Issue: 2019-2020-15
   Justina Ketyer, Editor
April 8, 2020 
In this issue:
  • President's Pen
  • Hallelujah
  • Coronavirus: Safety Tips for You
  • Scholarship Readers Needed
  • NYSUT Education & Learning Trust - Free Virtual Wellness Seminars
  • Phone Bank for HCT Retirees
  • HCT Gala - POSTPONED
  • Rally for Lawrence Teachers Association - POSTPONED
  • Scholarships for HCT Members' Graduating Seniors
  • Birthday Wishes
  • Condolences
  • Member Spotlight
  • News Around the Schools
President's Pen
HCT Sisters and Brothers,

First and foremost, thank you to our Building Representatives for assisting in the communication during this crisis, and thank you to the Executive Board for your constant support, suggestions, and your commitment to the Hicksville Congress of Teachers.

With each new day comes new challenges and new questions to be answered. These are the answers to some questions that have been sent to me by NYSUT.

The Board of Regents met on Monday, April 6th and the following actions were taken:
  • The Governor has extended the school shutdown period to April 29th. The requirement to continue paying all salaried and hourly school employees who are employed on a regular basis remains in force.
  • The Regents exams are canceled for this year. Guidance was issued on Tuesday, April 7th by the New York State Education Department concerning what alternative measurements may be used to determine if students have met the necessary requirements to receive credit toward a Regents diploma in these classes. This guidance was sent to the superintendents of each district.
  • Questions regarding APPR will be decided at the May 4th Regents meeting. NYSUT believes the Regents will suspend APPR for the current year and ask the Governor to issue an Executive Order suspending for this year the requirement that APPR must be a component in tenure decisions.  We will have to wait and see.
  • The Chancellor and SED announced a change in the implementation schedule for the Next Generation ELA and Math Standards and the State Grade 3-8 Tests on the new standards. The original schedule called for implementation of the new standards to begin in September of 2020 with new tests to be administered in spring of 2021. These dates have been changed to September 2021 for the standards implementation and spring of 2022 for the new tests.
For those of you celebrating a holiday, I wish you peace and joy.

Be Well.

In unity,

Stephanie Sullo
Hallelujah
Hallelujah Virtual Choir

Hallelujah Virtual Choir

Choirs from two upstate school districts combined forces to create a beautiful performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." 
Coronavirus: Safety Tips for You
By now we're pretty aware of how to stay safe throughout this pandemic, but the Red Cross updates its website frequently with useful information.  It also has details about how you can donate blood safely.

Scholarship Readers Needed
If you are interested in serving on the  HCT Scholarship Committee  and evaluating applications submitted by Hicksville High School seniors, please email the office at  hicksville_teachers@verizon.net.

Volunteers will be emailed a password-protected link to online applications for each of the four scholarships we offer. At home, you will rank the top five students for each scholarship and then meet via Google Hangout on April 15  at 4 P.M. to determine the winners.
NYSUT Education & Learning Trust
Free Virtual Wellness Seminars
To help members cope during these challenging times, NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust is offering a series of free virtual wellness seminars to help members learn about the importance of self-care and tips to help students succeed emotionally and academically.


"The Airplane Oxygen Mask Principle"
"Developing Virtual SEL Environments for Youth"

To register and for more information, click here.
Island Harvest Food Drive
Thank you to those of you who have generously donated to this drive! HCT has currently raised $1,365 for Island Harvest, an organization that supplies many food banks in our area.

If you haven't donated, any amount is appreciated to help our neighbors during this difficult time. Please  donate Here.
Phonebank Supporting HCT Retirees

NYSUT has established a phone bank in order to help our retired colleagues in this time of crisis. From the comfort of your home, you can check in to make sure they are staying safe and reassure them that we will get through this trying time together. It is also an opportunity to remind them of the importance of completing the 2020 census. 
Instructions to Virtual Phone Bank
Your phone bank code 9040B3E-906012

