Perspectives June 2011

Perspectives

HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL EAST PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER

Volume 1I , Issue IV

June 20, 2011

A Special Message from Dr. Woodberry Greetings HS East Community,

The Insider’s View

•

A Scholarly Summer (page 2)

•

An Artistic Revolution (page 5)

•

Adventures in History (page 7)

Inside this issue:

Page 4 Online Student Government Elections

Page 6 AP Art students and The Memory Project

Page 7 DECA at Nationals

Pages 8 County Champions

Another great year at High School East has come to an end! There are numerous achievements to report as you will see in this issue. Students have excelled in all areas including academics, the arts and athletics. These successes are a direct result of our professional learning community’s (K-12) efforts to educate our children. As the school year rapidly approaches an end, I can fondly say that it has been a pleasure. Seniors: you are a special group. I truly enjoyed working with you for the past four years. There is no doubt in my mind that you all are ready to take on the world! Good luck to the Class of 2011 and I wish everyone a safe and happy summer!

Remember: Respect, Responsibility and Excellence!

Sincerely, Dr. J. A. Woodberry Principal, HS East

Students Excel in World Languages Teachers in the department of World Languages encourage their students to extend their foreign language skills beyond the classroom.

Italian teacher Rebecca Rosenberg entered students in Hofstra University’s Italian Poetry Contest with stellar results. A number of students received Honorable mention at levels one, two and three. Debora Fiore placed third at level five and Peter Scelfo won First Place. Director of World Languages Francesco Fratto stated, “This is Rebecca’s first year and she didn’t miss a beat! She inspired her students to do great things!” In addition, Ms. Rosenberg’s student Alexa Spiegel placed fourth in the National Italian Exam.

Spanish teacher Allison Ferrandez had four Gold Winners in the National Spanish Exam: Helen Liu, Alyson Givre, Ryan Cruse and Lawrence Wolf-Sonkin. Spanish teacher Lisa Blitzer boasts of her Spanish 3H winners in the National Spanish Exam (featured in the photo). Amanda Zigomalas earned the Silver Award, and Jon Kim, Alex Frieder and Noah Sosnick earned the Bronze. Honorable Mentions are Sojin Chon, Caila

Cohen, Gina Dolisi, Dimitri Patronis and Harumoto Takahira.

There were numerous winners on the National French Exam in both Sophie Sirulnick and Maria Alfano’s classes. The top winners include: Kevin Bennett and Shreyas Havaldar for first place, and third place winner Karishma Sabhnani.

The National Exams recognize the achievement in the study of the language and prepare students for the rigors of AP exams. Congratulations to all!

Page 2

Perspectives

Students Shine In and Beyond the Halls of Hills East A Scholarly Summer Sophomore Zakiya Williams Wells has been awarded a full scholarship to the 2011 Telluride Association Sophomore Seminar at Indiana University, “Blackness, Media, and Self-Concept.”

This six-week-long educational program is centered around a college-level seminar for gifted and highly motivated high school sophomores.

Zakiya is truly a shining star here at East. She excels in a challenging academic program and is involved in community service activities in and out of school. It is no wonder Zakiya was successful in the highly selective admission process for TASS. Teachers and guidance counselors first nominate promising students for candidacy to TASS. After completing a rigorous five-essay application and Silver Award On Thursday, June 2, 2011, sophomore Rekha Korlipara received the Girls Scout Silver Award, the highest recognition that a Cadette Girl Scout can achieve. The award symbolizes

submitting an academic recommendation and transcript, TASS finalists are selected from the already competitive group of applicants. Each candidate receives a personal interview by an associate or member of the Telluride Association board, after which a central committee selects the scholarship recipients. TASS Scholars enjoy free tuition, room and board, and books at the seminar.

ars and is hoping to hone her public speaking and writing skills in order to prepare for the challenges of college.

We are very proud of Zakiya here at East and look forward to hearing all about her experience when she returns in the fall.

