EducationalHorizons

EducationalHorizons

SUM

MER

2016

pobschools.org PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICTPLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

**** ECRWSS ****POSTAL CUSTOMERPlainview-Old BethpageCentral School District

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Hicksville, N.Y.Permit 156

Board of EducationDebbie Bernstein, PresidentGinger Lieberman, Vice PresidentJodi Campagna • Seth Greenberg • Ronelle Hershkowitz Lauren Sackstein • Susan Stewart

Dr. Lorna R. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools

Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School DistrictAdministrative Offices •Washington Avenue •Plainview, NY 11803pobschools.org

Congratulations, Class of 2016!

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Superintendent’s MessageDear Graduates:

The Class of 2016 will long be remembered as aclass that broke many records in academic, athleticand extracurricular accomplishments. We wereagain moved by the performance of another All-National concert master at graduation, as well assome of the most eloquent speeches I have ever

been privileged to hear from our student leaders. There can be nodoubt our graduates are going to be successful as they begin theirstudies in great spaces for learning.

Whether it was with DECA, Robotics, Moot Court, All-State or All-National Music, Relay For Life, County Championships, BloodDrives, Food Drives, Senior Citizen Prom, Senior Citizen Tea,astounding us with your theatrical talents throughout your years andmost recently in The Little Mermaid, we have cherished each momentof your collective efforts. In your 13 years with us you have left yourmark on all aspects of our community while managing to balanceyour quest for academic excellence with equal zeal for making adifference locally and globally.

Google, the tech giant, spent years of intensive analysis to find out thekey to good teamwork. The project, known as Project Aristotle,included interviews with hundreds of employees and analysis of dataof more than 100 active teams at the company. The Googlers lookedhard to find a magic formula—the perfect mix of individualsnecessary to form a stellar team. Google’s data-driven approach endedup highlighting what leaders in the business world have known for awhile: The best teams respect one another’s emotions and are mindfulthat all members should contribute to the conversation equally. It hasless to do with who is on a team, and more to do with how teammembers treat each other. To quote from one of my favorite authors,Maya Angelou, “I've learned that people will forget what you said,people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how youmade them feel.” It may sound corny, but being nice matters.

As you leave our protected hallways of POBJFKHS, full of energyand enthusiasm, I hope that you continue to be the good citizens thatyou have demonstrated here, courageous, tolerant, respectful, andaccepting of others.

Soon the Class of 2029 will burst through our elementary schooldoors to begin a new chapter of this district - with K-4 schools. Youhave led by example and we anxiously await this new class as theyfollow in your footstep.

Class of 2016, we send you off with grateful acknowledgement for allthat you have accomplished. Now go out there and report back to uson the extraordinary experiences you are about to adventure.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lorna LewisSuperintendent of Schools

Michael Crawbuck and Anna Vaynrub have beennamed the valedictorian and salutatorian for theClass of 2016 at John F. Kennedy High School,respectively. Finishing at the top of the classacademically speaks volumes of the intelligence,commitment and discipline possessed by Michaeland Anna, and all of us at POB couldn’t be more proud.

Valedictorian Michael Crawbuckhas been a student in the Districtsince kindergarten. He wasnamed an Advanced Placement(AP) Scholar, graduated withhonors and will attend New YorkUniversity Stern’s School ofBusiness in the fall. Michaelwas active in the school’s

DECA Chapter, placing sixth at the 2015 DECAinternational competition and earning second placeat both the 2015 and 2016 New York State DECAcompetitions. Michael was president of the SpanishHonor Society, co-vice president of the BusinessHonor Society and a member of the tutoringcommittee for the National Honor Society. He wasalso a member of Best Buddies and the ScienceHonor Society. Outside of the classroom, he playedvarsity football and lacrosse. In addition, Michaelmanages his own website, Foodie Finders NYC.

Anna, this year’s salutatorian,graduates with many academicachievements and will attendHarvard University in the fall.Anna recently received the ChildMind Institute Rising ScientistAward after conducting researchwith a science professor at StonyBrook University, where she was

the youngest researcher on a team of graduatestudents. She was also a National Merit Finalist,won a gold medal for her performance on theNational Spanish exam and placed second in thisyear’s Long Island Science and Engineering Fair.Anna was vice president of the Science HonorSociety and secretary for the Science Olympiads.She also has served as chair for the school’s ModelUnited Nations (METMUNC) club, and she waseditor for the school’s newspaper. Her volunteerwork includes working with Kids Versus Cancer,advocating for legislation to allow pediatric cancerdrug trials.

