South Huntington Union Free School District 60 Weston Street Huntington Station, New York, 11746

FALL 2012

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 179 Huntington Station, NY 11746

FROM YOUR SUPERINTENDENT

I hope this issue of Spotlight finds you healthy and comfortably recovered from the storm. We have certainly seen our share of challenges this year, and the members of our school community have demonstrated remarkable cooperation at every turn. While Hurricane Sandy certainly dealt a powerful blow to our district, the members of our learning family responded with characteristic strength. Together, we have endured unprecedented challenges and emerged as a stronger, more determined community. The South Huntington spirit remains strong, and the months ahead promise great things for schools. We are entering an incredibly exciting time of year as we settle into classes and prepare for the holidays both at school and home. The welcome stretch of uninterrupted days will be filled with important instruction, and the evenings will be marked by holiday concerts, fundraisers, plays, and celebrations. The sights and sounds of a new athletic season will abound as fresh initiatives energize each and every school. There is no doubt that our powerful sense of community will be even further heightened as we close out 2012 and prepare to welcome the new year. One of our major new initiatives will be the development of partnerships that drive additional revenue into our South Huntington District. We envision relationships where local businesses sponsor programs and activities that support our educational and co-curricular mission. The various sponsorships will be recognized in a multitude of ways including electronic newsletters, websites, calendars, and adult education brochures. This win-win situation will provide for the preservation of important school district initiatives while allowing businesses to connect with targeted-community audiences. We look forward to building this new program and welcome your participation throughout the process. Interested parties can contact public relations specialist Steve Bartholomew at 631 812-3108. On a personal note, I want to thank you for the opportunity to join your South Huntington Family. These first five months have been incredibly rewarding, and I am grateful for the warm welcome. Please know that I feel privileged to be part of this special community and cherish the opportunity to serve the district. I hope this holiday season brings great joy to your family and friends alike. May your new year be filled with good health and happiness. Be well, Dave Bennardo
Dear Mrs. Brieff, thank you for your hard work. Dear Mr. Lupinacci, thank you for all you do for South Huntington. Dear Mr. Nitkewicz, thank you for fixing up my school. Dear Mr. Kaden, thank you for making our schools safe. Dear Mrs. LaCara, thank you Dear Mr. Ciappetta, thank you for all your hard work. for your hard work. Dear Mrs. DeGaetano, thank you for volunteering your time.

SOUTH HUNTINGTON WELCOMES COMMISSIONER KING

State Education Commissioner Dr. John B. King, Jr., was our welcome guest in South Huntington where he participated in a panel discussion at Walt Whitman High School before moving on to Birchwood Elementary School, where he stopped in to Ms. Wilkinsons and Ms. Lopezs fourth-grade class to discuss the importance of reading. Opening the 11 AM event at a packed Walt Whitman Performing Arts Center were students from Maplewood Elementary School, who led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Oakwood Primary Center students then sang several songs before Board of Education Vice President Mr. Nicholas Ciappetta introduced Dr. King. Dr. King told the audience, Take advantage of every academic opportunity you are given. Every book you read, every essay you are asked to write is an opportunity to learn, to improve yourself, and to prepare for a better future. ences that will prepare students to succeed on the tasks. Other questions from the panel focused on students who come from economically disadvantaged homes, increased parental involvement, ensuring that all of our children's education needs are being met and not just those that are covered under mandates, and advice or suggestions for our community, our administrators, our teachers, our Board of Education, and our children contending with rising class sizes. Joining Dr. King was Education Regent Roger Tillis, a long-time Long Island resident and supporter of public education. After the panel discussion, Stimson Middle School students, accompanied by Principal Faye Robins, helped to ensure that Commissioner King would remember the spirit of South Huntington by presenting him with Wildcat spirit sportswear.

Dr. King and Regent Tillis then traveled Dr. King, who was orphaned at an early to Birchwood Elementary School, age, met many challenges growing up where Principal Anthony Ciccarelli and in central Brooklyn, and he challenged Assistant Principal Annie Michaelian the students in the audience: The rea- Panel members left to right: Dennis Callahan, Eileen Kerrigan, Laura Carey, Edward gave them a building tour, stopping in at son I got the opportunity to go to Harvard Nitkewicz, Commissioner King, Harolyn Harris, Claude Cajuste, and Alexandra O'Toole. Ms. Wilkinsons and Ms. Lopezs fourthis that I saw every day as an opportunity grade class. Dr. King talked with the students about their favorite parts of to prepare for all possibilities in life. And you have that opportunity as well. The school and their favorite books and authors. He encouraged the students to question for you is whether youll take that opportunity. read, and then read some more. The first question from the panel was from Dennis Callahan, president of the South Huntington Teachers Association, who applauded Dr. King's efforts to address the quality of education in failing schools. South Huntington is not a failing school system, and yet we are being asked to modify our practices as if we were a failing school system. To cut to the heart of the matter, our students are now burdened with a regimen of over-testing, said Mr. Callahan. Would you be open to proposing a system that lifts the testing burden on students in a school such as South Huntington, where test scores and graduation rates already far exceed the state average? King responded by saying, "Education has a long history of testing, and educational institutions need to have a common aspiration and a common measure of whether theyre effective. At the end of the day, tests are a part of the instructional educational experience. There are no educational institutions that dont have some sort of assessments to evaluate whether they measure up. The challenge is to make sure that instruction aspires to rich academic experi-

Commissioner King, along with Regent Tilles enjoying the responses from the Birchwood 4th graders in Ms. Wilkinsons and Ms. Lopezs class.

BOARD OF EDUCATION APPRECIATION NIGHT

A recent Board of Education meeting was dedicated as Board Appreciation Night. Many students from Oakwood and Countrywood Primary Centers were on hand to thank the board members for their dedication and commitment to providing a quality education. The young students gave each board member a hand-crafted present and read a card that talked about all the things they were appreciative of. At board meetings, residents are given a chance to be heard, educational and musical presentations are offered, policy discussions take place, and issues are debated in an open forum. If you havent been to a board meeting, you owe it to yourself to attend and participate or just listen and become informed. If your already attending board meetings regularly, we thank you for your participation.

Oakwood second graders sang their hearts out for the audience.

PTANewsPTANewsPTANewsPTANewsPTANews Please visit our PTA EBOARDS AROUND THE DISTRICT

Find out whos who and whats going on in your school. Visit the district's website: www.shufsd.org and click on South Huntington PTA. See upcoming events, your input and involvement is always welcome.

WILDCAT BOOSTER CLUB Enriching our children's education with athletics

The Wildcat Booster Club is a nonprofit, volunteer parent organization that promotes school spirit and works to facilitate the offering of quality athletics at all levels throughout the school district. Through donations of both time and money, the Wildcat Booster Club strives to ensure that the best athletic programs and facilities are available to all students, in an effort to enhance pride in our community and the students athletic experience.

ATTENTION ALL RESIDENTS

HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT SCHEDULE AT THE WALT WHITMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
12/4: 8th Grade Orchestra, Chorus and Band 12/10: 7th Grade Chorus; 8th Grade Band 12/17: 7th Grade Orchestra and Band 12/18: WWHS Concert Band, Wind Ensemble 12/19: WWHS 9th Grade Chorus, Womens Choir, Whitman Chorale, Voices of Walt Whitman 12/20: WWHS Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra. AlsoThe Stimson Showstoppers under the direction of Terri Haas will be performing at the following locations: 12/13: Carillon Nursing Home at 10:30am 12/18: Huntington Book Revue at 7pm 12/19: Milleridge Inn at 12pm And even more 12/3: The WWHS Wind Ensemble under the direction of Allan Deitz wil perform at the PTA Council Holiday Luncheon 12/12: The Countrywood Singers under the direction of Adam Slawitsky will perform a musical presentation at the Board of Education meeting at Countrywood Primary Center.