The Telluride Association, an independent not-for-profit educational organization, works with university faculty members to create courses designed to inspire young people to pursue their interests in the histories and cultural experiences of people of African descent and other topics that address diversity in society.

Zakiya is excited to be part of this international group of 36 young scholRekha’s accomplishments in scouting and community activities as she becomes her best self and builds the world around her. Rekha’s project, “Chemistry for Kids” was a key factor in qualifying for the award. She designed and taught chemistry experiments with fifth grade students.

many possibilities for her future, one area of interest for her is science research with an emphasis on cancer research. She certainly is a young woman with many talents, keen intelligence and unrelenting motivation.

Rekha is featured left displaying her original photography and below with her Scout Leader Janette Lohan.

Rekha is also a remarkable student here at HS East, exhibiting respect, We congratulate Rekha on her responsibility and excellence in all she award and look forward to her condoes. She is involved in numerous tinued accomplishments. extra-curricular activities and is even enrolled in an additional class for Latin after school hours. She earned the Gold Certificate with Ribbon, the highest honor on the National Latin Exam. Rekha keeps a busy schedule here at East. She will be President of the Spanish Club in the new year and Co-President for the Society of IndianAmerican Students.

While Rekha is still exploring the

Page 3

Volume 1I , Issue IV

Yearly “Going Green” Initiative Receives Award Ms Hirschmann’s Students Win Town of Huntington Environmental Award.

On June 6, 2011 Ms. Hirschmann’s HS East students were recognized by the Beautification Council of the Town of Huntington for their “going green” initiative.

They received the first Town of Huntington HS Environmental and Conservation Award, for their continuing efforts to rehabilitate brook trout on Long Island.

Did you know that there were once scores of Long Island streams full of brook trout? Today there are only a handful of streams with Brook Trout remaining. Students in Ms. Hirschmann’s Marine Science classes and Animal Friends Club have successfully rehabilitated the Beaver Brook in Mill Neck by stocking it with baby trout raised in her classroom. The trout embryos arrive annually from Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery in late Autumn. Students care for the growing baby fish in a 55 gallon aquarium that is chilled to 52 degrees and equipped with a UV bacteria filter. They adjust chemicals, clean filters, and monitor metabolic wastes such as ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and pH. By springtime the babies had grown to 3 inches long and it was time Marina, Ali and Dominique at Beaver to launch them. Ms. Brook Hirschmann, Ali Nemeth, Dominique Tinsley, Marina Aknouk, Kelseylee Franciosa, and Gerard Jewels released an impressive 83 baby brook trout (a new record!), into the beautiful Shu Swamp Nature Preserve in Mill Neck for the fifth season.

Kelsey and Rachel testing water

Packing trout for transfer

Congratulations HSE Marine Science and AFA students on your important contribution to our L.I. environment!

—Article contributed by Susan Hirschmann

Sam changing water

Page 4

Perspectives

21st Century Learning 21st Century Elections The student government election process was completely online for the first time this year. During their Social Studies classes, students viewed the candidates’ speeches on the Media Gallery of the HS East website, and then voted using an online program called Edu-ballot. Since each student has a secure log-on password, he or she was able to cast only one vote. This enabled students who were absent to also vote online. The process was fast and simple, with election results available immediately following the closing of the polls.

Newly elected Student Government Chairperson Joshua Shinbrot, a big fan of Edu-ballot has this to say: “Eduballot gives Student Government the

ability to conduct elections and tabulate results faster than ever before while preserving the students' anonymity, which is a huge convenience. However, Edu-ballot is much more than an online voting system. Edu-ballot allows Student Government officers like myself to survey students and faculty and analyze the data we receive quickly and easily. For example, earlier in the year when Jacob Henner and I first began examining the prospect of installing WiFi throughout Hills East, we were very interested to see how the faculty felt about WiFi. By using Edu-ballot, we were able to survey over 100 faculty members and categorize the information quickly and efficiently, not to

