Event Archives
2011-2012 Event Highlights Archive
2010-2011 Event Highlights Archive
2009-2010 Event Highlights Archive
2008-2009 Event Highlights Archive
2007-2008 Event Highlights Archive
2006-2007 Event Highlights Archive


Upcoming Events and School Highlights 2012-2013
Upcoming Events and School Highlights has been created to keep you posted of district happenings during the 2012/2013 school year. This page is updated frequently so please do check back often. To view many of the student achievements at SOCSD, go to Student and Staff Achievements.

Orangetown Substance Abuse Committee has established an anonymous underage drinking hotline and text line 845.826.4026 to report underage drinking parties, kids in crisis, etc.

View School Highlights

Upcoming Events

TZHS Blood Drive Spring 2013

TZHS Blood Drive originally scheduled for May 20th (as listed on the District Calendar) has been changed to Friday, May 31st.  Same time: 8am - 8pm.  Back Gym.  Further details forthcoming.  Blood drive to honor Rockland's first responders.  flyer

Athletic Physical Night
Wednesday, June 5th
5-8pm in the TZHS Gym
Physical covers athlete for all three ’13-’14 seasons. Open to athletes currently in grades 6-11.
For further information contact the TZHS athletic office at 845-680-1641.

TZHS Physical Form
SOMS Physical Form

TZHS PTSA Scholarship Fund Needs Your Support!

Every year the Tappan Zee High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) gives recognition to graduating seniors for their leadership skills as well as their involvement in extra-curricular activities. The PTSA’s goal again this year is to continue this scholarship program with your help. To Donate www.tzhsptsa.org/scholarship/

TZHS Project Graduation 2013
Plans are in full swing for Tappan Zee High School’s Project Graduation ’13. This marks the 22nd anniversary for Project Graduation - a supervised, substance free, all night party for graduates. The party will start at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night, June 20th, 2013 and ends at 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning, June 21st. The celebration is held at Tappan Zee High School and is organized by the PTSA with help from the Senior Class.  Please click here to learn more and make a donation to this evening and/or volunteer your time!


Enjoy a short stack for a tall cause!
You’re invited to an  Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser breakfast to support TZHS PTSA – Project Graduation

Sunday June 2nd, 2013 8am – 10am
Ticket cost: $10 per person
Meal includes: Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, juice, soda or tea

Applebee’s
271 Livingston Street
Northvale, NJ 07647

Purchase tickets from Senior Class Advisor – Amy Rosenthal arosenthal@socsd.org or Nicole Glazer/MaryBeth Carley at projectgrad@tzhsptsa.org


The TZHS PTSA Project Graduation Committee Presents
The Second Annual TZHS Graduating Seniors and Alumni Night at Provident Bank Park

Families, TZHS Alumni and Community Members Welcomed

Only $15 per person

Monday June 3rd, 2013 Game Time 7:00pm
Package Includes: Infield Ticket and Voucher for Hot Dog & Soda

Tickets may be purchased online at  http://www.rocklandboulders.com/tickets/fundraiser/
Click on Tappan Zee High School

Hudson Youth Leadership Academy Invites Student Sign-Up for Summer Conference

On March 7th, students in Ms. Amy Rosenthal and Ms. Christine Drivas’ classes were visited by Outreach speaker, Bria Wilder, from Free the Children, and Johannes Glatz, an intern at Creative Response to Conflict. The purpose of their visit was to introduce students to opportunities for change both locally and globally as well as to inform them of a Hudson Youth Leadership Academy (H.Y.L.A.) Conference that will be held at Rockland Community College this summer.

Free the Children is a worldwide program that works building schools and helping communities obtain clean water and improve their local economies. TZ senior Kevin Schaub commented, “I liked this organization because instead of just giving resources to underdeveloped communities, they also teach them how to use their environment to become self-sufficient.”

After Wilder shared her experiences with Free the Children in Latin America, she encouraged the students to take an active role in changing the world around them. Senior Skyler Finning said, “I thought the presentation was interesting and it made me think about what I can do to make the world a better place.”

Wilder also encouraged students to take part in the Hudson Youth Leadership Academy’s four day camp this summer from June 26th through June 29th. The program is designed for middle school and high school students to help promote leadership qualities and self-confidence when trying to make changes in their communities.

TZ senior Kassiana Temidis noted, “I think it would be good for parents to send their children to the summer academy because it would benefit them in many ways. They could help their community and it would look really good on a college application!”

This year’s Summer Academy theme is: Creating a Culture of Caring in Our Schools. Anyone interested in more information about the H.Y.L.A. camp should call 845-353-7196. Flyers are available in the guidance office at Tappan Zee High School. Online registration is available at crc-global.org/HYLA-2013.

School Highlights

2012-2013 HIGHLIGHTS

They Have Made a Difference

SOMS’ annual You Make a Difference Award Ceremony was held on Tuesday, May 21st in the SOMS auditorium. This year, 29 students, a parent, and a staff member whose kindness, hard work, and dedication made a difference in the lives of those around them, were nominated to receive the award distinction.

As their names were announced, a short explanation of their “special contribution” was read by the person who nominated them. Words like, positive role model, leadership skills, self-motivation, citizenship, inspiration, diligence, consistent friendship, compassion, and many others described each one of the recipients as they were introduced. Honorees each received a Certificate and congratulations presented by SOMS Principal Karen Tesik.

This year’s recipients were: Keira Petry, Casey Hampton, Perla Godinez, Jennifer Appell, Jaime Aguilar, Francesca Pesce, Maeve Malora, Colin Moriarty, Brenna Boyle, Kaitlin Phelan, Johanny Mateo, Sofia Tasker, Jonathan Weissberg, Jorge Umana Mazariego, Michael Hovagim, Colin Horton, Jacqueline Shanley, Mackenzie Shanley, Kieran Gibson, Matthew McCleary, Caitlin Skae, Sydney Judge, Jessica Cascone, Mitchell Jacobs, Riva Gandhi, Natalie Tromer, Stanley Stolarski, SOMS Library Media Specialist Patty Eyer, and SOMS PTA parent Kathleen Dellacava.
 

