 South Middle School Newsletter 
Principal’s News
Dr. James Welsch, Pr incipal
Dr. Gina Cartolano, Assistant Principal
Mr. Jerry Cozine, Assistant Principal
June, 2010
Dear South Middle School Parents,
As I write my final column for the 2009-10 Newsletter, it is hard to believe that we
are at the end of the year. This year, like most, seems to have flown by. It seems
like just yesterday that I was drafting my welcoming letter to you for the new
school year. This week I wrote a letter to eighth grade parents regarding
commencement, and a few weeks ago I sent a letter to parents detailing the
schedule for the end of the year. Time truly flies by when you are having fun!
CONTENTS
Jim Welsch,
Principal’s News
1
Gina Cartolano’s
Message
2-5
Jerry Cozine’s
Message
5-7
Sixth Grade Events
8-9
SMS Happenings
9-10
President’s Letter
11

NOT TO
BE MISSED!
Sept. 2-Gr. 6
Walkthrough 11Message
AM
6th Grade
Happenings
8-10

Sept. 6-Labor
Day

Sept.
7-Schools
Open
for
Committee News
10
Students
President’s Letter
 Sept. 9 - 10-Rosh
Hashanah
11
The 2009-10 school year has been excellent from my point of view. Our students
were engaged in excellent learning experiences, as well as a wonderful variety of
extra-curricular activities. Our students excelled in drama, music, athletics, as well
as academics. Our clubs had fundraisers to help those less fortunate. Our
students entered writing, language, and science contests, and were named winners.
Our morning HTV show grew and featured new ideas and stories about South
Middle School. By all accounts, it was a super year for our school. It is my
sincerest hope that this was an excellent year for your children as well.
In a few short weeks, we will say goodbye to our eighth graders. We have watched
them grow physically as well as intellectually and emotionally. The magic that is
the middle school experience, particularly the South Middle School experience,
has not been lost on our leadership class. They are an outstanding group of young
women and men and they will be a true asset to the South High School
community.
When I meet with parents of incoming sixth graders, I often tell them to take a
picture of their child on his or her first day of middle school on that early
September day. I ask that they take this picture in some prominent place in their
home: at the front door, in the living room, in the kitchen. I then ask them to put
the picture in some safe place where they can find it in three years. I then ask
parents to take a picture of their child on his or her commencement day in the
same place and then compare the pictures. They will be amazed at the
“transformation” of their child over these three years. Our students arrive as
young children, babies really; they leave as young men and women. That is the
magic of middle school!
I want to wish you all a very happy, healthy, and restful summer holiday. I want to
thank you for your continued support of our school. Thank you for sending us
such wonderful students to work with everyday.
Peace,
Jim Welsch, Principal
Page 2 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
8th Grade Highlights from Dr. Gina Cartolano, Assistant Principal
This year our eighth graders accomplished a great deal. They
are to be commended for all their hard work, energy and
enthusiasm. It has been a pleasure getting to know them over
the past three years. While I will miss seeing them every day
at SMS, I am very excited for them to begin this next phase in
their educational careers – high school. They will be very
prepared for the challenges that await them. I wish them well
in all their new endeavors. I want to thank all of our parents
for your continued support and encouragement of our
students. Your support has meant a great deal in their
success. I wish everyone a restful and joyous summer
vacation.
Reminder regarding SMS Commencement 2010
On April 30th a letter was sent out to all parents of eighth
graders informing them of procedures for our
commencement at South High School which will take place
on Friday, June 25th at 10:30 AM. Please remember to drop
off graduates at South High School no later than 9:45 AM.
Only TWO TICKETS per child will be given and tickets will
not be mailed in advance. Please note that younger children
are not permitted to sit on the laps of adults; therefore, we ask
that you not bring a young child to the ceremony unless you
plan to use a ticket for that child. Parking on this day will be
VERY LIMITED and parents are encouraged to car pool or
get dropped off at the High School. If, for some reason, you
know that you cannot attend the ceremony, please let us know
in advance so that we can accommodate families that may
request additional seating. If you want to request additional
seating, please call the school at 441- 4607 (Ms. Pugliese) and
ask to be put on the waiting list. We cannot guarantee that
you will be granted additional seating. This will all depend on
the number of parents who call us in advance and tell us that
they do not need their tickets.
