Spring 2016 Syosset Pride
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FALL 2013 FALL 2013 SyossetThe Leader SyossetThe Standard A Publication of the Syosset Central School District A Publication of the Syosset Central School District www.syossetistops.org www.syossetistops.org SPRING 2016 FALL 2013 Syosset Pride SyossetThe Connect A Publication of the Syosset Central School District A Publication of the Syosset Central School District www.syossetschools.org www.syossetistops.org StudentsFALL 2013 Behaving BENEVOLENTLY FALL 2013 PRIDEThe AND OTHER INITIATIVES EMPHASIZE QUALITY CHARACTER AND HELpiNG OTHERS. The a different student is celebrated for the week. Through the Nassau setting a positive example for others. County Holocaust and Tolerance Honorees are often surprised when Center, there is ongoing peer leader they are called down to see their training, which is also a component Syosset photoShines posted on the wall. of the social studies curriculum. Syosset Scholar A Publication of the Syosset Central School District A Publication of the Syosset Central School District Many different clubs and student The school’s Action, Awareness and groups at the high school have Acceptance www.syossetistops.orgClub has been involved www.syossetistops.org taken character to the next level in a grocery project to purchase by helping others outside of the nutritious food for those on a limited school community. Among them is budget. FALL 2013 the Interact Club and its “Gift of Respectful online conduct Life: Mission Heartbeat” effort to is an important component to raise money for cardiac surgeries. ensuring that students uphold their Additionally, the school raised more commitment to exercising good The than $5,000 for the Leukemia & character. All staff — instructional Baylis students are recognizing good behavior by submitting compliment cards in stations Lymphoma Society through a and non-instructional, including around the building. walkathon held earlier this year, principals — are trained to identify an effort spearheaded by the 10th- and address cases of inappropriate Of the many wonderful student acronym. grade Leadership Class and the Peer conduct on social networking sites, achievements celebrated, including “PRIDE has evolved into our Syosset Chronicle Leaders. including cyberbullying. As part of A Publication of the Syosset Central School District academics, athletics and the arts, one culture; everything we do comes At South Woods Middle School, this, school monitors receive special www.syossetistops.org area that is easy to overlook — largely from it,” said Richard Faber, the the mantra is “South Woods training to spot instances of bullying due to the absence of a trophy or high school’s peer leadership and CARES,” which stands for caring, on the playgrounds and at recess. regional adjudicated showcase — is Dignity for All Students coordinator, awareness, respect, empathy and DASA coordinators, like Faber, serve character. who trained more than 20 students service. Service clubs in the school as the gatekeepers for any bullying Several years ago Syosset High to act as peer educators for younger are developing activities focused on complaints and ensure resolution School began emphasizing good students as part of the social studies one of these principles. In January, to any concerns. In fact, Faber character with students. Since then, curriculum this year. Overall, the the school held its inaugural Unity the effort has come full circle, with effort has not only resulted in Week, which consisted of Continued on page 3 every school embracing a yearlong students acting more respectfully poetry slams, flash mobs, theme that reinforces PRIDE toward one another, but the entire and written and oral (patience, respect, integrity, dignity staff — from the faculty to the pledges, all designed to and empathy). PRIDE has taken on custodians — have gone out of their bring students together, many shapes and forms in different way to embrace this doctrine. A recognize their differences Syosset HS Is schools, with the constant emphasis PRIDE wall has also been established and be respectful toward a National Blue on the qualities that comprise the at the school, where every month one another beyond Ribbon Finalist! Syosset Central School District Nonprofit Organization “While citizenship See page 7 for details Syosset, New York 11791 U.S. Postage PAID and mindfulness can Permit No. 36 Syosset, NY 11791 be learned inside the walls of a classroom, ****ECRWSS**** we have seen how Resident of Syosset Central School District their reach can be global.” A Message from Your Superintendent To the Syosset Community, same mechanism. For future work, will be considering the addition of Spring is a time of renewal and the Board plans to defray some of security vestibules (The vestibules are although with every day graduation the remaining costs by using over $9 enclosed spaces at the entrance of a seems to rush closer, I don’t want to million from our capital reserve, plus building that create a sheltered place overlook