Congratulations to the POBJFKHS 2016 Valedictorian and Salutatorian!

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Adelphi UniversityAdelphi—7 Yr. BS/DO

ProgramAlfred UniversityAmerican UniversityBentley UniversityBoston UniversityBucknell UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCase Western Reserve

UniversityCoastal Carolina UniversityColumbia UniversityCornell UniversityCUNY Baruch CollegeCUNY City CollegeCUNY Hunter CollegeCUNY KingsboroughCUNY Macaulay Honors

CollegeCUNY NYC College

of TechnologyCUNY Queens CollegeCUNY QueensboroughDrexel UniversityDuke UniversityEast Stroudsburg Univ.

of PennsylvaniaElon UniversityEmerson UniversityEmory UniversityFlorida Atlantic UniversityFlorida State UniversityFordham UniversityGrinnell CollegeHarvard University

Hofstra UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana University—

South BendIona CollegeIthaca CollegeJohnson & Wales UniversityLafayette CollegeLa Roche CollegeLehigh UniversityLIU PostManhattan CollegeMcGill UniversityMiami University, OxfordMichigan State UniversityMisericordia UniversityMolloy CollegeMount Saint Mary CollegeNassau Community CollegeThe College of New JerseyNYITNew York UniversityNortheastern UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityPennsylvania State

UniversityPratt InstitutePurdue UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic

InstituteRochester Institute

of TechnologyThe College of Saint RoseSan Diego State UniversitySacred Heart University

School of Visual Arts St. John’s UniversityStevens Institute of

TechnologySUNY AlbanySUNY BinghamtonSUNY BrockportSUNY BuffaloSUNY Buffalo StateSUNY CortlandSUNY FarmingdaleSUNY FITSUNY FredoniaSUNY GeneseoSUNY Geneseo—7 Yr.

BS/DO ProgramSUNY New PaltzSUNY Old WestburySUNY OneontaSUNY OswegoSUNY PotsdamSUNY PurchaseSUNY Stony BrookSUNY Stony Brook—8 Yr.

BS/MD ProgramSyracuse UniversityTemple UniversityTowson UniversityTufts UniversityTulane UniversityUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of California—

DavisUniversity of California—

Los Angeles

UMass—AmherstUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of DelawareUniversity of FloridaUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of HartfordUniversity of MarylandUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Minnesota—

Twin CitiesUniversity of New HavenUniversity of North

Carolina—Chapel HillUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of PittsburghUniversity of Rhode IslandUniversity of South

Florida—TampaUniversity of TampaUniversity of Texas—AustinUniversity of VermontUniversity of WisconsinUrsinus CollegeVanderbilt UniversityVaughn College of

Aeronautics & TechnologyVillanova UniversityVirginia TechWashington University—St.

LouisWest Virginia UniversityWorcester Polytechnic

Institute

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? POBJFKHS CLASS OF 2016

Office of the NYS Attorney GeneralTriple “C” AwardEthan TeperAnna Vaynrub

Nassau County ComptrollerAchievement AwardZackary Berkowitz

Nassau County Legislature Citation –Community ServiceZachary Goldstein

Office of the NYS ComptrollerAchievement AwardBrett Hollander

Office of the County ExecutiveCommunity Service & AcademicExcellence AwardJamie Simon

