Prior to the start of the 2014-2015 school year, the district held its annual new teacher orientation, during which administrators and staff welcomed 32 new teachers.
Held at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center on Aug. 27, the orientation made for a positive and insightful forum where new staff could become acquainted with one another and meet administrators. New teachers were made familiar with district policies, procedures and expectations, and were also given an official tour of the district aboard a school bus.
Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo wished the teachers great success during the upcoming school year.
“A teacher needs to have the uncanny ability to balance somewhat dichotomous purposes; it’s a position requiring toughness and tenderness, firmness and fairness, fortitude and gratitude, and passion and compassion,” he said. “We believe that the ability to achieve this balance is what makes a good teacher.”
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The New Class of Teachers
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Students return for new school year
On a bright, sunny morning, students throughout the district returned to school on Sept. 3 for the start of the 2014-2015 academic year.
Administrators and teachers were on hand at the district’s nine schools to welcome students back for a new year. Students arrived to their respective schools excited and eager to begin learning. The day also allowed students to become reacquainted with friends, meet their new teachers and prepare for another year of academic success.
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Superintendent’s Conference Day
During Superintendent’s Conference Day, on Sept. 2, 2014, Superintendent of Schools, Louis R. DeAngelo, visited the faculties at all of the district’s nine schools to welcome them back for the new school year.
Mr. DeAngelo commended staff on their fine work with students during the last school year, and noted the district’s impressive New York State math and English Language Arts assessment scores, for students in grades 3-8. The recently released results have East Meadow students performing in the top 20 percent of all school districts in Nassau County.
Mr. DeAngelo wished all staff continued success in the new school year as the district continues its transition to the Common Core curriculum. He expressed confidence that staff will continue to work diligently to ensure that all students receive a comprehensive, well-rounded education while attending East Meadow schools.
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A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Students,
On behalf of the Board of Education and central administration, I would like to welcome you back for the 2014-2015 school year! I hope your summer was a relaxing and productive one.
As we begin the 2014-2015 academic year, our staff will be working to ensure the smooth transition for students into their new routines. We remain steadfast in our top priority, that is, to provide our students with a comprehensive, well-rounded education, and to ensure that all students are challenged academically and develop socially. Throughout the summer, our staff busily prepared for the new year and throughout the upcoming year our teachers and administrators will be receiving ongoing professional development toward attainment of this goal.
With a new year comes new beginnings and new opportunities for our students. As always, I encourage the involvement of parents in their children’s learning and in our school community. We look forward to another successful year in our East Meadow schools!
Sincerely,
Louis R. DeAngelo
Superintendent of Schools
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Students named National Merit Semifinalists
East Meadow High School student Ayyan Zubair and W.T. Clarke High School student Pavithran Ravindran have been named two of 16,000 semifinalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Competition.
Approximately 1.4 million students entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students are ranked with a selection index score based on their combined scores in math, critical reading and writing. Zubair and Ravindran will continue to compete to receive the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, as well as college and corporate-sponsored scholarships.
In order to become finalists, they must fulfill a number of requirements: maintain their stellar academic records, receive recommendations from a high school official, and achieve SAT scores commensurate with their PSAT performances.
The district commends these students on their fine achievement.
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Newsweek ranks High Schools among best in nation
Both East Meadow High School and W. T. Clarke High School have been named two of the best high schools in the nation, ranking No. 233 and 317, respectively, on Newsweek’s 2014 list of America’s Top High Schools. More than 14,000 schools nationwide were considered in the annual ranking.
The prestigous ranking places both high schools in the top 2 percent nationally. In addition, the district’s high schools are also two of only eight Nassau County schools to make the top 500 list.
According to Newsweek, the methodology for the list is based on the following factors:
• College Enrollment Rate• High School Graduation Rate• Weighted AP/IB scores• Weighted SAT/ACT scores• Change in student enrollment between ninth and 12th grades• Counselor-to-Student Ratio “The East Meadow School District is proud to have both of its high schools recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Top High Schools,” said Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teaching staff, which I believe is second to none. As our students continue to challenge themselves by engaging in a rigorous and rewarding curriculum, and as our faculty continues its mission to ensure college and career readiness for all students, I look forward to the continued success of our East Meadow schools.”
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Commissioner King visits our East Meadow School District
New York State Education Department Commissioner John King, Jr. recently visited W.T. Clarke Middle School, where he met with Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo, district administrators, faculty, parents, students and members of the Board of Education. He commended the district on its effective instructional practices and on its implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards.