You can access the phone bank by going to  www.openvpb.com

OR

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME YOU NEED TO CREATE A NEW ID
  • Click on the button that says "Log in with Action ID.
  • Then click on the Blue tab that says, "Create Action ID."
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY CREATED AN ACTION ID
  • Enter your Action ID and Password.
  • Enter your email address. This can be any email that you can access. You can make up any password for you to use with this system, but we prefer that you use Nysut1234 so it is easy for us to remember next time you sign on. Enter that password.
  • Put in your first and last name. Skip the question that asks for your phone number.
  • Click the "Create" Button below.
  • When it asks to verify with a two-step process select "no thanks, continue."
  • Your phone bank script will populate your screen. Carefully read it over and check out the survey questions.
  • Check out the drop down box for when you do not reach the person and the drop down box when they answer your question.
  • Practice your script a few times until you are comfortable.
  • Start making calls!
Scholarships for HCT Members'
Graduating Seniors
HCT MEMBER SCHOLARSHIPS
ELIGIBILITY

The student must be a graduating high school senior and must be the child of an HCT member in good standing.

DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

The HCT office must receive all applications by Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
Late applications will not be accepted.


HCT Gala
POSTPONED
Rally in Support of Lawrence Teachers Association
POSTPONED
APRIL 26th RALLY POSTPONED
We want to first thank all of you for so rapidly responding to the LTA's request to attend our rally on April 26th. Unfortunately, at this time, we will need to postpone the event to a later date.

Your support of the LTA speaks volumes and we cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for us and will continue to do.

Please be safe and remain healthy.

The Lawrence Teachers Association
Birthday Wishes
Tracy Giorgianni 4/1 Hicksville Middle School
Patricia Lozoya 4/1 Hicksville High School
JoAnn Sommerhalter 4/1 Lee Avenue School
Jeffrey Tafla 4/1 Hicksville High School
Cathleen Todd 4/2 Lee Avenue School
Barnett Weinstein 4/2 Dutch Lane School
Keri Competello 4/6 Fork Lane School
Karim Hafiz 4/7 Hicksville High School
Crystal Lipski 4/8 Burns Avenue School
Jason Aliperti 4/9 East Street School
Michael Rodway 4/9 Hicksville High School
Riva Kaplan 4/10 Fork Lane School
Michelle Shmuel 4/10 Hicksville High School
Nicole D'Antonio 4/11 Lee Avenue School
Jennifer DeTomaso 4/12 Hicksville High School
Courtney Schroedel 4/12 Hicksville High School
Megan Williamson 4/12 Woodland Elementary School
Annmarie Hawkins 4/13 Hicksville High School
Aurora Previte 4/13 Lee Avenue School
Bonnie Stueber 4/13 Hicksville High School
Alexandra Alonge-Cilione 4/14 Lee Avenue School
Frances Blaney 4/14 Burns Avenue School
Thomas Stephens 4/15 Hicksville Middle School
Susan Tillwitz 4/15 Dutch Lane School
Joseph Romano 4/16 Hicksville High School
Peggi Fitzgerald 4/17 Hicksville Middle School
Elizabeth Nafte 4/17 Hicksville High School
Stephanie Piscitelli 4/17 Hicksville High School
Glen Alexander 4/18 Hicksville Middle School
Cinzia Emmerich 4/19 Hicksville Middle School
Lauren Calderaro 4/21 Hicksville High School
Danielle Kyle 4/23 Hicksville High School
Alisa Cataldo 4/24 Hicksville Middle School
Jennifer Presti 4/24 Hicksville Middle School
Brittany Tortorella 4/24 Lee Avenue School
Wendy Cataldo 4/26 Woodland Elementary School
Dena Civello 4/27 Hicksville High School
Kathleen Coleman 4/27 East Street School
Pnina Powell 4/27 Hicksville High School
Thomas Cuomo 4/28 Hicksville High School
Matthew Wildes 4/28 Hicksville High School
Michael Caruso 4/30 Hicksville High School
Condolences
Condolences to Hillary Sperber, Retired Music Teacher on the death of her father who  passed away on March 17, 2020 in Del Ray Beach, Florida.
He was 101.
Member Spotlight
Are you a member who goes above and beyond? Do you know one who does? We want to hear about it! We love sharing the great things our members do both in and out of school.  Email  Justina Ketyer  with the details.
News Around the Schools
Want to celebrate or share news about a colleague?  Complete this short form . We'll post the info in the next Connected!
STAY CONNECTED:
HCT office hours are 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday