N OVEMBER 2006

D ISTRICT N EWSLETTER Celebrating a V OLUME 22.4 http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us SAYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSTS AWARD CEREMONY NEWSWORTHY

th th from December 4 –8 Sayville Middle School Principal Dr.Walter Schartner (left) and the President of the State Middle “Inclusive Schools” exemplify the School Association and Wantagh Middle School Principal Jeannette Stern (right) flank the Middle School Honor Society as they hold the Schools to Watch Award Banner. very best in education by individualizing instruction and support to meet the he Middle School’s journey toward speakers. Remarking on the school’s needs of all students from special needs educational excellence paused for a wonderful achievement were Assistant to the gifted, and everyone in between. T proud moment of celebration. As a Principal Murray, guests Superintendent of These schools celebrate diversity in T national winner of the Schools to Watch Sayville Schools Dr. Rosemary Jones, BOE all its forms—cultural, ethnic, social, and Program and the only one to win from Vice President Norm deVenau, STA academic! Talk to your children about , Sayville Middle School held an President Tim Southerton, and representing the importance of not just accepting and tolerating differences, but also award ceremony that was shared by the all the faculty, Mrs. Deborah Reith (who was st cherishing the diversity around us. entire Middle School community—Principal appointed on the same day, September 1 , Join us in celebrating National Dr. Walter Schartner, Assistant Principal 1978, as Chemistry and General Science Inclusive Schools Week by attending: Thomas Murray, faculty, support staff, and teacher Walter Schartner). In the audience of course, all 866 students—because with Middle School parents were Dr. Join Superintendent’s everyone had a hand in earning the Schartner’s wife, Susan, and his father, us Roundtable prestigious distinction. Walter, Sr. (photo right) at th Tuesday Dec 5 Yet, for the Sayville Middle School faculty Musical Director 7-9 P.M. IN THE HIGH SCHOOL and staff, it was also an opportunity to Mrs. Betsy Cohen to discuss “Inclusive Schools” honor their educational leader and role combined two musical All parents are invited to join in on model, Dr. Walter Schartner. groups, the Show this topic.There will be an informative Festively colored mums, haystacks, and Choir and Boys Select panel presentation, time to share ideas balloons transformed the podium set up in Choir, in an entertaining song and dance and concerns, and refreshments! the Middle School gym. Students were seated routine to the tune of New York, New York. on the bleachers and floor in respectful The lyrics were specifically rewritten by Mrs. to the tune of New York, New York silence—and perhaps, in amazement—as Cohen for the Sayville Middle School Start spreading the news/ Our State has recognized our school Master of celebration. (See insert, left.) We’re winning today/ For what we are. Ceremonies Mr. At the highpoint of the ceremonies, the We’re proud to be a part of it/ So thanks to you Walt Schartner, Sayville, New York! You’re our favorite partner La Dolcetta President of the New York State Middle Making us the School to Watch! We’re really the best/ introduced the School Association, Jeannette Stern, who is We’ve beat all the rest/ also the Middle School Principal in Wantagh, We’re proud to be a part of it/ Sayville, New York! acknowledged the school’s qualities and We love to wake up and attend character before she presented Dr. Schartner Sayville Middle School... and the entire Middle Schoolwith the We’ve earned our spot at the top...Showing we rule! Schools to Watch Award Banner. So now we can sing A modest man by nature, Dr. Schartner About a great thing continues p. 2. BOARD OF EDUCATION (cont.) School to Watch Celebration at Middle School was instrumental both in spearheading the STW JOHN VERDONE,PRESIDENT campaign and setting the inclusive educational climate NORMAN DEVENAU,VICE PRESIDENT ALLISON J. CRUZ that garnered the distinctive award. Humbly deflecting MAUREEN DOLAN all compliments from himself as he thanked the NYS KEITH KOLAR Middle School Association, Principal Dr. Schartner RAYMOND J. NELSON applauded the contributions of his teachers, all the staff, DEBORAH VAN ESSENDELFT and especially the students. “It has been a great honor BOARD NOTES for me to see this community develop. Our teachers are At the November 16th a driving force behind the children… This [award] BOE Meeting didn’t happen overnight, and is Board Citations were awarded to the not a job that is finished.” following Sunrise Drive students (below). In his calm voice, Dr. Dr. Rosemary F. Jones, Superintendent of Schools, Schartner encouraged the reported on the following: students to get involved, stay 1. 2005-2006 Audit Report involved and become an active 2. TAN Borrowing member in the community. He 3. Proposed 2007-2008 Budget praised them for their Calendar (Motion under New phenomenal good behavior and asked them to remain focused on doing their Business) 4. Inclusive Schools Proclamation best at all times. Recognizing that the gym floor was not the most comfortable, he 5. Schools to Watch Celebration thanked the students for 6. Security Update being a truly wonderful 7. Emergency Management Drills audience. A thunder of 8.Area 12 Director Revote 9. Facilities Planning applause ended the official ceremony. BOARD OF EDUCATION As the Sayville DISCUSSION: 1. Facilities Planning Middle School continues 2. Board Reports on its journey toward self-improvement, UPCOMING EVENTS guided by their gentle DECEMBER 5 Superintendent’s giant, the Sayville Roundtable, topic on National Inclusive Schools community can take 7-9 p.m., High School pride in knowing that DECEMBER 6 Cherry Avenue Holiday our Middle School has Concert, 7:30 p.m., High already come so far. School DECEMBER 7 BOE Business Mtg,Admin. Bldg. 8 p.m. AWARDED TO STUDENTS DECEMBER 12 Sunrise Drive Holiday BOE Citations Concert, 7:30 p.m. Awards presented by Principal Rose Castello and BOE trustee Keith Kolar: DECEMBER 14-16 Middle School Musical, Michaela for participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life to help fight cancer. “George M” at 7:30 p.m. Kevin with brothers Steven and Daniel transformed Sunrise Drive’s “Butterfly Garden” into a beautiful and peaceful place for the community. pcoming Event: Each year, Dowling UCollege and News12 Long Island select 12 teachers for the honor Teacher of the Month. Congratulations to Music Department Chairperson and teacher Neil Bernstein, who has been selected this year. Visited by Clyde I. Payne, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education at Dowling College, Mr. Bernstein was acknowledged for his many contributions to education which earned him this distinction.The month, still to be determined, will feature Mr. Bernstein on News12. Stay tuned. PAGE TWO A Boo-tiful Tradition Every fall, select Sayville Middle School and High School artists are given the opportunity to showcase their boo-tiful window-painting talents with the Halloween Window Painting tradition.This art department-sponsored event had students and art teachers chillin’ in town this year with art teachers Mary Troiano, Jennifer Berotti, and Debra Urso at the Middle School, along with Evan Hammer, Kim Kamensky, Roberta Dalpiaz, and Department Chair Julia Lang-Shapiro at the High School.As always, a very special thanks goes to the Sayville Kiwanis Club for their continued support by generously donating the art supplies.

