Islip Budget Passes
Residents in the Islip School District voted to support the 2013-2014 budget on May 21 by a vote of 1,376 to 671. Thank you to all residents who participated in this important vote. In addition to voting on the budget, residents cast their ballots for two seats on the Board of Education.
Catherine M. Romano and Russell Dietz were elected. The trustee vote was as follows:
Catherine M. Romano: 1,012
Thomas Sattler: 873
Russell Dietz: 1,030
Michael Melaniff: 470
Nelson Couvertier: 448
Marking History
For the past couple of years, students in the Islip Middle School EXCEL Open Space Stewardship Program have been working on a project titled “EXCEL’s Natural History Project.” EXCEL teacher Julia Johnson tasked the students with compiling enough data to justify the placement of a historical marker on school grounds. During their research, it was revealed that there had been an old paper mill located on the property where Islip Middle School currently stands. The paper mill was built circa 1820 and demolished in 1909 when the property was sold.
On May 15, all of the students’ hard work paid off, as a historical marker was placed in front of the middle school to indicate the site of the old mill. Additionally, the students created a documentary that explains how and why they were able to get the marker placed.
“This project presented students with the unique opportunity to pursue hands-on science, history and documentary filmmaking all within the context of one endeavor,” said Mrs. Johnson. “The placement of the historical marker provided the students with tangible evidence of their hard work; it was the ultimate external reward.”
Fast Facts About District Security
The district would like to share the following facts regarding its security consultant agreement and other security personnel:
• The district issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), as required by law, for security consultation services and awarded the bid to the lowest responsible bidder at a fee of $55,281. Work includes, but is not limited to the following:
- State-mandated training for security
- CPR/AED training for mandated personnel
- CPR and Heimlich training for cafeteria monitors and identified personnel
- Residency checks
- Liaison with police department and school resource officer
- Assistance in monitoring facility security after hours
- Monitoring of Islip hotline after hours
- Management of access card system
- Interfacing with alarm company
- Resource/adviser for security at large events
- Reviewing emergency plans for state compliance
- Attending faculty meetings for training
- Coordinates with district personnel repair/maintenance of security equipment
• The district has a part-time security supervisor who is employed at an hourly rate of $26.50 with no health benefits.
• From September 2008– June 2013, due to restructuring of schedules and an increase in part-time security positions that provided comparable coverage, the district reduced its security staff by two full-time positions.
• Trained school monitors are stationed at the front lobby of every school. These monitors receive training from the district’s security consultant regarding proper procedures and protocols. Cameras installed at the entrance of every school record all activity. Visitors must be buzzed in, show proper identification and must sign in and sign out.
Spirit of Community
Islip Middle School student Christian Muller has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program. Presented annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people across America for outstanding community service activities.
Christian was honored for his volunteer work in protecting the environment. He is a member of the Keep Islip Clean club and a founding member of the 4H Cornell Cooperative Extension club and participates in various beach and wetland cleanups.
Through his award, Christian received a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama. In the letter, President Obama wrote, “Your volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise.”
Islip Students Nominated for Teeny Awards
Islip High School and the Office of Fine and Performing Arts are pleased to announce the individual students who have been nominated for Teeny Awards based on their performances in the high school’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” in March:
• Best Supporting Female in a Musical: Rosie Turner (Mrs. Potts)
• Best Supporting Male in a Musical: Larry Saperstien (Lumiere)
• Outstanding Male Cameo in a Musical: Nick Fanizzi (Lefou)
• Best Ensemble in a Musical
In addition, Special Recognition for Art Design will be awarded to Katrina Kuan for her poster, program and banner artwork.
The Teeny Awards will be held on Thursday, May 16, at the CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Highway, Oakdale, N.Y. at 6 p.m. A red carpet event precedes the 7 p.m. awards ceremony. For ticket information, call 631-224-5420.
The Teeny Awards is a student arts recognition program of the Islip Arts Council. The mission of this program is to recognize and celebrate the talented theater students across Islip Township, encourage them to pursue their dreams and stimulate local interest while developing an understanding of the value of theater education in a well-rounded school curriculum.
