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HSMSE PTA Newsletter
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JUNE 2017
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Donate to the
HSMSE PTA
Family Fund
Your tax-deductible donations to HSMSE PTA help support sports teams, clubs and student enrichment and purchase needed materials for classrooms. Make a secure online donation through PayPal. HSMSE PTA FAMILY FUND |
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Matching Gifts
If your company matches Gifts, it can help HSMSE. Ask your employer for a matching gift form and mail it to the PTA:
PTA @HSMSE
240 Convent Avenue
New York, NY 10031
Matching gifts can make a huge huge difference in the lives of our children. All you have to do is ask.
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- School Wide Barbeque - Monday, June 5
- School Leadership Team Meeting - Tuesday, June 6, 4:30 to 6:30 pm
- PTA Meeting: Senior Parent Panel - Tuesday, June 6, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
- National Honor Society Inductions - Wednesday, June 7. 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
- New Freshman Student Orientation - Thursday, June 8.
- NO SCHOOL for Students - Thursday, June 8.
- Middle School Initiative End of Year Event - Saturday, June 10
- New Freshman Parent Orientation - Monday, June 12, 6:00 to 7:30 pm
- End of Third Marking Period, Regents Week begins - Monday, June 12.
- Senior Prom - Thursday, June 15
- NO SCHOOL - Wednesday, June 21
- Graduation Rehearsal - Wednesday, June 21, 10:00am-12:00pm
- Senior Graduation - Thursday, June 22, 1:00-3:00pm
- NO SCHOOL - Thursday, June 22
- NO SCHOOL - Friday, June 23 - Regents Rating Day
- NO SCHOOL - Monday, June 26 - Eid al-Fitr
- Academic Awards & National Honor Society Awards - Tuesday June 27. (Information to follow about this.)
- Last Day For All Students, Wednesday, June 28.
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR REGENTS EXAMS SCHEDULE
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FROM THE PTA PRESIDENT
Dear HSMSE Families,
I can't believe how quickly we arrived at June - it seems like yesterday we were enjoying the beginning weeks of Fall and school! And my daughter is a rising SENIOR - yikes! This past year at HSMSE has passed so quickly! We had a lovely 9th grade trip to the Tappan Zee Bridge and then the Seniors did their awesome annual trip to the Hudson Valley Resort and their upcoming prom at the Green Building should also be quite an experience! Additionally we added a school-wide trip to see Hidden Figures which was a grand success! Hopefully next year we will get a few more trips in there for the grades to experience.
We had to say good bye to two of our teachers Ms. Zanetti and Mr. Yanakis - I wish them the best of luck in their retirement. And thanks to all of the teachers that stepped up to the plate to help fill in while we got replacements. We also have to wave good bye to our Parent Coordinator, Cristin Hill who is leaving for Geneva, Switzerland. She helped tremendously with the communications to all of our parents. Kristina Gowin did some great workshops and I hope we can look forward to some new exciting ones next year too!
Huge congrats to all of our faculty, admin, staff and students who have contributed to the richness and success of HSMSE!
We are deeply grateful to all of the families who have donated their time and/or their money this year to help the school achieve its goals. Many of the above-mentioned successes could not have happened with PTA funding.
I hope we get lots of parents to help with all of the school activities next year too.
Bravo to you!
We hope you and your family have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall. If you are
parents
of a senior, congratulations!!! We hope you and your child will join our Alumni Network next year.
Wishing you a safe and relaxing summer! I look forward to our annual Parent Teacher mixer in the Fall and I look forward to my last year as the PTA President for this amazing high school that was ranked 3rd in New York State by US News and World Report (and 26th in the nation) - Hooray for HSMSE!
Best,
Susan
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LETTER FROM THE PTA VICE PRESIDENT
Hi.
Can you believe that the school year is almost over? It's been a great year at HSMSE, and the PTA is proud we could support many projects and initiatives at the school.