SAVE THE DATE

BOARD OF EDUCATION
Jim Kaden President Nicholas R. Ciappetta, J.D. Vice President TRUSTEES: Lisa R. Brieff Michele R. DeGaetano Linda LaCara Chad A. Lupinacci, J.D. Edward J. Nitkewicz, J.D.

Magic Masters Professional Entertainment Basketball Team vs Your Favorite Teachers - Fri, 1/25 @7pm in Whitmans north gym, tickets are on sale in advance at each building for $10, $13 at the door.
The Wildcat Booster Club is proud to present its new on-line store where can now purchase the highest quality merchandise from leading athletic apparel companies, adorned specifically with the Whitman, Stimson and/or Wildcat logo. All proceeds that the Wildcat Booster Club generates from this site will be reinvested back into the various school activities which we support and fund. Visit our new webstore: www.wildcatboosterclubstore.com

THE WILDCAT BOOSTER CLUB THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

LET'S START TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGE

While it is too early to present a precise budget calculation, we can assume that the obligations of a roll-forward budget will be several million dollars more than our allowable revenue growth.

YOURE INVITED...
Wednesday, December 12 Board Meeting & Musical Presentation 7:30PM Countrywood Primary Center Wednesday, January 9 Board Meeting 7:30PM Stimson Middle School Wednesday, January 23 Board Meeting 7:30PM District Office Wednesday, February 13 Teacher of the Year Presentation & Board Meeting 7:30PM Performing Arts Center @ Walt Whitman

The goal of the first presentation about the budget was to start a dialogue about the difficult choices that will have to be made at budget time. Please see the talking points, (located on the middle left of the main page of the districts website) that were discussed at the prior BOE Meeting. For those who do not use a computer, printed copies of the budget presentations may be obtained at the South Huntington Public Library. The community is encouraged to join us at these informative and frank discussions so that all voices may be heard as we begin to plan the budget for the 2013-2014 school year. All BOE meetings are posted in the events section on this site.

At the most recent BOE Meeting held on November 28th, Superintendent Bennardo presented The Third Option. That option is to develop relationships and partnerships that bring non-tax revenue into the district: - Corporate sponsorships; - Local business relationships; - Dedications; - Partnering with Boosters and Foundations. The district believes there are many untapped opportunities and is looking to create sponsorships for many school events and communications vehicles such as their: Newsletter, Website, Spotlight, Concerts , Plays, Programs, Calendar, Musicals, Athletic Events, Seasonal Events, Agendas, and even their Menu. Please see the Superintendents message on the front page of this newsletter for more about this Third Option, as well as the PowerPoint Presentation on the District Website.

Our graduates possess a multitude of talents and experiences that hold great promise for our wonderful school district. It is our sincere desire to galvanize the 55 years of dynamic Whitman graduates into a vibrant alumni organization. This special club would allow us to connect with people on a grand scale and include alumni in important events, activities, celebrations, and newsletters. An alumni organization would also provide us a vehicle to recognize the accomplishments of our graduates, while providing important networking opportunities throughout the region. If you are interested in additional information, see the Alumni link under community on the District Website: www.shufsd.org

ATTENTION ALL WALT WHITMAN ALUMNI

DISTRICT OFFICE PERSONNEL Elite Eight Inducted Into Hall

David Bennardo, Ed.D Superintendent of Schools Jacqueline Harris Assistant Superintendent, Student Services Joseph T. Centamore, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent, Personnel and District Services Lawrence Light Interim Administrator for Business
South Huntington inducted eight distinguished alumni into their Hall of Fame at their homecoming celebration. From the outset, I knew this year would be special, but I could have never imagined just how magnificent the day would be, said Jacqueline S. Harris, Hall of Fame Chairperson and South Huntington Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. The day began with a celebration breakfast where inductees were honored with introductory speeches and congratulatory messages. With their families and special guests in attendance, a Whitman ensemble performed and attendees were welcomed back home to Walt Whitman High School. Our committee is a terrifically talented team who worked closely to ensure that the event would be memorable for the inductees, their families, and our students and staff, said Ms. Harris. The following inductees, in graduation date order, were honored: Shirley Chaikin Mayer, Class of 1968; Laura CarinoSchroff, Class of 1970; Daniel Levin, Class of 1973; Stuart Udell, Class of 1985; Andy Farber, Class of 1987; Rolando George, Class of 1989; Michael McGuinness, Class of 1990; and A.J. Preller, Class of 1995. Hearing such accomplished alumni speak proudly of their time in South Huntington, the

wonderful foundation laid by the teaching staff, and the success they have achieved since graduation was an inspiring tribute to this school community, continued Ms. Harris. After their breakfast feast, the Hall of Fame inductees were escorted onto the football field for an official induction ceremony conducted by Superintendent Dave Bennardo, and then boarded a special float for the homecoming parade. Greeting the new Hall of Fame members at the end of the parade was a fully catered tailgate party to properly prepare for the upcoming football game. Thank you, Wildcat Booster Club, for the incredible array of food. Huntington Councilwomen Ms. Susan Berland was on hand to award proclamations to the members as well. Board of Education President Jim Kaden also presented the honorees with proclamations from Senator Kristen Gillibrand and Legislator Steve Stern. Hall of Fame members were on the turf field as part of the official coin toss before they returned to their reserved section in the stands for a fantastic football game.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

District Office . . . . . 812-3000 Birchwood . . . . . . . 812-3200 Countrywood . . . . . 812-3300 Maplewood . . . . . . 812-3400 Oakwood . . . . . . . . 812-3500 Silas Wood . . . . . . 812-3600
Stimson . . . . . . . . . 812-3700 Walt Whitman . . . . 812-3800 SHIP (x130) . . . . . . 812-3170 Transportation . . . . 812-3088 Security . . . . . . . . 812-3900 Bus garage . . . . . . 812-3089

School addresses and hours may be found in your District Calendar and Parent Handbook.

South Huntington School District 60 Weston Street, Huntington Station, NY 11746

Web site: www.shufsd.org

Copyright 2012 Bartholomew Associates Inc. 631.275-1426
Left to right: Dave Bennardo, Ed Nitkewicz, Linda LaCara, Susan Berland, Laura Schroff, Rolando George, Stuart Udell, Michael McGuinness, Shirley Chaikin Mayer, A.J. Preller, Andy Farber, Daniel Levin, Jacqueline Harris, and Jim Kaden.

AROUND

THE

DISTRICT
Stripes of all shapes and sizes are on display for our National Anthem prior to the start of the football game.

HOMECOMING 2012
Whitmans cheerleaders, led by coach Lisa Spatafora (left) returning to the Whitman Campus after they paraded throughout the tree streets.

Whitmans Marching Band Countrywood Primary Center, was led by Principal Barbara Kenney, front right in photo. Saxophone player had a busy day.

Maplewood students show their pride as Principal Vito DElia (white hat) march in the parade.

Senior guys perform a halftime routine to the delight of all.

Birchwood showing their pride as the weather provided a picture perfect day.

Oakwood Primary Center, led by Principal Elieen Kerrigan (right) and Assistant Principal Mitchel Levy(left) are all smiles.

Middle school musicians love their marching band.

Silas Wood teachers and Principal Steve Toto, (with son) join the festivities.

Hall of Fame inductees and special guests at the Tailgate BBQ

Walt Whitmans Homecoming Queen, Essence Casey and King, Brian Galvin.

