Issue: 2021-2022-18 * Justina Ketyer, Editor * May 5, 2022
In this issue

  • HCT Retiree & 20 Year Honoree Party - RSVP by TOMORROW
  • Board of Education Elections & School Budget Votes
  • Call to Action!
  • Pledge to Vote on May 17th
  • Your Local School District Needs You!
  • Congratulations HCT Teacher of the Week!
  • Calling All Baseball Fans!
  • Mets Vs. Texas Rangers
  • New York Yankees Season Discount
  • Baseball Fans - NY Yankees Teacher Appreciation
  • A Day Off at Adventureland
  • NYSUT Pushing for Regents Safety Net
  • NYSUT United for Peace in Ukraine
  • NYSUT Professional Issues Forum on Health Care Conference
  • NYSUT Special Programs & Seminars
  • Pre-Retirement Seminar
  • Share My Lesson Wellness Series
  • Reverse the Impact of Trauma
  • ELS Wellness Programs
  • Student Loan Debt Webinars
  • School Related Covid Questions
  • Support the Hicksville PTAs
  • Are You Interested in Tutoring?
  • Welcome Baby!
  • Celebrating May Birthdays
  • LIU Post Credits Available
  • News Around the Schools
  • Retiree News
  • NYSUT Member Benefit
HCT Retiree & 20 Year Honoree Party

Thursday, May 12, 2022
6:00 PM

Join your HCT friends and colleagues as we recognize those who are retiring and have reached a 20 year milestone.
4913 Merrick Road
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
 
$75 includes:
Appetizers, Entree, Beer, Wine, Sangria, Dessert and Coffee
 
RSVP by Friday, May 6th

Complete and return this RSVP form to Corey Cohn at Hicksville High School
Honoring Our Teacher Retirees
Kathleen Apa - Old Country Road School
Lisa Dawber - Woodland Elementary School
Bernard Dell'Aquila - Dutch Lane School
Sheri Epstein - Hicksville High School
Carla Thier - Woodland Elementary School
Cathleen Todd - Lee Avenue School
Celebrating 20 Years in Hicksville
Lylaclaire Allas - Hicksville High School
Danielle Baker - Old Country Road School
Dawn Beyer - Hicksville Middle School
Kristi Borra - Dutch Lane School
Joel Cardoza - Hicksville High School
Catherine Carey - East Street School
Michael Caruso - Hicksville High School
Jennifer Christy- Hicksville High School
Eddie Cuevas- East Street School
Erin Dolan-Dame- Hicksville High School
Caryn Gottlieb- Hicksville Middle School
Michael Guarascio - Woodland Elementary School
Teresa Kelle - Lee Avenue School
Allison LoGiudice - Old Country Road School
Ginamarie Mauro - Lee Avenue School
Andrea Maxeiner - Hicksville High School
Helene Mendoza- Hicksville High School
Diane Newcombe-Lypen- Hicksville High School
Kristina Orman- Hicksville High School
Kristen Pirozzi- Hicksville High School
Carrie Ryan - Old Country Road School
Kim Sconzo - Dutch Lane School
Michele Sikinger - Hicksville Middle School
Michele Sweeney- Hicksville Middle School
Cathleen Todd - Lee Avenue School
Denise Woods - East Street School
This year the HCT is endorsing Annette Beiner and Linda Imbriale for Hicksville Board of Education Trustee. We feel that these two candidates exemplify what it means to be a voice for the entire Hicksville community. In order to aid in their election, a phone bank has been set up. Members can participate from home, on their own time, to make calls on these candidates' behalf.

The three members who make the most calls will receive gift certificates to local Hicksville businesses!
 
1st Place - $150 Gift Card to I Am Nacho Mama
2nd Place - $100 Gift Card to Bagel Boss
3rd Place - $75 Gift Card to Calda
 
The phone bank is live every day from 10:00 AM- 9:00 PM

Click here for instructions on how to access the phone bank.
Good luck!
 
