Huntington School Briefs
One of the most popular features during the pre-show activities for the African Acrobats visit to the Huntington High School auditorium was the African marketplace in the school cafeteria. The “Explore Africa” tent was a definite hit with families. Niger musician Mohamed Ahamok entertained people of all ages, introducing folks to the music of Tuareg fusion from the Sahara.
Jammin’ in Washington’s Gym
Third grade teacher/DJ Debbie Quiles will be spinning tunes this Friday at Washington Primary School’s annual Jammin’ in the Gym. Ms. Quiles organizes the event every winter. Over the course of the day students will file into the gym, two or three classes at a time, for 40-minute sessions of dance music that gets the youngsters moving, individually, sometimes with a partner or even as part of a large group.
Students have an opportunity to express themselves freely and creatively. It’s a grat workout, too. Each year several parents stop by to snap photos and participate. Principal Marsha Neville has also been known to make a few appearances throughout the day.
Ms. Quiles sets up her DJ equipment on the stage along with speakers to boom out the music. Music teacher Susan Hahn helps lead students on the dance floor.
The event is both fun and educational. “It introduces them to different cultures through song and dance,” Ms. Quiles said.
Flower Hill to the Rescue
The Flower Hill Primary School community raised $891 for Red Cross relief efforts in earthquake stricken Haiti. Most of the money came in last Friday during the school’s Pajama Day. Students wearing pajamas to school donated $1 and teachers and staff members kicked in $5 apiece.
Flower Hill has also been collected a variety of much needed relief supplies, such as infant formula, disposable gloves, blankets, baby wipes, hand sanitizers, face masks, baby diapers, first aid items and heavy duty garbage bags for relief workers responding to the disaster in Haiti. “The country is in need of help,” Principal Marlon Small said.
The Children’s Hunger Fund – Project Gratitude will ship the items to Haiti for distribution to those in need.
Harvard Club Thanks
The Harvard College Schools Committee of Long Island said an interviewing session it held at Huntington High School last month “was a great success.” District residents Dorothy and Richard Oehmler are co-chairs of the Harvard committee. Mr. Oehmler is a former Huntington High School Board member.
The interview program drew 26 students from area high schools, including five from Huntington High School. A team of 12 Harvard interviewers screened the teenagers.
“Your high school staff gave us marvelous assistance,” the Oehmler’s wrote in a letter to the district. “Bernadette Walsh, who coordinated the event for us, could not have been more helpful. As we mentioned to you last year, Bernadette is the epitome of a professional and competent educator, who brings great enthusiasm to her work. Additionally, the security guards and other school personnel were helpful and professional as well.”
Mrs. Walsh is the college counselor at Huntington High School.
Flower Hill Family Donates to District
A new SMART Board and projector are coming to Flower Hill Primary School after parents Michele and David Kustera donated $2,268 to the district to cover the cost of the item. The new equipment is slated for use in kindergarten teacher Nicole Malizia’s classroom.
Assistant Superintendent David H. Grackin called the Kustera’s action a “very generous donation.”
Disposal of Equipment
Huntington School Board members approved a request to place various high school library related items on the district’s surplus bid. The items, which are no longer used and beyond repair include a 3M microfilm reader printer, 3M microfiche reader printer, Bell & Howell Ringmaster projector, Dukane Sound filmstrip projector, Lexmark dot matrix printer, IBM 433 DX/S, IBM keyboard and a card catalog.
Scholarship Accounts
The latest Huntington School District financial report shows the Robert K. Toaz Memorial Scholarship fund contains $5,038.16. A scholarship from the fund is awarded annually to the Huntington High School valedictorian. Mr. Toaz was the district’s superintendent from 1906 to 1933.
The William H. Higbie Memorial Scholarship Fund now stands at $772,148.54. Mr. Higbie was a high school business teacher in the district for 41 years. He passed away in 1968. His estate distributed $710,862.91 to the district in October 2006 for the establishment of the scholarship fund, as his will stipulated. Until then income from his estate was used by his wife and relatives. When they passed away, the estate was settled.
The Higbie Scholarship has never been awarded and the principal has grown significantly over the past three years.
Helping Haiti
The Washington Primary School family of students, teachers, support staff and parents participated in a fundraising initiative known as “A Little Change Can Go a Long Way,” contributing spare change for humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
The change was deposited in a large water jug and later contributed to UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). Washington’s third grade classes spearheaded the fundraising effort.
Next School Board Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington School Board will be held on Monday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jack Abrams Intermediate School auditorium. The public is welcome to attend.
Substitutes Approved
At their meeting this past Monday night, Huntington School Board members authorized Joyce Duffy, John Feraco, Colleen Fowler, Meghan Jost and Martha Renderos to work as substitute teachers at a pay rate of $90 per diem. Matthew Harris was approved as the substitute stage manager at a rate of $30.47 per hour.
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