TZHS Art Students Attend Plein Air Workshop

Students from Tappan Zee High School’s Drawing and Painting, Advanced Painting, and AP Studio Art Classes attended a special workshop in Plein Air Painting with professional artist and Rockland Center for the Arts teacher, John Creagh. Plein air, a French word, literally translates as 'open air', and is defined as painting or drawing done outside, in the open air. After observing Mr. Creagh demonstrate Plein air watercolor painting techniques, students created their own unique paintings of landscape views that they chose from scenic points along the Piermont Pier. With continued coaching from Mr. Creagh, students were able to make several paintings, depending upon the rate at which they worked and the level of detail added into their paintings. This experience, of going 'on-location' to a local setting that is both beautiful and meaningful toward defining a sense of 'place' for our young artists’ identity, also gave our students the life-long skill of knowing how to paint landscapes from direct observation out in the open air: Plien Air!

SOCSD Rocks the Point for Newtown

On Wednesday May 1, 2013 students from The South Orangetown School District performed at The Turning Point in Piermont, New York for “Rock the Point.” Rock the Point is a show created and directed by teacher Ms. Arlene Sorensen whose mission it has been as an educator to link the classroom to the community. Each year, proceeds from the show have been given to assorted charities. This year “Rock the Point” raised $500 to benefit Healing Newtown through the Arts. This organization was created to help Newtown and the Sandy Hook Community work through their many stages of healing.

At the Healing Newtown Arts Space creative art workshops and performances are held. The space is designed to be a safe meeting place for children and families to gather, to display artworks from around the world, and as an archive for letters which were sent to Newtown from all over the world.

Students and staff from the South Orangetown School district who performed at “Rock the Point” had the privilege of donating their artistic talents to help the community of Newtown heal.
 

Leos and Lions Walk for Charity

Members of the TZHS Blauvelt Lions/ Leos and members of the Blauvelt Lions joined forces to walk for Charity at the annual Journey for Sight Walk held at the Pecks Pond in Haverstraw on April 20th. Walking with members from other Lions Clubs in Rockland, participants helped to raise over $2000 for charities for the visually impaired.
 

SOMS Music Students Prepare for NYSSMA

On May 6th, SOMS music students performed at the fifth annual solo recital in preparation for the NYSSMA Solo Festival. Approximately twenty students performed solo literature at NYSSMA levels two through 6, including works by J.S. Bach, F. Chopin, A. Vivaldi, J.B. Lully, and E. Lalo. Roughly 75 guests—parents, siblings, and private teachers – attended this event. Congratulations to our students for their dedication to music and performance, and to our families for their support for music in our schools!

TZHS Leos Help Keep Blauvelt Beautiful

About twenty-five members of the TZHS Blauvelt Lions / Leo Club and members of the Blauvelt Lions joined other community groups for the Blauvelt Community Cleanup on April 27th, sponsored by Keep Rockland Beautiful. Amongst household and industrial items of all types dumped along the old railway trail on Erie St., Leos and Lions found over 15 automobile and truck tires, landscaping equipment, bottles and cans, hubcaps and other metal items of all sizes and descriptions. It was a lot of hard work and dedication, but afterward everyone felt a huge sense of satisfaction in having helped clean up the area and assisting in protecting the environment.   Click on image to right to preview photo slideshow of clean-up effort.

LEOS Sponsor 1st Annual Zumba Night for Charity

The TZHS Leo Club’s first Zumba Night for Charity raised over $600.00 for the children of this year’s Penguin Plunge. Under the guidance of Zumba Instructor Judith Richards, over 60 students, SOCSD staff, South Orangetown community members, and Blauvelt Lions danced for an hour, burning thousands of calories and raising hundreds of dollars. Leo advisor Tricia Castelli said, “Everyone had a wonderful time and agreed it was great to be able to work out helping others and have so much fun at the same time. "Zumba nights, with Judith’s class are held at the Manse Barn in Tappan on Monday nights at 7:30 or Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m.  Click on image to left to preview photo slideshow of Zumba Charity event.

Understanding Dante’s Inferno

At the end of a study unit on Dante’s Inferno, students in Italian V classes at TZHS read and discussed several Cantos of the work. To help them better understand the thought process behind Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece, students were assigned the task of creating their own Hell with characters from either real life, history, literature, or the cinema, as well as what they felt to be appropriate punishments that fit “crimes” they had chosen. Students presented their creations to the class, speaking in Italian, as well as additionally having to write an essay of reflection on the project. Students were able to gain a deeper understanding of The Inferno through this hands on assignment.
 

TZHS COVE Students Commit To Be Fit

As part of an ongoing focus to promote healthy living, TZHS COVE (Consortium for Occupational and Vocational Education) teacher, Bonnie McCort piloted the 5th Annual COVE Fitness challenge. Held May 3rd on the TZHS field under what has become an annual day of guaranteed bright sun and glorious skies, the festivities began with a stretching warm-up session for the students and staff. Music was graciously provided, once again, by The Blues Bandits (aka TZHS’s Richard Weissberg
(Guidance), Peter Burgos (Spanish), and Dr. Ken Mitchell on the harmonica).

The Challenge was officially opened with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Runners and walkers then lined up behind the starting line, and the Fitness Challenge was off to a great start. The commitment was to run or walk for 30 minutes as a cheering section gathered in the stands to root for and shout words of encouragement and support to the entire group. Students ran, walked and happily fulfilled their commitments to the Challenge as well as to themselves. They then gathered for some well deserved congratulations and some high fives as they cooled down.

The final event in the Challenge was an award ceremony complete with trophies, certificates, and many self satisfied smiles. Once again, they made their commitment and they kept it.

Muchas Gracias

The Spanish Department would like to extend a huge “Thank You” to the community for supporting this year’s Sister City drive.  Your donations are being shipped to San Marcos, Nicaragua this week.  Every bicycle, clothing item, toy and musical instrument will be making many people very happy.  Some of you also very generously donated money.  Did you know that each $100 donation will provide a high school student with a full year’s scholarship? So…on behalf of the people of San Marcos and the Spanish Department “ MUCHAS GRACIAS!”  
 

TZHS Spanish Language Students Create New Endings For 1936 Play

TZHS seniors in Ms. Claudia Arietta’s Spanish V classes just finished writing and performing their own original 3rd act endings to Garcia Lorca’s La Casa de Bernarda Alba. Each group consisted of five members and were assigned the task of writing an original script, in Spanish, to Lorca’s world renown play. The students had to maintain Lorca’s voice, and touch upon and relay the major themes of abuse of power, violence, inequality of classes and keeping up appearances. In La Casa de Bernarda Alba, Bernarda, the tyrannical mother, more preoccupied about what the neighbors will say than her daughters’ welfare or happiness, keeps her daughters under lock and key for eight years to respect the mourning period after the death of her husband. The student’ original works will be published in this year’s World Language Journal.

