|
Campaign to "Bring Back the Pool!
Last week, New York State senators and assembly members, a private foundation, and others gathered at the school to show their support for a $5 million capital campaign to renovate the school's swimming pool. Shuttered since 2014, the circa 1968 pool requires extensive upgrades to meet current codes. Prior to its closing, the pool was used by both Lexington students and the Queens community for swimming lessons and recreational swimming. AM Jessica González-Rojas, who represents New York's 34th Assembly district, has helped to spearhead the project! Click here to read more in the Queens Chronicle!
Thanks to the combined efforts of the legislators, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and private donors, the campaign has reached over 90% of its goal. We are now reaching out to alumni, families, and the local community to raise the final funds to "bring back the pool." For more information on the campaign, visit our webpage at https://bit.ly/LexPool or contact Cindy Casson, Community Relations, at ccasson@lexnyc.org.
| |
Attending the pool event were (l-r): Seth Bravin, Interim Lexington CEO/Superintendent; Assembly Member (AM) Catalina Cruz, 39th District; Shawn Slevin, Swim Strong Foundation; Senator Michael Gianaris, 12th Senate District; AM Andrew Hevesi, 28th District; AM Jessica González-Rojas , 34th District; AM Sam Berger, 27th District; AM Nily Rozic, 25th District; Jaidyn Appel, Program Manager, Stavros Niarchos Foundation; Elisabeth Krents, Board Member and Chair, Lexington Development Committee. Others who have supported the project but were unable to attend include: Senator Jessica Ramos, 13th District; Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, 11th District; AM Jeffrion Aubry, 35th District; AM Ed Braunstein, 26th District; AM Steven Raga, 30th District; and AM Alicia Hyndman, 29th District. | |
|
Drama Club Presents "GREASE" - December 12 & 13
This year, the Drama Club travels to the 1950's to present Grease! Join Sandy & the Pink Ladies, Danny & the Burger Palace Boys, and the rest of the Rydell High School gang as they navigate high school life. Performances are Thursday, December 12, and Friday, December 13 at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm and van service will be available between the school and the Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Avenue MTA station. The show will be performed in American Sign Language with recorded and captioned English. Tickets and sponsorships may be purchased on-line or at the door. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
| |
(L-R) Lezli Valdez takes on the role of Patty Simcox and Reeana Sukhra stars as Sandy Dumbrowski in GREASE. | |
The tech crew has been hard at work building and painting scenery for the production. | |
Jingle & Mingle Brunch - Saturday, December 14th
The Lexington Alumni Association (LAA) will host a Jingle & Mingle Brunch on Saturday, December 14th from 12 to 5 pm in the school cafeteria. The family-friendly event will include games, a holiday read-aloud, and a photo with Santa! Contact the LAA at lexingtonalumni@lexnyc.org or VP 347-448-4558 for more information. Advance tickets can be purchased on Zelle:lexingtonalumni@lexnyc.org or CashApp: https://cash.app/$LexingtonAlumni2023
| |
Travel Training Program Introduced
Since assuming her post several years ago, one of PPS Director Laura Cruz's goals was to offer a formal travel training program for students. Working with David Abrahams in the NYC Department of Education's Office of Travel Training, Laura had two staff trained in District 75's model program. This fall, she saw that goal realized with one student successfully competing the program and two more currently being trained. The program uses one-to-one instruction to teach students the skills and behaviors necessary for traveling safely and independently. The program is funded through the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Lexington is also using its IDEA funds to provide Regents tutoring sessions to students.
| |
Travel trainer Mauricio Vanegas explains how to use a mobile phone app to plan a route from school to home. | |
Travel trainer Maiber Solarte helps students feel comfortable in their neighborhoods before learning to travel to school. | |
|
Training is based on an
assessment of a student's
travel-related skills and needs.
| |
Battle of the Books
On November 14, Lexington participated in the Bison Division of the Battle of the Books. Our Blue Jays competed against Ohio School for the Deaf, Marie Phillip and Walden School (Massachusetts), and Iowa School for the Deaf. Lexington won 2 out of the 3 matches! Battle of the Books is sponsored by Gallaudet University to promote literacy and critical thinking skills. Congratulations to team members: Michelle Juarez Toxqui, Yudesh Persaud, Jayla McClain, Samantha Nozius, Anher Walid, and Juliette Dorch. Students were coached by Steven Schneiderman (head coach) and Holland Sanchez (assistant coach) with IT support provided by Maria Vega.
| |
ACT Prep for Students
During four Saturdays in October, Lexington juniors and seniors participated in a remote ACT Test Prep program in partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID). The course covered English, reading, science, and math. In early November, eight of those students spent four days on the RIT/NTID campus in Rochester alongside students from the Ohio School for the Deaf and Rochester School for the Deaf. In addition to tutoring sessions, the students participated in STEM activities, attended a RIT basketball game, and explored majors provided by RIT/NTID.
| | |
LaGuardia Community College Visit
LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams visited the school on November 21st to discuss how the college could meet the needs of Lexington's students. Also representing LaGuardia during the visit were Dr. Alexis McLean, VP for Student Affairs; Shannon Lund, Director of Admissions; and Jhony Nelson, Director, Office of Accessibility. The LaGuardia team visited several classrooms to meet students and learn of their future plans.
| | |
ESDAA Girls Volleyball
Congratulations to Lexington's Girls Volleyball Team for winning the Silver Bracket Championship Trophy at the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association (ESDAA) Divisions 1 & 2 Volleyball Tournament on October 18-20. Blue Jay Eliana Mera was one of twenty players recognized as a Tournament All-Star. Rochester School for the Deaf claimed the Tournament Championship in the Gold Bracket with American School for the Deaf and Marie Philip Walden Schools (Learning Center for the Deaf), taking second and third place, respectively. The tournament was held at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua. (Photo courtesy of ESDAA.)
| | |
ESDAA Division 1 Soccer
Congratulations to American School for the Deaf for winning the ESDAA Division 1 Soccer Tournament hosted by Lexington on November 1-3. Second place went to Marie Philip & Walden Schools with Lexington taking third place. The Blue Jay's Misael Uzcategui won the Individual Shooting Prize with Lexington's Abraham Pereda Salazar & Ahmed Abdrabou named to the All-Star Team. A special note of thanks to Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School for allowing us to use their soccer facilities for the event. Lexington's newly formed Media Club created a highlights reel of the tournament, which can be viewed below. Follow this link to see tournament results! https://sites.google.com/.../esdaa-soccer/tournamentresults
| |
Metro League Champs!
Congratulations to Lexington's soccer team for winning the Metro League Soccer Championship at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on November 12th. After a hard-fought game between Opportunity Charter School and the Blue Jays, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. During the shootout, Lexington's goalkeeper, Jesse Coleman made two critical saves, while Ahmed Abdrabou, Abraham (Abe) Pereda Salazar, and Alexis Lamar Sime, Jr. each scored, securing a 3-1 win in the shootout and claiming the championship title for Lexington. Congratulations to the team and to Coaches Gabriel Carino and Sergio Valdivieso, as well as volunteer Alvaro, for their dedication and leadership.
| | | | |