As many of you heard from your children, on May 10, 2017, a few hundred students were joined by teachers, administrators and parents at the AMC Magic Johnson Theaters to see the movie
Hidden Figures
. It's not every day that teenagers sit engrossed while watching a serious, historical film with a strong STEM background for the plot. And then to top it all off, they gave a sustained ovation as the credits rolled! Hearing a student whisper, "Hey, I know that math equation" as geometry lessons were being used to send a rocket into space was a treat. We hope to do a similar trip again - maybe as early as next year.
The PTA was also happy to represent HSMSE at the Specialized High School fairs in the Bronx and Brooklyn on May 21, 2017. With our just-announced high school rankings of #3 in NY State and #26 nationally (via U.S. News & World Report's 2017 just-released scores), it was fun to speak to students and parents from all over NYC about our great school. We hope to see many of these prospective students at our Open House next October.
Enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing many of you at our PTA meetings next year!
Regards,
Ken Katzman
PTA Vice-President
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FEATURING MR. SALVATORE D'ALESSANDRO !!
I
was born in Gambatesa, province of Campobasso Italy, the home of Colavita olive oil, and I still spend part of every year there, visiting friends and family. I also work on my old home in the hills of the Moloise region. Maybe I'll even retire there with my many musical instruments and cook my favorite Italian dishes while overlooking the sun-kissed rolling hills, dotted with cypress trees and sand-washed stone farm houses in the distance. A big change from living in a Greenwich Village apartment for forty years and where I still live.
I came to HSMSE in 2006 to direct the Music Department. I transferred from Brooklyn Technical High School, which is also my Alma mater. I received degrees from CCNY and NYU. Over the past eleven years I have enabled HSMSE students to find relief and refuge from their rigorous STEM programs through making music - both in song and playing instruments. Our students have showcased their talents at various school events and over the years we've even had some interaction with the CCNY music department. Currently I teach classical guitar, band, and chorus, all of which are preparing and rehearsing for our graduation day performance in the Great Hall in Shepard Hall.
I was not always a Music Teacher. Prior to my life as a teacher, I worked for Lufthansa German Airlines for twenty years and this is where my knowledge of German was learned. I love being a teacher because I have no children of my own and consider all my students like my own (only to be a little happy to say goodbye to them at
3:35 PM). Thankfully, some will remember my legacy through all the songs I have taught them. I think being a teacher at HSMSE is a great privilege because of the diverse students we have. What I try to impart to my students is that nothing in the world really matters except the arts. When all else fails, the arts will save the world.
Outside of school I love to cook, keep abreast of the news, travel, play the piano, and sing with an adult chorus at Riverside church on the Upper West Side. We usually perform at Lincoln Center. Please come to our next performance!
MR. D'ALESSANDRO TALK ABOUT THE HSMSE CHORUS
When I came to HSMSE in 2006 there was no chorus. It started as an elective class together with a jazz band, also an elective. I may be the only teacher at the school that has two electives. The chorus elective was eventually dropped because of lack of student enrollment and replaced with the guitar elective, a much more popular class. At about the same time, Mr. Burgan and I determined that it was a good idea to track the sophomores according to their music preference as a core class; not an elective. This led to the creation of another chorus but of course it only lasts for one term and flips as a health class. Unfortunately, as a small school, music classes can't be sequential. We therefore put students with varying abilities into the two elective classes, jazz band and classical guitar. These kids do play for various school events like the talent show, NHS ceremony, open house, graduation and a small Christmas performance in the lobby during the day. Yes, it would be possible to have a formal concert with the chorus and jazz bands but we would have to ask CCNY for a small venue.
We don't have formal concerts as do the big high schools because the chorus is a one semester course and the kids have varying degrees of talent but we do sing a graduation song for graduation. We have selected "Hero" by Mariah Carey. We also sing the Star Spangled Banner in harmony for the event. This year I was fortunate to have an excellent singer/musician, Anthony Choi. He will play a piece on the Cello for the event. We are also working on a patriotic song, "God Bless the USA" with the band and chorus but and hopefully we will have it ready by then!
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Ms. REGINA ZAFONTE,
AP History Teacher and Girls' Soccer Coach.
Adding to her list of many awards, honors, and fellowships, (including a Fulbright Scholarship),
congratulations to Ms. Zafonte for being selected as a Big Apple Teaching Award District Finalist!