TZ Art Students Visit the Whitney Museum

Students from Tappan Zee High Schools' Drawing and Painting, Advanced Painting and AP Studio Art classes, recently visited the Whitney Museum of American Art for an exclusively private tour with extended time for sketching. Students were escorted through the museum with a tour guide to view and discuss works of art from all the exhibits as they related to the theme of "Artist as Critic". Of special interest was the retrospective of Beat artist, Jay Defeo's diverse art works and especially her 1 ton, 10 year-long process painting: The Rose. Students attending the trip received free passes to return to the museum at any time, throughout their high school careers.
 

TZHS Italy Trip 2013 Video Pictorial

SOMS Music Students Attend Master Class and Performance Clinic

On April 22, over 80 members of the South Orangetown Middle School Orchestra program participated in a unique opportunity, when Metropolitan Opera Orchestra String Bassist and Conductor Louis Kosma presented a full day performance clinic at SOMS. This is the latest appearance in an ongoing series of guest clinicians arranged by SOMS Orchestra Director, Mr. Matthew Rotjan with the goal of bringing accomplished professional conductors and performers who are eager to share their expertise and life experiences as a lifelong musician to his students. Mr. Kosma offered helpful musical and technical advice to students in the ensembles, who are in the midst of preparing for spring concerts. A performance master class was also held for students in the afternoon, with students performing works by Lalo, Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach on the violin, viola, cello and string bass. All students involved were in grades 6 through 8.

A member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for over 30 years, Louis Kosma also serves as Music Director of the Vermont Philharmonic, the Youth Orchestras of Essex County, the Thurnauer Symphony Orchestra in Tenafly, and the New Jersey City University Symphony. He has also guest conducted the All-State Orchestras of New Jersey, Massachusetts and North Dakota and previously taught public school in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

TZHS Leos and Girls Lacrosse Team Members Help Rebuild Piermont Community Garden

Members of the Blauvelt Lions Leos at Tappan Zee High School as well as members of the TZ Girls Lacrosse Team joined members and friends of the Piermont Community Garden on Saturday, April 6 to lend a hand with the Garden Rebuild Project. Over twenty TZHS students helped to move and set up the 8000 bricks needed for the project. The storm surge created by Superstorm Sandy completely destroyed the Village Garden which had been a vital part of the community for over 18 years. Garden members have been working rigorously to raise funds and obtain the donations needed to rebuild. The Leos and Lacrosse members worked hard and learned some new skills… some actually learning how to lay the bricks. It was backbreaking work, but truly satisfying to all involved.

View slideshow below of TZHS students offering their support to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy.

TZHS Students Attend Pope’s First Public Audience

Thirty-three Tappan Zee High School students and their four teacher chaperones joined thousands of other tourists of different nationalities and faiths in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Wednesday, March 27th, anxiously awaiting Pope Francis’s first public audience. As Pope Francis entered the Square in the “pope mobile”, coming about 10 ft. from some of the students, some texted home writing, “You’re not going to believe where I am right now!!! – St. Peter’s with the Pope”. When the students heard that the Pope was holding his first public audience in front of the Basilica, notwithstanding their background or beliefs, they wanted to be present at this historic moment. They didn’t even care that they might be standing for several hours. Participating in this event was the icing on the cake for the 33 students who had spent the prior 8 days touring Italy, visiting Venice, Verona, Florence, Siena, Assisi and Rome. Other highlights of the trip were the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square and a Gondola ride in Venice, Juliet’s balcony in Verona, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio in Florence, St. Francis’s Basilica in Assisi, Piazza del Campo in Siena, and the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain and the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

View below snapshots of the students entire trip while in Italy, Pope included!

Viva la France for TZHS Students of French

Over the Spring break, a group of forty TZHS students, led by Madame Root and four teacher/chaperones, toured the elegant city of Paris and the southern region of Provence. Students learned history first-hand through guided tours of famous museums such as the Louvre, Musee de Orsay, and Versailles, where masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo were studied. French culture was absorbed as students walked the streets of Paris, learned to ride the metro, spoke with locals in shops and markets, and savored the new sights, sounds and flavors of a different land.

Following immersion in city life, the group, ably led by guide Fabien, headed south by high speed train to sample the slower pace of Provencal life. Students hiked outdoors, explored ancient medieval castles and villages, and felt the warmth of the spring sunshine among the sailboats and yachts of Cassis and Nice. Each day was an extraordinary adventure, from beginning to end. From the style of buildings, cars, and even flush toilets, to the rock formations, plants, fashions and yes, even McDonalds, new experiences were a steady diet. Students reveled in the fresh atmosphere, were awed and inspired by the beauty, were excited and awakened to the larger world and its history, and appreciated and absorbed the French language and culture.

The group became much more aware of our “French connection” and the world in time and space as both Americans and global citizens.

Cottage Lane Teachers Speak At Annual ASCD Conference

The This year’s Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Annual Conference was held in Chicago. Cottage Lane teachers Ms. Kottie Christie-Blick and Mr. Marc Eckert , along with Mr. Shaun Tuohy from Sun Valley Primary in South Africa, were three of the more than 10,500 educators and administrators who attended. The group was there to learn, but also to teach other educators how to link up with schools around the globe. Their hour and a half presentation, International Student Collaborations Model: United States – South Africa, showed teachers and administrators how classes in different countries could blog, Glog, and Skype to work together on a significant societal issue. Ms. Christie-Blick worked with Mr. Tuohy’s class last year when she spent the year in South Africa as part of a Fulbright project. Mr. Tuohy’s class and Mr. Eckert’s class blogged, Glogged and Skyped with each other during a six-week unit on the importance of taking care of ecosystems, as a part of their science units. This year, Ms. Christie-Blick’s class at Cottage Lane Skyped with another class at Sun Valley Primary in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss the changing climate in the United States and in Africa. All of the students and teachers agreed that linking up with another class is a highly motivating way to get kids interested in science, and to help them understand important global issues.

