O CTOBER 2006 D ISTRICT N EWSLETTER Bonjour La France! V OLUME 22.3 http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us ayville Seniors in Mrs. Suzanne Hoss’ NEWSWORTHY SFrench 5 Honors course held their first live videoconference with a classroom in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, a Now Fall Play Little Theatre Playing Nov 1st through 5th town about 65 kilometers from Albertville and the French Alps in the mutual meeting time was southeastern region of France. challenging as well. “You Can’t Take It With You” During the conference, the Sayville (Fortunately, the Sayville presented by the Sayville Players students introduced themselves in their class meets during 2nd Check the Sayville Website or see the native language and then tried some backpage of this Highlights for details period, 8:14-8:54 a.m. conversational French with a group of stateside, which French Seniors learning English. Not corresponds with the class that meets at Anchors Away surprisingly, the teenagers on both sides 2:14-2:54 p.m. in France.) of the Atlantic were equally shy and Two Sayville High School students, Rima This long-awaited videoconferencing curious about talking to their foreign Pancholi and Jessica Jarzabkowski, event evoked smiles, giggles, and a little represented the Anchor Club at the annual counterparts. flirtation. More importantly, it has begun Pilot International Convention this past July By utilizing free Internet conferencing a dialogue for the students that will in Atlanta, Georgia. “The girls,” Anchor Club software called SKYPE, the students continue through email communications moderator Melissa Shore explained, connected via computer in a live audio in between the videoconferencing “attended leadership workshops and training and video feed with less than a 4-second sessions. There is a nice bonus for classes during the four-day summer delay. The session had manifold conference with members of the Sayville Sayville students who have high speed purposes: Internet access at home. They can hold Pilot Club, our parent organization.” • students could hear French students Rima and Jessica met students from all conversing in their native language; their own conference with the students over the United States, the Carribean, and • through the live conference, they could see in France at an agreed-upon time. Japan who attended the conference and and identify with each other; and Mrs. Suzanne Hoss intends to hold shared many ideas and activities sponsored • for these upper-level language students “monthly videoconferencing on specific by their home clubs.They also compiled who have spent five years practicing their topics selected by the teachers on topics assorted toiletries for soldiers stationed skills, they were finally able to communicate with native speakers without yet to be decided. In addition, we hope abroad. (The Pilot Convention sponsors a having to travel across the world. to develop connections with future service project to be completed during the The celebrated success schools in Spanish-speaking countries convention.) and create this as a The Pilot Club of Sayville, a division of Pilot of Sayville’s Language International, is a leading civic service Department project comes supplement to the organization today. Named for the intrepid after two years of curriculum in our upper riverboat pilots,“Pilot” represents guidance and researching with Sayville’s level language classes.” leadership. Members come from all walks of life: Technology Department, Technology executive, business, professional, and community acquiring the technical Department Chairman leaders, as well as retirees. Pilots share a software for international Michael Taber added that common goal: to help those in need and improve videoconferencing, and he hoped, “to expand on the quality of life in local and global communities. email corresponding this success and provide to contact a opportunities for classroom in France students in other Congratulations and good luck to disciplines to Domenica Hodak who has been invited by with similar technical the Region I Youth Soccer Association to capability. With a six- correspond with their participate in the Interregional Event held hour time difference peers throughout the during Thanksgiving Week in Florida. between the U.S. and U.S. and France, creating a internationally.” BOARD OF EDUCATION Sayville PTA Officers Ready for School Year JOHN VERDONE,PRESIDENT NORMAN DEVENAU,VICE PRESIDENT ALLISON J. CRUZ MAUREEN DOLAN KEITH KOLAR RAYMOND J. NELSON DEBORAH VAN ESSENDELFT BOARD NOTES At the October 12th BOE Meeting Board Citations were awarded to the following music students (see below). Dr. Rosemary F. Jones, To keep lines of communication open, PTA Officers were invited by Sayville Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Superintendent of Schools, reported