Board of Education Meeting Notes
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Here are some highlights from the Oct. 30 Board of Education meeting:
Lincoln Attendance Zone: The Board returned to the Lincoln attendance zone this week with a second meeting at the Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle - Remington Unit. The meeting took place in an area of the city that was served by the Lincoln Elementary School before it closed in the 1960s following a landmark desegregation case.
The session, coming about a year after the Board's historic first meeting in the zone, was well attended. More than 150 community members were present.
"We are returning now because our commitment to serving this area of the District - to serving the entire District - remains as strong as ever," Dr. Parvey told the audience. "It is wonderful to see you all here."
Many residents spoke about changes the District is considering in its elementary school foreign language offerings, including the potential phasing out of the immersion program called CILA offered at William B. Ward Elementary School. The Board has not made a final decision on language programs. If a program were phased out, students enrolled would be allowed to complete the program.
"Every Student Succeeds" Funds: Director of Instructional Support Tiara Reyes-Vega presented an overview of the District's programs under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Grants are available in categories called Title I through Title IV, serving a wide range of students, including immigrants and English language learners, those in academic need and the homeless.
The federal support is "meant to supplement, not supplant the district resources," Reyes-Vega said.
Title I funds support basic programs. Three times a year, Reyes-Vega holds a meeting with the principals of the District's four Title I schools - the Barnard Early Childhood Center and the Columbus, Jefferson and Trinity Elementary Schools - to talk about how to allocate the funds and to discuss the programs implemented.
Title II funds help create more effective educators with professional development and other programs; Title III supports immigrant students and English language learners; and Title IV funds are allocated to student support and academic enrichment.
The funds are also used to guide parents and guardians in ways to support the education of their children.
"We want parents to be part of their children's educational process," Reyes-Vega said.
School Buddy Updates: Board of Education members began the school year at assemblies, parent nights and other events in the recently established School Buddy program. The initiative pairs each Board member with a school, encouraging the trustee to build a stronger bond with each building and its family.
"It's been a great experience for Board members to get to know the schools better," Board Vice President Amy Moselhi said at the meeting.
Members listed some of their activities; Julia Muggia Ochs enjoyed Hispanic Culture Night at New Rochelle High School, Dr. Salvador Fernandez joined a mothers' group meeting at Columbus Elementary School and Rachel Relkin joined a Trinity Elementary School barbecue, as just a few examples. Board members said that, as they are paired with new schools each quarter, they are not moving on, but accumulating school communities they feel more connected to. As Board member Christopher Daniello said; "My goal is to be a buddy for all the schools."
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Field Trip Fuels Girls' Interest
in STEM
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Last Friday, 30 female students from Isaac E. Young Middle School traveled to the Tarrytown facility of Regeneron - an international biotech company - to participate in an event packed full of hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities. The school field trip was organized in concert with Regeneron and
Girls Inc. of New York City
, the local chapter of an organization that has been advocating for girls since 1864, with the mission to "inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold."
Women scientists from Regeneron directed hands-on experimentation stations that invited the eager participants to use, and build upon, knowledge they have acquired in the classroom.
"I love that this was for girls, by women," said Kerly Bustillos, world language educator at IEYMS and the school's Girls Inc. coordinator. "It was really such a strong message, for the girls to see women in these roles and know they could do it, too."
There were six guided experiments in all, which were titled: Energy in Motion, Strawberry DNA, Cracking the Code, How to Make Salt Dance, To the Moon & Back, and Healthy Habit Organelles.
"The girls loved it, and I couldn't imagine a better way to introduce them to careers in science and technology," said Bustillos. "The hands-on nature of the day had the girls engaged and excited the whole time, at every station!"
One might say the enthusiastically enquiring minds from IEYMS were evidence that New Rochelle's districtwide encouragement of girls to pursue STEM subjects is proving effective. The timing is pretty good too. The US Department of Education reports that the number of STEM jobs in the country will continue to grow faster than the national average for jobs across all sectors into the year 2020 and beyond.
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District's Disinfecting is Subject of Video
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The City School District of New Rochelle's program of cleaning and disinfecting desks, chairs and pretty much every other surface is in the spotlight.