SOMS Students Create BRAIN DAY

Proudly displaying their “brain” erasers, “brain” pencils and touting, “I touched a Brain!” South Orangetown Middle School students left the classroom of Health teacher, Vickie Shaw. The students had just departed a lesson packed full of pertinent information on how the brain functions. One of the classroom activities included the students watching a short video in which six people, three in white shirts and three in black shirts, pass basketballs around. While watching, the students were asked to keep a silent count of the number of passes made by the people in white shirts. At some point, a gorilla strolled into the middle of the action, faced the camera, thumped its chest, and then left, spending nine seconds on screen. Would you see the gorilla? This helped to guide to class toward discussions on the topics of how the brain is affected by the use of seatbelts, helmets, sleep and drugs and alcohol. The power of this lesson will have a long term impact on students understanding how the brain works will hopefully deter adolescent risk taking. “Brain Day” was such a success that students are asking for a second “Brain Day!”

A special thanks to the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) and Dr. Michael Milham MD, PhD, founding director of the Center for the Developing Brain at the Child Mind Institute who are internationally known for pioneering contributions to psychiatric research and for sharing their knowledge with students at SOMS.

Pi Anyone?

On Tuesday, March 19th the annual observation of Mu-Fest was held at Tappan Zee HS. The day-long fair, which takes place in the TZHS library, features original math games created by the members of Mu Alpha Theta under the direction of advisors Seth Resnikoff and Jeanne Benecke. The entire TZHS student body rotates in and out of the library all day to enjoy the fun and challenges of the annual event. As a special part of the Mu Fest tradition, students from Cottage Lane Elementary get a chance to visit the fair at the high school's library to play the math games and answer the age appropriate math challenges prepared expressly for them. All day long, the winners from each challenge receive tickets which can be redeemed for healthy snack treats.
 

TZHS Foreign Language Students Leave for Italy

On a sunny first day of Spring, thirty-three TZHS students along with their four chaperones left for this year's annual trip to Italy. This year, the group will be touring Northern Italy and visiting Verona, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Siena, and Rome. The students are excited to see Juliet's balcony, ride a gondola, and walk through the Roman Forum. Many of the students are already planning to join next year's trip to Southern Italy.

SOMS Challenge Lab Project Comes To the Rescue

South Orangetown Middle School students Palak Oza, Yena Shin, Jenny Domenick, Madison Stolarski , and Nika Colley have been busy collecting animal supply items for Hi-Tor Animal Shelter in Pomona, New York. The project originated with the girls’ combined love for animals and the need for a required self-directed project in the middle school’s program, “Challenge Lab.” The student’s rose to their own challenge with a successful advertising campaign, daily morning announcements, posters, conversations, blog posts and more in order to solicit donations from the SOMS community. The pet drive lasted 10 weeks and the donations included approximately 20 large bags and cans of dog food, 60 cans and bags of cat food and an eclectic combination of animal blankets, toys and leashes. All donations were delivered on Saturday to the Hi-Tor Animal Shelter. SOMS Challenge Lab Advisor & Media Specialist Patricia Eyer assured the students, “The ones with no voices thank you, and a heartfelt thank you to all who donated!”
 

Savannah College Art Professor Conducts Workshop for TZHS Art Students

Recently, thirty TZHS Art students participated in a workshop given by a Visiting Professor from Savannah College of Art and Design located in Atlanta, GA. Professor Dale Clifford, Associate Chair, Foundation Studies Department, began the workshop with the PowerPoint presentation, "Color As Light: An Introduction to Color" addressing the properties of color, master examples, Georges Seurat & Wayne Thiebaud, and more tangible student examples. This was followed by a drawing demonstration, applying formal concepts addressed in the presentation along with technical advice on manipulating chalk pastels. The workshop culminated in a hands on work session for the students. Professor Clifford worked with students one-on-one and in small groups to cement their understanding of the concepts presented.

Last chance to Tweet with Pope Benedict XVI

For students in Italian classes at TZHS, discussions of current events over the past week have revolved around the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. Thursday, students viewed the live streaming of the departure of Pope Benedict from Vatican City and his helicopter ride over Rome to Castel Gandolfo. When the announcer mentioned that the Pope had sent his last tweet as Pope, Italian IV students responded, tweeting him "auguri", best wishes in his future. The students were elated as it not every day that one gets to tweet with the Pope. Several of the students who will be participating in the TZHS Italian Class Italy trip this year, which leaves in a few weeks, are very excited at the thought that they may be in Italy when the new Pope is selected.

Long Long Long Ago...

The children and parents of Pat Ochman and Mary Chaudoir’s class took a step back in time to experience what it was like to live long ago. It was the culmination of their Long Ago Unit in Social Studies after visiting the DeWint House and Phillipsburg Manor. The children and parents also dressed in long ago clothing to add authenticity to the day. This event would not have been possible without the wonderful parent volunteers who participated. The children learned how to make candles, butter and clay pinch bowls. They also played games from long ago such as marbles, jacks and pick-up sticks. They wrote with quills and sewed their own wallets! Through these experiences the children realized that daily life was hard work for adults and children long ago, but they also felt great satisfaction by developing new skills. Much was learned and a great time was had by all!

TZHS Leos Dedicate Time to Feeding Less Fortunate

If you ask most members of the Blauvelt Lions TZHS Leos, the most satisfying type of community service activities for them are those that involve feeding those less fortunate. If fact, club members have dedicated hundreds of hours over the last few months, volunteering in soup kitchen programs, participating on midnight and breakfast runs, running a food drive to collect food for the county’s needy, and volunteering in the Safe Haven program feeding the homeless in Rockland County. Over the last few months, more than 50 Leos have volunteered at the Soup Angels Soup Kitchen in Nyack, helping to serve meals to as many as 70 visitors per evening. The Leos ran a food drive at Tappan Zee High School, collecting in excess of 1300 lbs of non-perishable food which was donated to People to People. Over 40 Leos participated in a Midnight Run in December into New York City to bring food, clothing and toiletries to the homeless of New York City. On January 31, over 30 Leos gathered to bake cookies and make pasta sauce in preparation for their participation in the Safe Haven program. The following evening 18 members of the Leo Club, prepared and served a dinner of pasta, chicken, mashed potatoes, and cookies, to over 20 homeless members of our County who found a warm place to eat and sleep at the Piermont Reformed Church through Safe Haven. “These are very rewarding experiences for the Leos, who truly enjoy helping those less fortunate. They are particularly drawn to this type of community service activity as they feel real gratification when they are able to interact with those they are helping, and seeing the importance of what they do in the smile or heartfelt thank-you they receive from someone they have helped”, says Leo advisor Tricia Castelli. “It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm with which the Leos give of their time to participate in these activities.