Direct Access to the phone bank:  https://www.openvpb.com/vpb_bycode/76B115H-436485
It is critical for our members to vote in their home districts' school budget and school board elections this year. Anti-public ed activists “are encouraging their followers to run for local school boards to push out pro-public ed members and undermine public trust,” said NYSUT President Andy Pallotta. “This is a direct threat to districts and the budgets that support public education in our communities.” For more information, click here.
Your Local School District Needs You!

Your local NYSUT president has requested your help in passing your home district’s 2022-2023 school budget and electing union endorsed board of education candidates. This assistance can range from making phone calls or posting pro-public education memes on social media to something as simple as texting other NYSUT members in your district and asking them to vote yes for the school budget.

If you are willing to help teachers in your home school district fight to preserve public education, please reach out using the contact information below.
Amityville Schools
President – Nakia Wolfe
 
Bellmore Merrick United Secondary Teachers
President – Rob Walsh
516-992-1068

Commack Teachers Association
President – John Murray
 
Farmingdale Schools
President - Cordelia Anthony
 
Hicksville Congress of Teachers
President – Stephanie Sullo
 
Island Park Faculty Association
President – Dean Bacigalupo
 
Islip Schools
President – Robert Le Vien Jr.
 
Jericho Teachers Association
President – Ron Verderber
 
Locust Valley Schools Employee Association
President- Romy Bennett
 
Longwood (Middle Island) Schools
President – Josephine Libassi
 
Lynbrook Schools
President – Craig Kirchenberg
 
Massapequa Schools
President - Malcolm Gilbert

North Babylon Teachers Organization
President – Kathy Dein
 
North Shore Schools Federated Employees
President – Greg Perles
 
Plainedge Schools
President – Perry Fuchs
631-827-8133
 
Port Jefferson Teachers Association
President – Brian St. Pierre
 
Rockville Center Schools
President – Frank Van Zant
631-944-1872
 
Rocky Point Teachers Association
President – Laurie Berretta
 
Sayville Teachers Association
President – Mike Pace
631-567-5728
 
Seaford Schools
President – Matt Adler
516-650-4257
 
Syosset Teachers Association
President- Michael Callahan
 
Valley Stream Schools
President - Noele Villa
516 307-7160
Congratulations to Lisa Nowakoski, health teacher at Hicksville High School who was chosen as this week's Teacher of the Week by Long Island Patch. She was nominated by teaching assistant Carmen Bell. Read the full article here.
Mets vs Texas Rangers

Citi Field
Friday, July 1 - Friday
7:10 P.M.
Watch the Game and Stay After for the Fireworks!

Left Field Landing $39 per ticket
(Formerly Thomas Tew Reserve)

Promenade Reserve $27 per ticket

Payment due by May 18

Return order form with payment to Alison Silvestri at the High School

Questions? Email Alison at ajsilvest@hotmail.com
New York Yankees Season Discount

Yowza, Yowza, Yowza!!! Calling all Yankee Fans!!!
The HCT now has its own discount ticket code for all remaining home games in the 2022 Season!!!

Friends and family can access the link too, so feel free to share it!

Use the Promo Code: HCTTIX

For groups of 10+ tickets, 16 to 60 person suites, or season ticket packages
please reach out to Joe Grande at JGrande@Yankees.com
See details and to purchase tickets for all games except Yankees Teacher Appreciation Week

Questions, email Alison at ajsilvest@hotmail.com
A Day Off at Adventureland

School is closed on June 20th. Enjoy the day with the children at Adventureland.

June 20, 2022
11 AM to Closing
(rain date Saturday, June 25)

$31.25 per person
Each person needs a paid admission to enter the park
As always, parking is free!

Have a season pass? Come down and enjoy the park with other HCT Members and their families.

