2012-2013 Budget Passes
The Shoreham-Wading River School District would like to thank the community for supporting the 2012-2013 budget. The budget passed by a vote of 1,316 to 658.
In addition to the budget, residents cast their vote for two additional propositions. Results for Proposition #2 are not yet available.
Proposition #3 which allows a member of the senior class to become an annual non-voting, ex-officio member of the Board of Education passed by a vote of 1,329 to 559.
The District would also like to congratulate Michael Fucito and Robert Rose for being elected to the Board of Education.
The results of the trustee election are as follows:
Anthony F. DeLouise - 807 Votes
Michael Fucito – 1,030 Votes
Robert Rose – 1,194 Votes
Senior Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent
The District would like to congratulate senior athletes Kaitlyn Taddeo and Amanda Hearney, who have signed National Letters of Intent to continue playing field hockey on the collegiate level this fall. Kaitlyn will attend Fairfield University in Connecticut, while Amanda will attend Drew University in New Jersey. Both students were joined by their parents, Coach Lea Calligeros, and Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education Kenneth Marlborough as the girls signed their names to the letters of intent.
| click on image to view full size |
.jpg) |
The Food Train Is a Great Success
The PTAs and PTOs of Wading River, Miller Avenue, and Briarcliff Elementary Schools would like to thank the students and parents who participated in the SWR “Food Train.” For the past several weeks, the students in each school have been placing decorated cardboard boxes filled with non-perishable food behind constructed paper train engines. Students at Wading River formed the “Wading River Express,” Miller Avenue created the “Miller Avenue Torpedo,” and Briarcliff formed the “Briarcliff Express.” All together, the trains delivered 1,803 pounds of food to St. Anselm’s, St. Mark’s, and St. John’s food pantries to help feed families in need.
“These pantries give food to over 100 families each week, and our kids’ donations help these families in need,” PTA representative Anna Acker stated. “Thank you for your generosity and for making this food drive a success.”
| click on image to view full size |
.jpg) |  |  |
.jpg) |
Studying the Nation of Japan
Students in Jill Stevenson’s class at Miller Avenue Elementary School completed an in-depth research unit on Japan. As part of their studies about this fascinating country, the class created a detailed nonfiction A-to-Z picture book highlighting the interesting facts they had learned. The unit culminated in a range of activities, which included classmates sharing their important new knowledge with one another and reading Haiku poetry with their peers and family members. Some of the students even took the opportunity to dress in kimonos.
| click on image to view full size |
.jpg) |
2011-2012 Board Meeting Dates and Times
Click Here to View the Schedule
Student Artists Receive Accolades
The District is pleased to announce that three high school student-artists have been recognized for their outstanding artwork in two regional competitions.
Jason Novetti and Casey DePalma’s photography won Best In Show during the Long Island Media Arts Competition at Five Towns College. The annual venue provides opportunities for Long Island students to enter media artwork in a juried competition.
In addition, Anna Simos was named the winner of the 2012 Astoria Federal Savings Teen Photo Contest. This year’s theme was “Eye on Style.” Anna won a $250 cash prize and a $100 grant for the photography program, and her photography will also be featured in LIU Post’s ninth annual 12x12 High School Art Exhibition from May 4-May 10.
| click on image to view full size |
 |  |
Hop On the Food Train
Students enrolled at Briarcliff, Wading River, and Miller Avenue Elementary Schools are hosting a “food train” from April 23 to May 2 to help those in the community who are less fortunate. Each student has been asked to decorate a box or shoebox and to fill it with food pantry needs. As the boxes are brought to school, they will be attached to the ever-growing train that will snake through the halls of the three elementary schools. Food donations will be brought to St. Anselm’s, St. Mark’s and St. John’s food pantries.
Items needed for the food pantry include:
Bar soap
Baby food
Canned fruit
Canned beans
Cereal
Coffee
Dishwashing soap
Jelly/jam
Juice
Laundry detergent
Paper towels
Peanut butter
Pudding
Rice
Shampoo
Snacks
Tomato sauce and pasta
Sugar
Toilet paper
Tuna
| click on image to view full size |
 |
Reading is Fundamental
There is nothing like a great story to inspire children to read. At Briarcliff Elementary School, the students celebrated this essential skill and favorite pastime during the PTA-funded Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven R. Cohen read to a number of first-grade classrooms. In addition, characters Pippi Longstocking and author Laura Numeroff’s pig from
If You Give a Pig a Party visited the classrooms and gave each child a free book.
