Roslyn H.S. Marching Bulldogs win state championship
Roslyn High School's marching band took first place in the "Small School 3" Class at the New York State Field Band Conference in Syracuse. Credit: Roslyn School District
Roslyn High School’s marching band has made school history by taking home the school’s first-ever state championship.
The 112-student Marching Bulldogs took first place in the “Small School 3” class at the 2015 New York State Field Band Conference in Syracuse, which featured 52 marching bands from high schools throughout the state — including 12 from Long Island.
Roslyn’s seven-minute performance consisted of 32 “sets” based upon Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” show, school officials said.
“This team of kids is extremely focused,” band director Pat Patterson said. “As a band director, this is only going to happen once or twice in your career if you’re lucky.”
The school received the coveted Governor’s Cup, issued to the top team in each of the conference’s six classes. Engraved upon it are the names of first-place bands from throughout the conference’s history. It will be in Roslyn High’s possession until next year’s event.
To reach the state level, Roslyn participated in five competitions this year on Long Island and placed first in four of them, Patterson said. The band practiced for 80 hours leading up to the state event, he said.
Marching bands from Division Avenue High School in Levittown and Floral Park High School were second and third, respectively, in the “Small School 3” class. Mineola was second in the “Small School 2” class.
BALDWIN
National PTA excellence award
Steele Elementary School and its Parent Teacher Association were among 124 schools and PTAs nationwide to receive the National PTA School of Excellence Award for 2015-17 for “leadership and commitment to partnering to support student success and continuous school improvement,” the organization said. The school and its PTA received a “School of Excellence” banner.
Steele School’s PTA worked along with educators and community members to be more welcoming, improve communication and share information and to expand extracurricular options, the National PTA said.
“The partnership between Steele School and Steele School PTA is a true example of what can be accomplished when schools and families work together,” National PTA President Otha Thornton said.
BELLMORE
Literacy Night
The Bellmore school district spotlighted the importance of reading last month by hosting its first Literacy Night, with students and their families attending a book fair and participating in reading-themed activities at Winthrop Avenue School. Activities included read-alouds by community members and administrators, a “Book Bingo” game and a “Stop, Drop and Read” section.
“We wanted the students to see reading is required in everything they do,” Winthrop Principal Sally Curto said. “We also wanted to make the students more excited about reading and to give them the opportunity to purchase more books.”
The event was held in conjunction with the school’s “Parents as Reading Partners” week, which encourages parents to read with their children for at least 15 minutes a day.
ISLANDWIDE
Diversity essay contest
The South Asian American Women’s Alliance is accepting submissions for its 2015 essay contest for high school students. The topic is “The Impact of Social Media on Cultural Diversity.”
Essays must not exceed 1,500 words — excluding literature cited — and participants must attend a public or private high school in Nassau, Suffolk or Queens counties. Ten semifinalist essays will be selected, with four finalists selected from that group.
Prizes are $500 for first place, $300 for second, $200 for third and $100 for an honorable mention.
The submission deadline is Nov. 30, with winners being announced in January. For guidelines and requirements, visit the nonprofit’s website at saawa.org.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