The Facilities Department's use of new spray applicators districtwide is so comprehensive that it was chosen to be featured in a
video demonstrating the EvaClean's Protexus system. The company and a video crew visited Trinity Elementary School recently as custodian Steve Spady used the handheld and backpack applicators filled with the Puretab disinfecting solution in classrooms, the auditorium, restrooms and hallways. The system uses an electrostatic process that causes droplets of the solution, which is safer than bleach, to wrap around objects, making it simple to cover hard-to-reach areas and the most frequently touched surfaces when spraying desks, chairs, doorknobs, restroom fixtures, and even haphazard groups of markers or crayons in trays.
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* This link connects to an outside website
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Saturday, November 3:
SAT, NRHS, 8 a.m.
Monday, November 5: PTA Meeting, Trinity, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 6: Election Day, Schools Closed, Professional Development Day for Staff
Tuesday, November 6: Election Day Bake Sale, Barnard, 7 a.m.
Wednesday, November 7: Block It Out Day, ALMS
Wednesday, November 7: Area All-State Music Rehearsals, NRHS, 4 p.m.
Wednesday-Thursday, November 7-8: Fall Photo Days, Barnard
Thursday, November 8: Picture Make Up Day, ALMS
Thursday, November 8: Picture Day, Columbus
Thursday, November 8: Financial Aid Night, NRHS, 7 p.m.
Thursday, November 8: Area All-State Pre-Rehearsal, SUNY Purchase, 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m.; All-State Concert, 8 p.m.
Friday, November 9: Movie Night, Trinity
Saturday, November 10: College Goal NY, NRHS, 11 a.m.
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| Mackenzie Harding, a junior, interviews actor Christopher Sieber. |
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Students Meet Producers, Broadway Star for Project
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Ten New Rochelle High School students made the most of a great opportunity this week when they were treated to an exclusive visit with the producers of the upcoming Broadway show "The Prom."
The students interviewed producers Jack Lane, Joe Grandy and Andrew Kuhlman, recorded the session, took video of the Longacre Theatre and found New Yorkers and tourists outside the theater to speak with on camera. They are now fashioning their recordings of the day into several videos.
"The trip was phenomenal," said junior Maddie Bamberger. "We got to take B-roll outside and we got to do man-on-the-street interviews."
They also chatted with a couple of the actors, and interviewed one star, Christopher Sieber, who is known for being the original Lord Farquaad in the Broadway show "Shrek The Musical," and for television shows including "It's All Relative" and "Two of a Kind."
 In "The Prom," four Broadway thespians travel to Indiana to help a high school student who has run into resistance by inviting her girlfriend to the big senior dance. In previews now, it is scheduled to open Nov. 15.
On Monday, one of Bamberger's roles was to find people on the street for her classmates to interview and record.
"There were a lot of people who said some really insightful things and put some thought into their answers," she said. "That was really awesome to hear."
Anthony Stirpe, the teacher who led the trip, let the students manage the project themselves.
"They were amazing - truly professional," Stirpe said. "The producers said their behavior and professionalism went way beyond what they expected - and what they have seen in other groups."
After conducting their interviews and capturing video, the students were joined by 52 schoolmates and eight chaperones, who all got to attend a preview performance.
NRHS was the only school invited to the preview, which was a special performance for director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw. With "The Prom," he will have four shows running on Broadway simultaneously. He is also the director of "Aladdin," "Book of Mormon" and "Mean Girls." The preview was held on a Monday - a night off for many shows - so that cast members of Nicholaw's other productions could attend.
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NRHS Faces Top-Seeded John Jay for Class AA Title
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No. 2-seed New Rochelle will square off against top-seeded John Jay-East Fishkill for the Class AA championship at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mahopac High School. This is the Huguenot's 13th Section 1 championship appearance since 2000. They are now playing for their fourth consecutive Class AA title. They are undefeated in Section 1 championship games.
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Jordan Forrest |
New Rochelle (8-1) won the Class AA semifinal last week against No. 6-seeded Carmel, 54-34. John Jay-East Fishkill (9-0) beat No. 4 Arlington, 28-0.
The team is led by Jordan Forrest, who was named by The Journal News as its "Player of the Week" for his performance against Carmel.
Forrest had 29 carries for 253 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were on runs of more than 60 yards. Also contributing in the win was quarterback Mac Coughlin, who was 6 for 10 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns (to Omari Walker for 51 yards; Halim Dixon-King for 33 yards; and Jessie Parson for 54 yards). Walker had 140 yards of offense and two touchdowns on eight plays from the line of scrimmage. He also had an interception. Dixon-King had the touchdown on offense and had a fourth-quarter interception for 74 yards.