No Crazy Fling For weights or sand for counter-weights, the devices were required to fling a 3- to 5- PUMPKIN CATAPULTING pound pumpkin as far as possible. During the Fourth Annual Pumpkin Our Middle School Technology Club [Joe Fling, held at the Cornell Cooperative Burns, Robert Hitzig, Kaleigh Acevedo, Olivia Extension Suffolk County Farm, the Sayville Coley-Bishop, Jackie Christensen, Jack Weisheit, Middle School Technology Club competed DJ Kelly, Melanie Drinkwater,Tim Cowan, with groups from all over Suffolk County in George Mullowney, Kiana Bustamante, Justin each team received three chances for a the Pumpkin Catapult Contest.The contest Knopf,, Dylan Schreiber, and Anna Mizzi] successful maximum distance. Sayville challenged teams to design and build a worked hard preparing for the contest. Middle School scored second in this machine. From a simple rocking mechanism They met after school with the Sayville category with a distance of 177.7 feet. to full-scale trebuchets with dumbbell Middle School Technology teachers [Jeff “Then,” Mr. Jeff Goodman explained, Goodman, Sam Kruse, Kris Krol, and Jim “each team got a fourth try to prove their McLoughlin] and constructed a trebuchet- machine could be accurate.We won this style catapult.While engineering different category as the only team to hit the target! solutions to create a successful catapult, the Sayville was also honored to have its design team learned about kinetic and potential voted most creative by the audience. Our energy, transferring motion, centrifugal team cannot wait till next October, when force, as well as simple machines. we hope to redesign and improve our In this year’s Pumpkin Catapult Contest, results.” PAGE THREE Taken with Laughs You Can’t Take It With You at Sayville’s Players’ presented by forty Sayville “Undeniably escapist Boy meets girl; they fall in love Players comprising eighteen roles theater,” Director Steve despite their incompatible families. in three remarkable cast- Hailey comments, “it has Sounds like Shakespeare’s Romeo and combinations. clearly influenced Juliet, you say?—but it’s not! Living proof of the play’s American comedy. The It’s Kaufman and Hart’s Pulitzer- timeless appeal, the Sayville formula originated by Prize-winning comedy You Can’t Take Players delivered with comic Kaufman and Hart—a It With You about lovely Alice timing the high antics and low- loveable family getting into Sycamore from an eccentric family, who keyed wit of a household of scrapes and overcoming obstacles—has has fallen in love with her boss’ son, idiosyncratic characters in pursuit of been adopted as a format by most of Tony Kirby, a VP in a Wall Street individual happiness. Wisecracking, today’s television situation comedies.” banking firm. Written in 1936, this ditzy, kooky, inept, and witless may Applause goes to the three casts, the popular American classic, which first describe the characters themselves, but crews, and Director Steve Hailey, who ran on Broadway and then won the the diverse talents of the students worked his magic to prevent Mr. 1938 Academy Award for Best Picture portraying them had the audiences Kolenkhov’s famous opinion, “It in its film version, was recently laughing at all five performances. STINKS!” from being true. entral character Grandpa Martin Vanderhof was at heart a Ctax-evading philosopher spouting wisdom that inspired: • his daughter Penny Sycamore to pen plays or paint portraits; • her husband Paul to play with pyrotechnics assisted by Mr. DePinna; • his granddaughter Essie Carmichael to create candies and dance the ballet; • and Essie’s husband Ed Carmichael to compose xylophonic symphonies and distribute homemade candy along with printed propaganda.

Enter normal Alice who is torn between her love for family and the love of her life—Tony. His stodgy, high- brow parents,Anthony Kirby, Sr. and Miriam Kirby are appalled by the zany ensemble (all photos below right) that parades through Grandpa’s living room, including the highly volatile and opinionated Russian Mr. Kolenkov, drunk actress Gay Wellington, household help Rita, and her “dashing” boyfriend Donald.

After a hilarious crescendo of exploding fireworks, a household under mistaken arrest by “J-Men”, and a night in jail,Alice and Tony seemed destined to part; until the charming appearance of the deposed Grand Duchess Olga Katrina of Russia, a waitress in New York since the Revolution, reconciles the two families to their uniqueness.

PAGE FOUR Weather Wreaks Havoc, but... Homecoming Spirit Prevails Predictions School gym in of wild an explosive weather, celebration of including high floats, skits, winds and and heavy rains, catapulting postponed the cheerleaders. Homecoming (The event was parade and simulcast on WSAY web radio skits that were for those who couldn’t attend.) scheduled for the last Saturday in October. With action movies as the theme, the While the Homecoming football game Freshman Class (below left) designed their went on as planned (Flashes vs. Hills West, surfside float and choreographed a 19-0), intermittent showers drenched the swimming routine to the sinister music of When the die-hard spectators in the stands and sent JAWS; Sophomores (below center) barely judges pronounced the band scrambling for cover. dodged the bullet with a frolicking homage the final score—the Seniors won, followed Bottling up their Homecoming school to DODGEBALL; Juniors (right) played it in order by the Freshmen, Juniors, and spirit until an evening activity in mid- slick with a classy JAMES BOND 007 skit Sophomores—the uproar of cheers filled November, throngs of students of intriguing weaponry and smooth dance the gym. To all the classes for showing (representing each class) rocked the High moves; however, the adventurous Seniors their spirit and pride, congratulations! (above right), depicting Captain Jack Sparrow (KJ Kennedy) and fellow PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, stole the show with their overflowing treasure troves of bountiful spirit, sly school parody, and swashbuckling pirates jig.

