Long Beach Middle School
News
Middle School Moving Up
A proud group of 282 eighth-grade students at
Long Beach Middle School marked their transition to high school with a
moving-up ceremony on June 20, which took place this year at the high
school gymnasium, providing a fitting segue for the soon-to-be freshmen.
The festivities began with a rendition of the national anthem performed
by members of the Eighth-Grade Vocal Workshop.
In his opening remarks, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss
congratulated the students on their accomplishments thus far. “I believe
that Long Beach Middle School teachers and staff have prepared you well
for the academic demands of high school,” he said. “The school has also
taught you the value of perseverance. I have faith that you will do
great things as a class when you enter Long Beach High School.”
Long Beach Middle School Principal Dr. Michele Natali, Board of
Education Vice President Roy Lester, Long Beach High School Principal
Dr. Gaurav Passi and Long Beach Middle School student government
president Justin Weissberg also delivered congratulatory remarks,
looking back on the graduating class’s achievements to date and looking
forward to the bright future that awaits them.
To complete the festivities, students were presented with certificates
that recognized their promotion to high school. The principals,
superintendent and members of the Board of Education congratulated the
graduates as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates.
Long Beach WordMasters Place Fourth in Nation
Competing in the difficult Blue Division of the
WordMasters Challenge, a team of Long Beach third graders placed fourth
in the nation in the year-end cumulative standings among 520 school
teams participating at this grade level and division. Third grade team
members were Uma Arengo, Tyler Collinson, Francesca Macchia, Aadhi
Murugaverl, Maia Perez, Jude Pizzone, Elias Richter, Violet Schnabel,
Jasmine Soriano and Lucia Tomicick.
In addition, third graders Uma Arengo, Delphine Esformes, Giselle
Fernandez, Francesca Macchia, Aadhi Murugaverl, Maia Perez, Jude
Pizzone, Elias Richter, Mathias Roth and Lucia Tomicick tied for third
place in the nation in the year’s final meet.
Fourth graders Audrey Cozine, Lauren Crotty, Meilin Garfinkel, Arjun
Gupta, Hayden Henry, Elizabeth Kelly, Jack Libasci, Alex Melconian, Evan
Michaels and Erik Roll tied for sixth place in the nation in the year’s
final meet among 698 competing teams.
In addition, nine elementary students won highest honors for individual
achievement in the year’s final meet. Third grader Uma Arengo, Giselle
Fernandez, Maia Perez and Jude Pizzone; fourth graders Hayden Henry and
Evan Michaels and fifth graders Sabrina Eager and Hannah Zelinger all
earned perfect scores in this meet, while nationwide only 113 third
graders, 55 fourth graders and 131 fifth graders did so.
The students participated in the competition through the Long Beach
Public Schools Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) program,
under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin
Fuentes.
At the middle school level, sixth grader Blaise Derenze also received a
perfect score in the year’s final meet, a distinction earned by only 110
sixth graders in the nation. Derenze participated in the competition
through the middle school’s Activities Promoting Thinking program, under
the direction of teacher Lorraine Radice.
The WordMasters Challenge is a national language arts competition that
challenges students to think analytically and metaphorically to complete
word analogies expressing various kinds of relationships.
LBMS Peer Mediation
Rather than allowing conflicts to escalate
through gossip or schoolyard trysts, students at Long Beach Middle
School talk through their troubles. Conflict is especially tough for
children who may not have the resolution skills that an adult might
have. That’s why students are learning priceless life lessons through
the Peer Mediation program.
Peer mediation is available to help students resolve their conflicts
through calm discussion. The mediators are students trained to help
fellow students talk about their conflicts and come up with creative
solutions that are agreeable to all. If school staff members are aware
of a conflict between students, they can refer them to mediation, or
students can refer themselves. All sessions are conducted with two
student peer mediators and one adult supervisor.
“Students who have a conflict that they are unable to resolve themselves
fill out a request for mediation,” said Robert Bajit, counselor and
peer mediation trainer. “The counselor schedules the session, and then
the mediators and disputants come to the counselor’s or psychologist’s
office to conduct the mediation. Student mediators are rotated so that
they all get an opportunity to practice their skills.”
School psychologist Dr. Jean Schlegel and school social worker Glenn
Gartung were also instrumental in training the students and bringing
this program to the middle school.
“The peer mediation process allows children to take control of a
negative situation and teaches them to turn it into a positive situation
with a successful outcome,” said Director of Guidance Patricia
Hausfeld.
The 2011-2012 middle school peer mediators are Benedict Albergo, Grace
Carsella, Jillian Maldonado, Jackie Muratori, Taylor Rudtner, Jack
Cruse-Mulhall, Melanie Echeverria, Carolina Evangelista, Chris
Parthemore, Jesse Scott, Luke Fisher, Sarah Reznick, Emily Rivera, Ryan
Selkirk, Lily Yeomans and Alexis Robinson.
Career Day at Briarcliffe College
On Friday, April 20, a group of 24 Long Beach Middle School eighth graders attended the Nassau Counselors Association Career Day, which was held at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage. Students took part in five different workshops conducted by presenters from private industry and the Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center. Students gained new insight into careers in public service, healthcare and engineering. They also attended a college prep workshop that helped them hone their study, organizational and time management skills. Grade 8 school counselor Lynn Marcell and Dean John Anfossi chaperoned the event with the assistance of counseling intern J. Gartland.
“The workshops reinforced much of the work we do in the Long Beach Middle School Guidance Department to prepare our students for success in college and careers,” said Ms. Marcell. “It was extremely motivating for the students to attend workshops on a college campus. As their interests evolve, they will be better equipped to choose a career that matches their strengths and interests.”
Special Olympians
Athletes from the Long Beach Public Schools began
training in March for the Special Olympics Spring Games, which were
hosted this year by Huntington High School and Connetquot High School.
The committed athletes practiced weekly for a variety of challenging
track and field events. Athletes Charles Butler, Alan Evangelista,
Robert Greengus, Sophie Hoffman, Anthony Hug, Matthew Karasin, Keegan
McCarthy, Max McCarthy, Jett McKevitt, Emanuel Muniz and Madeline
Sipperley represented the Long Beach Schools with spirit and pride.
Coaches Stacey Durnan and Stephanie Esposito, along with teacher
assistants Aileen Monahan, Justin Salorio and Jean Golia, prepared the
students for the various events. The athletes competed in the 50-meter
dash, running long jump and softball throw. In addition to learning the
skills necessary to compete in these events, the athletes also practiced
teamwork and perseverance. High school student volunteers Stephania
Flores, Ashley Arjune, Cathryna Hughes, Rachel Moehlehoff, Jillian
Bailey, Kelly Dublynn and Vincent Pasqua proved to be positive role
models throughout the training process. They assisted the athletes
during warm-ups, practice and on the day of the event.
“Our determined athletes took home several gold, silver and bronze
medals,” said Ms. Durnan. “It was evident on the day of the event that
athletes understood the meaning of the Special Olympics mantra, which
states, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the
attempt!’ All those involved were impressed to see Long Beach’s Special
Olympians put forth effort, determination and passion to achieve their
goals.”
