Bethpage-Tribune_2009-05-08

              RPTHPAGE PUBLIC
Volume 47 Number 17 329Broadway, Bethpage, NY 11714 May 8- 14, ( 516) 681- 0440 ext. 21 FAX ( 51^ . Email: icom 50 Cents
A Night to Recognize Excellence in Bethpage
Students Give Back to Their Teachers with Praise and Thanks
Nine members of the Bethpage HS Class of2009 each honored three teachers who have
inspired them throughout their educational careers during the Bethpage School District's
Celebration of Excellence Dinner These students were later recognized themselves with a cake
( back row, L- R) Kevin Bickard, Matt Carrello and^ Michael Lieberman, ( middle row. L- R) Paul
DiSalvo and Daniel Bloch, ( front row, L- R) Danielle Mole, Victoria LaMagna, Amanda
D ' Amico, and Matina Douzenis.
The Nassau Educators Federal Credit
Union is sponsoring the Dictionary
Project of the Bethpage- Plainview
Rotary Club. It is a Project which is
enthusiastically endorsed by the
Superintendents of both School Districts,
their Principals and Teachers.
This Fall, all third grade students in
the Plainview- Old Bethpage, and
Bethpage School Districts will receive a
copy of the dictionary/ almanac book,
over 685 in number. It's theirs to keep,
so they can take it with them into the
fourth grade, and use it throughout their
school career.
The Dictionary Project is designed to
aid third grade teachers in their goal to
see all their students leave at the end of
the year as good writers, active readers
and creative thinkers. Teachers also ben-efit
by knowing that their students have
consistent access to a tool for homework
and in- class explorations.
Pictured ( center), Andrew Szymczak, Branch
Manager of the NEFCU Plainview Office, present-ing
the sponsorship check to Rotary Vice- President,
Charles Razenson. Looking on is Dr. Richard C.
Marsh, Superintendent of the Bethpage School
District who was at the meeting giving a program
on the upcoming School Budget.
For the fifth consecutive year, Bethpage High School con-ducted
the Celebration of Excellence Awards Night Dinner,
an opportunity for nine graduating seniors to each acknowl-edge
three teachers ( one from each of the three Bethpage
Schools they attended) that have had the greatest positive
influence on them throughout their K- 12 education, academi-cally
and in their own personal, growth. Members of the fac-ulty
identified these nine students for their exemplary leader-ship
qualities.
Many of this year's honorees have been recognized by
their students in the previous four years the dinner has been
held. This year, two students recognized Kramer Lane
Elementary School teacher Barbara Nelson and JFK Middle
School teacher Dennis Sciacca. Mr. Sciacca was also hon-ored
at last year's. Fellow JFK teacher Chris Pollatos was
honored by three different students last year, as well as one
this year.
Each student gave a brief, heartwamiing speech about the
teachers they selected, explaining the profound impact each
had on them. Some students never actually attended a class
of the tcacher they chose, but rather worked closely with
them through an extracurricular club or athletic team or may
have been tutored by that teacher. Each teacher honored was
presented with a plaque of recognition and was congratulated
by Bethpage Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard S. Marsh
and Board of Education President Michael Kelly.
" Nothing can replace that special relationship which gift-ed
educators develop with their students," said Dr. Marsh,
borrowing a quote from a popular IBM commercial. " Popular
culture has long celebrated other heroes - the athlete, the
adventurer, the statesman - but except for the occasional tale
of Mr. Chips, Annie Sullivan or James Escalante, teachers
have not been celebrated in the same way. Classrooms have
rarely been identified as places where the greatest human
dramas unfold - the drama igniting the human spirit,
enobling the human heart, and enriching the human spirit."
Kevin Bickard honored teachers Roseann Cordiner
( Central Boulevard ES), Dennis Sciacca ( JFK MS), and
James Miller ( Bethpage HS); Daniel Bloch chose Barbara
Cohen ( Central Boulevard ES), Rosemary McKinley ( JFK
MS), and Susan Rankin ( Bethpage HS); Matthew Carrello
honored Sara Dionne ( Charles Campagne ES), Allyson Matty
( JFK MS), and John Como ( Bethpage HS); Amanda
D'Amico selected Barbara Nelson ( Kramer Lane ES),
Danielle Greco ( JFK MS), and Ann Feyrer ( Bethpage HS);
Paul DiSalvo recognized Margaret Cahill ( Charles Campagne
ES), Chris Pollatos ( JFK MS), and Evelyn Grim ( Bethpage
HS); Matina Douzenis chose Vincent Perez ( Kramer Lane
ES), Monica Klein ' JFK MS), and Jacqueline Jill- Rito
( Bethpage HS); Victoria LaMagna selected Barbara Nelson
( Kramer Lane ES), Dennis Sciacca ( JFK MS), and Theresa
Gervasi ( Bethpage HS); Michael Lieberman honored Maria
Falabella ( Central Boulevard ES), Mary Padalino ( JFK MS),
and Heidi Comunale ( Bethpage HS); and Danielle Mole rec-ognized
Kathleen Brolly ( Charles Campagne ES), Jessica
Tavolacci ( JFK MS) and Jeremy Indenbaum ( Bethpage HS)..
See Centerfold for more pictures of this special event