Thank you!!
Thank you for your support of our district budget and our capital reserve fund proposition. I look forward to writing about all of the important programs and activities this budget will support over the course of the 2013 -14 school year in next year’s newsletters!
PSAT, SAT and ACT Boot Camps
As a follow-up to the discussions and suggestions regarding the college admissions process at the January board of education work session, The Wheatley School will serve as a host for A-List Education for Summer PSAT, SAT and ACT Boot Camps.
A-List Education is a leading provider of PSAT/SAT/ACT preparation for students and has, over the past seven years, worked with hundreds of families in the area. The boot camp programs provide students with high quality courses (complete with materials and diagnostic testing) during the last two weeks of summer. When the guidance department surveyed parents regarding interest, there was overwhelming support of the idea. Specific information regarding cost and schedule will be sent to you from the High School Guidance Department.
CBS Channel 2 News Interviews Guidance Department
Recently, our guidance department sent out an alert to parents and teachers regarding VINE, a mobile app that enables its users to create and post six-second video clips. This app concerns internet safety groups because it can be used in instances of derogatory mimicry and also can contain content that includes alcohol, drug and tobacco references, as well as realistic and fantasy violence and sexual references.
Recently, Channel 2 News interviewed our guidance department regarding the dangers of this app. You can watch a video clip of the interview at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/05/15/vine-smartphone-app-being-abused-for-bullying-in-video-form/.
More Science Winners!!
On Saturday, May 18, Dave Casamento, director of Science and Technology had the pleasure of accompanying 48 of our science research students to the First Annual Nassau County Science and Engineering Fair held at the Cradle of Aviation. There were over 300 students present and Wheatley had some pretty amazing results. Awards were given to the first place winner in each category and first through third places were awarded for the Overall Competition.
Category first place winners:
Social Science – Sophomore Hebah Hassan
Medicine – Junior Anum Mitha
Computer Science – Sophomore Arjun Kapoor
Overall Winners:
2nd Place – Sophomore Hebah Hassan
3rd Place – Sophomore Arjun Kapoor
Wheatley Junior Aakash Jhaveri Competes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Earlier this month, Science Research Teacher, Tom VanBell accompanied and coached Wheatley junior Aakash Jhaveri as he competed in the world’s largest and most prestigious pre-college science fair, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
The fair took place in Phoenix, Ariz. from May 13-17 and showcased the work of over 1,500 students from more than 70 countries, regions and territories. The students presented projects in seventeen different categories, and competed for prizes totaling over $4 million.
Aakash received first-place award honors in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category for his project titled “Hyperglycemia and HIV: A Correlation – Hyperglycemia Increases HIV Entry in T Cells via ROS Generation.”
In addition to this grand award, Aakash was also presented with a special award of $500 from the Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty Foundation. His research led to the discovery that hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) increases the rate at which HIV can infect T cells in the human immune system. Aakash performed his work last summer at the North Shore LIJ Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. He plans to return to the Feinstein Institute this summer to complete another research project.
In his own words, being part of the 2013 Intel ISEF in Phoenix was “an experience that I will never forget”.
June 5 board of education work session – curriculum and instruction goals for 2013-14 to be shared.
We are excited by the success of our Science Research program, as it has been expanded this year. At the June 5th Board of Education Work Session we will be sharing information about further plans for science and all the curriculum areas for next year and planning for coming years.
Celebrating Student Excellence and Commitment/Can You Help?
During the year, I have had the pleasure of highlighting many of our students’ successes, which serves not only to recognize our students’ hard work as they represent our school district in many events, but also to highlight the many programs and opportunities available through our school district.
In addition to participating in district programs, several of our students participate in outside activities not directly sponsored by the school, in which they achieve significant recognition and/or make important contributions.
I would like to devote a major portion of one of my newsletters before the end of the school year, to recognizing these students as well and their activities. If you or your child will email me information about such recognitions and events, by Wednesday June 12th, I will look forward to congratulating and highlighting all in my June 14th newsletter.
Strategic Planning
The committee will be meeting June 3. In preparation for the meeting, we are compiling survey responses as well as important district data to help inform the committee’s decision-making. At the June 17 board of education monthly business meeting this information will be shared during the Superintendent’s Report.
Baseball Champions!
What a great time I had at the Wheatley/Locust Valley baseball playoff game this past Wednesday. Wheatley Wildcats won the game and clinched the Nassau County Class B Baseball Championship!
Congratulations to head coach Paul Paino, assistant coach Matt Haig and JV coach Joe Fina (all who have been working with the team in the post season) and team members Justin Borczuk, Lambert Chu, Mike Doherty, Xavier Fallarino, Andrew Feimer, Adam Fong, David Fraser, Tom Gillette, Andrew Hastings, Dex Iannone, Ryan Levy, Billy McLean (Captain), Matt Rothstein (Captain), Ryan Kenny and Andrew Tripi.
The following JV players were brought up for the play-offs: Michael Carney, Brendan Doherty, Blake Hargrove and Matthew Hogg.
On to the Long Island Class B Championship.
When I was at the game, I noticed several families with young children watching the game. Even if you do not have a child participating on our sports teams, all of our games in the various sports are a fun outing to consider for your family.
Have a Good Weekend
Please e-mail me at kanase@ewsdonline.org or call 333-3782 with any questions, suggestions, and or any topics you would like to see for this newsletter.