on the following: Jones and Administrative personnel to an informal luncheon.After extending a warm welcome, Dr. Jones thanked the PTA officers for their dedication and listened to their concerns as they faced the school year 1. Security Presentation ahead. (For contact information, check the listing of PTA officers on the inside back cover of the Sayville 2.Annual Fire Inspection Report 3. School Improvement Plan District Calendar and Guide.) BOARD OF EDUCATION Thirty-Three Sayville Students NAMED AP SCHOLARS DISCUSSION: The following seniors from the Sayville Class of 2006 (unless otherwise indicated) have earned the designation 1. Building Visitation Report of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievements on the college-level 2. Facilities Study/Report Advanced Placement (AP) Program exams. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement 3. Board Reports - Special Note:The BOE based on the student’s performance. will open the November 2nd Workshop at AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR AP SCHOLAR WITH AP SCHOLAR AWARD completed AWARD earned an average grade of DISTINCTION AWARD earned an 7:30 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. three or more AP Exams with grades at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken average grade of at least 3.5 on all UPCOMING EVENTS of 3 or higher. and grades of 3 or higher on four or AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or more of these exams. higher on five or more of these Dana Aria exams: NOVEMBER 1-2 Rachel’s Challenge: HS & MS th respective days, 6:30 p.m. William Beck (11 grade) Peter Cromwell Amanda Asaro Lauren Bilich Harrison Grimm John Barrett NOVEMBER 1-5 HS Fall Play: “You Can’t Take Jaimee DePompeo Amanda Jacob Gillian Bialer it With You”• Little Theatre Diana DiAntonio Jessica Lyons Andrew Brooks NOVEMBER 2 BOE Workshop Mtg,Admin. Cheryl Garrett Ravi Patel Daniel Capurso Bldg. Special time: 7:30 p.m. Jesse Lane Trevor Sergison Bridget Corso NOVEMBER 7 Superintendent’s Alexandrea Mantello Brittney Soldano Zachary Gomes Conference Day—Schools Lisa McNulty Daniel Hahn Closed for students Palak Patel (11th grade) Sean McLaughlan Kristin Troccoli (11th grade) Timothy Mulry NOVEMBER 10 Veterans Day observed— Schools Closed Eileen Yanoti Jeannette Rowland Elizabeth Schonig NOVEMBER 16 BOE Business Mtg,Admin. Jonas Stankovich Bldg. 8 p.m. James Webber BOE Citations AWARDED TO MUSIC STUDENTS The following students, who were named “All-County Musicians” for the 2006-2007 school year, received citations at the recent Board of Education Meeting. Awards were presented by High School Principal Joseph Buderman and BOE trustee Keith Kolar. Katherine Buono Jacqueline Potts Brianna Burnside Michelle Quirk Trevor Caverly Lorraine Rilling Garrett Fujarski Matthew Rivera Marissa Green Michael Saltzman Joseph Hailey Lara Schmitt Jennifer Hasselriis Alyssa Sciarrino Lea Johnson Thomas Smallwood Conrad Jones Alexandra Van Horne Patrick McNeill Paul Worthington Jordann Markowitz Patricia Yale Bishnu Panigrahi PAGE TWO Ahead of the Curve In fiscal accountability and oversight eputation is important for every of “unqualified” to Sayville District for Anticipation Note Borrowings R individual and every business. A its sound fiscal health. External (TAN). Because tax levy monies are bad reputation can close doors; a good Auditors of Pappas & Company have not given to school districts until reputation can open them. When it also complimented Sayville for its January, all school districts are comes to school districts on Long financial integrity. “Sayville continues to required to borrow so as to pay its Island, the past bad practices of some demonstrate sound financial bills for the first six months (July to school districts have soured the management, which is a credit to the December) of the academic year. reputations of all. Board of Education and the Since 2001-2002, Sayville School Your neighbors who comprise the Administration,” representatives from District has reduced its TAN Sayville Board of Education along with Pappas & Company remarked. borrowing from $14.2 million to the School District Administration Required by the new legislation, the $4.7 million. Sayville’s fiscal stability want the community to know that our BOE expects to appoint an will continue to reduce the amount district has been ahead of the curve in Independent Internal Auditor shortly. needed to be borrowed. terms of fiscal accountability and The outcome of Sayville’s positive • Borrowing less and for shorter oversight. Sayville’s financial fiscal management opens doors of periods reduces interest expenses management has provided for opportunities for the District, the and has a positive effect on the safeguards, procedures, and necessary community, and the students in the budget process. internal controls