Jefferson Primary School students are a creative bunch. The youngster simply love weekly art classes and the work they produce is exceptional.
The Jefferson School community encourages every student to dream big and use their respective imagination to create something special with their talent.
Jefferson’s Featured Artists of the Month initiative came to life when Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide and art teacher Maria Mazzola decided the top pieces of artwork needed to be shared more widely with the school community and the students who created it needed to be publicly acknowledged for their exceptional efforts.
The artwork of one student from each Jefferson classroom is featured each month. The pieces are hung in the hallway and the students are formally acknowledged with a medal. The group is gathered together for a commemorative photo, too.
January’s featured artists include Steven Lopez Cruz, Annebelle Donovan, Mason Gomez, Grayson Dunn, Ryan Hahn, Iliana Jarmolowski, Ashley Moreno Garcia, Cesar Lovo Rodriguez, Yarisa Maldonado Acosta, Allison Ramirez Cruz, Bridgette Ramirez, James Ruthkowski, Audrey Sherwood, Jonathan Soviero, Karla Umana Santos and Elder Vigil-Ordonez.
Faculty Announce Retirement Plans
Several Huntington UFSD faculty members recently announced plans to retire at the conclusion of the current school year. Huntington School Board members voted unanimously to accept the six resignation and retirement requests during a public meeting on January 8 in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School auditorium.
Washington Primary School Principal Marsha Neville along with teachers Joanne Cicio (Southdown), James Lauter (Flower Hill), Suzanne Proimos (Flower Hill), Patricia Nowak (Woodhull) and Patrice Persichilli (Woodhull) will all be retiring at the close of business on June 30.
STEM Club Advisors
Emily Lohse (computer club) and Lauren Caggiano (garden club) have both been approved to serve as club advisors at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School during the 2017/18 school year.
New AP Psychology Textbook
Huntington School Board members have approved a new textbook for use in Advanced Placement Psychology at Huntington High School. About 60 juniors and seniors take the course during any given year.
Trustees approved use of the 10th edition of Psychology Themes and Variations. The district’s Subject Matter Council and Educational Development Committee earlier signed off on the textbook.
“This textbook addresses the content areas required by the College Board for Advanced Placement Psychology,” states the proposal provided to trustees. “The book is well organized, visually engaging and interesting to read. The online materials serve as excellent resources for the course. Online access for six years is included with the purchase. The text is written with the appropriate level of complexity for a high school AP course.”
A committee comprised of social studies faculty members Peter Crugnale, James Graber and Joseph Leavy evaluated the textbook. The total cost for the textbooks and the six-year online resource subscription, including shipping and handling is $8,070. The funds are included in the 2017/18 school year textbook budget and are available for this expenditure.”
Habitat for Humanity Trip Approved
Huntington School Board members have authorized Huntington High School’s Habitat for Humanity club chapter to travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee from March 31-April 7 to participate housing related projects there.
Club advisor Robert Gilmor III will lead a delegation of 12 students and several adult chaperones. The trip coincides with the district’s spring vacation, so no class time will be missed.
The Huntington Habitat for Humanity members will team up with their Chattanooga counterparts to erect housing for those who are in need of it. When they aren’t working or sleeping, the group intends to do some sightseeing around the charming city.
Personnel Moves
Huntington School Board members approved several personnel changes during their public meeting on Monday, January 11.
Donna LoTurco (monitor/Southdown), Lakeya Thomason (monitor/Flower Hill), Maria Collazo (senior clerk typist/high school), Laura Tsourtsoulas (senior clerk typist/high school) and Denis Demolat (cook manager/Flower Hill) were all appointed to positions.
Leslie Cook (monitor/Washington) and Lisa Cali (senior clerk typist/high school) had their resignations accepted by trustees.
Health/physical education teacher Natalee Schaeffer was approved to return from a leave of absence, effective February 5.