BOOSTER CLUB GOLF OUTING HONORS COACH TREBOUR

At this years annual golf outing/fundraiser the Wildcat Booster Club bestowed their "Booster of the Year" award to the very deserving Coach Dan Trebour. Dan has been a dedicated teacher and coach to the students at Walt Whitman High School and Stimson Middle School. Dan has not only been an invaluable asset in our district as an educator and coach but he is also a WWHS alumni, graduating in 1990. This event further demonstrated how much the community supports the South Huntington Athletic programs. Said Golf Chairperson Elaine Ching-McEntee. Close to 60 golfers enjoyed a cool fall afternoon on the exceptionally beautiful course. All the proceeds from this event go directly to the student athletes in the form of scholarships, county dinners, sports awards, and nonbudgeted equipment. The Booster Club would like to thank the Golf Committee and all the student volunteers for their time and effort. The donations made by the community members, coaches, and students were extremely generous. Said McEntee. It was great to see so many of them come out to support the Athletic programs of Walt Whitman High School and Stimson Middle School. See you all again next year!

Project Excel's Journey To Greatness

South Huntingtons Project Excel kicked off the school year with their orientation on Thursday evening. The welcome address was given by Walt Whitman Freshman Kevin Bishop. He then introduced Mr. David Perkins, District wide Project Excel Coordinator who spoke about this years theme: Journey To Greatness. It is my responsibility to make choices that promote the greatness within myself. Mr. Perkins wrote, extolling this year's theme to students in the audience. Your journey is one of courage, integrity, and respect. continued Perkins. Remember, It is your destiny to be great. Mr. Perkins then introduced Ms. Jacqueline Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, who spoke about the program's commitment to the students and parents in the audience. Our partnerships with parents are strengthened through programs like Project Excel. Im excited about working closely with families again this year. said Ms. Harris. This journey to greatness begins with single little steps. The parents presence here tonight is one of those steps that sends a loud and clear message about the importance of their childs education and their commitment to our partnership.

The South Huntington Education Foundation (SHEF) held their 9th annual family fun day under a picture perfect sky surrounded by the lush grounds of West Hills Day Camp. This fundraiser helps SHEF purchase many items not in the school budget that help support a quality educational experience for the children in the South Huntington School District. This was perhaps the most successful family fun day in history with close to 700 in attendance. The heated pools and water slide are always a popular spot, but this year SHEF added something new that proved to be hugely successful- a dunk tank featuring principals Kathie Acker, Vito DElia, Steve Toto, and Anthony Ciccarelli. The students couldnt be any more excited as they lined up for a shot at dunking their principal. And, last but definitely not least into the dunk tank was new Schools Superintendent Dave Bennardo.

FAMILY FUN DAY SETS RECORD

The South Huntington community spread out over the camp grounds and enjoyed; boating, a nature center, deck hockey, miniature golf, bowling, tennis, swings, and playgrounds galore. Feeding the many families kept the grillers busy all day, as everyone enjoyed salads, soft drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers, and lots and lots of ice cream treats. SHEF would like to thank the community for their incredible support in making this day one to remember.

Left to right: South Huntington Schools Superintendent Dr. David Bennardo; Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Ms. Jacqueline Harris; Mr. Chris Conway, Excel Mentor; Ms. Nancy Conway, LI Insurance Community Representative; and Mr. David Perkins, District Wide Coordinator for Project Excel.

Congratulations to these talented students who have been selected for the 2012 Long Island String Festival Association Suffolk Winter festival.
Birchwood Intermediate: Katherine Miata- Violin II Maplewood Intermediate: Amanda Riha and Emma Graff- Violin II Silas Wood 6th Grade Center: Maxwell Fisher- Violin I Stimson Middle School: Anastasia Alpy- Cello, and Noelle Bryggman- Viola Walt Whitman High School: Theodore Fisher- Cello, Kelsey De Rosa and Nicholas Pinelli- Violin I

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INTERACTIVE LEARNING KEEPS KINDERGARTNERS ENGAGED
Countrywood's kindergarten students are using todays latest technology to enhance their curriculum, and from the looks on their engaged faces, theyre embracing the technology as much as their teachers are. Mr. Thomas Simonetti, a writer from the company Teq, recently visited Mr. Attrino's and Ms. Covington's kindergarten class as their special guest and observed the day's lesson and use of SmartBoard technology. Mr. Simonetti was at Countrywood to gather firsthand information for a story for the Teq website about teachers who not only integrate the latest technology into their classrooms but use it to its fullest to enhance the curriculum for their students. Kindergarten students tend to be multisensory learners, and the use of SmartBoard technology, which allows them to use their tactile, visual, and auditory senses, really captures their attention. Kids at this age like to get up out of their seats and move around, and the SmartBoard tends to keep them engaged and involved, said Mr. Attrino. "I love the interactive aspect of the technology, where kids can come up to the board and move things around. The lesson that Mr. Simonetti observed, which was about sorting and graphing using the SmartBoard, kept them very engaged.

INTERNET SAFETY
Students at Countrywood will be learning about Internet Safety during their Library visits with Mrs. Korn. Through the use of literature, Brain POP Jr. and Cyber Smart, the children will be skilled at surfing the web. Topics to be discussed include: creating strong passwords, keeping personal identity information safe, how computer viruses spread, understanding social conventions online, as well as, understanding the protocols of using digital communication devices. At the conclusion of the unit, each student will create an Internet Safety booklet that can be shared with their adult caregivers at home.

Teacher Steve Attrino, right, is very successful in getting his students engaged and active in SmartBoard technology.

Theyre never too young to learn about internet safety.

ART HAPPENINGS

AT

COUNTRYWOOD

NEW BEGINNINGS
Kindergartners at Countrywood began the school year with anticipation and excitement. Students and parents rode the buses to school to meet their teachers and see their classrooms for the first time. The children came prepared to do a special craft with their parents. This year the Kindergartners are participating in a writing workshop, called Writing Fundamentals. They will learn how to write, understand resources writers use and how to care for their writing pieces and folders. Each child worked diligently with their parent to prepare a writing folder using photographs, pictures and stickers brought from home. Teachers had extra pictures on hand for children to enhance their folders. The folders will be kept in school and will be used as a tool to inspire the childrens writing. As children decorated their folders, teachers walked around catching a glimpse of the personalities and interests of their new group of students. The year is off to a good start at Countrywood as Kindergartners begin their journey as writers.

It was quite an exciting and creative adventure at Countrywood Primary Centers Kindergarten Curriculum night. Parents of our new kindergarten students were invited to participate in this annual event of creating a unique and loving collage for their child. This "Love Note" was created under the direction of Countrywood's art teacher, Mrs. Carol Davis. Parents gathered and worked for over an hour creating heartfelt messages such as, You are our star, Mom and Dad love you, and Have a wonderful Year. Parents made the notes personal with special paper, buttons, beads, and a wide variety of collage material. Parents completed

their work and headed off to meet with their child's teacher for Curriculum Night. This was a very special night for all!

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OAKWOOD'S GREAT PUMPKIN HUNT
The Oakwood Primary Center's annual pumpkin hunt was met with bright sunny skies and big smiles on students faces. From kindergarten through 2nd grade, students enjoyed picking their own. The Oakwood staff joined in the fun, and did the hard work of bringing the pumpkin patch to the students as they strategically placed pumpkins across Oakwoods vast back field. Make room on the front porch, some of the students who decorated their pumpkins will begin bringing them home today, while others kept their pumpkins in school to do projects with. Several teachers decided to use the pumpkins in other ways by integrating lessons in weight and measurement, or even taking out the seeds and counting them. Either way you slice it Oakwoods Pumpkin Patch is a ton of fun.