Out of 7,800 nominations received from across the city to represent teaching excellence, she was one of a select few to receive this honor.
Ms. Zafonte was also chosen by the Jain Institute to study Jainism and Indian history and culture in India for three weeks this summer.
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NEW STUDENT MURAL
ON SECOND FLOOR OF BASKERVILLE HALL
When Ms. Zafonte sent an email about recruiting a team to create a history mural outside Room 201, she wanted it to have past-present connections and an inspirational message. When our group assembled, we brainstormed many different ideas before settling on an architectural theme. The mural has ancient buildings on the top from different societies throughout time, and modern buildings reflected in water on the bottom. The center of the mural reads, "Your deeds are your monuments" What will you build? HSMSE students may end up pursuing careers in engineering; some may even go on to design buildings just as grand as the ones featured in the mural. However, students are not limited to pursuing engineering. What students learn from history will help them accomplish their goals in the future and build their own "monuments," whether they are physical buildings or other achievements. The painting asks students, what they will "build" in their lives through their deeds, which can consist of acts of kindness and compassion that can be just as impressive as these magnificent structures. Indeed, each one of us as the ability to create greatness.
The mural itself would not have come together without our amazing team, and a long process of brainstorming, drawing, and painting. We took some time selecting the buildings that would go on the top and bottom of the mural. Then, we sketched it on a large piece of chart paper which helped us map it out spatially. After that, we drew the buildings on the wall, made some adjustments and then started to paint. Each building was completed by one person or a pair in their own style, but everyone helped each other. All team members had different art and painting experience so there were always suggestions and tips exchanged. At first the group was very quiet. However, over time and through continual progress, the Mighty Mural team grew closer together through this amazing experience. The great teamwork, dedication and art skills of each individual member came together to create a beautiful painting that portrays a powerful message. We hope you enjoy it!
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REGENTS EXAMS SCHEDULE
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DAY
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DATE
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EXAM
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TIME
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Tuesday
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June 13 |
US History and Government |
9:15 am
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| Tuesday |
June 13 |
Algebra I (Common Core) |
1:15 pm
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| Wednesday |
June 14 |
English (Common Core) |
9:15 am
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| Wednesday |
June 14 |
Living Environment
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1:15 pm
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| Thursday |
June 15 |
Global History and Geography |
9:15 am
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| Thursday |
June 15 |
Physics / Earth Science |
1:15 pm
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| Friday |
June 16 |
Geometry (Common Core) |
9:15 am
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| Friday |
June 16 |
Algebra II (Common Core) |
1:15 pm
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| Monday |
June 19 |
LOTE (German and Spanish) |
9:15 am
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| Tuesday |
June 20 |
Chemistry |
9:15 am
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SPRING 2017 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION
The NHS Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, in Shepard Hall 250. All students, teachers, parents and families are welcome.
The ceremony will
be lead entirely by current National Honor Society students. We are also planning musical
performances.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE INDUCTEES!
SOPHOMORES:
Afsana Rahman, Eliona Lecaj, Riley Neher, Mara Yella, Robert Taylor, Joshua Tenzer, Diamond Mensah, Hassaan Qaiser, Maya Gyamfuaa-Antui, Syeda Mahajabin, Afia Boakye, Charles Salser, Mariam-Ann Bashiru.
JUNIORS:
Rose Goodman, Joy Aun, Austin Davis, Miles Greenblatt, Precious Inofomoh, Michael Moriarty,
Max Li, Shubhashish Argha, Naemal Bhatti, Franklin Guttman, Mari Kubota, Bryan Medina,
Justin Sinanan.
SENIORS:
Allan Jung, Abusaleh Masud.
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FROM THE SENIOR CLASS CO-PRESIDENT
Prom planning is in full swing, and the Prom Boutique was a massive success, so thank you to Ms. Bonds! Ms. Boylan and the leadership committee are doing lots of work to create a beautiful event, and tables and court nominations are being finalized. The budget this year is extremely tight, so all seniors MUST PAY THEIR OUTSTANDING BALANCES! We have vendors to reserve for both prom and graduation, so this is vitally important."