District Art Show
The commons area of Long Beach High School was
transformed into an art gallery for Long Beach Public Schools’ sixth
annual District Art Show on May 18-19. The special weekend exhibit
included more than 700 paintings, photographs, prints, three-dimensional
pieces, ceramics, graphic art pieces, drawings and fashion designs, all
created by students in grades K-12. A number of pieces by high school
students that have won awards at juried art shows around the county were
on display, along with works created by the district’s 30 All-County
artists.
Senior Ambrose Plante opened the festivities on Friday evening with a
classical guitar performance, setting an elegant mood for visitors as
they viewed the artwork.
NJHS Induction
A total of 101 proud seventh and eighth graders
took the oath to uphold high standards of scholarship, service,
leadership, character and citizenship at Long Beach Middle School’s
National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony.
Advisor John Rooney pointed out that the new inductees, who have
achieved an impressive mean average of 94.3, have also received numerous
achievement awards in competitions such as the Math Olympiad, the Johns
Hopkins Talent Search, Odyssey of the Mind and the WordMasters
Challenge. As leaders of their school community, they are actively
involved in select music groups, sports teams and clubs. To demonstrate
citizenship, they have served as peer mediators and tutors, participated
in food drives and beach cleanups, and volunteered their time to
organizations such as the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts, the Long
Beach Public Library Book Buddies, the Long Beach Historical Society,
Waterfront Warriors, Surfers Way, the Long Beach Polar Bears Super Bowl
Splash and the Long Beach Middle School Field of Honor.
“I congratulate you on your many accomplishments,” said Superintendent
of Schools David Weiss. “But remember, it’s not just about what you have
achieved, but how you will continue to use your many talents to be good
citizens by helping others and making your community and world a better
place.”
LBMS Athletes Receive Free Heart Screenings
The Long Beach City School District joined
forces with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of
New York and local realtors to offer free voluntary heart screenings for
Long Beach Middle School eighth graders who plan to participate in
district sports programs. A total of 54 participants registered to
receive both ultrasound (echocardiogram) and electrocardiogram (ECG)
exams.
The program is administered by Dr. Rubin Cooper, Director of Pediatric
Cardiology at the center. The ultrasound exam is conducted to identify
abnormalities that may not be apparent on customary pre-participation
physical examinations. The exam evaluates the size and function of the
left pumping chamber of the heart (left ventricle) and the size of the
main artery of the body (aorta), as well as the function of its valve
(aortic valve). Abnormal left ventricular size (cardiomyopathy) or
abnormal aortal size or function may result in abnormalities of heart
function when an individual participates in organized competitive
sports.
Funding for the program was provided by the Jason F. Gruen Research
Foundation. The program was introduced to Long Beach Middle School
through the efforts of Neil Sterrer, Director of the Long Island Board
of Realtors, as part of its “We’re More than Realtors” community
outreach program. Arnold Epstein, District Director of Athletics,
Physical Education and Health, and Sabrina Cantore, Executive Director
of Pupil Personnel Services, facilitated the program with Barbara Young,
the district’s nursing coordinator. School nurses Lori Field, Mary Beth
Thurston and Elizabeth Lebowitz assisted Ms. Young. Continental
breakfast was provided by Max Bialystok in Long Beach.
Susan Gruen Helsinger founded the Jason F. Gruen Research Foundation in
honor of her son Jason, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition in
1985 when he was a sophomore at Manhasset High School. Since that tragic
event, Ms. Gruen Helsinger has worked tirelessly to help diagnose
life-threatening heart conditions in other children. More than 200 Long
Beach Middle School athletes have been screened through this program
over the past four years.
Spanish Spelling Bee Champs
Sabrina Eager and Karla Umanzor were crowned champions in the District Spanish Spelling Bee.
Competing against students in grades four and five, Sabrina, a fifth
grader at Lido School, finished in first place in the elementary
division. Finishing in second place was Hannah Zelinger, also from Lido
School.
In the middle school competition, Karla, an eighth grader, finished
first, with sixth grader Paulina Cardona earning a second-place trophy.
The girls were comfortable sharing the spotlight and the winner’s
circle. Last year, Paulina, who was the reigning 2010 state champion,
finished first, with Karla right behind her in second place.
Betsabe Montoya, a language teacher from the middle school, was the
moderator. Three language teachers, Anna Carfagno, Aime Rivero and
Sandra Yanowitch, served as the judges. The event was organized by
District Director of World Languages and ELL Programs Vivian Fiallo.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of all of our students,” said
Ms. Fiallo. “This annual Spanish Spelling Bee gives both our native
speakers and non-native speakers an opportunity to showcase their
knowledge of the Spanish language. My thanks to all of their teachers
and parents for helping our students prepare for this event.”
Jazz Night Swings
Jazz in all its forms, from the Swing Era to
more contemporary numbers, was interpreted in all its glory when the
Long Beach High School Music Department hosted its annual Jazz Night.
Student performers from the West School Recorder Club, Middle School
Jazz Band, High School Lab Jazz Band, Select Choir and High School Jazz
Ensemble were joined by special guests Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz
Orchestra, filling the auditorium with the music of Herbie Hancock,
Buster and Bennie Moten, and Joe Garland. As an added treat, junior
Russell Goetz, who is an All-State Jazz Vocalist, performed a solo
rendition of “Come Rain or Come Shine.”
For the opening reception, the high school commons area was transformed
into a cozy lounge. Hors d'oeuvres prepared by students in Scott
Brecher’s home and careers class were passed around to guests. Members
of the newly formed Friends of the Arts were on hand to welcome guests,
and National Honor Society members volunteered their time as ushers.
Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johanson served as the MC for
the evening. Marino Bragino, III directed the High School Lab Jazz Band
and the High School Jazz Ensemble. He was joined by fellow directors
Vanessa Krywe (West School Recorder Band), Elizabeth Altbacker (Middle
School Jazz Band), and Michael Capobianco (Select Choir). This is the
first year that a professional jazz band has shared the stage with
students on Jazz Night, giving the young performers, as well as the
audience, an opportunity to further expand their appreciation of jazz in
all its forms.
“It was an exciting experience to see all of our student musicians at
all grade levels performing jazz alongside a professional group like the
DIVAS,” said Dr. Johanson.
“Jazz Night was an amazing success,” echoed Mr. Bragino. “Seeing my
students light up on stage when they perform is why I became a music
educator. This evening was a legendary moment in our department. Thanks
to all who helped make this event such a success."
Middle School Students Leave Their Mark
The entire student body of Long Beach Middle
School filed out to the front lawn of their school, one class at a time,
to sign their names on a steel beam right before it was put in place as
one of the ceiling beams that will soon support the new lobby of their
school. The school is undergoing renovations as part of a districtwide
School Preservation Plan approved by voters in May 2009. Among the
middle school projects slated for completion in 2012 are a new library
media center, guidance office renovation, relocation of the main office,
new restrooms, ADA-compliant upgrades and security improvements. A new
track and field complex was completed in September 2010.