SECOND GRADERS OFF TO A SUPER START

akwoods Second Grade Teachers have taken on the changes, challenges and rewards that a new school year always brings. They began by organizing and decorating classrooms around newly installed floors and ceilings and freshly painted walls and hallways. We settled in old friends in new positions, and welcomed new colleagues into our Oakwood Family. And for all, the addition of new programs and procedures was already proving it was going to be an even more exciting year . uch time was then spent planning new lessons for our math and reading series. Envisionmath and Treasures provide wonderful resources, materials and curriculums for every level of student learning and we anticipate another successful year utilizing both programs. Our enthusiasm continues with the use of our Writing Fundations program. This literature based writing program uses specific stories to help students research and create stronger pieces of writing. And the learning wont stop there. Map skills, social studies units, and school wide rules and mottos are just some of the other areas of learning that will round out our second grade curriculum. fter our year began with a few quick tours throughout the building, the newly arrived students fell quickly into the routines of the classrooms and were thrilled to know they were finally the big kids on the block. Along with the many

responsibilities they now had as role models, they found out they would get grown up agenda books where they would copy their homework assignments, finally be in the school Sing -Alongs, and be voted in as student reps by their peers. uring the first few weeks of school, as you walked by various rooms, the second graders could be heard chanting Oakwoods SRR and SHARP mottos, discussing All About Me projects, and furthering their artistic skills by creating self and family portraits. They were writing and carrying out classroom rules, reviewing various school, lunchroom and snack policies, and thumbing their way through handwriting, health, and vocabulary booklets. urriculum night was certainly a success with its wonderful turn out of interested parents. It gave us the opportunity to share with those eager moms and dads what our classrooms are like and what lies ahead in second grade.

C A

FIRST-GRADERS

TO

ADOPT INJURED ANIMAL

Sweetbriar staff. It will be a wonderful experience for the class to see these magnificent birds up close. In the reptile room, they will compare and contrast the attributes of a box turtle and a painted turtle. They may even have the opportunity to gently touch the resident corn snake. In the mammal room, they will get to meet a rabbit and an opossum and discuss ways that they are similar and different from human beings. The classes are preparing for their trip by reading, writing, illustrating, and discussing ways that mammals and reptiles are similar and different, and by learning the attributes of birds and butterflies. We will see how well they do practicing how to walk quietly through the woods. The classes look forward to an enjoyable and educational visit to the Sweetbriar Preserve and to adopting a Sweetbriar animal and contributing to its care.

nd so it begins another year packed with new opportunities for learning. As always, we look forward to working with our PTA and reaching out to all of our classroom families by asking that we all work together to make each childs second grade experience a wonderful one!

First grade classes at Oakwood are excited about visiting The Sweetbriar Nature Preserve in Smithtown this fall. On their visit they will learn about the woodlands, and during their walk they will observe the deciduous and evergreen trees and listen to blue jays and woodpeckers. In the meadow, they will see butterflies and bees enjoying the last of the Black-eyed Susans. Since Sweetbriar is a refuge for wounded animals, the first graders will also see eagles, hawks, and owls who are being cared for by the

WILD ABOUT BOOKS IN THE OAKWOOD LIBRARY!

Oakwood students were inspired to get wild about books this year! During the month of September they studied library terminology and citizenship with award winning authors and illustrators such as Don Freeman and Marc Brown. In Quiet! Theres a Canary in the Library the children discovered that the joy of reading can lead them to invent and imagine just about anything. In Judy Sierras Wild About Books the boa constrictor squeezed his favorite story too tight, and the bandicoot loved his books so much he forgot to return them. The children were eager to point out that some of the animals needed a lesson on book care. At the Oakwood Library, we plan on being wild about books all year long!

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ACADEMIC PEP RALLY HIGHLIGHTS POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Birchwood held its annual Academic Pep Rally as the culmination of a week-long program highlighting positive qualities. This years theme was the Heart of a Champion! combined with the theme of I Like Myself! Throughout the week students and staff celebrated education by focusing on how working hard individually and with a team sets the stage for success. Teachers read the book, I Like Myself! written by Karen Beaumont to the students. The overall theme of the book is that there are special qualities that make you who you are. Also, the book lends itself to being proud of what makes you different from others. Students received an All About Me template that allows the children to celebrate their good qualities. To highlight the idea of helping others, each student was given a large stamp template to write an acrostic poem using the letters of their name. For each letter the message should be a description of how to help Birchwood stick together. Each class will display their All About Me activities outside of their classrooms to celebrate themselves. The Stamp activities will be displayed in the main hallway following the theme We all Stick Together! The students also saw a motivational video entitled, The Heart of a Champion, which focused on the message that we can support each other to become better decision makers and to become better people. To have the heart of a champion we build these three good qualities: ATTITUDE, RESPECT and DETERMINATION. Our attitude will shape so many decisions we make. The more positive our outlook is, the more we keep pushing through difficulties. The more we learn, the more we practice, the better our ability becomes. Kids need to know that they can rise to high levels and achieve so many great things. The week ended with the Whitman Kick Line and a dance performance by Birchwoods very own staff. It was a great week and was accomplished with the fine work of the amazing Birchwood family.

HOORAY FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY

Birchwood students in Mrs. DElias third grade class celebrated Grandparents Day with their very special guests. In honor of their Grandparents, students made a movie about them highlighting why they love them so much. They also created greeting cards, and taught their grandparents how to use the iPads that were donated by SHEF. The grandparents were amazed when they saw their grandchildren teaching them how to use the iPads for learning, as well as fun! What a great day all the students and their grandparents had!

MAPLEWOOD AND BIRCHWOOD 5TH GRADERS HIT THE TRACK

South Huntingtons 5th Graders competed in their annual Track & Field Day under a picture perfect sky. The cheering crowd kept the excitement high as event after event unfolded. From the beginning of the 50 Meter dash to the final 4x100 Relay, Birchwoods and Maplewoods finest competed head to head. A personal best was the challenge of the day, but this being track and field, we do have winners to post in most of the categories. Please see the districts Website for winners.

Congratulations to all of our outstanding young athletes who competed!

Parents as iPals
At Mrs D'Elia's 3rd grade back to school night parents were greeted with video messages on the iPads from their children. The students created video messages for their parents highlighting their third grade thoughts and experiences thus far in the classroom! The parents responded with their own personalized video messages to their child!

Wildcat Willie and Principal Ciccarelli introducing Birchwood students favorite part of the Pep Rally is watching their own teachers performing a dance routine. Walt Whitmans Dance Team.

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Many family members, students, teachers, and friends braved an early fall chill and substantial winds to cheer on their favorite teachers in this wildly popular football classic as a means to help raise money for additional programs at Maplewood. A big thanks goes out to the Maplewood community for showing their huge support. The Gold team won 42-35

5TH ANNUAL GREEN N GOLD BOWL BRINGS OUT THE CROWD

STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

students and adults with care, kindness, and Maplewoods third grade classes received visits courtesy. said DElia. Setting a positive example from Principal DElia and Assistant Principal for other students by being responsible and Bruno as the new school year began. The studemonstrating safe behavior is what we expect dents added upon what they had learned already from you. in their Primary Center Assistant Principal with age appropriate lesBruno reiterated to sons on How to Avoid the student the Bullying Issues our importance of bus Schools Bus Behavior safety by keeping Expectations and hands, feet, and Making Good Choices: objects to yourself, SRR, A few Rules for follow directions Success. Principal and always use DElia talked with his new appropriate students about being S a f e - R e s p o n s i b l e - Assistant Principal Alison Bruno, left, and Principal Vito DElia, right, discuss bus safe- language. Respectful. We want ty, the Safe Respectful & Responsible Program, and components of the Anti-Bullying Triangle in Ms. Rubinos 3rd grade class. you to remember to treat

Artists Hard at Work Creating

Art teacher Ms. Paula Beck had her students studying the works of artist Alexander Calder recently and then reinterpret his style creating pieced of their own that are now featured in the halls of the District Office. All are invited.