The following students from each class were selected for the Homecoming Courts: Senior Class Sophomore Class King Mike Iorio King Mike & Queen Kaminski & Whitney Pynn, Queen Katie Conrad Jones, Gallo Chris Dudo, Holly Merrill, Rosalie Serra, Brendan Rogers Elysa Lomangino

Junior Class Freshman Class King Shawn King Josef Haas & Mazzarone & Queen Nicole Ali Queen Judy Lite Vicky Herrmann, Emily Pirro, Nikki Jennifer Norris, Spalma, Zach Nick D’Amico, Lane, Lenny John O’Malley Olmstead PAGE FIVE Cherry Makes Merry with Care Packages for U.S. Soldiers Making merry at Cherry Avenue Elementary School is nothing new, but since the beginning of this academic year, the entire school community has dedicated themselves to a yearlong worthy cause—collecting nonperishables to send to our armed forces overseas. Thanks to the diligence of First Grade Teacher Mrs. Susan Metzler and her charges, the ongoing collection has been a work in progress. Not only are the children contributing piles of boxed and canned foods, they are including amusing notes, letters of gratitude, and pretty drawings to help our troops keep their morale high. LINCOLN AVENUE... Hosts Halloween Parade Lincoln Avenue students Oz, Puss In Boots, The in grades Kindergarten Wicked Witch of the North, through Second enjoyed an GI Jane, and a beautiful outdoor Halloween parade in butterfly. Although arrayed cooperative weather. While in their finery, the students the students showed a great needed one more item—a deal of creativity in choosing cheering crowd—to make their colorful costumes, even their parade a success. the classroom teachers Thankfully, Lincoln Avenue enjoyed the opportunity to parents turned out in great dress up as book characters: numbers to witness the Dorothy from the Wizard of spectacular event.

D O W N O N T H E F A R M It was a chilly fall day, but the Lincoln Avenue Kindergarten classes didn’t seem to mind.They were engaged in a multisensory experience at Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Farm.While observing a working farm, the students enjoyed a tractor-drawn wagon ride, studied farm animals, and selected a favorite pumpkin to take home from a pumpkin patch. The children also came home with lasting memories of “Onkey the Donkey,” “Daffy the Duck,” the cute pigs, sheep, and turkeys.

PAGE SIX LINCOLN LEARNERS MEET DINOMAN Lincoln’s PTA Cultural Arts program proudly sponsored Dinoman-Space!, a fun-filled age- appropriate program about the solar system. During Dinoman’s visit, the students learned the connection between dinosaurs and space. Among the topics presented in a visually stimulating fashion were “the probable causes for extinction of dinosaurs on earth, and the simulation of negative 300 degrees below zero temperatures of Neptune.” Using ordinary and extraordinary props such as liquid nitrogen, Dinoman demonstrated thermodynamics, showed the pros and cons of bringing oxygen in balloons to astronauts, and questioned whether it was “wise to eat marshmallows that come from the frozen void of outer space?” The students were greatly entertained as Dinoman revealed the secrets of science. students planned to submit their data to Unforgettable Characters Star Counters NASA, which is collecting information about or Children’s Book Week (November 13-17), the amount of stars in the skies. Fstudents at Lincoln Avenue Elementary “You had to adjust your eyes to the lack were visited by several book characters.Among of light, and then count the stars with a the books featured during the week were: The viewing tube,” said Savannah Votino.“We had Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke, Carmine:A to count 10 different times and average the Little More Red by Melissa Sweet, Once Upon a numbers,” said Brian Burgos.“You wouldn’t Cool Motorcycle Dude expect that you could count so many stars. I by Kevin O'Malley, counted 133!” said Chelsea Burnside. Traction Man is Here “Sometimes it was hard to find stars,” said by Mina Grey, and Wait! No Paint! by Asking the question: Do people around Emily Sneddon.“It was a little hard to see if Bruce Whatley. the world see the same number of stars we the light was a plane or a star,” said Sean Students participated do in Sayville? Mrs.Whitehurst’s Third Graders Velazquez. in a variety of and their parents came looking for answers at As they learn about countries and cultures literature activities Lincoln Ave. Elementary School on a starry around the world, the class will also access such as designing a night in October. the NASA database to discover the amount coat of arms, creating In the back field where it was fairly dark, of stars counted in other areas around the a fairytale alphabet each student counted the visible stars in the globe.The students learned an amazing fact: book, and composing sky using a viewing tube.With information Anyone can count stars wherever and group circle stories. about longitude and latitude and elevation, the whenever…as long as it is dark! For the occasion, Lincoln Librarian Mrs. Kateri Volpe appeared as the Princess Knight. joy on the students’ faces was An About Face reflected in the joyful faces they at Sunrise Drive painted on the walls. During her Adorning their new cafeteria/ visits to Sunrise, Mrs. Bendickesen auditorium with a mural of children’s faces organized the mural project by may have been the brainchild of Principal helping the students mix paints Rose Castello, and the handiwork of and learn techniques. She worked professional artist Janine Bendicksen (photo with each grade and encouraged right), who specializes in murals, but the even the most timid student to contribute to their unique school mural. As the students became acclimated to the art project, they developed social skills along with hand-eye coordination It was a wonderful lesson. Rather than defacing their school, each Sunrise student proudly left his and her artistic face through an approved hands-on activity. PAGE SEVEN SAYVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Linda A. Mittiga, [email protected] NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION Past Winner of NYSPRA Awards U.S. POSTAGE PAID 99 Greeley Avenue School Tax Code 566 SAYVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT Sayville, New York 11782 ****ECRWSS**** DR. ROSEMARY F. JONES, SUPERINTENDENT OF SAYVILLE SCHOOLS POSTAL CUSTOMER