District Career Fairs
Two of the main goals of Long Beach Public
Schools are to provide students with college and career-readiness skills
and to give them meaningful opportunities for community engagement. To
help fulfill both of these goals, schools around the district hosted
Career Day celebrations, giving students a chance to meet and speak with
local professionals. The guest speakers shared their keys to success
and their insights into dozens of traditional and nontraditional
careers.
Leading off the celebration was the Long Beach Middle School Career Day.
In the days leading up to the event, students filled out surveys to
give them an idea of which careers might best suit their interests and
abilities. The middle schoolers were paired with specific presenters
based on their survey results. In small group settings, guest speakers
talked about the skills and training they needed to be successful in
their chosen careers, the tasks they perform on the job, and the
challenges and rewards they experience on a daily basis. At the end of
the day, students came away with a list of ideas for things they can
start doing now to help them reach their future career goals.
The Long Beach High School Career Fair gave students an opportunity to
network with local professionals representing a wide variety of careers,
including law, medicine, public service, marketing, broadcasting,
public relations, green technologies, school administration, business,
finance, banking, accounting, hospitality, publishing, library services
and the military. Students were also able to speak with representatives
from local technical schools and explore summer job opportunities in the
local community.
Lindell School hosted a two-day Career Awareness program for fifth
graders. Parents and community members were invited to share their
career experiences, focusing on the education and training needed to be
successful in their careers. Brian Patton, who works for Global Security
at NBC, explained the importance of working as a team, being
responsible and demonstrating strong character. Long Beach Fire Chief
Richard Corbett found math, science and history very helpful in his
career. Andrew Miller, a criminal defense attorney, enlisted students to
help him solve the "The Case of the Missing Lunch Box." Pediatrician
Dr. Matthew Cohen shared his lifelong fascination with the human body.
Although the 18 guest speakers represented a variety of professions,
they all shared a love for their work and stressed the importance of
being lifelong learners.
At Lido School’s Sixth Annual Career Fair, students went on a hands-on
adventure in career exploration, led by alumni, parents and local
professionals representing careers as varied as real estate, law
enforcement, web design, retail merchandising, lifeguarding and
communications. Lts. Anthony Fallon and Sam Pinto of the Long Beach Fire
Department allowed students to don their fire gear to help them
experience what it feels like to be a firefighter. Drago Karodzic, the
pizza chef at Long Beach Middle School, invited students to make their
own pizzas. Local radio celebrity Halftime Howie simulated a radio
broadcast. Chuck Kupfer, a golf pro at the Lido Golf Club, demonstrated
the basics of a good swing. Master Park of Park’s Martial Arts in Long
Beach led students in a tae kwon do exercise. One of the most celebrated
professionals of the day was Freeport police officer Dave Karp’s canine
partner Gunnar, who delighted students with a demonstration of his
unique law enforcement skills.
Proving that it is never too early to start planning for future careers,
West School kindergartners celebrated Community Day, creating a mini
city called Westland in which they served as the bankers, grocery
clerks, postal carriers, police officers and firefighters who kept the
city humming. To prepare for Community Day, they visited local merchants
and public services to learn more about the people who work in their
neighborhood. In June, the older children at West School will celebrate
their own Career Day, welcoming local community members to share useful
advice that will help them start preparing for a host of promising
careers.
Science Competition Winners
Two LBHS Teams Qualify for Intel ISEF
Competing at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF), two
teams of Long Beach High School students received first-place awards,
qualifying them for the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering
Fair (ISEF), in Pittsburgh, PA on May 13-18.
Arianne Papa and Jane Smyth, both seniors, won first place in the
Environmental Sciences category and also received the I-SWEEEP Award.
Arianne and Jane studied water pollution in Reynold’s Channel as well as
the other Long Island bays, and the effect that the pollution has on
the flounder populations within those waterways. They have proposed to
utilize local mussels for bioremediation of the polluted waters. Andrew
Hurst and Zachary Klein, also seniors, took first place in the
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category. In addition to their
first-place finish, they won the National Society of Professional
Engineers Award. Andrew and Zachary were able to create a wind turbine
that captured both wind and solar energy in order to improve energy
efficiency of the device.
Several other students achieved notable results at LISEF. Junior
Caroline Walsh earned a second-place award in Energy and Transportation.
Caroline created solar cells that used natural pigments found in plants
such as carrots, blueberries and beets, to harness solar power. Juniors
Brandon Levokove and David Velez took home a third-place award in Plant
Sciences, as well as an award from the American Meteorological Society.
David and Brandon used a fungus to remove harmful pollutants such as
acid rain, and also to reduce dependency on fertilizers, thus reducing
the harmful effect of runoff. Sophomores Chandler McMillan and Hunter
Rogoff received honorable mention in the Environmental Management
category, as well as the Ricoh Sustainability Award. Their research
involved the use of soybeans in combination with either a bacteria or a
fungus to remove aluminum contaminants from soil.
ISEF, which is one of the world’s premier global science competitions
for students in grades 9-12, provides an annual forum for more than
1,500 high school students from 65 countries, regions and territories to
display their independent research.
Three Students to Compete at I-SWEEEP
Long Beach High School students Arianne Papa, Jane Smyth and Caroline
Walsh all qualified to compete at the International Sustainable World
(Engineering, Energy & Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) on
May 3-6 in Houston, TX. They will join more than 1,000 top high school
researchers from all over the world to share ideas, experience and
knowledge to promote global sustainability.
LBMS Students Compete at LI Science Congress
At the junior level, 13 students were chosen to represent Long Beach
Middle School at the Long Island Science Congress Junior Division at
Farmingdale State College on March 29. The students who qualified to
compete were Kailey Ahearn, Mashiyat Ahmed, Gabrielle Ayzenberg, Chloe
Curley, Kelly Cannon, Savannah Kile, Kristen Miciotta, Shane Morris,
Mary Sabedra, Leah Shokrian, Justin Simms, Ali Thursland and Cassidy
Zawatson. Award winners will be announced at the end of April. The
students were selected based on their performance in the Long Beach
Middle School Science Fair and a second qualifying round at their
school.
Long Beach School District Named a Best Community for Music Education Second Year in a Row
The Long Beach City School District was one of 166
school districts across the country and 17 on Long Island to be
recognized as a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM
Foundation. On April 17, the NAMM Foundation announced the results of
its 13th annual Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) survey,
which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their
commitment to and support for music education in schools. This is the
second year in a row that the Long Beach City School District has earned
this distinction.
The BCME survey is a nationwide search for communities whose programs
exemplify a strong commitment to music education. Established in 1999,
BCME recognizes and celebrates schools, their administrators, teachers,
board members, parents and students for their support of music education
and their efforts to ensure access to all students as part of the core
curriculum.
Each school receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the
80th percentile or higher in the survey’s grading process. Participants
in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation
requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities,
support for the music program, and other relevant factors in their
communities’ music education programs. The responses were verified with
district officials and the data was reviewed by advisory organizations.
