Approximately 20 seventh-grade girls from Isaac E. Young and Albert Leonard middle schools, in addition to their parents, participated in a recent Barnard College conference on the educational opportunities and careers available to girls in the areas of science, math, engineering, and technology. The “Explore Your Opportunities: The Sky’s the Limit” conference, which was sponsored by the American Association of University Women, included keynote speaker Dr. Ray Ann DePrisco Havasy, Professor of Education at the New York Institute of Technology.
During the daylong event, the girls participated in a number of hands-on workshops on various topics, including how the brain works, the characteristics of plankton, food, origami, and math. The adults in the group attended a number of college awareness sessions on the financial aid process and college admissions. Accompanying the group were Gregoria Feliciano, coordinator of the district’s GEAR UP and 21st Century Skills programs; Dr. Lovelle Ruggiero; and Science Department Chairs Marselle Heyward and John Pratt.

A winning essay by a NRHS student earned the student a full scholarship from Learning Forum International and the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. The LFI/Quantum Learning Scholarship provided the student with full tuition for a 10-day Supercamp experience in July at Claremont College in California. The prize also includes room and board on the college campus. Both organizations partnered to provide five scholarships nationwide to students in GEAR UP programs throughout the U.S.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded Jefferson Elementary School its Picturing America collection. The Picturing America program, which is part of NEH’s “We the People” initiative, provides qualifying schools with 40 large reproductions of art masterpieces emblematic of American history and culture. In September, Jefferson School will receive a full set of high-quality 24-by-36 inch laminated reproductions of American art and artifacts, together with a teacher resource book filled with practical ideas for using the images in its curriculum, which will be placed in the school’s library. A kick-off event is planned for the fall.

Kindergarteners at George M. Davis Elementary School eagerly awaited and welcomed the opening of a renovated playground at the school June 24. Board of Education President Cindy Babcock-Deutsch joined Principal William Harrell in officially opening the gate to the school playground as the children waited to explore the inviting playground equipment. Board of Education trustee Sara Richmond, Superintendent of Schools Richard Organisciak, Assistant Superintendent for Business Administration John Quinn, Assistant Principal Paula Cohen, Magnet Facilitator Carol Kelly, as well as representatives of the Davis PTA leadership, past and present, who contributed to the planning and design process, were all present. Carolyn Fay, Bernadette Weaver, Amy Pace, Jayne Peister, and Fran Norquist also attended.

On June 24, the Board of Education granted tenure to several school administrators, including Donald Conetta, Principal of New Rochelle High School, Joseph Starvaggi, Assistant Principal of New Rochelle High School, Anthony Bongo, Principal of Isaac E. Young Middle School, and Tawanda Robinson, Assistant Principal of Isaac E. Young Middle School.

The Spanish newspaper El Diario La Prensa gave New Rochelle High School teacher George Castellanos with the “EI” award, a recognition given annually by the newspaper to the most influential Hispanic men in the tri-state area. Dr. Castellanos also serves as chairperson of the Spanish Department at Manhattanville College and is also the director of its Latin American Studies Program.

An article by Anthony Bongo, Principal of Isaac E. Young Middle School, was printed in the April edition of Middle Ground, a magazine published by the National Middle School Association. Mr. Bongo's article was Called "Mark of Leadership - Creating a Caring Middle School Step by Step."

The College of New Rochelle presented social worker Janet Rodriguez Byrd with the Academic Achievement Award upon graduating with a master’s degree in education and advanced certification in building leadership.

Kindergarten students at George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School presented a delightful program to parents on June 19.Rhonda Abramowitz’s and Nora Horlacher's classes recited dragon poems and couplets, and sang the following songs: “Dragon Tales Themes” by Jessee Harris, Joey Levine and Mary Wood; “Candle on the Water” by Al Kasha and Joel Hirshhorn; and “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton. Music teacher Regina Talbot Mendez provided the musical accompaniment. The presentation was part of the school’s Magnet Overlay Program, which provides literary enrichment and performance opportunities for all students.

At a June 19 awards ceremony to honor New Rochelle High School’s brightest students, five seniors were singled out and presented with new Dell laptops and printers. Bea Drechsler, her husband Robert and their son were responsible for donating the equipment.

New Rochelle High School hosted a Science Symposium June 17 showcasing the work of students in the Science Research Program. Guest speaker Dr. Maria Gulinello spoke about “Premenstrual Dysthoric Disorder,” and two seniors also presented their work.

On June 16, nine students from Isaac E. Young Middle School each donated 10 inches of their hair to the “Locks of Love” program. The hair will be made into wigs for cancer patients. As a reward, each student was allowed to shave the head of a teacher of their choice.

Students in the first grade classes at William B. Ward Elementary School have become published authors. The literary selections, which can be found in the school library, are based upon feelings, life events, special people, or things the students learned in school. Colorful and detailed illustrations accompany each story. The project was initiated by first grade teacher Angela D’Ambrosio, who brought the idea of publishing class books from her former school, Trinity Elementary. The books include: “Best Friends” by Theresa Lee’s class; “Classmates & Friends” by Ann Marie Rooney’s class; “I Wish I Were” by Joan Levy’s class; “Our Special Moms” by Beth Weinberg’s class; “Plenty of Penguins” by Jennifer Rippa Jones’ class; “Small Moments” by Cynthia Mancuso’s class; “Pequenos Momentos by Maggie Tucker Albers’ class; “The Coral Reef” by Chrissy Bopp’s class; and “Planting A-Z” by Michael Kirk’s class.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded Jefferson Elementary School its Picturing America collection. The Picturing America program, which is part of NEH’s “We the People” initiative, provides qualifying schools with 40 large reproductions of art masterpieces emblematic of American history and culture. In September, Jefferson School will receive a full set of high-quality 24-by-36 inch laminated reproductions of American art and artifacts, together with a teacher resource book filled with practical ideas for using the images in its curriculum, which will be placed in the school’s library. A kick-off event is planned for the fall.

A small community in the drought-stricken Kibwezi region of Kenya will undoubtedly be grateful for the hard work and enthusiasm that students of William B. Ward Elementary School have shown for the “Wells of Love and Hope project.”
Over the past school year, the students raised money to help build at least two water wells in that part of Africa. The project, which was initiated by Irene Kabot as part of the school's International Peace academic enrichment program, is a partnership between the United Nations International Public Policy Institute and the non-governmental organization Solace Self Help, a group established by The Honorable Agnes Mutindi Ndetei, former assistant minister of education in Kenya and a Kibwezi Member of Parliament.
Mrs. Kabot has been working with the former parliamentarian in an effort to help the villagers of this ravished area. What has compounded the problem is the fact that the region is situated over an aquifer, but those who live there cannot afford the estimated $3,500 it costs to dig a well. Most residents, said Mrs. Kabot, earn approximately $1 per day, not enough to take on such a project.
The students at Ward Elementary have currently raised about $5,000 and will be receiving an additional $2,000 from the Rotary Club of New Rochelle. Ms. Kabot and Ms. Ndetei will be co-writing a grant application to Rotary International for an additional 50 percent matching grant. “I’m just so thrilled with these students and how they have opened their hearts to the children of Africa,” said Mrs. Kabot, who is traveling to Kenya to meet the villagers.
Mrs. Kabot said the project was successful thanks to the efforts of Assistant Principal John Fogliano, who recently received the school’s “Global Citizenship” Award in recognition of his efforts in “teaching children, his thorough inspirational example, and his virtue of service to others.”