Board welcomes 58 newly tenured staff members to the
'BOCES family'
Karen Ellis, executive
director for Special Education, and Joan Siegel, associate
superintendent for Business Services, are congratulated by Dr.
Robert J. Hanna, deputy superintendent. Full Video
The agency's inaugural tenure
celebration served as a tribute to the accomplishments of 58 staff members
who reached this important milestone within the last six months.
Initiated by the Nassau BOCES Board, the recognition ceremony brought
together employees who hold a broad range of job titles with varying
responsibilities — from school principals, program supervisors and support
personnel to teachers, guidance counselors and information technology
technicians.
"On behalf of the Board, I extend our congratulations and wish you all
continued success at Nassau BOCES," said Stephen B. Witt, president of the
Board. "We want you to know that in our hearts and minds, you are all part
of our family. We need you, our students need you, and the state and country
need you."
The event attracted a visit from New York State Board of Regents member
Roger Tilles, who applauded Nassau BOCES for its energy and innovation. It
also included performances by Long Island High School for the Arts' singers,
desserts by Barry Tech's culinary arts students, and buttons created by
youngsters at the Rosemary Kennedy School.
"This achievement signals your accomplishments, your commitment to this
organization and, in turn, its commitment to you," said Dr. Thomas Rogers,
district superintendent. "Of all the assets this organization builds, its
people are the most important. We look forward to you sharing your energy,
enthusiasm and ideas with colleagues and students at Nassau BOCES."
>>Added 3/2/09
Free March events for technology leaders
Technology Resource
Solutions connects hundreds of schools in Nassau County with services
vital to technology leaders and educators: digital media content for the
classroom, technology support and collaboration for school districts,
college planning for guidance counselors, and home-school communication and
Web site development for schools. Join Nassau BOCES in March to learn how
you can meet your district's needs while keeping expenses down.
Wednesday, March 10
Noon-2 p.m.
Lunch and Learn: MY Access!
MY Access! is Vantage Learning’s award-winning, Web-delivered instructional
writing program designed to improve students' writing skills in as few as
six weeks. Learn how this system motivates students to write frequently and
enables teachers to make timely, data-driven decisions for differentiated
instruction.
Register with MyLearningPlan.
Friday, March 12
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Digital Media in the Classroom
Explore a range of solutions for integrating digital media into your
school's classroom lessons. Compare high-quality Web-based video content
resources as well as tools for saving, organizing and sharing media.
Register with MyLearningPlan.
Tuesday, March 16
9-11 a.m.
Breakfast Briefing: AlertNow
AlertNow is a rapid communication service designed to help school
administrators increase attendance, build community relations, improve
parental involvement and ensure campus safety.
Register with MyLearningPlan.
Tuesday, March 23
Lunch and Learn: Smart Science
Noon-2 p.m.
Join us for a demonstration of Smart Science -- the online, inquiry-based
virtual lab that teaches students to think like scientists. Smart Science is
correlated to the New York State Learning Standards and is required by New
York State Regents Labs.
Register with MyLearningPlan.
>>Added 3/2/09
Nassau BOCES mentors help new teachers 'tea off'
Mary Schultz of Hearing
and Vision Services (left) displays her "Proud to Be a Mentor" pin
while enjoying tea with mentee Kathleen Callahan.
Starting off the year in a new school
can be a daunting experience for any teacher. And because of the uniqueness
of Nassau BOCES schools and the students they serve, there's even more for
newcomers to learn. But with the help of wise and trusted advisors — their
mentors — first-year teachers at Nassau BOCES always have access to the
support they need.
Through the Department of Human Resources (HR) mentoring program, all new
teachers and occupational and physical therapists are paired with
experienced colleagues to help them have a successful first year with the
agency.
"Everyone knows what it's like that first day, first month and first year of
a new position," says Dr. Joseph T. Centamore, assistant director for HR.
"When you're getting acclimated to an organization's culture and learning
its norms, procedures and protocols, it's critical to have someone you can
turn to."
The Mentor Tea is the agency's way of honoring the mentors and mentees for
the relationships they've established and the students they have served.
This year, 35 teacher mentors were honored and thanked by administrators,
Board members and their protégés during the January event, which was held in
the Administrative Center's brightly decorated cafeteria.
At the tea, Board members and administrators expressed their appreciation
for the vital support mentors provide, while mentees took the opportunity to
thank their advisors directly.