Welcome Commissioner King

Maplewood students, with their principal, led the audience in the pledge of allegiance when State Education Commissioner King visited South Huntington in October.

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Stimsons Are you Smarter Program Multiplying
Now in its sixth year, South Huntingtons parent program Are You Smarter Than Your Middle Schooler? is a series of three parent workshops designed to teach Stimson Middle School parents some mathematical concepts that will enable them to help their children with math at home. It is so important to be aware of what our children are experiencing, said Suzanne, one of the parents who is participating. If they know they can come to you about math, they may be more likely to come to you about other things that are happening in their lives. Ms. Brittany Greene, a Whitman math teacher, is new to the district and wants to be involved in the community. Volunteering her time for the "Are You Smarter" program gives her that opportunity and enables her to make connections with parents. It's important for parents to utilize this program in order for them to help their children succeed in math, said Ms. Greene. After completing the program, parents will understand the crucial topics in the middle school math curriculum. Ms. Meghan Musgnug is the other Stimson Are You Smarter teacher who readily gives up her personal time to help parents in the program. We have all learned intermediate math but unless we use it daily it's easy to forget, most parents just need a little refresher. said Ms. Musgnug. When parents take a vested interest and come to these workshops offered by the district, it sends a message to their children that this "stuff" is important. added Ms. Musgnug. Parents seem to agree with fellow participant Suzanne, who said, Thanks to the patience of the teachers, I've started to feel comfortable and even excited about math.

8TH GRADERS GATHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO

STIMSON WETLANDS MURAL READY FOR DEBUT

PENNY WARS SETS ANOTHER RECORD

When the counting was completed, homeroom 311, Ms. Schmitts homeroom, was declared the 2012 Penny Wars Champion. This year, after running all the change through the Penny Arcade at TD Bank, our official total raised was $4,761.65. A substantial portion of that money will be donated to a charity chosen by the students in homeroom 311. The remainder will stay at Stimson and will be used to support programs that benefit all of our students. We collected about 2,200 food items. Some of that will be used for Thanksgiving Baskets. The rest was already brought to the food pantry at St. Hughs to help those suffering the effects of Hurricane Sandy. We also collected almost 900 items that will be shipped to men and women serving overseas in the armed forces. Finally, the Box Tops flowed into Stimson like never before. The generosity shown by Stimson students and their families has been truly amazing. Penny Wars 2012 was a huge success and, believe it or not, students are looking forward to 2013.

Long Island. The name alone says "wetlands," and educating our students about the importance of the wetlands is crucial. While Long Island has been spared of late from any really major ecological disasters, Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have underscored the importance of the wetlands, and they cannot be taken for granted. The need to value and protect them is more paramount than ever. We have highlighted many of the educational opportunities that our students enjoy, starting at the district's primary schools and continuing through to high school. Paumanok, located just behind Walt Whitman High School, will be a 14-acre wetland outdoor lab where students can get an up-close, first-hand experience of a unique wetland that has all but disappeared from Long Island. Last year, 26 eighth-grade students in Ms. Danielle Rescignos art classes at Stimson Middle School created a mural that gives them a better understanding of how wetlands and costal ecosystems work. This is a hands-on educational experience," said Ms. Rescigno. "By creating a realistic depiction of the wetlands, we will have combined our artistic creativity and knowledge with a cocurricular study of the inhabitants and ecosystem of this area. Wetlands are a critically important ecological community of fragile beauty. Less than half of the wetlands in the United States still exist. More than one third of the nation's endangered species depend upon wetlands for survival. The mural will be mounted on a wall in the Stimson Library for all to enjoy. This beautiful depiction of an endangered part of our planet will bring an awareness of the beauty and importance of this environment to all new generations who visit our library, said Ms. Rescigno. The following students, now Whitman Freshman, have left a legacy to all those who follow them at Stimson: Nicole Cambria, Victor Chae, Shahzel Ehsan, Ahmad Ejaz, Theodore Fisher, Alexandra Greaves, Mohammed Jalili, Destinee James, Marina Kilkenny, Matthew Kleet, Joselin Lopez-Fuentes, Carol Melhado, Ellysandra Monegro, Jason Moreira, Nicole Naughton, Anali Nanavati, Michelle Nardelli, Kayla Neiland, Cynthia Nunez, Christina O'Donnell, Rose Pedretti, Ricardo Portillo, Julianna Richter, Nicole Samba, Julizza Vivas, and Olivia Zakarin.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Stimson teachers and staff rallied their support to help provide mammograms, education, and support services to women in need. This annual campaign, to increase awareness of the disease, has made a lot of progress but still has a long way to go and needs your help! While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. Says the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) on their website: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org NBCFs mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. This mission includes increasing awareness through education, providing diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and providing nurturing support services. Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival.

Stimson Teachers in the Pink

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WORD QUILT HEADED TO ALBANY
As South Huntingtons Silas Wood sixth graders prepared for the visit of Commissioner King, they reviewed videos of his speeches and prior school visits. The students found many refrains and important words that Commissioner King used with great frequency. Because words have power, the students were asked to illustrate his power words so that they could create a school quilt. The students were then able to "stitch" Dr. King's words together into a quilt that framed his message. The quilt was such a hit onstage during Dr. Kings visit that Regent Roger Tilles, who was a guest in the audience, requested that it be sent to the

STICKS AND STONES AT SILAS WOOD

How do you keep 500 sixth-graders glued to their seats and their attention totally focused for 45 minutes? At Silas Wood on Friday afternoon thats exactly what happened as performing artist Lyle Cogen put on a one-woman performance that was larger than life. Titled Sticks and Stones' Ms. Cogens performance weaves both physical and Cyber Bullying into a powerful drama that kept the audience spellbound. I want students to watch the piece and be able to recognize their own actions in the various characters represented. said Ms. Cogen. Each of us winds up playing different roles. Sometimes in the course of a day we can see bullying behavior in ourselves, we can see were a bystander, or we can see where we can get bullied by somebody else. Participants: Kevin Flores, Kyle Brown, Jonathan Aziz, AJ Wobig, Rosa Portillo, Anthony Hughes, Brian Matute, Grant Christenson, Anna Scortichini, Alyssa Chillemi, Alycea Beatty, Jose Garcia, Deanna Tabibzada, Desiree Kleberg, Jaida Morgan, and Dachan Thompson. Finalists: Anna Scortichini, Alyssa Chillemi, Alycea Beatty, Jose Garcia, Deanna Tabibzada, Desiree Kleberg, Jaida Morgan, and Dachan Thompson. Winners: 1st Place - Alycea Beatty 2nd Place - Jose Garcia and 3rd Place - Alyssa Chillemi

Students in South Huntington schools have similar types of presentations that are age and grade appropriate that help to illustrate what they are taught about the devastating and destructive consequences of all three points of the bullying triangle. Thank you PTA Cultural Arts for bringing this powerful performance to our schools.

office of the Board of Regents, where it will hang for all to enjoy. Congratulations to the art and English class students and their teachers who participated.
Teacher Ms. Maribeth Hickey used a variety of mediums, including charcoal, crayon, pencil and paint, to express the theme. The works created are unique and express the young artists' life experiences and culture. The Melville Lions Club representative Ms. Barbara DelliCarpini was pleased to make the announcements recently and hand out award certificates to the finalists and a $20 iTunes gift card to the three top winners at Silas Wood. Congratulations to Ms. Hickey, and her talented students.

