Huntington School Briefs
The school year was launched successfully at J. Taylor Finley Middle School last week as about 650 seventh and eighth graders began classes in the building that opened in September 1965.
"Despite the rain and extreme humidity, the first day at Finley went as planned," Principal John Amato said. "We had very few bus problems, a small number of schedule errors, some new students, but the first day was one of the best I have experienced. I would thank our transportation office, our faculty and staff, security guards and parents."
Trustees Appoint Doreen Ellis
Doreen Ellis, who has taught at Washington Primary School since 2004, has been appointed to work as a long-term special education at J. Taylor Finley Middle School through approximately December 14. Huntington School Board members approved the appointment during a public meeting of the trustees this past Monday night.
Mrs. Ellis obtained a BA degree in child study at St. Joseph's College in 1994 and a MA in special education at C.W. Post College in 2002.
Prior to her new position, Mrs. Ellis worked at Long Island Com Day Care & Preschool as a teacher, at Redeemer Lutheran School as a first grade teacher, at PS 700 in Brooklyn as a pre-kindergarten teacher, at Emanuel Lutheran School as a kindergarten teacher, in the Northport-East Northport School District as a permanent special education substitute teacher and in the Huntington School District as a leave replacement, probationary and tenured elementary classroom teacher. Her positioned was excessed at the close of the 2010/11 school year. She was a leave replacement teacher last year.
District officials reviewed 20 applications and conducted four personal interviews prior to recommending Mrs. Ellis for the position.
Lisa Caporusso Appointed at Finley
Huntington School Board members have appointed Lisa Caporusso to work as a long-term substitute special education teacher at J. Taylor Finley Middle School through approximately November 19.
Ms. Caporusso earned a BA degree in teaching pre-K, kindergarten and grades 1-6 at St. Joseph's College in 2000 and a MA in literacy grades pre-K-6 at Long Island University in 2004.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Caporusso worked as a summer special education teacher at Chippewa Elementary School and as a special education teacher at Sagamore Middle School, both in the Sachem School District. She was also employed as a special education teacher at Lynbrook South Middle School and as a leave replacement special education teacher at Merrick Avenue Middle School.
District officials reviewed 20 applications and conducted five personal interviews prior to recommending Ms. Caporuso for appointment.
HBDMB Approved for Syracuse Trip
The Huntington High School Blue Devil marching band will travel to Syracuse for the New York State Field Band Conference Championships in late October. Huntington School Board members approved the trip during a public meeting of the trustees this past Monday evening.
The Huntington contingent is led by staff members Brian Stellato, Jason Giachetti, Frank Battista and Jessica Castaneda. About 115 band members and 19 chaperones are expected to be among the official traveling party.
The band will depart from Huntington on Saturday, October 27 at 1 p.m. and return on Monday, October 29 at 4:30 p.m. The trip and competition is the culminating activity for the honors band course. The band's performance will be critiqued for its musical and marching performance by a panel of esteemed judges.
Homecoming Parade Agreement
The Huntington School Board has unanimously approved an agreement with the Town of Huntington for the Homecoming Day parade on Saturday, September 29 at 12 noon. The parade will "step off" on Gerard Street opposite the US Post Office building and continue onto West Neck Road to Main Street and then up New York Avenue to the Big H Shopping Center and along Holdsworth Drive into the school parking lot.
The celebration will include a Friday afternoon pep rally in the school gym. Each of the four grades at the school will build class floats Friday night between 6-11 p.m. There will also be a student dance in the gym Saturday night from 7-11 p.m. It is expected draw a crowd of 500.
The 2 p.m. football game will feature the Blue Devils taking on powerful Amityville. No tickets are required. The Booster Club will be selling food and refreshing throughout the afternoon.
Halftime activities will include performances by the Blue Devil marching band and the Highsteppers, the school's competitive dance team, as well as the crowning of a homecoming king and queen and an announcement of the results of the parade float competition.
Last fall's festivities drew about 2,000 fans to Blue Devil Stadium, including several hundred alumni of the school.
Adult Ed Instructors
The Huntington School Board appointed several dozen instructors for the district's fall adult education program, including Devin Auricchio, Joan Boccafola, Peter Brosoff, Melissa Caravello, Diane Dentico, Michael Donnelly, Edward Enyart, Richard Gress, John Gurrieri, Kelly Hatzmann, Chih Chuan Hsiao, Olena Kropp, Beth Laraia, Bud Levy, Chet Lukaszewski, Robert Mallon, Jenny Marcotte, Allison Matthews, Deidre Mayer, Kieran Mock, Johnnie Morales, Michael Posner, Carlos Pumar Atay, Martha Reilly, Kaitlyn Reyes, Linda Costello-Roth, Carmela Stone Klein, Jane Voorhess, Janeen Wasoski, Margaret Winter and Richard Wos.
The instructors will be paid $25 per hour. The adult education program is self-supporting.
Next School Board Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington School Board is set for Monday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jack Abrams School auditorium. The public is invited to attend. An agenda and background information will be posted on the district's website at www.hufsd.edu in the days leading up to the meeting.