Payment due by Wednesday, June 1

Print and complete payment voucher and send with cash or check (made payable to the HCT) to Alison Silvestri at the High School. Questions, email Alison at ajsilvest@hotmail.com
NYSUT Pushing for Regents Exams Safety Net

The State Education Department will administer all of the June Regents exams this year. NYSUT is pushing for the Regents to include a safety net for students similar to the one provided the past two years where students will get credit if they pass the course and do not pass the exam.
The HCT Board of Directors voted unanimously to donate $100 of its charitable contributions fund to help the people of Ukraine. The funds will supplement NYSUT's statewide endeavor to support those displaced by the war.

To help the people of Ukraine as they fight for the lives and the future of their nation, the statewide union is encouraging members and the general public to consider donating to the NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund, the union’s 501(c)3 organization. NYSUT will be partnering with relief agencies to make sure that the funds collected get to the people in areas that are most in need due to this humanitarian crisis.
Pre-Retirement Seminar

NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant, Claire Zatorski, will be offering a Pre-Retirement Seminar via Zoom on Monday, May 9, 2022, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. This workshop is available to members who are part of the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) and who plan to retire within the next 2 years. Eric Iberger, NYSTRS Trustee, will be the featured presenter at this seminar. 
 
Members must register in advance for this meeting. Register here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have any questions or need additional information, please email Claire Zatorski, NYSUT Retiree Services Consultant at claire.zatorski@nysut.org.
Share My Lesson Wellness Series

Join Share My Lesson and Catherine Zack, a meditation teacher and executive mindfulness coach, for more stress solutions for educators.This experiential workshop series is designed to give you both a better understanding of the science of stress and its impact on your body and real tools that you can use right now to manage stress, avoid feeling overwhelmed and create resiliency-building daily habits. You’ll leave this series with the foundations of a daily meditation practice and learn the building-block basics of mindfulness-based stress reduction.


Register here.
Reverse the Impact of Trauma

K-12 educators and SRPs can learn how to reverse the impact of trauma on students’ abilities to trust and behave in school through @NYSUT ELT Professional Learning. Here are more topics for Getting Back On Track.
ELT Wellness Seminars

ELT offers a variety of wellness seminars to help members cope with these difficult times. For example:

The Juggle: Trying to keep all the balls in the air at the same time is challenging. This 1.5-hour seminar helps you cope with the juggle while still managing all your personal and professional demands.

Learn about more topics available to NYSUT members here.
NYSUT Student Loan Debt Webinars

Below are NYSUT Student Loan Debt clinics that are currently open for registration:

  • Tuesday, May 10 - 4:30 - 6:00 PM
  • Thursday, May 26 - 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Register here.
School Related Covid Questions

School-related COVID questions should be directed to Gail Hunker.
Her numbers are: 516-733-2149 and 516-315-0494.
Support the Hicksville PTAs.
Become a Member Today.

Please remember to choose Teacher/Staff Membership when joining.
Are you interested in tutoring?
The HCT is updating its tutor referral database. When we receive a call for a tutor, an email will be sent to members on the list who meet the criteria for the request. It is up to the individual teacher to make arrangements as to times, fees and location. We cycle through the teachers on the list to ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to earn extra money. Replies must be made within 48 hours so that we can respond to parents in a timely manner. Once we hear back from you, we will forward the parent's phone number and student information.

If you are interested in being listed in our tutor database or would like to remain in the database, please download and complete the Tutor Referral Form and mail it to the HCT at 535 South Broadway, Suite 212, Hicksville, NY 11801. If you prefer, you can scan the completed form and email it to Hicksville_Teachers@verizon.net.
  • Congratulations to Erika Ortega (Middle School) on the birth of her son, Luan Hector, born March 30th.

  • Congratulations to Christine Mastrantonio (Middle School) on the birth of her daughter, Valerie Christine, born on Tuesday, April 12th.
Joe Hartig (High School Social Studies) is selling 1.5 credits for LIU Post. For more information, contact Joe at joehartig@gmail.com
Want to celebrate or share news about a colleague? Complete this short form. We'll post the info in the next Connected!
HCT office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM when school is in session.
535 South Broadway, Suite 212
Hicksville, NY 11801
Phone: 516-937-1288
Fax: 516-937-1925