New Visions School fourth grade student Laiyla Salome-Diaz was honored at the annual Shanti Fund Peace Artwork Contest Luncheon held at Stonebridge Country Club in Hauppauge for her artwork that depicted peace and reflected the beliefs of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Shanti Fund volunteers work with local schools to inculcate values of peace and nonviolence, as practiced and promoted by world leaders. Dr. Kishore Kuncham, Superintendent of Freeport Schools, reminded the gathering of the importance of practicing nonviolence and being warriors for peace as exemplified by Gandhi. Among other activities, the Shanti Fund encouraged students to depict peace in various facets through drawings. With hundreds of artworks submitted by students from first to 12 grades, only 12 peace posters were selected to be included in the Shanti Fund Peace Art calendar. 

Laiyla won this prestigious award from among all fourth grade students in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Her picture depicted peace in the form of friendship, modeled by New Vision students. Laiyla was also awarded a check for $401 and selflessly donated the check to a good friend in need, who has been her classmate at New Visions since kindergarten.

Laiyla hopes “that this picture shows that anyone can help a friend and offer peace, love, friendship, beauty and help those in need.”

The library of the district’s New Visions School was filled with local Freeport real estate agents and district officials for the district’s Realtors Luncheon.

Realtors had an opportunity to engage in deep conversation with district officials to learn about the school district's various achievements, programs and activities.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham welcomed the special guests and introduced Freeport Board of Education trustee Ronald Ellerbe, who is also a Freeport realtor. Mr. Ellerbe spoke of his positive experiences with the district and gave realtors insight on the district’s unwavering achievements.

Dr. Kuncham spoke about the district’s success in academics, athletics, music and the arts. He discussed various programs, including the pre-K program, technology and science programs, Adopt-A-Cop program and the district’s wellness/holistic programs. In addition, Dr. Kuncham highlighted the district’s outstanding services provided to students that are English language learners and students with disabilities.

“Freeport Public Schools is proud of the excellent opportunities we provide for our students and their families. For the last few years, we’ve been maintaining an 82-84 percent graduation rate and hopefully that continues to grow,” Dr. Kuncham said. “From September and June, we are making a huge difference in the lives of our students and because of that our students outperform other students in New York State in so many ways.”

The district has once again been named Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for 2019. This prestigious distinction recognizes school districts across the nation that demonstrate exceptional commitment and efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the school’s core curriculum.

Freeport’s music department cultivates strong and positive relationships between its students and staff and hosts annual districtwide collaborative events for peace and diversity. The talented music staff, combined with the music curriculum, have led the district and its music students to achieve numerous accolades and honors.

Students in various ensembles have routinely been invited to perform at local, regional and national concerts and competitions and prestigious venues including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Carnegie Hall, Empire State Building, State Capital, All-Eastern Select concert, Freeport Village events, and Nassau County Legislative events.

Dr. Kuncham, Superintendent of Schools, said this distinction is a great accomplishment that promotes the growth and interest in programs, as the district continues to achieve the highest standards for young musicians. “Freeport Public Schools affords our students the best opportunities available and strongly supports the music program for our students. We are amazed by their stellar performances and their commitment to the arts.” 

Director of Arts and Community Relations Ruth Breidenbach said, “The contributions of faculty, students, parents and community members are tremendous,” she said. “Our family approach provides a safe, nurturing learning environment that allows for numerous opportunities to create, perform, connect and reflect. Our music events unite and embrace a diverse community that respects and values music education. Our students contribute to the community by participating in many opportunities to give service throughout their school careers through the wide access to programming.”

The high school Select Chorale had the honor of performing at the 2019 NAfME All-Eastern Division Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

This is the first time in Freeport history that Select Chorale has been invited to perform at this prestigious conference. Under the direction of Choral Director Monique Retzlaff, Select Chorale submitted an unedited live recording in June 2018 of three contrasting selections illustrating a wide musical variety that have been performed during the current school year. For that, Freeport was selected out of more than 170 entries throughout the country. 

The district is proud of this accomplishment and congratulates the students on their outstanding efforts. 

The district’s Board of Education members recognized the outstanding efforts of high school student-athletes after having a successful run this winter season. 

Recognitions took place during the April 10 meeting, where student-athletes in cheerleading, boys and girls winter track and wrestling were honored by their coaches. Each coach spoke of the hard work, dedication and achievements these students accomplished throughout the season. 