TZHS Italian Class Students Visit the United Nations

As a culminating activity to a unit comparing and contrasting the Italian and American governmental systems and the interaction of world governments as they work to resolve global issues, students in Italian IV classes at Tappan Zee High School recently visited the United Nations. Before the trip, students researched global issues such as child labor, genocide, refugees around the world, violence against women, and world hunger, presenting their findings in Italian to their classes, with information on how these issues effect the entire world. The U.N. tour addressed these various world issues, and the U.N. efforts and programs to reduce and eventually eradicate these problems. Students enjoyed the tour, and in the essays they wrote in Italian summarizing their trip, they all indicated that this unit and their trip to the United Nations have increased their knowledge and awareness of global issues.

SOMS Italian Club Enjoys Thorpe’s Senior Citizens

As part of what has already been a very busy year, 25 members of the South Orangetown Middle School Italian club, along with the club moderator took a trip over to the Thorpe Senior Center for an "Italian Festa." The students danced the Tarantella and played Tombola (much like Bingo) with the senior citizens. There were many happy winners and happy faces. The afternoon ended with a sing along of "Volare" a famous Italian song. Both students and Senior citizens thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were sorry to see the afternoon end.

SOMS 8th Graders Get a Glimpse at Their Musical Future

Eighth grade music students from SOMS enjoyed a special presentation on Tuesday, February 5 at Tappan Zee High School. Members of the TZHS Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Choir greeted the students with performances as a preview to what lies in store for the incoming freshman next year at the high school. The TZHS faculty, Mr. Rossi, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Wagoner, each gave brief presentations about the music courses at the high school, which include multiple orchestras, bands, and choirs, as well as courses in music theory and conducting. As a special treat, several TZHS students held a Q and A panel, offering the eighth graders a chance to ask questions about the program including scheduling, performance opportunities, lesson schedules, and more.

This is the second year for this event, which is a fun and informative way to make sure all SOMS 8th graders continue to take advantage of SOCSD’s great music program.
 

TZHS Fencing Team Compete in their Inaugural Competition

On Saturday, January 12th the Tappan Zee Varsity Fencing Team competed in their very first competition at Nyack HS, in the first round of the Section One Foil Meet. While they fared well, final scores will not be available until Round 2 in February. The team will be competing in its first dual match next week.

 

TZE Meets the Musicians

On Friday January 11, 2013, students and staff at Tappan Zee Elementary School listened to a performance by string students from Tappan Zee High School and the Orangetown Community Band, led by district music teacher Charles Yassky. The combined group performed for TZE students as part of an annual presentation of instrumental music. The Music Department encourages all current third graders to sign up for an instrument, which they can begin in fourth grade at Cottage Lane Elementary. Performing musicians offered brief presentations of their instruments to pique the interests of the student audience.

The Orangetown Community Band is comprised of some of the area’s top musicians, many who perform regularly in major orchestras throughout New York City, and in professional military bands. SOCSD’s own staff members, Bill Hughes and Lisa Kahn also performed with the band. String students of teachers Jonathan Rossi and Matthew Rotjan included violinists Christine Choe, Yuna Shin, Josh Dayson and Alice Tao; Raymond Choi, violist; Chris Lovrin, cellist; and bassist, Hannah Murray.

2012-2013 SOCSD PTA/PTSA Reflections Program
"The Magic of a Moment" Winners Announced

The Reflections Program is a National PTA program supporting arts enrichment. Students compete in 6 categories. This year we had 2 WOS, 40 TZE, 24 CL, 16 SOMS and 5 TZHS students participate. Fourteen of their works advanced to the Regional level competition and 5 works advanced to the New York State level competition. We will know the state results in early March. We congratulations to all those who participated. The Reflections Galleries will be set up in each school until February 15.

The winners are:

FILM PRODUCTION:
First Place – CL: Jalena M. - Circus**; SOMS: Justis M. - The Climb**
Second Place – SOMS: Kai C. - Magic of a Moment

LITERATURE:
First Place - TZE: Dylan S. - My Trip To The Everglades*; CL: Hannah L. - Disney World* ; TZHS: Rilouhin G. - The Presence**
Second Place - TZE: Jayne S. - The Skinny Dog's Sack; TZHS - Isaac G. My Magic Moment
Third Place - TZE: Karly F. - The First Time I Went to Disney

MUSIC:
First Place - TZHS: Taylor S. - Bread**

PHOTOGRAPHY:
First Place - TZE: Chase P. - A Moment with My Dog* ; CL - Sarah M. - Moonlight in the Moment*; SOMS: Marcelo B. - The Eyes of the Frog*; TZHS: Sarah K. - Twilight*
Second Place - TZE: Sean B. - The Lightening Tree; CL: Sarah M. - Tappan Sunset; SOMS - Ean W. Deciding Moment
Third Place - TZE: Max A. - Hurricane Sandy Visited; TZE: Ben F. - Whale Watching; CL - Adam G. The Snail; SOMS: Marcelo B. - The Delicate Butterfly
Honorable Mention - TZE: Tate B. - First Snow; TZE: Clark P. - Community; CL: Grady P. - Sleeping Fireman; CL: Sarah M. - Sunset on The Hudson River

VISUAL ARTS:
First Place – WOS: Hela G. - The Best Gymnast In The World; TZE: Alexandra M. - The Miracle of Life; CL: Isabella S. - Pure Concentration*; SOMS: Naomi R. - Being In Your Own World**; TZHS: Sabrina R. - Adventures Through Travel**
Second Place - TZE: Anna P. – Camping With The Stars; CL: Caitlin D. - Soldier's Homecoming; SOMS: May B. - Piermont Marsh; TZHS: Rouhin G. - Fire Works
Third Place – CL: Michael S. - My Magical Moments; CL: Noah K. - The Last Second; SOMS: Jennifer N. Beautiful Butterfly; TZE: Tate B. - Got Gas?
Honorable Mention - TZE: Brooke C. - The River

DANCE:
First Place - WOS:  Juliette S. - Rolling in the Deep by Adele

* Advance to Regional Competition

** Advance to New York State Competition
 

Parent's Garner a Better Understanding of Writer's Workshop in the Classroom

On Wednesday night, the Family Resource Center held a parent information session to provide an in depth look at Writer’s Workshop in the classroom. Teachers from each of the SOCES buildings attended and addressed approximately 80 parents to discuss a variety of elements of writing instruction such as generating ideas, using graphic organizers, spelling strategies, and revision techniques. Parents left with a better understanding of the goals, procedures, and expectations of young writers. Each participant received a toolkit with information and resources specifically for k-2 or 3-5 students and the opportunity to have their questions regarding writing instruction answered.