Senator Kemp Hannon CitizenshipAdvancement AwardCole Masler

Nassau County District AttorneyShield AwardPuneet Arneja

Swimmer-Scholar AwardBrent Israel

Jordan Abramowitz MemorialScholarshipBrooke Sender

Art Guild ScholarshipMolly Davis

Brian Harley Assa MemorialScholarshipTalia Weiner

Janet Baumgarten MemorialJason Hymowitz

Kevin D. Berkowitz MemorialScholarshipTal Moriah

Leonard & Miriam BerkowitzMemorialEvan LanderAnna Vaynrub

Paul Rubin MemorialElizabeth Varghese

Brooke Zimmerman MemorialAidan Spencer

Class of ’71 Unity ScholarshipGyu Ri LeeTalia Weiner

Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc.Cori Dauman

Harlean Cort MemorialGuadalupe Angel

Crestwood Country Day SchoolJessica Lagnado Amanda Werman

Dr. Scott DeMel MemorialScholarshipDara Gleeson

Michael Eichenbaum MemorialLacrosse ScholarshipCharles Mazzocchi

Jonny Feinstein MemorialErin Curran

Philip Ferris MemorialJaide Lichtenstein

Frisch Financial Scholarship For Excellence in FinanceBenjamin Green

Ruth Gaiptman MemorialSamantha Weiser

Joshua Golbert Memorial Award in MusicMatthew Leo

Maury D. Golbert Music AwardCourtney Hedgecock

Hal Goldman Memorial ScholarshipJordan Fried

Mark Koehler ScholarshipAndrew Pfeiffer

Long Island Blood Services ScholarshipSydney AbelowEmily Zucker

Jeffrey Miller MemorialShakeel Faizy

Music Association of Plainview-Old BethpageBand AwardMatthew LeoChoir AwardKristin LuntOrchestra AwardJessica HermanContinuing Music Study in CollegeCourtney HedgecockCommunity ServiceCassandra Edelstein

Richard H. Hague Four Year Music AwardMatthew Leo

Tri-M Music Honor SocietyJenna GoerkeStephanie HandschuCourtney HedgecockJessica HermanMatthew KesslerJason KimmelMatthew Leo Ethan Teper

NEFCU – Making a Difference High School ScholarshipMegan Wolyniec

Northwell Health Nursing ScholarshipSherin George

Northwell Health Medical ScholarshipDara Gleeson

COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS

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Opa Grille ScholarshipElisabeth Stein

Francis L. Phillips P.E. Engineering ScholarshipEvan Lander

Plainview Little League ScholarshipJulia Costarella Drew KaplanBryan SaferJake SupranKyle Supran

Plainview-Bethpage Lions ClubChloe Ferney

Plainview Diner AwardSteven KlausnerJustin Koo

Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber ofCommerce & Astoria BankDylan Karul

Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce Victoria Tramontana Megan Wolyniec

Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School PTA ScholarshipShakeel FaizyYe Eun KohAaron LevineCole MaslerAndrew PfeifferMichael RubinAmanda SchechterJordyn SchorBrooke SenderClaire ShamulDana SilversteinJessica UnterlackElizabeth VargheseMegan Wolyniec

Harold Yacker MemorialCuong BuiAriella Yadegar

Plainview-Old Bethpage SeniorCitizen ClubYe Eun KohJoshua Tabak

Plainview-Old Bethpage Soccer ClubPuneet ArnejaDavid GeyerJonathan MessingerAshley Pajer

Plainview Unit of the Nassau CountyPolice Activity League (PAL)Michael Crawbuck Bryan DeGennaroDanielle FasanoJordan FriedMatthew LeoCharles MazzocchiJonathan MessingerChristopher MontgomeryAmit NacsonJason NapoliAshley PajerKevin PastierBryan SaferErik StalzerNicole Yuen

POBHS Class of 1975 Scholarship FundJamie Simon Daniel Solnik

Steve Pollicino Memorial ScholarshipSamuel Iryami

R.A.G.E. – Residents AgainstGarbage ExpansionThomas BakMolly Davis

Rechler Equity Partners ScholarshipJordyn Schor

Rae Saltzman ScholarshipJonathan MessingerElizabeth Varghese

Michael Secko Memorial ScholarshipZackary BerkowitzAlexa Schaumburg

SEPTA Scholarship Awards:Prospective Education AwardJason Hymowitz Volunteerism/Community ServiceAward David LiebermanProspective Vocational AwardCara Hayman

Rising Star AwardAlexander RabinowitzMatthew SchnitzerMost Improved & Exceptional Effort AwardKatie Corbett PAL/SEPTA AwardIlana FosterZachary Gorfinkel David Kralstein AwardMichael Arrow

