Jack Abrams PARP Commemorates
Civil War’s End
This year’s Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School parents as reading partners program commemorated the 150th anniversary of the end of the U.S. Civil War.
Consistent with the school’s mission, the reading initiative’s 2015 theme was “Technology for a Reason, Engineering with a Purpose.” All students across grades 3-6 participated.
The PTA sponsored PARP activity was co-chaired by Dana Lulewich and Laura Leavy, who worked hard planning, coordinating and encouraging student participation. Their goal of 75,000 combined minutes read by the student body was well surpassed. The cumulative total number of minutes read by STEM students totaled an astounding 112,735.
Each class in the school was represented by a technological innovation from the Civil War, such as surveillance balloons, ironclad ships and even prosthetic devices. As the total number of minutes read by each respective class reached 240, their symbol advanced on a special bulletin board toward the conflict’s end; the surrender of Confederate forces by General Robert E. Lee to Union Army commander General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
Special activities during the program’s run included visits by guest readers and even poetry contests. “Our students did a wonderful job with their reading during our PARP program, exceeding the goal set for them,” Principal Rae Montesano said. “Multidisciplinary learning experiences, including reading, social studies and science were meshed in the program. Students were surprised to learn of the innovations that were born or enhanced during the Civil War, such as submarines, the telegraph, canned food, the sewing machine and many others.”
The exciting campaign culminated with a star-studded assembly. The youngsters were treated to a reenactment of the signing of the articles of surrender at Appomattox. Student drummers set the tone as the audience filed in and enjoyed the performance.
Special “appearances” by Clara Barton (played by Mrs. Lulewich), a Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, Sarah Emma Edmunds (played by Mrs. Leavy), the girl who impersonated a boy to spy for the Union, General Lee, (played by parent Keith Lulewich) and General Grant (played by parent and Chairperson of Humanities, 7-12 Joseph Leavy) captivated the audience.
The top readers and contest winners were presented with certificates and prizes during the concluding assembly for their efforts and dedication to reading. Fourth grader Aislyn Franciscovich was honored for reading more minutes than any other students. Teacher Lisa Baldanza’s third grade class was recognized for reading the most overall number of minutes.
Prizes included free admission to the Walt Whitman Birthplace state historic site and gift certificates to Herrells, Ben & Jerry’s and Book Revue.
President Abraham Lincoln even graced the closing assembly with his presence. Played to impressive perfection by Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky, the 16th US president presented the award winners with their certificates and prizes. Every participant in this year’s program was acknowledged by their teacher with a PARP certificate.
Organizers said that many people helped make the program a success. Huntington Public Library children’s librarian Corinna Jaudes pitched in and brainstormed ideas for the initiative with PTA organizers. She ordered books, including some in Spanish and created displays consistent with this year’s theme.
Ms. Jaudes selected books at both library branches and set them aside for the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School students so the youngsters could easily browse through the volumes and pick one to sign out without have to hunt through the stacks like other patrons.
School librarian Jennifer Brittman helped out by tallying up the untold number of minutes each class in the building read throughout the three week event.
Ms. Montesano said she was “thrilled” to see the excitement among the students as they read and learned about history and related it to technology and engineering.