The district and Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 9.
Superintendent of Schools David Schneider was sworn in for his second year, and re-elected Board members John Lonardo, Christina Scelta and Marie Swierkowski took oaths of office for three-year terms through June 30, 2022.

Behind nominations and unanimous elections, Michael Kelly and Sandra Watson were elected as Board president and vice president, respectively. This will be Kelly’s ninth straight term as president and 10th consecutive year that Watson will serve as vice president.

The district looks forward to another exciting year with the Board of Education.

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Bethpage High School junior Alexandra Midgette was recently announced as a recipient of the Nassau County District Attorney’s SHIELD Award.

SHIELD stands for service, honesty, integrity, excellence, leadership and duty. The award was created by District Attorney Madeline Singas and is presented to a student who shows outstanding strength of character, commitment to self-growth and the spirit and initiative to bring about a positive change in their community. 

The district congratulates Alexandra on this honor and for being an example for other Golden Eagles. 

High school studetns surrounded the building’s pool to participate in a robotics underwater submersion challenge on June 11.

The engineering class and the AP Physics 2 class came together with several groups competing for the top robot. Prior to testing the robots, students wore 1940s era Navy diving helmets as they explored the shallow and deep ends of the building’s pool to experience neutral buoyancy – an important concept in underwater ROV design.

To execute the successful design and build of a successful robot, the teams had to employ a high level of collaboration and communication in addition to implementing physics and math concepts. Robots were built through materials such as polyvinyl chloride piping, tape and Velcro that could pick up and retrieve objects from the pool floor. Drivers were only allowed to view their robots on a monitor to mimic real conditions researchers face when working deep below the ocean’s surface.

Teachers Christopher Hayes and Joseph Inghilterra congratulate the students on their hard work and innovation.

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The final installation of Central Boulevard Elementary School’s monthly “Thoughtful Thursday” series generated new ideas on June 20.

As the last exercise of the school year, students reflected on the projects and activities they participated in throughout the entire year. The teachers then led a class discussion and completed a “Thought Bubble” that summarized the engaging discussions.

After looking back on the service already completed, students generated new project ideas for next year. Topics included creating care packages, writing letters and drawing pictures of support to those in need, and collecting donations for charities and animal shelters.

“Thank you, the students, teachers and families, for the ongoing support and cooperation in making this another successful and enriching year of Thoughtful Thursdays,” said second grade teacher Patricia Tierney. 

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The Bethpage High School Student Civic Key Club held their fourth annual Dodge for a Cure Dodgeball Tournament. The tournament raises funds for the Winthrop Children's Hospital Cancer Center for Kids. The Student Civic Key Club presented Winthrop with a check for $1,500.00 from this year's tournament and have been able to raise over $5,000.00 since the tournament's inception! Special thanks to Mr. Fazio and all of the student participants in the dodgeball tournament!

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The sun shined on the Bethpage Athletic Complex on the evening of June 22 as Bethpage High School honored the Class of 2019 with the 64th annual commencement ceremony.

The graduation also marked the conclusion of the first year for Superintendent of Schools David Schneider, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Michael Spence and High School Principal Nicholas Jantz in their new roles within the district.

“Thank you to the Class of 2019 for your commitment to excellence,” said Mr. Schneider during his speech to the graduates. “You have all represented your class and school with great distinction. We know you will carry on the great tradition of being Golden Eagle alumni.”

Mr. Schneider’s remarks kicked off a number of inspirational speeches delivered throughout the night to congratulate and thank the graduates, their family, friends and community. Mr. Jantz reflected on how his time in Bethpage began with this graduating class as eighth graders at John F. Kennedy Middle School, and how the students helped to ease his transition into his role as high school principal.

“Thank you for making my first year [in the high school] so special,” Jantz said. “Wherever you go next year, please remember to not only bring the knowledge you’ve learned here in Bethpage, but more importantly the lessons, morals and experiences that have made you into the person you are today.”

