Jericho, Oceanside school podcasts win NPR contest

Podcasts created by Jericho and Oceanside students were among five winners nationwide in National Public Radio’s 2024 Student Podcast Challenge.

Ella Chen and Brahmani Srirama of George A. Jackson Elementary School in Jericho were selected for their podcast, “Will Erosion Cause the Montauk Lighthouse to Fall into the Ocean?,” while Samantha Cohen, Kai Sudo, Alexis Susca and Santiago Ucciferri of Oceanside Middle School #9M were selected for their podcast, “The Quartering Act of 1765.”

The latter podcast discussed a law passed by the British Parliament that required the American colonies to provide housing and supplies for British soldiers. It was created when the students were fourth-graders at Fulton Avenue Elementary School #8 in 2021.

“We thought it would be a fun thing for our kids to do, and show them how powerful their voices are,” said George A. Jackson Elementary fourth-grade teacher Lauren Kawasaki, who worked with the students along with special education co-teacher Reshma Seth and librarian Danielle Melia. “The high school students showed them how to create a theme song and use soundtrack, but the kids researched and created their own scripts and had the best time.”

The podcast submissions were required to be between three and eight minutes long and could be in any format — such as an interview, narrative story or investigative reporting. Judging was based on criteria such as information and structure, personality and creativity and production.

The winning podcasts were posted on NPR’s website and portions of them were aired this past summer on NPR’s news program “All Things Considered.” This year’s challenge was open to fourth-graders for the first time and received about 150 entries in that grade level nationwide.

“It’s so nice for kids to get the recognition for the incredible hard work they have put in,” said Fulton Avenue Elementary teacher Jennifer D’Amelio.

FLORAL PARK

New principal

John Kenny is the new principal of Sewanhaka High School. He replaced Nichole Allen, who is now assistant superintendent for student support services for the Sewanhaka Central High School District.

Kenny has served the past six years as the school’s director of alternative education. Before that, he was a principal at the district’s Floral Park Memorial High School and H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square.

“I am thrilled to join this incredible community,” Kenny said. “I look forward to building on our strengths, fostering collaboration and creating an environment where every student can thrive.”

MILLER PLACE

New principal

Jean Marie D’Aversa is the new principal of Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School in the Miller Place school district. She replaced Joseph Zito, who is now assistant principal at the district’s Andrew Muller Primary School.

D’Aversa had been an assistant principal at East Islip Middle School. She has also been an English as a new language coordinator for the East Islip school district and a summer school principal and assistant principal for Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

"I look forward to guiding our young learners during this crucial time in their development, as well as creating a positive and effective learning environment," D'Aversa said.

MINEOLA

Learning Garden

Jackson Avenue Elementary School has unveiled a new learning garden designed to function as an outdoor classroom. The space includes a pond with goldfish and turtles, garden beds, a composting area and a place to feature seasonal exhibits of student artwork.

The garden was a collaboration between the school’s art and STEM departments. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

“Jackson Avenue’s Learning Garden is an outdoor classroom space where learners have opportunities to apply science and engineering concepts and skills through hands-on learning, inquiry, observation and experimentation,” said Principal Catherine Shanahan.

NORTH BELLMORE

New principal

Park Avenue Elementary School has a new principal: Lynn Coyle.

Coyle, who replaced Michael DeBlasio, had been an associate principal at John Quincy Adams Primary School in Deer Park. She also taught for 19 years at Sherwood Elementary School in Islip.

“Relationships are the foundation for everything, and North Bellmore embraces that,” Coyle said. “I’m eager to bring my experience, dedication and vision to this position, and create a nurturing and challenging school environment.”

PORT JEFFERSON STATION

New principal

Nichole Makarius has been named principal of Norwood Elementary School in the Comsewogue School District. She replaced Theresa DiMichele, who retired.

The school's new leader was previously a special education coordinator, math teacher and academic reading intervention teacher at PS 333 Manhattan School for Children.

Makarius, who said she attended the district as a child, noted, “This opportunity to give back to the community that shaped me is truly an honor. I'm most looking forward to fostering a positive and inspiring environment where every student can thrive, just as I did."

SETAUKET

New principal

Cindy Perrotta has taken over as principal of Setauket Elementary School in the Three Village Central School District. She replaced Deana Rinaldi, who is now the district’s director of curriculum and instruction.

Perrotta had been the school’s assistant principal, and before that she held the same position with the district’s Nassakeag Elementary School, which she first joined in 2005 as a special education teacher.

“I am thrilled to embark on this new journey...and look forward to empowering students, supporting educators and fostering a culture of excellence and inclusivity,” Perrotta said.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

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.