The district congratulates all winter student-athletes on their efforts this year. 

The Freeport High School Robotics Club visited Bayview Avenue for STEM Night, where high school students shared exciting aspects of the club with the younger class. Under the direction of teacher Kevin Harrison, robotics members discussed the purpose of the club, the competition requirements and how the robots operate. After that, Bayview students were given the opportunity to operate the robots themselves.

The sounds of blues, jazz and funk emanated from the Freeport High School on April 11, as students from the high school, J.W. Dodd Middle School, and Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School showcased their talents for the district’s 10th Annual Night of Jazz.

Students were led by their talented conductors, with Mr. Christian Roder directing the Atkinson Jazz Ensemble, Mr. Adam Rubin directing the Dodd Jazz Ensemble and Mr. Michael LaSorsa directing the high school Jazz Ensemble. The night was a wonderful way for students to showcase their creativity and musical talents within each school.

Giblyn Elementary School hosted a memorable visit from Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela on Thursday, April 11. Mr. Mandela was accompanied by Assemblywoman Taylor Raynor. To welcome him to Freeport, the students sang and the Giblyn step team wowed everyone with their amazing performance. Students also read quotes from Nelson Mandela. Mr. Mandela is an author, mentor, spokesperson, entrepreneur, and political consultant born in Soweto, South Africa. He shared inspirational stories from his youth along with wise advice for the future of our students.

Freeport High School junior and AP Calculus student Ismael Jimenez experienced academic success after participating in the annual New York State Mathematics League competition at Middletown High School. 

Jimenez was selected as an All-Star and was eligible to compete with the Nassau County Mathletes. The Nassau County teams competed against several teams from all over the state including New York City. 

Freeport High School math teachers Joseph D'Agostino and Speros Vartelatos, who run the Mathletes program at the high school, accompanied Jimenez and the All-Star team to Middletown. The Nassau County All-Star teams did well and placed in the top three in both divisions they participated in.

The district congratulations Jimenez and the rest of the Nassau County All-Star Mathlete Teams for their accomplishment in the competition.

The Nassau County Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building was lit with the color teal, as three Freeport School District social workers were honored by County Legislator Debra Mulé for National Professional Social Work Month. Alicia Brenneis, Cindy Misrock and Mariella Echegaray Ryan were honored for their dedication and service that has left positive impacts on Freeport students.

Ms. Brenneis has been a social worker in the Freeport School District since 2005 and has provided counseling and support for students, families and the staff. Currently working at Freeport High School, Ms. Brenneis is very involved and goes above and beyond to ensure that the needs of student mental health are being cared for appropriately. She is in charge of the mentoring programs for students and is involved in after-school groups to assist at-risk students. Ms. Brenneis brings informational assemblies to the students on physical and mental health topics and is able to provide families with the assistance they need to obtain vital services. She is a valued member of the Committee on Special Education and the Freeport High School Pupil Personnel Services team.

Ms. Misrock has been a social worker in the Freeport School District since 1990 and currently works in the Bayview Avenue School. Along with counseling individual and small groups of students and assisting students in crisis, Ms. Misrock also works in the classrooms to provide students with lessons on social emotional learning and mental health. She serves as a facilitator for the social work department and has been instrumental in the Adopt-a-Cop and Hooked on Firefighters programs. She is the mental health coordinator for the Primary Project program, which targets and assists kindergarten and first-grade students at risk for school anxiety. In addition, Ms. Misrock organizes assemblies with a focus on antidrug awareness and physical safety for children. She also runs the after-school Peace Jam Club. She is an important member of the Committee on Special Education and assists parents in accessing services to navigate the Department of Social Services and health systems. 

Ms. Ryan has been an exemplary bilingual social worker in the Freeport School District for 10 years and currently works at Caroline G. Atkinson School. Ms. Ryan has been an amazing support for students, parents and staff. With that, she has been especially helpful to parents in accessing services, being the driving force behind the Grupo de Padres, which provides Spanish speaking families with instructional information and community resources on a monthly basis. In addition to providing individual and group counseling, Ms. Ryan works in the classrooms providing social-emotional learning lessons and antibullying messages. She also runs after-school programs during the school year and during the summer and has been very instrumental in the success of the Liberty Partnership program in connection with Nassau Community College.