class to read, in Spanish, fables they had written to Spanish speaking stuMs. Restrepo’s ninth grade Spanish dents. The students then discussed 2H class visited Laurel Park Elemen- the components of a fable and intertary School in Brentwood and col- preted the moral of the stories. laborated with Mr. Iglesia’s and Mrs. Sebelen’s fourth and fifth grade bilin- The collaborative activity was a gual classes. With the help of the great success with both groups beneBilingual Coordinator Priscilla Zarate, fiting from this lesson. HS East stuthey were able to arrange for the dents were able to use Spanish beFabulas Fantásticas

mention finding overwhelming support for WiFi. To me, the ability to survey the members of the Hills East family so quickly and easily means I can take student advocacy to a whole new level by giving students an unprecedented active voice in their Student Government and our school.” yond the classroom and the bilingual students were excited to see our students’ efforts to speak their language and learn about their culture. Fabulas Fantásticas Story Reading motivated our language learners and has opened the door for future collaborative activities with Hispanic communities.

Volume 1I , Issue IV

Page 5

21st Century Learning An Artistic Revolution in Social Studies and Science Mrs. Toneatti’s 9th grade Social Studies class and Mrs. Uttendorfer’s Advanced Placement Art History students joined forces fifth period to create a collaborative art project based on the Scientific Revolution.

Both classes recently studied the period, which began in Europe at the end of the Renaissance and continued through the Enlightenment.

way to provide interdisciplinary lessons to students while having fun exploring art. Both classes continued on to the school’s planetarium to explore the scientific connection to the unit: “Galileo’s Moon: Art, History & Science.”

On June 8, the class visited the planetarium where Mr. Affatigato led a discussion on the significance of Renaissance artists in Italy and how they affected Galileo’s way of observing. When Galileo used his telescope to look at the moon, he, unlike his English contemporaries not familiar with new artistic studies on perspective occurring in Italy, was able to grasp at once that it had mountains. Through the influence of these artists, Galileo became skilled at interpreting light, shadow and 3D The goal was to create a collabora- perspective, hence his proclamation, tive relief collage, using printed text "The Moon is like the Earth!" and imagery, to highlight a scientist that impacted the revolution and the Art History students have a solid way we understand science today. understanding of the Renaissance Scientists included Copernicus, Newton and Galileo, among others.

Leonardo da Vinci won the class’s Scientist Olympiad challenge and was voted the scientist that impacted our world, as we know it today, the most. His Renaissance Man ideologies inspired students and his talents as a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer fascinated them.

This collaborative project is a great

and how perspective impacted art, and this lesson bridged art and science in a unique way. Following the introductory lesson in the planetarium, Art History students partnered with the Astronomy Club to observe the moon with telescopes outdoors. On June 9, students, along with Mr. Affatigato and Mrs. Uttendorfer, ventured out to the school field and observed the evening sky. Students created a series of sketches based on careful observation of the moon, just like Galileo did.

— Article and photos contributed by Allyson Uttendorfer

Page 6

Perspectives

Art as a Gift to the World Humanitarian Artists The Memory Project is a nationwide initiative in which art students create portraits for children and teens around the world who have been orphaned, neglected, or disadvantaged. Given that kids in such situations usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with a spe cia l memory of their youth and to help honor their self identity.

The project also allows art students to practice kindness, empathy, and service to others.

Ms. Kim Norris’ AP Art students eagerly joined this effort and their portraits shipped out this week.

They had received photos of fifteen

youth in Rwanda and worked tirelessly over the weeks following their AP exam to create the portraits. The youth in Rwanda who will receive these works of art will value them tremendously.

Indeed, Ms. Norris’ students have provided them with personal gifts to last a lifetime.

Once the children in Rwanda receive their portraits, Executive Director of the Memory Project Ben Schumaker will provide photos showing the portraits in the hands of the kids. In these photos and more on the Media Gallery of the HS East website, Art students proudly display their completed works.