Commissioner King, who was joined by State Education Department Board of Regents member Roger Tilles, participated in a roundtable discussion at the school’s library with faculty, students and parents. They discussed the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards throughout the district, literacy and professional development initiatives, as well as focused and individualized instruction for students. “To say that we are honored and thrilled to have you come to East Meadow, to our W. Tresper Clarke Middle School, to acknowledge and see first hand our work with our children, is an understatement,” said Mr. DeAngelo. “We are a district united in our commitment to providing our children with those skills necessary to ultimately render them college and career ready for the 21st century.”
Following the roundtable discussion, Commissioner King and Regent Tilles visited students in their classrooms. Students spoke with the commissioner about what they were learning in their respective classes of English Language Arts, math, social studies and other subjects.
The commissioner’s visit comes after the district recently announced its impressive New York State math and English Language Arts assessment scores, for students in grades 3-8. The recently released results have East Meadow students performing in the top 20 percent of all school districts in Nassau County. “On behalf of the Board of Education, I thank Commissioner King and Regent Tilles for visiting our district,” said Mr. DeAngelo. “We are pleased to have had them see first hand the fine work being done by our teachers and students in our East Meadow School District.”
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All-National Honors for EMHS Musicians
East Meadow High School student-musicians Sabrina Brody and Thomas Brody have been selected to perform with the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Gerard Schwarz at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sabrina (violist) and Tom (bassist) described their selection as a tremendous honor and an exciting opportunity to perform among the nation’s most distinguished high school musicians.
The NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles represent the top performing high school musicians in the United States. Students selected for this prestigious honor, will prepare for several days, before performing in concert at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry House on Oct. 29.
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Students Earn All-State Music Honors
Eleven students have been selected as All-State musicians and will represent the district’s music department at this year’s New York State School Music Association Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, from Dec. 4-7.
The conference will feature the top high school student-musicians from across New York State who will perform at the Eastman Theatre. The district congratulates the following students who were selected based on their exceptional performances at All-State auditions in May:
East Meadow High School:
Russel Ettinger — Trumpet — Symphonic Band
Elton Ha — Piano — Symphony Orchestra
Jessica Kessler — Bb Clarinet — Symphonic Band
Matthew Koegel — Double Bass — Symphony Orchestra
Jamie MacKay — Alto I — Mixed Chorus
Timothy Matishek — Jazz Guitar — Instrumental Jazz
Jamie Morein — Flute — Symphonic Band
Lauren Osojnak — Bassoon — Wind Ensemble
Michelle Severo — Viola — Symphony Orchestra
Emily Shallbetter — Soprano I — Mixed Chorus
*Elton Ha was also selected to perform in the NYSSMA piano showcase at the
NYSSMA Conference.
W.T. Clarke High School:
Lynn-Yen Koh — Bb Clarinet, Eb Clarinet — Symphonic Band
In addition, Katya Weiss, a W.T. Clarke High School violinist was selected as an Alternate.
The district congratulates these students on their distinguished achievements.
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Bowling Green students beautify school to promote unity
Students at Bowling Green Elementary School recently beautified their school while also taking a stand against bullying.
With shovels in hand, students, including girl scouts and boy scouts, accompanied by teachers, administrators, PTA members and local politicians, planted a vibrant variety of plants, including orange mums and pansies, as well as hydrangeas. Orange flowers were planted in preparation of National Unity Day.
Members of the school’s Planning Management Team (PMT) developed the idea for the event in September, and PTA members helped to gather all necessary items, including flowers, orange bows, butterfly bushes and more. In addition, flowers were also donated by Cipriano Nursery & Florist in East Meadow.
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Summer reading a success at Parkway Elementary
Students in grades K-5 at Parkway Elementary School received certificates for participating in the school’s summer reading program.
At a recent special bagel breakfast, students were recognized for their commitment to remaining active readers during the summer season. Students read a number of books from the suggested reading list and completed a Bookworm Log which they brought back to school at the start of the new year.
Students who decided to go above and beyond also completed projects for several of their books. The projects, which included posters, dioramas, drawings, story mobiles and more, are on display in the school’s hallway.
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Students earn National Recognition
W.T. Clarke High School student Kevin Wang and East Meadow High School students Nicole Newberger, Gillian Pitzer and Natalie Weiss, have been named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test used for program entry.
The East Meadow Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2015 competition by taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
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W.T. Clarke HS celebrates Homecoming
Students, parents, staff and administrators were in grand spirits for W.T. Clarke High School’s annual homecoming celebration on Oct. 18.
Days before the homecoming celebration, students at the school decorated building hallways, lockers and the cafeteria corridor to showcase their school spirit, while also proudly wearing their school colors.
