Huntington School Briefs
Huntington High School senior Shayne Larkin is the recipient of this year's Josten's Recognition Scholarship. The ring company provides a $500 annual award to one student "who is a positive role model and volunteers time in school and community activities," guidance counselor Lauren Baglivi said. Ms. Larkin will attend the University of Delaware in the fall.
No More Ties
Rick Eriksen is retiring from his job as a social studies teacher at J. Taylor Finley Middle School after 22 years. The longtime faculty member is well-known for wearing a tie to work on almost every single one of the more than 4,000 school days he was at Finley.
On one of his final days at the school, Mr. Eriksen gave away more than 100 ties. Some were given to his colleagues but most went to students. Why? Well, there isn't much of a need for ties featuring the US Constitution, presidents, flags, Sponge Bob, Playdough, Where's Waldo?, smiley faces, Darth Vader and the like outside of a middle school.
Finley's students who were the recipients of an Eriksen tie quickly put it on. It was an interesting scene, seeing dozens of students wearing ties in a public school in 2011.
Summer BOE Meetings
The Huntington School Board will hold a reorganization meeting on Tuesday, July 5 at 6 p.m. in the Jack Abrams School auditorium. Trustees will elect a president and vice-president for the group and make several other appointments, including district clerk and district treasurer, among others.
The reorganization meeting will immediately be followed by a regular business meeting. The meeting will be the first one for incoming Superintendent James W. Polansky and new trustees Adam Spector and Jennifer Hebert.
Trustees will also meet on Monday August 8 and Monday August 29. Both meetings will be called to order at 7 p.m. in the J. Taylor Finley Middle School large group instruction room, as the building's auditorium is formally known.
Rotary Club Scholarships
The Huntington chapter of the Rotary Club presented four Huntington High School seniors with $14,000 in scholarships earlier this month. The honorees included Aliyah Cohen ($6,000), Danielle Cerezo ($3,000), Alexandra Kiley ($3,000) and Brian Pechar ($2,000).
Pizza Party Reward
Flower Hill School fourth grade teacher Catherine Barth's class won a pizza party this month for winning the Box Tops for Education competition at the school. Ms. Barth's students saved 463 box tops in all. Flower Hill Principal Marlon Small called it "a job well done."
According to the group's website, "Box Tops for Education has helped America's schools earn over $400 million since 1996. You can earn cash for your child's school by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating products. Box Tops also offers easy ways to earn even more cash for your school online."
Art Awards Presented
Huntington High School art teachers presented a series of awards to their best students earlier this month during senior academic awards night in the high school auditorium.
Meleika Amos earned the Art Honor Society Award. Outstanding Achievement in Visual Arts awards were bestowed on Cody Jacobs (photography), Louis Contino (computer graphics), Paul Mazzotta (video), Allison Wieland (fashion) and Sabina Schneider (drawing and painting). Each of the awards carried a $100 stipend.
Bausch & Lomb Award
Huntington High School senior Michael O'Connor was presented with the Bausch & Lomb Science Award during the senior academic awards night held earlier this month in the school auditorium.
The award is presently annually to a student who shows excellence in the area of science. Mr. O'Connor will attend Carnegie Mellon University in the fall. He plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Women in Science Award
Huntington High School seniors Alexandra Kiley, Cody Jacobs, Carolyn Fante and Michelle Byrne were presented with the St. John's University Women in Science Society Awards. The awards were presented during the senior academic awards night held earlier this month in the high school auditorium.
"The Women in Science Society at St. John's seeks to encourage and assist young woman in gaining access to satisfying and intellectually stimulating careers in the natural and physical science, mathematics and computer science," said Rae Montesano, Huntington district director of science and instructional technology. "Recipients must in the top five percent of the class in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics or computer science."
Ms. Fante, the valedictorian of the Class of 2011 is headed to the University of Pennsylvania while Ms. Bryne, the class salutatorian will be attending Cornell University. Ms. Kiley is on her way to Harvard College and Ms. Jacobs will be attending the Concordia University in Montreal.
Finello's Party Next Wednesday
A retirement party in honor of Huntington School District Superintendent John J. Finello is planned for next Wednesday (June 29) at 4:30 p.m. at The Head of the Bay Club in Huntington Bay. The affair will include a variety of hors d'oeuvres and desserts, coffee and tea and a cash bar. Tickets are on sale for $50 per person, which includes a gift. To reserve a ticket call Liz Troffa at 673-2038.