The district is proud of the hard work and dedication these employees demonstrate every day to benefit all students, parents and the community. 

Freeport High School students received visits from a variety of guest speakers during the school’s College and Career Day event.

Career professionals from fields of medicine, animal care, law enforcement, culinary arts, engineering and auto mechanics, along with representatives from several colleges including Adelphi University, Five Towns College, Franklin Pierce University, Kings College, Lynn University, Sacred Heart University and University of New England were stationed throughout the school. Guest speakers provided students with information on specific career paths through demonstrations and presentations. Students gained valuable insight on the education requirements, job skills needed, and what a typical work day entails.

The purpose of this informative and engaging event was to inspire students to explore various career interests as they prepare for their future. 

Students and teachers from Freeport High School and Dodd Middle School went to Albany to meet with New York State senators Todd Kaminsky and John Brooks and assemblywomen Judy Griffin and Taylor Raynor. During their visit at the capitol, Assemblyman Phil Ramos gave them a tour of the assembly and explained the workings of the assembly.  

Ladies of Dodd members at the Dodd Middle School recently boarded a school bus filled with gently used handbags that were packed with necessities, toiletries, cosmetics and more for the “Bags of Love” campaign. With the bus fully loaded, the students headed to the Bethany House of Roosevelt to donate the bags.

The 15 students had been collecting and packing 35 handbags since February, while Dodd parents and staff also donated generously to the cause.

"Even when all the items and goodies are gone, they still have a beautiful handbag to carry to make them feel confident throughout the day,” Ladies of Dodd president Nia Hall said. “We hope that they enjoy their donation, because it was packed with love."

The Ladies of Dodd is an organization for girls that promotes sisterhood, self-esteem and community service. It was founded in 2005 by Ms. Vashti Burke and Mrs. Gisselle Campbell-Ham and is still very active today.

J.W. Dodd Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society advisor Ms. Felice Niland led 93 students into the gym to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.

To qualify for induction into this prestigious national organization, the eighth-grade students were required to maintain an 85% average, complete an application including an essay, complete ten hours of community service and obtain two letters of recommendation. Many of the students completed above and beyond the ten hours required for the community service portion. 

In addition, the students hosted a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and raised $1,500 to fund research for childhood cancers. Students received a NJHS pin and recited the NJHS pledge during their induction. 

With close to 400 people in the gym, including teachers, parents and friends, a round of applause was given to the newest members of the society. The PTA donated two beautiful cakes, while students brought in an abundance of refreshments, which were served by the Ladies of Dodd.

Dodd Middle School’s language teacher Ms. Neda Movallali presented at the New York State Association of World Language Administrators World Conference at Hofstra University. Ms. Movallali presented her expertise on differentiated instruction in middle school French and Spanish classrooms at the conference.

Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School’s "Mentors on a Mission" hosted the Freeport Headstart students, where fifth-graders were paired up with the preschoolers to complete an activity about polygons.

Students listened to the story “The Greedy Triangle,” by Marilyn Burns, and followed the adventures of the triangle on digital geoboards. After that, they created lift-the-flap books to highlight characteristics of the polygons they chose. 

The students ate lunch together and everyone had a blast. Ms. Jackson and Mr. Wall are hoping to team up with the young scholars again before the end of the school year.  

 

Freeport High School students made a splash this weekend with the school’s captivating production of “The Little Mermaid.” The production is an adaptation of the Broadway musical that’s based on the classic 1989 Disney film.

The school kicked off the musical weekend with its dress rehearsal on March 28. Directed by Joseph Anthony Smith, the ensemble was led by Leah Hochman (Ariel), Gabriel Alvarado (Prince Eric), Sincere Williams (Sabastian), Hailey Brown (Ursula), and Kyle Jackson (King Triton). 

The talented cast lit up the stage with stunning vocals, singing iconic songs including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” “Kiss the Girl” and more. 

Freeport High School welcomed a variety of professional artists, alumni and representatives from art colleges, universities and organizations for the schools biannual Art Expo. 

Representatives were stationed throughout the gym, as students moved from exhibit to exhibit to discover artistic beauty and be inspired to pursue their own interests in the arts. Throughout the event, students were provided with information regarding viable careers in the arts, and the pathways to art-centered careers in the modern world.