From the Class of 2017 to the Class of 2018 in response to your previous list of "Why the Class of 2018 is Better Than the Class of 2017", all I can say is that we'll be in college in the fall and you'll be working on your Common Apps! Who is the real winner?
Carin Queener
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Mens Volleyball
The HSMSE boys' volleyball team had a landmark season this year, finishing in second place in their division with an 8-2 record. While the team lost to a tough Bayside team in the first round of the PSAL "A" division playoffs, their campaign was highlighted with victories over annual city championship contenders Cardozo and Bronx Science.
In another "first" for the team, HSMSE was able to host their first invitational tournament at City College on April 29th.
The Dragons finished second in pool play, but came back to defeat both Brooklyn Tech and Midwood in two exciting matches to win the tournament.
The team was led by their three four-year members, seniors Issac Draper, Will Esseks, and Yussef Elbagoury, whose tremendous leadership and development helped to push the team forward in often tough situations. Seniors Hamza Akik, Damar Hastings-Mercado, Peter Kilkenny, and Samson Lin also provided strong contributions throughout to add support to the team's efforts.
The team will greatly miss their graduating seniors, who leave behind a legacy of growth that started as a group of freshmen that went 0-10 in league play. With an enthusiastic group of freshmen and sophomores returning, the team looks to build the next generation of boys' volleyball at HSMSE.
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BIG NEWS FOR BASEBALL DRAGONS!
Big news for the baseball Dragons! After a winning season (10-6), they qualified for the finals in their division. They won the first playoff game
on Tuesday (3-1, winning pitcher: Adam Greenberg who pitched a complete game) and tonight in extra in innings, the Dragons won in eight: 11 to 9 (winning pitcher: Max Hines). Here's a great photo of the guys, the coaches and the team managers.
Main thing is that the quarterfinals are
on Monday at
3:30 pm, Randall's Island, Field 48. The M35 at 125th and Lex gets out to Randall's in just six minutes. Come one, come all! Everyone needs to come out and cheer on our boys!
- Parent Lisa Albert
Final score tonight was 12-10 against divisional rival Fredrick Douglas Academy. Max Hines was the winning pitcher in relief. Jonathan Katzman drove in the go-ahead runs with a triple in the top of the eighth inning.
The 3-1 win was against ICE (Institute for Collaborative Education), Adam Greenberg was the starter and winning pitcher, Andre Alexander drove in two of the runs.
The game coming up Monday June 5th at 3:30 on Randall's Island Field 48 is against Baruch College Campus High School.
- Parent Ted Greenberg
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LAST PTA MEETING ON TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017!
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Baskerville Hall
Room B-7
Class of 2017 parents discuss what they learned with their Seniors applying to college.
PTA Elections for School Leadership Team, Website, Fundraising, Internships, Alumni Relations.
Updated By-Laws.
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President:
Vice-President:
Treasurer:
Recording Secretary:
Corresponding Secretary:
9th Grade Reps:
Lisa Gordis,
lisa.gordis@gmail.com
10th Grade Reps:
11th Grade Reps:
12th Grade Reps:
SLT REP:
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS BY HSMSE
TEACHERS, STUDENTS,
AND PARENTS
A short manifesto about the importance of combating resistance and taking action to successfully complete tasks and projects.
Recommended by Ms. Regina Zafonte.
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Support HSMSE! The PTA helps to pay for clubs, sports teams, the Senior Prom, field trips, curricular materials, teaching training, and much more. The PTA also makes sure no student will be turned away from an event or activity because he or she cannot afford it. We ask for an annual family donation of $500. We'd like to reach 100% participation by all families, so we encourage you to give what you can afford. Your donations are what makes up the PTA budget, so please contribute!
Donations are tax-deductible! To donate with a credit card online, please visit the HSMSE website donations page.
Checks should be hand-delivered to the school located at Baskerville Hall, 240 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031.
Does your employer make matching gifts to charities? The PTA of HSMSE is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit by the IRS and is eligible for matching gifts. Our federal tax ID number is 11-3671895.
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For an article, link, or story to be considered for inclusion in the monthly PTA Newsletter
please email:
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