“We were extremely pleased with the interest and turnout of the parents. This was a great opportunity for parents, teachers, and administrators to come together and discuss how and what the children are learning in school, as well as how parents can facilitate and extend these same rich discussions at home” said Family Resource Center co-coordinators Jeannine Carr (Assistant Principal, William O. Schaefer) and Sheila Beglin (Assistant Principal, TZE).

A second grade parent in attendance commented, “It was so nice to get a better sense of what my son does in Writer's Workshop at school, and all that the teachers do to develop our children's writing skills. The take-home materials are excellent and my son was so excited to see these familiar things when I brought them home. He is now looking forward to using them to do more writing.”

“I think having the parents being able to see the resources and hear the teachers speak about one content area in depth helped to build on their understanding of what Writer’s Workshop is and how they can help support their children at home. Based on the feedback we received, we are already planning other similar workshops for parents” said Karen Ramirez (Assistant Principal, Cottage Lane).

TZHS LEOS BRAVE WINTER’S WRATH TO HELP OTHERS!!!!

On December 22nd, 2012, while most people were busy buying and wrapping last minute gifts, 22 members of the Blauvelt Lions Leo Club at Tappan Zee High School braved the cold and wind to deliver food, clothing, toiletries and gifts to the homeless of New York City. Together with members of the Immaculate Conception Church in Stony Point and Santa Claus, the Tappan Zee High School students, along with advisor Tricia Castelli, and Blauvelt Lions Ron Fritz, Bruce Jensen Jr. and Mike Conklin, visited the city's homeless at four different locations assigned by Midnight Run, bringing not only goods but some holiday cheer and warmth. The recipients were extremely grateful, both for the gifts they received, as well as for the true holiday spirit brought by the entire group.
 

SOCSD Answers the National Call for Snowflakes

All three SOCSD Elementary schools, who have been thinking of ways to help, have answered the National PTA’s request to have students create snowflakes to decorate the new school building students from the Sandy Hook school will attend after the winter break. William O. Schaefer, Tappan Zee Elementary, and Cottage Lane Elementary have all pledged support and are busy at work creating their part of the winter wonderland that will welcome the students. The snowflakes are being driven up to Newtown later this afternoon by one of the district parents who volunteered to make the trip. The following is an excerpt from the request sent from the National PTA:

Welcome Students to a Winter Wonderland

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible.

SOCSD Brings Music To The Esplanade

On Tuesday, December 11, twenty two SOCSD students gathered at The Esplanade at the Palisades to perform a brief seasonal concert for their residents. Students performed either as members of the “SOMS Holiday Band”, assisted by a few TZHS students, under the direction of Mrs. Janice Tocco or the “SOMS Holiday Orchestra,” under the direction of Mr. Matt Rotjan. Seniors at The Esplanade gathered in large numbers to hear the students perform. The Senior audience sang along to the music, laughed, clapped and had an enjoyable concert. Students were able to experience the satisfaction of knowing the joy of sharing their music with the senior community.

Tappan Zee Singers Bring Seasonal Cheer

On Tuesday morning, TZE music teacher Danielle Greene made her way to the stage where over 60 of her 3rd grade students waited to begin the concert performance of the Tappan Zee Singers. For the 4th year, Ms. Greene has run the 10 week program, meeting with the students in early morning and after school sessions in preparation for the annual performance of seasonal songs. "This has been such an awesome group that was wonderful to work with", commented Greene. She went on to add, "It was an inspirational experience that has resulted in some beautiful singing and an ability to WOW the crowd." Ms. Greene teaches 2nd & 3rd grade music at Tappan Zee Elementary.

TZHS’s Youth Against Cancer - Fundraisers For Awarenes

TZHS’s school nurse and club advisor Judy Flagg along with over 20 TZHS students has formed the TZHS Youth Against Cancer organization. The students have been involved in numerous charitable undertakings in the fight against cancer. In front of the HS outside of the auditorium over 100 pinwheels have been “planted” in the fight to “Blow Away Cancer”. At the same time wristbands with the imprint “One More Birthday” have been for sale during school lunch hours. The group has been wrapping gifts at Barnes & Noble and accepting donations instead of charging for the service. On Saturday December 22, a 5K run/walk from TZHS to SOMS and back has been scheduled in memory of TZHS senior Kaitlin Moloney’s father, and in support of Nunzio Vacca, uncle of TZHS junior Alyssa Dimichino. All 5K run/walk donations will be made in support of pancreatic cancer research.

Caring Acts of Kindness at TZE

As part of their character ed and word of the month programs, 3rd grade students in Ms. Maria Minor's class, and 2nd grade students in Ms. Alison Castello’s class shared their lunch period with Principal Dr. Bill Lee. Students are given the chance to earn popsicle sticks during each 6 week period for carrying out "acts of kindness" as it applies to the current word of the month. This month's word was caring. Popsicle sticks are awarded to students and are kept in the classroom where they are counted. The class with the most sticks in each grade gets to have lunch with Dr. Lee. This month's word is linked to the TZE book of the month, The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills.

 

And In My House I Want.....

Students in Mr. Nick Desantis' 10th - 12th grade Civil Engineering & Architecture class are working on a unit designing vacation homes using fellow students as clients. The students met in teams of two to discuss how they wanted their vacation homes laid out and designed. This was done first with a pencil design and then transferred to a computer program which virtually "built" the home. Changes and ideas reset original parameters until an agreeable design was reached. Next task in the sequence will be sight grading, water supply, waste water management, heat loss and gain which will dictate insulation needs, and all other considerations necessary when building a house from the ground up. Each of the student/clients had their own house wish list which included large offices, master bedrooms and baths, living centers, etc. The students were visibly focused on their work and the outcome of their efforts.

TZE Holds Annual Project Joy Program!

The faculty, staff and retirees of Tappan Zee Elementary School held their 4th annual Project Joy! Party. Project Joy! is organized by People to People of Rockland County. It provides donors with the opportunity to “adopt” a family for the holidays, and purchase presents from a child’s Wish List. Last year, almost 600 families had gift-filled holidays thanks to many individuals, groups, and corporations that participated in Project Joy!  Families whose letters are not “adopted” have an opportunity to visit People to People’s Joy Store! where they can select two gifts per child at no cost.