Leo F. Giblyn School’s fourth-grade students participated in performances that honored different cultures for the school’s 2019 International Day Luncheon.

For the celebration, the gymnasium was adorned with colorful student-made decorations that reflected different cultures from around the world. The theme this year was a quote by Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” To expand on this theme, several students delivered speeches about what the quote meant to them. 

In addition, students sang cultural songs and the step team delivered a powerful and energetic performance. Students and staff also enjoyed a multicultural feast that was donated by various local restaurants and Giblyn families.

The Mary Johnson International Day Award was given to Susan Wandzilak. Each year, this award is presented to a member of the Giblyn staff who embodies the characteristics of Mary Johnson, a retired Giblyn teacher who went above and beyond in promoting, cultivating and celebrating diversity. 

Danielle Appel and Josephine Velez’s third-grade dual-language class at Archer Street School participated in an exciting, hands-on video conference with science instructors from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The focus of the lesson was on forces and motion, where the classroom was converted into a high-action lab ruled by the laws of motion.

Forces and motion can be difficult concepts to describe, but they were easily observed and understood when the students used them in real-life situations. Through hands-on experiments and observations, students explored gravity, inertia, Newton’s three laws of motion, friction, acceleration, velocity and how virtual field trips can be interactive. 

During SCOPE Education Services’ 18th annual School District Awards Dinner, several representatives from the Freeport School District and the community were chosen for recognition based on their exemplary contributions to the field of education and for embodying the night’s theme of “Shining Above the Rest” during the 2018-2019 school year.

During his remarks, SCOPE Executive Director George L. Duffy noted that the individuals were being recognized for their outstanding service to school, community and children. 

Members of SCOPE’s Board of Directors assisted in presenting the night’s honored guests with commemorative and personalized plaques. Congratulations to the following award recipients: Ernest J. Kight Jr., School Board Service Award; Jonathan Bloom, Administrator Service Award; Monique Retzlaff and Laurie Kolodny, Teacher Service Award, and Christine Waters, Community Service Award. 

Once again J.W. Dodd Middle School had the honor of hosting Long Island author Jennifer Wolf Kam, when eighth-grade students were given a special opportunity to participate in a writer’s workshop.

Thirty students interested in writing creative fiction participated in the workshop. They were able to sharpen their skills in characterization and then shared their creative writing pieces with the author.

With this, the district generously purchased hardcover copies of Kam’s first novel, “Devin Rhodes Is Dead,” which won the Children’s Book of the Year Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals. This chilling coming-of-age mystery has captured the attention of the students at Dodd Middle School.
 

Students from kindergarten to sixth grade were recognized for their talents and dedication in visual arts during the Freeport Public Schools annual Elementary Art Exhibit.

Hosted by the Freeport Memorial Library, the exhibit features a wide variety of beautiful artwork that the Freeport community is encouraged to view.

Students from Columbus Avenue, Archer Street Elementary, Bayview Avenue, Leo F. Giblyn Elementary, New Visions and Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate schools celebrated their achievements, along with their families, teachers and building administrators.

The exhibit is open for public viewing until March 29.

 

Mrs. Gabrus and Mrs. Correnti's second-grade class at Leo F. Giblyn Elementary School have been busy writing letters to pen pals in Canada, after participating in the Global Read Aloud initiative from October to November.

For this worldwide initiative, the class connected with a second-grade class in Winnipeg, Canada, through SeeSaw. Both classes read "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold and also enjoyed interacting through a video chat. The purpose of this was to increase reading among students.

After completing the Global Read Aloud, the two classes decided to continue their connection and become pen pals. Each student wrote a letter to another student in Canada and recently received their first letters back. They plan to write back and forth a few more times before the end of the year.

The Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School hosted the 40th Annual Odyssey of the Mind competition, where students from Nassau and Suffolk counties organized and solved problems in their respective categories. Representing Freeport were students from Atkinson, Dodd Middle School and the Freeport High School.

For this problem-solving contest, students from the elementary and high school levels were given categories in the fall and then tasked to solve a set of challenges with technical and artistic solutions. After working on these problems, students then presented their results during the competition.

Freeport students placed in the competition within their respective divisions. The high school students placed first in the opposites attract category; Atkinson students placed second and third in the opposites attract category, and then earned fourth place in the Leonardo’s workshop category. Dodd students placed second in the Leonardo’s workshop category, and then placed third in the opposites attract category.