"I've been very fortunate to have Sharon (Seltzer) as my mentor," says
Salvatore Gambino, technology teacher at the Eagle Avenue Middle School.
"She's very helpful and caring, and always is right next door whenever I
need her."
Denise Corby, an itinerant teacher for Hearing and Vision Services, adds, "I
want to thank Nassau BOCES for letting me have a mentor, and I want to thank
Marlyn (Appelt) for all the help she's given me."
There are currently 35 mentors in locations throughout the agency, including
most Special Education schools, Barry Tech, the Seaford Academic Center and
CIT's Health and Allied Services.
>>Added 3/2/09
Nassau BOCES helps Massapequa Public Schools reboot
its technology
CIT Supervisor Patricia
Iannacone counsels school administrators during a professional
learning session designed by Nassau BOCES for Massapequa Public
Schools.
One of the most ambitious technology
initiatives ever attempted by a school district on Long Island went
off without a blip this year as Nassau BOCES helped Massapequa
Public Schools completely refresh the equipment in all nine schools.
Every single computer in the district was recycled to make room for
more than 2,000 replacements. In addition, the district added more
than 200 SMART Boards, 200 projectors and video conference
capabilities. Now, Nassau BOCES is providing district administrators
with the training they need to use the technology effectively as
well as to be able to evaluate the appropriate use of it in the
classroom.
Robert Schilling, district executive director for assessment, came
to the Nassau BOCES Department of Curriculum, Instruction and
Technology (CIT) in May 2009 with the $1.5 million computer
replacement initiative. The catch? He wanted it completed within
three months. Thanks to the project management skills of CIT's
Dominic Potenza and his team, the last computer was up and running
in two months.
"A project of this magnitude is only possible through the hard work
and dedication of multiple individuals," Schilling wrote in a letter
expressing his thanks. "From project coordination by Dom Potenza to
installation by Pete Siegmann and his team, and every detail in
between, the project was handled with the utmost care and
professionalism."
The scope of the project was enormous, taking into account the
schedules of staff members from the nine schools, the delivery
capabilities of multiple vendors, and the time it would take not
only to account for, assemble and install the new computers, but
also to remove all of the existing
computers, which included shredding 2,100 hard drives and arranging
for the parts to be recycled.
"You have to trust your people, empower them to do their jobs, and
give them what they need to get the work done," Potenza said. "The
people involved in this project were absolutely phenomenal."
Massapequa administrators explore technology tools, trends and
resources — including the 21st Century Skills Framework and the International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for school administrators.
21st-century education
By the time students returned to school in September, all of the
technology was up and running, and district administrators were
starting ongoing technology training. "Massapequa's
students have access to technology that allows them to have a
21st-century education," said Clifford Steinberg, one of the CIT
supervisors leading the training sessions. "Our job, now, is to
ensure that these tools are used effectively."
Prior to the start of the training, Superintendent Charles V. Sulc,
Steinberg and a team of other district and Nassau BOCES leaders sat
down to outline the desired outcome. Their goals included building
the administrator's awareness of the technologies available for the
classroom as well as training the administrators on how to use these
tools and evaluate their effectiveness in the classroom. "The
administrator will be able to observe a class and provide
constructive feedback as well as provide them with additional
resources," said CIT supervisor Patricia Iannacone.
Called the Massapequa Administrators Academy, the training sessions
began in mid-December with a look at the standards of the
International Society for Technology in Education. Through a series
of exercises, participants are taught how to turn these guidelines
into "real, practical tasks that can be accomplished in the
classroom," said Iannacone.
"We focused on harnessing the power of the technology available to
them, and they left the first session with the knowledge and tools
necessary to create their own personal learning networks," said
Steinberg. "Now, instead of having to look for information on the
Web, it comes to them."
>>Added 2/19/09
Kaye earns top honors from state association
Martin R. Kaye, who
serves on the boards of Nassau BOCES and the West Hempstead School
District, earned a Master of Boardsmanship Award from the New York
State School Boards Association.
Martin R. Kaye, a public education advocate serving on the boards of
Nassau BOCES and the West Hempstead School District, recently received a
Master of Boardsmanship Award from the New York State School Boards
Association (NYSSBA).
This award — the highest honor bestowed by NYSSBA's Leadership Development
Recognition Program — recognizes exemplary board members who strive to
expand their knowledge of education and develop skills in school district
governance. To qualify for this distinction, Kaye completed NYSSBA's School
Board Institute program of eight intensive courses on leadership of New York
school boards. He also spent many hours participating in workshops,
conventions and academies to strengthen his abilities as a board member.