— Thank you to Ben Schumaker for his Contribution to this article

and Nick Fondacaro really took the tion of their courtyard to his memproject to heart to commemorate ory. Please see the Media Gallery HS East Architecture students are their friend. for more photos from this event. committed to providing community service and this Spring their project Along with club adidea was born out of a friendship visor Ms. Marianne they will always treasure. Matthew Mead, the group colScarpati, a HS East graduate whose laborated to create a life was tragically cut short by a design that would drunk motorcyclist while riding his represent Matt and bike in the bike lane along the Wan- his connection to artagh Parkway, was the inspiration. As chitecture. On May Architecture Club President Meghan 21, 2011, the ArchiMcCune stated to the club members, tecture Club spon“Matt was part of Ms. Meads archi- sored the Matthew tecture family.” She, along with Scarpati Bench Ceremembers Bryan Wexler, Jagger Steck mony and the dedicaCourtyard Dedication

Volume 1I , Issue IV

Page 7

Accomplishments and Adventures DECA Team Receives Worldwide Recognition The DECA team had an exciting and successful trip to the DECA ICDC International Competition in Orlando, Florida this year. Aneesh Shah (featured right with advisor Mr. Cappiello) received a medal for finishing “Top 10 in the World” for Marketing Management Promotions Role Play. Over 250 students from around the world competed in each category. The rest of the team also did a great job and deserve accolades of praise: Senior Karishma Sabhnani, senior Alexa Goetz, junior Schuyler Berland and sophomore Ted Goshman. Congratulations to all our future marketing experts! and analyze them for their connections to the time and place they represent. They evaluated what speMs. Silberman’s Honors Global History students cific details in the painting conveyed the economics, scoured the Metropolitan Museum of Art this May as politics, religion, intellectual evolution and/or social they embarked on a scavenger hunt through time. As structure of the historical context. a review and preparation for the Global History Regents Exam, students were given task sheets to com- Ms. Silberman engages students with many interdisciplete as they tracked down the work of art or artifact plinary projects, incorporating astronomy, math, and in the museum. To provide some direction, Ms. Sil- literature as well as art. This field trip was such a sucberman limited the hunt to five collections within the cess, Ms. Silberman is already planning to enrich this museum. Three groups of students set out in differ- project for next year’s sophomores. ent directions never crossing paths.

Adventures in History

For each collection, students had to select three pieces of art

HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL EAST PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER

High School East 50 Vanderbilt Parkway Dix Hills, NY 11746

Produced by: Darlene Lilla Assistant Principal Phone: 631-592-3128 Fax: 631-592-3121 E-mail: dlilla@hhh.k12.ny.us

Visit Our Website: www.halfhollowhills.k12.ny.us

High School East

Spring Sports Wrap Up It has been another successful Spring Sports season for Hills East with both team and individual athlete accomplishments.

Girls Badminton and Boys Tennis battled for and won Suffolk County Championships. Girls Track ended a strong season at the State Qualifier Meet. The 4x400 with Nicole Jablon, Tivoni Taylor, Tiffany Perrier and Morgan Donovan placed 6th in the county, and within one week, broke the school’s record of 4:09.86 three times.

Boys Track also had a strong season with outstanding individual honors. Sophomore Calvin Manchenko came in fifth place in the Men’s Pentathlon earning him the honor of number one sophomore in the U.S. Greg Perrier won the 800 meter run at the State Qualifier Meet making him the number one 800 runner in Suffolk County and breaking

a school record that was over 30 years old.

Girls Lacrosse enjoyed a stellar season with a first time ever home playoff game.

They were also ranked 29th in the nation in the Powerade Fab 50 ESPN Rise Girls Lacrosse Rankings. In addition, Coach Lori Horbach was named Coach of the Year by the Suffolk County Coaches Association for Girls Lacrosse. Finally, Scholar Athlete recognition was awarded to several winter sports teams: Boys Swimming and Diving, Girls Fencing, Boys Fencing, Girls Indoor Track, Boys Indoor Track and Girls Basketball.

Congratulations to all our athletes and coaches for their hard work and dedication! Enjoy these and more photos on the Media Gallery.