RIF is a national organization whose vision is to promote a literate America in which all children have access to books and discover the joys and value of reading. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose and make their own.
In Ms. Walter’s first-grade classroom, Dr. Cohen read Eric Carle’s
The Very Quiet Cricket to celebrate the onset of spring. The students also discussed how readers can learn facts from fiction books. In addition, each first grader received a copy of Ms. Numeroff’s popular book.
| click on image to view full size |
.jpg) |
Crossing the U.S. Border
Students throughout the country try their hand at learning a foreign language, but rarely receive the chance to practice their newly acquired skill in a foreign country.
This was not the case for Prodell Middle School students enrolled in Sharon Kommor’s French classes. A group of 18 hard-working language students and their chaperones had the opportunity to practice the French language firsthand on a recent trip to Quebec and Montreal.
During the trip, the students visited the cities’ splendid points of interest. They were most impressed with their visit to an ice castle, shopping in a high-end mall in Montreal, and riding behind sled dogs in the snowy countryside. The students hiked in snowshoes and were taught several native dances while mingling with the locals at a community center.
When the students returned to school, they were instructed to give a presentation to the middle school’s sixth-grade French students, who will hopefully take the same trip. The younger students asked whether the travelers felt as if they had been to a foreign country, since Canada is on the northern border of the United States. The students answered that the frequently spoken French language and a difference in the clothing reminded them that they were not in the United States.
| click on image to view full size |
 |
Learning the Scientific Method
Student-scientists at Wading River Elementary School applied the scientific method to experiments and research during the school’s annual science fair. Approximately 150 students participated in this voluntary science activity, basing their presentations on the Brookhaven National Laboratory rubric.
“Teachers helped to make this a special year by encouraging participation,” science fair advisor Marcel Brown stated.
The projects were displayed in the school gym for all of the students to explore. A team of 18 Advanced Placement science students from the high school was responsible for the judging.
During the evening, the students and their family members were treated to a night of science activities. There were fun exhibits like Mad Science, which taught the students how to make goo, as well as presentations by Dr. Fred Stumm of the U.S. Geological Survey and meteorologists Fran Turecamo and John Murray.
| click on image to view full size |
.jpg) |  |  |
At the Head of the Class
The District congratulates Emily McNally and Jessica Filangeri for having earned the titles of Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2012. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Cohen and High School Principal Daniel Holtzman presented the girls as the top two students during an early morning breakfast attended by family, teachers, and guidance counselors. Not breaking with tradition, Mr. Holtzman then announced the news over the loudspeaker to all of the students.
Information about Emily’s and Jessica’s academic and co-curricular pursuits and achievements will be included in the summer newsletter, which will be delivered to homes in July.
| click on image to view full size |
 |
Riverhead Youth Court Team Takes 1st Place in Mock Trial Competition
Click Here to Read the Article
Where the Class of 2012 Is Headed
Each year, it is a right of passage for seniors to anxiously await the acceptance envelope from colleges or universities for which they have applied. The following seniors, however, have already been accepted to higher academic institutions during the early decision and early application acceptance processes. The District would like to congratulate these students on their road to higher learning.
Dylan Bates – SUNY Delhi
William Bland – Bucknell University
Katie Boden – University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Ashley Buckley – Florida Sothern College
Jacklyn Buhler – SUNY Oneonta
Trevor Brosco – Notre Dame
Kim Giacalone – SUNY Binghamton and Northeastern University
Dylan Gorman – Middlebury College
Dan Hauser – University of Maryland
Amanda Hearney – Drew University
Emma Houlihan – Southern New Hampshire University
Chelsea Hughes – Philadelphia University
John Keck – United States Navy
Loren Keith – Gettysburg College
Erin Kelly – SUNY Plattsburgh
Taylor Lutjen – Siena College
Christopher Mahoney – Ohio State
Madeline Massa – SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Oneonta, and Siena College
Shannon McDonnell – Yale
Emily McNally – Brown University and Cornell University
Hope Middleton – Southern Illinois University
Anthony Naso – Stevens University
Kari Quinn – Syracuse University
Stefan Ringer – Berklee College of Music
Pat Steinbrecher – SUNY Oneonta
Kaitlyn Stanton-Taddeo – Fairfield University
Kristin Torres – Fairfield University
Ryan West – University of Buffalo
| click on image to view full size |
 |