"I am delighted to be serving with both Nassau BOCES and West Hempstead,"
says Kaye. "It is an honor to work with these two outstanding groups of
education leaders."
Kaye joined Nassau BOCES in August 2009. He has served on the West Hempstead
board since 1991, holding leadership positions such as president (1999-2001)
and vice president (1997-1999).
At the state level, Kaye has been active with NYSSBA in a variety of ways.
He has been a legislative liaison for the State Legislative Network since
1998 and a voting delegate at the association's annual convention since
1992. In the past, he has received numerous awards, including certificates
of achievement and merit, an Award of Distinction and the Developmental
Achievement Citation.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University alumnus, Kaye has a bachelor's degree in
history and a master's degree in political science. He is the owner of
Meridian Industries Inc. and Intercollegiate Designs Inc. Kaye has lived in
West Hempstead since 1977, and he and his wife of 40 years have four adult
children.
>>Added 2/17/09
Carman Road School painters draw inspiration from Jackson Pollack
Proud Carman Road School students display their works of art, created with the help of SMART Board technology and the Web site, www.jacksonpollock.org.
Students and teachers at the Carman Road School made a splash when they
participated in a nationwide campaign to celebrate the paintings of Jackson
Pollack.
Students were introduced to Pollock's unique style of abstract art
with a photo slideshow created by Pamela Doyle, environmental education
teacher. They were then invited to digitally "paint" their own
Pollock-inspired creations using an array of state-of-the-art assistive
technologies, including SMART Boards. Finally, the students with special
needs used Pollock's "drip" technique to paint a 7-foot mural — the
centerpiece of the art exhibit.
"For our students, many of whom have physical challenges, this was authentic
artistic expression," said Doyle. "Using SMART Boards, alternate keyboards
and switches, they had the opportunity to design beautiful artwork
completely on their own."
Describing his own inspiration, Pollock himself once said, "The modern
artist ... is working and expressing an inner world — in other words —
expressing the energy, the motion, and other inner forces."
"You also would see that reflected in our students' artwork," Doyle added.
The need for greater early childhood education is growing and Nassau
BOCES is at the forefront. Its third annual Learning in the Early Years
conference, to be held Thursday, March 25, at Hofstra University, will bring
together educators and caregivers from across the island to address the
educational needs of children from birth to age 6.
The conference continues its tradition of presenting the most current
information from leading researchers of early childhood development and
learning. And, it does so in very practical, concrete terms so families,
schools and communities may benefit directly.
A panel of seven experts representing various fields of early learning will
be led by world renowned expert Dr. Craig T. Ramey. His research in this
field at Georgetown University has yielded many hands-on approaches which
will be shared with conference attendees.
During the conference, attendees will attend workshops that address early
learning from different vantage points — allowing them to customize the
conference to their specific interests. Workshop leaders include
representatives from the most proactive early childhood organizations on
Long Island.
In addition, more than 20 organizations in the bi-county area concerned
about the education of young children have stepped up to support the
Learning in the Early Years conference. Representatives from these
organizations will be on hand to network with attendees and provide details
about the resources and services they offer.
Even business groups are now taking notice of the need for the best possible
education for children during their earliest years. America's Edge, a
business group most concerned about ensuring the future of America's
workforce, has signed on in support of the conference. Further, it is
underwriting a special event to take place at the Nassau BOCES Joseph M.
Barry Career and Technical Education Center (Barry Tech) on the evening
before the conference.
All are invited to register for the Learning in the Early Years conference.
For more information, please review the brochure and registration form.
Long Island High School for the Arts alums star
in off-Broadway teen musical
"Most Likely To: The Senior
Superlative Musical" featured a cast made up entirely of Long
Island High School for the Arts alumni.
Thirteen students from the Nassau BOCES
Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) classes of 2008 and 2009
are taking to the stage at New York’s historic Players Theatre in Greenwich
Village. The talented and passionate all-alumni cast is back for an encore
showcase of "Most Likely To: The Senior Superlative Musical."
"Most Likely To ..." opens Saturday, Jan. 16, and runs through Sunday, Jan.
24, for five performances. Tickets and a complete schedule of show times are
available at
theatermania.com.