PEACE POSTER WINNERS

Each year, Lions clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups. This art contest for kids encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. For 25 years, more than four million children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest. Each year's art contest for kids consists of an original theme incorporating peace. The theme of the 2012-13 Peace Poster Contest is "Imagine Peace." At Silas Wood, students under the direction of Art

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Whitman Has Four National Merit Scholarship Commended Students
Walt Whitman has four distinguished students who have been named as commended students to the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. First is Amanda Lund, whose time at Whitman has been filled with Varsity Dance team, Varsity Girls Badminton, Leadership, National Honor Society, and the World Language Society, for which she serves as secretary. She is considering several colleges but to date is undecided about her first choice. She is fairly certain that she will be majoring in psychology with a focus on experimental and research studies. Jess Malone is another distinguished senior who has not yet decided where her first-choice college will be for the fall, but she hopes to continue her love for drama at a school in New York City. Jess is a member of the Theater Honor Society, Womens Choir, and Whitman Choral. She has performed in numerous theater productions, and she is a member of both the National Honor Society and the TriM Music Honor Society. As a member of the Walt Whitman Color Guard, Aniqa Raihan is in the middle of a busy Marching Band competitive season. When not competing in Color Guard, Aniqa is involved in Natural Helpers and the Robotics Club, and she is a member of both the National and French Honor Societies. Aniqa will be attending University of California at Berkeley in the fall, where she plans on majoring in international relations and linguistics. Whitmans fourth National Merit Scholarship commended student is Sarah Riordan. As a member of the Chamber Orchestra, Student Government, JV Tennis, and Xanadu, as well as Tri-M, Theater Club, and National Honor Societies, Sarah is enjoying a full plate of Whitman extracurricular activities. She has not yet decided where she wants to go to college in the fall, but she plans on majoring in pre-med and wants to specialize in neurology as a future physician. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)

WHITMAN'S ASPIRING SCIENTISTS

Congratulations to Nikki Rodgers and Siraat Zafar, two of six local students selected for Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalitions (HBCACs) Students and Scientists Environmental Research Scholarship Program held this past summer. Walt Whitman High School began its partnership with Karen Miller and the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition in 2007. Whitman was the first local high school to have the opportunity to have a student carry out research at the Fox Chase Cancer Research Center in Pennsylvania. This partnership continues to flourish, and we were fortunate to once again be invited to apply, said Whitman Principal Ms. Kathie Acker. Applicants must submit an essay explaining their motivation for applying and must demonstrate academic strength in biology and/or chemistry. This summer two Whitman students were selected to participate in the program. Our students had the opportunity to work side by side with scientists at Stony Brook University and Fox Chase as they carried out research on environmental triggers that may increase the risk of breast cancer, said Ms. Acker. They also researched targeted treatments, which attack only the tumor while leaving other tissue free from exposure. Whitmans Nikki Rodgers was hosted by the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Pennsylvania, a Nobel Prizewinning research facility that has been training high school students to conduct cancer research for over 30 years. My experience at Fox Chase was wonderful, said Nikki. There is a strong family environment there, very similar to Whitman, only at the next level. While at Fox Chase, Nikki worked on a highly specific study involving the MCF-10F cell line, a non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line that can mimic breast cancer. My studies were related to multiple exposure to certain plastics and were intended to shed light on whether this exposure can be found in the MCF-10F cell line, said Niki. A senior at Whitman, Nikki is hoping to attend Stony Brook University next fall. I love the research environment, but I have not yet committed to a major, she said. Siraat Zafara spent a good part of his summer in a research lab at Stony Brook University. We worked on the MCF-7 cell line, which is one of the

most widely used and best characterized of all the human breast cancer cell lines, said Siraat. In our research, we were specifically looking at ways to best implement cancer-fighting drugs. The thrill of working simultaneously with other labs, all seeking to find a cure, was extremely fascinating. Siraat, a Whitman junior, is a year away from being accepted at a college of his choice, but he already knows that medicine is his calling. I am very proud of our aspiring scientists, said Ms. Acker. This experience enabled our students to immerse themselves in the comprehensive nature of the research process. They developed an acute awareness that research is a complex and recursive process. I look forward to having our experienced student scientists share their research with the staff during a faculty meeting and with the environmental classes at Whitman. The Whitman internships are fully subsidized by Prevention Is the Cure, which provides science-based cancer-prevention information to local communities. Our students are now preparing to submit an abstract and a poster to potentially present their research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Programs conference, said Principal Acker. Participation in this conference is an excellent opportunity because scientists share results and help one another with further research, continued Principal Acker. All scientists aspire to present before the NIEHS as Congress allocates funding.

Congratulations to the following students on their designation as a "Commended Student in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program" Students left to right in photo: Amanda Lund, Jessica Malone, Aniqa Raihan, and Sarah Riordan. The students are joined by Whitman Principal Ms. Kathleen Acker (center).

Why wait until Black Friday for holiday shopping? The Walt Whitman store is now open for business! Located just down the hall from the main office, the store is stocked with lots of items that students use on a regular basis. The store is staffed by students from Whitmans Life Skills Program for students with special needs. Many of these same students were featured in a story this past summer. (See Extended School Year: Special in So Many Ways, posted 8/27 in News Archives on the districts website.) The students first decided the store needed a name, said Principal Kathleen Acker. They conducted a survey of their peers throughout the school and came up with four options. The students then held a vote to determine the winner. And the winner was Walt Whitman Super Store. I think the school store is a great opportunity for our students, said Matthew A. Krivoshey, PsyD, Supervisor of Special Education in South Huntington. It helps prepare the students for working in our community and provides opportunities for social interaction for all students. The purpose of this program is to provide students with a set of prevocational skills to prepare them for working out in the community, said Ms. Teri Nugent, Administrative Director of

STUDENT STORE REOPENS

Vocational & Transitional Services at South Oaks, a facility that provides vocational rehabilitation services. This program gives the students basic skills and gets them out in the school community to generalize those skills. Ms. Anna Ortiz, a certified rehabilitation counselor and expert in vocational rehab at South Oaks, teaches the life skills vocational component that special education students receive at Whitman. Preparing our students for the world of work is a vital component of their curriculum, said Jacqueline S. Harris, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services. The school store is an excellent opportunity to develop vocational skills while providing a service to all of Walt Whitman.