As tradition, senior class president David Campos, student council president Donald Pesonen, salutatorian Soham Maiti and valedictorian Stacy Kappel delivered poignant remarks. All of them thanked their families and friends that aided in shaping their paths, while also encouraging their classmates to embrace the future.

“We have the responsibility to not only make our parents and everyone else that has supported us proud, but to also set an example for the future graduates of Bethpage,” said Stacy.

Following the presentation of diplomas, Mr. Jantz officially pronounced the Class of 2019 graduates. The ceremonial cap toss put an exclamation point on not only the evening, but the 13 years of education for the graduates in the district.
 
Bethpage congratulates the entire class and reminds them that “Once a Golden Eagle, Always a Golden Eagle!”

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First grade teacher Kristin Rochford from Charles Campagne Elementary School was the named the district’s recipient of the Nassau Association of School Technologies Award at the year-end Nassau Association of School Technologies Conference on June 13.

NASTARs are chosen for their innovation, their ability to seamlessly integrate technology to the curriculum, and for their exemplary technology leadership. Ms. Rochford was selected as Bethpage’s NASTAR Award recipient for her creative and innovative use of technology to support teaching and learning in her classroom.

Ms. Rochford has expanded the walls of her classroom with her use of technology in projects such as establishing pen pals with students outside of the district. She continues to remain open to learning and adding new tools of technology to support students. 

Ms. Rochford has also supported the district’s initiative of using Twitter to promote and showcase the great lessons taking place in her classroom and around the community.

“I am so honored, humbled and lucky to be a part of such a wonderful school family and community,” said Ms. Rochford. “I am grateful for the support from the district, school and first grade team.”

Fifth grade classes at Charles Campagne Elementary School welcomed Bethpage High School seniors as an audience for their Be an Expert project presentation.

Fifth graders recently took part in the construction of projects that they held “expertise” in. Students started research and studying on topics after Be an Expert materials were distributed a few weeks prior. Categories included baseball, the planets, the civil war, the ocean and Resistance Fighters.  Students read books to grow their knowledge of the specific theme.

The culmination of the projects came on June 17 as high school students visited classrooms to witness their younger peers’ learning and growth. The seniors were also able to join the fifth graders in participating in Kahoot quizzes, which tested them on the newly acquired information following the presentations.

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First and fourth grade students at Central Boulevard Elementary School worked together in the building’s STEM lab to create bird feeders for the surrounding environment.

During the week of June 10, first grade classes studied bird feeders and their importance, then were joined by fourth grade classes to create homemade bird feeders from several household and purchased products. Under the instruction of STEM teacher Mara Karfinkel, the students used milk cartons, food containers, donut boxes, tape and tree branches to manufacture feeders.

The design for each feeder was illustrated by a first grade student. Fourth graders helped in bringing the sketches to life, using the materials offered in the STEM lab to construct functional bird feeders to bring home.

“Thank you to the fourth graders for coming to assist the first grade classes in creating their bird feeders,” said Ms. Karfinkel. 

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Second graders at Charles Campagne Elementary School welcomed staff, parents and community members to a living wax museum on June 11.

Students dressed as and spoke about influential figures in history that they researched prior to the event. Featured personalities included Mike Piazza, Cleopatra, Stan Lee, Taylor Swift, Mother Teresa, Michael Jordan, John F. Kennedy and Neil Armstrong.

The three second grade classes gathered throughout the building’s STEM Lab, all-purpose room and a classroom to create three museums to tour. Decked out in costumes and apparel to represent their subject, students wore buttons for attendees to push to encourage the students to speak about the figure.

The district congratulates the students and teachers for their preparation and execution in creating a museum full of biographical figures.

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Second graders at Central Boulevard Elementary School showcased their knowledge about the state nation when they shared projects, presentations and an “Americans We” performance on June 7.

