from the desk of Superintendent Elaine Kanas: Being a new super has its advantages

The Island Now

As a still somewhat new superintendent to the East Williston School District,   I have the unique opportunity to view our terrific school district with the eyes of a “newcomer.”  

One aspect of the district that has stood out for me, in addition to the rigorous academic program, is the strong emphasis that is placed on students’ emotional and social development.  In this era of heightened test accountability, a common concern is that schools may be pressured to place single focus on cognitive/intellectual growth, losing sight of the whole child.

For example, last night at Willets Road, I was excited to attend the Outdoor Education Program’s parent presentation.  

Outdoor Ed not only provides our seventh graders with the opportunity for hands on environmental science inquiry, but also provides the opportunity to develop teamwork and collaborative skills.  

While walking in North Side yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice the caring relationships between staff and students as children waved eagerly to the adults in the building as they passed through the halls.  In just two weeks, on Oct. 24, all of Wheatley will be involved in a Day of Service and Learning where students develop a personal sense of agency in their efforts to reach out to help others in a meaningful way.   

While all these efforts are supportive of students’ affective  growth, it is interesting to note that a recent study of the work of the Northeast Foundation for Children found that giving focus in school to students’ social and emotional development (an important goal in itself) actually increased student cognitive and academic growth. 

Representative of this district’s and community’s commitment to the development of the whole child is the exciting new program, Parent University.   

The district staff, PTO’s and community members have been working tirelessly, developing and preparing for this evening. It looks to be such a special event.  Please mark your calendars now with the date, Nov. 8 at Wheatley, from 7:00-9:25 p.m. 

The evening is designed to help parents gain important insight into ways to help support their children’s success, both socially and intellectually.  Workshops have been specifically selected to provide the types of information and guidance that families ask for.  There are workshops for parents of children of all ages. Some of the titles include:  “Saying ‘NO’ When Everyone is Saying ‘YES’,”  “Niceness is Priceless:  Anti-Bullying Strategies,”   “Helping Your Child Navigate H.S. the Social Scene.”    

My home district sponsors “Parent Universities” similar to the one East Williston is inaugurating this November.  As my own children were growing up, I attended these ‘universities’ and always found the workshops very informative. I was always very glad to have attended them!

Audit Report:_Board of Education Work Session – October 10, 2012

At this week’s BOE Work Session, one of the agenda items was a report from the District Independent External Auditors.  

All school districts in New York State are required to hire an outside auditing firm to conduct an independent review of the district’s finances.  

Mr. Alan Yu, CPA, a partner at Cullen & Danowski LLP, presented the audit report to the Board of Education and the public, giving East Williston School District the highest rating that an audit can receive.  

In addition to recognizing the efforts of the District Business Office, Mr. Yu also made a special commendation to the district’s Audit Committee, noting the expertise and diligence of its members.  

This advisory committee is comprised of the following volunteer community members, Vincent J. Vincenzo, Lawrence J. Waldman, Patrick Gillespie, Alan Goldstein, Larry Posner and board liaison Leonard Hirsch. A special thank you to these and all the other dedicated community volunteers who provide such valuable support to the district.

Goals

The 2012-13 goals for our school district are just being finalized. Look for them on the website next week (District homepage > District tab > About Our District > District Goals on left navigation bar).  Each year, the district adopts specific goals as part of its organizational plan.  These goals are based on the following factors:  (i) changing state requirements; (ii) analysis of student performance; (iii) the District’s commitment to continuous growth; and (iv) implementation of steps toward long range objectives.  

While specific goals are articulated and addressed each year district-wide, staff in each of the three buildings continue to work on overall building goals as well as on fulfilling a shared commitment to support the vision of the East Williston School District Mission. You can find the District Mission Statement on the district website on the About Our District webpage and in the school calendar.  

As the district moves forward with its long range strategic planning initiative, yearly goals will also be developed in conjunction with the goals of the Strategic Plan. 

Have a good weekend

Please email kanase@ewsdonline.org or call 333-3782 with any questions, suggestions and/or any topics you would like to see in this newsletter.

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