Benjamin W. Sofe MemorialClaire Shamul

Spencer Cares ScholarshipGyu Ri LeeElleni KatehisBrooke SenderMegan Wolyniec

Stacy’s Warriors ScholarshipMelanie GulbasRyan KerleyMegan Wolyniec

Trio HardwareBenjamin Green

U.S. Figure Skating Gold LevelGraduating Senior AwardRebecca Kniffin

Owen B. Walsh WE CAREScholarship from the Nassau Bar Foundation Ryan Kerley

Howard Weinstock MemorialJessica Herman

Winthrop University Hospital Sports Medicine AwardNicholas Mueller

SCOPE Education Services ScholarshipMichael Crawbuck

Principal’s AwardStephanie D’OnofrioArianna FlamerJake FriedmanSae FukudaMatthew KlausnerJessica LeeVivian Lin

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What’s Happening in Our SchoolsWhat’s Happening in Our Schools

K-Center Celebrates Final Moving-Up CeremonyAfter years of serving the community and shepherding the youngest membersof the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District into elementary schools, theKindergarten Center held its final Moving-Up Ceremony in June. Theceremony, as it is every year, was a way for family members to congratulatechildren on the completion of a successful year learning how to read, write,add, subtract and be a good friend. This September, POB will welcome thePOBJFKHS Class of 2029 as they begin their academic journey in their homeschools. We are so excited to follow them on their adventures!

From Egg to HenSecond grade students at Old Bethpage Elementary School recently were able to experience thewonder of life. In a lesson that stressed multiple facets of the District’s work with S.T.E.A.M.—or,science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics—the children raised chickens, starting withnurturing the eggs until they hatched. In order to accomplish this, the students designed blueprints forbrooders that were built by POBJFKHS students and observed the eggs as they gestated. The projectrepresented a great way for the students to experience the science principles they had been studyingput to effect in real life, and all who took part had a memorable experience.

As School Year Draws to a Close, Parkway Students ReflectThroughout the month of June, fourth graders at Parkway Elementary School rehearsed diligently in preparation of theiryear-end Moving-Up celebration, so that when the big day arrived, theywould be ready to go. At the ceremony, students impressed the crowd inattendance with performances of three musical pieces, all under thedirection of Judith Rilling. Additionally, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorna Lewis and Board of Education Trustees Ginger Lieberman andLauren Sackstein shared congratulatory remarks. But perhaps the mostmemorable part of the ceremony occurred at the end—when four studentrepresentatives, one from each class, spoke of their Parkway memoriesand provided a poignant end to another wonderful school year.

Pasadena Students Show Their Spirit During Field DayStudents from Pasadena Elementary School finished a week-long celebration of spiritwith their annual field day. Students competed on teams, wearing their school colors, in anumber of relay races and activities to foster school spirit and teamwork. Activitiesincluded a scooter relay, run-for-fun activity, “any which way” race, tug of strength, potatoand spoon relay, football relay, “big ball partner roll” event and a “looney lax scoop” relay.The students competed in front of a cheering section of fellow classmates, faculty, staff,friends and family members. Field Day is part of the school’s annual “Spirit Week,” duringwhich the students take part in different themed days and activities to raise school spirit.

Send in the Clowns!More than 70 fourth grade students at Stratford Road Elementary School transformed into stilt-walkers, plate spinners, clowns, tight-rope walkers and more during the school’s 10th annualFourth Grade Circus. After practicing for one week, the students welcomed friends, family andmembers of the community to witness incredible displays of skill, athleticism, balance and more.Circus skills are part of the students’ physical education curriculum, meant to help improvebalance and coordination, while also helping students build confidence and encourage teamwork.The performance also included artists from the National Circus Project. The Stratford RoadElementary School PTA organized this cultural arts program with physical education teacher Jodi Horowitz to provide an experience for all children.

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Oui, oui! Mattlin Students Excel in National French ContestMattlin Middle School students Eli Blum, Allison Scher, Allison Tauband Eshwin Varghese were recently recognized for placing within thetop ten in the entire country in the National French Contest. Studentswere awarded with bronze and silver medals for their aptitude with theFrench language. The contest was open to all students grades 1-12 inthe United States and abroad. The National French Contest is acompetition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers ofFrench. Students are required to take a written exam and competeagainst other students for different prizes. The students are tested ongrammar, reading and oral comprehension, and French culture.Congratulations, Eli, Allison, Allison and Eshwin. Or should we say,félicitations à vous!