The 2011 survey was conducted in collaboration with the Institute for
Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an
affiliate of the University of Kansas.
More than 1,600 students participate in the Long Beach School District’s
36 bands, orchestras and choral ensembles. Students in grades 5-12
participate in All-State, All-County, LISFA and NYSSMA festivals. In
2011-2012, four students earned All-State honors, 54 were named
All-County musicians, and seven were chosen to perform at the Long
Island String Festival. The High School Marching Band participates every
year in the Newsday Marching Band Festival held at Hofstra University.
Long Beach High School is one of only a handful of schools on Long
Island that offers a guitar class as part of its arts curriculum, and
the only guitar program in which students present a multi-act stage show
at the end of the year. School groups also perform at various venues
throughout Long Beach as a service to the community. The high school
gives talented music students the opportunity to join the Tri-M Music
Honor Society. Members tutor younger musicians and perform community
outreach work.
“This two-time honor is a well-deserved recognition for the community,
district leaders, teachers and parents who believe in music education
and are assuring that it is part of a complete education for children in
our schools,” said Dr. Dale Johanson, the District Director of
Comprehensive Arts. “It holds us up as an example of community support
and commitment to music education.”
A copy of the survey can be downloaded for review at
www.nammfoundation.org.
Math Olympians
Members of the Long Beach Middle School Math Olympiad
club participated in the third annual Nassau County Math Olympiad, held
at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale. The Long Beach team of (l to r)
Jonathan Kapilian, Alexandra Kapilian, Alexandra Thursland, Mashiyat
Ahmed and Samantha Melconian placed eighth overall out of 33 schools.
They are pictured with Math Olympiad coach Tara Mele (right). The
competition was sponsored by the Museum of Math and organized by St.
Martin de Porres Marianist School.
3 Teams Qualify for OM State Finals
Two teams of Long Beach elementary school
students and one team of Long Beach Middle School students finished in
first place in the Odyssey of the Mind (OM) Regional Competition, held
at Rosemary Kennedy Center in Wantagh on March 10. Their first-place
finishes qualified them for the OM State Finals held in Binghamton on
the weekend of March 31. A third elementary team finished in second
place at the regional competition.
The first-place elementary team of Hannah Zelinger, Angelica Gonzales,
Arjun Gupta, Jesse Thornton, Alexandra Melconian, Sabrina Eager and
Sophia Valentin solved a problem called “Ooh-Motion Vehicle,” which
required them to design, build and drive a vehicle that would travel a
course where it encountered three unique situations, displaying
different human emotions for each encounter.
The first-place elementary team of Shira Mann, Madison Gusler, Aidan
White, Jack Libasci, Elizabeth Kelly, Joan Sceppa and Julia Ashmead
solved a problem entitled “To Be or Not to Be” in which they created a
musical production wherein Hamlet is faced with a dilemma that teaches
him that the easy way out is not always the correct choice.
The first-place middle school team of Emily Burns, Paulina Cardona, Dane
DePasquale, Kelly Gannon, Savannah Kile, Mallie Littman and Carly
Siegel completed a problem called “Odyssey Angels,” which required the
angels to travel through various places where they encountered negative
situations and turn them into positives, helping individuals and saving
communities along the way.
The second-place elementary team of Charlotte Kile, Lauren Crotty,
Victoria Strickland, Jessica Greer, Shea McMahon, Sophie Stella and
Talia Fernandez also solved the “Odyssey Angels” problem.
The three elementary teams prepared for the competition as part of the
Long Beach School District’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity
(LARC) program, under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti
and Caitlin Fuentes. The winning teams were made up of students from
East, West, Lido and Lindell Elementary Schools, as well as Long Beach
Catholic Regional School.
The middle school team, which consisted of sixth and seventh graders,
prepared for the competition through the school’s OM Club, under the
direction of faculty coach Lorraine Radice. Many of the middle school
winners had qualified to compete at both the State and World Finals in
past years.
For more than 25 years, the district has had at least one team qualify
for the State Finals. Last year, a grand total of four teams qualified
for the State Finals, with two going on to compete at the World Finals
for the first time.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that
provides students with opportunities to apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their
own interpretation of literary classics. Thousands of teams from
throughout the U.S. and approximately 25 countries abroad participate in
the program.
The Long Beach students who participate in OM say that it teaches them
to think outside of the box, be creative, practice teamwork, overcome
fears and get along with others. They say they must also be committed to
working countless hours, brainstorming, writing and practicing their
scripts, and creating props and costumes to prepare for competition.
Joseph Farrell Memorial Game
Students and staff at Long Beach Middle School
raised over $2,800 at the annual Joseph Farrell Memorial Student/Teacher
Basketball Game. The sales of tickets, T-shirts, pizza and snacks were
directed to a scholarship established to honor the memory of the beloved
Long Beach teacher and community member Joseph Farrell, who passed away
suddenly on July 5, 2007. Farrell’s daughter, Carrie-Anne Duffy, was on
hand, accompanied by members of her extended family.
In a fast-moving competition, the eighth-grade boys and girls basketball
teams faced off against the middle school faculty and staff. Between
quarters, spectators were invited down to the court for Zumba dancing.
Mr. Farrell was a lifelong Long Beach resident who taught for 13 years
in the Long Beach School District, first as an elementary teacher at
Lido School and later as a sixth-grade social studies teacher at the
middle school. As a teenager, Farrell worked as a Long Beach lifeguard,
and at 20, he began coaching at the Long Beach Recreation Center, where
he met his wife of 23 years, fellow coach Gail Henry. In 2004, he began
coaching the girls swim team at Jericho High School, where he turned the
last-place conference team into conference champion and was named
Jericho Coach of the Year.
“This event, which was held for a great cause, marks the beginning of
spring here at the middle school. Joe would have liked that,” said Vice
Principal Keith Biesma.
Friends of the Arts Committee
A "Friends of the Arts" committee has been
formed to promote the advancement of the arts in Long Beach Public
Schools and the surrounding community. The goals of the organization are
to further enhance and enrich the cultural life of students by
promoting student arts and cultural events, recognizing student
achievements and providing better communication between the district and
the community at large. The organization hopes to create new ways to
recognize, appreciate and support students’ practice and enjoyment of
the arts through special events and fundraising activities.
The committee recently held an organizational meeting to elect officers.
Superintendent of Schools David Weiss was the guest speaker. “I
appreciate everyone’s support of our students,” he told the group. “You
will play an important role in celebrating the successes of our students
and solidifying community support for the arts.”
The committee has already been active selling T-shirts and refreshments
at the recent high school musical production. Other fundraisers are
planned for the spring concert season. The goal of this year’s
fundraisers will be to raise money for scholarships and awards to be
presented at the high school Senior Award Night.
“We believe that all children possess talents and gifts that if left
untapped will create a void in our society,” said Friends of the Arts
Administrative Liaison Dr. Dale Johanson. “It is our hope that the world
will become a better place through the cultural enrichment of our
children who will someday give their talents to the world.”