This year the TZE staff raised $900 and were able to purchase a great number of toys and clothes for an adopted family and for the Project Joy Toy Shelf!
 

Attention All Cottage Lane Inventors…..

The annual Invention Convention was in full swing at Cottage Lane Elementary with the invention exhibits scattered around the school over the past two weeks. Students got their first look into the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the world of inventions and inventors, and the work involved in bringing them to life. This year’s annual Invention Convention at Cottage Lane saw the next generation of young inventors begin to take their place in the long line of those who came before them. The student's ideas began with the class assignment to think of a new invention. They then wrote down their thoughts and checked through the internet for possible duplications already in existence. A materials list was then created for items necessary to produce the first prototype. The next step is to test the invention and make any changes and readapt whatever is necessary in order to make the invention work. And finally, voila!!  A new invention. Among the new creations were, Fire Protection System. Plant Globe, Desk Pocket, Bottle Blaster, Soothing Socks, Home Saver, Declogger, The Handy, The Ultimate Water Charger, Super Sport Shoe, Super Shelf, the Messy Monster, the Rope Door Opener, and many others. Keep an eye on the news. One never knows about whom we will say, “Gee, I remember him/her from the Cottage Lane Invention Convention.”
 

5th Graders from Cottage Lane Visit SOMS!

On Thursday December 6, SOMS had the pleasure of hosting the Cottage Lane 5th graders. During this visit, the Foreign Language Department welcomed the students with student-run skits and introductions to the language opportunities at SOMS, followed by students involved in the Music Department. 6th graders welcomed their peers with performances of music from the Winter Concert. Mr. Rotjan introduced the Symphonic Orchestra, Mrs. Peña-Carney introduced the Treble chorus, and Mrs. Tocco the Symphonic Band. This is always a treat for all those involved, as the 6th graders welcome the opportunity to perform and demonstrate their improvement from last year. We’re already planning and looking forward to a great year in 2013-2014!
 

SOMS Winter Concerts - 2012

On December 3rd and 4th, SOMS student performed in the SOMS Winter Concerts. The first evening included the Jazz Ensemble, Treble Chorus, Symphonic Orchestra, and Concert Band. Evening two featured the Symphonic Band, Concert Orchestra, Concert Choir, and “Camerata Amadeus,” a collaborative group joining the SOMS and TZHS chamber orchestras. We are proud of all of the students, and wish the 6th graders a special congratulations on a great first performance at SOMS!

At both evenings, the SOMS Music Department held a food drive. All items donated will be given to local organizations!

Thank you to our students, parents, administrators, and community members for supporting music in our schools!

SOMS 2012 Thanksgiving Pie Sale a Continued Success!

The SOMS Music Department held its 24th Thanksgiving Pie sale this year. Students worked hard to sell, organize, and distribute almost 1,300 pies to community members right before the Thanksgiving weekend. This fundraiser is critical to the program, helping to reduce the cost of field trips for all students and allowing the department to fund special programs throughout the year. Last year, students participated in the High Note Festival and celebrated at Lake Compounce in Connecticut. We’re looking forward to another exciting trip this year!

Thank you to students, teachers, administrators, and all parents and community members for supporting music in our schools!

Annual Coat Drive Continues to Drive Community Support

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the SOCSD Annual Lend-A-Hand Coat Drive held last weekend at William O. Schaefer brought a new meaning to communities in need, with a tremendous turnout. After requests from local families were filled, The Nyack Homeless Project, a nonprofit volunteer group that encourages children, teens, adults and their communities to directly make a difference by aiding those in need during the cold days of Winter, was the recipient of bags of winter coats. They will be giving the coats to a group who have pledged a goal to get 50,000 coats to Breezy Point by Thanksgiving. Bags of backpacks filled with school supplies and bags of food went to People to People, and pet supplies were sent to Hi-Tor animal shelter. Eight large bags filled with jeans and sneakers were also a part of a Midnight Run.
 

TZ Athletic Hall of Fame Inducts Eight

On Sunday, November 11th eight new inductees were welcomed into the TZ Athletic Hall of Fame. At the 4th Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner, in a room festooned in blazing Red & White, the induction class included four athletes representing the 1950’s through the 1980’s, an administrator, two service award recipients, and the entire 1974 Boys Varsity Swimming Team. The evening was filled with memories and camaraderie that spanned over seven decades. Inductees were: the 1974 Boys Varsity Swimming Team; Coach and Athletic Director, Jack McMahon; Service Award Winner George Kopac; Service Award Winner Steve Spiro; Charles Bullock (’58); Jack Dailey (’60); Maria (Gordon) Farrell (’81); and Tom Rooney (’89).

Click here for a trip down Memory Lane and a picture book look at the entire Induction Ceremony evening.

TZ Athletes "Pay it Forward" For Breast Cancer

Last week, the Tappan Zee Volleyball team raised over $3,000 for breast cancer research in their “Volley for the Cure” game against Pearl River. The Varsity & JV players and respective coaches sought out donations, sold baked goods, commemorative t-shirts and had a 50/50 raffle all in support of an excellent cause. Both teams as well as Coach Stanford, LoRusso, O’Rourke & Richards were committed to the cause and thrilled to be able to successfully "pay it forward".

In the same week, the Tappan Zee Varsity Cross Country team participated in the Nyack Hospital Be Healthy 5K Run to support Breast Cancer Awareness and screenings for underprivileged women in Rockland County. TZ’s overwhelming participation was arranged by Coaches Driscoll & Sullivan.

As a result of their commitment, the team won the $250 attendance incentive award for the race. When notified of the award, Coach Driscoll, after a conference with all involved, responded by saying, "Tappan Zee Cross Country would like to donate the $250. back to the Blow Away Breast Cancer Drive. All of the athletes from the Tappan Zee Boys & Girls Cross Country teams really enjoyed participating in the 5k. We would definitely like to make this a yearly tradition with our team".
 

Tappan Zee Elementary Happily “Faces” the Cause

On October 17th Tappan Zee Elementary held a school spirit/face painting day. The students brought in quarters to have their faces painted by parent volunteers and TZE teachers. By the end of the event they were able to raise $363.25. The money raised is going to be donated to the fight against breast cancer. "The students were extremely excited about the face painting day and the idea of donating to a great cause. Way to go TZE!" , said TZE teacher Liane Kolesar.

