Huntington School Briefs
Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School is set to expand in September. The school, which opened in September 2013 with an enrollment of 150 spread across grades 3-5 will grow to about 260 students and encompass sixth grade.
The school’s first year was considered a rousing success. Students engaged in many creative and hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering and math as well as pursuing studies in all the other academic areas. Parents were also quite active and provide an enormous of amount of support along the way.
The school will be led in 2014/15 by Principal Rae Montesano, who was approved for a probationary appointment effective July1. She had been the school’s acting principal since January after previously serving as the STEM coach since August 2013.
Ms. Montesano obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Cornell University in 1976. She earned a Master of Science degree in education in 2000 at Hofstra University, where she secured state certification as an administrator in 2004.
Ms. Montesano became district chairperson of science and instructional technology, 7-12 in July 2011. She came to Huntington a year earlier, serving as district director of science and instructional technology, K-12.
Washington PTA Officers
The Washington Primary School PTA will be led by co-Presidents Sara Baliber and Colleen Perfetto during the 2014/15 school year. Carolina Addeo and Michele Sabatino will be co-vice presidents of the organization. The officer corps also includes Kristin Kanzer (treasurer), Kim Curran (corresponding secretary) and Suzanne Hepworth (recording secretary). Diana Barone and Rose Carusone will be the group’s historians. Lainie Fader and Stacey Smalling are Washington’s delegates to the district’s PTA Council.
Awards at Finley Middle School
J. Taylor Finley Middle School students Zenia Dia and Amaris Figueroa won the American Legion Citizenship Award for strong school community spirit. Finley students Christopher Chang and William Fallon earned the American Legion’s Most Outstanding Musician Awards.
Adina Kirkland garnered the Joseph Cane Memorial Band Award. Alexandra McKenzie and Jamie Rosenbauer captured the Libutti Jewelers Music Service Award. Samuel Bergman won the Huntington Fire Department’s Ex-Chief Louis Solomon Award for high moral character.
Ladaisha Jones earned the Cissy Frost Friend Award for her friendship, tolerance and spirit. Mrs. Frost was a longtime teacher aide at the school who passed away many years ago.
Veronique Daniel captured the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for her citizenship, patriotism and school involvement.
Summer Sendoff from Superintendent
As Huntington School District faculty and staff members headed for their summer vacations, Superintendent James W. Polansky sent them a short note via the district’s e-mail system.
“As the year draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to express my thanks to each of you for nothing short of an outstanding school year,” Mr. Polansky wrote. “While the end of the year is exhausting and any given day can be challenging, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on what our students have accomplished this year. I can assure you that it will be a worthwhile moment.
“Our students could not have achieved as they did without the support of everyone who plays a role in our schools. You have all done tremendous work and it shows. Our senior class is entering the world as ready as they can be. And I have lost count of the number of students and parents who have shared with me over the past few days that they wish the school year could last a bit longer.
“Again, please accept my sincerest appreciation and congratulations for your hard work and efforts, for genuinely caring about our children and for possessing an unparalleled interest in their success. I wish you a restful, enjoyable and rejuvenating summer.”
Flower Hill PTA Officers
The Flower Hill Primary School PTA will be led in the 2014/15 school year by co-Presidents Kerri Malone and Stephen Fox. Tricia Posillico and Lori Farley-Toth will serve as vice presidents. Gregory Parks (treasurer), Stacey Parks (corresponding secretary), Michelle Lomler (recording secretary) and PTA Council delegates Amy Girimonti and Amy Fives round-out the slate of officers.