World Languages
Our World Language department celebrated “El Cinco de
Mayo,” and learned about the battle of Puebla, Mexico. The
celebration included Spanish language activities, readings,
food, and a piñata party. Furthermore, students in many
Spanish classes enjoyed viewing clips of previous World Cup
soccer games. Students were treated to Shakira’s recording of
the official song for this year’s World Cup soccer
championship games. ¡ Olé !
Science
Our video won 1st Place in the Town of North Hempstead
Recycling Video Contest high school level competition. The
video can be seen at www.greenglovevideo.com.
Hobby Day
Eighth grade teachers created and implemented our first ever
(and now first annual) Hobby Day. Inspired by a desire to give
students a break from the stress of school, teachers tapped into
our “outside of school” expertise and created fun, informative
workshops. Students had the opportunity to choose two 45
minute seminars from a list that ranged from sports to culture
some which included Autograph Collecting, Sport Fishing, and
Cartooning and Animation. Students left each seminar not only
with a better understanding of what their teachers do when they
are not grading papers, but also with a new interest or hobby!
Team A
Team A math completed the final legs of the assessment reviews
with the pre-algebra, algebra and geometry classes. Through the
use of the online review resource of StudyIsland.com students
were able to have 24/7 access to excellent review as they could
complete this work at their leisure at home or in school. In prealgebra, we just finished our geometry unit with area, perimeter,
total surface area, and volume of all kinds of shapes. In our
geometry and algebra classes, we completed the curriculum and
have started our intensive reviews for the Regents this June.
In social studies, students have been immersed in an exploration
of the causes, details, impact and repercussions of World War
II. Currently we are studying the post-war period, both in terms
of the declining relationship between the Soviet Union and the
United States and its impact on the rest of the world, as well as,
how the fear of communism affected Americans at home. The
students are amazed at how many of the world's current hot
spots (India and Pakistan, Israel and the Palestinian territories,
Iran) have a specific connection to the manner in which World
War II was settled. Soon we will begin preparations for the endof-year State Assessment in Social Studies.
The science department has just completed the unit on weather.
Students had the opportunity to study the reasons for weather
patterns, how to read a weather station, and understand changes
that occur in our atmosphere producing storms. With the 8 th
grade assessment rapidly approaching, review has begun to get
our students ready for this exam. We are revisiting topics
learned in 6th and 7th grade such as body systems, ecology, matter
and chemistry. We will be reviewing laboratory procedure and
the students will again experience hands on activities using triple
beam balances, microscopes and other laboratory equipment.
This is a most exciting time for teachers and students.
The English classes have been quite busy preparing for the end
of year portfolio. The portfolio provides students with the
opportunity to revisit their academic life here at South Middle
School. Although it requires a great deal of time and attention,
students find it rewarding to look back over these incredible
Page 3 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
8th Grade Highlights from Dr. Gina Cartolano, Assistant Principal
developmental years and to evaluate how these years have
prepared them, both academically and emotionally, for their
journey into the high school world.
Under the direction of Mr. Hatten, Teams A and B embarked
on a wet and wild adventure around Manhattan on the Circle
Line Cruise ship. Five buses left South Middle in the middle
of a spring deluge; the weather was more appropriate for
ducks than students, yet our spirits and moods were soaring
high! Students learned about the science and history of
Manhattan as it evolved from a farming outpost to one of the
world's greatest cities. From viewing the Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island to exploring the histories of the great East and
Hudson Rivers, everyone had a day that they won't soon
forget.