South Orangetown Middle School Designated As Reward School

The NY State Education Department recently announced the South Orangetown Middle School has been designated as a Reward School for Highest Performance. This is a new State Education Department designation that came from the ESEA waiver in the Spring. While there were over 250 schools (K-12) named, there were approximately one dozen middle schools statewide to receive this distinction. The program looked at a composite of scores from ‘09-‘10 and ‘10-‘11. Schools had to be in the top 20% of schools that exceeded the Performance Index, meet AYP, and student growth needed to be in the top 50% statewide, Also, the bottom quartile of students had to have shown growth in the top 50% statewide, and the school had to show gap closing in all sub-groups over a 3 year period.

With this designation, South Orangetown Middle School is eligible to compete for grants of up to $150,000 each year for the next two years. Five schools from the list will be selected to receive these grants.

Give Back to the Community: The Focus of the Tappan Zee High School Leos
Community service is alive and well within The Blauvelt Lions Leo Club. Members at Tappan Zee High School, which now number over 250, have logged in over 1500 hours of community service in the first month of school, donating time at numerous community service projects and charity fundraisers. Leos started off the month of September volunteering at the Shiners’ circus which raised money for the Shriners’ hospitals and the Orangetown Mighty Midgets Family Fun day. Over 100 Leos volunteered at the Blauvelt Lions Applefest, working to raise money for the Blauvelt Lions Charities. Leos also helped in preparation for this event, helping to peel over 100 apples. Additionally, Leos participated in a Midnight Run into Manhattan along with the Immaculate Conception Church in Stony Point bringing food, clothing and toiletries to the homeless of New York City. This past weekend, Leos worked at Vacation Camp for the Blind in Spring Valley, sponsored by the Blauvelt Lions for use by the camp for the blind or visually impaired. The students cleaned up and painted the cabin. Monday afternoon, Leos volunteered at Soup Angels in Nyack, serving dinner to over 50 members of the community. “It’s wonderful to see that the desire to help others is contagious”, said Leo advisor Tricia Castelli. “Students come in every day to find out if they can join the club because they want to help in the community. Some activities can have a limited number of participants, and there is always a waiting list of students wanting to participate. It’s a wonderful feeling to see our young people so enthusiastic and excited about giving back to their community” she concluded.

 

SOCSD Athletes Step Up to the Community Plate
Last week, the Tappan Zee JV Girls Volleyball team along with Coach Sue O'Rourke and Coach Jillian Richards helped to set up a new daycare center and homework center at the Greenbush Presbyterian Church on Western Highway in Blauvelt. The name of the center is Here We Grow. The girls helped paint the cubbies, set up the bulletin boards and assisted in giving the entire center a new face.

While on Sunday, October 7th, 14 members of the SOCSD Middle School Volleyball team accompanied by Coach Emily Donovan assembled at 6 am to assist in the running of the Mickey Sullivan Duathlon to benefit Team KJ in their fight against Huntington’s Disease. The girls helped with registration, water distribution and clean-up. "They did a great job for a great cause", commented Coach Donovan.

 

TZHS Students Celebrate Italian Heritage Month

Students in the Italian program at Tappan Zee High School began their October Italian Heritage month celebrations early by participating in the Italian Feast sponsored by the Rockland Lodge of Blauvelt in September. Students face painted Italian flags, and performed the Tarantella to an enthusiastic crowd on Sunday. The audience was then invited to join in and many feast goers accepted and joined the students in the dancing. Italian Club members will be decorating the halls of Tappan Zee High School with signs in Italian naming locations throughout the school, such as the l’Ufficio del Preside, for the Principal’s office, and “La Mensa” for the cafeteria. On October 5th, Italian language students will be assisting at the free Italian Concert at Tappan Zee High School, sponsored by the Giovanni da Verrazzano Lodge of Piermont. On October 14th, students will be marching in the Columbus Day Parade in Tappan, New York. During the remainder of the month, Italian classes will also be making Pizzelle, a traditional Italian cookie, as well as celebrating Columbus Day with a lesson on Christopher Columbus.

 

SOCSD’s Family Resource Center Re-Opens With Warm Welcome

SOCSD’s Family Resource Center located in the William O. Schaefer School at 140 Lester Drive in Tappan will be reopening on Friday, October 5th with a new face and a new focus. The Center will offer 2 playgroups every Friday from 9:30 – 10:30 am, and 1:30 – 2:30 pm for children 2 – 4 years of age. The playgroups will focus on building social skills, language development, and early literacy skills for non school aged children who will be transitioning into Kindergarten in the next school year.

Because this program is family centered, it presents an opportunity for parents to meet and build relationships with other families sharing similar concerns, who are seeking to locate necessary connections in the community. Geared toward easing the often avoidable stresses felt by all families in preparation for transition into Kindergarten, the Family Resource Center will provide our South Orangetown families with the guidance, direction, and support they will need to make their transitions easier. Additionally, the Center is in the process of planning day and evening literacy events for school aged children and their families. The Family Resource Center is working with parent/volunteers who are providing necessary support services.

The South Orangetown Family Resource Center is part of The Rockland 21C Collaborative for Children and Youth (Rockland 21C). Rockland 21C is a countywide partnership with children as a priority whose mission it is to ensure the best possible future for every child by building a comprehensive support system that links family, school and community. Jeannine Carr, one of the co-organizers of the Family Resource Center program said, “It is the hope of the “new” FRC to create an environment of learning through play, with parents and educators as partners”.

WOS Students Honor the Heroes and Victims of 9/11

On a beautiful fall morning, and even though they were not yet born on 9/11/01, William O. Schaefer's entire student body gathered on the front lawn of their school to commemorate and honor the men and women whose bravery marked the day, and, at the same time, the men and women who so tragically gave up their lives on that day.

On the 11th anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers on a day much like it was 11 years ago, the children filed out of the building to the strains of Lee Greenwood’s Proud to Be an American. The song was written specifically in the aftermath of the events of that day. The ceremonies were opened by Principal Nora Polansky who shared with the students a brief summary about the 9/11 heroes and victims and how we must always remember them. She also told the children of the book September Roses by Jeanette Winter. The book is a true story and a moving tribute by visitors to NYC on that fateful day.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, led by three of their classmates, students returned to their classrooms where teachers read the entire September Roses book to them. In keeping with the remembrance, as well as the word of the month, civility, students then had to form answers to the question: What would you do to make someone feel better?’ Their responses will be recorded on a large rose which will be displayed on the cafeteria wall next to their character education tree.

Check out Schaefer News to view video of the assembly and to hear the book September Roses.