For their accomplishment, the high school students will take part in the state Odyssey of the Mind tournament at Binghamton University on March 23.

Bayview Avenue School of hosted its first Black History Museum, where kindergarten to fourth-grade students went on an African-American history quest and participated in hands-on activities with items on display. 

To kick off the educational journey, students were taken on a path that started on the second floor of the building and then led to the museum on the first floor. With that, students took a walk through African-American history following the facts posted along the wall on footprints. With their Chromebooks in hand, students scanned the QR codes on each footprint, where further information popped up on their screens. 

When students arrived at the museum, they rotated to eight different stations that presented a question for students to answer regarding an influential African-American figure. This included Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and more.

Also set up were poster boards with information on a specific African-American inventor, such as Garrett Morgan, George Franklin Grant, Jan Matzeliger and Madam C. J. Walker. With some poster boards, students were challenged to put together a puzzle that would reveal the individual’s respective invention.

Other interactive activities included the memory game, domino games, riddles and more. In addition, students also viewed traditional Nigerian hand-woven clothing and accessories that were on display throughout the room.

The colossal museum was put together by several Bayview staff members, with the goal to teach students about African-American history in a fun and interactive way.

The high school boys and girls track teams have a lot to celebrate after dominating the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships, held in Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex in Staten Island.

For the girls 4-by-2 relay team, which consists of Efe Omokeni, Enyero Omokeni, Nyah Porter and Alexandria Yarbrough set a school record and placed first in the championship. Meanwhile, the boys 4-by-2 relay team, which consists of Trevon Campbell, Justin Lescouflair, Jahmel Maynor-Mendez and Kevon O’Brien Smith also set school records and placed third. 

Individual achievements included Kevon taking first place competing in the 600-meter; Jahmel taking third place in the 300-meter; and Efe placed sixth in the long jump. In addition, Kevon was the State and Federation Champion.

The district congratulates each student on their hard work, perseverance and accomplishments throughout the season.

Students within the district were dancing, singing, clapping and stomping during the eighth annual districtwide Black History Month celebration. The Freeport High School’s Performing Arts Center was packed with Board of Education members, administrators, parents and community members who witnessed the powerful performances displayed by students from each school as they honored the achievements and contributions African-Americans have instilled around the world.

The program kicked off with a beautiful rendition of “Lift Every Voice,” sung by high school student Hailey Brown. Following that, the J.W. Dodd Middle School and Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School step teams delivered a collaborative and dynamic performance.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham expressed the significance of commemorating the achievements, imagination, character and extraordinary contributions of African-Americans to society. “Black History Month is a time to remember the past greatness of those who made a huge difference in the worlds of public education, politics, science, medicine, business, sports and entertainment,” Dr. Kuncham said. “It is also a time to look forward to future African-American leaders, who will break records and make incredible changes in the world. This is an evening we all look forward to as our students, our future, amaze us through their awe-inspiring performances today.”

Board of Education President Michael Pomerico also spoke on behalf of the board and thanked members of the community for supporting the significant district event and the students. “We are pleased that you have joined us this evening. Freeport schools is proud of the many amazing artistic talents of our students.”

The impressive performances from each school showcased the remarkable capabilities of the students. Following the celebration, community members, students and staff witnessed an impressive display of student artwork in the high school lobby that reflected and celebrated the achievements and contributions of African-Americans throughout history.

It was an amazing fun-filled event at Dodd Middle School, as the school’s PTA hosted Pasta Night. Students and parents enjoyed delicious food and drumming aerobics, which was run by parent, Mrs. Trenchfield. In addition to that, there was also a presentation on school attendance and homework tips. Special thanks to Ms. Burke and the Ladies of Dodd for helping serve the food.

It was a sea of white at Dodd Middle School, as students wore white T-shirts sporting the names of colleges and universities for the school’s Early College Awareness Day.

Representatives from colleges and universities included SUNY Geneseo, Adelphi University, New York Institute of Technology, Hofstra University, St. John’s University, Stony Brook University and more. Each speaker was stationed throughout the school to meet with students and discuss early college preparations. Topics included the benefits of going to college, the positive approach to take when becoming a college student, and the significance of networking and developing friendships.