caught in the act of doing something that shows character. January’s focus was on “Perseverance,” one of the Pillars of Character at Amityville Schools. The students pictured were recognized for showing great perseverance in their studies. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162080 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162080 Rohan Murphy Visits MS Students at Edmund Miles Middle School received words of inspiration when paralympian and motivational speaker Rohan Murphy dropped by to speak to them on Feb. 6. Murphy was born with a severely deformed lower body and his legs were amputated when he was 4 years old. In the eighth grade, his determination to succeed despite his disabilities became evident to his school’s wrestling coach. After joining the wrestling team at East Islip, Murphy went on to finish his high school career as a three-time All-League and two-time All-County wrestler. After high school, he showed up at tryouts at Penn State and earned a spot on the wrestling squad under coach Troy Sunderland. Now 31, Murphy has overcome tremendous odds and has been featured in media outlets such as ABC News, Sports Illustrated and 20/20, as well as earning a spot in Nike’s “No Excuses” ad campaign. Murphy emphasized to students that they should not have any excuses for failing to reach their goals and to keep pushing forward despite difficulties. Murphy dazzled the audience with feats of strength, such as walking back and forth across the stage on his hands, and performing pushups while clapping his hands. After Murphy’s presentation, students asked questions and took pictures with him. The students learned about perseverance and to never allow others to tell them what they can and cannot accomplish. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162079 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162079 Regular Board of Education Meeting Feb. 11, 7 p.m. Click here to view the Calendar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162074 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162074 All after-school and evening activities are cancelled As a result of the impending winter storm, all after-school and evening activities are cancelled for today, Monday, February 9, 2015. This includes the Twenty-First Century and YMCA programs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162077 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162077 Miles MS Musicians Heard Across the County Two student musicians at Edmund Miles Middle School represented the Amityville School District with pride when they were invited to join elite ensembles from other schools this winter. Patrick Abate, an eighth grader at Miles, will be playing saxophone as a member of the 2014-15 SCMEA All-County Middle School Instrumental Jazz Ensemble when the organization holds its SCMEA Day of Jazz at Centereach High School on Feb. 7. Selection to this ensemble was highly competitive, with musicians from all across Suffolk County vying for a spot in the ensemble. On Jan. 16, eighth-grader James Carey represented the school district at the 2015 SCMEA Day of Horn event held at Northport High School. Carey joined a league of French Horn players from all over Suffolk County that participated in the event, which featured workshops, rehearsals and a performance in a “Massed Horn Ensemble.” Congratulations to Abate and Carey on these wonderful distinctions! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162076 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162076 Financial Assistance Workshop at AMHS, Feb. 27 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Click here to view the Calendar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162075 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162075 Special Board of Education Meeting tonight, 7 p.m. Click here to view the Calendar http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162073 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162073 Book Fairies Visit MS Students at Edmund Miles Middle School received a warm refuge from the cold weather this winter when the Book Fairies delivered used books for free. The library held its “Warm Up to a Book” event, which is a free book fair aimed at getting more books into the hands of students. The event was made possible thanks to the nonprofit organization and its founder, Amy Zaslansky. The Book Fairies collects donations of new and gently used books from more affluent school districts and redistributes them to districts in need of resources. The students at Edmund Miles were invited to visit the library during their English class and stuff a bag with an assortment of books of their own choosing. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162072 Tue, 03 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162072 Two-Hour Delayed Opening Schedule: Tuesday, February 3rd As a result of the inclement weather, Amityville Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed opening schedule tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3rd. In addition, the AM pre-K and the morning YMCA program are cancelled for tomorrow. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162071 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162071 Schools Closed on Wednesday, January 28. As a result of the inclement weather, schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. In addition, all after-school and evening activities are cancelled. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162068 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162068 Winter Wonderland at Northwest http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162067 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162067 HS Holds Financial Aid Night On Jan. 8, the high school guidance office hosted its annual Financial Aid Night in the library for senior students and parents. School counselor Andrew Akapnitis opened the evening by welcoming those in attendance and offering some suggestions for families beginning the college financial aid process. Debbie O’Conner, a financial aid representative from Molloy College, presented a comprehensive presentation on the FAFSA process, including instructions and tips on how to apply for scholarships, loans, grants and other services. The well-attended event concluded with a question-and-answer session. Financial Aid Night is part of the guidance department’s series of college night events. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162066 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162066 Milk and Bookies at EWMMS This winter, the Literacy Team, spearheaded by Edmund W. Miles Library Media Specialist Lynn Cesiro, used Scholastic Book Dollars and One for Books donations from students and staff to buy new books for Liberty Partnerships students. The students selected their own books during the fall Scholastic Book Fair and received them just before winter break at the after-school Milk and Bookies event in the library. Liberty Partnerships donated milk and cookies for the event, which featured holiday stories read aloud by guest reader and retired teaching assistant Mary Rizzo. This was the fourth annual Milk and Bookies event, made possible with the assistance of Literacy Team member and Liberty Partnerships Coordinator Bea Polaski. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162069 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162069 Northwest Houses Tree That Keeps on Giving The holiday season of giving was alive and well as administrators and staff installed a “Giving Tree” in the main lobby. The Giving Tree provided some students in need with the opportunity to receive anonymous holiday gifts from Northwest staff members. Paper snowman ornaments were placed on the tree with a number. This ornament included the child's toy and clothing wishes for the holiday season. During the month, a staff member could select an ornament and make the child's wishes come true. Before the school could even dismiss for its holiday break, every name on the tree had been plucked off, promising a cheerful season for those families that need it most. Northwest Principal Vincent Todisco and school social worker Debra Lee proudly showed off the “empty” tree with other staff members on Dec. 19. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162065 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162065 PAMES Students Collect Coats for Human Rights Fifth-grade students at Park Avenue completed their unit on human rights with a human rights project of their own. Inspired by the belief that every person is entitled to certain fundamental rights, students in Denise Graham’s class collected gently used coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens to donate to needy families during the holiday season. The class goal was to provide winter clothing to 100 families in need through Long Island Teen Challenge, a local organization that promotes outreach programs, residential care and vocational training for those in need of assistance. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162064 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162064 PAMES Students Collect Toys for Local Charities Students at Park Avenue recently conducted a successful toy drive to benefit two nonprofits: Matthew’s Wish and Beautiful Me. Throughout December, the students collected new, unwrapped toys by placing donation boxes in the school’s lobby. Some of the collected toys went to help fill an 18-wheeler that delivered to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park. Other toys were donated to the Hance Family Foundation’s Beautiful Me project. Matthew’s Wish is a nonprofit organization inspired by Matthew McKinnon, a 13-year-old who died from a kidney disorder in 2011. Just before his death, Matthew expressed his desire to see a tractor-trailer filled with toys delivered to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, where he received his treatment. His mother has maintained that desire each year since, and the toy drive to fill the 18-wheeler has spread throughout Long Island. Beautiful Me is a project forged by Jackie and Warren Hance after the tragic deaths of their three children, Emma, Alyson and Katie, on the Taconic Parkway in 2009. Inspired by the three girls, Beautiful Me fosters positive self-esteem as young girls are taught how to think positively about their bodies, their skills and their relationships with others. The toys collected at Park Avenue went to New York City children whose mothers are incarcerated. Erica Bellezza, a fourth-grade teacher at Park Avenue Elementary, and Matthew McKinnon’s cousin helped organize the drive, along with teaching assistant Victoria Litras. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162063 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162063 Northeast Holds Family Fun Event It was a family affair at Northeast on Dec. 11 when children and their guardians gathered for Family Learning Night. Beginning in the school’s cafeteria, families participated in an arts and crafts assignment, making cards and frames with construction paper, glue and decorations. Afterward they headed over to the gymnasium, where they sat for story time by Board of Education trustees Dr. Kathleen Corbett and Nathan King. King read “There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow” by Lucille Colandro, while Corbett read “The First Day of Winter” by Denise Fleming. After story time, the children were given the choice of a number of activities. They could help draw a large snowman mural with chalk or build a snowman in a bottle. Two stations were also set up for students and their families to either make decorative cards for soldiers, or wrap donated toys in time for the holidays. Northeast staff and members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School volunteered to help run the event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162062 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false162062 HS Musicians Set Holiday Mood at BOE Meeting As the snow began to fall outside of the Amityville Board of Education meeting on Dec. 10, student musicians from the high school brought the holiday spirit inside, with a medley of holiday music for the board and public audience. Members of the school’s orchestra volunteered to play for the board just before the scheduled agenda. The students played tunes such as “Jingle Bells” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162061 Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:00:00 GMT false162061 PAMES Introduces QR Codes to Parents http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162060 Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162060 HS Students Host Model UN Conference The high school auditorium was transformed into the United Nations Headquarters on 1st Avenue when students organized and carried out a model U.N. conference on Dec. 17. Representing nation-members of the U.N., the students lined the auditorium stage to debate a number of global topics, including the containment and prevention of the Ebola virus, global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Mixed into the debate were real-time interruptions to comment on the recent terrorist attack in Pakistan and an attack at an airport. The model U.N. conference was supervised by social studies team leader Dawn Mizrachi and teacher Kelly Morenus. Dowling College interim Dean Brian Stipelman, along with Dowling professors Nathalia Rogers and Carlos Cunha, were also on hand to observe the proceedings. Amityville senior Malcolm Mathis served as the presiding officer for the debates, which grew in intensity as each student weighed in with their respective country’s views on the topics. The event was a culmination of weeks of research and training as students delved into the debate topics and mapped out positions to share during the conference. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162059 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162059 Students Receive Honorary White Coats from SUNY Stony Brook Ten dedicated Amityville students received honorary physician’s coats from administrators at Stony Brook University at the Board of Education’s December meeting. The coats, delivered to the students in a traditional ceremony, were bestowed for their participation in Stony Brook’s Health Careers Academic Readiness and Excellence Summer Program. The HCARE Summer Program is held for two weeks in the summer to introduce students to the broad spectrum of the opportunities in the medical field. The white coat ceremony was supervised by Dr. Carlos Vidal, associate professor and associate dean at SUNY Stony Brook. Vidal congratulated each student with a certificate in addition to the honorary coats, normally reserved for hospital residents and physicians. In addition to the workshops pertaining to the medical field, participants also received counseling for SAT preparation, goal-setting and college-level essay writing. The following students received coats: Alisha Alexandre Quanisha Alexandre Alijah Benymon Carlos Blanco Edward Friske Esteban Idrovo Jaylynn Jones Ahmad Morgan Kevin Ramos Carlos Vasquez http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162058 Fri, 19 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162058 MS Recognizes First-Quarter Honor Roll Students At the December Board of Education meeting, Edmund W. Miles Principal Ed Plaia recognized 30 students in grades 7-9 who earned the top 10 spots on the school’s first-quarter Honor Roll. Citing their incredible accomplishments and hard work, Plaia acknowledged each top 10 student and presented certificates to those in attendance. To achieve a spot on the Honor Roll, students must maintain a grade point average between 85 and 92.9 and must not have below a 75 average in any subject. Students with a 93 average or higher were designated to High Honor Roll. The students in academic ranking are: Seventh-Grade Honor Roll: Mary Dexter Amelia Tisk Samuel Wong-Schultz Trinity Tobin Jordan Tobin Daron Carpenter Anthony Adams Marlin Valerio Carol Rodriguez-Rodriguez Nathalie Larin Eighth-Grade Honor Roll: Leslie Washington Raiphy Jerez Meghan Luders Dakota Willenbrock Courtney Evans Carlos Ponce Josefa Hernandez Kayla Barrett Jorge Hernandez Perez Jeridania Rodriguez Ninth-Grade Honor Roll: Trevony Palmer Gisselle Monge Eddie Marrero Jr. Isaiah Williams Jerinna Solages Shival Sohan Irach’e Teague Jada Roberts-Duncan Jacob Marrero Gemma Rojas http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162057 Tue, 16 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162057 HS Honor Roll Students Recognized At the Dec. 10 Board of Education meeting, interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose recognized 61 students, grades 10-12, who earned the top 10 spots on the school’s first-quarter honor roll and high honor roll. As she read each of the students’ names, Dr. DeRose highlighted the many ways in which they involve themselves academically and with extracurricular activities. She presented certificates to those in attendance. To achieve a spot on the honor roll, students must maintain a GPA between 85 and 92.9 and must not have an average below 75 in any subject. Students with an average of 93 or higher are designated to the high honor roll. The top 10 students in each category are listed in academic ranking order from left to right: Grade 10 Honor Roll: Madison Daly Elvis Amaya Samantha Lawrence Christine Hermann Jimmy Tavarez Alisha Alexandre Quanisha Alexandre Angela Cruz Nia Fearron Jamori Walrond Grade 10 High Honor Roll: Rael Memnon Esteban Idrovo Ponce Stephanie Uvera Heidy Villatoro Kiana Kearse Lawrence Haave Kemoni Frances Samad Arshad Meghan Jacobsen Cindy Cruz Grade 11 Honor Roll: Stephanie Rowe Jialun Weng Astria Wade Sultan Abdulsalami Berlin Ati Alexis Washington Shanaya Green Jocelyn Cortes Christina Catroppa Diana Martinez Grade 11 High Honor Roll: Brenda Rivera Mejia Rasheed Thomas Shara Wright Dahlia Mallebranche Jovaun Allen Shaneka Bernard Vanessa Nevers Ottey Michael Iorio Rene Hernandez Jaime Ruiz Marcelo Grade 12 Honor Roll: Saul Martinez Netty Valdez Ari’yana Miller Silvia Sanchez Hernandez Maridalia Abreu Imani Marshall Alana Green Cedric Thomas Simone Wint Alexis Henry Grade 12 High Honor Roll: Julia Wood Fabrizio Pico Yundai Hu Briauna Yancey Hughian Bernard Alexyss Robinson Joab Dorsainvil Lashawny Nash Ebony Derr Lucas Bernstein & Lobrye Solages (tied) http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162056 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162056 Middle School Students Lend Creative Hand to Local Center Students in Jennifer Dibble’s art classes and Christina Rotella’s family and consumer science classes recently completed a community service project, creating and donating Thanksgiving table placemats for residents at the Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Amityville. The decorative placemats not only spruced up the feast, but reminded residents at Broadlawn of the importance and beauty of friends, life and family. Browse the gallery for a look at some of these colorful gifts. Students who participated in this service project included: Travis Angus Karina Aracena Bradley Archer Annastassia Baines David Barrios Meza The’ron Benymon Jr. Annaya Bowe Robbie Brimage Kevon Bussie William Byrne Edwin Calderon Ana Candia Flores Cristian Castro Anjelia Cortes Adam Curenton Kylif Farmer Briana Fields Damaris Galo-Reyes Rosa Galvez Marroquin Kaela Gayle Oscar Gomez Destiny Gonzales Thomas Gonzales Natalya Grant Derek Haave Darrell Hall Imagine Halyard Nyleek Hendricks Josabet Hernandez Jorge Hernandez Perez Krystian Hobson Mario Iorio Ashley Izaguirre-Rivera Shamar Jackson Shamar Jacobs Ryans Janvier Gabriel Jean-Bart Wesley Jean-Pierre Emani Jones Sabitha Joseph Tamia Lawhorne Alani Ling Jada Lopez Jonathan Lopez Caceres Briana Lynch Eshanti Mackey Elonie Mackey Anaiya Mason Gabriel McCatty DeAsia McCorvey Selena Merriwether Ayana Myles Joseph Owens Donte Palmer Jose Perez Davonte Pickett Steven Plummer John Quinane Cherica Quintyne Best Alexander Reynoso Mendez Joel Rivera Jada Roberts Duncan Diamond Robinson Carol Rodriguez Rodriguez Gemma Rojas Henry Romero Carcamo Yonathan Rosario Aguilera Joseph Sbarra Isaiah Sears Alexus Shand Jerinna Solages Braden Tannis Yumaree Theodore Anaiah Thompson Sabrina Tobin Trinity Tobin Enroy Toney Melody Vargas Almonte Isaiah Williams Arianah Winfield Jamie Zambrano Alisson Zamora Reyes http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162055 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162055 Breakfast with Santa The Amityville National Honor Society will be hosting Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 13th in the AMHS Cafeteria from 10:30am-1:30pm. There will be breakfast, face painting, crafts, games and of course, Santa! Come enjoy breakfast, meet with and get your picture taken with Santa. Cost is $5 per child and $3 for accompanying adults. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162054 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162054 EWMMS Staff Members Grow ’Stache for Cash Faculty, staff and administrators at Edmund Miles raised $350 for the Movember Foundation during November by growing out their mustaches. Following what has become a tradition in November, the “Movember” movement is a month-long attempt to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems. The middle school staff gathered the money through routine collections and contributions throughout the month. They will be donating it to the foundation, which helps fund more than 800 programs in 21 countries. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162053 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162053 HS Students Attend Awareness Weekend On Nov. 14-15, 140 students and 13 staff members spent 32 hours within the confines of Amityville High School for the Awareness Weekend program. The sleepover event began on Friday afternoon and lasted until 11 p.m. Saturday night. Amityville teacher Jason McGowan, who has been organizing the event since 2003, invited three guest speakers to share their own inspirational stories. Peter Hawkins, who is confined to a wheelchair due to a car accident when he was a teenager, is one of the top wheelchair racers in the country. He shared his powerful story on perseverance and not giving up. Liz, a recovering crack addict who served 10 years in jail for assault, had the students on the edge of their seat as she spoke about her drug and physical abuse. Now 12 years clean, Liz was able to strongly connect with the students because of her "realness" and honesty. She now helps teenagers who are struggling with addiction. Chris Memoli was involved in a car accident while intoxicated and not wearing his seat belt. He now communicates through a device where he types out his response and the computer speaks for him. Through therapy, he is able to walk again. He also received his master’s degree and is living on his own. His story of overcoming adversity and triumphing over tragedy was hard-hitting. Awareness Weekend allowed students to speak about things that have happened to them in their life in a confidential atmosphere. The two-day event also featured family groups, comprised of a student facilitator, an adult facilitator and 10 students. Among the groups’ activities were games, ice-breakers and discussion about the guest speakers. Students had free time throughout the weekend to play basketball or volleyball, dance, take part in a manhunt in the school, or just hang out in the cafeteria with friends. It was a pressure-free environment where students could be themselves for the weekend. Parents came in to serve, the APTC and ATA donated food, and local establishments donated money. The community’s support helped make the weekend a huge success. The event carried over to Monday, when all participants wore their “warm fuzzy” – a fuzzy ball of string – around their necks. Each string represented a hug. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162052 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162052 Northwest ESL Students Thank Vets with Letters In observation of Veterans Day, students in Julianne Postiglione’s first-grade ESL class at Northwest wrote letters to veterans thanking them for their service. “Thank you for giving us freedom and risking your lives for us,” read one letter. “Thank you for my freedom,” read another. “I can go to school because of you. You are very brave.” The ESL first-graders used Veterans Day as an occasion to authentically develop proper sentence structure and grammar, while bringing a smile to the face of a grateful veteran. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162051 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162051 PAMES Students Peek at the Future on Career Day Park Avenue students had a chance to ponder their futures after a visit from area professionals as the school launched its College and Career Week, beginning Nov. 12. On Nov. 14, the students received a special visit in their respective classrooms from account managers, pharmacy technicians, police officers and a host of other professions, all geared toward informing students of their many career choices in life. Earlier in the week, the students heard from Adriana Silva, associate director of admissions from St. Joseph’s College, who spoke to the students about the importance of succeeding at a young age to better prepare for college. The event was organized by Park Avenue counselor Kimberly Balducci. When it comes to learning about future career and college options, it’s never too early to dream what your future may hold,” Balducci said. “This event allows students to meet face to face with those options.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162049 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162049 Message from the Board of Education President At its special meeting on November 5th, the Board of Education took action on various coaching appointments for the Winter season. Coaching appointments are annual appointments. As the community is aware, there was an issue regarding last year’s Boys Varsity Basketball program that resulted in significant media attention. The Board of Education and Administration have spent a considerable amount of time discussing the appointment of an individual for this year’s Boys Varsity Basketball program. This included a discussion regarding the conditions under which the Board would consider the appointment of a former coach for the 2014-15 season. Unfortunately, the parties were not able to reach agreement on the terms of such an agreement. The individual appointed as Boys Varsity Basketball coach by the Board on the evening of November 5th subsequently resigned from this position. The Board has directed Administration to re-post the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach position and has appointed an Acting Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach to start the season. We remain committed to finding a new coach for the 2014-15 season who will carry on the tradition of excellence of the Amityville basketball program. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162050 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162050 Northwest Students Learn Character Counts Northwest held its “Character Counts” assembly on Nov. 7, with an emphasis on name-calling and bullying. The students gathered in the gymnasium to learn all about how to have character – which, they learned, is doing the right thing when no one is watching. They also watched an informative video and answered questions from Becker. Large slides emphasized the Six Pillars of Character, which include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Hosted by school psychologist Debbie Becker and social worker Debra Lee, the assembly was put together to help combat bullying and other forms of harassment while modeling proper behavior and reminding students of how to be a better friend to their neighbor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162048 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162048 NYPD Officer Shot in Line of Duty Visits MS Seventh- and eighth-grade students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School learned a lesson in forgiveness on Nov. 5 when they received a visit from NYPD Detective Steven McDonald, a well-known advocate for nonviolence who was shot in the line of duty in July of 1986. The students gathered in the gymnasium to listen to McDonald speak about breaking the cycle of violence and channeling the power of forgiveness. McDonald cooperated in writing a book titled “Why Forgive?” by Pastor Johann Cristoff Arnold, in which he discusses his decision to forgive 15-year-old Shavod Jones, who shot McDonald three times when he was stopped and questioned in relation to bicycle thefts in Central Park. Jones, who served nine years in prison for the shooting, had called McDonald to apologize for his actions, though the two never met in person. Jones died in a motorcycle accident three days after he was paroled in 1995. The shooting left Detective McDonald a quadriplegic and in need of a ventilator to breathe. Since his injury, he has traveled around the world advocating for peace and nonviolent resolutions to conflict. The students at Miles got a chance to speak to him in person and hear his heroic story. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162045 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162045 Amityville Hosts Sayville in Cultural Exchange http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162043 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162043 Two PAMES Students Win Babylon Town Essay Contest Two students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were awarded second and third place in the Town of Babylon’s Veterans Awareness Week Essay Contest this year. Ryane Zamora and Makayla Schmidt, both sixth-graders in Kathleen Thorn’s English class at Park Avenue, won second and third place, respectively. Zamora’s second-place finish earned her a $75 Target gift card, while Schmidt earned a $50 gift card to Target. The Town of Babylon recognized both students at its Veterans Awareness Week event held at Town Hall on Nov. 2. Zamora and Schmidt were given the opportunity to read from their winning essays at the Town Hall event. The essay contest was created by the Town of Babylon’s Veteran’s Advisory Council as a way to emphasize the contributions of veterans heading into Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The essays were judged by a panel of veterans. In the photo: Makayla Schmidt holds her winning essay beside Ms. Thorn. Missing from the photo is Ryane Zamora. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162042 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162042 PAMES Learns Alicia Keys-Inspired Lesson Why are you here? That’s the question teacher Mike Greco and school counselor Kimberly Balducci asked PAMES fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students and faculty during a special character education lesson held in the school’s auditorium. Students learned about past and present social studies events and incorporated them into their joint lesson. The teachers used Alicia Keys’ new song, “We Are Here,” to inspire the students to think big. They asked the students to join the Alicia Keys movement to help raise awareness of issues around the world that cannot be solved in isolation. The movement is based on the idea of social ecology – that we’re all related and need to work in harmony to create a kinder and better world for everyone. All of the students created posters stating why they are here and then took photographs of each other holding the posters up. The students came up with ideas such as: "I am here to get a good education," “I am here to stop bullying" and "I am here to bring people together." http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162044 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162044 High School Students Conduct College-Level Field Work Students enrolled in earth and environmental science at Amityville had the opportunity to take part in a real-world science experiment when they visited Caumsett State Park in Lloyd Harbor recently. The students discussed the geologic history of the region and collected and analyzed rock and marine samples. The trip provided students with an experience to help them prepare for the upcoming earth science Regents exam. The trip to the park was led by teachers Christine Kilfoil, John Ammirati, Marian Weber, Dr. Laura Soluri, Brenda King and Professor Chris, from Stony Brook University, which provides a staff member to assist the students in understanding local geology. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162046 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:00:00 GMT false162046 Edmund W. Miles Middle School Collects Pond Samples http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162038 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false162038 People to People Information Meeting The event will be held on Monday November 3rd, 6:00 PM at the Amityville Memorial High School. Students Grades 4-12 are invited to attend. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162041 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162041 Northwest Holds ESL Workshop To better prepare both parents and students for whom English is a second language, the Northwest school held a fun and informative ESL workshop on Oct. 22. The workshop featured a detailed PowerPoint presentation guided by Susanne Pena, Amityville’s coordinator for ESL and bilingual programs. Pena presented the information in both Spanish and English. A Haitian Creole version of the presentation was also made available in print format. The ESL workshop was intended to inform parents about what ESL services provide for their children, for what duration they’d receive services, and what determines whether a student requires ESL services. The presentation introduced parents to the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT), a standardized test all students must score proficiently on in order to move out of the ESL program. Additionally, Pena informed the audience of the ESL services offered by Amityville and its extended Limited English Proficiency (LEP) services for those students who do pass the NYSESLAT. Northwest Principal Vincent Todisco kicked off the event, with the help of staff members and volunteers from the National Junior Honor Society under the supervision of NJHS advisor Carlee Wallenstein. The parents and children in attendance were served pizza and soft drinks. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162039 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162039 Message from Dr. Kelly Regarding Safety on Halloween Night Dear Parents and Guardians: It has been reported to school administration that, on Halloween night, some unidentified young people in the community are planning on engaging in a "neighborhood war" game using BB guns and paintball guns to shoot at each other. As you know, these types of guns can cause serious and even fatal injury when used in an inappropriate manner. I have also contacted our local law enforcement agencies so that they are on alert, and I wanted to remind you about the importance of being vigilant regarding child safety so that Halloween is a safe and enjoyable celebration for the children and the community. If you or your child have any information regarding concerns about our students' safety, please contact the police department and the school administration. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162040 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162040 Hispanic Heritage on Display at EWMMS The month of October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Amityville School District has been in full celebration mode, as nearly every school recognized the cultural event. On Oct. 17, Edmund W. Miles Middle School wrapped up its three-day special program in the school’s library, where students in all grades got a chance to build and view colorful displays prepared in anticipation of the month. Librarian Lynn Cesiro led each class in a discussion on the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month, showing students a brief video that highlighted the many rich contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American culture. The students sat beneath a display of student-made piñatas that hung vibrantly from the ceiling. Large-scale panels showing Hispanic-influenced artwork and brief biographies of famous Hispanic figures in world history adorned the edge of the book stacks. Both nonfiction and fiction books by or about Hispanics were on display on tables and surfaces throughout the library. Participating students were also asked to fill out a “Wish Upon a Star Pinata & Mural Project,” in which they wrote down the name of one notable Hispanic person in history and what three questions they would like to ask that person. The forms were collected for a “Wish Upon A Star” piñata and mural, and the students were able to use any of the library’s resources to research their notable Hispanic figure. Browse the photos to see some of these incredible works of art and displays. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162037 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162037 Amityville HS Celebrates Homecoming Amityville held its homecoming parade and game on Oct. 25 on the field at Amityville High School. On a beautiful, warm afternoon, the Warriors showed their pride as they took on the Westhampton Beach Hurricanes before a vocal crowd of supporters. Despite a spirited, gritty performance, the varsity football team fell to the Hurricanes 31-20. Before the game, the Amityville community was treated to a colorful parade as the sophomore class float anchored the route with a very lifelike reconstruction of the school’s football field, complete with a goalpost. The Amityville Parent Teacher Council also showed their pride, waving to the parade audience as they went along on their float. The high school marching band and the Amityville Royal Court helped lead the crowd through the village and onto the field. The halftime show featured performances from the cheerleading squad as well as the marching band and a trio of dancers. Amityville also announced its 2014 homecoming king and queen: Victor Akintola and Jeannine Hernandez, respectively. The candidates for king and queen were Joab Dorsainvil, Malcolm Mathis, Travon Duncan, Lillian Ayodele, Amber Knapp and Jenifer Morency. Additionally, four members of the Amityville community were recognized as recent inductees into the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame. Reynolds Hawkins Jr., Oliver Hinckson, Cherese Hinckson and Jeanette Santos stood at midfield to receive applause for their recent induction. Browse the photo gallery to relive all the action. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162036 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162036 Nine Inducted into Amityville Sports Hall of Fame More than 100 guests turned out on Oct. 24 to see the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame induct nine individuals and the members of two football teams. The newest members of the district’s athletic hall of fame are Warriors Reynolds Hawkins Jr., Cherese Hinckson, Oliver Hinckson, Albert “Allie” Leftenant, Richard Allen Maher, Mary “Mazie” Kretz McDonough, Victor S. Niemi, Jeannette Santos and Kenny Young. Reynolds Hawkins (Class of ’78), a founding member of the Amityville High School Sports Hall of Fame, was nominated and selected for induction this year because of his achievements in basketball, cross-country and track. Among his accomplishments are setting a New York State freshman two-mile record that stood for 27 years and holding cross-country course records at Sunken Meadow State Park. He has also been a successful coach at Amityville since 1996, earning 24 league/county Coach of the Year awards and coaching 16 state champions, among other achievements. In her acceptance speech, Cherese Hinckson (Class of ’97) said she had long been focused on competition with her brother, Oliver, also a member of the Class of 1997 and the 2014 Sports Hall of Fame. Cherese said she was especially grateful to her parents, who were constantly on the go shuttling kids to games. Oliver, for his part, said he first became devoted to athletics after being sent to the time-out room while in high school and ogling the trophy case. He said it inspired him to become a serious athlete. Tommy Leftenant accepted the award on behalf of his father, who was unable to make it, although a dozen other Leftenants were in attendance. Tommy said his father was proud to be part of the Warriors legacy. Jeannette Santos, a long-time member of the Amityville Board of Education and a Warriors athletics booster since 1960, said she was amazed. She felt, as a mother, that all the kids were hers and urged all members of the community to support the children. Inductee Richard Maher, who won county wrestling championships in his weight class in 1965, 1966 and 1967, was equally humble, saying he was just one wrestler in a long line of great Amityville wrestling teams. Bruce Pescitelli spoke on behalf of inductee Kenny Young (Class of ’75), who was both an outstanding soccer and baseball player. He said that when Young stepped up to bat, the baseball scouts would get out their stopwatches to clock how fast he ran. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft and was awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of New Haven, where he decided to attend. The 1956 and 1961 varsity football teams, both winners of the Rutgers Cup, were inducted as well. George Cerchiai, a member of the 1961 team who now lives in Miami, said he was thrilled to be back in Amityville with his former coach Lou Howard, who Cerchiai referred to as “Caption Lou.” The goal of the Amityville High School Sports Hall of Fame is to honor and acknowledge past great athletes, coaches, contributors and teams that have impacted the Amityville school sports community. Its mission is also to reunite the past sports history of the school with the present champions that add to the rich fabric of the Amityville High School athletic program. Browse the photo gallery for a look at all the inductees. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162035 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162035 Junior Recognized by Town of Babylon High school junior Chris Gonzalez was the recent recipient of a Special Recognition Award from the Town of Babylon. Gonzalez received this high recognition for his service to the Department of Human Services as a 2014 Ujima Summer Minority Internship Program participant. He was honored at the Town of Babylon’s 16th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, hosted by Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer and the Department of Human Services in Tanner Park in Copiague earlier this month. The festival featured a keynote address, recognition of Gonzalez and other honorees, cultural presentations, ethnic food sampling, vendors and music. In addition, the Amityville Board of Education took a moment at its most recent board meeting to congratulate Gonzalez. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162034 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162034 Statement from Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Superintendent of Amityville Union Free School District At about 7:40am this morning the Edmund W. Miles Middle School went into lockdown after there were reports of a student who had brought a bb gun to school. District officials immediately notified law enforcement authorities who then responded to the scene. The student responsible for this incident has been identified and the weapon has been confiscated. The lockdown was lifted in less than an hour. At no time were there any threats made to students or staff. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority. The district will continue to communicate any important details as necessary. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162033 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162033 Northwest Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month On Oct. 2, Northwest held its annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. The well-attended event featured a brief history of the influence of Hispanic-Americans, traditional Mexican dancing from Ballet Folklorico, and a wide array of delicious dishes spanning several Latin American countries. The event was made possible by staff members of the Hispanic Heritage Committee of Northwest, the helpful members of Ballet Folklorico (including Susanne Pena, coordinator of ESL, bilingual and world languages), the members of central office and the Board of Education, all of whom attended the evening. All engaged students and families in attendance made the experience memorable as well. Browse the photo gallery to see this colorful and informative event for yourself. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162031 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162031 NJHS Students Visit PAMES Members of the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund Miles Middle School paid a visit to sixth-graders at Park Avenue Elementary to discuss the honor society program and its requirements. Under the supervision of NJHS advisor Carlee Wallenstein, the visit is intended to get students poised to enter seventh grade thinking about their academic future by having a successful year in sixth grade. The NJHS students, donning their signature purple T-shirts, stopped by each sixth-grade classroom in small groups to introduce the program and field any questions. Many of the students raised their hands with questions about the academic rigor of the program, the opportunity to join extracurricular clubs and the overall experience of enrolling in honors-level courses. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162030 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:00:00 GMT false162030 New York State Department of Health Enterovirus Advisory Dear Parents and Guardians: The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) recently issued an advisory regarding the signs and symptoms of enterovirus EV-D68, a serious respiratory illness that has been confirmed in a number of children throughout the State. This virus can cause severe respiratory illness in children, especially those with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions, sometimes resulting in hospitalization. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), school-age children are most likely to get infected with such enteroviruses and become ill because they do not yet have immunity from previous exposures to these viruses. The EV-D68 virus is transmitted through close contact with a person who is already infected, and/or by touching objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching one's mouth, nose, or eyes. There is no specific treatment or anti-viral medications available. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and body aches. Most infected persons have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, but some infections can be serious. The safety of our students and staff is always our primary concern. Our custodial staff members are maintaining a heightened sense of vigilance in the cleaning and sanitizing of the schools. All hard surfaces, including desks, tables, chairs, doors, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces are cleaned on a daily basis using an approved, highly effective germicide that kills viruses and bacteria. You can protect yourself and your family from respiratory illnesses like EV-D68 by following these steps: * Wash your hands often with soap and water. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. * Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick. * Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, often. * Cough and sneeze into your elbow to prevent the spread of germs. * Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others. If your child is sick with a fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, mouth blisters, a skin rash, and body aches, which are signs of an upper respiratory infection, do not send your child to school and contact your medical provider promptly. Our school nurses are available to answer any questions and to assist our students, staff, and families. Yours truly, Mary T. Kelly Dr. Mary T. Kelly Superintendent of Schools http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162029 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162029 PAMES Students Steer Clear of Bullying Fourth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial took part in a two-session multimedia workshop designed to promote empathy and build social skills and assertiveness when dealing with classmates and conflict resolution. Child Abuse Prevention Services, a nonprofit organization, presented the program on Oct. 6 and 7 in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month. During the lessons, CAPS representatives and teachers engaged the students in discussions and stories aimed at teaching kids to steer clear of bullying. A handout titled “Am I A Good Friend/Where Does Bullying Hurt” was provided to teachers prior to the workshops. The presenters used the classroom Smart Boards and played an anti-bullying DVD for the fourth-grade classes. National Bullying Prevention Month began in 2006 as a way to raise awareness of the corrosive influence bullying can have on a school community. According to a 2011 Harvard School of Health Study, schools that have anti-bullying programs reduce bullying by 50 percent. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162028 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162028 NJHS Students Pitch In at Applefest Members of Amityville’s National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School participated in the Amityville Village Applefest on Oct. 4. During the annual festival, the eighth and ninth-grade students helped smaller children pick pumpkins in the pumpkin patch, paint and decorate the pumpkins and assisted the vendors that had set up shop at the festival’s three locations: Park Avenue Elementary School, the Lauder Museum and in the heart of the village itself. The eighth-grade students volunteer as a requirement toward community service, while the ninth-grade students use the service hours for credit toward entry into the National Honor Society. “All of the students, however, truly love being involved,” said Carlee Wallenstein, Amityville’s NJHS advisor. “My students would not leave. They love being a part of the community and being a part of the lives of the little kids in the community. “ During the event, the students donned their trademark purple NJHS t-shirts as they milled around, pitching in at the various locations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162027 Fri, 10 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162027 High Notes for High School Music Students Two accomplished student-musicians will be representing the school district at All-State and All-County competitions this fall after successful auditions last year. Aidan McGlone, a senior soprano, has been selected as a member of the highly selective 2014 All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble, which will perform at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester this December. McGlone was chosen from a large pool of candidates that auditioned last spring at NYSSMA solo and ensemble festivals throughout the state. She was chosen based upon her proficiency score and teacher recommendations. Kristian Morgan, a junior tenor, was selected to represent Amityville as a member of the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Mixed Choir. Rehearsals and a performance from the select choir will take place in November. Morgan was one of many students who auditioned at NYSSMA solo and ensemble festivals held throughout Suffolk County last spring. The All-County festival will feature the county’s top 11th- and 12th-grade students. Morgan was chosen based on his proficiency score and teacher recommendations. “I am extremely pleased for Aidan and Kristian,” said Fran Fernandez, Amityville’s fine arts director. “I congratulate them as well as their families and their past and present music teachers on this outstanding achievement.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162026 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162026 Middle School Students ‘Caught’ Doing the Right Thing In a new initiative being undertaken this year at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, Principal Edward Plaia announced the first two installments of its “Warriors of the Week” program. The program’s purpose is to highlight and recognize students who get “caught” doing the right thing when (they think) nobody is looking. It’s part of a larger character education drive that Plaia said would shed light on the great students at EWMMS. “There are so many great kids here, we wanted to focus on them,” he said. “The kids are totally tuned in to see if they ‘got caught!’” Every Friday, the middle school does video announcements rather than the traditional PA announcements, where they read off the students’ names and provide an explanation about why they were recognized Warriors of the Week. After the names have been announced, the students assemble for a group photo. In its early stages, Warriors of the Week already has been a big hit among the teachers and students, and has potential to improve the school culture. “We want kids to know that we know they are great, and they deserve the recognition for it,” Plaia said. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162025 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162025 Bulletin Board Raises Breast Cancer Awareness Students in Allyson Kretz’s seventh-grade ELA class put together an informative project aimed at raising awareness in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The students took part in two days of classroom discussions based on their research of the disease, which they had conducted using the Internet and magazine articles. They also shared stories of loved ones who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Looking to turn the lessons outward to raise awareness for fellow middle school students, the class took over a bulletin board, decorating it with the slogan “Think Pink” and fixing charts and information to it. Browse the photo gallery to see what a great job the students did. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162024 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162024 College-Minded Students Make Trek to Southern Campuses For the eighth consecutive year, Amityville High School students, under the guidance of social worker Reynolds Hawkins, visited four historically black universities in an attempt to navigate the college application process. During the week of Sept. 22, 32 students visited Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Cheyney University and Lincoln University over a four-day period. The students were introduced to admissions counselors, went on guided tours and visited area museums in what was part college preparedness, part history lesson. “[These visits] gave us a sense of what we’re coming out of in high school and what we’ll be going into,” said Kyle Hobson, who plans to study criminal law and minor in music production. “They also gave me a sense of what my culture has actually done for us and how we’ve developed as a people.” Added Deja Hoover, who plans to study health and physical education, “When I get out of high school, there are going to be more opportunities than my ancestors had. Visiting these colleges allowed me to realize I can take advantage of these opportunities.” Jenifer Morency, a physical therapy student who also plans to run track in college, learned how to narrow down her choices. “I learned that there are colleges that aren’t for you,” she said. “When I visited Virginia State, I felt at home. I could picture myself there. When I visited other colleges, I didn’t get that same experience. So it was important for me to see what I didn’t want, because I won’t get to do these college years over again.” Hawkins said the group that attended ranged from grades 10-12. The Historically Black University Tour program helps students discover a range of college options outside of New York in an environment where they would feel most comfortable and prepared for success. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162023 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162023 Important Message from the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Kelly At approximately 10:30 this morning, while contractors were repairing a fence at the Middle School, they discovered a handgun lying on the ground where the fence line meets the cul-de-sac at Devine Place. They immediately notified District officials and security personnel, who then contacted law enforcement authorities. The police responded to the scene immediately, confiscated the weapon, and are presently investigating the incident. The police also verified that there was no threat to students and staff, and that there was no need for the school to initiate a lockdown. Instruction continued without interruption. The police will continue to investigate the incident and communicate any important information to District officials. The health, safety, and welfare of our students and staff is always our top priority. We commend the workers for immediately reporting the incident. The Edmund W. Miles Middle School is, and will continue to be, a safe place for our students and staff. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162022 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162022 School Community Plants Pinwheels for Peace On Sept. 19, Amityville observed International Peace Day by joining in the global “Pinwheels for Peace” demonstration. District leaders, teachers, students and community members assembled on the front lawn of the high school to read poems, deliver messages of peace and entertain the crowd with songs and a puppet show. The event culminated with the traditional pinwheel planting, where students inserted pinwheels along a spray-painted template of a peace sign. Over at Edmund W. Miles, students decorated the hallways and grounds with messages of peace and unity. The English classes of teachers Kathryn Dodd, Janine Katsigiogis, Kelly Wilson and John Katsigiogis all wrote symbolic peace poems on paper doves, pinwheels and the pavement outside of the school. Jennifer Dibble’s ninth-grade art classes contributed to a large peace sign with their artwork, while Paul Duguay’s and Michele Rudden’s classes added to the artwork with inspirational peace quotes in English and Spanish. The sign was affixed to the front fence of the building. Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Florida art teachers as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. Since its inception, it has grown to more than 4.5 million pinwheels across all seven continents. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162021 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162021 National Grandparents Day Celebration http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162020 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162020 PAMES The ‘Source’ for Resource Night Park Avenue Elementary was the spot of a special event designed to bring organizations and members of the community under one roof. The inaugural “Parent Resource Night” was the brainchild of the Amityville Parent-Teacher Council (APTC). From church organizations and youth soccer leagues, to martial arts and dance studios, more than a dozen tables lined the perimeter of the Park Avenue Elementary School gymnasium, handing out flyers and signing up interested participants. Meanwhile, in the adjoining auditorium, behavioral therapist Adam Holstein and Barbara Cooper from Resources for Kids’ Success held a special education workshop for parents whose children have just begun the new school year. This is the first networking event of its kind for the APTC, and President Maresa Dealy expects the resource night to become an annual fixture. Amityville teachers, administrators and school board members were on hand, manning tables and greeting the parents as they arrived. District leaders at the event included Superintendent Dr. Mary Kelly, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Joan Lange, Board of Education President Lisa Johnson and trustees Carolyn Dodd, Nathan King and Jeanette Santos. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162019 Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162019 Middle School Students Post for Peace In recognition of International Peace Day, students in Kelly Wilson and Kathryn Dodd’s class volunteered their time after school on Sept. 17 to decorate the hallways with inspiring poems and slogans. Working in groups, some students helped create the flyers and dove-shaped cutouts, while others taped them above the lockers and on billboards scattered throughout the third floor of the school. Later in the day, the volunteers for peace went outside and tied ribbons to the perimeter fence that spelled out the word “PEACE.” Browse the photo gallery for a look at all their hard work. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162018 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162018 Board Members Honored by State Body Board of Education trustees Ronald Moss and Kathleen Corbett were recently recognized with awards from the New York State School Boards Association. Trustee Moss was bestowed with a Board Mastery Award, while Trustee Corbett was granted a Board Excellence Award. Both certificates come from NYSSBA’s School Board U program, which offers professional development, seminars and conferences to further enhance school board members’ service to their respective communities. The state body assigns point values to board members who take advantage of the association’s programs throughout the year. Trustees Moss and Corbett received their certificates from Amityville School District Superintendent Mary Kelly at the Sept. 10 Board of Education meeting. In addition to the framed award, they both received a commemorative padfolio, and will be recognized in NYSSBA’s online newsletter On Board. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162017 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162017 Soaking in Some Last-Minute Rays Students in Denise Ferencik’s seventh-grade art class got a chance to feel the summer breeze despite starting school again last week. With temperatures in the high 80s, Ms. Ferencik took the budding artists outside, where they worked on still-life drawings for the remainder of the period. Not a bad way to beat the heat. Browse the photos to see Ms. Ferencik’s students in action. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162016 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162016 Back to School Message and Video from Commissioner John B. King Jr. Click here to view the video http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162012 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162012 Students Head Back to School for 2014-15 Year On Sept. 2, administrators, teachers and staff throughout the school district welcomed students back to the start of the 2014-15 academic year. At all five schools, students eagerly returned with backpacks and supplies in hand. Throughout the first day, students familiarized themselves with their classrooms and teachers and sparked new friendships with their peers. Superintendent Kelly rotated to each school during the day, helping to usher in the start of the new year. “The first day was very successful,” said Dr. Kelly. “It was refreshing to see our students’ faces and their excitement as they returned to school. If the first day is any indication, we have much to look forward to during the 2014-15 school year.” Browse the gallery for some photos of Amityville’s first day. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162013 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162013 New Faculty Welcomed to Amityville With the new school year starting soon, district officials held a new staff orientation on Aug. 26. Beginning with breakfast, during which they heard from Superintendent Mary Kelly, the new teachers and administrators were treated to a day of touring, networking and acclimating themselves to their new jobs. “You’re here today because we have faith and confidence in your ability to help students at Amityville succeed,” Dr. Kelly said in her address. “We’re here to support you and to officially welcome you to Amityville.” The newly hired teachers will begin assignments in all five of the district’s schools. They took a bus tour of the entire district and met with key leaders in human resources and the teacher’s union. Also in attendance were Board of Education trustees Ronald Moss, Carolyn Dodd, Nathan King and Jeanette Santos. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162014 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162014 Superintendent’s Conference Day Held at High School Superintendent Kelly held her traditional Superintendent’s Conference Day at Amityville High School on Aug. 27. In a massive assembly that gathered faculty and staff from all five of the district’s schools, Dr. Kelly officially welcomed back returning staff and introduced new staff members to their colleagues. “I’m excited about this coming school year,” Kelly said. “We’re focused on creating a culture of achievement together at Amityville and everyone in this organization plays a key role in having a positive influence on the life of a child.” The packed audience in the auditorium was treated to a keynote address from Dr. John Hodge, an educational consultant and co-founder of the Urban Learning and Leadership Center. In addition to Dr. Hodge’s discussion, Board of Education President Lisa Johnson spoke to the assembled staff, wishing them well this year. Other board members in attendance included Ronald Moss, Carolyn Dodd, Nathan King and Jeanette Santos. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162015 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162015 Welcome Back Letter Dear Parents and Guardians, I want to officially welcome all of you to the 2014-2015 school year. We have been working tirelessly throughout this summer to make sure the building is clean and ready for students to arrive on Tuesday, September 2, 2014. It is my honor and privilege to have been selected as your Principal, and I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead with our dedicated staff, our wonderful students, and all of our supportive families and community members. The learning years at the primary-elementary level are critical in building the foundation for our students’ eventual college and career readiness, and we will continue to instruct to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. We will also maintain our “Healthy School” status by continuing to encourage healthy foods and promote physical activities. Our school hours are 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Please note the following procedures: Morning Arrival: Students may enter the building as early as 8:45 a.m. It is expected that students will arrive prior to 9:00 a.m. to begin the school day. If you are driving your child to school, please obey the traffic laws on County Line Road and ensure that you and your child use the designated crosswalks and sidewalks for your safety. Afternoon Dismissal: Student dismissal begins at 2:45 p.m. with our walkers. If your child is a walker, you may report to the cafeteria to sign him/her out between 2:45 and 3:00. Students who take the bus will board between 3:00 and 3:10. If your child’s dismissal plans change, he/she must bring a written note to school that states the change before 3:00 p.m. that day. Please read the additional important information that is included with this letter. I look forward to greeting you at our Back to School Night on Thursday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m. Most sincerely, Mr. Vincent Todisco Principal http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162010 Wed, 20 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162010 Welcome Back Letter (Spanish) Estimados padres y tutores, Quiero dar la bienvenida oficialmente a todos ustedes para el año 2014-2015. Hemos estado trabajando incansablemente a lo largo de este verano para asegurarse de que el edificio esté limpio y listo para que los estudiantes lleguen a martes, 02 de septiembre de 2014. Es mi honor y el privilegio de haber sido seleccionado como su Principal, y ansío abrazar los desafíos adelante con nuestro dedicado personal, nuestros estudiantes maravillosos y todo nuestro apoya familias y miembros de la comunidad. Los años de aprendizaje en el nivel primario-elemental son fundamentales en la construcción de la Fundación para la Universidad eventual nuestros alumnos y la preparación de la carrera, y continuaremos instruir a los estándares comunes de estado centrales en Artes del idioma inglés y matemáticas. También mantendremos nuestra condición de "Escuela saludable" Continuando estimular los alimentos saludables y fomentar las actividades físicas. Nuestro escuela el horario es de 9:00-3:00. Tenga en cuenta los siguientes procedimientos: Llegada mañana: Los estudiantes pueden entrar en el edificio tan pronto como 8:45 Se espera que los estudiantes llegarán antes de 9:00 para empezar el día escolar. Si usted está conduciendo a su hijo a la escuela, por favor obedezca las leyes de tráfico en County Line Road y asegurarse de que usted y su niño con los cruces de peatones designados y las aceras para su seguridad. Tarde despido: Despido estudiante comienza a las 2:45 con los caminantes. Si su hijo es un andador, puede informar a la cafetería que le deje entre 2:45 y 3:00. Los estudiantes que toman el autobús subirá entre 3:00 y 3:10. Cambio los planes de despido de su hijo, él/ella deberá traer una nota escrita a la escuela que indica el cambio antes de 15:00 ese día. Por favor lea la información importante adicional que se incluye con esta carta. Espero poder saludaros en nuestra noche de regreso a la escuela el jueves, 11 de septiembre, a las 7:00. Sinceramente, Sr. Vincent Todisco Director http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162011 Wed, 20 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162011 2014-15 School District Calendar Click here for the 2014-15 school district calendar. The printed calendar will be mailed home to residents prior to the opening of school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162008 Tue, 05 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162008 Help Wanted: Security Guards The Amityville School District is looking for experienced active and retired Police Officers for its newly formed Security Department. Emergency Management experience and the ability to work well with students and staff is required. Please, send resumes to the attention of Sydney Freifelder, Amityville UFSD, 150 Park Ave., Amityville, NY 11701 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162007 Fri, 01 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162007 AMHS Hosts 2nd Annual Summer Track and Field Clinic Approximately 25 young men and women from all over Suffolk County participated in a Summer Track and Field Clinic at Amityville Memorial High School, conducted by the AMHS Sports Hall of Fame. Held over the course of one week in July, the clinic taught young athletes technique, movement, power, fluidity and muscle memory in the major track and field events. Award-winning AMHS track coach and soon-to-be AMHS Sports Hall of Fame inductee Reynolds Hawkins facilitated the clinic (now in its second year) and led a staff of record-holding athletes and highly qualified coaches in the jumping and sprinting/hurdles events. Instructors included Lloyd Constable, a former All-American from North Babylon who is the Suffolk County and Notre Dame record holder for the high jump; Courtney Hawkins, a former Big 8 Conference Champion runner and Pan Am Games silver medalist; and Rick Jordan, a former Long Island record-holder for the 500-meter and U.S. junior champ in the 400-meter hurdles who once placed seventh in the world at the junior championships. Courtney Hawkins and Jordan trained together at the University of Houston and ran alongside the likes of nine-time Olympic gold medal winner Carl Lewis and other world and national record holders as members of the renowned Santa Monica Track Club. “No one school on Long Island does anything like this that’s open to student-athletes from across the area,” said Jordan, a Baldwin native who now resides in New Jersey and has extensive experience running clinics. “We are working on their running technique and form and working out the little (bad) quirks in these athletes. They are responding well and really doing a great job.” Open to teens from all over Long Island, some of the top high school runners in the county attended the clinic, including AMHS alumnus Vincent Jackson, a former top 10-ranked runner in New York State for the sprint medley who teamed with another AMHS clinic attendee, Kaashief Morgan, to form a 4x100 relay team that ranked No. 1 in New York State two years ago. The AMHS Summer Track and Field Clinic culminated with a spirited competition on the final day, in which parents and friends were invited to watch the participants show off some of the skills they had learned. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162006 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162006 Summer Feeding Program in Swing at Select Schools Amityville’s summer feeding program is currently underway, with two schools functioning as open sites at least until the end of this week. On July 31, the feeding program at Northwest Elementary School will finish its final day, serving breakfast from 8-8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. After that, Edmund W. Miles Middle School will be serving breakfast from 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch from 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. up until Aug. 15. The summer feeding program offers free breakfast and lunch to all children between the ages of 2 and 18. There is no application process, and it is free and open to the public. This is the program’s seventh year in existence. For more information about the program, check out the official flier and menu schedule, which is posted in the Announcements section on this site under the headline “Summer Feeding Program.” Or call Renee Bloom, food services director, at 631-565-6573. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162005 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162005 AMHS Artists Make Memorable Portraits Prior to the end of the school year, members of the Amityville Memorial High School National Art Honor Society completed their work on The Memory Project a unique initiative in which advanced high school art students create original portraits for children from all over the world who have been abandoned, orphaned, abused, or neglected. AMHS art students received pictures of children who are waiting for portraits, then worked in their art classrooms and afterschool to create the portraits. Once finished, the portraits were delivered to the children overseas. “Thanks to the generosity and support of our staff who have sponsored us for the past six years we have been able to create portraits for children from the Ukraine, Peru, Mexico, Honduras and last year Guyana,” said AMHS art teacher Jayne Grasso, who oversees the students’ work and the school’s participation in the project. This year AMHS students created portraits for children from the Philippines. Ben Schumaker, founder of The Memory Project, recently delivered the portraits to The Philippines. Watch the delivery: http://www.memoryproject.org/Philippines2014 This AMHS student artists who participated in The Memory Project are: Student Artist Angelica Gonzalez - Portrait of Iskol David Hobbins - Portrait of Jamil Josue Reyes - Portrait of Jane Jerdh Michel - Portrait of Janice Ebony Derr - Portrait of Jemma Janae Hammond - Portrait of Esmael Etiana Coley Mells - Portrait of Esmeralda Lenny Ramirez - Portrait of Esperanza Jamel Jenkins - Portraits of Evelyn, Jayron Manuel Santos - Portrait of Ferdinan Alexyss Robinson - Portrait of Gabriel Melida Ventura - Portrait f Ginny Brianna York - Portrait of Gino Kerina Herard - Portrait of Glayds http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162004 Thu, 17 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162004 Congratulations Class of 2014 Marching across the Lou Howard field, the Amityville High School Class of 2014 was met with rousing cheers and applause as they celebrated their graduation on June 28. The AMHS symphonic band, under the direction of Brian Wishin, played “Pomp and Circumstance” as a sea of red and silver proceeded into the ceremony. Sgt. John Kreyer, commander of VFW Post 7223, began the ceremony by introducing the six members of the Class of 2014 who will be entering the military. He called up to the stage Latryce Gaddy (U.S. Army), Jamel Jenkins (U.S. Marine Corps), Mykel McLamb (U.S. National Guard), Jessica Rubio (U.S. Army), Gavin Stevens (U.S. Marine Corp) and Joseph Thomas (U.S. Army) to recognize and honor them for their decision to serve their country. Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose congratulated the class on their accomplishments thus far, offering words of advice for the next leg of their journey. “You are a caring, compassionate group of young people who have the spirit and energy to change the things that need to be changed in this world,” Dr. DeRose said. She compared the challenges to those of David and Goliath, telling the graduates to stand strong no matter what they face. “There will be times you will be the underdog and face a much stronger opponent,” she said. “On your journey through life, you will encounter many situations where you will be the underdog. Class of 2014, go forward and take down Goliath.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly also commended the graduates on their success. “It’s been an honor and privilege to watch you grow into the confident, kind and passionate young men and women you have become,” she said. “Today is a milestone that marks a wonderful chapter in your life. Take time to recognize the people who have made this possible – your family, friends, teachers, coaches and advisers. It’s time now for you to chart the course, set the sails and take charge of the next leg of your journey.” Salutatorian Bilah Verno said she believed every one of her fellow classmates has what it takes to be successful in life. “Students in this class can do great things if we apply ourselves to the maximum capacity,” Verno said. “We overcame obstacles that were put before us. No matter what path you take it life, give it your all and you will succeed.” Valedictorian David Holmes asked his fellow classmates how hard they are willing to work for what they want out of life. “What are you willing to do for what you believe?” he asked. “Nobody said it would be easy. We are a class of many different races, ethnicities and personalities. Today we come together as one, the Class of 2014. Our journey is not over. Learn from your mistakes; grow into the amazing people I know you all are. Your life is your book. You write the pages. How would you like people to read it?” After remarks by 2014 President Stanley Colas and class adviser Maria Carrua, who both offered congratulations and well wishes for the soon-to-be graduates, the presentation of diplomas was met with roaring applause by all. Congratulations to the Amityville High School Class of 2014! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162002 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 18:00:00 GMT false162002 Board of Education Reorganizes The Amityville Board of Education recently held its annual reorganization meeting in preparation for the 2014-15 school year. Newly elected Board Trustee Carolyn Dodd was sworn in, along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly. Additionally, the Board appointed Lisa Johnson to continue her service as President. Ronald Moss was appointed to serve as First Vice President and Terry Fulton was named Second Vice President. The Board of Education meets regularly throughout the school year, usually on the first and second Wednesdays of the month. For a complete schedule of meetings for the 2014-15 school year, click on the Board of Education tab on the district homepage and go to the Board of Education page. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162003 Tue, 08 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162003 Amityville HS to Again Host Summer Track and Field Clinic The Amityville Memorial High School Sports Hall of Fame will conduct a Summer Track and Field Clinic beginning July 21 on the AMHS campus. Participants will be trained in jumping, sprinting and hurdling. Designed to immediately improve on the technique, movement, power and aid in fluidity to maximize muscle memory for participants, the ultimate goal is to guarantee improvement on performance in these track and field events. The clinic will be held over the course of five days, from July 21-25, 2014, 3:30-7 pm. Tuition is $175 per participant. AMHS track coach Reynolds Hawkins will run the clinic. Coach Hawkins has led the AMHS Warriors to 19 league titles and 12 division/county titles, with 14 state champions, 23 state medalists overall and 7 All-Americans, with many team members winning scholarships. Coaches Lloyd Constable and Courtney Hawkins join Coach Reynolds Hawkins; both are record-holding athletes, highly qualified in coaching and certified in CPR/AED and first aid. For more information contact Coach Hawkins at 631-804-8294 or email him: Famuhawk82@gmail.com. All participants must obtain their own transportation to the AMHS campus, located at 250 Merrick Road in Amityville. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161999 Fri, 27 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161999 David Holmes: Class of 2014 Valedictorian Throughout his high school career, Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2014 valedictorian David Holmes has demonstrated excellent leadership and character to go along with his academic prowess. David has tutored multiple students in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, served as a mentor to seventh-graders, has volunteered to read to young children and chaperone during family evening activities. He has also presented to his classmates about the Historical Black Colleges Tour; helped senior citizens sign up for emergency services; distributed informational flyers, food, clothing and supplies to residents whose homes were ravaged by Superstorm Sandy; and has raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and breast cancer research and awareness. Since his sophomore year, David has served as AMHS student government treasurer. He plans on studying accounting in college and has taken Honors courses in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, pre-calculus and geometry, among others. David has also taken five different Advanced Placement courses, is an AP Scholar with Honor having achieved a 3 or higher on four or more AP exams and will graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma. He was inducted into the National Honor Society in April 2012 and has been a member of the World Languages Honor Society for just as long. No stranger to being at the head of the class, David was the salutatorian for the ninth-grade class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Well-rounded throughout, David is also a dedicated athlete, having been a member of both the AMHS spring and winter track squads for three years with All-Academic honors in 2011 for both. He also has a season of JV football under his belt. A talented vocalist, David has served as the lead tenor and overall vocalist of the Church Children’s Choir and sang for his ninth-grade chorus. “David’s ability to be well-rounded while balancing a most demanding academic load shows a level of dedication and tenacity both in and outside of the classroom,” said his guidance counselor, Jackie Noon. “He is intellectually mature and a wonderful young man who is ready to take on a greater responsibility, and will succeed in college.” David will attend Florida A&M University, where he plans to major in accounting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161995 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:00:00 GMT false161995 Bilah Verno: Class of 2014 Salutatorian Bilah Verno has been loading up on advanced science courses in preparation for a career as pediatric nurse practitioner. Yet, she’s not putting all her eggs in one basket, as she intends to pursue her undergraduate degree as a double major in accounting and nursing. It doesn’t hurt that she’s also the Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2014 salutatorian. A “smart scholar” in the truest sense, having been enrolled in Farmingdale State College prep program of the same terminology, Bilah knows her advanced studies, taking anatomy and physiology, SUPA forensics science, chemistry, AP environmental science, pre-calculus, AP calculus, AP world, and AP U.S. literature. She has even studied physics independently. A member of both the National Honor and National World Languages honor societies since 2011, Bilah has made High Honor Roll dating back to the ninth grade. Extracurricular activities, community service and overall hard work exemplify Bilah’s school career. In addition to academic extracurriculars, such as the Science in Technology Entry Program (STEP) and Mathletes, Bilah is a talented singer as a member of the Church Choir and a runner on the AMHS varsity girls track team, which she achieved All-Academic honors. Bilah has also used her knowledge in math and science as a tutor and has volunteered her time in the community at the Town of Babylon’s Black History Month program, family warming centers following Superstorm Sandy, wrapping holiday gifts for the homeless and babysitting at Northwest Elementary School’s culture night. She has also been a member of the Town’s UJIMA internship program, aiding local senior citizens and mentally challenged youngsters with their daily activities. Bilah is not too proud to even lend a hand sweeping floors through her summer work at the Northeast School. “Bilah has not let her dedication to academics stop her from being an active member of our school and community,” said her guidance counselor Andrew Akapnitis, who referenced her work in also beautifying AMHS. “She believes hard work should continue outside of the classroom and we can always count on Bilah to help with any task, no matter how big or small that we ask!” Bilah will attend Stony Brook University, where she plans to major in nursing. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161996 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:00:00 GMT false161996 Top 25 Honored Amityville Memorial High School hosted a special “Top 25 Breakfast” in the school courtyard for the 25 top-ranked students in the Class of 2014. Supt. of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly and Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose were among those on hand to praise the students on their excellent achievement this year. Top 25 member Anthony Abate entertained the group by performing the saxophone. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161993 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161993 21st Century B.E.S.T. Program Amityville’s 21st Century B.E.S.T. program provides afterschool learning and enrichment that promotes physical fitness, wellness and creative expression while implementing academics to improve classroom performance and prepare students for the real world. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161998 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161998 Moving Up Leading up to the weekend’s high school commencement exercises, Northeast, Northwest, and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary Schools, along with E.W. Miles Middle School conducted their own moving-up exercises to honor kindergartners, third-graders, sixth-graders and ninth-graders, respectively as they advance to their next school and reach yet another milestone in their educational journey. At Northwest the ceremony took on special meaning for Interim Principal Dr. Shirley Martin, as the third-graders honored her for her service to the school with a heartwarming tribute. These students initially were to graduate Northwest last year before the school expanded to include the third grade. Congratulations to all! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=162000 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false162000 County Honors 21st Century Tolerance Club The 21st Century BEST Program Tolerance and Acceptance Club at Edmund W. Miles Middle School was recently honored by the Suffolk County Inter-Faith Anti-Bias Task Force for a public service announcement video they created this winter about tolerance and standing up to bias behavior. For the PSA, the Tolerance and Acceptance Club chose the tag line “I won’t stand for…” followed by terms such as “intolerance,” “hate,” “homophobia,” “racism,” “violence,” “bullying” and “discrimination.” For the video, students donned t-shirts that displayed these messages. According to adviser Ron Weber, the club members wanted to make an impactful public statement and discussed together how best to get their message across. The PSA video airs on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/op55g9x. Mr. Weber, 21st Century BEST Drama Club adviser Gerald Asbell, and EWMMS health teacher Bernadette Kraljic (all of whom were instrumental in creating the PSA) attended a ceremony at the Suffolk County Legislative offices in Hauppauge, where they accepted their award from Suffolk County Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory and Anti-Bias Task Force co-chairs Rabbi Dr. Steven A. Moss and Rev. JoAnn Barrett. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161989 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 14:00:00 GMT false161989 Sharpening Skills for the Summer In an effort to encourage kindergarten and first-grade parents to reinforce literacy and math skills with their children during the summer months, Northeast Elementary School held a prime time family summer event that include a Title I workshop for parents and a series of different games and activities for young students. Word building skills, journal writing, and fun math games were among the activities promoted at various stations assembled in the school gymnasium. Students also had the opportunity to create and take home bug jars, enjoy a giant fun slide and participate in peaceful playground exercises using new games created on the blacktop area. Hot dogs, sweet potato fries and refreshments were served. Northeast librarian Tina Smith coordinated the event. Information on the Amityville Public Library summer reading program was also available. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161990 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161990 Burgers & Ice Cream…All for Education The Amityville Parent Teacher Coalition recently teamed up with neighboring Amityville businesses Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Hershey’s Ice Cream and Treats for a fundraiser. A percentage of both stores’ June 10 afternoon–evening proceeds were donated to the APTC to be used toward future programs for Amityville students. Both establishments were filled with Amityville families in support of the effort, which raised $650. Amityville Memorial High School senior Anthony Abate provided entertainment for diners, as the All-State, All-County musician performed his saxophone as a special thank you for the support the APTC and district have given him. APTC President Maresa Dealy and Secretary Laura Pawlewicz are pictured in front of both establishments. Thanks to Five Guys and Hershey’s Ice Cream of Amityville and all those who came to either restaurant in support of the Amityville schools. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161991 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161991 Valedictorian David Holmes Awarded Full Scholarship Amityville Memorial High School valedictorian David Holmes has received a full scholarship to attend Florida A&M University, where he plans to major in accounting. David has demonstrated excellence with numbers throughout his educational career, having tutored multiple students in Algebra 2/Trigonometry and taken Honors courses in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, pre-calculus and geometry, among others. Since his sophomore year, David has also served as AMHS student government treasurer. He is congratulated here by social worker Reynolds Hawkins (a Florida A&M alumnus), AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose and Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161992 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161992 Track Stars Compete at States & Nationals; Place High in Multiple Competitions The Amityville Memorial High School Warrior spring track team sent five runners to the New York State championships in Syracuse last weekend, where Travon Duncan finished 3rd overall in the entire state in the 110 high hurdles competition. Travon was joined in Syracuse by Devante Duhancy, Collin Koward, Hassan Matthews, and Kaashief Morgan who competed in the 4x1 relay, finishing 9th overall. The group competed at the national championships in Greensboro, North Carolina this past weekend, where they were accompanied by teammates Brenden Paula and Aasin Thomas. In the Emerging Elite 4x200 meter relay Hassan, Travon, Brenden and Kaashief finished 3rd and ran the fastest time on Long Island. In the Emerging Elite 800-meter sprint medley relay Travon, Hassan, Devante and Kaashief teamed up to finish 4th and ran the 2nd fastest time on Long Island. Their coach is Reynolds Hawkins, with help from Jerry Pollock. Congratulations to the team on another successful showing! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161988 Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161988 Beaming with Pride Amityville Memorial High School recently served as host to the annual end-of-the-year, district-wide dinner and celebration of student accomplishments and the arts, known as Pride Day. The AMHS Jazz Band, led by adviser Brian Carter, kicked off the festivities with yet another wonderful performance. Fourth-grade teacher and returning Master of Ceremonies Marc Engler delivered the opening remarks and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly welcomed Amityville students, their families and friends, faculty, staff, administration and Board of Education members, all of whom gathered on the AMHS field on a beautiful afternoon–early evening. Students from Northeast Elementary School led guests in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. They, along with singers from Northwest and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary Schools and Edmund W. Miles Middle School delivered uplifting choral selections before the Presentation of Stars from their respective schools. The EWMMS Step Team also performed and AMHS presented its Stars as well. Director of Fine Arts Fran Fernandez coordinated the event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161986 Fri, 06 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161986 21st Century Revisits the History of Amityville Amityville School District’s 21st Century Community Learner Center BEST program students recently stopped by the Amityville Historical Society’s Lauder Museum to learn about the Village’s past, view artifacts and learn a little bit about how their hometown has evolved through the years. Museum curator Seth Purdy and Amityville Historical Society Vice President Doris Reynolds provided an overview of Amityville’s history, including a tour of the museum, which once operated as a bank. Students prepared and asked questions of Mr. Purdy. Some of the things they learned: settlers first arrived in Amityville in 1658; Amityville Village was first incorporated in 1894; and the word Amity means “friendship” or “harmony.” 21st Century Director Jack Zider and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School librarian and 21st Century club adviser Mary O’Hara accompanied the students on their visit and helped to facilitate the question and answer period. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161984 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161984 Paying Tribute to Chris Amityville Memorial High School’s auditorium was abuzz with the sounds of jazz and different genres of music as current students, alumni and fellow musicians and colleagues gathered to honor the memory of Chris LaMarca, the late AMHS Jazz Band leader and district music teacher who passed away last year. Eleven different musical acts comprised this year’s Chris LaMarca Memorial Concert, a celebration of his life and musical legacy that took place on Friday, May 30. AMHS All-State saxophonist Anthony Abate, who was greatly influenced by Chris, performed with his father Anthony senior and younger brothers Andrew and Patrick. Anthony also led a collaboration of current and alumni Jazz Band members to close out the show. Other performers included The Brian Carter Quartet, led by current AMHS Jazz Band leader and former LaMarca student Brian Carter; the duos of Brendan and Aiden McGlone, Dakota Willenbrock and Amber Preez, Cherelle Cruz and Christian Bethea, and Ryan Campbell and Alex Ynoa; The Griffins; Till Death Do Us Part; Melrose & New; and The Bay Big Band, a popular veteran jazz band for which Mr. LaMarca was a member. Dakota also teamed with Anthony and Patrick Abate and Kyle Hobson on a few numbers. Amityville Teacher’s Association President Robert Claps and Edmund W. Miles Middle School teacher Carlee Wallenstein organized the concert, which raised monies for Amityville student music scholarships to be awarded in the future. Chris LaMarca’s widow Michele LaMarca and his father John were in attendance. Amityville Athletic Director William Maisel once again served as the master of ceremony and performed a surprise rendition of “Let It Be.” “We discussed holding a moment of silence in his honor, but decided that Chris would rather us use that time to enjoy the sounds of good music,” said Mr. Maisel. Special thanks to all of the performers, attendees and contributors, including the stage and sound crew. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161985 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161985 Dr. Mary T. Kelly Appointed as Superintendent of Schools The Amityville Board of Education unanimously appointed Dr. Mary T. Kelly as Superintendent of Schools, effective July, 1, 2014. Dr. Kelly has been serving as Acting Superintendent of Schools since February, after the passing of former Superintendent Dr. John Williams. Following a nationwide search that consisted of reviewing several resumes, conducting multiple rounds of interviews and taking into account valuable input from the community, the Board of Education agreed that Dr. Kelly was the best choice to lead the Amityville Schools. “We are thrilled and fortunate to have Dr. Kelly as our superintendent, and we look forward to working with her to provide our students and staff with the resources and direction necessary to succeed in this ever-changing landscape of public education,” said Board of Education President Lisa Johnson. “Dr. Kelly has a vast knowledge of curriculum and how data can drive student achievement. Additionally, she knows our district, staff and children very well. She has been the consummate collaborator and professional since joining the Amityville team and has been a strong, visible and responsive leader as our acting superintendent. As a Board, we are confident that she will continue to advance our district to great successes.” Dr. Kelly has served as the Assistant Superintendent for the Amityville School District since 2008. Prior to coming to Amityville, she was employed by the Kings Park School District and served in several roles there, including Director for Assessments, Research, and Instructional Support, high school assistant principal and high school social studies teacher. She began her career in education as a social studies teacher in the East Meadow School District. Dr. Kelly is also an adjunct associate professor at Dowling College and has published numerous research papers in the field of education that have been accepted to national and international peer-reviewed conferences. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Hofstra University and her doctorate from Dowling College. “I am honored and humbled that the Board of Education has entrusted me with the responsibility of leading the Amityville School District as the Superintendent of Schools,” Dr. Kelly stated. “I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Board of Education, the staff, families, and the community to provide our children with the very best learning environment and every opportunity for success.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161972 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161972 Northeast Participates in Global Youth Service Day For the eighth consecutive year, Northeast Elementary School teamed up with the Town of Babylon and New York State Assemblyman Bob Sweeny’s office to help better their community. This year, Northeast students and staff participated in the “Peaceful Playground” project as part of the Town of Babylon’s Global Youth Service Day program. Northeast School was provided with a blueprint by the Peaceful Playgrounds organization to help guide them with measurements, layout, spacing and game placement to colorfully remark the surface of their playground. The goal is to create new and engaging games and activities for children. The redesigned playground surface provides students with the ability to enjoy hopscotch, scattered circles, an alphabet grid, a number grid and a crossover-walking grid. Assemblyman Sweeney’s office and the Town of Babylon sponsor the effort, which not only enhances the playground experience at the school, but also promotes collaboration and service in Northeast’s young students. The playground surface also helps the school to manage and structure their play area. The philosophy of the Peaceful Playgrounds program is to promote friendship and reduce playground confrontations. Pictured are Northeast student representatives from Nicole Faber’s class with (back row, L-R) Town of Babylon Director of Beautification Programs Florence Findley, Babylon Deputy Town Supervisor Tony Martinez, Northeast teacher Nicole Faber, Northeast School Principal Dr. Pauline Collins, Assemblyman Sweeny’s Legislative Aide Denise Kretz, Northeast Speech Teacher Colleen Kretz and Northeast teacher assistant Yuko Suzuki. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161983 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:00:00 GMT false161983 Knowing the Science of Evolution Several students enrolled in the Living Environment course taught by Deborah Charles at Edmund W. Miles Middle School were recognized for their participation in the Human Evolution Exhibit at the Farmingdale State College Science Summit Fair. EWMMS Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis and Ms. Charles are seen here congratulating participants, who were honored at a recent Board of Education meeting. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161982 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161982 Eduardo Ramirez Signs on to Wrestle at LIU Post Amityvlle Memorial High School senior Eduardo Ramirez Jr., who starred on the Warrior varsity wrestling squad, will attend Long Island University Post this fall and wrestle for the LIU Pioneers after receiving scholarship monies from the school. “Eduardo is a dedicated student-athlete who is always striving to challenge himself, both in and out of the classroom,” said head coach Greg McCoy, who noted that Eduardo is training to advance to a higher weight class. This season he finished 2nd overall in Suffolk County for his weight class of 138, with a record of 39-5. Eduardo recently placed 4th in a national tournament. Coach McCoy stood by Eduardo’s side along with Acting Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose and Athletic Director William Maisel as he signed his commitment letter. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161980 Fri, 30 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161980 Honored for Service to His Community Amityville Memorial High School student Victor Cobos was recently honored by the Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity and Human Understanding and the Jewish Community Relations Council of L.I. as part of the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration held at Suffolk Community College in Selden. Victor was honored for his participation in service events designed to make a difference in the community– and the world at large. He was among a distinguished group of students from throughout Suffolk County who were celebrated alongside Holocaust survivor and Suffolk resident Ruth Minsky Sender. Victor is congratulated here by his teacher social studies teacher Dawn Mizrachi (left) and AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161981 Fri, 30 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161981 Artistic Environmentalist Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School sixth grader Amelia Tisk participated in the New York State Earth Day 2014 Poster Contest last month. The theme was: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." Amelia showcased her artistic talent and commitment to the environment. This contest welcomed students in grades K-6 from across New York State and was designed to encourage children to develop an awareness of the environment and appreciation for the precious natural resources that surround them. PAMES art teacher Christina Marcolla congratulates Amelia here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161978 Fri, 23 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161978 The Science of Evolution Several students enrolled in Deborah Charles’ Living Environment class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School were recognized for their participation in the Human Evolution Exhibit at the Farmingdale State College Science Summit Fair held in March 2014. EWMMS Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis and Ms. Charles are seen here congratulating the participants. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161979 Fri, 23 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161979 NJHS Welcomes 17 New Members; Donates $2K to St. Jude’s The Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society inducted 17 new members into the organization, lighting the way for a new group of high character leaders and academic achievers to make their mark on the Amityville community and help others along the way. Current NJHS officers Eddie Marrerro Jr., Sabrina Tobin, Kimberly Bonilla and Giselle Monge expounded on the virtues of the society’s five pillars of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character, before lighting candles representing each quality. NJHS Adviser Carlee Wallenstein, EWMMS Interim Principal Dr. Steven Kussin and Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis conducted the presentation of new members, immediately followed by the NJHS pledge and official candle lighting by inductees. Keeping with EWMMS tradition, each new NJHS member presented a flower to a loved one in the audience. In her closing remarks, Ms. Wallenstein commended the group– new and old members– on their accomplishments throughout the year. NJHS members volunteer at various school and community events throughout the year. This year they raised $2,000 to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Current NJHS officers presented an oversized check to Laura Wallenstein, Regional Director for the hospital. Congratulations to the following new NJHS inductees: Patrick Abate, Stephany Carbajal, James Carey, Yosselyn Castillo-Turcios, Britney Colas, Victoria Erwat, Courtney Evans, Josefa Hernandez, Raiphy Jerez, Ashley Membreno, Mikel Murphy, Ashley Pico, Carlos Ponce, Katirya Tyson-Cardona, Kerrianne Victor, Jordan Wellington and Dakota Willenbrock. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161977 Tue, 20 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161977 Voters Approve 2014-15 School Budget: The Amityville School District is pleased that voters approved the proposed school district budget for the 2014-15 school year. This affirms the hard work of many people over several months. The District strives to provide a quality instructional and extracurricular program for students, while limiting the tax increase for our community. We thank all residents who participated in this process. • Budget Passes: 665-241 • Capital Reserve Proposition Passes: 683-189 • Congratulations to Lisa Johnson, Ronald Moss and Carolyn Dodd who were elected to the Board of Education http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161975 Tue, 20 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161975 Amityville Teachers Honor, Award Students The Amityville Teachers Association recently held its annual poetry writing and scholarship awards ceremony, honoring three students at every Amityville school for their creative talent while providing scholarships to deserving Amityville Memorial High School seniors and two Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth graders. ATA President Robert Claps and teacher/emcee Marc Engler presided over the event, which took place in the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School auditorium. First-, second- and third-place poetry awards were presented to 30 students from prekindergarten through high school. (Click here for the complete list). The ATA Memorial Scholarship Award was presented to AMHS seniors David Holmes and Matthew Dubinksy; the Maxine Postal Award (for service) was presented to Anthony Abate and Yesenia Morales; the Chris LaMarca Memorial Award (for music) was presented to Anthony Abate; and the Ninth-Grade General Excellence Award was presented to Meghan Jacobsen and Esteban Idravo. Additionally, the ATA honored one of its own, as Northwest School teacher Margaret Brooks was presented with the Friend of Education Award. Ms. Brooks was recognized for her volunteerism around the Amityville schools, including providing musical accompaniment and entertainment at various school community events. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161976 Mon, 19 May 2014 16:00:00 GMT false161976 A Living Tribute to a Beloved Man The Amityville School District recently paid tribute to the late Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams with a special ceremony that left a living memorial for all to remember him in every school. With the help of volunteers and support from the district groundskeepers and maintenance staff, a tree and flowers were planted at every school site, dedicated to Dr. Williams. Students lent their gardening expertise to the effort as well. Many local donors made contributions to the memorials, including the Bay Village Civic Association, which provided many of the plantings. Each tree is located on the front grounds of the school campus. Dr. Williams’ wife Rita, son John and brother Randy were also present for the ceremony, which included an invocation given by Dr. David Robinson, president of the Ministerial Alliance of N. Amityville. There was also a performance by the Amityville Memorial High School jazz band, a special tribute video organized by technology teacher Steve Carbo and many kind words said by Board of Education President Lisa Johnson and Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly. “Dr. Williams was always a person who could bring people together: children, staff, teachers, administrators and community members,” said Ms. Johnson. “He loved the children of Amityville and did everything he could for them and the district.” Dr. Williams served as Amityville School District superintendent from 2007 until his passing in February 2014. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161974 Mon, 19 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161974 A Playground Comes to PAMES Thanks to a significant grant from the Junior League of Long Island, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School has a shiny new playground for the students to enjoy. The JLLI is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLLI President Tyran Sullivan and co-chairs Jennifer Copobianco and Kelly Morgano led a team of 30 volunteers, which included friends of JLLI such as PAMES Principal Scott Bullis, Assistant Principal Rose Hutcherson and a few others affiliated with the school, who sacrificed a Saturday to install the playground – all in just one day! Ms. Copobianco and Morgano stopped by a recent Board of Education meeting to inform the community of the new playground, where they were met with accolades and applause. “Thank you for making our dream a reality,” Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly said to Ms. Copobianco and Morgano. Dr. Kelly was on hand at PAMES when many wide-eyed youngsters made their way to the new playground for the first time. The JLLI donates one playground every two years to a community that expresses interest and need. The PAMES playground is the largest they built to date. The organization primarily raises funds through its Roslyn-based thrift shop. For more information go to http://www.jlli.org/ or call 516-621-4890. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161973 Thu, 15 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161973 EWMMS Plays “Beauty and the Beast Jr." Edmund W. Miles Middle School will perform “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, 2014 at 7:30 pm in the EWMMS auditorium. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased at the door. All residents are invited to attend. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161971 Thu, 15 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161971 A Day of Inspiration, Appreciation & Fun Sixteen members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club (aka the WAC PAC) joined approximately 650 area athletes for the 43rd annual Special Olympics Spring Games held at Commack High School. AMHS WAC PAC volunteers were paired with Special Olympians for the day, serving as mentors and guiding them through the many Olympic-style events. WAC PAC volunteers also dined and danced with their new friends in between and after events. Led by adviser Jason McGowan, the WAC PAC has brought volunteers to the spring games for almost 10 years. "The experience made me feel appreciative (of what I have),” said AMHS sophomore WAC PAC member Kessiah Glenn. “I felt good giving someone a special day. It was a really good experience for me and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to help. Our athlete Ronald was so sweet. I wish more people had his personality and his positive attitude." The WAC PAC is dedicated to good causes in and around the community, shopping and wrapping gifts for young children during the holidays and volunteering their time to help the homeless and others who can benefit from a helping hand. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161969 Tue, 13 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161969 Travis Dickerson Signs to Play at Nyack on a Full Scholarship Amityvlle Memorial High School senior Travis Dickerson, who starred on the Warrior varsity boys basketball team, will attend Nyack College this fall on a full scholarship. Ironically, Nyack’s team is also called the Warriors. “Travis is in a very unique class,” said AMHS Warrior head basketball coach Jack Agostino regarding the 6-4 senior who was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island 1st team and achieved All-County status this season. Travis was also named Most Valuable Player of the 2014 Suffolk County playoffs and averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four steals per game. For the regular season, he averaged 20 points, four rebounds and four-and-half assists per game. His mother Carolyn Dickerson and his Aunt Rose stood by his side along with Coach Agostino, Acting Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly, AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose and Athletic Director William Maisel as Travis signed his commitment letter. “Travis has a great family and he is an awesome person,” added coach Agostino. “Every coach dreams of having a player like Travis Dickerson. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to coach such a fine young man.” To see Travis (#10) in action, click here To read Nyack College’s announcement regarding Travis, including his new coach’s take, click here http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161970 Tue, 13 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161970 AMHS Hosts Chris LaMarca Benefit Concert May 30th Amityville Memorial High School will once again honor the memory of its late music teacher/jazz band and choral director, Chris LaMarca, with a special benefit concert to be held on Friday, May 30, 2014, beginning at 4 p.m. in the AMHS auditorium. Current staff and student musicians, as well as several alumni, will be performing on stage with proceeds of the concert to be used for multiple scholarships for Amityville student musicians. Concert tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. For more information on how you can help, please email Bob Claps at atapres@yahoo.com or call (631) 691-0021. In addition to monetary donations, organizers are accepting donations of refreshments and snacks for the event. Chris LaMarca passed away suddenly last year after leaving an indelible mark on so many young musicians in the Amityville School District and community. A 1973 graduate of AMHS, Chris returned to teach in the district in 1996, later serving as music coordinator from 2004-2006. He taught at the elementary, middle school and high school levels and led many jazz ensembles to gold and sliver medals at the New York State School Music Association Majors Festival, while also mentoring several soloists to high scores at NYSSMA. To view a video from last year’s LaMarca concert, go to the Amityville Teacher’s Association website at http://amityvilleteachers.org/wordpress/ or do directly to http://amityvilleteachers.org/wordpress/1st-annual-chris-lamarca-memorial-concert-video/ http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161968 Fri, 09 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161968 Amityville Has Two of L.I’s. Best Young Artists Two student artists from the Amityville School District were selected for the highly competitive “Long Island’s Best Young Artists” art exhibition this year. The artwork of Edmund W. Miles Middle School ninth-grader Kenyi Zelaya and Amityville Memorial High School senior Malika Watlington-Wright was featured at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington throughout the month of April. Kenyi’s featured work was an acrylic painting of an eye that serves as a window to escape reality. Malika created a three-dimensional abstract ceramic sculpture of a human heart. Long Island’s Best is the only juried exhibit of high school artwork on Long Island and showcased the work of 80 students from across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Kenyi and Malika were honored during a special reception held on April 5 at the museum. Kenyi’s art teacher Jennifer Dibble congratulates her here while art teacher Nidia Keaveny congratulates her student Malika. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161965 Thu, 08 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161965 Students Explore the Science of Stem Cells Approximately 86 students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School participated in a hands-on stem cell retrieval lab, as the school’s alternate gymnasium was transformed into a surgical laboratory where they performed dissections on and extracted stem cells from fetal pigs. Stem cells, when properly collected, have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during the earlier stages of life and growth. They also have the ability to recreate and regenerate tissues and organs in a living body. Working in teams, students had the meticulous task of identifying organs such as the kidneys, gall bladder and intestines within their piglets. Equipped with specific instructions that incorporated scientific terminology taught during the year, they made careful incisions to the abdominal and pelvic cavities using scalpels before extracting stem cells using syringes and placing them in micro-test tubes. Students were also asked to study 18 different organs from the piglets and draw comparisons to the human body based on what they learned in class. They also used iPad minis to record findings and capture imagery of the dissection and extraction. Most of the participants were enrolled in the ninth-grade Living Environment course taught by Deborah Charles with the exception of some eighth-grade honors students also enrolled in the same course, taught by James Napoli. Farmingdale State College Professor Bentley Whitfield, dean of the Smart Scholar program for which many of these students participate, and Risa Stein, assistant director of college’s Science Technology Entry Program (STEP), provided support for the lab. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161966 Thu, 08 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161966 APTC Hosts Meet the School Board Candidates Night The Amityville Parent Teacher Coalition is hosting a “Meet the School Board Candidates Night” on Thursday, May 15, 2014 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Park Avenue Elementary School auditorium. A supervised Free Play event will be held in the school’s gymnasium for children. District residents are invited to attend and submit questions to the candidates, either at the forum or online in advance at http://aptcamityville.org/aptc-information/contact/ http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161967 Thu, 08 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161967 Incident in the Community on May 5th On Monday, May 5th, at approximately 6:30 PM, a high school senior was approached by a man in a small, dark green car as the student left his late bus stop at Brandon Street and Brefni Street. The man, who was wearing a turban and was described as being of Middle Eastern descent, repeatedly offered the student a ride, and followed him for a while. The incident was reported to the First Precinct of the Suffolk County Police Department, and the police are investigating this incident. Please remind your children to be aware of their surroundings when they are outside, walking to school, or at the bus stop. Students should not be walking alone, even during daylight hours. If you or your child see someone or something that raises your concerns, please contact the police department and the school administration. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161963 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161963 PAMES Students Show Character in School, Skills on the Court It was a night of spirited competition at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School as 15 students took on nine staff members in a basketball game for fun. Despite some stiff competition from the adults, the youngsters prevailed 58-57. According to Principal Scott Bullis, the game served as a reward for those PAMES students who have demonstrated the highest level of character this year. The APTC donated refreshments and Target gift cards that were raffled off at halftime. Members of the Amityville Memorial High School boys and girls varsity basketball teams were on hand to mentor the younger players. This is the second year in a row that the students defeated the old timers in basketball. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161961 Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161961 A Day of Career Exploration for AMHS Students Under the supervision of the Amityville Memorial High School guidance department, 19 AMHS seniors participated in the annual Employment Day Job Fair at Suffolk Community College this year. “Employment Day is an opportunity for high school seniors to explore, prepare and learn about employment options after graduation,” said AMHS school counselor Andrew Akapnitis. “Our students learned about appropriate dress, resume preparation, and interview techniques, and many established connections and contacts to possible future employment.” Representatives from private trade schools and community colleges, the armed forces, county and state agencies, and professionals from various industries were on hand to answer questions about employment, explain career opportunities and even begin the job offer process. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161962 Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161962 Rotary Delivers Dictionaries to Third Graders The Amityville Rotary Club came through for third-graders at Northwest Elementary School in a big way! The Rotary donated 250 copies of the “Student Dictionary and Animal Gazette” as part of the Dictionary Project, a national organization that works with local Rotaries, Kiwanis Clubs and other local service organizations and deems third grade one of the most critical times in a child’s literacy development. Amityville Rotary representatives Martha Peterson and Rena Nowacoski stopped by the school to personally deliver the dictionaries to every third-grade classroom. The dictionaries also include basic sign language symbols. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161960 Thu, 24 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161960 A Message from Acting Superintendent Mary T. Kelly At approximately 8:29 a.m. this morning, the District was alerted by the Amityville Village Police Department that the police had received a bomb threat directed at Amityville Memorial High School. The school was immediately evacuated and officers from the Amityville Village Police Department and Suffolk County Police Department Bomb Squad responded. The police conducted a thorough investigation of the threat against the school. Following a sweep of the building, officials determined that there was no threat and cleared the building for re-entry. Classes resumed as scheduled. The District thanks local law enforcement officials and personnel for their prompt response and support, and will continue to work with them as they continue their investigation of this incident. As always, the safety of our students is paramount and we will continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161959 Wed, 23 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161959 Honoring Talent and Character Amityville Memorial High School recently held an induction ceremony to welcome five new members into Senior Chapter 1061 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, as well as an additional 11 new members into Junior Chapter 2284 from Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Supported by the National Association for Music Education, the Tri-M Music Honor Society serves as the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students. It is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service activities, and to inspire other students to excel at music and leadership. Through more than 5,500-chartered chapters, Tri-M has helped thousands of young people provide years of service through music in schools. This year’s Tri-M inductees at EWMMS (main photo) are Nyah Seiferheld, Terrance S. Hinds III, Jacob Marrero, Alijah Benymon, Dakota Willenbrock, James Carey, Ashley Pico, Yosselyn Castillo-Turcios, Jacob Marrero, De'Asia Hollis, and Patrick Abate. At AMHS (alternate photo), Torriann Christie, Sean Tisk, Kimberly Elwell, Lucas Bernstein and Melissa Beresoff were introduced into this prestigious society. Congratulations to all of these students for demonstrating exceptional talent and character. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161958 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161958 Spring Rally at AMHS Amityville Memorial High School held a spring pep rally to acknowledge the accomplishments and efforts of its winter and spring athletic teams for the 2013-14 school year. While nearly every high school with an athletic program conducts a fall pep rally in concert with its annual Homecoming celebration (to honor its fall teams), the AMHS athletic department and administration felt it was important to give the winter and spring teams their due as well. Every winter and spring squad was present and acknowledged. Four winter teams that won the Suffolk County Section XI Sportsmanship Award were also identified: They are: JV Girls Basketball – coach Mike Abbondondolo JV Boys Basketball – coach Billy Kretz JV Wrestling – coach Kyle Cammaroto E. W. Miles Middle School Boys Basketball – coach George Karafantis Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly also presented members of the League VI regular season champion Warrior Varsity Boys Basketball team with special awards to honor their accomplishment. Head Coach Jack Agostino won Suffolk Small School Coach of the Year as well as League VI Coach of the Year. Several team members were also the recipients of multiple individual honors. For more information, see the athletic page at http://www.amityvilleschools.org/athletics/athletics. The spring rally included a faculty/student three-point basket contest with JV Boys Basketball head coach and former Warrior star Billy Kretz edging out current Warrior Elijah Rogers in the final round. Mr. Kretz also won League VI JV Coach of the Year. There was also a spirited but thrilling coed student basketball game that went down to the wire. Valedictorian David Holmes and Salutatorian Bilah Verno were applauded at center court for their achievements. Both are prominent members of their respective varsity spring track squads. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161955 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161955 A Fun Night Filled with Character Northwest Elementary School recently held a Character Counts Family Fun Night for NW parents and children. After Interim Principal Dr. Shirley Martin and Assistant Principal Vincent Todisco welcomed the guests, social worker Debra Lee, librarian Christine Gambella and psychologist Deborah Becker provided a introduction to the Character Counts program, focusing on the six pillars: trustworthy, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Students also delivered the following inspiring and entertaining performances: • “Character Counts” pledge by Jennifer Bianco’s reading group • “Caring” poem by students Matthew Brown and Francesco Patruno • “Respect” poem by Mackenzie Reddin’s and Danielle Lavoie’s classes • “Kind and Caring Friend” poem by Quianna Batts • “Trustworthy” skit by Lori Heavey’s reading group • “Citizenship” poem and “Caring” song by Adeline Karniewich’s class Families participated in character-themed coloring activities and created animal crafts associated with the six pillars. They also enjoyed a read-aloud of “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson, a funny but endearing story of a boy who moved into a house down the street and found an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend by merely spending some time together. The evening ended with a challenging game of “Character Counts Jeopardy.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161956 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161956 Springing into College at AMHS The Amityville Memorial High School guidance department recently hosted its annual in-school Spring College Fair, with numerous colleges and universities from the region in attendance. Every spring, the fair is held for the convenience of students. A fall fair is also held to allow parents to participate in the college search/application process. This spring’s event was a huge success. “Our students were engaged in conversations and came well-prepared to meet and speak with the schools present,” said AMHS school counselor Andrew Akapnitis, who spoke with numerous college representatives as the fair came to a close and received a great deal of positive feedback. “There was a buzz in the hallways and classrooms among students who discussed their future college plans. It was wonderful to see our administration and members of our faculty in attendance as well.” For more information about the guidance department, services and the college search and application process, visit www.amityvilleschools.org/schools/guidance_hs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161957 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161957 PAMES Staff Recognizes Autism Awareness Month On Wednesday April 2nd, the students and staff at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School helped spread awareness about autism by taking part in the “Light It Up Blue” campaign. This event is held on April 2nd each year which is recognized as World Autism Awareness Day. The students watched an Autism Awareness Public Service Announcement put together by Mrs. Parmentier, Park Avenue Special Education Coordinator, the special education teachers, support staff and Park Avenue administrators. The halls of Park Avenue looked like a sea of blue with staff and students taking part in this important event. In 2007, the United Nations designated April 2nd as a day where all member nations participate in ways to help spread awareness about autism. The CDC reports that 1 in every 68 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism and the numbers continue to rise. Autism affects tens of millions of people around the world today. By showing tremendous support, the Park Avenue students and staff helped to raise awareness about autism and helped those living with autism to be understood and accepted. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161952 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161952 Amityville Named Among Best for Music Education Again For the third time in four years, the Amityville School District is pleased to announce its designation as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” in America by the NAMM Foundation. The national program has put the spotlight on Amityville and 375 other selected school districts that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to music education. Formerly known as the National Association of Music Merchants, for 15 years the NAMM Foundation has acknowledged schools and districts across the United States for their support of music in schools. They measure a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified, certified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition, among others. To be named to the “Best Communities” list, a school community must demonstrate a commitment to access and overall high standards for music education. “Congratulations to our music teachers who facilitate these valuable programs for our students on a daily basis,” said Amityville Director of Fine Arts Fran Fernandez. “Special thanks to our Board of Education, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Lange, district administrators, teachers, parents and the local community for their continuous support of our music programs here in Amityville.” “These schools and districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director. “Strong, engaging programs that offer students access to music cannot thrive in a vacuum. The Best Communities designation brings hard-won visibility to music classes, programs and departments that are keeping music education alive in our schools.” 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. This year, more than 2,000 schools and school districts participated in the survey – resulting in a 21% increase in designations. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161953 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161953 BOE, Staff Honored with Multiple Recognitions Multiple members of the Amityville Board of Education and staff have been honored with various awards for excellence in their respective areas. BOE First Vice President Nathan King and BOE Trustees Dr. Kathleen Corbett and Mark Epps are all recipients of the prestigious New York State School Boards Association Mastery Award in the area of Leadership Development. Mr. King was also honored by NYSSBA as “School Board Member of the Week” back in February and he is also the recipient of the Suffolk County Organization for the Promotion of Education’s (SCOPE) School Board Service Award. Other Amityville school community members honored by SCOPE this year are Northeast School Principal Dr. Pauline Collins (Administrator Service Award), Northeast physical education teacher Robert Claps (Teacher Service Award), Amityville support staff member Marianne Niblock (Support Staff Service Award) and UNAYO’s Sonji Crawford-Clark (Community Service Award). They were all honored at the recent SCOPE Education Services annual awards dinner held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Additionally, Dr. Corbett has been invited to participate in a two-day School Counselor Summit in Albany this April where she will serve as an expert panelist on the Curriculum Instructional Resource and Professional Development panels. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161950 Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161950 The Wizard Comes to AMHS This Weekend The Amityville Memorial High School Drama Club proudly presents the Wizard of Oz for three shows this weekend in the AMHS auditorium: Friday, March 21, Saturday, March 22 (both at 7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, March 23 (3 p.m.). Tickets are $7 at the door, $5 for students and senior citizens. Roxanne Tannenbaum directs and conducts with assistance from Margaret Watkins. Emily Kalinowski plays Dorothy, Patrick Abate plays Toto and Anthony Abate plays the title role. This amazing production is composed of a cast and crew of nearly 50 students, staff and volunteers, including students from Northwest and Park Avenue Memorial elementary schools and Edmund W. Miles Middle School. This year’s show is dedicated in loving memory to Chris LaMarca, and 2014 marks the 75th anniversary of the show’s theatrical release. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161949 Thu, 20 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161949 A 21st Century Walk Through Time The Edmund W. Miles Middle School 21st Century Community Learning Center program recently closed out the Amityville School District’s celebration of Black History Month with a stellar production entitled “A Walk Through Time.” This original school production tells the story of a wayward young man facing the struggles of a single-parent household, while continually getting into trouble at school. One day after falling asleep in class, he is visited by the "Spirit Of African American History" who shows him the errors of his ways by taking him through a historic timeline of people, places and events in African American history. When he wakes up, he realizes his mistakes in time to redeem himself to his family, friends, and teachers. “The talent is here; you just have to give the students a chance to show it. The 21st Century Program does just that!” said 21st Century program drama teacher Gerald Asbell, who wrote, directed and produced the show. Tanya Carpenter, Robin Courts, Rodney Williams Jr. and EWMMS Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis also helped with the production of the show. Special thanks to David Jackson who starred as “The Teacher.” Jack Zider is the 21st Century Community Learning Center Director. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for taking EWMMS students and faculty on this memorable walk back in time. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161948 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161948 All-Around VIPs Amityville Memorial High School’s VIP basketball team plays between 4-5 games throughout the season, practicing after school and during their adaptive physical education classes. Players learn not only important basketball skills but also the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Al Lorenza and Rebecca Feehan coach the team. AMHS varsity basketball players Malcom Mathis and Shana Thorton volunteer to help out coaching officiating the team’s games. VIP members will also be participating in the track and field events in the upcoming Special Olympic games at Commack High School scheduled for May 4. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161945 Sun, 16 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161945 A County Runner-Up in Wrestling Congratulations to Amityville Memorial High School varsity wrestler Eduardo Ramirez Jr., who finished second overall in Suffolk County for his weight class (138) this season. Eduardo finished with an impressive record of 39-5. Amityville Director of Athletics William Maisel and AMHS Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Greg McCoy are pictured with Eduardo. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161942 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161942 Track Stars Congratulations to boys winter track stars Travon Duncan, Hassan Matthews, Kaashief Morgan and Brenden Paula for achieving All-County and All-Long Island status. Additional congratulations to David Holmes for achieving not only All-County status, but All-Academic status as well. These young men are coached by Reynolds Hawkins, all pictured here. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161943 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161943 First-Hand Lesson on a Tragedy Amityville Memorial High School recently welcomed a special guest to provide a chilling but important first-hand perspective on the Holocaust. Werner Reich met with Global History 10 students as a complement to their current studies on the Holocaust. Mr. Reich is seen here with these students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161944 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false161944 Heads of Class Dr. Mary DeRose, Amityville Memorial High School’s interim principal, is proud to introduce David Holmes as the Class of 2014 Valedictorian and Bilah Verno as Salutatorian. Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly recently stopped by AMHS to congratulate them. David Holmes: Valedictorian Throughout his high school career, Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2014 valedictorian David Holmes has demonstrated excellent leadership and character to go along with his academic prowess. David has tutored multiple students in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, served as a mentor to seventh-graders, has volunteered to read to young children and chaperone during family evening activities. He has also presented to his classmates about the Historical Black Colleges Tour; helped senior citizens sign up for emergency services; distributed informational flyers, food, clothing and supplies to residents whose homes were ravaged by Superstorm Sandy; and has raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and breast cancer research and awareness. Since his sophomore year, David has served as AMHS student government treasurer. He plans on studying accounting in college and has taken Honors courses in Algebra 2/Trigonometry, pre-calculus and geometry, among others. David has also taken five different Advanced Placement courses, is an AP Scholar with Honor having achieved a 3 or higher on four or more AP exams and will graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma. He was inducted into the National Honor Society in April 2012 and has been a member of the World Languages Honor Society for just as long. No stranger to being at the head of the class, David was the salutatorian for the ninth-grade class at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. Well-rounded throughout, David is also a dedicated athlete, having been a member of both the AMHS spring and winter track squads for three years with All-Academic honors in 2011 for both. He also has a season of JV football under his belt. A talented vocalist, David has served as the lead tenor and overall vocalist of the Church Children’s Choir and sang for his ninth-grade chorus. “David’s ability to be well-rounded while balancing a most demanding academic load shows a level of dedication and tenacity both in and outside of the classroom,” said his guidance counselor, Jackie Noon. “He is intellectually mature and a wonderful young man who is ready to take on a greater responsibility, and will succeed in college.” Bilah Verno: Salutatorian Bilah Verno has been loading up on advanced science courses in preparation for a career as pediatric nurse practitioner. Yet, she’s not putting all her eggs in one basket, as she intends to pursue her undergraduate degree as a double major in accounting and nursing. It doesn’t hurt that she’s also the Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2014 salutatorian. A “smart scholar” in the truest sense, having been enrolled in Farmingdale State College prep program of the same terminology, Bilah knows her advanced studies, taking anatomy and physiology, SUPA forensics science, chemistry, AP environmental science, pre-calculus, AP calculus, AP world, and AP U.S. literature. She has even studied physics independently. A member of both the National Honor and National World Languages honor societies since 2011, Bilah has made High Honor Roll dating back to the ninth grade. Extracurricular activities, community service and overall hard work exemplify Bilah’s school career. In addition to academic extracurriculars, such as the Science in Technology Entry Program (STEP) and Mathletes, Bilah is a talented singer as a member of the Church Choir and a runner on the AMHS varsity girls track team, which she achieved All-Academic honors. Bilah has also used her knowledge in math and science as a tutor and has volunteered her time in the community at the Town of Babylon’s Black History Month program, family warming centers following Superstorm Sandy, wrapping holiday gifts for the homeless and babysitting at Northwest Elementary School’s culture night. She has also been a member of the Town’s UJIMA internship program, aiding local senior citizens and mentally challenged youngsters with their daily activities. Bilah is not too proud to even lend a hand sweeping floors through her summer work at the Northeast School. “Bilah has not let her dedication to academics stop her from being an active member of our school and community,” said her guidance counselor Andrew Akapnitis, who referenced her work in also beautifying AMHS. “She believes hard work should continue outside of the classroom and we can always count on Bilah to help with any task, no matter how big or small that we ask!” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161939 Sun, 09 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161939 PAMES Honors a Champion of Freedom “The greatest glory in living, lies not in never falling, but in rising when we fall.” – Nelson Mandela. This year, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School elected to honor Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy as the central theme of its evening Black History Month celebration. The evening’s festivities, appropriately entitled “Nelson Mandela: A Champion of Freedom” included performances by the 21st Century Club dancers, poetry readings by several students and a student skit about Mr. Mandela and his fight against apartheid. PAMES teachers Denise Graham and Kathy Hyland co-chaired the committee for planning the celebration, with Terry Kirkland Banks serving as mistress of ceremonies. There was also a display of African art provided by PAMES parent Theodora Eirebamen. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161937 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161937 Northwest Honored by County Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory presented Northwest Elementary School Interim Principal Dr. Shirley Martin and Assistant Principal Vincent Todisco with a county proclamation for the school’s celebration and education of young children about black history. Legis. Gregory, who is the Suffolk’s first black Presiding Officer, attended Northwest’s cultural recognition evening last month, where he asked youngsters about their aspirations for the future. The evening was also highlighted by a performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Melissa Asbell’s second graders and “Amazing Grace” by the school’s Select Choir, led by Roxanne Tannenbaum. Classes that won the grade-level Black History Month poster contest were also acknowledged and students presented essays that profiled influential black heroes. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161938 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161938 Meet the Top 25 Dr. Mary DeRose, Amityville Memorial High School’s interim principal, is proud to announce the school’s Top 25 academically ranked seniors in the Class of 2014. The class is highlighted by valedictorian David Holmes and salutatorian Bilah Verno. Acting Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kelly recently stopped by AMHS to meet the Top 25 students and congratulate them. The complete list is: 1. David Holmes 2. Bilah Verno 3. Matthew Dubinsky 4. Yesenia Morales 5. Anika Martin 6. Lynn Louis-Pierre 7. Roxanne Roach 8. Leisha Cason 9. Dana Dexter 10. Dennis Casula 11. Kerina Herard 12. Anthony Abate 13. Sujeyri Cruz 14. Richard Drutjons 15. Aaliyah Kerr 16. Anthony Mercado 17. Maya Jordon-Thompson 18. Gavin Stephens 19. Michael LaRosa 20. Jeudy Infante 21. Michael Budd 22. Nefe Abamwa 23. Oscar Pacheco 24. Angela Lawes 25. Pedro Mercado http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161935 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161935 BOE 1st VP King Recognized by NYSSBA Click here to read the article. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161934 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161934 Take the Superintendent Search Survey – click here The Board of Education has hired the firm of Ray and Associates to facilitate the search for the next Superintendent of Schools. We invite community and employees to participate in this search by completing the survey on the link below. The survey will be available until February 27th. We believe your input will greatly assist the Board of Education to make the best choice for this critical leadership role to provide the best education and services for our children and young adults. Thank you in advance for your participation and continued support. Click here to take the survey in English Click here to take the survey in Spanish http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161917 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161917 Babylon Honors Students & Staff at Black History Month Celebration Members of the community gathered at Amityville Memorial High School for the 26th Annual Black History Month Celebration, “Civil Rights in America.” The day's events included performances by the AMHS Jazz Band and Step Team, as well as the North Amityville Senior Center Choir. The Town also honored several individuals and groups for their contributions to the community. Reynolds Hawkins who received the “Special Recognition Award,” was among the honorees. As a social worker in the district for 19 years, Mr. Hawkins has made an important impact. He established the “Boys to Men” club, a social group for boys in grades 10 through 12, he founded “Positive Conscious Counseling” in 1995 and he helped establish the Amityville Sports Hall of Fame. In addition, Mr. Hawkins is one of most successful track and field coaches in New York State with a lifetime coaching record of 116 wins, 7 losses and 1 tie. Under his 17 years of direction, the team has won four county championships, two state titles and 14 league titles. Also honored was the AMHS Interact Club, led by advisers Brenda King and Susan Carlucci. The group was honored with the prestigious “Unity Award.” The club, which promotes leadership, diversity and social responsibility, has participated in beautification of their school, church outreach and assisting with the town food pantry among other activities. Congratulations to Ms. King, Ms. Carlucci, Mr. Hawkins and the Interact Club. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161933 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161933 Statement from Acting Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly At the Varsity Boys Basketball playoff game against John Glenn on Saturday, February 25, 2014, a junior varsity eighth-grade student, who was not cleared to play on the varsity level, participated in the game. As a result, the team, as required by Section XI regulations, had to forfeit the game in which the student-athlete participated. Therefore, the team will not be advancing in the playoffs. The coaches and athletic director met with the players and parents to explain the situation and, although they are disappointed, this does not erase their wonderful accomplishments this year. The district is proud of these student-athletes and is appreciative of their supportive families. We ask that you give them your full support and applause for an otherwise terrific season. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161932 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161932 Warriors Push on in Title Defense: Play at Farmingdale Saturday The Amityville Memorial High School Warrior varsity boys basketball team advanced to the Class A semifinal round in the Section XI playoffs following their 72-54 victory over Westhampton on Feb. 18. Devonte Dixon led Amityville scorers with 20 points. Travis Dickerson and Mike Smith added 19 and 18 points respectively, each grabbing five rebounds. Amityville will tip off against Glenn at Farmingdale State College on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. Come out and support the Warriors in defense of their Suffolk County and Class A Long Island championships! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161930 Thu, 20 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161930 A Black History Experience at EWMMS Edmund W. Miles Middle School honored Black History Month by taking students back in time through a series of visual projects and interactive lessons to help them get a feel for what their forefathers experienced and what they meant to Black culture and civil rights today. One center of attraction was the school’s little gym, which was transformed into a Black history museum. Dioramas that recreated signature moments including the Birmingham demonstrations, the Freedom Rides and even President Obama’s Inaugural address were on display. There were also commemorative presentations on famous Black heroes such as Jackie Robinson, the Greensboro Four, and entertainers such as Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. One student even created a Black History Monopoly game that covered important dates and events in the civil rights movement. Denise Ferencik’s art students created a display of colorful Adinkra cloths, replicating traditional garb that originated in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The cloths bear traditional Akan symbols for proverbs, maxims and attitudes that carry a spiritual meaning. Ms. Ferencik also displayed symbols used by slaves on the Underground Railroad. Choral teacher Carl Ferrara also took students on a trip on the Underground Railroad by sharing historical facts and leading the EWMMS chorus in a series of musical performances, including songs that were popular among slaves. The group culminated with James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Classrooms and the school’s library also hosted interesting activities that made the school’s Black History Month recognition more of an experience than a unit of study. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161929 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161929 A Celebration of Black Culture and Pride at AMHS Amityville Memorial High School celebrated Black History Month with an entertaining assembly that allowed many students to display their exceptional talents. Coordinated by AMHS’s Interact Club, the celebration consisted of various song and dance segments, poetry and the traditional fashion show. The 21st Century Step Club also performed. Teacher Jason McGowan once again served as the emcee. Brenda King is the adviser for Interact with help from Susan Carlucci. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161928 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161928 The Amityville School District will have a 2 hour delayed opening Friday, February 14, 2014 due to the inclement weather. There will be no AM Pre-K or before school programs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161924 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161924 A Senior Sendoff – Warrior Style Amityville Memorial High School honored its senior Warrior boys basketball players and cheerleaders at a recent home game against Miller Place. Senior basketball players Mike Alston, Travis Dickerson, Sean Walters and Leland Williams were honored at center court during halftime, as proud friends, family members and significant others were invited on to the floor to share in the accolades. Senior cheerleaders Amanda Amato, Rochelle Jones, Nadeya Hargwood and Brianna Taylor were also honored, as cheer coach Andrea Drost presented the girls with flowers and a hug for their support of Amityville’s teams through the years. Following the festivities, it was business as usual, as the girls cheered on the boys and the boys basketball team prevailed over Miller Place, advancing their undefeated conference record, which stands at 12-0 (16-2 overall). http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161927 Wed, 12 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161927 Town of Babylon Black History Month Celebration at Amityville Memorial HS: Saturday, February 22 at 11 am The Town of Babylon Department of Human Services will be hosting their 26th Annual Black History Month Celebration on Saturday, February 22nd, 11:00 AM, at Amityville Memorial High School. This year’s event, with the theme of “Civil Rights in America,” is primed to be the most eventful celebration yet, with musical performances and a marketplace featuring local vendors. During the ceremony, the Town will honor community members for their contributions to our area, including AMHS social worker and boys track coach Reynolds Hawkins, along with the AMHS Interact Club and adviser Brenda King. Also being honored are volunteer coordinator Deborah Payton-Jones, educator Dr. Pamela Robinson Allen, and Dr. Eliza Townsend. Rev. Sister Minister Seretta C. McKnight, associate minister of the Union Baptist Church, will serve as the event’s Mistress of Ceremonies and Dr. Jermaine Archer, assistant professor of American studies at SUNY Old Westbury, will deliver the keynote address. There will also be performances from the AMHS Jazz Band, AJ Spence, Brandon Daniels, the North Amityville Senior Center Choir and The Sanaa Movement as well as a vendor marketplace. Amityville Memorial High School is located at 250 Merrick Road in Amityville. For more information, please call the Town of Babylon’s Department of Human Services at (631) 422-7642. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161926 Wed, 12 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161926 Spelling E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-C-E Every year Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participates in the Scripps National Bee. Concurrently, the school conducts a Spanish spelling bee for its English language learners. This year’s school champions are sixth-grader Jared Davis (English winner) and fifth-grader Jamie Monzon Bautista (Spanish winner). PAMES Principal Scott Bullis is seen here congratulating Jamie (left) and Jared. Both boys received trophies for their spelling prowess. Once again, PAMES teacher Howard Reiner served as the moderator for the event. Scripps is the nation's largest and longest-running educational promotion, sponsoring local spelling bees throughout the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They also conduct bees for Department of Defense Schools in Europe, as well as in the Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan and South Korea. The bees are designed to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them throughout their lives. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161921 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161921 Students Pay Homage to a Human Rights Hero During Black History Month, students throughout the Amityville School District are recognizing activists and trailblazers in the civil rights movement. One such hero who has served as an inspiration to all was former South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who passed away in December. AMHS students honored Mr. Mandela’s legacy with a special assembly following his passing and they recently sent a personalized portrait poster of him to the South African Consulate General located in Manhattan. Students signed and wrote messages of thanks to the late leader on the poster. Imprisoned for 27 years, Nelson Mandela fought to bring an end to the South African National Party’s policy of segregation and related injustices toward people of color. Advanced Placement World History teacher Dawn Levine is pictured here with her students, AMHS sophomores Katherine Eastwood and Alanna Iacovetti, who are displaying the poster prior to it being sent to the consulate. Ms. Levine is holding an accompanying letter written by the two girls in their class. AMHS librarian Tim Quinn, organizer of the Mandela tribute, is also pictured. In their letter to the consulate, Katherine and Alanna wrote, “This is our allegiance and recognition of Nelson Mandela. For us, it is important to remember and recognize the commitments he made for change.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161922 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161922 Honors with Jazz Congratulations to Amityville Memorial High School student-musicians Anthony Abate and Aiden McGlone who both performed at the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s Day of Jazz, held at Sayville High School on Feb. 8. The festival features the best jazz musicians in Suffolk County. Anthony, who is the 3rd highest-ranked saxophonist in New York State, was selected to perform with the All-County Jazz Ensemble. Aiden was selected to the All-County Jazz Vocal Ensemble as an alternate. She is the first Amityville vocalist ever to be chosen for this highly competitive performing group. Amityville Director of Fine Arts Fran Fernandez is pictured here congratulating them. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161923 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161923 The Amityville School District will have a 2 hour delayed opening today, Wednesday, February 5, 2014 due to the inclement weather. There will be no AM Pre-K or before school programs. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161920 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161920 In Memoriam: Dr. John Williams - A Statement from Board of Education President Lisa Johnson http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161918 Mon, 03 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161918 Winter Wonderland Warms Spirits and Sharpens Young Minds Northwest Elementary School in Amityville once again opened its doors to students and their parents for their annual Winter Wonderland, an evening designed to allow young children and their families to enjoy winter-themed games while sharpening their minds. The evening started with a sing-a-long led by teachers Margaret Brooks and Mackenzie Jones (Ms. Brook’s daughter Megan, an Amityville graduate and former All-State musician, also lent her talents). Parents and students enjoyed singing festive songs before participating in various winter-themed, age-appropriate literacy and math activities. Some of the activities included a winter read-a-loud, Smartboard activities, Brain Pop videos, a “Five Little Snowmen Poem,” “Mr. Snowman Mad Libs,” “Snowman Addition and Winter Addition,” “Snowman Subtraction,” “January Syllable Sort,” “Mitten Animal Sort,” “ABC Sort,” and “Writing Winter Sentences.” Additionally, every student in attendance created a “Chill Out" penguin thermometer and received a goodie bag which included an age appropriate book, pencil and a snack. “The faculty and staff worked very hard to create this educational and fun night for our students,” said Northwest social worker Debra Lee, who helped to coordinate Winter Wonderland. Northwest Elementary School Principal Dr. Shirley Martin and Assistant Principal Vincent Todisco would like to thank all of the families for supporting the event. Special thanks to COMPASS and Amityville Parent Teacher Coalition for donating funds for the event, as well as the Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society students and Amityville Memorial High School Interact students, who volunteered their time to help set up the activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161916 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161916 The Amityville School District will be closed on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 due to the winter storm. This includes all afternoon and evening activities. As we all continue to monitor the weather, please heed the guidance of state and local officials, and exercise caution during this time. Thank you. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161915 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161915 Amityville HS Jazz Band Honors Dr. King at Bethel AME Church The Amityville Memorial High School Jazz Ensemble continued an annual tradition by honoring the memory of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a performance at the Bethel AME Church in Copiague on Dr. King’s birthday (observed). Led by Jazz Ensemble director Brian Carter, the group performed two numbers that had churchgoers on their feet! Mr. Carter also accepted a check for $1,000 donated by the church to be used for the benefit of the Amityville student-musicians. Amityville School District officials, including several Board of Education members, were also in attendance. The Copiague High School Madrigal Choir also performed and received a check for $1,000 from the church for their program as well. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161914 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161914 Students and Community Come Together to Deliver a Message of Tolerance One of the best ways to bring diverse groups and populations together is to provide a common cause – one that will strike the sensibilities and values associated with each of those groups. That was the thought process of Ron Weber, who teaches character education in the 21st Century after-school program at Amityville’s Edmund W. Miles Middle School. His students wanted to make a public statement about tolerance and acceptance. They shared their thoughts on how best to get their message across and decided on a group public service announcement video, which now airs on YouTube. “After looking at a number of possibilities, we decided to model our video after a public service announcement that I saw several years ago,” said Mr. Weber, who also teaches technology and advises the Friday morning news club at EWMMS. With the help of his students and support from EWMMS Principal Michele Darby, 21st Century program coordinator Jack Zider, and Assistant Superintendent for Data, Technology and Secondary Education Dr. Mary Kelly, Mr. Weber scripted, filmed and edited the video. Their tag line, which they decided to print on T-shirts, was “I won’t stand for…” followed by terms such as “intolerance,” “hate,” “homophobia,” “racism,” “violence,” “bullying” and “discrimination.” "When we were shooting the video for the "I will not stand for ______," I was surprised at first. I never really knew that someone actually had the nerve to create a video to help others in such a creative and emotional way,” said EWMMS student Esteban Idrovo, who appears in the video. “It was an amazing and fun activity to be part of. I felt very good on the inside, to know that we were part of something like this. It was a privilege to be part of a video that can make a difference, for every person it reaches, that may be enough to make a change." With the creative vision in place, plenty of willing student-actors (including members of the 21st Century program drama club), and the necessary video equipment already in-house, only one hurdle remained: there was no money in the program’s budget for the T-shirts. Therefore, Mr. Weber appealed to his colleagues in the school community. Various groups and individuals from within the EWMMS school community and around the school district came together to help fund the purchase of 85 T-shirts for students to wear in the video. The support was overwhelming, with many contributors, from individual teachers and staff members to the Amityville Parent Teacher Council, the 21st Century program and Amityville Teachers Association. Once sufficient funds were raised, Mr. Weber met with Bobby T’s in Amityville and was pleasantly surprised to hear he was getting a significant discount on the shirts he and his students had designed. Others lent their creative talents to the effort. EWMMS music teacher Jolene Maccarone composed an original score for the PSA. Amityville Memorial High School technology teacher Steve Carbo helped with some of the video shots. Community member and 21st Century program drama adviser Gerald Asbell helped with the production and setup. EWMMS health teacher Bernadette Kraljic also helped organize the production setting. Amityville Board of Education members even turned out the day of the shoot in support of the activity and to help distribute the t-shirts to students. “Everyone and every group who donated something toward making the PSA a reality was excited to hear that under a climate of academic demands, teenagers were extending their time and effort to enhance the character of others,” said Mr. Weber. “As word of the filming got out, it seemed like every group associated with our district asked to be involved to help facilitate this activity. After all was said and done, the recording of the video was a tremendous success. Everyone had come together to help the students make a statement about what is right for our society.” The EWMMS 21st Century “Acceptance and Tolerance” PSA can be viewed on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/op55g9x. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161913 Fri, 17 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161913 Musicians Receive Notoriety and Expert Guidance Several Edmund W. Miles Middle School student-musicians were commended for their participation in various regional festivals and music events this winter. The Amityville School District congratulates Christine Hermann for winning the 2013 Electronic Music Composition Contest, sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. Christine's composition, titled "Crazy Space," won first place in the middle school category. As a result, her name is listed on the NAfME website and she will be published in the Music Educators Journal. She will also receive a cash prize. The contest recognizes outstanding compositions and highlights the effectiveness of music technology in school curricula. Entries are judged based on aesthetic quality, use of electronic media and presentation of effective use of curriculum. Michael Dealy was chosen to participate in the 2013 Suffolk County Music Educators Association Day of Tuba and Euphonium, held in November at Smithtown West High School. Michael, a returning participant to the festival, was one of approximately 300 tuba players from Suffolk County selected to perform. While at the event, he and the other participants received creative input from Northport native Philip Sinder, professor of tuba and euphonium at the Michigan State University College of Music. Additionally, EWMMS flutists Kalavin Cruz, Aaron Mathurin and Angela Murphy participated in the 2013 Long Island Flute Festival held at Copiague High School in November.While there, Kalavin, Aaron, Angela and other attendees had the opportunity to learn from Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, professor of flute at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. The Hofstra Flute Choir also performed at the festival. EWMMS Principal Dr. Michele Darby (left), EWMMS music teacher Nicole Altamura and Amityville School District Director of Fine Arts Fran Fernandez (right) are pictured congratulating Kalavin, Christine, Angela, Michael and Aaron. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161912 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161912 Amityville HS Jazz Band Honors Dr. King at Bethel AME Church The Amityville Memorial High School Jazz Ensemble will honor the memory of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a performance at the Bethel AME Church in Copiague on Monday January 20, 2014. The program celebrates Dr. King’s legacy on his birthday (observed) and will begin at 10 a.m. Parishioners and community members are welcome to attend. The church is located at 20 Simmons St. in Copiague, NY. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161911 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161911 For Young Students, it’s Strictly Business Class 5-3 and 5-4 at Park Avenue Elementary School in Amityville are learning all about business in an age-appropriate manner. They recently had the unique opportunity to participate in a field trip to Commerce Plaza in Levittown, otherwise known as the “Children’s Business Center.” Commerce Plaza is a simulated business community that promotes an understanding of the business world. The facility offers a unique, hands-on educational program that introduces children to the business community through a simulated work environment. Children are exposed to basic economic principles and learn about the free enterprise system, careers, economics, citizenship and the general skills needed in the world of work including receiving paychecks, making bank deposits, writing checks, preparing cost sheets, thinking critically and working as a team. In advance of their trip, PAMES students learned about operating businesses, how to write checks and resumes, interview tips and studied different careers. They also participated in a book club sponsored by COMPASS to help teach them about economics to further prepare them for this experience. “In this work environment, students acted as retail operators, producers of services, and consumers for a full day,” said PAMES school counselor Kimberly Balducci, who coordinated the trip. “During the day, students ran a business, received physicals from the medical center, sold products to make a profit, conducted research experiments, received W-2’s, went to the bank to deposit their paychecks, registered for college classes and much more.” One student said, “My favorite part of the trip was getting to write checks and experiencing what it is really like to work.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161910 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161910 Extra-curricular activities for Saturday, January 4, 2014 are cancelled because of icing conditions and blowing and drifting snow. Extra-curricular activities for Saturday, January 4, 2014 are cancelled because of icing conditions and blowing and drifting snow. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161908 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161908 Inclement Weather Announcement As a result of the inclement weather, all after-school and evening activities are CANCELLED today, Thursday, January 2nd, including: 21st Century, Athletics, and the Virtual Academy. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161906 Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false161906 Paying Tribute to Mandela Students at Amityville Memorial High School (AMHS) honored the memory of the late South African President and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela with a special assembly highlighted by a viewing of the movie "Invictus” in the school auditorium. The movie is based on Mandela’s first term as president and a venture he spearheaded to unite the apartheid-torn land by enlisting the national rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, AMHS students signed and wrote messages of unity and peace on an artistic portrait poster of Mandela, which will be sent to the South African Consulate General located in Manhattan. AMHS social studies students have been studying Mandela in their classes. School librarian Tim Quinn coordinated the assembly. To view Newsday’s coverage of the event, click on this link: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/amityville-high-school-memorializes-mandela-1.6644106 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161905 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161905 NJHS Volunteers at Breakfast with Santa Edmund W. Miles Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society members were on hand as the school hosted this year’s districtwide “Breakfast with Santa” celebration, which provided plenty of fun holiday activities for the kids, including a nice breakfast with Jolly Ole’ St. Nick. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161900 Fri, 20 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161900 Winter Concert Scenes Amityville Memorial High School closed out the calendar year with its annual winter concert, which consisted of a wonderful variety of traditional holiday favorites and some cool seasonal sounds. Brian Wishin directed the AMHS Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble, Christine Klimek directed the Chorus, Marichelle Weill led the String Orchestra and AMHS alumnus Brian Carter closed the evening by leading the Jazz Ensemble. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161902 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161902 The Season of Giving at EWMMS In conjunction with Edmund W. Miles Middle School’s student government, the Amityville Parent Teacher Coalition organized a Giving Tree event at the school. Community members, including faculty and parents, had the opportunity to donate new, unwrapped gifts to be given to students from families less fortunate at Northwest, Northeast and Park Avenue Memorial elementary schools. Under the direction of adviser Isha Hamilton, ninth-grade EWMMS student government members delivered the gifts to each of the schools just before the holiday break. They are pictured here getting ready to deliver the gifts, as EWMMS Principal Dr. Michele Darby thanks them under the Giving Tree. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161901 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161901 WAC PAC Spreads Holiday Magic The holiday spirit of giving is alive and well in the Amityville schools. Once again, students in Jason McGowan’s Warrior Awareness Club at Amityville Memorial High School, also known as the WAC PAC, volunteered their time to shop for holiday gifts to present to less fortunate children. The Holiday Magic program is supported by philanthropist Charles Russo, who conducts fundraisers in support of the effort throughout the year. Fifty AMHS WAC PAC members, equipped with children’s letters to Santa and $7,600 from Mr. Russo’s program, shopped at the Sunrise Mall and wrapped gifts after school. Mr. McGowan delivered the gifts to St. John’s Church and Food Pantry in Ronkonkoma and a Bellport-based shelter, where they will be distributed to 54 children. The district commends these students, teachers and community contributors for setting a fine example in coming to the aid of others during the holiday season. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161899 Thu, 19 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161899 A Prime Time Holiday Celebration Northeast Elementary School held its second annual Holiday Prime Time party. Parents and their children sipped hot chocolate and decorated winter-themed cookies in the school cafeteria before heading over to the gymnasium for a special reading and sing-a-long of the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” led by members of the Amityville Board of Education and Northeast Principal Dr. Pauline Collins. Santa Clause also stopped by to greet the young children, take photos and present them with a little gift. National Junior Honor Society members from Edmund W. Miles Middle School and Amityville Memorial High School Interact Club members volunteered to help serve the guests and lend Santa a helping hand. The event was once again coordinated by Northeast library teacher Tina Smith and was held in conjunction with the PTA Holiday Boutique. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161898 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161898 UNAYO Honors 3 from AMHS The United North Amityville Youth Organization (UNAYO) has recognized Amityville Memorial High School sophomore Tiffany Armstrong and teachers Jason McGowan and Jack Agostino with three special awards. Tiffany (pictured in the middle) was honored with UNAYO’s student volunteer award for her work helping and caring for younger children enrolled in UNAYO’s weekend program. Mr. McGowan (pictured right) was recognized with the organization’s motivator award for his inspirational work, building character in young people and helping those less fortunate in the community. Mr. Agostino (pictured left) was honored for his work as head coach of the Amityville Memorial High School varsity basketball Warriors team, an extremely successful program that provides young men in the community with an outlet to shine and a team everyone in Amityville can be proud of. This includes last year’s championship season and winning this year’s annual Fred Williams Tournament. Congratulations to Tiffany, Mr. McGowan and Mr. Agostino for making Amityville a better place. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161897 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161897 Amityville Winter Concert Series As the holiday break approaches, the Amityville School District winter concert series heats up! On Tuesday, December 17, the Edmund W. Miles Middle School winter concert will be held at the Amityville Memorial High School auditorium (note different venue) beginning at 7:00 p.m. Earlier that day, Northwest Elementary School will hold its first of three grade-level concerts as first graders will take to the stage beginning at 2:00 p.m. On Wednesday, December 18, second graders will perform, also beginning at 2:00 p.m., followed by the third grade on Thursday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m. All three concerts will be held at Northwest. Later that evening, on December 19, Amityville Memorial High School will hold its winter concert beginning at 7:00 p.m. AMHS string players provided an orchestral sneak preview for the community at the December Board of Education meeting (pictured), playing abbreviated renditions of several popular holiday songs that they will perform during the concert. On Friday, December 20, Northeast Elementary School will hold its holiday celebration beginning at 1:30 p.m. Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School’s winter concert, originally scheduled for December 10, was postponed due to inclement weather and will be held in January (date to be announced). Upon returning from the holiday vacation, the AMHS auditorium will also host the 2nd Annual Chris LaMarca Benefit Concert on Friday, January 3, 2014, beginning at 4:00 p.m. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161896 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161896 As a result of the inclement weather, all afternoon Pre-K, as well as after-school and evening activities, are CANCELLED today, Tuesday, December 10th Including: 21st Century, Athletics Virtual Academy, the PAMES Winter Concert, and all professional development workshops and courses for the staff. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161895 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161895 APTC Holiday Sing-along Inspires Giving The Amityville Parent-Teacher Council recently held its annual Holiday Sing-along at Edmund Miles Middle School, an enjoyable evening of song, raffles, delicious desserts and other holiday fun. APTC President Maresa Dealy was pleased with the large turnout considering the Sing-along was held on a Friday night during the busy holiday season. Most of all, she was pleased by the generosity of those in attendance. Students and parents donated unwrapped gifts and placed them under the APTC’s “Giving Tree” for distribution to less fortunate families in the Amityville School District. Considering the significant number of student households that qualify for free or reduced meals, the APTC recognized a definite need and launched the Giving Tree initiative three years ago to help parents who cannot afford to purchase gifts for their children. Students from the EWMMS National Junior Honor Society volunteered to help out, as did some teachers in the district. Debra Koraus (pictured), band teacher at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, was among those who led the children in song. In addition to caroling and gift giving, students enjoyed a visit from jolly Ole’ Saint Nick. "This was a great event for everyone," said Ms. Dealy. "I love the turnout and I love these kids." http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161894 Sun, 08 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161894 Young Brothers Featured on ESPN Click here to view the video. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161893 Sun, 01 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161893 Happy Thanksgiving from Amityville Schools Students in Nancy Finizio’s class at Northwest Elementary School designed colorful Thanksgiving placemats and posters containing messages about the people and things that they are thankful for this holiday season. They presented their projects to their fellow classmates. The Amityville School District wishes all families a Happy Thanksgiving. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161892 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161892 Emphasizing College and Careers Early On The Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School guidance department recently conducted its annual College and Career Week, a weeklong program of activities designed to get students excited about college and careers early on in their education. This year the school welcomed a representative from Molloy College to speak with students about the importance of striving for success in school, attending college and the career studies and opportunities available to them. Later in the week, local community professionals visited PAMES for a Career Forum to talk with students about their respective occupations and find out more about the young students’ career interests. Students were encouraged to dress in attire indicative of their desired future careers. A diverse variety of career fields were represented, including publishing, medical, law enforcement, business, government and the media. News 12 reporter/personality Ken Grimball and Suffolk County Legislator DuWayne Gregory were among the celebrity speakers that stopped by to share their insights and knowledge with PAMES students. PAMES guidance counselor Kim Balducci coordinated the week’s activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161889 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161889 Making Intergenerational Connections New York State Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney recently stopped by Northwest Elementary School to witness the Foster Grandparents program in action. Thanks to funds provided by Assemblyman Sweeny, Northwest Foster Grandparents such as Grandma Rose (Walters) and Grandma Ann (Nosworthy) spend time with young students at the school providing a little extra guidance and a little extra support to the classroom teacher. The program, which is provided through the Federation of Organizations, also allows the Foster Grandparents to share some of their wisdom and own experiences as children growing up in a different era, while the youngsters share their own insights into growing up in 2013. Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams and Federation of Organizations CEO Barbara Faron accompanied Assemblyman Sweeney on the trip and thanked him for his support. Federation of Organizations is a multi-service, community-based nonprofit agency operating programs that utilize peer support in New York State. The Foster Grandparents program is also held at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161890 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161890 Making Character Count From School to School NJHS members from E.W. Miles Middle School recently met with Park Ave. sixth-graders to prepare them for middle school life, share the qualifications for honor society induction and reinforce the pillars of character. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161887 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161887 The Votes Are In Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School learned about the democratic process in a hands-on manner as the school conducted its ninth-grade student government elections in conjunction with the November 5th general election. Fifteen candidates campaigned for four offices to govern the school, highlighted by a debate held before the school-wide election in which their classmates asked some very interesting questions. Prior to the debates, student government candidates campaigned via YouTube, making video announcements and designing and circulating flyers to appear throughout the school. Ninth graders served as the audience for the debates so in order to make informed decisions on their government leaders. They voted in their respective social studies classes later in the day. During the debates, candidates touted their qualifications, leadership skills and community service backgrounds, as well as their respective platforms and ideas for improving the EWMMS school environment. The following candidates ran for respective offices: President: Esteban Idrovo, Madison Daly, Kyle Hobson and Alijah Benjmon Vice President: Samuel Thompson, Ariana Sims and Lesly Preza Secretary: Rael Memnon, Cindy Cruz, Nia Dennis and Kayla Miller Treasurer: Aziz Abdul Salami, Meghan Jacobsen, Laniya Clark and Ashley Colas Esteban was elected President; Ariana won the Vice Presidency, Rael is the new Secretary and Meghan is the Treasurer. Student Government Cabinet members are Lesly Preza and Madison Daly. Isha Hamilton is the EWMMS Student Council advisor. Congratulations to ALL of the candidates for running strong campaigns. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161886 Mon, 11 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161886 EWMMS Visits NYC "Survivor Tree" Students and teachers from Edmund W. Miles Middle School recently visited the World Trade Center to tour the site of one of our nation’s greatest tragedies, reflect upon what took place there and gain an appreciation for the spirit of resiliency embodied by all those who were affected and all that comprises the transformed site. One such symbol of this was the “Survivor Tree.” In the wake of September 11, 2001, workers at Ground Zero recovered a damaged tree that had previously stood tall, yet had been reduced to an eight-foot stump. The tree was nursed back to health in a nearby New York City park and grew to be 30-feet tall, sprouting new branches and flowering during springtime. In March 2010, the tree was uprooted by severe storms, but true to its name, survived. In December 2010 the tree was returned to the WTC site. Standing just west of the South Reflecting Pool, the tree embodies the story of resiliency that is so important to the history of 9/11. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161885 Mon, 04 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false161885 Joint Statement from Amityville Schools/AMHS At approximately 3 PM on Friday October 25, 2013, a faculty member reported to Amityville Memorial High School administration that several AMHS students were involved in a fight on Avon Place. Upon their arrival to the scene, the administration found officers from the Amityville Police Department and approximately 30-40 students, some community members, parents, and some former students. One AMHS student was handcuffed in the rear seat of a police car for possessing a BB gun. He was held but not arrested at that time. The police had quelled the situation and were attempting to investigate what had happened. The administration joined with the police in speaking to both participants and witnesses. Since it was unclear why this incident occurred and whether the conflict could reoccur, a decision was made in consultation with Superintendent Williams to cancel a scheduled night football game at Tanner Park at 7 PM. Later in the evening, a decision was also made to have this game moved to Hauppauge High School’s home field to be played on Saturday at 3 PM. The game took place without incident. On Monday, administration began an investigation and obtained compelling video that was a great help in determining which students were present and who was actually fighting. This ultimately led to the suspension of twelve students, including the referral of the student in possession of the BB gun to the Superintendent for a Disciplinary Hearing. On Tuesday, the Amityville Police Department sent an officer to AMHS to assist with the investigation and to analyze the footage in more detail. This resulted in the arrest of the student with the BB gun for criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and menacing. There is an ongoing police investigation that may result in additional arrests. The police also met with approximately a dozen students and some parents to help ensure that fighting does not continue in or out of school. Our faculty met on Monday morning and they, along with administration and security remain vigilant. Halloween at AMHS was a pleasant and peaceful day for all. The staff will do everything within our power to keep it that way. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161884 Fri, 01 Nov 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161884 18 AP Scholars Named at AMHS Amityville Memorial High School Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose and the AMHS guidance department are proud to announce that 18 current and former AMHS students have earned Advanced Placement Scholar awards for the 2013-14 school year. AP Scholars are recognized of their exceptional achievement on the AP exams. Sujeyri Cruz, Dana Dexter, Matt Dubinsky, David Holmes, Anika Martin, and Yesina Morales are all current AMHS students who have received AP recognition. In order to achieve AP Scholar status a student must complete three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. Matt and David were named AP Scholars with Honor by averaging 3.25 on all of their AP exams and achieving 3 or higher on four or more of the exams. AMHS graduates receiving AP Scholar recognition this year are Jahmal Burt, Azha Daniels, Amauris Ferreira, Jade Gaynor, Angelica Hawkins, Joanne Hernandez, Hunter Iacovetti, James Moran, Jamie Radhaykissoon, Davina Roberts, Simone Smith and Emily Spizzirri. Hunter, last year’s Valedictorian at AMHS, earned AP Scholar of Distinction status by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams taken and 3 or higher on five or more of the exams. Most four-year colleges provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP exams typically experience greater academic success in college. Dr. DeRose and Interim Assistant Principal John Cardone are seen here congratulating the AP Scholars currently attending AMHS: (L-R) Yesenia, David, Anika, Dana, Sujeyri and Matt. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161882 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161882 Halloween as a Teachable Moment The night before Halloween, Northeast Elementary School kindergarteners and their parents came together for the Prime Time Costume Party. The evening included a parent education presentation that took place in the cafeteria while the students went to the gymnasium to take part in a number of Halloween-themed games designed to reinforce what they are learning in the classroom. While Northeast Principal Dr. Pauline Collins spoke to parents about Common Core Standards, Physical Education teacher Robert Claps got the students up and moving to the “Bob the Builder” theme song. After that, the students went in groups to numerous centers to play games. Members of the Amityville Memorial High School Interact Club and the Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society provided support to teachers in facilitating the centers. The games included everything from Spooky Letter Matching and Phonics BINGO to the ABC Skeleton and the Candy Color and Beginning Sounds game. Northeast Librarian Tina Smith coordinated the evening’s activities. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161883 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161883 Students and Faculty Square Off on the Hardwood for a Good Cause The Amityville Parent-Teacher Council recently hosted a Student vs. Faculty Basketball Fundraiser in the Edmund W. Miles Middle School gymnasium to support programs for EWMMS students. Amityville Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams, Board of Education Trustee Mark Epps and Amityville Teachers Association President Robert Claps were among the adult participants who joined the EWMMS faculty and staff members on the court against EWMMS students. EWMMS Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis served as the referee for the game, won by the adults, 62-60. Congratulations to the adults, students and all those in attendance for taking the time to support a great cause! APTC President Maresa Dealy coordinated the event. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161879 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161879 Dinner and a Show for Hispanic Heritage Night Schools throughout the Amityville School District held various activities and assemblies to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge of Hispanic history and culture while also showing off their creative talents. Students from Amityville Memorial High School performed during an evening assembly at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, an event attended by young students and their parents. Under the direction of teacher Elisa Castro, AMHS World Language students performed Latin dances in the PAMES auditorium for their guests. AMHS Interact Club members also took to the PAMES stage, under the direction of adviser/teacher Brenda King. Following the entertainment, students and parents enjoyed a feast of foods from different Hispanic countries, provided through various donations and volunteer chefs. PAMES Principal Scott Bullis and other staff and faculty members were the guest servers. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September – October. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161880 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161880 ATA and Company Making Strides In conjunction with the Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach, the Amityville Teachers' Association held its annual ‘making strides’ walk at the Amityville Beach on Sunday, October 20th. Over 200 walkers participated, including ATA members, students, families, friends, neighbors, strollers and even some pets. Many participants donned the color pink– the official color of breast cancer awareness. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Several local community-based organizations joined in the cause including the Kiwanis Club, Amityville Woman's Club, Bay Village Civic Association and the Girl Scouts. The ATA looks forward to future walks at the beach as support continues to grow each year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161881 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161881 Amityville Students Ready for College Approximately 125 colleges and universities provided information and applications to students in the Amityville Memorial High School gymnasium during a recent evening college fair. Students and parents spoke with admissions consultants for two- and four-year institutions from throughout the country, both public and private, some church-affiliated and some specializing in the needs of ethnic minority students. In addition to meeting with students and their families on an ongoing basis, the guidance department continues to conduct special workshops designed to assist students in the selection and application process. Upcoming guidance events include: JAN.9: Financial Aid Night AMHS Library, 7 p.m. FEB. 27: Fill Out Your FAFSA Day (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) AMHS, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. MAR. 6: Junior College Parent Night AMHS Library, 7 p.m. Additionally, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School will conduct College and Career Week in November and Edmund W. Miles Middle School will hold a Career Fair, scheduled for March 28. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161877 Sun, 13 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161877 A Life-Saving Lesson During Fire Prevention Month In recognition of National Fire Prevention Month (October), representatives of the North Amityville Fire Company made their annual trip to Northeast Elementary School to share some fire safety tips with young children. This included staying low when exiting a house that is on fire and the practice of stop, drop and roll to extinguish flames on clothing. Students also learned about the apparatus used to combat fires. Children were brought on board a fire engine and ambulance and received a fire helmet of their own to take home. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161878 Sun, 13 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161878 Hispanic Heritage Celebrated Students and faculty from Northwest Elementary School celebrated Hispanic Heritage Night as a finale to the Hispanic cultures they've been studying the past several weeks. Organized by second grade teacher, Melissa Asbell, the fiesta was complete with authentic Hispanic food and flamenco dancers as well as some special guests. Town of Babylon Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Antonio Martinez, Assistant Superintendent for Data and Technology, Dr. Mary Kelly, and School Board Members Kathleen Corbett and Jeannette Santos came out to help students and their families celebrate. The evening began with the pledge of allegiance-- first in English, and then several students lead the audience saying the pledge of allegiance in Spanish. Ms. Asbell then gave a brief overview of what the students have been learning as part of Hispanic heritage month. All 21 Hispanic countries were covered in a number of ways including in the creation of a Hispanic Heritage Museum within the school that displayed artifacts from the different countries. Deputy Supervisor Martinez offered words of encouragement to the students. Drawing on his own experience as someone who moved to the United States at the age of 13 from El Salvador, Mr. Martinez discussed how he began his life in this country not able to speak English, and after studying and working hard in the public school system and graduating from college he eventually worked his way to become an elected official. Additionally, he presented the school with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Town of Babylon for their efforts in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Following Mr. Martinez's remarks, flamenco dancers from American Bolero Dance Company in Long Island City demonstrated several dances. Artistic Director, Gabriela Granados described the different moves performed by the dancers, as well as the attire they wore. Students and their parents were then taught to clap in the same manner as the flamenco dancers, and how to use their fingers to play castanets. The evening wrapped up with a homemade feast in the school cafeteria. Families from the school prepared authentic Hispanic dishes and brought them in to share. A wide variety of Hispanic foods were enjoyed by all. Other schools throughout Amityville are holding celebrations in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. Ms. Asbell also created a Hispanic heritage museum at Northwest, which consisted of various artifacts and items representing countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Mexico. Famous Hispanics of notoriety are also honored in the museum, including novelist Denise Chavez, athletes Roberto Clemente and Lee Trevino, entertainers Gloria Estefan and Rita Moreno and Antonia Novello, the first Hispanic to be named Surgeon General of the United States. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161876 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161876 Celebration and a Warrior Victory on Homecoming Weekend The Amityville community was out in full force for Homecoming 2013. Following a spirited pep rally celebration for students and staff held in the Amityville Memorial High School gymnasium on Thursday, Oct. 3, alumnus athletes, coaches and athletic contributors were honored during the AMHS Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 4. Saturday, Oct. 5, AMHS cheerleaders, AMHS marching band members, Board of Education members, school staff, and students from various Amityville schools, along with parents, politicians and other dignitaries and supportive community members marched in the annual Homecoming Day Parade down Broadway through the heart of the Village of Amityville. Later in the day, the varsity football Warriors ran onto Lou Howard Field to defend their home turf, and did not disappoint! The Warriors routed the visiting Harborfields High School Tornadoes by a score of 24-7. Amityville’s Sean Walters rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown, including an impressive 22-yard, tackle-breaking score. Sean also intercepted a pass, running it back to the end zone for an early 14-0 early, setting the tone for a triumphant day. Cam Grady added 101 yards rushing for Amityville, as the Warrior defense complemented this offensive output with an equally dominant performance. The warriors evened their record at 2-2. Kaashief Morgan and Brianna Taylor were named 2013 Amityville Homecoming King and Queen, respectively. The marching band delivered an outstanding tribute to the rock band “Journey,” while the varsity cheerleaders and senior dancers put on entertaining performances of their own. For photos from the Saturday’s Homecoming activities, please see the slideshow below http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161872 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161872 AMHS Sports Hall of Fame Inducts 2013 Class The Amityville Sports Hall of Fame inducted members of the 2013 class on Friday, Oct. 4 during its annual dinner and celebration held in the AMHS gymnasium. During the dinner, each inductee was presented with a plaque, an Amityville jacket, and a warm tribute of words delivered by a close friend or family member. Living and present inductees were also invited onto the football field for a celebration prior to the Amityville Warriors Homecoming Varsity Football game vs. Harborfields. The AMHS Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors is comprised of Reynolds Hawkins (Chairman), Jessica Bernius (Secretary), Jerry Pollack (Treasurer), Claude Byer, and Bruce Pescitelli. Mr. Pescitelli served as the Master of Ceremonies for the induction dinner. The Board would like to thank all of the Hall’s supporters for their help since the endeavor was launched. During his acceptance speech, 2013 inductee and Amityville athletic contributor Brian Fowler nominated Mr. Hawkins for future induction. Mr. Pollack, who has coached 120 seasons of Amityville athletics throughout his career, joined Mr. Fowler as a 2013 inductee. Mr. Byer, a former girls basketball coach at AMHS, was inducted as a member of the inaugural class in 2011. The Board of Directors continues to sell bricks for a “Memory Walk” near the entrance to the AMHS track, to honor athletes, musicians, artists and other notable AMHS alumni and students. Each person honored has his/her name engraved in a brick to be placed on the walkway. For more information about this effort, please call 631-565-6133 or 631-804-8294. The application form can also be found on this website under the homepage announcements. The AMHS Sports Hall of Fame opened in 2011 to honor outstanding alumni athletes – many of whom advanced to and excelled at the collegiate and professional levels. The hall also honors the highly successful coaches and dedicated contributors who have left their mark on Amityville athletics for past, current and future generations to honor and cherish. Those being inducted this fall, some posthumously, are: TEAM: 2000 NYS Championship Boys Basketball Team COACHES: Jack Agostino Collin (Toby) Mullin ATHLETIC CONTRIBUTORS: Brian and Sharon Fowler Lisa Johnson ATHLETES: Teakyta Barnes Ernest (Mickey) Caramanico Daniel Cutillo Wilbur (Butch) Devine, Jr. Wilbur Devine, Sr. Susan Fox Jacqueline Guidroz Althea Gwyn Mark Holmes Samuel Leftenant Ian Morgan Jesse O’Neill Donald (Jerry) Pollock Dan Scott In addition, former Amityville coach and physical education teacher Paul Eastman was named a recipient of the AMHS Sports Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Please see the slideshow below for a glimpse of the Oct. 4 Hall of Fame Induction. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161873 Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161873 Amityville HS Homecoming Weekend Preview Amityville Memorial High School (AMHS) will celebrate Homecoming 2013 weekend on Oct. 3, 4 and 5, beginning with a pep rally at the high school on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The third annual AMHS Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. The celebration will culminate on Saturday, Oct. 5 with the annual homecoming parade and varsity football game. The homecoming game will begin at 3:30 p.m., as the Warriors host the Harborfields Tornadoes. Prior to the game, the AMHS Marching Band will kick off the homecoming parade at 2 p.m. beginning at the Amityville LIRR station. The parade will proceed south on Route 110 to Avon Place, turning onto Bayview Avenue before culminating at Lou Howard Field on the campus of AMHS. The marching band will also provide pep music during the football game as well as halftime entertainment, at which time the 2013 homecoming court will be introduced and a king and queen will be crowned. The community is encouraged to come out and support our schools and our Warriors! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161871 Thu, 03 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161871 All-State, All-County Music Honors Fran Fernandez, the director of fine arts in the Amityville School District, is pleased to announce that several Amityville Memorial High School student-musicians have been selected to represent the district at two of the most prestigious regional festivals. Senior Anthony Abate (tenor saxophone) has been selected as a member of the 2013 All-State Symphonic Band, which will perform at the 78th Annual New York State School Music Association Winter Conference in Rochester this December. In addition, junior Aidan McGlone (vocal jazz) has been selected as an alternate for the festival and may be chosen to participate in the ensemble. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor last spring at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals held throughout the state. Students were chosen to participate based on their proficiency scores achieved at the festival and teacher recommendations. Anthony and fellow senior Stephanie Boegle (soprano) have also been chosen to represent the district as members of NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County Music Ensembles this year. Anthony will perform with the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County High School Symphonic Band and Stephanie will perform with the NYSCAME/Suffolk All-County High School Women’s Choir. The rehearsals and concert will take place during November. Similar to the All-State selection process, students were chosen for All-County based on their proficiency scores achieved at the NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals and teacher recommendations. The All-County festival will showcase the top 11th- and 12th-grade students in Suffolk County music programs. The Amityville School District congratulates all of the students and their music teachers, Brian Wishin (band) and Christine Klimek (choral). http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161869 Wed, 25 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161869 A Celebration of Peace To commemorate International Peace Day (September 21), Amityville Memorial High School students continued what has become an annual tradition: forming a human peace sign on the school’s front lawn and “planting” colorful pinwheels for peace in the ground. Some students also recited speeches about performed songs carrying messages of kindness, peace, equality, and unity on the school’s front lawn. Many of these messages could also be found on the pinwheels, which students designed themselves. Members of the school’s Warrior Awareness Club, also known as the WAC PAC, led the activity. Art teacher Jayne Grasso, in conjunction WAC PAC advisor and teacher Jason McGowan coordinated the event with support from the high school’s fine arts department and AMHS administration. The students also continued handing out “peace rocks” as a sign of appreciation to their fellow classmates and teachers. This year, Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose was among the proud recipients of a shiny new peace rock. International Peace Day was established by the United Nations in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly. It was designed to provide individuals and organizations with an opportunity to create practical acts of peace in unison on a shared date. The Pinwheels for Peace project was started by two art teachers in Florida in 2005 to encourage students to decorate peace pinwheels and display them publicly on International Peace Day. The phenomenon has since grown tremendously throughout the country. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161868 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161868 Scenes from the First Day of School http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161867 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161867 A Lifesaver at EWMMS The Amityville School District community is celebrating the actions of Edmund W. Miles Middle School physical education teacher and coach Isha Hamilton. On Sept. 16, during soccer tryouts held just outside the school, Ms. Hamilton came to the aid of seventh-grader Kiavelyn Altagracia-Nunez, who fell to the ground unconscious while standing along the goal line during a break. Kiavelyn had stopped breathing and Ms. Hamilton was able to resuscitate her using CPR (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, chest compressions and rescue breathing techniques) and the Automatic External Defibrillator that was on hand. It was the first time Ms. Hamilton had used the AED for a real emergency in her 11-year career in Amityville. “I couldn’t see a breath coming from her mouth,” she recalled. “It was a sigh of relief when I saw that first sign of life back in Kiavelyn.” Every coach is required by law to complete AED training, and according to EWMMS Principal Dr. Michele Darby, all school staff members will be encouraged to learn to use the AED. “Ms. Hamilton exemplifies everything we do here at Edmund W. Miles Middle School – teaching, caring and nurturing the whole child and looking out for their overall well-being,” said Dr. Darby. “She is reluctant to take the credit, but we are all very proud of her. She is our hero.” “I really want to thank Ms. Hamilton,” Kiavelyn said. “I will never forget her.” Kiavelyn hopes to be back on the soccer field again very soon. She is waiting on approval from her doctor. Pictured (L-R) are Dr. Darby, Kiavelyn, her older sister Evelyn, and Ms. Hamilton holding an AED. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161865 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161865 AMHS Students Tour Historical Black Colleges Thirty Amityville Memorial High School juniors and seniors boarded a charter bus for this year’s installation of the school’s annual Tour of Historical Black Colleges. This year, the tour is stopping at Delaware State University, Hampton University, Norfolk State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Students are visiting the different campuses, getting a feel for college life and learning about admission procedures and scholarship and financial aid opportunities. AMHS social worker/COMPASS Coalition coordinator Raymond Velez, social worker Reynolds Hawkins, AMHS teacher Brenda King and Amityville alumna Ann Clyde accompanied students on the tour. Attendees were selected after an application/interview process that included an essay, designed for the students to demonstrate their motivation for attending and commitment to higher education. In past years the tour was funded through a grant, however, this year COMPASS conducted its own fundraising to support the trip. Since the tour began seven years ago, more than 230 AMHS juniors and seniors have visited more than 25 different Historical Black colleges. For more information on how you can help future tours, please contact Mr. Velez at (631) 565-6332. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161864 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161864 Thinking Smart about Student Athletes With the help of the district’s athletic training service, led by Dr. Jeffrey Poplarski and trainer Kara Gioia, the Amityville Schools has joined the Think Smart! concussion management program. Provided by the Catholic Health Services through Good Samaritan and St. Charles hospitals, the service provides ImPact testing to student athletes if a concussion is suspected. The 20-minute computerized neurocognitive test detects subtle changes in cognitive function. Results are included as part of a complete assessment (which includes follow-up testing) that assists physicians in developing an individual treatment plan for student athletes who sustain concussions, including a plan for safe return to the field. “The Think Smart! program has increased the safety of our athletes and also comes at no cost to the district,” said Director of Athletics John Cardone. “All current AMHS student athletes have been administered this test.” Each season, approximately 10% of all athletes involved in contact sports suffer a concussion and studies show that 40% of high school athletes who do not undergo proper testing return to play too soon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical research has proven that children and adolescents are more likely to sustain a concussion and take longer to recover than adults. Pictured, from the left: Brian Quinn- Manager for St. Charles Hospital Rehabilitation Center (a Catholic Health Services hospital); Kara Goia, athletic trainer; John Cardone, athletic director; and Dr. Jeff Poplarski, owner of Sports and Family Chiropractic, which provides Amityville Schools with athletic training services and also treats student athletes at his facility. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161863 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161863 Welcome Back! The Amityville School District reopened its doors to students at all five schools on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Edmund W. Miles Middle School was the first school to welcome back students, as doors opened at 7:25 am sharp. At Northwest Elementary School, students assembled just outside of the school, with teachers holding signs and staff greeting youngsters off the bus and escorting them to their teachers and classmates. At Northeast Elementary School, kindergartners were welcomed off of their bus as they headed to their new classrooms bursting with excitement and anticipation (only two instances of crying were reported) while Pre-K teachers began home visits to meet the district’s youngest new students, who begin school on Monday September 16. Best wishes to all of the students, parents, teachers, and staff for a successful 2013-14 school year! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161862 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161862 Northwest Principal Approved In accordance with New York State Education Department regulations, Dr. Shirley Martin has been approved to continue serving as Interim Principal at Northwest Elementary School. Since Dr. Martin is retired, she was required to obtain an SED waiver under Section 211 of the Retirement and Social Security Law and Section 80-5.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations in order to maintain her employment ($650 per day) and her right to a pension. Dr. Martin has been approved to continue as Northwest Principal through June 30, 2014. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161870 Sun, 01 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161870 APTC “Amityville Pride” School Spirit Wear Fundraiser Click here for more information. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161860 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161860 Please see important information under Parents/Students, Parent Resources regarding seasonal flu prevention Click here to go to the Parent Resources page. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161861 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161861 AMHS Celebrates Summer Graduates Seventeen Amityville Memorial High School students officially became alumni during school’s summer commencement exercises held on Aug. 22. Proud graduates gathered in the AMHS library, where family and friends, as well as members of the Board of Education and central administration celebrated the students for completing their K-12 careers. Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose offered a warm welcome to all, while Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams congratulated the graduates on their success and emphasized the importance of continued learning throughout life. Dr. DeRose, Dr. Williams and Board members Jeannette Santos and Dr. Kathleen Corbett presented students with their diplomas. The ceremony concluded with rousing applause and was followed by a brief snack and refreshments. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161859 Sun, 25 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161859 AJ Price Comes Home to Teach Basketball to Amityville Youth NBA player and Amityville Memorial High School graduate A.J. Price recently returned home to Edmund W. Miles Middle School, where he hosted a summer basketball clinic that emphasized to children the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and confidence. Roughly 60 Amityville students from grades three through 10 participated in a variety of exercises and events, which promoted using basketball as a fun activity as well as a means of staying positive, building self esteem and fostering camaraderie among students. Mr. Price said during the clinic that when guiding students on the basics of basketball, he stressed to them the message that if they remain focused and dedicated, they can achieve their dreams. “It’s a great feeling — the youth kind of look up to you as a role model,” Mr. Price said. “We’re from the same neighborhood. It’s always good to give back and to instill some confidence in them.” Mr. Price, who plays guard for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, starred for three LI championship AMHS Warrior teams, attended UConn and later played for the Indiana Pacers before signing with the Wizards. He overcame his own personal and unique adversity – a life-threatening battle with a brain condition known as AMV. He will be entering his fifth year in the NBA. For the clinic, students united at the middle school gym and were instructed by Mr. Price, AMHS Warrior varsity basketball coach Jack Agostino and even members of the high school squad. They learned key basketball skills, including ball handling, rebounding, dribbling, shooting and defending. Students later played in organized pickup games. Mr. Agostino said that students were thrilled to be able to learn from a professional athlete like Mr. Price, and added that the clinic was incredibly well received by the community. “It’s the way A.J. Price can give back to the community,” Mr. Agostino said. “He gives a good effort — he works really hard.” A few weeks earlier, another AMHS alumnus and NBA player, Mike James, conducted a similar clinic with skills, drills and a heart-to-heart talk on life on the streets, on the court and how focus in school and athletics can lead to great things in life. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161855 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161855 Summer Learning While summer is a time for many students to take a breather from the rigors of the regular school year’s coursework, the Amityville School District conducted enrichment classes to keep its young minds sharp. The 2013 Summer ELA and Math Academy was held at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, where students in grades K-6 were immersed in a variety of effective educational activities, including the use of Read 180 and System 44 software and other interactive tools such as iPads to make the learning experience more engaging and hands on. Students with special needs also benefited from the summer program and regular remedial classes were held for those in need of the extra help. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161852 Sun, 11 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161852 AMHS Hosts Summer Track and Field Clinic Approximately 30 young men and women from the area participated in a Summer Track and Field Clinic at Amityville Memorial High School, conducted by the AMHS Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Town of Babylon. Held over the course of five days in July, the clinic taught young athletes technique, movement, power, fluidity and muscle memory in the major track and field events. Award-winning AMHS track coach Reynolds Hawkins (116-7-1 with a combined 31 County/League/Division titles) facilitated the clinic and led a staff of record-holding athletes and highly qualified coaches in the jumping, throwing and sprinting/hurdles events. Instructors included Lloyd Constable, a former All-American from North Babylon who is the Suffolk County and Notre Dame record holder for the high jump; Courtney Hawkins, a former Big 8 Conference Champion runner, Pan Am Games silver medalist and Olympic qualifier who was once ranked No. 1 in the world; and Jodie Walton, a former Most Outstanding Performer at the Suffolk County championships and past county record holder and Big East Champion who owns the AMHS discus throw record and was inducted into the AMHS Sports Hall of Fame last year. The clinic culminated with a spirited competition on the final day, in which parents and friends were invited to watch the participants show off some of the skills they learned. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161854 Sat, 10 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161854 Amityville Teachers' Association Welcome Back Bash Free backpacks and school supplies Wednesday-August 28th 4:00-5:30 Park Avenue Memorial Lobby http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161853 Tue, 06 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161853 Mike James Continues To Mentor Amityville’s Athletes NBA player and Amityville Memorial High School graduate Mike James conducted his annual summer basketball clinic at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in July, leading young Amityville students in a series of skills and drills while emphasizing good sportsmanship, academics and smart, responsible decision-making. Approximately 50 Amityville students, ranging from elementary to high school-aged, participated in mini-tournaments and motivational mentorships that promoted using basketball as an outlet for staying off the streets, while inspiring self-esteem and pride in the community. “We want to give these kids something to do. Many of them don’t come from high-income families and do not have the financial resources to attend summer camp,” said Mr. James, who used basketball as his own passage while growing up in Amityville. “This is a free camp. I just want to give of myself.” Participants learned key basketball skills – including shooting fundamentals, dribbling, post offense and defense, one-on-one moves facing the basket, rebounding and passing – from professional instructors and coaches, including AMHS Warrior basketball coach Jack Agostino and even some of his players. Mr. James wrapped up the day with a heart-to-heart talk about life on the streets, on the court and how focusing on school and athletics can lead to great things in life. An 11-year veteran of the NBA who was undrafted, Mr. James played last season for the Dallas Mavericks. Since entering the league in 2001, he has played for several NBA franchises, including the Miami Heat, the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards. Another NBA player and AMHS alumnus, A.J. Price, who starred for three LI championship Warrior teams, attended UConn and played for the Indiana Pacers before signing with the Wizards last season, also conducted a basketball clinic for Amityville youth at EWMMS. Mr. Price has also volunteered his time to instruct at past clinics hosted by Mr. James. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161856 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161856 NW Youngsters Enjoy the Fruits (and Vegetables) of Their Labor Incoming first-graders at Northwest Elementary School spent part of their summer program nurturing the school’s vegetable garden. As an added bonus, they enjoyed healthy snacks, which included salads loaded with the school’s spring harvest and a delicious pizza topped with veggies and herbs from the garden. Throughout the year, students in grades 1-3 at Northwest have been taking their turns caring for the garden, which was built last spring by a group of dedicated parents and staff members serving on the school’s Garden Committee, an idea originated by the Northwest Shared Decision Making Committee. The garden has since yielded lettuce, broccoli, radishes, carrots, basil, parsley, sage, dill and tarragon, among other vegetables and herbs. It also produced tulips this year. In addition to their meals, summer teachers Jane Dady, Mackenzie Jones and Kristina Komsic became creative with the refreshments, using mint from the garden to flavor the children’s iced tea. Amityville Parent Teacher Council President Maresa Dealy, COMPASS Coordinator Ella Williams and Northwest Interim Principal Dr. Shirley Martin all stopped by for a small taste of the students’ and teachers’ labor. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161851 Thu, 18 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161851 BOE Reorganizes At the annual Reorganization meeting, the Amityville Board of Education elected Lisa Johnson as President for the 2013-14 school year. Additionally, Nathan King was named First Vice President and Ronald Moss Second Vice President. New Trustees Dr. Kathleen Corbett and Terry Fulton were also sworn in. The Board usually meets twice a month on the first and second Wednesday at Park Avenue Elementary School, beginning at 7 p.m. (summers at the Park Ave. Administration building next door). A complete listing of members and a schedule of meetings for the 2013-14 school year can be found on the Board of Education section of this website. Dates and times are also listed in the district calendar. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161850 Wed, 17 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161850 EWMMS Inducts Newest Members into National Junior Honor Society On May 15, family, friends, faculty and administration gathered together at Edmund W. Miles Middle School to induct the newest members into the district’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. The ninth-grade band, led by Jason Sciolino, performed as students processed into the assembly. EWMMS Assistant Principal Ted Tsirigotis and Superintendent Dr. John Williams both delivered welcome speeches to attendees, bestowing words of praise and wisdom upon the honorees. “A quote that I have followed throughout life is ‘If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail,’” said Tsirigotis. “These students here today have been preparing for life through their classwork and continue to work hard.” Dr. Williams echoed Tsirigotis with similar sentiments about the importance education, perseverance and dedication in everyday life. “Never stop questioning. Never stop learning,” said Williams. “Character, service, leadership and scholarship are the core of a fulfilled and fulfilling life and the groundwork of a healthy individual. These four traits taken together provide the foundation of a rewarding student life and later adult life.” Next, current NJHS president Madison Daly spoke and introduced her fellow peers as they expounded on virtues of the society’s five pillars of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service and character while lighting the respective candles. Adviser Carlee Wallenstein, former president Jose Coto and Ted Tsirigotis conducted the presentation of the new members, which was immediately followed with a reciting of the honor society’s pledge, candle lighting and flower presentation by the inductees. In her closing remarks, Wallenstein commended the group on their accomplishments and recognized current members of the NJHS who raised more than $1,500 to benefit Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity that provides reconstructive surgery and related medical care for children born with facial deformities. Inductees: Praise Akintola, Julissa Armand, Kimberly Bonilla, Charles Delgado Cruz, Sunita Ford, Thomas Hermann, Wesley Jean-Pierre, Bianca Molina, Jacob Marrero, Eddie Marrero Jr., Ife Martins, Gisselle Monge, Ayana Myles, Trevony Palmer, Jerinna Solages, Sabrina Tobin, Isaiah Williams and Ashley Wilson. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161849 Wed, 26 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161849 Congratulations Class of 2013 Amityville Memorial High School’s Lou Howard field was filled with pride and beaming smiles on Saturday June 22 as the AMHS Class of 2013 celebrated their graduation. Seniors entered the field clad in the traditional Warrior gowns of red and silver, and were greeted with an outpouring of cheers from the stands and triumphant sounds delivered by the AMHS band. Interim AMHS Principal Dr. Mary DeRose took to the podium to congratulate the hardworking class. Her emotional speech demonstrated her admiration for the 2013 graduates after just one year at the school’s helm. She happily wished them luck with their future endeavors. “Graduates, as you sit here with great anticipation and obvious pride, I can only hope that you look back at this moment to energize you to be everything that you can be,” said Dr. DeRose. Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams followed in commending the graduates. “I have seen how hard some of you have [worked] to arrive at this moment. For us, graduation day happens every year. For you, it happens only once. So to all the graduates here today, I congratulate you. You have done well.” Salutatorian Jade Gaynor spoke fondly of her classmates and urged them to pursue their interests. “Enjoy life. We all earned it. And know that whatever you choose to do in life, whatever you have a passion for, as long as you enjoy it, you’ll be the best.” When Valedictorian Hunter Iacovetti took to the stage, he looked down toward the audience of smiling faces and reminded his fellow classmates of the wonderful times they had shared in the halls of AMHS, following with some strong words of assurance. “Remember, there is no such thing as the right path or the wrong path,” said Hunter. “They’re just different… and that’s okay. You can’t let your fear of falling keep you from flying.” Class of 2013 President Angelica Hawkins culminated the student addresses. She cheered on her classmates and urged them to applaud their teachers, their classmates and most importantly, their families. “Not one us could have made it without the support we received at home, at school, or from our friends,” she said. Applause roared and students beamed with confidence and joy when awarded their diplomas – the culmination of years of hard work and knowledge consumption. As soon as the presentation was finished, the students gleefully pulled off their caps and tossed them in the air – an act that completed their special day. The accomplished students then tearfully hugged each other as family members rushed to their sides. The beautiful ceremony ended with a wave of smiles and praise. Congratulations to the 2013 graduating class of Amityville Memorial High School. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161847 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161847 Meet the Class of 2013 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Valedictorian: Hunter Iacovetti Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2013 valedictorian Hunter Iacovetti has earned a weighted GPA of 110.04 and has proven himself a remarkable example of the well-rounded achiever. With aspirations of becoming a doctor, Hunter is certainly on the path to success. “This young man is gifted in so many areas, so much so that I am awed by his humble and modest demeanor,” said Amityville Memorial High School counselor Jackie Noon. “Even as our class valedictorian, he strives for excellence in all he sets his mind to, and it is a joy to watch him flourish.” During his four years, Hunter has completed eight Advanced Placement courses, including world history, biology and calculus, in addition to his vigorous academic curriculum. He has worked diligently at the Amityville Public Library since the spring of 2012 and has devoted his time and energy to various community service efforts such as a UNICEF fundraiser, a Strides for Breast Cancer walk, Heart for the Homeless, a school planting beautification project and peer tutoring. Hunter has not only dominated in the academic realm, but has done so while participating in athletics and other extracurricular activities. He has played soccer and baseball for the district as well as for the towns of Amityville and Massapequa. As an exemplary scholar-athlete, Hunter was named All-Conference, All-League and All-Academic in soccer, all while maintaining high honor roll every quarter since the fourth grade. Additionally, he was a member of the winter track team, Key Club, Warrior Awareness Club, symphonic band and marching band. A glimpse of the multiple accolades that Hunter has received during his time at Amityville Memorial High School shows that he has been a member of the Peer Mediation Program, Student Government, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Language Honor Society and National Honor Society and has participated with NYSSMA. He also received 14 distinctions during the Senior Class Awards ceremony, which included five scholarships, four achievement awards and five certificates of excellence. “Hunter has tremendous depth, a true sense of purpose and is broadminded,” said Noon. “His down-to-earth personality and passion for helping others will make him an exceptional doctor.” Hunter will be attending Fairleigh Dickinson University in the fall to major in biology/pre-medical sciences. Salutatorian: Jade Gaynor Amityville Memorial High School Class of 2013 salutatorian Jade Gaynor is a definitive example of a student that has mastered all that her school has to offer. With a weighted GPA of 109, Jade received an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors at graduation and has six Advanced Placement courses to her name. Despite purposely creating the most challenging course schedule, Jade has, without fail, met and exceeded each academic goal with great success. “Jade’s list of activities is extensive, but it is her level of maturity, love for academia and constant pursuit of excellence that sets her apart from her classmates,” said Amityville Memorial High School counselor Stacy Murphy, who has worked with Jade for the past three years. “Jade knows the hours of dedication it takes to excel in any given area and has proven over and over again that she possesses the drive and capabilities needed to find great success.” During her high school career, Jade has been an active participant at Sandy’s School of Dance, where she teaches children hip-hop for 90 minutes a week. She is a member of the National, National Art, World Language and Tri-M Music honor societies, through all of which she has performed community service. Similarly, she is a member of Amityville Memorial High School’s Liberty Partnership Program and dedicates time to reading to elementary school children. Jade received 11 honors at the Amityville Memorial High School Senior Class Awards ceremony, which included three scholarships and eight awards for excellence. Jade’s skills extend beyond the world of academics and flow into her musical and linguistic abilities. She has been a dedicated member of the high school’s clarinet section and has been recognized by the New York State School Music Association for her talents. She is also fluent in Japanese and excels in the Spanish language. “Jade is a delightful young woman who has gained respect from faculty and peers alike,” said Murphy. “She is more than capable of succeeding greatly at a competitive university.” Jade will be attending the Art Institute of Chicago in the fall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161848 Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161848 Youngsters Take the Next Step Northeast and Northwest elementary schools held moving up ceremonies for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and third-graders advancing to the next level. For the latter two grades, it meant moving on to a new school. Song was a huge element of the ceremonies at Northeast, as each pre-k class put on a special song and dance performance for guests. The sounds of popular songs such as “We Are Family” as made famous by Sister Sledge and the Beatles’ “Love Me Do” filled the school’s gymnasium along with cheers from the audience. During the finale, all students joined together to perform an original song about their experiences in the pre-k and show how excited they are for their journey into kindergarten, which they called “a wonderful place to go!” For kindergartners, a variety of songs about friendship and love, including “That’s What Friends Are For” and Bob Marley’s “One Love” highlighted the ceremony. Following the performances, Northeast Principal Pauline Collins distributed perfect attendance awards and certificates commemorating the student’s advancement into the first-grade at Northwest this fall. For Northwest third-graders, it was an interesting ceremony. This class was originally slated to advance to Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School last year, before the district’s school restructuring moved the entire third-grade to Northwest. Held back only in body, these students showed their love for Northwest– and respect for one another–also breaking out in to song and holding hands as their celebration came to a close. Now it’s on to PAMES, and nothing will stop them now. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161845 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161845 Moving Up in the World Sixth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School and ninth-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School took the first step in the next chapter of their lives. Moving up ceremonies were held to celebrate the accomplishments of these students and send them off in style to the middle school and Amityville Memorial High School, respectively. PAMES’ celebration was fittingly held in the EWMMS gymnasium to provide the soon-to-be seventh-graders a glimpse of their future home. Held hours apart from each other, proud parents packed the facility to cheer on their children. EWMMS welcomed a very special keynote speaker, Crispin Gregoire, former Dominica ambassador to the United Nations. Gregoire spoke about global competitiveness and the role education plays in the lives of this and future generations. Not to be outdone, earlier in the day, PAMES welcomed EWMMS National Junior Honor Society President Madison Daly, who provided some valuable guidance to the incoming class about life in the middle school. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161846 Fri, 21 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161846 Park Avenue Students Run, Twist and Dunk at Field Day Fourth-grade students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School participated in their annual field day as part of their end-of-year activities. The school’s gymnasium and outdoor fields were transformed into an arena of fun and games for everyone to enjoy. Activities included Twister, kickball, a tennis ball toss, bowling, volleyball, hurdle jumping and various relay races. Concluding the day’s excitement was the highly anticipated dunk tank. Students gathered to enjoy popsicles and look on as their peers threw their best pitches in an attempt to sink faculty member Michael Greco. Northeast, Northwest and PAMES students from other grades also participated in class field days throughout the month of June. When inclement weather threatened one PAMES field day, they merely brought the party indoors into the school gymnasium. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161842 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161842 Honored for Being ‘Pool Smart’ Congratulations to Northwest Elementary School first-grader Janae Sinclair who won 2nd place in the Suffolk County Legislature's "Be Pool Smart" Art Poster Contest. Janae and her family were invited to an awards ceremony at the William T. Rogers Suffolk County Legislature building in Hauppauge, where County Legislator DuWayne Gregory made the announcement and presented Janae with a proclamation for her fine work. Janae’s poster illustrated important safety techniques to follow while cooling off in the pool during the summer months. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161843 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161843 Amityville Schools Bursting With Pride Earlier this month Amityville Memorial High School hosted the traditional Pride Day, a district-wide celebration held annually as the school year comes to a close. The AMHS Jazz Ensemble, led by adviser Brian Carter, kicked off the evening with an energetic instrumental performance of “Superstitious” as made famous by Stevie Wonder. Fourth-grade teacher and returning Master of Ceremonies Marc Engler gave a few opening remarks to welcome an auditorium full of family, friends, faculty, staff and administration. Students from the Northeast Elementary School led guests in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. They also performed songs of celebration to set the upbeat and positive tone for the remainder of the evening during which students were presented with Star Awards commending their exemplary actions. Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams expounded on the true meaning behind Pride Night. “It’s about celebrating our kids and their accomplishments,” said Dr. Williams. “Tonight’s picnic is a going-away present to celebrate a year well spent and all of the good work that was accomplished.” The gathering continued with performances by the Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Orchestra, the Edmund W. Miles Middle School Chorus and an incredible 17-minute Disney song medley performance by Northwest Elementary School students, directed by Roxanne Tannenbaum. A wonderful time was had by all during the spirited celebration. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161840 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161840 Spring Track Stars Shine at Nationals Four members of the Amityville Memorial High School Boys Spring Varsity Track team were selected to participate in National Emerging Elite Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, held at North Carolina A&T State University. They brought home two relay medals and one for individual effort. Artneil Reid jumped 46-5 ½ feet in the triple jump, finishing in 3rd place. 4 x 400-meter relay team of Kaashief Morgan, Robert Stafford, Artneil Reid and Vincent Jackson ran 3:20.07 capturing 2nd place. 4 x 200-meter relay team, also consisting of Kaashief, Robert, Artneil and Vincent (who ran a personal best in this race) ran 1:30.80 for 6th place. It was a phenomenal year for this group, as they placed 4th in NY State, 4th in the Federation, 3rd on Long Island and best overall in Suffolk in the 4 x 400-meter relay. Artneil’s triple jump of 46-6 ½ was good for best on Long Island, 6th in NY State and 3rd best in Amityville history. Vincent’s long jump of 22-10 ½ was 5th best in the State and best in Amityville history. His effort in the 400-meter was also 1st in Suffolk, 3rd best on Long lsland and 7th in NY State. Congratulations to Coach Reynolds Hawkins and Coach Jerry Pollock on an outstanding season overall, including another League title. Pictured, clockwise, from the bottom are Robert, Vincent, Coach Hawkins and Kasshief. Missing from the photo is Artneil. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161839 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161839 New York State School Boards Association Call to Action: Stop Unfunded Mandates Click here for more information. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161838 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161838 Brightest Stars Shine at Senior Awards Ceremony The auditorium at Amityville Memorial High School was filled with proud parents, faculty and staff on June 6 as they celebrated the tremendous accomplishments of the class of 2013 at the school’s annual senior awards ceremony. Nearly 70 graduating seniors were presented with awards commemorating their years of hard work and dedication. Also in attendance were various members of the Amityville community and award donors to show their support for the honorees. The event began with opening remarks from Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams and a presentation of the Triple C Award by Assistant Attorney General Patricia Hingerton to Linda Serrano for her “character, courage and commitment.” Next, attendees were treated to a video presentation in honor of the soon-to-be graduates, created by technology teacher Steven Carbo, which featured students sharing their favorite AMHS memories. More than 190 awards, scholarships, and distinctions were presented in categories such as academics, athletics, fine arts, character and service throughout the ceremony. Also recognized were class salutatorian Jade Gaynor and valedictorian Hunter Iacovetti who received a combined 25 awards. “When you see students with a beginning like this you know that only good and better things are to come,” said high school interim principal Dr. Mary DeRose in her closing remarks. “We know that this is just the beginning of great success for these students.” Dr. DeRose also thanked the remaining members of the class of 2013 for their outstanding cooperation and positivity throughout the year. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161837 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161837 PAMES Students Take on the Staff in Basketball It was a night of spirited competition as the Parke Avenue Memorial Elementary School faculty and staff tipped off against the students in a charity basketball game. Despite some stiff competition from the adults, the youngsters prevailed by a point. Some members of the Amityville Memorial High School County champion varsity basketball squad filled in as subs off the bench for the PAMES students. Proceeds of the game will support activities for PAMES students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161834 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161834 Northeast Kids Know Their Math Northeast Elementary School in Amityville conducted a Family Math Night in which parents learned what will be expected of their children for future math exams while youngsters participated in various fun and interactive games that taught them not only about mathematics, but infused literacy into the equation. The evening’s activities provided knowledge aligned with the new Common Core Standards for both math and English Language Arts. Amityville School District Director of Mathematics Claude Irwin and Northeast Principal Pauline Collins presented for parents. Northeast Librarian Tina Smith coordinated literacy activities, including read-a-long sessions. Members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Interact Club and the Edmund W. Miles Middle School National Junior Honor Society volunteered to help the faculty set up and chaperone young students. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161835 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161835 Students Dissect the Science of Stem Cell Research at EWMMS Ninth-grade living environment students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School took a hands-on approach to learning during a recent stem cell retrieval lab. The school’s gymnasium was transformed into a surgical laboratory where students, under the instruction of teachers Deborah Charles and Renee Silon, performed dissections on fetal pigs. “The main focus of this study is for students to understand the importance of stem cells and how much the cells can actually do within the body,” said Charles. Stem cells, when properly collected, have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during the earlier stages of life and growth. They also have the ability to recreate and regenerate tissues and organs in a living body. During the procedure students had the meticulous task of identifying structures such as the liver, kidneys and brain within their piglets. They were also asked to attempt to extract stem cells. Specific instructions that incorporated the use of proper scientific terminology were provided to help successfully deconstruct the specimen and identify the highlighted organs. “Stem cells from the mother’s placenta, if saved, can be transformed into other cells and used in the future,” added Charles who also briefly expounded on the U.S.’s stance on the issue of stem cell research. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161836 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161836 Lacing Up for Summer This May 75 Amityville School District students at Northeast, Northwest and Park Avenue Memorial Elementary Schools each received a brand new pair of sneakers as part of a contest sponsored by “Shoes That Fit.” Over 5,000 pairs of sneakers are distributed to children nationwide through the organization’s “Shoes-A-Palooza” event. Amityville School District’s Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health, Tony Cerullo, who initiated the partnership between the district and “Shoes That Fit” this year, was present when representatives from the organization came to the schools to personally award students with their contest prizes. PAMES Physical Education instructors Coleen Charles and William Maisel also helped to facilitate. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161833 Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161833 Principal's Message Parents/Guardians: It is hard to believe that the school year will be ending soon. We had a wonderful year at Northeast School. The children have made great strides academically and socially. We wish you and your child continued success as they move up the grades. On behalf of the Northeast Staff, we wish you a safe and enjoyable summer. Below are some dates and times to keep in mind for the month of June: June 14, 2013- Last day of Pre-K and Pre-K Moving Up Ceremony June 18, 2013- Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. June 19, 2013 Kindergarten Field Day- 9:30 a. m. -11:00 a.m. June 19, 2013 Kindergarten Dismissal 12:10 p.m. June 20, 2013 Kindergarten Dismissal 12:10 p.m. June 21, 2013 Last Day of School, 10:40 Dismissal In addition, please find a general school supply list for the 2012-2013 School Year below. Please be advised that your teacher may ask for additional items which are specific to his/her class. On behalf of the Northeast staff, I would like to wish you and your family a healthy and enjoyable summer. 2013-2014 School Supply List 1 FULL SIZE BOOKBAG 2 BOXES OF TISSUES 2 MARBLE NOTEBOOKS 24 PENCILS The Following Items Will be Needed for Homework: PENCILS CRAYONS SCISSORS GLUE Sincerely, Pauline Collins Principal http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161832 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161832 High Ratings For Jazz Band Congratulations to the Amityville Memorial High School Jazz Ensemble. The group attended the NYSSMA Major Organization Assessment Festival on May 22 and received a ”Silver” rating for their Level 4 program. Congratulations to the students and their advisor, Mr. Carter, on this outstanding accomplishment! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161831 Wed, 29 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161831 Girls Varsity Track a Scholar-Athlete Team Congratulations to the Amityille Memorial High School Girls Varsity Track team for being named a New York State Scholar-Athlete team by the New York Public High School Athletic Association. The team achieved a cumulative academic average of 90% or better for the season. Additional congratulations to coaches Paul Duguay and Shabue Mosley, and the girls’ teachers on a job well done. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161830 Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161830 Budget Vote Passed: 540-296 Trustee Election Results: Terry Fulton and Kathleen Corbett were elected to the Board of Education - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161829 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161829 Amityville Brings the AIDS Quilt Home June 6th On June 6 Amityville student HIV peer educators in conjunction with COMPASS (Community Parents, School, Students) coalition and HealthNets invites the Amityville community to a special evening of remembrance, discussion and viewing of the AIDS Quilt Names Memorial Project- the largest art project in the world dedicated to those who have lost their lives from AIDS. More than 50 quilt panels created by Amityville students will temporarily be brought back to Edmund W. Miles Middle School (EWMMS) for this special assembly. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161827 Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161827 Five ‘STEP’ Up in Science Bowl Five students from Edmund W. Miles Middle School participated in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) Regional Science Bowl. Jaime Ruiz-Marcelo, Robert Caro, Casey Terbaniesingh, Andrew Abate and Fabrizio Pico led by advisor Deborah Charles, arrived to the competition a day in advance to study and practice for the fast-paced academic tournament. During the day-long competition against high school students from across the island, the students were asked advanced placement level questions on a variety of topics, including mathematics, energy, astronomy, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics and life science. “It required a lot of hard work and critical thinking,” said one student. The quintet was the youngest competing team but impressively took third place; a true testament to the tremendous amount of effort, dedication and commitment the team put forth. The students will enroll in a Science Bowl prep class next school year in preparation for the semi-finals in March 2014. The course, as well as the competition, will provide them with the opportunity to embrace science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies as a primer for collegiate success and future careers in these fields. Edmund W. Miles Middle School principal Dr. Michele Darby (left) and Ms. Charles are seen congratulating Andrew, Casey, Robert, and Jamie. Fabrizo is absent from the photo. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161828 Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161828 The Edmund W. Miles Middle School Drama Club Presents "The Music Man" Performances will be held on May 17th & 18th at 7:30pm in the Middle School Tickets will cost $5 and can be purchased at the door. Call for more information 631-565-6200 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161809 Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161809 Edmund Miles Middle School students video chat with peers in South Africa Students at Edmund Miles Middle School were recently given the opportunity to video chat with their South African peers. The students were participating in a program called "Courageous Conversations." Educators hope to remove barriers and allow students to get a better understanding of different cultures. Dr. Arnold Dodge started the program after he and his colleagues from Long Island University took a trip to South Africa. They created this program and received a grant from LIU officials to purchase iPads in order to establish dialogue between students in both countries. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161810 Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161810 The EWMMS News team visits News 12 “The Friday morning announcement video crew got a chance to see how the production of a news program is done professionally. Recently 15 cast members of the middle school’s video production crew visited the production facility of Cablevisions, Long Island News 12. The Long Island News 12 studio, in Woodbury, is part of Cablevision’s news network that reaches over 3.8 million households in the tri-state area. The middle school video crew toured the essential departments needed to create the News 12 production. The video crew toured the newsroom where stories were being created; the graphic artists’ suite where graphics were being created for visuals during broadcasts; the video editing facility; the international video feed facilities; and the directors control room. With the exception of the live broadcast talent, all cameras, lighting and audio equipment were remotely controlled during the broadcast from the directors control room. The video crew also had a chance to experience what it was like to work in front of a blue screen to produce weather reports. This was an engaging and educational trip for the students that afforded them the opportunity to experience a “real world” career. THIS IS WHAT COMMON CORE LEARNING STANDARDS IS ALL ABOUT!” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161811 Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161811 A Sign of Greatness: Town of Babylon Honors Amityville’s Basketball Champs Members of the Amityville Memorial High School varsity boys basketball team, along with coaches and school and district officials, stood on the school front lawn where Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer and Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez presented the student-athletes with certificates of achievement following a fantastic year. To commemorate the team’s Long Island Championship and overall Section XI Suffolk County Championship, the Town also dedicated a large sign, which stands proudly in front of the school, for all to see. Supervisor Schaffer thanked the team for bringing a championship home to the Town of Babylon and doing so with grace. “Whether you realize it or not, there are a lot of younger kids that look up to you,” he said. “You are wonderful role models for them and we want to commend you for your exemplary behavior.” The team was also awarded the League 6 Sportsmanship award for their outstanding display of admirable conduct throughout the season by coaches, players and fans. AMHS assistant principal and Warrior head coach Jack Agostino was also named a Suffolk County Coach of the Year in his 26th year at the helm. Adam Hovorka coaches the JV squad and Al Lorenzana volunteers. Team Roster: Mike Alston Demetrius Chambers Travis Dickerson Ryan Doyle Kavione Green Andy Laurent Gary Looney Phil McCloud Nazir McLamb Tylek Mills Amhad Moussa Mike Smith Zack Tannis Sean Walters Trevon Walker http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161800 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161800 National Designers Three Northwest Elementary School students have been named finalists by the popular youth clothing line P.S. from Aéropostale in the national t-shirt design contest “What Makes U Smile.” Under the guidance of art teacher Dr. Dorothy Mac Gregor, first-graders Darling Mejia-Reyes, Janae Sinclair and second-grader Axel Ruby created and designed submissions that were exhibited in Aéropostale store window displays throughout the country. The competition, which is managed by the company Refuel, had over 45,000 entries from more than 500 participating schools. Congratulations to these students on this excellent achievement! http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161796 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161796 A Message of Gratitude for Service Students and faculty at Northeast Elementary School celebrated Global Youth Service Day in a special way this year. Youth service coordinator and Northeast teacher Colleen Kretz, along with the help of Northeast teachers, organized a campaign for which students in the pre-k and kindergarten classes created poems, letters, banners, pictures and books to be sent to service men and women based in Afghanistan. Two of the recipients include Town of Babylon Councilwoman and member of the United States Army Reserves Jacqueline Gordon and Amityville graduate Dennis McDonough. Town of Babylon Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez, Town of Babylon Project Manager Florence Findley, New York State Assembly Chief of Staff Denise Kretz and U.S. Navy petty officer Josh Candon visited Northeast to commend the children for their efforts. Officer Candon also visited multiple classrooms to thank the students and answered questions, providing them with some background information on life as a serviceperson. Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams and Northeast Elementary School Principal Pauline Collins. Global Youth Service Day, a campaign of the Youth Service America established in 1988, celebrates and mobilizes young people who improve their communities each day of the year through service. It is the largest service event in the world, as it is celebrated each year in over 100 countries. It is also the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161798 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161798 AMHS AP World Students Honored for Bettering their Community Amityville Memorial High School Advanced Placement World History students Jeannine Hernandez, Mauricio Rivas, and Etiana Coley Mells were recently honored by the Suffolk Center on the Holocaust, Diversity and Human Understanding as part of the County's Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration held at Suffolk Community College in Selden. Each student was honored for his/her weekly participation in service events designed to make a difference in the community– and the world at large. Pictured (L-R) here Etiana, Mauricio and Jeannine are congratulated by their teacher Dawn Levine, Amityville Director of Social Studies Daniel Noviello and AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161797 Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161797 An Important Message From The National School Boards Association Click here for more information. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161792 Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161792 AMHS Inducts 22 into National Honor Society Amityville Memorial High School has inducted 22 students into the Edward Reed Gage Chapter of the National Honor Society. Current NHS officers Simone Smith, Jasmine Belizaire, Kiara Don, and Azha Daniels led the ceremonial candle lighting prior to induction–each candle represents one of the four NHS criteria for induction: character, scholarship, leadership and service. NHS President Ira Mamba administered the NHS oath to the new members. NHS member Angelica Hawkins led the Pledge of Allegiance and NHS member Anthony Abate performed a musical interlude. In total there are 63 members of the AMHS NHS. Of them, 28 are seniors who will be graduating in June. Jodi Roisman is the AMHS NHS advisor. Edmund W. Miles Middle School will induct 18 new members into its National Junior Honor Society on May 15. Congratulations to new AMHS NHS inductees: Nefe Abamwa Lilian Ayodele Umari Barnaman Stephanie Boegle Jacqueline Caballero Leisha Cason Etiana Coley Mells Hailey Davenport Ashley Farrier Kerina Herard Jeannine Hernandez Michael LaRosa Amber Knapp Anika Martin Aiden McGlone Salena Mo Miguel Nunez Josue Reyes Alexyss Robinson Lobyre Solages Andreena Taylor Somine Wint http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161799 Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161799 Important Information Regarding the Office of Special Education, Central Registration and Pupil Personnel Services Please Note: The Office of Special Education, Central Registration and Pupil Personnel Services has now officially moved to E.W. Miles Middle School. The office is located on the North side of the building, on the first floor. All phone numbers and e-mail addresses have remained the same. For further information, please contact (631) 565-6552. Click here to view the Pupil Personnel Services, Special Education, and Central Registration page. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161794 Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161794 Open Airways at PAMES In its second year, Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School enjoyed graduation festivities on honoring students who completed a unique program on asthma awareness and asthma management. Representatives from the Asthma Coalition of Long Island and Molloy College Division of Nursing were on hand to provide certificates of completion as ‘asthma experts’ to 12 accomplished students. Education provided by senior nursing students from Molloy College consisted of six, 40 minute lessons specifically designed for school age children, ages 8 -11. The program, Open Airways®, was created by the American Lung Association to teach children with asthma steps to prevent recurrent episodes, recognize the signs and symptoms of an asthma attack and know what interventions to take to feel more confident about taking care of asthma on a daily basis. To date, this win-win partnership has helped to teach 33 students attending PAMES and 77 students throughout the district proper asthma self-management. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161801 Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161801 Miles MS Literacy Night Gets Tails Wagging for Reading Students at Edmund W. Miles Middles School participated in Dog Tales 2 Literacy Night, a program that partners students and their families with therapy dogs from Bideawee, a leading pet welfare organization on Long Island. Special guests Abbie Jane, Baci, Oakley and Timmy, along with their owners, visited the school where participants were given thousands of books to choose from to read to their newfound friends. The evening began with a dinner provided by the Amityville Parent Teacher Council. Attendees then made their way to four classrooms where their canine visitors awaited. Students had a tremendous selection of books, which were provided by Amy Zaslansky of The Book Fairies, a local nonprofit organization that redistributes gently used children’s books to schools on the island. Author Tony Abbott also donated signed copies of his books for the occasion. The Bideawee Reading to Dogs Program currently partners with nine schools and 17 libraries on Long Island. Teachers report that children participating in the program demonstrate improved reading skills, decreased school absenteeism, increased frequency in the completion of homework assignments and improved self-confidence. “It was a grand success!” said EWMMS Library media specialist and literacy team coordinator Lynn Cesiro. Additionally, the thousands of donated books from the program have found new homes with students for them to enjoy. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161812 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161812 Courageous Conversations Through Technology Eight freshmen from Edmund W. Miles Middle School experienced the opportunity of a lifetime this week when Dr. Arnold Dodge, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration at Long Island University Post helped to connect them with fellow students in South Africa. Students Quevin Bonilla, Stephan Bramwell, Kimberly Crews, Patrick Daniel, Ashley Hermann, Viktoria Hermann, Michael Iorio and Antholin Richards all participated in a live, digital interaction with students in the Desmond Mpilo Tutu Senior Secondary School in Mbekweni, near Cape Town, by means of an Internet videoconference. Dr. Dodge, who visited South Africa with his wife in an excursion with other educators five years ago, is the driving force behind the “Courageous Conversations” program, provided for by a grant through LIU. In South Africa, he connected with now colleague Berte Van Wyk, an associate professor at the University of Stellenbosch. “We found that there were so many parallels there to our country in terms of race and poverty,” he said. “Both countries are trying to find solutions to make for a more equitable society.” Since then, the two have worked together to deliver iPads to the students so they can interact with one another. During the discussion, the two groups of students were able to see and ask each other prepared questions on an array of topics ranging from sports, food and music to more in-depth questions about life after schooling, politics and impressions about each other’s country. “They are confident and proud,” said EWMMS student Viktoria Hermann. “They were so grateful for everything they had including things that we take for granted here – the total opposite of what I was expecting.” The group videoconference launched the start of an ongoing, cross – continental conversation between the students. Both groups will be using the donated iPads to connect and further explore each other’s cultures. Dr. Dodge, who has intentions to replicate the program in schools all over Long Island, has many goals motivating him in his quest to bridge the gaps between students across the world. Some of these include improving language skills and increased global awareness. “The program covers the social and emotional growth of children- to uplift the students, give them a sense of connectedness to others, to bust some of the current paradigms and think outside the box,” said Dr. Dodge. “Connecting with people around the world can make for more peaceful world and for a better society.” EWM Middle School principal Michelle Darby, who was also in attendance, commented that, “The program will show both groups of students what things are really like in each country and not just what they see in the movies and on television. They will have the chance to become very good friends.” http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161814 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161814 Among the Best for Music Education For the second time in three years, the Amityville School District is pleased to announce its designation as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” in America by the NAMM Foundation. The national program has put the spotlight on the 307 selected school districts with outstanding commitment to music education. Amityville also received this distinction in 2011. Formerly known as the National Association of Music Merchants, for 14 years the NAMM Foundation has acknowledged schools and districts across the United States for their commitment to and support of music education in schools. They measured a variety of factors, including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified, certified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition, among others. To be named to the “Best Communities” list, a community is committed to access and high standards for music education in the aforementioned areas. 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. This year, nearly 2000 schools and school districts participated in the survey - an increase of 366% from 2012, resulting in a record number of designations. This year’s increase in survey participation is an indication of growing support from both parents and administrators who recognize the vital role that music learning plays in student achievement. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161815 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161815 Amityville WAC PAC Shows Heart for the Homeless In February, Farmingdale College opened its doors to the homeless, and 30 members of Amityville Memorial High School’s Warrior Awareness Club (aka the WAC PAC) were there to help. As part of the Have a Heart for the Homeless night, each WAC PAC member brought a bag of much-needed items to be distributed to the homeless population on hand that night. Items included toiletries, canned goods, coats and other clothing. WAC PAC students also painted the faces of the homeless children in attendance, read books to them, handed out clothing and volunteered their time assisting them in any way they could. At the evening’s conclusion, a candlelight vigil ceremony was held to recognize the plight of homelessness on Long Island. AMHS WAC PAC members have participated in the vigil for several years. Each volunteer received a t-shirt and a personal thank you from local philanthropist and Have a Heart for the Homeless coordinator Charlie Russo. The AMHS WAC PAC adviser is Jason McGowan. (pictured with members of the WAC PAC). http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161816 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161816 Amityville HS, Applebee’s Hold Flapjack Fundraiser Approximately 30 Amityville Memorial High School students took over Applebee's in Farmingdale and served, hosted, bussed tables and cashiered during a flapjack breakfast hosted by the restaurant to raise money for the school’s annual Tour of Historical Black Colleges. Students raised approximately $1,100 in profits and also sold t-shirts, all to benefit the tour, normally taken in the fall. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161817 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161817 Students at Northeast Share Their Love for Books Students at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville welcomed guest readers from within the district and local community into their classrooms to participate in a group reading as part of their annual “Love A Book Week.” Invitees, who included members of the junior high school’s National Honor Society, Councilman Tony Martinez, Amityville Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Williams and Northeast Principal Pauline Collins, read their favorite children’s love stories to the students. School librarian Tina Smith organized the week’s events. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161818 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161818 Amityville Students Make Learning Look as Easy as Pi Students in the seventh through ninth grades at Edmund W. Miles Middle School recognized the 14th of March, better known as Pi Day, with their third annual pi competition. Nearly three-dozen students participated in the event, which challenged individuals to learn as many digits of the mathematical constant as they possibly could. “It is a fallacy to think that only higher-level students can memorize a lot of information,” said Amityville mathematics director Claude Irwin. “Our conversation with the students surrounding this exercise spoke to testing the limits of the brain. App’s and technology make us lazy but we are capable of so much more.” Student Esteban Idrovo took the gold, having memorized an incredible 211 digits. “Practice makes perfect,” Esteban said attributing his success to his five to six hours of practice and memorization. Tied for second place were seventh-grader Jerinna Solages and Keith Nieves, a ninth-grader. Both students were able to recite an impressive 93 digits. The school’s all-time record is 257. All winners were awarded with a gift certificate and, of course, pecan pie. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161819 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161819 Welcoming a Civil Rights Trailblazer Students from Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School in Amityville welcomed Dr. Joseph McNeil, a member of the “Greensboro Four,” a group of young black college students who led a series of peaceful sit-ins at a segregated Woolworth store in North Carolina during the 1960s. The movement was historic in that it led to the de-segregation of all Woolworth stores throughout the country and was a signature moment in the Civil Rights movement and an end to Jim Crow laws that discriminated against people of color. Dr. McNeil, a resident of Hempstead, spent time with students, who watched a video about the event and participated in a question and answer segment with him afterwards. “The pie and coffee (at Woolworth) was not even that good,” joked Dr. McNeil. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161820 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161820 Artists Showcased at Regional Exhibit Twenty Amityville Memorial High School students are representing the district at the Smithtown Youth Art Showcase held at the Smithtown Arts Council located at the Mills Pond House in Smithtown. The showcase will be on display through March 15. The Mills Pond House is located at 660 Route 25A in St. James, NY. Exhibit hours are Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm. AMHS’s featured artists are pictured here with art teacher Barbara Lark (kneeling, far right) and AMHS Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose (standing, far right). http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161821 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161821 Celebrating Black History and Heritage Amityville Memorial High School celebrated Black History Month with an entertaining assembly that allowed many students to display their exceptional talents. Coordinated by AMHS’s Interact Club, the celebration consisted of various song and dance segments, as well as the traditional fashion show and a tribute to the “Greensboro Four,” who led a series of peaceful sit-ins at a segregated Woolworth store in North Carolina during the 1960s. Teacher Jason McGowan once again served as the emcee and recited many useful Black history facts. Brenda King is the advisor for Interact. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161822 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161822 Celebrating Civility & Civil Rights, Creatively Ten Amityville students are representing the district in the NYS Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2013 Fine Art and Essay Display, a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy held in conjunction with his birthday and Black History Month. Students from Northwest Elementary School and Amityville Memorial High School submitted their artwork using Dr. King’s Six Principles of Nonviolence as their theme. Artwork from the following students will remain on display at the Concourse of the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY through the end of February: From Northwest ES - Hasslyn Hurtado Isaiah Fernandez Brandon Dennis Imani Desir Leah Friedland Jennifer Molina Salazar Shivanna Dindial From AMHS - Sarah Blotiau Roxanne Roach Balmoris Rodriguez Special thanks to art teachers Dr. Dorothy Mac Gregor (NW) and Cara Garofalo (AMHS) for their guidance and support. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161823 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161823 Lesson Helps Amityville HS Students Reach for the Stars Sophomore earth science classes at Amityville Memorial High School recently participated in a portable planetarium presentation by Richard Meyer of Western Suffolk BOCES who taught students about the universe in a unique way. “I want to capitalize on their interest,” said Meyer. “This type of visual lesson helps students to remember important concepts.” A brief introductory lecture started the session and discussed the Big Bang, stellar evolution, the Earth, moon and seasons. It also incorporated scientific concepts relevant to New York State Standards, such as the revolution and rotation of planets. Shortly after the overview, students and instructors moved inside the inflated planetarium for to get a realistic visual of what they were learning. On the walls were projections of 1,500 stars as well as images of galaxies and the Milky Way. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161824 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161824 Paying Tribute to Chris LaMarca Amityville Memorial High School’s auditorium was abuzz with the sounds of jazz and different genres of music as current students, alumni and fellow musicians and colleagues gathered to honor the memory of Chris LaMarca, the late AMHS Jazz Band leader and Amityville School District music teacher who passed away suddenly in November. For close to five hours, 15 different music and performing acts took to the stage to celebrate his life and legacy. Performers included Kevin Jackman, who has played music since the fourth-grade and who first learned about Mr. LaMarca through his sister Corine, for whom he also taught. “He always had a spark of enthusiasm,” said Kevin, who began playing the trumpet in the ninth-grade. “I am grateful to him and the respectful way he taught us all. He taught by example.” AMHS All-County saxophonist Anthony Abate was also greatly influenced by Mr. LaMarca. “He was like a father, a mentor and a best friend to me… all in one,” said Anthony, whose father Anthony senior and younger brothers Andrew and Patrick collaborated as a band to perform several songs as part of the tribute concert. “At the same time, Chris was always sympathetic to my needs and always had my back.” Anthony also led a collaboration of current and alumni Jazz Band members to close out the show. Other performers included The Brian Carter Quintet, The Griffins, The McGlones, Young Genius and The Bay Big Band, a popular veteran jazz band for which Mr. LaMarca was a member. Amityville Teacher’s Association President Robert Claps organized the concert, which raised close to $4,500 toward a scholarship fund for Mr. LaMarca’s son Miles. His widow Michele LaMarca, father John and several other family members were also in attendance. Amityville physical education teacher William Maisel served as the MC. Click on link to read the Newsday article and watch video footage of the concert: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/benefit-concert-memorializes-beloved-music-teacher-chris-lamarca-1.4410032 http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161825 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161825 AMHS Principal Named WSCA Administrator of the Year The Amityville School District congratulates Amityville Memorial High School Interim Principal Dr. Mary DeRose, who has been named the Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association Administrator of the Year. Dr. DeRose was nominated by Amityville’s guidance department for her leadership and for overseeing a “seamless and superior” transition following the departure of former principal Dr. Scott Andrews. In its nomination letter to the WSCA, the guidance department cited Dr. DeRose’s ability to lead the department, revamp curriculum offerings to best meet the needs of students, and collaborate with the instructional staff on new course ideas as key reasons for the nomination. They also lauded her ability to treat behavioral issues at the school fairly and effectively, noting a drop in the suspension rate and a more cohesive and productive relationship between students and staff, overall. “There is no job that Dr. DeRose would ask us to do that she wouldn't roll up her sleeves and do herself,” the letter stated. “She values the relationships we have with our students and their families and understands that counseling comes before any amount of paperwork.” Submitted and signed by counselors Andrew Akapnitis, Stacy Murphy and Jacqueline Noon, the letter went on to say, “In a short time, Dr. DeRose’s extensive career in administration and her passion for education has exponentially changed the climate of our high school We have seen this firsthand.” “After all these years, it’s just nice to be appreciated by professionals who care so much about our students,” said Dr. DeRose, who has served as a teacher, high school principal, college professor and most notably a school superintendent in Kings Park for 16 years before retiring in 2007. Last year she served as an educational consultant for the Amityville School District, helping AMHS develop goals and assisting with the development of interdisciplinary teams and the master schedule at Edmund W. Miles Middle School. In August she was appointed to serve as the interim principal at AMHS. The WSCA is a professional organization in western Suffolk County for individuals engaged in or interested in any phase of counseling. Members include school counselors in public and private schools, mental health counselors, college admissions counselors, career counselors, and professors and students in the field of counseling. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161826 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161826 Math Mania Takes Over at Northwest Elementary School Students, parents and faculty members of Northwest Elementary School came together for Math Mania, an after-school event that encouraged families to “discover the wonders of math together.” Director of K-12 Mathematics Claude Irwin and second-grade teacher Franca Adams began the evening with introductions and a presentation outlining the new Common Core Standards in mathematics. “One of the largest focuses with this program is to give the students the ability to take what is taught in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations,” said Irwin. “No longer are we comparing our students’ performance to those in neighboring schools- it has become a matter of global competition and we need to be prepared.” Irwin urged parents to continually reinforce the lessons their children are learning in school. “Help us help your children,” he said. “Point out a math moment of the day, make and review flash cards and create good habits and routines for future learning.” Afterward, children and their parents assembled in various classrooms where an assortment of math-related activities awaited them. Domino addition and other math games involving playing cards, measuring cups, coins, grocery store circulars, globes and even musical instruments made for a fun-filled, productive evening for everyone. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161813 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161813 Aliquam facilisis lobortis dolor, vitae porttitor est fermentum a Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse eu tortor ante, vitae elementum libero. Nunc nisl odio, sollicitudin a tempor ut, condimentum a dui. Vivamus nec purus nec urna molestie luctus. Duis dui urna, lacinia sed consequat eu, viverra non eros. Mauris eu ante sed leo commodo interdum sed sit amet purus. Nullam venenatis pellentesque mauris nec feugiat. Maecenas faucibus, est ut gravida tincidunt, magna lacus dictum urna, a laoreet est arcu facilisis felis. Nulla id libero dui. Nullam auctor eleifend sem sit amet ultrices. Ut aliquam mauris et lorem pulvinar et ultrices erat elementum. Aliquam facilisis lobortis dolor, vitae porttitor est fermentum a. Ut imperdiet iaculis volutpat. Sed orci metus, placerat quis scelerisque non, aliquam a sem. Etiam consectetur feugiat quam, et dignissim nulla vulputate nec. Suspendisse non enim lectus, in pretium quam. Sed tincidunt, quam at varius convallis, nisl nunc porta arcu, in lobortis tortor libero vitae sapien. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161791 Wed, 01 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161791 Park Avenenue Students Make No Excuses When It Comes To Success Motivational speaker Rohan Murphy addressed fifth-graders at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School about achieving their dreams. Murphy, a personal trainer, power lifter and championship wrestler also happens to be a bilateral double amputee, which makes his story all the more incredible. “Everyone and anyone can be successful,” said Murphy, who placed high emphasis on the necessities of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. “No excuses! Think before you speak next time you are about to complain or give a reason for not wanting to do something. If I can do it so can you!” After being born with leg deformities that forced him to have amputations at the age of four, Murphy had inherited a seemingly hopeless situation. But as he explained to his listeners, he made certain that he would succeed in life no matter what. During his freshman year at East Islip High School he began to wrestle and eventually went on to wrestle at Penn State University. Murphy also represents the United States as a power lifter in competitions worldwide. Students were shown a video clip of a 20/20 interview in which Murphy expounded upon his athletic career, working with Nike on their “No Excuses” campaign and how he turned his struggles into a powerful message of perseverance. “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward,” said Murphy, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The session concluded with a question and answer segment in which students asked Murphy in-depth, prepared questions about his life, triumphs and goals for the future. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161802 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161802 Amityville Sports Star Reconnects with Students at Park Avenue Elementary Darrel Young, an Amityville native and fullback for the NFL’s Washington Redskins, addressed fifth-and sixth-grade students at Park Avenue Elementary School about the importance of self-confidence, hard work and determination. “Success starts with knowing what you want to do in life and what it will take to get there,” said Young. The Amityville Memorial High School graduate repeatedly encouraged students to listen to their parents and teachers who are there help them flourish in their endeavors. “Hard work for your future success begins today. Everything you learn now you will carry with you throughout life, so make sure you study hard and pay attention.” Young played college football as a linebacker at Villanova University where he had both academic and athletic scholarships. He is currently entering into his fifth season with the Redskins. During a question-and-answer session, when asked about overcoming struggles, Young impressed upon the students the fundaments of believing in oneself. “You must have faith in yourself and in the people that have faith in you,” he stated. “One of the best pieces of advice I received was from my mother who taught me the importance of respecting the people in your life that support you and help you on the path to following your dreams.” He also mentioned AMHS coach and Assistant Principal Jack Agostino as a major influence while attending school here. The athlete’s message of positivity and perseverance also included advice on bullying and accepting of others. “Don’t pick on the people around you. Just because you appear different from one another does not mean that you have nothing in common.” Young will be hosting a youth football camp at the high school this June to promote learning in a fun and welcoming environment. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161803 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161803 Spelling Champs at PAMES Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School recently conducted the school’s annual English and Spanish spelling bees. Spanish spelling bee champ Jaime Monzon and English spelling bee champ Hanna Babu were congratulated by Amityville Director of English as a Second Language Elizabeth Reveiz, PAMES teacher Amy Stein, spelling bee moderator/PAMES teacher Howard Reiner, Amityville Director of English Language Arts/spelling bee judge Dana Musso and PAMES Principal/spelling bee judge Scott Bullis. http://www.amityvilleufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161804 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false161804