Nikki Rodgers and Siraat Zafar

liver for me to take a bite. It wasnt too bad, although they then offered a cup of the goats blood to wash down what I ate. To help make his visit smoother and more rewarding, Jonathan learned some basic Swahili. My student group visited an orphanage, and that left an indelible mark on my experience in Tanzania, he said. The kids were so excited to see and speak to Americans. The little girls had on Hanna Montana T shirts. They were so interested in wanting to know all about us, and they wanted to see how my camera worked. The stark contrast of these orphans living in extreme poverty next to a stunning mountain range in a beautiful country really got me inspired to want to do some This trip in particular has reinforced my desire to become more involved in helping to solve the problems that the world faces, continued Jonathan. We need more people who are willing to get involved and do

SHARING THE PLANET

For some of us summertime congers up thoughts of vacations, catching up on reading, and spending time doing what we want when we want. But as we do a little summer catch-up with many of our students, we are finding busy and inspiring stories. As we have featured over the past couple of months, students have been busy learning new skills with summer work programs; sharpening their skills at sports, music, and art camps; researching as student scientists at renowned laboratories; and traveling to exciting places. The latter brings to mind a young man who has been traveling each summer for several years and recently returned from Tanzania with National Geographic Student Expeditions. Jonathan Mozoon, a Whitman sophomore, is eager to share his experiences. We landed at Kilimanjaro Airport at night, so it wasnt until the next day that I got to see just how beautiful the country is, said Jonathan. I was impressed by the amount of independence and trust the people have in each other, and at such a young age too. Many of the younger people I met were taking care of their young siblings while the parents worked. Clean water is of major concern, you would often see women herding their donkeys to the wells to bring back fresh water in large barrels. One of the tasks that Jonathan and his fellow student travelers had to accomplish was to dig up an existing water pipeline and replace it with a larger one to help increase water pressure for a Maasai village. In Tanzania, those who are fortunate may have water either in their homes or next to them. But many others must walk miles for fresh water. In a traditional Maasai village, called a Boma, the huts are made out of mud, and the villagers create large, spiked, circular fences using tree limbs and branches to keep their cattle away from predators. For the Maasai, wealth is measured in cows and goats, so they fiercely protect them from packs of lions that would come out at night, said Jonathan. For special occasions they would sacrifice one of their animals, and of course since our visit was deemed special, they sacrificed a goat on our behalf. As a special offering, one that I could not refuse, one of the village elders offered up the raw goats

Principal Acker, right in photo, makes a purchase at the newly opened school store.

12 SELECTED TO ALL-COUNTY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jonathan, center back with pick axe, works to repair a water line for a Maasai Village in Tanzania.

something to fix problems all over the world. We need to be better global citizens. I feel that much of the problems in the world come from peoples ignorance about other cultures, and as the world becomes more connected, its imperative that we become better global citizens. When asked about his future plans, Jonathan said, There are so many interests I have here at Whitman that Im not sure what I would like to do when I grow up. But I do know that I want to be productive and help the world.

Congratulations South Huntington Music Program. These prestigious nominations to the All-County Festival are a wonderful tribute to the remarkable students and dedicated teachers that comprise our music program. said Superintendent Bennardo in his weekly Newsletter. We join in applauding our outstanding performers and the wonderful parents who support the arts in their homes. Congratulations to the following students for acceptance into the 2012 NYSCAME/SCMEA High School All-County Festival: Emily Di Lillo, Flute 1- All-County Band Nikhil Bartolomeo, Bb Clarinet-All-County Orchestra Nicholas Pinelli, Violin 2- All-County Orchestra Jonathan Heller, Bass 1- Mixed Chorus Jessica Malone, Alto 2- Mixed Chorus Olivia Marchionda, Soprano 1- Mixed Chorus Dylan Muhlstock, Tenor 2- Mixed Chorus Lindsay Nyman, Soprano 2- Womens Choir

CHORUS SENDS 4 TO ALL-STATE ENSEMBLES

Jessie OHagan, Alto 2- Womens Choir Kristen Riorden, Soprano 2- Womens Choir Symone Stewart, Alto 1- Womens Choir Raquelle Viteri, Soprano 1- Womens Choir

Congratulations to the following Walt Whitman students who were selected to the All-State 2012 NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, November 29- Dec.2, 2012. Olivia Marchionda: Soprano I, Womens Chorus Jessie OHagan: Alto II, Womens Chorus Raquelle Viteri: Soprano I, Womens Chorus Jonathan Heller: Bass I, Mixed Chorus Also selected as All-State Alternates were the following exceptional musicians: Nikhil Bartolomeo: Jazz Alto Saxophone, Alternate Emily DiLillo: Flute, Alternate Nicholas Pinelli: Violin, Alternate

Featuring Walt Whitman Performing Arts Center Donations: $5/ticket at school Brittany Maier $10. Ticket at door Nationally Renowned Blind and Autistic Pianist Complimentary refreshments provided by Brendels and

December 6th, 2012 7PM-8:30PM

A Concert for Autism

Walt Whitman DECA Presents

All money raised will be split between the Brittany Maier and Friends Foundation and the Walt Whitman DECA Club. Please come out to Whitmans own MSG Varsity Star support this great cause. Search Finalist

Amy Profaci

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DIG PINK GAME BRINGS OUT THE BEST
Coach Steven Greco is proud to announce that his varsity girls Volleyball team set a commanding pace and swept Hills East 25-21, 25-23, 2516, winning their annual home Dig Pink game 3-0. Dig Pink is The Side-Out Foundations trademark name for its fundraising events in the sport of Volleyball. To learn more about Dig Pink go to: http://www.side-out.org. Individual player statistics were as follows: Rachel Guida (#21) 10 kills, 9 blocks Essence Casey (#22) 13 kills Victoria Weisser (#18) 25 assists, 14 digs Sammy DeGaray (#7) 14 digs Franny Capasso (#11 libero) 9 digs

WHITMAN CRUSHES CENTEREACH IN HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

This was a game that was won by the big guys: Harris, Carbon, Elmore, Whitehurst, Rizzo, and Clarke. Whether they were opening gaping holes for teammates Aleman, Batts, Harrison, Lindor, or Bermudez to run through, or crushing the opposing offensive players with sacks and turnovers, Whitmans big guys, both offensively and defensively, stepped up big time, and it showed. Spectators could clearly see that Whitman was playing at an extremely high level of intensity. Whether it was 2 or 20 yards SAVE THE DATE away, you could feel the impact of players Friday, January 25th Harlem Magic Masters vs your giving everything they had.
Walt Whitman North Gym In the end, the Wildcats racked up an impressive victory, beating Centereach 51-24. They banished a decade-long homecoming dry spell with their win on a sun-drenched, fan-filled day in front of friends, family, and special guests for Whitmans Hall of Fame celebration. With their win, the Wildcats, under Head Coach Robin Rosa, will more than likely enter the playoffs for a second year in a row. The team is currently 4-3 in Division II and will face one of their toughest opponents when they travel to Riverhead for the last game of the regular season. favorite teachers.

The Whitman team worked hard to fundraise for the event and raised $950. Congratulations Girls!

and the community. The Wildcat football team ended their season 4-4 having suffered 2 losses to Riverhead, once in the last game of the regular season and in the 1st round of the playoffs. We set out with 3 goals this year said Varsity Head Coach Robin Rosa. We wanted a winning record, win our homecoming game, and get to the playoffs. Two out of three isnt to bad for the 3rd year head coach but hes not entirely satisfied. We did a lot of really good things as a team this year, said Coach Rosa. But we didnt get to that next level and we will be working extra hard over the off season to help ensure we get there next year. Whitmans senior quad in Rick Rizzo, Mike Clarke, Kieran Elmore, and Mitchell Bermudez, as well as the always dependable Brian Vilorio will be missed for sure, but a highly impressive and very speedy group looks to pick up the ball and run with it. See you next season.

Whitman Volleyball team members: Left to right front row: Alexis Restmeyer, Gina Cipriano, Kelley Eng, Francesca Capasso, Amanda Natale, and Samantha DeGaray. Back row left to right: Coach Liz DeMarco, Nicole Civello, Elizabeth Bushey, Essence Casey, Charissa Arters, Victoria Weisser, Rachel Guida, Casey Miller, and Head Coach Steven Greco.

GYMNASTS SUPPORT LUSTGARTEN FOUNDATION

The Walt Whitman Girls Varsity Gymnastics Team attended the "Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk" on Sunday, October 14th at Jones Beach in support of former Gymnastics Assistant coach Jim Barish. The walk raised more than $900,000.

