School Notebook: New Locust Valley sports
Locust Valley sports-minded students have a new outlet to boost their athletic skills.
The middle school has launched an intra-scholastic program that allows students not selected for sports teams to stay physically fit and enjoy the games they love. The program, which kicked off last week with an orientation, will begin with three 45-minute training sessions a week in football and soccer.
The idea came about after the school was forced to "blend" several seventh- and eighth-grade sports teams due to budget cuts, thereby eliminating the number of spots available to students, school officials said.
"We brainstormed ways to provide other opportunities for kids to maintain athleticism outside of the traditional team settings," said Mark Dantuono, the district's director of health, physical education and athletics. "This provides them with an opportunity to stay active."
The program will save the district money compared to traditional sports teams, Dantuono said, since there are no transportation and supervision costs, among other things. It will continue in the winter and spring with basketball, girls volleyball, baseball, softball, and boys and girls lacrosse.
Each sport will be staffed by a certified coach and overseen by the head of the high school varsity team. To promote the program, fliers and permission slips were sent home to all middle school parents earlier this month, Dantuono said.
"This is not an ideal situation, but there's been a positive reaction so far," said Principal H. Thomas Hogan, who called athletics "essential" to children's well-rounded development. "It improves everything from their homework to behavior to self-esteem."
New principal
Timothy Maher has been named new principal of Baldwin Middle School, replacing interim principal Jack Lenson. Maher was assistant principal of Selden Middle School and has served 19 years as an educator.
"I am extremely excited to be joining the Baldwin community," Maher said in a recent letter to the community. "Our assistant principals and deans have impressed me with their dedication, and I look forward to working with them on behalf of our young people."
Published research
Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth, juniors at Long Beach Senior High School, had their joint research published in the Summer 2011 issue of Clear Waters Magazine, a publication of the New York Water Environment Association.
The seven-page article, titled "Mussels: A Natural Approach to Sewage Treatment," studied the use of mussels as a biofilter of pollution in local bay waters. One of the photos they submitted with their research appeared on the magazine cover.
The duo's research won them several accolades last year including a second-place grand award at the Intel Science & Engineering Fair and a gold medal at the I-SWEEEP international science competition. They also represented New York at the national level of the Walter Environment Federation's 2011 Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition.
New superintendent
Adrienne Robb-Fund has been named superintendent of Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, replacing the retiring Elizabeth Lison.
Robb-Fund most recently served six years as assistant superintendent for elementary education for Commack School District. She also has served as an assistant principal and kindergarten program director for William Floyd School District in Mastic Beach and as an elementary assistant principal and reading director for Wantagh Union Free School District.
She began her career as a special-education teacher and reading specialist in Massachusetts.
New principals
Daniel Rehman has been named principal of West Hempstead High School. He replaces Frank Viteritti, whom the district announced in June would not be returning to the school.
Rehman most recently served as principal of the district's Chestnut Street Elementary School. Julie Healy, who previously worked as an art director at the school, is the interim principal of Chestnut Street.
"Being named principal of West Hempstead High School is a fantastic learning opportunity," Rehman said. "I want to be a part of creating and enjoying a learning environment where rigor, risk taking, symbiosis, autonomy, and access for all are expected, valued and modeled. I look forward to learning with students and faculty to achieve a common goal of educational excellence."
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 25: Wrestling and hockey state championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay recap all the state wrestling action from Albany this past weekend, plus Jared Valluzzi has the ice hockey championship results from Binghamton.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 25: Wrestling and hockey state championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay recap all the state wrestling action from Albany this past weekend, plus Jared Valluzzi has the ice hockey championship results from Binghamton.