The committee welcomes parents, community members, musicians and
concerned citizens to join them in this worthy cause. For more
information, contact President Bari Klirsfeld at 516- 815-7178 or
baripres@aol.com.
Pi Day Project
In an interdisciplinary project that involved art, technology and mathematics, Long Beach Middle School sixth graders in Laura Swan’s art classes studied pop artist Jasper Johns’ use of numbers as “form not function,” in his famous work entitled “0 through 9.” The purpose of this project was to take a fresh look at numbers and other “symbols” that we use on a daily basis. Each student then applied his or her own interpretation of the theme to create an individual panel that used numbers in a non-representational way. The panels were combined to adorn a set of four three-foot letters that spell out LBMS. Students in Brian Press’s wood shop contributed to the project by creating the wooden templates for the letters. The display will adorn the entryway of the building as a permanent tribute to Pi Day.
MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition
A group of ten sixth and seventh graders participated in the
MATHCOUNTS chapter competition, held at Hofstra University on February
16. Natalie Swegler, Mashiyat Ahmed, Kelly Gannon, Jessica Marcote,
Kelly DiResto, Mary-Elizabeth McCourt, Savannah Kile, Eric Ricci,
Jennifer Arnaud and Samuel Miller were tested on their knowledge of
algebra, geometry, probability and other advanced mathematical concepts
in a fast-paced timed setting. Natalie, Mashiyat, Kelly and Jessica all
received scores labeled “highly commendable.”
Through the MATHCOUNTS program, which was introduced at Long Beach
Middle School at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, sixth and
seventh graders who excel in math are given the opportunity to explore
mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level. MATHCOUNTS is a
national program that inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in
middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success
in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
“I applaud our students for participating in this rigorous competition,”
said Mathematics Director Cheriese Pemberton. “It was a great
experience for them to challenge themselves with this advanced
curriculum. Most importantly, students recognized their ability to grow
mathematically and realized what they can achieve through hard work and
perseverance.”
MATHCOUNTS Competition
The Long Beach Middle School auditorium was buzzing with excitement as a select group of sixth and seventh graders prepared to take part in the school’s first MATHCOUNTS Competition. Students, who participated in three grueling rounds of team competition, were tested on their knowledge of algebra, geometry, probability and other advanced mathematical concepts in a fast-paced timed setting.
Two teams earned perfect scores in round one. Those winners were sixth graders Sarah DeFlorio. Irving Oliva, Liam Thornton, Claire Ezratty, Emma Levin, Jack Cruse-Mulhall, Tamiyah Massey and George Ventura.
The sixth-grade team of Marina Meyer, Blaise Derenze, Ava DeBruin and Luke Toomey reigned victorious in round two.
Round three saw another tie with two seventh-grade teams claiming victory. The round three winners were Justin Simms, Mary Sabedra, Erica Russell, Kelly DiResto, Finian Ashmead, Eric Ricci, Justin Kolodny, Gregg Wildstein, Jennifer Arnaud, Noelani Tomicick and Natalie Swegler.
With the first official district competition under their belts, students were better prepared for the chapter competitions in February, followed by the possibility of state and national competitions in March and May.
Through the MATHCOUNTS program, which was introduced at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, sixth and seventh graders who excel in math are given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level.
MATHCOUNTS is a national program that inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers
Polar Bear Beach Cleanup
At the beginning of the school year, Long Beach Middle School seventh graders in Team 7-2 were asked to choose a cause that they felt passionate about. Many students selected the Make-A-Wish Foundation because of their fondness for the Long Beach Polar Bear Plunge. To turn their thoughts into actions, a group of 15 students, joined by their families and teachers, volunteered to provide the beach cleanup after this year’s annual event. Armed with orange plastic garbage bags, the group made short work of any debris left behind after the swimmers had departed. They collected approximately 25 bags of garbage, as well as many clothing items that were left behind.
The students who volunteered their time for this worthy cause were Savannah Kile, Kelly Gannon, Justin Simms, Caroline Farrell, Maggie Aoeresty, Matt Gabriel, Peter McQuade, Ryan Levine, Bryant Dingle, Khristy Ching, Allie Thursland, Sarah Peppe, Gavin Bryne, Micheal Rigeletti and Dasheen McNeil-Bynum. They were joined by teachers Jennifer McWilliams, Megan Kalner, Tami Richards and Jess Bedard.
Grade 5 Orientation
During Grade 5 Orientation Month at Long Beach
Middle School, fifth graders from all four elementary schools were
invited to visit the middle school to get a feel for what life will be
like for them when they become middle school students next year.
In a newly revised orientation program, each class of fifth graders
visited on a separate day, giving the students a chance to experience a
day in the life of a middle school student. Each visitor was paired with
a sixth-grade buddy who was a graduate of the same elementary school.
During their two-hour visit, the younger students went on a building
tour and attended classes with their buddies. During their shared lunch
period, the buddies went together to a question-and-answer session that
provided a comfortable, intimate setting for the fifth graders to ask
questions and for the sixth graders to share useful advice about
academics, clubs, extra help, sports and special activities such as the
annual Grade 6 trip to Frost Valley. While students were attending
classes, each teacher was able to visit at length with the middle school
guidance staff to discuss appropriate placements for his or her
students.
“In the past, all the fifth-grade classes from each school had their
orientation visit on the same day,” said Principal Dr. Michele Natali.
“This smaller scale buddy format, with one class visiting at a time,
gives the students a better chance to get a more genuine feel for what
middle school will be like next year.”
WordMasters Sixth in Nation
A number of Long Beach Middle School and
elementary students were recognized for their outstanding team and
individual achievements in the first WordMasters Challenge meet of the
school year, held in December. WordMasters is a national language arts
competition entered by approximately 220,000 students annually.
Competing in the most difficult Blue Division, the Long Beach Middle
School sixth-grade team of Benedict Albergo, Samuel Brinster, Emily
Burns, Ava DeBruin, Blaise Derenze, Evan Garcia, Tristan Groh, Colleen
Mannle, Marina Meyer, Violet O'Connell, Trevor Radin, Jesse Scott, Lucia
Techera and Gabriel Wilkens-Vega tied for sixth place in the nation
among the 403 teams competing at this grade level and division. Samuel,
Jesse and Gabriel also received highest honors for individual
achievement. They were among the 120 sixth graders in the nation to earn
a perfect score. The rest of the team members scored an impressive 19
out of 20. Students prepared for this competition through the middle
school’s Activities Promoting Thinking program, under the direction of
Lorraine Radice.
At the elementary level, fifth grader Charles Gorton, a student at Long
Beach Catholic Regional School, was one of only 130 students in his
division to achieve a perfect score, competing in the Blue Division.
Tyler Collinson of Lido School, who was the top-scoring Long Beach third
grader, was one of only 130 third graders throughout the country to
score a 19 out of 20 in the Blue Division. This was the first time that
she and her fellow third graders took part in the WordMasters Challenge.
