Huntington School Briefs
Jefferson Primary School Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide and the building’s faculty and staff members recently honored several dozen Spot Award recipients for November during an assembly program in the gymnasium.
Jefferson formally honors students each month with Spot Awards. When a Jefferson student exhibits a commendable behavior, teachers and staff members “spot” the youngster. A school-wide assembly is held each month to recognize the students who have been “spotted” the most.
Why a Spot Award? Well, the Jefferson School mascot is a jaguar, an animal known for its spotted appearance. Every Jefferson student is trying to get spotted so they can be an award winner, too.
November’s honorees include:
Kindergarten: Roxy Alfaro, Nathaly Alfaro Maldonado, Marco Antonio Salas, Brayan Benitez Almendares, Malcolm Foster, Luca Garcia, Kevin Lopez Bonilla, Yenissa Lopez Bonilla, Taylor Ranft, Logan Tine;
First Grade: Lucas Biancardo, Jayson Flores Menjivar, Eric Heinz, Ali Learned, Nallely Linares, Yarisa Maldonado, Andrea Mojica Avelar, Jostin Ramirez, Audrey Sherwood, Sandra Ventura Aparicio;
Second Grade: Alexander Zhomir, Reina Andrade Ortez, Genesis Araujo Amaya, Emma Boyle, Jessica Bree, Boris Caceres, Nathan Cham, Emma Guiterrez, Liam, LaVertu, Andrew Ramirez, Giselle Salmeron;
Third Grade: Jordin Aguilar-Chavez, Logan Apelsinov, Jerson Contreras-Mureira, Luca DiPietro, Wilber Garcia, Geovanny Iglesias-Soriano, Yecica Licona, Vesy Molina, Ethan Mortensen, Alexandra Rubenstein, Stephen Spina;
Fourth Grade : Melvin Avelar-Romero, Eddie Canales, Natalie Garcia-Alfaro, Rebecca Guardado, Marilyn Segovia-Ticas, Sophia Tine, Miladys Vila-Saz.
New Elementary School Librarian
Jeanine Caras has been approved for a probationary appointment to serve as a librarian in the Huntington School District. She has been assigned to Washington and Flower Hill Primary Schools.
Mrs. Caras earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Marist College in May 1997 and a Master of Library Science degree at Long Island University-C.W. Post College in May 1999.
Mrs. Caras worked as a leave replacement librarian in the district from January-June 2005. She was the librarian at Washington Street Elementary School in Franklin Square from September 1998 to June 2002.
District officials reviewed 44 applications, pre-screened 18 candidates and conducted eight extensive interviews prior to recommending Mrs. Caras for appointment.
Amanda Osorio Joins Southdown’s Faculty
Amanda Osorio has been approved for a probationary teaching appointment in the Huntington School District. She has been assigned to work in Southdown Primary School’s dual language program.
Ms. Osorio obtained an undergraduate degree at St. Joseph’s College in 2010 and a Master of Arts degree at Stony Brook University in 2013.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Osorio worked as a teaching assistant in Eastport-South Manor (2013/14) and as a Spanish teacher at JHS 157 in Rego Park, Queens (2014/15).
District officials reviewed 33 applications, pre-screened 27 candidates and conducted 14 extensive interviews before recommending Ms. Osorio for appointment.
Highsteppers Trip Approved
Huntington School Board members have given their approval for the Huntington High School Highsteppers competitive dance team to travel to the National Dance Alliance championships in Orlando, Florida. The team will depart on Thursday, February 25 and return on Monday, February 29.
Highsteppers’ advisors Paige Tyree and Jessica Harris will accompany the group, which will stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and compete at Universal Orlando Resort.
Greenkill Outdoor Education Center
About 260 Huntington School District sixth graders are expected to participate in a four day trip to the Greenkill Outdoor Education Center in Hugenot, New York. The students attend Woodhull Intermediate School and Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School.
The group will leave on February 9 at 9 a.m. and return February 12 at approximately 2:30 p.m. Students will be accompanied by 17 adults. The trip is the culminating activity for a six week science unit on ecology, according to materials submitted to district administrators and Huntington School Board members.
“Students will be able to write about outdoor education, which includes pond ecology, stream ecology and field ecology and how in nature everything is dependent on everything else, as in the web of life,” according to the field trip instructional plan submitted to district officials. “Students will also learn other topics, including how animals adapt to their environment, survival skills, orienteering as well as learning how to cooperate as a team.”
Students on the trip will also engage in wildlife observations and participate in an all-day interpretive hike if weather allows.
Habitat for Humanity Trips Approved
Huntington School Board members have approved two separate trips to New Orleans for Huntington High School Habitat for Humanity club members.
Trustees approved trips that will run from February 13-20 and April 23-30. An estimated 20-25 students will participate in each trip. Students will be accompanied by three or four faculty/staff members.
The Huntington Habitat members will participate in work activities related to continuing rebuilding efforts associated with the devastated caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Trip participants will eat three meals a day as a group and visit area colleges and local sites during non-work hours. There will even be an opportunity to go on a paddle boat trip.
Donations to District
The Rogan family donated $300 to the Huntington School District to contribute to the restoration of the wall across the street from the entrance to Huntington High School. A colorful mural has been created on the wall, which has enhanced the area for students, staff, parents and visitors as well as the community at large.
The Huntington School District received a pledge designation during the United Way of Greater Waterbury’s 2014/15 annual campaign. The district received two donations totaling $1,373.57.