Pancreatic Cancer Research Events are a great way to increase funding for research and raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. Lustgarten Foundation Events serve as a wonderful celebration of the progress being made in the fight against this disease, and your important participation provides hope for the future.

Whitman opened the homecoming contest by scoring on their third play of the game when senior quarterback Mitchell Bermudez bolted through the middle, cut to the outside, and sprinted 52 yards into the end zone. Centereach failed to advance the ball, and their punt landed in the hands of sophomore standout Jaron Batts. With a couple of broken tackles, Batts was off on a 77-yard run that netted the Wildcats another touchdown. Whitmans linemen continued to open daylight and shut down the opposing offense. Senior running back Joel Aleman ran for 176 yards on the day, including 2 touchdowns in the second quarter. Bermudez and Batts would each score again in the third quarter. Berthin Lindor, Whitmans speedy safety, would intercept and take the ball 35 yards for a touchdown, and teammate Nykwon Harrison would find daylight, sprinting for 26 yards to the endzone. The clock ran out on Centereach with the score 51-24. The Whitman fans emptied onto the turf field in celebration, capping a spectacular homecoming day on the Whitman campus. If I had one word to sum up the week-long homecoming celebration, it would be 'pride,'" said Whitman Principal Kathleen Acker. I could not be more proud of the student body, the staff, the administration,

Michael Clarke, #57, closes in on his opponent.

CHEERLEADERS ACT ON FOOD DRIVE

Walt Whitman High School cheerleaders hosted a Sandy Relief & Thanksgiving Food Drive that brought together 25 cheerleading squads from across the Island. The Long Island Cheerleading Coaches Association (LICCA) president and local South Huntington resident Ms. Gail Verne worked with LICCA members eight years ago to develop a community service component to the organization, and the Ambassador Cheerleading Team (ACT) was born. Each coach nominates two girls to represent the team and they attend 3 different charity event fundraisers over the year as representatives of their school. The ACT cheerleaders were a positive force at this years Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach and again have come together to help needy members in their community with boxes of food items for the Thanksgiving Holiday. On this particular evening, each team brought enough of one specific food item to be shared with all, and as each of the teams ACT representative moved through the cafeteria, they built a food box gathering items from each team. This is a great opportunity for the girls to participate in community service proj- Emily Stasi, Justina Lynch, and Alesia Selisio. ects, said Ms. Verne. Our final of the three charity events will be our Box of
left to right: South Huntington's Shannon Decker, Michelle Nardelli, Victoria Koutsantanou,

Smiles program to help Pediatric Units at local hospitals. The Box will include many items to engage the children on these units with fun activities. Congratulations Whitman Varsity Coach Lisa Spatafora-Lessa and JV Coach Tracy Koch, and their Wildcat Cheerleaders!

BOYS SOCCER GROWING IN RIGHT DIRECTION

The boys varsity soccer team struggled for wins this season, and their overall record of 5-9-1 did little to tell the story of their resolve and hard fought battles. We were never out-classed in a game, said Varsity Head Coach John DiGiacomo. We struggled for goals in an extremely tough league where every game was a battle. Whitman will lose nine players to graduation this June. Derek Bustamante, Miguel Lopes, John Seiter, and Christian Castillo, four of those nine, are all starters. Im proud of all of my seniors this year, said Coach DiGiacomo. "They continued to show leadership even in defeat, and they are a great group of Robin Bolanos kids."

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ON TRACK AS DIVISION CHAMPS!

It's now official. Boys Varsity Cross Country are Division II CHAMPIONS for second straight year. The fastest 5 man average for Walt Whitman on the 5K course at Sunken Meadow since 1979! Whitman placed 3 runners in the top 8 finishers in the Divisional Championships. Boys 5000 Meter Run Championship Division 2 individual results: Michael Damato Zachary Cammer James Vallar Brian Windisch Matt Rebolini Josh Roiland Ryan Gioe 16:04.10 16:09.40 16:18.00 17:42.50 17:42.60 17:49.70 18:03.40 Coach Rob Conroy is proud to announce that both Zach Cammer and Mike Damato are returning home with All-State recognition! "All three of our runners did really well," said Coach Conroy. "Zach was the fastest Long Island runner today."

The Wildcats will have a productive offseason in the weight room and on the practice field. We scored more goals and conceded fewer goals than the prior season," said Coach DiGiacomo, "and Im confident we are moving in the right direction. It should be noted that Whitmans JV team, under Coach Rob Tedesco, posted a 12-1 record and should be able to add to the varsity roster next year. Coach Tedesco was Voted League II JV Coach of the Year. Congratulations go out to All-Conference goal keeper Daniel Zagorski, and All-League players Robin Bolanos and Jeff Sully, all of whom will be returning next year. Senior Miguel Lopes was awarded Academic All-County.

YOUNG SWIMMER TAKES OFF

Stimsons Emily Fung recently earned the right to attend the state-qualifying meet for swimming, held at Suffolk County Community Colleges Brentwood sports complex. Emily swam in the 100-yard backstroke competition and posted a 1:09.78 time. She is currently ranked 31st in Suffolk County. What makes this feat unusual is that Emily is only in the seventh grade, and she is competing against much stronger high school students, said her independent coach Steve Savage. A seventh grader doesn't often make it to the state qualifier meet. And Emily has only been swimming competitively for a year. Its very impressive. Emily has shown a lot of promise, and were looking for great things from her in the future. Emily takes it all in stride. I really like it at Stimson," she said. "I like my friends and my teachers. I also have some really great friends on my swimming team, 'Team Suffolk,' and even though they are older, they make me feel special. Emily says that swimming helps her leave the pressures of seventh grade behind her. Swimming relaxes me. I really Coach Steve Savage with his talented enjoy it, she said. swimmer Emily Fung

The New York State Cross Country Left to right: L-R: Whitman's Michael Damato, Zachary Cammer, and James Vallar at Championships were held recently and the State Championships.

Whitmans Girls Cross Country coach Scott Wolff is very pleased with his spirited team. They worked hard and had more fun than any team I have coached before, said Coach Wolff. They sang at the starting line of races, during practice, on the bus. If they commit to working hard in the off-season, this team will enjoy even greater success next year. Whitman fielded its biggest team in over 20 years, with 19 members, only one of whom was a senior. Our lone senior this year was Kate Malinson. Kate is a great leader and the strength from cross country will definitely help her in winter track, added Coach Wolff. A successful season doesnt necessarily translate to a winning record. In a tough League III, Whitman posted a 0-4 record and looks to rebound next year with a steadily improving group of youngsters. The team had two outstanding freshmen in Lily Hoffman and Nicole Naughton. Both ran 23:30 over the 3mile course and were named to the League All-Freshman team. Junior Nicole Franz was a newcomer to Cross Country this year and quickly found her pace, running one of the 20 fastest times ever for a Whitman girl in the 5k. Sophomore Erin Diana and junior Lauren Hoffman were the team captains. Erin improved her personal best time in every race she ran this year. Lauren Hoffman ran a 22:24 in the 5k course. That is the eighth fastest time ever for a Whitman runner. She was second team All-League and earned All-Division honors as well. Our team is made-up of mostly sophomores, said Coach Wolff. We improved tremendously throughout the season. Many girls improved their 3 mile and 5k times by over 4 minutes, and approximately 80% of all our races this year were career best performances. Whitmans top runners for the 2012 season were: juniors Lauren Hoffman, Nicole Franz, and Amanda Strigaro; sophomores Erin Diana, Erika Algierie, and Izzy Sakarin; freshmen Lily Hoffman, and Nicole Naughton.

IMPROVEMENT KEY AS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM LOOKS TO NEXT YEAR