Hurtling weather-related obstacles teacher Mr. Recognized for their outstanding contributions as athletes, on Homecoming Weekend, the first Donald coaches, or community members, the following twenty-nine Sayville Athletic Hall of Fame MacKenzie inductees were deemed worthy of permanent recognition in the Induction Ceremony didn’t miss a enumerated, in S A Y V I L L E A T H L E T I C H A L L O F F A M E : stride. Keeping events on track (thanks loving detail, the Marinus Buys Woody Hubbard Huron Smith to the amazing efforts of catering owner extraordinary Harvey Case Caren Kropp Carver Rosemary Smith Gerard Scolland and the adaptability of accomplishments Kristin Coccaro Otto Kubelle Evelyn Stoll MacKenzie the Hall of Fame Committee, inductees, of Sayville’s Susan Daly Gibson Jamie LaBelle Edna Suckow and invited guests), twenty-nine greatest athletes John DeLuca, Sr. Donald “Buck” William Thieben inaugural candidates were honored at and coaches as he Jim Dietz MacKenzie Lee Van Voorhees West Lake Inn. introduced each Ken Donovan Eileen MacLellan John “Bud” Van Wyen After warmly welcoming the candidate. His Jesse Fitzgerald Brian McGinty Carl Varone, Sr. honorees and guests to the festivities, flair for words Suzanne Gamboli Hoss Chad Smith Lynn Weik Campilii Athletic Director Charles Delargy and his heartfelt Ralph Howe Derek Smith Peter Yozzo described his goal of establishing a sentiment polished their Sayville Athletic Hall of Fame. Since he record-setting statistics to a joined Sayville School District six years shimmering luster. Some ago, Mr. Delargy enlisted the candidates were honored endorsements of the Sayville Board of posthumously as graduates Education, Superintendent Dr. or coaches or supporters as Rosemary Jones, Assistant far back as the 1920s and Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. 1930s. Others were more recent by Hall of Fame Committee and the Geraldine Sullivan Keck, building-level comparison. Yet, it was apparent that Sayville Athletic Foundation for their administrators, and community each inductee, though distinctive on the immense assistance in launching this members. He met with committees and playing field, shared the same long-awaited tradition in Sayville. key individuals who eventually formed “outstanding character and leadership In addition, Athletic Director the Sayville Athletic Foundation. qualities,” which made them eligible for Charles Delargy expressed his plans to Through the collaboration of the Hall of Fame status. continue the process of seeking “many Athletic Department and the Congratulations go other athletes that are worthy of financial support of the Sayville to all the Inaugural membership in this Hall,” as part of the Athletic Foundation, this year Inductees and their Homecoming weekend events. Check the Sayville Athletic Hall of families for their the Athletic Department links on the Fame became a reality. illustrious Sayville School District Website for During the ceremonies, Girls achievements. Special more Hall of Fame information and Track Coach and retired Sayville thanks go also to the upcoming events.