Written and composed by LIHSA drama teacher and established playwright
Michael Tester, and directed by LIHSA teacher Abbe Gail Gross, "Most Likely
To …" offers a fresh alternative to teen musicals while showcasing LIHSA's
talented alumni. The all-teen cast and their home towns are: Andrew J. Beck
and Gina Marie Bilardi, Bethpage; Dee Brown, Long Beach; Samantha Chastain,
Locust Valley; Alex Greif, Lynbrook; Christopher Hlinka, Northport; Katie
Hoffmann, Massapequa; Lyle Colby Mackston, West Hempstead; Melissa Rapelje,
Glen Cove; Lauren Renner and Joe Weggman, Harborfields; Sarah Sixt, Locust
Valley; and Jessie Zeidman, Port Washington.
Tester, who also authored "Hollywood Exposed!" and co-authored "The Awesome
'80s Prom," exemplifies the dedication of the LIHSA staff – all experienced
performers and artists who bring impressive real-world credentials to their
classrooms.
>>Added 1/15/10
Nassau BOCES welcomes new district superintendent
Dr. Thomas
L. Rogers joined Nassau BOCES on Tuesday, Jan. 19, as its new
district superintendent.
Dr. Thomas L. Rogers took the helm at Nassau BOCES on Tuesday, Jan. 19,
when he officially started as district superintendent.
Rogers assumes responsibility for leading the largest BOCES in New York,
serving the 56 school districts in the county, which enroll 212,000
students. As district superintendent, he also represents the
commissioner of education and the State Education Department in their work
with the school districts of Nassau County.
Nassau BOCES employs 4,315 staff members who work on 20 campuses throughout
the county, housing 4,778 BOCES students, including 1,306 Nassau County
adults enrolled in a variety of literacy, career and technical programs. In
addition to its nationally-known programs in special education and career
and technical education, Nassau BOCES also provides a variety of technical
support programs for local school districts, including electronic and
assistive technology, in-service training for staff, interscholastic
athletics, public communications, data warehousing and analysis, distance
education, cooperative bidding and purchasing, and a variety of other
services that can be offered more efficiently and less expensively through
Nassau BOCES than by the school districts acting independently.
Since 1993, Rogers has provided leadership for the New York State Council of
School Superintendents in Albany, serving as its executive director for the
past six years. Prior to that, Rogers was a program associate in the New
York State Senate Majority Program Office, where he worked on a wide variety
of public policy issues. In his work for the Council of School
Superintendents, Rogers led the transformation of a traditional membership
association into a public policy advocacy think tank that emphasizes
professional development for all school superintendents and other school
district administrators in New York.
His recent work as a co-founder of Public Schools For Tomorrow, a newly
formed organization of public school leaders seeking to reassert a strong
professional presence in state and federal policy discussions, has kept him
in the forefront of trends in classroom instruction and measurement.
Rogers received a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Education from Teachers
College at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude
from the University of Buffalo. He is the author of several publications,
has lectured at the College of St. Rose on educational leadership and public
communications, and serves on the boards of several education-related
organizations.
>>Added 1/15/10
It's never too late to find the artist within —
sign up for adult courses at the Long Island High School for the Arts
Whether you’re a budding artist or merely up for something new and
different, spend your Tuesday evenings exploring your creative side at the
Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) in Syosset.
The school is opening its doors to the community by offering 17 unique and
interesting classes this spring as part of its Arts for Adults program. New
classes include: Singers Studio Collective, which focuses on the basics of
commercial pop and jazz vocal production; Un Poquito de Español – A little
bit of Spanish, where participants have fun learning conversational Spanish
through cooking, films, music, literature, dancing and art; and Ballroom
Dancing, where you can energize both your mind and body in your favorite
dancing shoes.
Additional offerings focus on the basics of guitar or other instruments,
poetry writing, film history (which highlights Hollywood’s Golden Age),
acting techniques, stage lighting, photography, drawing, painting, body
conditioning and Broadway dance styles. No matter where your talents or
aspirations lie, there’s bound to be a class for you.
Download the brochure for a full schedule of courses, or call
516-622-5678 to request one by mail. Register in person Monday-Friday from 8
a.m.-4 p.m., by phone or by mail. Courses run for an eight-week session on
Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. or 8:30-10 p.m. Spring classes begin on
Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Nassau BOCES is part of the public school system, and its Long Island High
School for the Arts has been offering intensive training in the visual and
performing arts for more than 35 years. Students from both Nassau and
Suffolk counties may attend and can choose to major in art, dance, drama,
theatre technology, instrumental or vocal music, musical theatre, film or
playwriting. Many attend for half the school day, taking academic courses at
their home high schools; others enroll full time and take all of their
academic courses for high school graduation at LIHSA. More than 90 percent
of the graduates go on to colleges or conservatories, including the
Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory and the American Academy of Dramatic
Arts (just to name a few).
