Middle Schools Launch Summer Read with
'One Goal'
|
City School District of New Rochelle students who will enter eighth grade in September will start a districtwide summer reading project with a book they all received recently as a gift.
More than 800 students took home copies of
One Goal: A Coach, A Team and the Game that Brought a Divided Town Together. It tells the true story of how thousands of Somali refugees initially met resistance in their new home of Lewiston, Maine, but eventually won over the community by sharing an affection and affinity for soccer.
As an added treat, the students got to meet the author, Dr. Amy Bass, a history professor, writer and New Rochelle resident, who gave presentations at Albert Leonard Middle School and Isaac E. Young Middle School in mid-June.
"I can't wait to read this book," IEYMS student Christian Pizzos said during Dr. Bass's presentation. "I really like soccer, and this book sounds exciting."
Pizzos's family members come from Brazil and are avid soccer fans.
The books were provided by the PTAs at ALMS and IEYMS and a grant from My Brother's Keeper New Rochelle. The co-presidents of both PTAs worked with Hachette Book Group on the logistics of ordering 925 copies of the book.
Called, "One of the best sports books I've ever read," by John Green, author of
The Fault in Our Stars,
One Goal focuses on the acceptance of new immigrants and the coming together of a community. When the refugees first moved into the small New England city in 2000, tensions resulted. The mayor told them to "Stop coming," and the new students found "Go Back to Africa" messages on the bathroom walls.
By 2010, the city of 36,000 residents had become home to approximately 7,000 immigrants, many of whom faced racial prejudice.
Acceptance for many of the Somali refugees finally came via soccer, a game that the children played extremely well and that their parents - and eventually the entire community - embraced. Lewiston High School's wise longtime soccer coach Mike McGraw welcomed the Somali students onto his team, bringing compassion and, ultimately, glory to both the team and the city.
Today, messages at Lewiston City Hall, notes Dr. Bass, are translated into four different languages - English, French, Somali and Arabic.
Dr. Bass said she hoped the students found the book to be rewarding.
"There are two main takeaways for students reading
One Goal," she said. "One message is what kinds of things can be possible, even the seemingly impossible, when people work together, when people work as one. The other key theme that I emphasize with students is the philosophy of one of the main characters in the book, Shobow Saban. He talks about what he calls living his thank you. I find that to be a really interesting way to approach one's life path: how to live your thank you. I ask students to think, 'How do you live your thank you?'"
|
|
|
| The author, Dr. Amy Bass, with Isaac E. Young Middle School student Christian Pizzos. |
|
Prepare Medical Information
Now for
Next School Year
|
|
Prepare for the new school year by taking care of your student's medical information.
Physical Exam:
All new students and children entering Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 in September will be required to submit a copy of their current physical exam to the school nurse within 30 days of starting school.
Immunizations:
Current students promoted to the following grades will also be required to submit updated immunization records in order to attend school:
Grade 6 -
Tdap booster
Grade 7 -
One dose of meningococcal vaccine
Grade 12 -
Second dose of meningococcal vaccine, given on or after age 16.
Parents should check with their child's health care provider as soon as possible to make sure that they are up to date and ready to start school in the fall.
(See important note on immunizations below.)
In-school Medication Pick-up:
Parents need to pick up their child's in-school medication from the school nurse before summer vacation. New medication orders with supplies are due back in the fall.
Athletics Forms and Info:
Health information required for athletics participation may be submitted through Family ID located on the Athletics website.
|
State Removes Vaccine Exemptions
|
|
New York State has removed non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children.
Children who are attending child day care or public, private or parochial school, and who had a religious
exemption to required immunizations, must now receive the first age-appropriate dose in each
immunization series by June 28 to attend or remain in school or child day care. Also, by July 14 parents and guardians of such children must show that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses.
Children attending school in the fall must obtain the first dose vaccinations by 14 days from the first day of school, which is September 4 in the City School District of New Rochelle. Within 30 days of the first day of school, parents and guardians of such children must show that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses.
|
|
Monday-Wednesday, June 24-26:
Elementary Schools Half Day
Tuesday, June 25: ALMS Transition Ceremony, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, June 25: IEYMS Grade 8 Graduation Rehearsal, 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 25: NRHS Graduation, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 26: IEYMS Grade 8 Graduation, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday-Tuesday, June 27-July 2: Summer School Registration
Monday, July 1: First Day of Summer School
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Winners of the Gwendolen M. Appleyard Fund Scholarship, one of many awards given, for achievement and service.
|
|
Hundreds of Awards
Given to Seniors
|
|
New Rochelle High School seniors received 100s of awards in an annual celebration with so many accolades it is split into two ceremonies.
