The Lion’s Pride W.I. Where Education Shines! of West Islip Schools Offi cial Publication of the West Islip School District www.wi.k12.ny.us February/March/April 2009 5K Fun Run: Making Strides in Community Summit Celebrating Education and Community Tuesday, April 28th 7:30pm Close to 800 resi- at Beach Street Middle School Auditorium dents participated The West Islip Summit Coalition will host its fi rst in the West Islip Community Forum at the Beach Street Middle School District An- School Auditorium on Tuesday, April 28th, at nual “Fun Run, Walk 7:30 p.m. The Forum will provide information and Jogathon” on about the Summit, which is scheduled for later Sunday, March 8th, which had its this year, while also allowing residents the oppor- largest turnout to date. The event was tunity to raise the issues that they feel are impor- sponsored by West Islip Drug Educa- tant to the future of West Islip. tion (WIDE) and raised funds for the The Summit Coalition, comprised of district’s substance abuse educational West Islip Board of Education trustees, school programs. district offi cials, members of numerous commu- Of the many participants nity organizations and local business owners, has who completed the 5K run, the fi rst BoardBoard ofof Education member SharonSharon Bieselin, Rich Hujik,Hujik, Board ofof held several meetings to establish a mission state- fi ve participants to cross the fi nish Education member Annmarie LaRosa, Chris Rummo, Kayla La., Maria ment, develop subcommittees, and outline the key line included students Patrick F. at R., Samantha R. and Joe R. participated in West Islip’s 5K Fun Run on issues and challenges facing West Islip. 18:04; Nick M. at 18:41; Robert C. Sunday, March 8th. During the Community Forum, local resi- at 18:41; Mike S. at 19:08; and Ali F. dents will not only have a chance to hear the goals at 19:56. Jim W. fi nished as the fi rst Bosse came in at 27:23 for fi rst district Administra- of the Coalition and Summit, but they will also adult at 20:29. Nick Grieco fi nished as fi rst coach tor (with son in stroller). Linda Bergquist (Oque- have an opportunity to meet with members of each at 22:33. Udall’s Chris M. fi nished as the fi rst nock) clocked in at 28:23 fi nishing as fi rst Special subcommittee and get involved with the Coalition. middle school student and his brother, Oque- Education teacher. Bill Young was the fi rst Secu- nock’s Devin M., fi nished fi rst for the elementary rity Guard to cross the fi nish line, and Annmarie school division. Nancy Yost fi nished fi rst teacher LaRosa came in as fi rst Board of Education partici- with her daughter Maggie (in her stroller). West pant. PAWS 2009 Dinner Gala Islip’s Buildings and Grounds Director James Special thanks to: the custodial and ggrounds crew; vvolunteers including tthe district’s PTAs, sstudents (represent- iingn The National HHonor Society, DECA, HHS Student Senate, aand the Earth and OOutdoors Club), WWITA, WIASA; and tthe entire West Islip TheThe fi rst fi ve participants to cross the fi nish line at West Islip’s 5K Fun Run were West ccommunity for mak- Islip High School students (pictured l-r) Patrick F., Nick M., Rob C., Mike S. and Ali F.. ing the run such a huge success. To view more Fun Run Photos go to: www.wi.k12.ny.us PicturedPictured (clockwise(clockwise fromfrom lowerlower left):left): PAWSPAWS SecretarySecretary Kather-Kather- ine Fix, Gala Chairperson and PAWS Vice President Jamie Winkler, PAWS President Tom McAteer, Gala Honoree West Anti-Bias Awareness Presentations Islip High School Principal Kenneth Hartill, PAWS Journal Chairperson Rachel Camillery, Dan Galasso (representing On Tuesday, February 24, 2009, Michael Zotto, who can build your network of support.” his late wife Honoree Cindy Galasso), PAWS Treasurer Mary Beth Jacaruso, Board of Education member Annmarie LaRo- former NYPD Detective and Advisor to the New “If you see someone being bullied, don’t sa and West Islip Superintendent Dr. Beth Virginia Blau. York State Deputy Secretary of Public Safety, join in. Don’t participate or encourage their along with New York State Investigator Kim behavior. Subtle messages can create big change. PAWS (Partners Advancing August, presented an Anti- Help that person being West Islip Students) recently Bias Awareness Presentation bullied and tell someone. If “All you may need to do celebrated its Fourth Annual to 7th and 8th grade students you think it’s funny you are Dinner Gala on March 13th, at Udall Road Middle School. to stop someone from being giving the bully power and at the Venetian Yacht Club On February 10th, they pre- bullied is to not react. encouraging their behavior. located in Babylon Village. The honorees for the sented a similar program dis- Silence can be deafening.” All you may need to do to evening included West Islip