>>Added 1/15/10
Volunteer judges needed for 'Odyssey of the Mind'
Odyssey of the Mind challenges
children to solve a range of unique problems fostering both
creativity and problem-solving skills.
Nassau BOCES is seeking judges for "Odyssey of the Mind," a creative
problem-solving tournament for students in grades 3-12. This year's
competition will be held Saturday, March 6, at the Nassau BOCES Rosemary
Kennedy Center in Wantagh.
Volunteer judges will evaluate student performances based on how they apply
their knowledge, skills and talents to the various challenges. No special
qualifications are needed. A judges' training session will be held in
February at the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center in Garden City.
Sponsored by Nassau BOCES Instructional Programs and Alternative Schools,
this regional tournament attracts more than 600 crafty youngsters from
public and non-public schools throughout Long Island, New York City and
Westchester. Students participate in months of problem-based learning prior
to the competition. Challenges range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own
interpretations of literary classics.
Anyone interested in being a judge should contact Carolyn Yohannes at 516-396-2396 or
cyohanne@mail.nasboces.org.
College prep opens doors for special education
students
Nassau BOCES offers college course at high school thanks to
collaboration with Nassau Community College
Many students
attending Nassau BOCES high schools are starting their college experiences a
little early thanks to a collaboration between the agency and Nassau
Community College (NCC). These seniors are taking a one-credit course
focused on how to adapt successfully to college life.
The idea was the brainchild of Nassau BOCES Alternative Learning Program
(ALP) Principal Steven L. Sitkoff and the program's psychologist, Dr. Linda
Lopez. ALP is a high school program for students who have average or
above-average intellectual potential but have learning or emotional
disabilities that cause them to have difficulty relating to a traditional
high school environment.
The program has an impressive record of success, with most students
graduating with high school diplomas and more than half going on to four- or
two-year colleges.
"However, the students were often worried and nervous about the next step
after graduation and needed extra help with the skills necessary in a
college setting," says Sitkoff. "The natural solution was to turn to
longtime education partner NCC."
For years, ALP has been sending some of its most exceptional students to NCC
for one or two classes. Now, Sitkoff asked the college to come to them.
Eleven students from the four high school programs in the Department of
Special Education participated in the program's pilot class, which was
taught at the Nassau BOCES Greenvale Center by a veteran NCC professor.
Several of these students are now college freshman.
A freshman seminar offered to all incoming students at NCC, "The College
Experience," also teaches students how to make social connections and manage
academics along with other responsibilities such as laundry and dealing with
a budget.
Learning how to live without a built-in support system was key for Katherine
Cortali, an NCC freshman. "I learned how to be my own advocate," she said.
"If I had a question, I had to go meet with my professor — to be the one to
make the decisions and do what was best for me."
In addition to students from ALP, the course is open to seniors from the
Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment in Wantagh, the Hearing and
Vision Services program in East Meadow and the Career Preparatory High
School in Westbury.
Seventeen students have already signed up for the spring session.
>>Added 1/8/10
Barry Tech students earn Statesman Awards
At the New York State SkillsUSA Leadership Conference in Liverpool, N.Y.,
seven Barry Tech students earned Statesman Awards for demonstrating their
leadership skills through a variety of team activities.
The annual conference is a collaboration of students, teachers and industry
leaders working toward providing a skilled workforce for America's future.
The students, along with their home schools and courses of study, are:
Kristi Confortin, East Meadow High School, veterinary science
Dena Elsayed, North Shore High School, cosmetology
Marshall Goldstein, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High
School, culinary arts
Mike Jean-Batiste, Freeport High School, physical therapy aide
Angela Moore, Baldwin Senior High School, physical therapy aide
Ashley Skeffrey, Baldwin Senior High School, pharmacy technician
Dena Sotiriou, Syosset High School, culinary arts
The seven teens who attended the conference, along with the other members
of the Barry Tech SkillsUSA team, will continue to put their leadership
talents into practice during a series of SkillsUSA competitions, with the
eventual goal of attending the National Leadership and Skills Conference in
June.