this opportunity to share any proceeds from the Woodbury for visitors to wait for admittance to some initiatives that are similarly property sale. the buildings). gathering momentum. Simultaneously, the Board has On the instructional side, we Over the past year, the Board of been considering issues of equity and have reported on the exciting work Education has been putting pieces in adequacy via its athletics committee. being done by our technology place for several significant district- The committee has explored the committee – creating individualized wide initiatives. As part of our possibility of reconfiguring fields at tablet and Chromebook initiatives, State’s new frameworks, and the state-required review of our facilities, the high school to accommodate a and reconfiguring learning spaces creation of new science standards we identified more than $40 million stadium with a turf field wide enough as exciting interactive forums. We’ll based on the Next Generation in maintenance that is eventually for soccer and an eight-lane track soon be taking the next step by Science Standards. needed at our 10 campuses. Whether suitable for county meets. The Board broadening these pilot projects to This is certainly a lot of activity, aging boilers, electrical infrastructure as a whole will begin to consider the many more classrooms and buildings, but we’re encouraged that the State or underground oil storage, none are committee’s work shortly, just as it emphasizing those models we think is taking a less hurried approach glamorous, but all are necessary. considered a recommendation from work best. with science and social studies and Not all of the work is urgent, and administration to reconfigure the While the State’s plan to hopeful that doing so will avoid some the administration has been working high school parking lot and South reexamine the Common Core – of the difficulties that plagued their on developing a plan to schedule the Woods Road to improve traffic particularly in the early grades and Common Core implementation. work in a way that minimizes both circulation. high school math – has attracted a As the weather improves, I hope disruption and new costs. Last year’s In addition, the district is lot of attention, we remain equally to see you outside at some of the high school roof project was paid following through on security focused on other changes expected district’s many spring events. from end-of-year funds and we hope with a number of infrastructure soon. The State is creating an arts this summer to finish the high school improvements that will be made standard (as a step towards creating Regards, roof and renovate the A.P. Willits through the spring and summer. an arts diploma), as well as social Dr. Tom Rogers Elementary School roof through the Over the longer term the Board studies Regents exams based on the Superintendent of Schools A Message from Your Board of Education Dear Syosset Community, administration and our community are deeply involved in discussions on the proposed school A staple of the Syosset CSD that helps to budget for the upcoming school year. We have define the term “Syosset Pride” is the high level of been conducting budget workshops prior to every academic success that our students achieve. In past public Board meeting since January and listening editions of this newsletter, we have highlighted carefully to the comments and valuable suggestions individual and group honors of our students. We provided by our residents. We will continue to do have also recognized the on-field prowess of our this through the development of the budget and student-athletes and teams, as well as the creative beyond. We plan to adopt a proposed budget at accomplishments of our dedicated musicians, our April 19 meeting. The community budget artists and thespians. vote will be conducted on Tuesday, May 17 this some of our facility challenges, there are many It’s often easy to overlook the programs and year, with the official public budget hearing throughout the district to consider. The center even the little things that are being done in our scheduled for Monday, May 9. We encourage you spread of this edition provides some photographs schools that teach children to be empathetic to attend this and all other preceding meetings to to give you a glimpse of the major challenges citizens and help others, whether a classmate, a share your thoughts, opinions and suggestions. at our school buildings. The Board is currently friend or a complete stranger in the community, or You can always email us through the Board of reviewing multiple options on how to address even in another state or abroad. The Board’s winter Education page of the district website if you are these important projects in a cost-effective and Pride newsletter message briefly touched on the unable to come in person. As we have stated at timely manner. many food, coat and toy drives in which Syosset numerous meetings, we welcome an open dialogue For any of you wishing to read a summary of students were involved during the holiday season.