With a lively crowd cheering them on, the W.T. Clarke Rams faced off against Valley Stream South High School in their homecoming game.
The event’s halftime included special appearances by Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo and members of the Board of Education, and also featured impressive performances by the W.T. Clarke High School Marching Band and cheerleading team. Spectators cheered as the dazzling class floats proceeded onto the field, each decorated with the theme of “board games.”
Recognized during the procession were Homecoming King and Queen David Langsam and Lauren Bower. Other members of the homecoming court included Duke and Duchess Javier Lopez and Abby Pineda, Count and Countess Erjin Choi and Paige Aaronson, and Prince and Princess Brandon Garcia and Alexis Stobe.
In a memorable win, W.T. Clarke defeated Valley Stream South, 36-6.
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Student receives outstanding recognition
W. T. Clarke High School senior Jerry Holloway has been named an Outstanding Participant in the 2015 National Achievement Scholarship Program.
He is among the top 3 percent of approximately 160,000 Black Americans who entered in the scholarship program when he took the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program was initiated in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising Black American high school students. A roster of the selected 3,100 Outstanding Participants was referred to approximately 1,500 colleges and universities throughout the nation.
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Meadowbrook Unites For Red Ribbon Week
In celebration of Red Ribbon Week, students at Meadowbrook Elementary School participated in a number of activities to reinforce their promise of a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
This year’s slogan was “Love yourself, be drug free.” During the week, students and staff wore school colors, as well as red attire, to show their solidarity and commitment to remaining drug-free. Students and staff also wore red holographic bracelets with this year’s slogan symbolizing their support of Red Ribbon Week.
In a strong showcase of school pride, students gathered to form giant red ribbons by lining up outside of the school in the shape of ribbons, all to support a worthy cause.
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District Recognizes Unity Day
Students, staff and PTA members in the district recently joined together to recognize Unity Day, a national effort to prevent bullying through the promotion of kindness and compassion.
Students and staff in the district’s nine schools recognized Unity Day in a number of ways. They wore orange attire signifying Unity Day awareness and pledged to work to alleviate bullying in their school communities. In classes throughout the district, teachers discussed the meaning of unity with students and the importance of being a good citizen to others. Students also wrote their names on orange strips of paper and connected them to create chain links which symbolized their commitment to Unity Day and preventing bullying.
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Mind and Body Workshop on Nutrition and Yoga
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EMHS inducts new members into National Honor Society
A total of 132 new members were inducted into the East Meadow High School Chapter of the National Honor Society on Nov. 3.
At the annual induction ceremony at Milleridge Cottage in Jericho parents, faculty, administrators, Board of Education members and current NHS members gathered to recognize new members, who were selected based on their ability to maintain high standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character. Inductees will now join their fellow members in upholding these principles by working to better their school and local community through civic involvement, volunteer activities and adherence to the highest standards of morality and ethics.
Superintendent of Schools Louis R. DeAngelo congratulated new members on their induction and encouraged them to always lead by example.
“The choices you’ve made and the actions you’ve taken have earned you a place of honor in this prestigious society,” Mr. DeAngelo said. “By your actions and your commitment to excellence, you have earned the distinction of membership in a society to which only approximately 10 percent of students nationally gain entry. Enjoy this evening among your parents, friends, teachers and administrators and revel in the sense of accomplishment which is rightfully yours.”
After being congratulated by Mr. DeAngelo and East Meadow High School Principal Richard Howard, the new members received honorary certificates and were officially inducted.
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EMHS homecoming showcases school spirit
Despite rainy weather, students, parents and school staff sporting raincoats and umbrellas braved the cold conditions for East Meadow High School’s annual homecoming celebration on Nov. 1.
Spectators took to the field and school cheerleaders drew excitement from the crowd as the East Meadow Jets took on Syosset High School. The school’s theme this year was “PIXAR.” During the halftime celebration in the school’s gymnasium, the community enjoyed an outstanding performance by the Rockettes.
Max Hechtman and Ashley Halkitis were named homecoming king and queen, and members of the court were announced and congratulated by administrators. The homecoming court included Selena Calabrese, Hanna Hwang, Tim Matishek, Jon Miranda, Kerri Percoco and Justin Rivera. To the delight of the crowd, the Jets seized a major victory against Syosset, 44-0.
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Students Named All-County Musicians
A total of 156 students in the district have been selected to perform in the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Festival at LIU Post this winter.
This prestigious honor indicates that these student-musicians are among the top performers in Nassau County. Selection was based upon their New York State School Music Association solo evaluation scores and strong teacher recommendations. The district congratulates these students on this fine achievement!
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