East Islip pupils munch on poetry
In East Islip, Timber Point Elementary School has converted its cafeteria into a literacy lunchroom.
The school recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a remodeled cafeteria - called the Book Nook Cafe - that includes five round tables, a selection of children's books, and easels placed beside lunch lines to make it convenient for kids to read poetry while they wait.
The idea came from Ilene Mauner, a Timber Point parent and self-proclaimed literacy advocate whose son Evan is a fifth-grader. "So many children enjoy visiting bookstores like Barnes & Noble or Borders, so I thought it would be great if we could make the cafeteria more cafelike," Mauner said.
The makeover also includes two 8-foot-long banners displaying the cafe's name and framed photos of various faculty members reading books to show students that "reading is something we all do," said Principal Margaret Ann Harper.
Mauner chooses a new theme every six weeks and modifies the easels and book selections accordingly. So far there have been back-to-school and food themes, she said.
"It's important to see that reading extends past the classroom," said Harper. "Literacy is an important social tool."
Fourth-grader Natalia Lozinski beat more than 200 students in a contest to name the cafe. She received a gift certificate to Borders, Harper said, and was asked to cut the ribbon to officially open the cafe.
Latin laurels
Riverhead School District claimed seven of 12 prizes last month at the Suffolk Classical Society's 8th Annual Declamatio, a competition in which students recite memorized passages of Latin literature at Stony Brook University. Team members were high schoolers Emily Cardillo, Pola Dobrzynski, Daniel Raynor and John Rios, and middle schoolers Gwen Hilles, Emily Pearce and James Rios.
Other competing high schools were Commack, Huntington, McGann-Mercy in Riverhead, Earl L. Vandermeulen in Port Jefferson and Westhampton Beach.
Goatee fundraiser
Rocky Point High School recently held a fundraiser to benefit Ethan Brons, the 22-month-old son of faculty members Rich and Michelle Brons who suffers from periodic fever syndrome, an auto-inflammatory disease. To collect funds, Principal William Caulfield donated $10 for every staff member who grew a goatee similar to his - or who was willing to wear a fake one for a day.
Thirty faculty members donned facial hair and Alexandro's Restaurant of Mt. Sinai added $150 to the cause. To raise additional funds, the school's Math Honor Society and Leaders Club are also selling "Everyone for Ethan" bracelets.
Vietnam War memorial
West Islip High School unveiled a granite memorial last month honoring seven graduates who died fighting in the Vietnam War: David Bukowski, Vaughn Connell, James Cooper, William Monahan, Daniel Nidds, Thomas Post and Leonard Selanikio. The headstone was donated by Claude R. Boyd/Spencer Funeral Homes in Babylon, and an adjacent weeping cherry tree and plants were donated by Anchor Landscaping in Babylon.
In other district news, parents, officials and business owners came together recently to discuss issues facing the community at the 2nd Annual West Islip Summit.
COUNTYWIDE
Giving thanks
Dozens of schools around Long Island celebrated Thanksgiving last month with programs and activities designed to teach students the importance of giving back.
In Commack, North Ridge Primary School students collected canned food items and assembled holiday gift baskets that were donated to the food pantry at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in East Northport, which distributed them to local families in need.
In East Setauket, third-graders at Arrowhead Elementary School baked pumpkin bread for the district's needy families, while Islip High School students cooked up corn pudding, stuffing and turkey for a feast with the school's English as a Secondary Language students.
In Miller Place, students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School viewed a webcast from Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts that included re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving.
ISLANDWIDE
Business symposium
More than 400 Long Island students learned about the importance of community activism and professional success last month during a "Believe Symposium" coordinated by Long Island Elite, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering local business professionals. The symposium included 50 Long Island chief executives who hosted workshops and spoke about their personal experiences. Keynote speakers were Craig Pinto, a philanthropist who holds the Guinness World Record for field goals kicked to raise awareness for celiac disease, and Rohan Murphy, an international power lifter who lost his legs at birth.
Participating high schools were Baldwin, Bridgehampton, East Islip, East Meadow, Glen Cove, Lindenhurst, Massapequa, Middle Country, Northport, Patchogue-Medford and William Floyd in Mastic Beach.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