Principal Ken Hartill, cussing many issues dealing stop someone from be- honored for his forty years of commitment and -Offi cer Michael Zotto with anti-bias and self-aware- ing bullied is to not react. service to education, and Cindy Galasso, honored ness to Beach Street Middle Silence can be deafening,” posthumously, for her outstanding contributions to School students. Following said Offi cer Michael Zotto. the West Islip community. the presentations, group discussions took place “What I witnessed at today’s assembly In addition to the Gala dinner and dance, among students, teachers, counselors, administra- were young ladies and gentlemen who were business-donated off erings were raffl ed to raise ad- tors and the law enforcement offi cers. focused and attentive, and concerned about the ditional funds. Raffl e donations were graciously re- “It’s all about choices,” said Offi cer Kim many sensitive topics discussed. It is my belief ceived from POSH, Plesser’s, The Fitness Incentive, August. “You have the power to make the right that inviting the law enforcement community Drew Patrick Spa, IE Personal Training, and Suff olk choices. Surround yourself with good people Continued on page 2 Transportation Services. Budget Public Hearing: May 12th, 7:30pm at Beach Street Middle School Auditorium Bond Update Science Olympiad OnO February 7th, West Islip’s Science Team Bond construction will begin this summer with an anticipated completion date of tookto home medals at the Science Olympiad Fall 2010. The majority of the work will be done during the summer months of whichw took place at Half Hollow Hills East High 2009 and 2010. The following construction projects will begin this summer: re- SSchool. West Islip placed in six of the events, placing boilers in schools, construction of the artifi cial turf fi eld and construction earninge a 5th place medal in ‘Forensics,’ thanks of new track, curbs and sidewalks. Masera Learning Center’s major renovations to the eff orts of Elena V. and Jennifer P. West will start this summer with additional work to be completed next summer. IsIslip placed 8th out of 40 teams in Cell Biol- ogy, 10th out t of f 36 tteams iin FFossils, 12th out of 35 teams in Astronomy, 12th College Fair out of 37 teams in Chem Lab, and 14th out of 36 teams in Physics. Pictured above, (l-r) Jennifer P. and Elena V.. On March 26th, the West Islip High School Counseling Offi ce sponsored a College Fair with “Refl ections” Winners over 100 colleges participating. In Students at Udall Road Middle conjunction with the College Fair, School were awarded merit for College Awareness Day took place their artistic accomplishments district-wide on March 26th to in- in the National PTA Refl ections crease awareness of college choices Program, which encourages among students at all levels within students in grades K-12 to West Islip. express their thoughts and feelings through the creative arts. The theme of this year’s Bright Light Award competition was “Wow!” Pictured (l-r) are award recipients Kaitlin M. for Visual Arts, Lilyan G. for Photography, Kathryne G. for Photography (which UdallUd Road Middle School Librarian Kathleen Chinkel has been submitted for state judging), Eric B. for Literature, and Udall Prin- is the recipient of the Suff olk Asset’s 2009 Bright Light cipal Bernadette Burns. (Not pictured, Samantha L. for Visual Arts.) Award.Aw Suff olk Asset is an association that strives to enhanceen teaching and learning in Suff olk County school districtsdi through the use of computers and other educa- Foreign Language Week tionaltio technologies. Suff olk Asset promotes encouraging During the fi rst week in March the dis- theth integration of technology into the K-12 curriculum, trict celebrated Foreign Language Week. ensuringensuringthatstudentsa that students arere provided with the educational opportunities they need Activities included cultural discussions, to prepare for the 21st century. sampling of foods and learning about the lifestyles of other cultures. “Foreign Language Week was a true manifesta- Mrs. Kennedy Receives Harvard Club Award tion of linguistic and cultural celebra- tion,” said Director of World Languages West Islip High School math teacher Melissa Kennedy Dr. Judith Toussaint. has been named Distinguished Teacher of 2009 by the Pictured right, students sample Harvard Club of Long Island, and was honored along foreign foods during Foreign Language with twelve Long Island teachers at the Harvard Club Week. of Long Island University Relations Brunch in March. Mrs. Kennedy teaches AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC (by independent study), Pre-Calculus Honors, and Students Attend Inauguration the new Integrated Geometry course, and has taught On January 20th, four West Islip for 33 years in the West Islip District.