From teenagers earning certification as computer network technicians to
adults learning new trades, the Nassau BOCES Department of Career and
Technical Education gives people the skills they need for success in the
workplace. Each year, thousands of high school and adult students attend
classes at Barry Tech, the state-of-the-art career and technical education
center in Westbury, and other locations. Specialized job training services
for adults with disabilities as well as English as a second language (ESL)
and basic education classes for adults new to our country, also are offered
at St. Bernard’s School in Levittown.
>>Added 1/8/10
Explore a new career at Nassau BOCES Adult Evening
Program
Cosmetology students get
hands-on experience at Nassau BOCES Adult Evening Program in
Westbury.
Adults interested in exploring new careers or upgrading their skills are
invited to the Nassau BOCES Adult Evening Program open house. The doors will
open to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 7-9 p.m. at the Joseph M.
Barry Career & Technical Education Center (Barry Tech), 1196 Prospect
Avenue, Westbury, NY.
Prospective students will have the opportunity to discuss programs and
career opportunities with instructors and tour the state-of-the-art
facilities, classrooms and shops. Training is available in more than 50
fields ranging from automotive and computer technologies to health
occupations, cosmetology and construction trades. Upon successful completion
of required program sequences, participants receive certificates attesting
to their achievements.
"It's a chance to meet our teachers. They are the key to our program's
success," says Rick Polansky, Adult Evening Program supervisor. "They bring
years of field experience to the classroom, and students really benefit from
their expertise."
According to Polansky some of the most popular courses this year include
Pharmacy Technician, Cosmetology, Computer Repair, Welding, Dental
Assistant, Certified Nurse Assistant and Personal Trainer.
Visit the program's Web
site for a complete list of courses, or call 516-622-6950 to receive a
free catalog or for directions to Barry Tech.
>>Added 12/23/09
Students and faculty at Adult Learning Center
spread holiday joy to underdeveloped countries
Students and staff at
the Nassau BOCES Adult Learning Center in Levittown filled nearly
100 shoe boxes with much-needed items for children in underdeveloped
countries. The project, called Operation Christmas Child, is run by
the Samaritan's Purse International Relief organization.
When Antionette Molinelli asked her students at the Nassau BOCES
Adult Learning Center
to participate in a project to help impoverished children during the
holidays, she was overwhelmed by the response.
"It's been amazing … The students just keep bringing in boxes filled with
items ready to go out to 'third-world' countries," Molinelli said.
About 140 students at the Adult Learning Center in Levittown opened their
hearts and filled their shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a service
project organized by Samaritan's Purse International Relief. Students
selected a gender and age category, and then packed the shoe boxes with
items such as school supplies, hygiene items or small toys.
Adult educator Lynn Filazolla, who coordinates the annual community projects
for the ALC faculty and staff, viewed the project as an opportunity to
foster teamwork among the diverse student body. The students worked together
to fill and wrap shoe boxes with donated items, as well as compose a
personal note to each child.
"Everyone helped and contributed," said Lucia Gallardo, from Columbia, who
studies English at the Adult Center. "I'm excited to know we are sending
[these boxes] to countries where they will make the children happy. The kids
are going to feel great when they open them up."
Nearly 100 shoe boxes were filled and dropped off at a local collection
center in time to be delivered before Christmas. Most of the students who
participated in the project are new to this country and are enrolled in the
English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education or General Equivalency
Diploma (GED) programs.
"The children will be smiling when they open the packages," said Phil
Parris, who is working toward his GED after coming to the United States from
Jamaica one year ago. "It makes me feel good to help."
"The students were excited and wanted to participate," Molinelli added.
"They were very generous and very willing to show that they care."
>>Added 12/23/09
Barry Tech salutes its industry partners
Police Science and
Criminal Justice instructor Michael Golod (left) thanks Officer Dan
Johannessen of the Nassau County Police Department — just one of
Barry Tech's many regional business partners.
View a list of partners.
At its annual Industry Partners recognition luncheon, Barry Tech honored
more than 75 business leaders for their support of cooperative education and
work-based learning. Nassau BOCES administrators and Board members joined
Barry Tech teachers and faculty in welcoming their esteemed guests.
For more than 10 years, the cooperative education and work-based learning programs of
the Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center
(Barry Tech) have partnered with more than 800 Long Island businesses to
provide students with the experiences and skills needed to compete in the
workplace. They range from neighborhood dog grooming services to national
operations such as JetBlue Airways, BMW of North America, MTV and the
American Culinary Federation.
To find out more about the work-based learning program, or to view a list of
business partners, visit
Barry Tech's Web site.