Admission is $8 for adults and students 12 and over and $5 for children under 12, senior citizens and veterans.
CROSS COUNTRY: New Rochelle's boys and girls cross country teams are competing in the Section 1 championship at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.
GIRLS SWIM: The following members of the girls' swim team competed in the Section 1 trials on Tuesday: Jaelynn Taylor: 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle; Daniella Condon: 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; Carolyn Blenk: 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke; Izzy Balachandran: 100 backstroke; Ella Harshman: 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
While these girls did not qualify for Thursday's individual finals, the members of the 200 medley relay set a new school record with a time of 1:56.7, breaking the old record of 1:57.12 set in 2010. The relay team is comprised of the following individuals (in order of their event): Balachandran (backstroke), Blenk (breaststroke), Taylor (butterfly) and Harshman (freestyle).
The NRHS swim team won the league championship going undefeated (11-0) this season.
BOYS SOCCER: The boys soccer team earned a share of the league championship and advanced to the Sectional semifinals, where they were defeated by Ossining 2-0. Congratulations to Coach Jarohan Garcia for earning the league's Coach of the Year award. This is the third time Garcia has been recognized by his fellow coaches for the award.
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Calling Artists, Performers
for Black History Celebration
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The City School District of New Rochelle (CSDNR), the Westchester Alliance of Black School Educators (WABSE) and the New Rochelle Black History Month Committee is seeking artists for the 7th Annual Black History Celebration, including the WABSE Spoken Word and Art Exhibit, which will be held on Feb. 9, 2019, at New Rochelle High School.
 The event will commemorate the life, work and legacy of singer Aretha Franklin by celebrating themes of freedom, perseverance, civil rights and activism. Franklin's artistry spans decades and musical genres of the blues, gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues and popular music.
Staff will once again be asked to work with CSDNR students to showcase their visual art, spoken word, drama, dance, music and poetry for the celebration.
"This annual event brings together the entire community as we celebrate American history and the awesome talents of our students in the City School District of New Rochelle!" said Candace Pinn, WABSE president, event chair and Barnard Kindergarten teacher.
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| From left, in back, Faculty advisor Deborah Minchin; Edward Jones, Vice President: Communications; Doni Blakaj, Vice President: Service; Lily Conroy, Secretary; Jenna Landy, President; Sophie Goldman, Treasurer; Jalen Miranda, Vice President: Service; and Mered Kopstein, faculty advisor. Front row, from left, Isabella Vianna, Vice President: Membership; and Alexis Fred, Public Relations Officer. |
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Seven NRHS Students Join National Honor Society
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Seven New Rochelle High School students joined the school's chapter of the National Honor Society this week, when they were celebrated for academic excellence, character and civic responsibility.
The new members are: Tyler Greene, Jasmine Lopez, Deontray McGill, Owen McKinney, Jack Rieger, Ayda Tuku and Andrea Velez-Davis. They were inducted by Interim Principal Joseph Starvaggi in the Linda E. Kelly Theater at New Rochelle High School.
"Acceptance into the National Honor Society reflects a student's dedication to the four pillars of scholarship, leadership, service and character," said teacher Deborah Minchin, a faculty advisor of the chapter. "For many students, the most valuable aspect of the National Honor Society is that it encourages and enables them to become involved in our community in ways that they otherwise might not have pursued."
The chapter's officers, elected by their peers in this year's opening meeting, were also installed Monday. They are: Jenna Landy - President; Isabella Vianna - Vice President: Membership; Jalen Miranda and Doni Blakaj - Vice Presidents: Service; Edward Jones - Vice President: Communications; Sophie Goldman - Treasurer; Lily Conroy - Secretary; and Alexis Fred - Public Relations Officer.
In the ceremony, candles are lit to represent the four pillars, which have characterized membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.
Starvaggi, Interim Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey and Board of Education member Julia Muggia Ochs congratulated the students.
"You bring such pride and hope to New Rochelle, our state, and nation," Ochs told them. "We are grateful to you. You are a source of inspiration."
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Report Building Issues
with Tracking System
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The system for reporting issues with City School District of New Rochelle school buildings is now easier to find on the District's homepage. Look for the icon of a school building and the words "Report issues with school buildings and facilities" above the "Quick Links" section. Access the District's condition reporting system directly here and also under DISTRICT SERVICES on the Health & Safety page.
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