Elementary students participated in the competition through the
district’s Learning Activities for Raising Creativity (LARC) program,
under the direction of LARC teachers Beverlee Bertinetti and Caitlin
Fuentes.
Ancient Egypt Lives at LBMS
Sixth graders at Long Beach Middle School joined
forces to create an interactive exhibit about Ancient Egypt that
included afterlife artifacts, pyramids, clay cartouches, ABCs of Egypt
books, hieroglyphics, gods and goddesses, papyrus scrolls and even
mummified apples.
After completing a unit of study in their social studies classes, each
team constructed a separate “wing” of the museum, concentrating on a
different aspect of the history, culture, beliefs, language and
lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians. On the opening day of the exhibit,
students gathered to visit the museum together, receiving a list of
questions to guide them as they toured and learned from each other’s
projects.
“This type of interactive project promotes critical thinking skills,
communication, collaboration and creativity,” said Social Studies
Director Sean Hurley. “Through projects like this, we encourage our
students to be active, rather than passive, learners.”
District Spelling Bee Champ
Middle School eighth grader Jonathan Kapilian survived 19 grueling rounds of competition to be crowned the winner in the Long Beach Public Schools District Spelling Bee. The field of 41 students was whittled down to five competitors in round seven, with middle school students Emily Burns, Jonathan Kapilian, Irving Oliva, Kelly DiResto and Jessica Rollins battling it out for another five rounds, until Jonathan and Jessica were the last two standing. They went head-to-head for an additional seven rounds, until Jonathan pulled off a victory in the 19th round, correctly spelling the word “amethyst” to earn the title of District Spelling Bee Champion.
“The Spelling Bee was instituted to help students improve their spelling, increase vocabulary, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives,” said Director of English Language Arts Joshua Anisansel.
Luck Be a Lady!
The Long Beach Middle School's Drama Club
presented Guys & Dolls, bringing to life the classic Broadway tale
that comically combines love, missionary work and high-stakes gambling,
producing some very unexpected romantic results. From the opening scene
right through the finale, the young actors made the streets of New York
bustle to life in all their glitzy glory. Max Tunney played Nathan
Detroit, Jonathan Kapilian was Sky Masterson, Alexandra Kapilian was
Adelaide and Caitlin Sheridan was Sarah. The show was directed by
Jean-Marie Lilley and Jenna Schebler.
All-County & LISFA Honors
A total of 54 Long Beach students in grades 4
through 12 qualified to perform in the New York State School Music
Association’s (NYSSMA) All-County Festival in January. They will join a
select group of musicians from all over Nassau County for a gala concert
series at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts featuring select
band, chorus, orchestra, vocal jazz and jazz band performances. Hundreds
of students auditioned for this honor at the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation
Festivals held last spring.
A total of 19 high school students, 17 middle school students and 18
elementary students from around the district will be participating in a
variety of performances at the festival over the course of two weekends.
For a complete list of the All-County participants, visit the
Comprehensive Arts page.
LISFA Musicians--Seven students were chosen to participate in the Long
Island String Festival Association’s (LISFA) Annual String Festivals.
Eighth grader Jonathan Kapilian (cello) and freshman Victoria Epstein
(violin), sophomore Dana Berman (violin) and juniors Joseph Keiserman
(string bass) and Alexandra Gruber (violin) performed at the LISFA
Secondary Festival, held at Massapequa High School on November 18-20.
Talia Fernandez, a fifth-grade violinist at Lindell School, and Lea
Jaffe, a middle school viola student, will both perform in the
elementary festival on March 2-4. All seven young musicians were
recognized as representing the highest quality string musicians at their
grade levels.
This is the second year that Joseph has performed at the LISFA Festival.
Among his other musical accomplishments, he is a six-time New York
State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-County musician and was
chosen this year to perform at the NYSSMA All-State Music Conference.
Alexandra is also a two-time LISFA participant and an All-County
musician. Dana has performed in two previous LISFA Festivals, in
addition to being a four-time All-County musician. Victoria has
performed in two previous LISFA Festivals and is a five-time All-County
musician.
The district was recognized as a 2011 Best Community for Music Education
by the NAMM Foundation, which acknowledges schools and districts across
the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education in
schools.
LBMS Science Fair
Now in its 38th year, the Long Beach Middle
School Science Fair continues to provide students with an opportunity to
become actively involved in hands-on scientific research. This
experience gives every seventh grader a taste of the kind of enriching
challenges that await them in the High School Science Research program,
IB program, and other college-level science courses.
The Long Beach Middle School Science Fair gives students the opportunity
to learn the skills of a scientist by performing their own scientific
investigations. The emphasis of these projects is on inquiry, discovery
and proper use of the scientific method. Students are charged with the
task of identifying a problem that they would like to explore, and then
tackling that problem through the lens of the scientific method.
Students studied the effects of car exhaust, caffeine, Clorox, iodine,
mold and rust and carbonated drinks on plants, animals and the
environment. No animals were put at risk during experimentation.
Project topics ranged from green energy systems and hydroponics to
investigations of the physics of crater creation and the effect of
gender on the ability to decipher words in different colors. The
students worked with their teachers to develop their problem statement
and an appropriate hypothesis, which they then tested.
At the Science Fair, students were judged for their abstracts, the
physical appearance of the projects, oral presentation, use of controls
and sampling techniques, use of the scientific method, originality of
their projects, validity of their conclusions, and ability to answer
questions about the projects. Throughout the course of their
presentations, they engaged in lively exchanges with the judges about
their findings. Students shared their discoveries with a larger audience
of family and friends during the public presentation.
LBMS Mentor Program
In honor of Thanksgiving, students and staff
members in the Long Beach Middle School Mentor Program gathered to
celebrate the blessings of food, family and friends. The party started
with a craft activity in which participants traced their hands and wrote
within them a list of things they are thankful for. A scavenger hunt
that followed gave participants the chance to make new friends by
searching the room for someone who wears glasses, someone who is in
sixth grade, someone with brown hair, etc., until each box on the
scavenger hunt grid was filled with a different name. A tasty snack of
hot dogs and cookies was served.
The Mentor Program was started in 2003 by Vice Principal Keith Biesma to
give students a little extra guidance from caring and trusted adults as
they navigate the many challenges of their adolescent years. During the
course of the year, mentors meet approximately once a week with the
students to help with homework, have lunch together, collaborate on arts
and crafts, bake cookies, give advice or just lend a friendly ear.
Operation Food Basket
The Long Beach Middle School Peace Club,
Multicultural Club and National Junior Honor Society teamed up this year
to organize Operation Food Basket, a two-pronged goodwill effort to
help local families in need.
In the first phase of Operation Food Basket, each of the nine academic
teams at the school pledged to raise enough money to sponsor one food
basket for a local family in need. A tenth basket was sponsored by the
staff. For two weeks, students contributed their extra change to their
team’s collection jugs. A few Long Beach Middle School alumni also made
generous donations to the cause, contributing ten turkeys and $100 in
cash. Club members then met after school with their advisors to assemble
and wrap the baskets, giving ten local families all the fixings for a
delicious holiday dinner.