Each student showcased their state fair assignments that included fun facts, climate information, famous people and more as a large gallery in the school’s gymnasium. Next, the entire grade came together to perform Teresa Jennings’ musical revue “Americans We” to conclude the patriotic topic. 

“Americans We” is a celebration of the people, by the people and for the people. Through song, movement and dialogue the revue focuses on the American people and the roles that are served. The assembly concluded with the “Fifty States” song.

Central Boulevard congratulates all of the performers on a job well done!

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Fourth grade students at Central Boulevard Elementary School recently expanded their knowledge of certain topics by taking part in a Be an Expert project.

This past winter, students were each given a Be an Expert bag that contained several books on an area of focus. They completed assignments for each book that equipped them with information and facts. The culmination of the students’ work was presented on June 5, when they shared their finished projects. Themes included the American Revolution, auto racing, inventors and Ellis Island. 

Students had the choice of creating a trifold or a powerpoint demonstration to communicate the knowledge that might qualify them as experts. Following presentations, classmates added questions, comments and remarks based on the individual’s assignment.

Congratulations to the fourth graders that put in the effort to become experts! 

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The district celebrated science, technology, engineering, art and math recently by a hosting Family STEAM Night at both Kramer Lane and Charles Campagne elementary schools.

Kramer Lane welcomed students along with their families on May 29. Teachers and volunteers led in-classroom activities such as space slime, rocket design, sun beads and gravity drop. In addition to the STEAM workshops, students’ art work was on display in an art show gallery in the school’s gymnasium.

Charles Campagne provided a similar evening of fun on May 30 with hands-on and interactive projects for students and families in the STEM lab and throughout the building.

“Thank you to the administrators, teachers, PTA and volunteers that supported Family STEAM Night at Kramer Lane and Charles Campagne,” said Superintendent of Schools David Schneider.

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The Bethpage High School hockey team was honored at the Fourth Annual Long Island Sports Impact Awards Dinner, held at the Jericho Terrace on May 20, for their achievement as first-place winners of the 2018 Team Up 4 Community Holiday Sports Heroes Challenge.

Congratulations to all involved in this exceptional fundraising and community effort! 

The district celebrated the accolades of staff members and students during a Board of Education meeting on May 28, which was preceded by a tenure reception.

Ten staff members were honored in the high school courtyard for receiving tenure. Superintendent David Schneider congratulated them for their dedication in making Bethpage a special district and reaching this career milestone.

“We are a family in Bethpage and these individuals showcase the commitment to continue to make our district special,” said Mr. Schneider. “Congratulations to all of the honorees for putting in the hard work to be recommended for tenure.”

The district congratulates Renee Balvin, Ashley Blatus, Carmelo Carbone, Andrew Choi, Kayleen Gonyon, Rosemarie Hale, Zachary Levy, Christine McGuire, Danielle Mole and Julianne Tierney for earning tenure. 

The Board of Education meeting followed in the high school’s small theatre, where the athletics department’s Captains’ Club was recognized along with students enrolled in the AP Art Studio course.

Art department chairperson Elena Cardo introduced a slide show that featured the work, accomplishments and future educational plans of students in the course. She also invited the Board of Education members and meeting attendees to view the gallery of work stationed in the main lobby.

Next, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health John Franchi welcomed into the theatre the Captains’ Club, a group comprised of the captains for all 30 of the high school’s varsity athletic teams. Each student came to the front to announce the team they represented and share individual and team accomplishments from the past school year.  They were then presented with certificates of excellence by Mr. Schneider and Mr. Franchi. The seniors on hand also shared the college they will attend this fall.

The district congratulates all of the evening’s recognitions and thanks all individuals for representing Bethpage with pride!

Students in the high school’s Ethics Club visited Monica Klein’s JFK’s sixth grade social studies classes to host the Fifth Annual Ethics Socratic Circle on May 23.