In an interdisciplinary study with the social studies
curriculum, students are reading the classic, A Raisin in the
Sun. The screenplay, written in the 1950's, gives students an
in depth look at post WWII integration in America, as the
Younger family struggles to identify themselves as equals in a
world not ready to accept them. We also explore the concept
of “a dream deferred” as it relates to the Youngers as well as our
individual selves.
Team B
Team Rebulls has had an exciting end of the year! On top of
challenging and engaging curricula, students have been
experiencing tremendous learning opportunities both in and
out of the classrooms. From Garvies Point to a Broadway
show to a Circle Line tour, students and teachers have shared
many life moments together and relationships and helped
provide closure to an already amazing year.
With the visit of Mrs. Lazan, a Holocaust survivor and author
of the memoir Four Perfect Pebbles, Ms. Bazzani had her
students write a reflection of their thoughts about her visit.
The students were profoundly moved by her visit and the
harrowing details of how she managed to survive this most
horrible experience. It also helped the students better
understand the events as they related to WWII and the
Holocaust. It was also a great way to solidify what they'd read
in English in the The Wave and Milkweed. Ms. Bazzani has
(continued)
started to compile a list of these reflections which will be bound
and sent to Mrs. Lazan at a later date.
Moving beyond the textbook and into 21st century learning, Ms.
Bazzani once again had her students engage in an online
assignment. In teaching the Great Depression and Dust Bowl
units, students listened to a podcast from Tim Egan, author of
the Worst Hard Time, which gave a first-hand account of survivors
of one of the worst natural and man-made (a combination of
"hubris and greed") disasters in American history: the Dust Bowl.
Her students were tasked with summarizing an account of the
Dust Bowl and the consequences still being felt in the Great
Plains today. Students drew parallels between Hurricane Katrina
and the Dust Bowl, the mass exodus of citizens and the native
grass in the Great Plains that protected the root system to the
levees around New Orleans.
Mr. Hatten's science students are preparing for their end of year
assessments. These preparations may even include Regents
Dessert Review, where students present an Earth Science topic
with the aid of a specially designed dessert, such as sequence
stratigraphy strawberry shortcake or gummy bear fossil pudding!
In physical science, students embarked on an innovative field trip
called "The Trail of Trash." This trip allowed science students to
see how trash moves from their houses, to the energy plant, to
the recycling facility and, finally, to a landfill that has been
transformed into Norman J. Levy Park in Merrick. After the tests
are done, the students will choose their paths as they embark on
their final projects. These culminating projects will demonstrate
students’ knowledge and passion towards current issues in
science, such as the oil spill in the Gulf, alternative energy
sources, or even geologic history of their backyard!
Mrs. Klein’s and Mrs. Rogers’ students are beginning to wrap up,
and reflect upon, their 8th grade English careers by compiling
their final portfolios. Through a series of weekly benchmarks,
students are revising old pieces of work, creating new writing
pieces, and, overall, providing closure to their identity as middle
school English students. Students are also reading the classic
play, A Raisin in the Sun.
Students were privileged enough to meet and interact with Todd
Strasser, author of The Wave. English classes read this book in
December and now, in May, students were able to learn about the
life of a published author (Todd Strasser is author of over 130
published books!) as well as engage in a Writer's Workshop with
Mr. Strasser.
In Mr. Panicker's math classes, students have just finished the
NYS Math Assessment exam. All students were able to prepare
in class, as well as use the Internet resource of Study Island.
Students had a chance to review topics any time of the day, at
their own pace. This provided them instant feedback, along with
the chance to learn and review from a source outside their
textbook. It allowed all of our students to walk into the test
extremely prepared and confident that they would do their best.
Page 2 Page
of 5 4 of 12
South Middle
School Newsletter
SMS Newsletter
March, 2007
June, 2010
8th Grade Highlights from Dr. Gina Cartolano, Assistant Principal
As the year comes to a close, students will start reviewing in
all classes, but with different foci. In Pre-Algebra, students
will be reviewing in order for the students to prepare for the
rigorous high school courses starting next year. In the
Algebra classes, students will be reviewing for the NYS
Algebra I Regents. As both curricula are completed, Mr.