Phase Two of Operation Food Basket began when it was learned that the
Long Beach Food and Friendship INN Soup Kitchen and St. Mary’s Food
Pantry were both low on supplies. Students and staff once again rolled
up their sleeves and pitched in to bring in hundreds of pounds of
non-perishable food donations to help these two local organizations
continue their efforts to feed the hungry.
Students worked under the direction of Peace Club advisors Lynn Dean,
John Anfossi and Tamara Richards and Multicultural Club advisor Glenn
Gartung.
Anti-Bullying Author Visits LBMS
In what has become a rite of passage at Long Beach Middle School, sixth graders received a visit from Doug Wilhelm, author of
The Revealers, a fictional story about bullying. Since
The Revealers was the first shared reading experience of the year for the entire sixth-grade class, this visit was especially meaningful.
The event combined two of the district’s main missions - character
education and literacy - in one powerful package. Mr. Wilhelm spent a
full day at the school, delivering a group presentation to the entire
class and following it with individual classroom discussions. Over the
course of the day, he answered dozens of questions that the students had
prepared for him about the writing process, his motivation for writing
The Revealers,
and the steps students can take to make their own school bully-proof.
Mr. Wilhelm even joined editors of the school newspaper for a lunchtime
interview.
The Revealers tells the story of Russell, Elliot and Catalina,
three seventh graders on the receiving end of a spectrum of bullying
from their classmates. They turn to each other, embarking on a mission
to understand why some people choose to take advantage of others. By
taking a scientific approach to their collective problem, they come up
with a way to stop the bullying once and for all.
Mr. Wilhelm, who was bullied himself while growing up, has told hundreds
of students throughout the country about his experiences. He spoke
frankly about
finding inner power as an individual, and stressed how important it is
to stop being a passive bystander. He also gave the students insight
into the psychology of bullies and discussed useful strategies for
combating their tactics.
“Reading
The Revealers and meeting Mr. Wilhelm personally
enforced a powerful message that we try to impart to our students every
day,” said Director of English Language Arts Joshua Anisanel. “We need
to celebrate what is unique about each of us. If we act as a community,
we can stand up to bullies and prevent the weakest of us from falling
prey to their attacks.”
This is just one example of the district’s ongoing effort to support the
social and emotional learning and development of students, from
pre-kindergarten through high school, to make schools safer, maintain a
caring school climate, facilitate students’ holistic development, and
enhance motivation and high achievement.
LBMS Field of Honor
To honor our veterans and those men and women
actively serving our country today, Long Beach Middle School seventh
graders teamed up with the Middle School Wood Club and Mural Club, the
High School Key Club and the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach to erect a
“Field of Honor,” consisting of over one hundred 3 x 5 foot
commemorative American flags.
For this school-community partnership project, Whitbread Lumber of Long
Beach donated the lumber for the poles, the middle school wood shop
students cut the mounting holes, and middle school art classes and Mural
Club members painted the poles white.
For a $30 donation, area residents were invited to sponsor anyone they
wanted to honor with one or more of these keepsake flags. On November 7,
150 flags were amassed on the front lawn of the district administration
building on Lido Boulevard. They will remain on display through
December 7, which is Pearl Harbor Day. All proceeds will benefit
families of veterans and active military personnel through scholarships
and camp stipends.
Long Beach Public School students throughout the district will be
participating in similar community service activities during the course
of the school year as part of the district’s emphasis on promoting
citizenship.
LBMS Veterans Day Celebration
In what has become an annual tradition, Long
Beach Middle School seventh graders welcomed over 30 veterans, who
collectively have fought in every war from WWII through the War on
Terror, to speak to students about their experiences.
Veterans were greeted by a “Field of Honor” that consisted of 150
American flags adorning the front lawn of the school complex. The main
hallway of the school was turned into a “Hall of Heroes” that was
decorated with American flags and flags representing each branch of the
armed forces. A brass ensemble played while the veterans were escorted
down the hall by a student color guard, as the entire seventh-grade
student body recognized them with enthusiastic applause.
Each classroom paid tribute to a different war with slideshows, pictures
and memorabilia. Veterans shared stories and answered students’
questions. They explained how they came to serve in the military, what
daily life had been like, and which countries they had seen while in the
service. Each speaker shared unique and personal stories, recollections
and opinions, bringing new meaning to the American history lessons that
the students had been studying in their classrooms during the year.
Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq were among the honored guests. Michael Valente, who
earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for his service back in WWI, was
represented by his grandson Ralph Madalena, who brought in a display of
his grandfather’s medals and memorabilia, including the Medal of Honor,
which will soon be displayed at a national museum.
A number of the veterans who spoke were relatives of students and
teachers in the district. Richard Gonzalez, who was a Lt. Commander in
the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years, was invited by his wife, Robin, a
history teacher at the high school. Ronnie Amato, a disabled veteran of
the Vietnam war, was invited to Long Beach Middle School’s first annual
Veterans Day Celebration in 2008 by his son Ronnie, Jr., who was a
seventh grader at the time. Gerald Hunt, who is in active duty in the
U.S. Air Force Reserve, was invited by his daughter, Madison, who is a
seventh grader at the middle school.
At the conclusion of the classroom discussions, the veterans were
escorted to the auditorium, where students honored them with original
poems, a choral presentation and gifts. A luncheon was provided through
the courtesy of local restaurants.
Johns Hopkins Talented Youth
Five Long Beach Middle School eighth graders
qualified to participate in the Johns Hopkins Talent Search, sponsored
by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Alexandra Kapilian,
Jonathan Kapilian, Samantha Melconian, America Muratori and Jordan
Torregrosa became eligible for the program based on their outstanding
performance on the NYS ELA and Math Assessments.
Through the Talent Search, the students were invited to take either the
ACT or SAT exam in seventh or eighth grade. After successfully
completing these exams, they received certificates of participation,
which will allow them to attend summer programs on college campuses or
take online college-level courses across the U.S. Family events
throughout the year are also offered.
Jordan, who completed the ACT exam in December 2010, has already taken
advantage of one of the summer programs at Roger Williams University,
where he studied principles of engineering design.
LBMS Math Scholars
Long Beach Middle School students Jack Cruse-Mulhall and Jonathan Kapilian are among the 72 students this year to be named Long Island Young Scholars of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury. Through the institute, they will participate in a 20-week Saturday program in mathematics and mathematical science applications.
To qualify for this honor, they competed against 700 of the top-ranking students nominated from school districts on Long Island. Selection by the Institute implies that a student is among the top one-tenth of one percent in math of all students on Long Island in his or her grade. Acceptances were based on five criteria: a rigorous entrance exam, nomination, school transcript, recommendation by the student’s last math teacher, and a brief statement written by the student.