The Ethics Club members spoke to five classes and presented an open-ended question to spark comfortable conversations. Students listened closely to the comments of their peers, discussed their own views and held an open dialogue with no right or wrong answers. The visit followed the sixth-graders’ recent completion of a philosophy lesson covering Socrates, Plato and Aristotle that was part of an ancient Greece unit. 

“It was my hope to promote ethics and academic integrity among all Bethpage students,” said Mrs. Klein. “I also hope that the sixth graders may become to inspired to join the Ethics Club when they join the high school in a few years.”

Mrs. Klein thanked seniors Soham Maiti and Jessica O’Keefe, junior Ujala Dar, Liz Freedman, Erica Marciante and Nicole Zacchie and freshman Bernardo Jimenenz for taking the time to engage and educate her classes.

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The “Thoughtful Thursday” monthly series continued at Central Boulevard Elementary School as students learned about the Crayon Initiative on May 23.

Created by Bryan Ware in 2011, the Crayon Initiative collects donated crayons from restaurants, schools and homes from across the country. Once gathered, the original crayons are melted, remanufactured and distributed to art programs at children’s hospitals across the United States.

To help with this cause, students at Central Boulevard will be collecting used crayons from June 3-14. This month’s Thoughtful Thursday focused on decorating collection boxes as well as making signs to promote the school-wide donation drive.

Patricia Tierney’s second grade class welcomed the help of Bethpage High School students as they created signs. The second graders buddied with the high school students to illustrate designs and text to promote their cause. 

Central Boulevard looks forward to collecting donated crayons to help with this thoughtful charity.

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The 11th Annual Zeus Retires Debates took place in Monica Klein’s sixth-grade social studies classes at John F. Kennedy Middle School on May 20, with five successors announced.

Zeus, played by Mrs. Klein’s father Ben Morselli, visited each class to determine the next ruler of Olympus as he retires from his throne. The gods, goddesses and heroes in each class held debates on how their attributes and characteristics make for the next great leader of Olympus. 

Each participating student dressed the part of a specific mythological figured and delivered persuasive speeches prior. Students also engaged in a peer question forum where they challenged the attributes of their opponents. After a discussion with Mrs. Klein, Zeus determined the next ruler of Olympus by awarding them the Golden Bolt.

Mrs. Klein congratulated all students for their dedication and hard work in preparing their presentations. Special acknowledgement went to the winners from each period: Olivia Greenfield as Themis, Joseph Bashker as Hades, Sara Bashker as Artemis, Dana Scruggs as Artemis and Matthew Cusumano as Ares.

“Another great display of research, presentation and debate skills by our sixth graders in the 11th Annual Zeus Retires Debates,” said Superintendent of Schools David Schneider. “Thank you to Mrs. Klein and her father for continuing this tradition at JFK.”

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For four years now, Bethpage High School junior Adina Rahman has been helping those diagnosed with Lupus. She recently provided a donation of $650 to the Lupus Alliance of Long Island/Queens. 

To date, Adina has garnered a total of $2,250 for the Alliance. She presented a check to Patricia D’Accolti, Executive Director of the Lupus Alliance of Long Island/Queens chapter, on May 16. Ms. D’Accolti congratulated Adina for her efforts and presented her with a certificate of excellence. 

Adina’s passion for this cause generates from family members that have been affected by the disease and a drive to make a difference in finding a cure. To raise the money, she held raffles at musicals and other school shows throughout the year. She is also actively involved in the SADD Club.
The district salutes Adina for her passion and dedication to raising money for the Lupus Alliance. 

The Argonauts from all three elementary schools had the opportunity to explore the BOCES Homestead Ecology Program in Brookville on May 6.

Students were fortunate to take part in hands-on learning experiences through participation in Early American craft activities such as broom making, blacksmithing and pioneer construction. The group also explored the property’s nature trail systems. The program helps students to develop an appreciation of the colonial lifestyle and comparative technologies.

The district thanks the BOCES program coordinators for allowing the Argonauts to take a step back in time with these informative activities.