Shipping Up to Boston: Students Explore theHistory and Culture of Boston on School TripRecently, students at Plainview-Old Bethpage MiddleSchool, along with their friends at Mattlin Middle School,had the chance to discover the many historical andscientific lessons that Boston, Massachusetts has to offer.Students took in the culture while touring some of Boston’soldest neighborhoods and visiting some of its manymuseums. The trip also included trying local cuisine,including—of course—New England clam chowder.

During the trip, students followed Boston’s Freedom Trail,stopping at Paul Revere’s House and exploring the historicNorth End, Faneuil Hall and the State House before eating

in famous Quincy Market. Students also observed sea lions, seals, sea turtles and hundreds of fish at the New EnglandAquarium, explored the nautical side of Boston on a Duck Tour and visited the Boston Museum of Science.

John F. Kennedy High School Class of 2016 Graduates!The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District held its commencement ceremony for the John F. Kennedy (JFK)High School Class of 2016 at Long Island University-C.W. Post’s Tilles Center on Sunday, June 26, 2016. More than 375students gathered in graduation gowns and decorated caps to celebrate the completion of their POB careers.

Superintendent Dr. Lorna Lewis, Principal James Murray and Board of Education Trustee Emily Schulman addressed thegraduating class with words of wisdom as the students now move onto the next stages of their lives. JFK High School’sClass of 2016 valedictorian Michael Crawbuck, salutatorian Anna Vaynrub, senior class president Jamie Simon and school-wide student government president Jason Kimmelreminisced and discussed the future awaiting fellowclassmates during their speeches.

Graduates and guests were treated to a violin performanceby graduate Gyu Ri Lee during the ceremony. Gyu Ri hasreceived numerous accolades for her musical talentthroughout her high school career including earningrecognition as concertmaster for the NAfME (NationalAssociation for Music Education) All-National HonorsOrchestra, the Division 5 All-County Orchestra and thePOBJFK High School Orchestra. She was also the 2016recipient of POB’s National School Orchestra Award, isan alumna of the Mannes School of Music Pre-CollegeDivision in NYC and has performed at Carnegie Hall as awinner of four international competitions.

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ARTS IN THE DISTRICTARTS IN THE DISTRICT District Says Goodbye to Longtime PrincipalRonelle Hershkowitz as She Begins New Role with Board of Education

The end of everyschool year is abittersweet time; asmuch as we lookforward to thememories we’llmake over summer,we hate to have tosay goodbye to thosewe have known forso long. This year, itwas particularlytough to saygoodbye to Ronelle

Hershkowitz, principal at Parkway Elementary School,who retired from the position she has held for the last29 years. Everyone in the District would like to saythank you for your three decades of tireless service andbest of luck in your new great adventure.

POBJFKHS Class of 2016 valedictorian Michael Crawbuck (center) is a third generation POBgraduate preceded by his parents and grandparents.

Graduating from Plainview-Old Bethpage

A Family Tradition

POB Takes Home the Gold!

The “B-Sharps,” an esteemed a cappella group from POBJFKHS,recently performed during the Nassau Association of DistrictCurriculum Officials’ year-end luncheon. School superintendentsfrom neighboring districts were in awe of the students’ abilitiesand inquired about POB’s a cappella program. The “B-Sharps” isone of eight a cappella groups at POBJFKHS.

More than 65 student musicians from Plainview-Old BethpageSchool District recently received the highest rating possible aftercompeting in the 2016 New York State School Music Association(NYSSMA) Major Ensemble Evaluation Festival. Both stringensembles at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, the fullstring orchestra and the chamber orchestra competed and received“gold with distinction” ratings. Only two percent of all competingensembles performing statewide receive this rating each year.

Under the direction of teacher Glenn Rubin, the studentsperformed 30-minute programs for two adjudicators at HofstraUniversity in Hempstead, NY. The ensembles were graded basedon tone, intonation, balance, technique, accuracy, rhythm andinterpretation. Congratulations to all those involved on thistremendous accomplishment!

‘B-Sharps’ Wow the Crowd!