Jack, who is a sixth grader, was recommended by his former Lido School math teacher Mary Doheny. He qualified this year to participate in Long Beach Middle School’s MATHCOUNTS enrichment and competition program for gifted and talented sixth graders, and is also a member of the Middle School Math Olympiad team. Jonathan, now in eighth grade, was recommended for this honor by Long Beach Middle School math teacher and Math Olympiad coach Tara Mele. Jonathan is a member of the Middle School Math Olympiad team.
Each student is expected to attend 20 Saturday morning classes and to also complete related outside projects. The curriculum will cover mathematical topics from algebra, geometry and number theory not included in the standard courses of study, such as problem-solving applied to probability, drawing of ocean bottom profile, theory of finite differences and mass point geometry. Additionally, selected topics in science will be discussed.
Participants will develop their abilities to use a variety of problem-solving skills and strategies; increase their interest and enthusiasm for problem-solving in mathematics; sharpen their mathematical intuition and develop their “brain power”; become acquainted with interesting and important mathematical ideas; and experience the satisfaction and thrill of discovery associated with creative problem-solving.
Over the years, many of the Institute graduates have gone on to win prestigious awards, including national and international math, science and engineering contests. A number of alumni of the Institute have been selected as Intel and Siemens awardees in math, science and technology.
The Institute is supported by SUNY College at Old Westbury, the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Suffolk County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, the Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors, and Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools. Funding for the Institute comes from corporate, foundation and individual contributors who believe that offering programs tuition-free maintains equal accessibility to all students who qualify.
“Ryan’s Story” Addresses Bullying, Cyber Bullying and Youth Depression
John and Kelly Halligan lost their thirteen-year-old son, Ryan,
to suicide on October 7, 2003. It was later revealed that Ryan had been
ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online. Since then, Mr.
Halligan has become an outspoken advocate for the need for more
education and prevention of bullying, cyber bullying and teen suicide.
Mr. Halligan visited the Long Beach School District to tell his son’s
tragic story to Long Beach Middle School and High School students. He
also presented a special evening session for parents of children in
grades K-12. To make it possible for parents of younger children to
attend, babysitting was provided.
Mr. Halligan began with a video presentation of home movie clips and
pictures of Ryan. He then told the story of Ryan’s life and the factors
that led up to his son’s suicide. The audience gained a unique
perspective from inside the family of a child who was a victim of
bullying and cyber bullying. They also gained a deeper understanding of
the devastating impact that teen suicide has on a family. Through Mr.
Halligan’s very personal story, they also learned several life lessons
about the power of forgiveness and the importance of finding ways to
turn a tragedy into hope for others.
As his story unfolded, Mr. Halligan followed Ryan’s journey through
adolescence and his painful relationship with a bully, who over the
years taunted him, eventually befriended him, and ultimately betrayed
him by spreading vicious rumors in school and through social media. Some
children joined in with the bully, while others stood by and did
nothing, until ultimately the pain became too much for Ryan to bear.
“With the advent of social media, bullying has become more emotional
than physical,” he explained. “We can’t stop the problem without your
help. The bystander is a big part of the problem. If just one friend had
the courage to set that bully straight, Ryan might still be with us
today. Nothing will change until you make a change. Don’t be a
bystander. Be an upstander. Be a hero. You have the power.”
On the topic of depression, he offered students this advice, “If you are
feeling hopeless, I beg you to ask for help. Talk to your parents or
another adult you can trust. If you need help, ask; if you have a friend
who needs help, ask for them. Remember, all of you are loved more than
you will ever know.”
During the evening presentation, Mr. Halligan shared the lessons that he
learned too late to save his own son. He empowered parents with
strategies that they can use to take preventative actions with their own
children, including a handout with dozens of suggestions regarding the
safe use of technology.
"Conflicts can be resolved through negotiation. Bullying is something different.
Watch your kids and recognize the signs, take control of the gadgets,
and pay attention to the bystanders. They are the ones who need to start
standing up, to tell the bully that it’s not okay, to chip away at his
audience, to take away his power.”
In memory of his son, Mr. Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bully
Prevention bill, which was signed into law (ACT117) in May 2004, only a
few months after Ryan’s death. He also successfully led the passage of
the law pertaining to mandatory suicide prevention education in public
schools (ACT 114) in April 2006. His son’s story and his
accomplishments in response to this tragedy have been told worldwide.
This presentation of “Ryan’s Story” is just one example of the
district’s ongoing work to support the social and emotional learning and
development of all Pre-K-12 students in an effort to make schools safe,
maintain a caring school climate, facilitate students’ holistic
development, and enhance motivation and high achievement.
LBMS Student Wins Surfers Way T-Shirt Design Contest
A lesson on drawing the human body became a community service outreach project when students in Judith Knoop’s seventh-grade art classes at Long Beach Middle School participated in a contest to design a T-shirt for the Surfer’s Way Foundation. Surfer’s Way is a Long Beach-based non-profit organization that gives autistic children a chance to experience the thrill of surfing. Tamara Benny created the winning design, shown here. She is pictured with her mom, Olga Arteaga (left), Surfer’s Way founder Elliot Zuckerman and Ms. Knoop.
LBMS Introduces Math Enrichment Program
Long Beach Middle School sixth and seventh graders who excel in math will now be given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts beyond their normal grade level through an enrichment program called MATHCOUNTS. This program will help the Long Beach School District maintain its commitment to challenge all students with a rigorous curriculum. Students who obtained a level 4 or higher on the 2010-2011 Math Assessment will be eligible to participate in this pull-out program, which will be offered once during the course of each six-day cycle. Students will be preparing for the chapter competitions in February, followed by the possibility of state and national competitions in March and May.
Currently in its 29th year, MATHCOUNTS is one of the country's largest and most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students. To secure America's global competitiveness, MATHCOUNTS inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in U.S. middle school students, providing them with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. For more information about MATHCOUNTS, visit
https://mathcounts.org.
LBMS Students Dedicate Themselves to Community Service
Middle School seventh graders embarked on an interdisciplinary project that is aimed at helping them develop a dedication to community service. In their English classes, students were first asked to think and write about a cause, problem or organization that they were passionate about supporting. Then, with the help of Michelle and Timmy Kelly of Earth Arts ceramics studio in Long Beach, each student created a ceramic tile depicting the cause they had chosen. Among their causes were homelessness, global warming, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
To turn their thoughts into actions, students will be gathering information about their causes during social studies classes and developing plans of action to get involved. Then they will pick one or two causes to support as a group, and contact each organization to discuss ways that they can help.
The idea for this project grew out of last year’s districtwide Character Education Celebration, during which all of the corridors of Long Beach Middle School were given names such as Caring Court and Peaceful Place. Students have been working under the guidance of Team 7-2 teachers Jennifer McWilliams, Megan Kalner, Ronald Destio, Tami Richards, Margaret Karthaus, Jessica Bedard and Linda Weiss, whose hallway was renamed Dedication Depot, thus giving them the inspiration for the project. The tiles will be housed in a hallway display, reminding the students to remain dedicated to their causes.
Long Beach Public School students throughout the district will be participating in similar community service activities during the course of the school year as part of the district’s emphasis on promoting social-emotional learning.