"You have continually impressed us with your major accomplishments in a broad range of areas," Interim Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey told them at the Monday ceremony in the Whitney M. Young Jr. Auditorium.
Honorees received scholarships, trophies, books, certificates and even Apple computers.
The ceremonies also honored two faculty members with the Donald J. Conetta Service Award. It was given to Joel Fridovich, the retiring Director of the Alternative Campus High School, and New Rochelle High School social studies teacher, Deborah Minchin.
Minchin urged the students to devote themselves to their interests.
"I encourage you to find the things that you care about," she said. "Throw yourself into them. Your hearts, your minds, your energy will ensure that the world we all share is a kinder one, a gentler one, a fairer one, a better one."
|
Parking to be Difficult at ALMS, NRHS Ceremonies
|
|
Those attending the Albert Leonard Middle School and New Rochelle High School graduations on Tuesday should leave extra time to get there as the ceremonies coincide with the state's Primary Election Day. Both schools serve as polling places.
The ALMS graduation takes place at 10 a.m. at the school. The NRHS graduation begins at 5 p.m. on McKenna Field.
Expect parking to be tight at or near ALMS from 9 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 7 p.m. at or near NRHS.
The District will help those who require assistance with mobility by taking them to the graduation field via golf cart. Those attending the ALMS graduation can make use of the service by being dropped off at the rear entrance on Sussex Road, opposite Albert Leonard Road. Those attending the NRHS graduation can find the golf cart service at the rear administration parking lot by the planetarium, near where Flandreau and Argyle avenues meet.
|
|
|
| The Columbus School Chess Team with (last row, from left.) Board President Jeffrey Hastie, chess team faculty coordinator Mark Hegenauer and Interim Superintendent Dr. Magda Parvey. |
|
Honors and Accolades at Final 2018-19 Board of Education Meeting
|
 |
|
|
Board member Dr. Salvador A. Fernandez (left) and President Jeffrey Hastie. |
In the Board room in the City School District of New Rochelle offices, the Board members passed resolutions:
President Hastie and Dr. Fernandez thanked the community and Board colleagues for their support of the District and the students over the years. They talked about improvements made in equity, transparency, accountability, communications and fiscal responsibility.
"Thank you for giving me the honor to serve you," Hastie said. "It has been my sincere pleasure."
Dr. Fernandez said to his colleagues, "Thank you for your inspiration, feedback and willingness to share your concerns."
|
|
|
| From left: New Rochelle City Manager Charles Strome III; Jake Gallin, Founder of Stars for Cars; New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson; and Ret. US Navy Lieutenant Commander Brett Morash at the 2019 New Rochelle Memorial Day Ceremony. |
|
NRHS Student Wins Daily Point of Light Award
|
|
New Rochelle High School junior Jake Gallin has won a Daily Point of Light Award and was recognized the day after Memorial Day by Westchester County Executive George Latimer who declared Tuesday, May 28 officially as Jake Gallin Day in the county.
In 2011 at the age of 8, Gallin founded Stars for Cars to bring attention to and raise money for Blue Star Families and Gold Star Families. He designed and started selling a star-shaped magnetic car decal in hopes of raising awareness of the sacrifices that these brave families make every day.
In 2014, Gallin expanded his efforts, sending more than 7,000 letters to New York state schools, school superintendents and government officials, urging them to make an announcement recognizing military members and their families each year on Memorial Day, Patriot Day (9/11) and Veterans Day. The announcement reads, "We take this time to remember our 'Blue Star' and 'Gold Star' military families and thank them for their sacrifice and generosity. We want them to know that they are a part of our community."
He has taken those efforts nationally, sending thousands of letters each year. So far, 226 schools, districts in 40 states and three sports teams have signed up to make the announcements.
"Over the last eight years Jake has shown an incredible commitment to service and has already made a tremendous impact on the world around him," said Volunteer New York! Executive Director Alisa H. Kesten. "Just as we are inspired by Jake, we hope his story helps those wondering if they can make a difference. Because, the secret is, yes you can!"
"Volunteer New York! has helped me to spread my mission," Gallin said. "Their early recognition of Stars for Cars, when I was in the third grade, gave us the foundation to reach a wider audience. They have continued over these many years to be a source of support, guidance and friendship."
Volunteer Opportunities
Stars For Cars
For more information on how you can join Stars For Cars, and how you can help, visit the
Stars For Cars website.
|
|
|