Pond Day
For the seventh year in a row, students in Islip High School’s Keep Islip Clean club have participated in Pond Day, an annual event where the high schoolers participate in a cleanup within the Islip community in recognition of Earth Day. This year, the students celebrated a little early, beautifying the high school campus on Friday, April 19.
Throughout the day, the students cleaned Pardees Pond and its shoreline, created a garden near the school’s marquee sign, enhanced the existing gardens near the 9/11 memorial, built a swale drainage area on the runoff gutter near the parking lot, and painted birdhouses and plant watering spikes.
“It’s nice to educate people on the environment and what it means to keep it clean,” said KIC President Amanda Findley. “I love this club, and it changed how I view the environment.”
Added adviser Wayne Mennecke on why they brought this project to the high school, “KIC began as a Town of Islip initiative; we are Islip and we represent Islip, so it made sense to bring what the Town practices to our students.”
Peer Tutor
Islip High School student Maria Dominguez was recognized by her teacher Liz Tirch for her efforts in assisting a fellow classmate during peer tutoring. For 10 weeks, Maria has translated algebra math terms from English to Spanish for her classmate. “Islip High School has been lucky to have a conscientious student who is willing to volunteer an hour a week to tutor a fellow classmate in algebra,” said Mrs. Tirch.
New York State Assessments 2013
Three Nanny Goats Gruff
Continuing a yearly tradition, fifth-graders in Beth Fazio’s class at Islip’s Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School teamed with their buddies in Stacey Cumming’s second-grade class to perform their version of “Three Nanny Goats Gruff” for parents, family members and fellow classmates. Working together throughout the year as buddy classes, the students sang songs, performed choreography and immersed themselves into their characters.
The play tells the story of three sister nanny goats and their determination to cross the bridge in order to find food. Throughout their journey, the goats are met by their friends – rabbits, butterflies, frogs and foxes – who warn them of the dangerous trolls who control the bridge. Eventually, the three sisters cross the bridge and stand up for themselves against the bully trolls.
Soccer Standouts Sign Commitments
Three soccer standouts from Islip High School have committed to continuing their educational and soccer careers on the university level. Seniors Amanda Buck, Sarah McGarry and Morgan Santoro will attend Wagner College, LIU Post and Central Connecticut State University, respectively.
A four-year varsity player, Amanda, an outside midfielder, has been named All-State, All-County and All-League and this season was chosen by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to the Scholar All-American team. She was also named to Newsday’s All-Long Island team. She will enter Wagner’s physician’s assistant program this fall.
Throughout her tenure on the team, center midfielder Sarah, also a four-year varsity player, has been named All-State, All-County and All-League. She will study health sciences and nutrition at LIU Post.
New York State Co-Player of the Year Morgan has played with the Lady Bucs for three years and has also been named All-State, All-County and All-League. Additionally, she was recognized by the NSCAA as National Player of the Week, All-Region and an All-American nominee. She plans to study physical education at Central Connecticut.
Coached by Mike Reilly, the Lady Bucs soccer team finished their 2012 season ranked No. 2 in New York State, No. 1 by Newsday in Class A Suffolk County, No. 4 in NSCAA Region II and No. 19 nationally in the NSCAA season end rankings.
Success in Science
Students from the Islip Middle School EXCEL Science Olympiad team participated in the Science Olympiad regional competition, held at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills on March 16, and walked away with nine medals.
“The students have been relentlessly studying, constructing and preparing since the beginning of the school year, and their hard work paid off big time,” said adviser Julia Johnson. The team’s outstanding performance earned them a fifth-place finish, qualifying them for the New York State competition to be held April 12-13 at Syracuse University.
The district congratulates Mrs. Johnson and her team of scientists, including Nick Barry, Gavin Boyd, Zoe Camhi, Grace Constantino, Maddy Edwards, Chris Lopez, Madeline Marconi, Morgiana McDevitt, Jack Morrissey, Patrick Mugan, Kenny Ortega, Mimita Rahman, Kyle Sapia and Ryan Scheidel.
Post Prom Letter to Parents