Panicker’s math students will continue to look back on all the
work they have done this year, and continue to make
connections between the topics and real life situations.
Team C
On Monday, May 17, we took our students to the South Street
Seaport to experience the BODIES Exhibit and enjoy lunch
in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. During this informative
and inspiring trip, our students had the opportunity to view
interesting displays of the human body, and they truly gained
an appreciation of the importance of caring for one’s self.
Looking at a deconstructed human body allowed them to
appreciate the concept that, “We are all the same on the inside.”
Following the exhibit, students chose from an array of
restaurants and took in the sights of the Seaport. Positive
feedback from students clearly indicates that this was a
worthwhile endeavor.
Back at South Middle we have been busy working on
curriculum and preparing for the New York State
Assessments and Regents exams. Extensive review sessions
will reinforce student knowledge and skills. English and math
recently concluded their exams and science and social studies
are quickly approaching in June.
Furthermore, our 8th grade students participated in a multicultural role-play activity in Ms. Cahn’s English classes. This
lesson was designed to place our students in a situation that
mirrored the experiences of a student who had moved into a
country where the student’s native language was different
from that of the new environment.
Our students were told prior to the activity that they would
hear the reading of a poem and that they would need to
answer questions regarding that poem. Dr. Cartolano, our
Assistant Principal, had prerecorded her reading of this poem
in Italian. Students were obviously confused and surprised by
the unfamiliar language. They also felt the uncertainty of not
knowing how to respond to questions when they lacked the
language skills.
We concluded with an introspective analysis of what it might
be like for a student to come to our school from a foreign
land. The culminating book report for this project was to
select a novel about a culture that was different. This English
lesson clearly taught empathy for our multicultural society and
strongly parallels our social studies curriculum.
(continued)
8th Grade Trip to Broadway
Following an exciting lunch, students were lucky enough to be able
to see Billy Elliot: the Musical, an underdog story about a boy who
dreams of dancing. This musical won ten Tony Awards including
the coveted Best Musical in 2009. Billy Elliot's life is packed with
the culture of the County Durham in northern England during the
1980’s. The musical brings to life the inner struggles of Billy Elliot
and the more public, political struggles of the Miners' Strike.
Students and faculty alike were enveloped by the true sense of
Broadway: the lights, the costumes, the action, and the sense of
being “in the moment” with the actors. Everyone in the theater
experienced the gamut of emotions; while witnessing one boy's
journey to make his unlikely dream come true, theatergoers both
laughed and cried. Students rallied behind Billy and his progress
from Mrs. Wilkinson's dance class to the Royal Ballet School.
Cheers were audible throughout the theater when Billy finally
made it to the end of his remarkable quest.
When the curtain finally closed students walked out of the theater
with a stronger and more visceral understanding of the concept of
individuality. As they have been shown in their 8th grade literature,
Billy Elliot reminded students that they need to follow their own
dreams, regardless of what is "popular" or "normal," and that they
should allow others to follow their own dreams as well.
On the bus rides home, amid the iPod soundtracks and the coach
bus DVDs, students and teachers alike rehashed the day's
experiences. Thoughts on lunch, the play, and the walk to Times
Square were exchanged with laughter. Pictures were shared and
memories were formed and reaffirmed. At the end of the trip,
teachers looked around and smiled, knowing that this one day
provided an excellent opportunity to learn beyond the standard
four walls of the classroom.
Art
The eighth grade Art Foundation students went on a field trip to
The Noguchi Museum and P.S. 1 in Long Island City on Friday,
May 21st. At the Noguchi Museum, the students investigated
Isamu Noguchi's work from different vantage points in guided
tours led by museum educators. The students also viewed the
exhibition, Greater New York, at PS 1 that showcased some 68
artists and collectives living and working in the metropolitan New
York.
Page 5 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
8th Grade Highlights/7th Grade Highlights
Team D Science
As students are beginning their review for the 8th grade
assessment and Earth Science Regents exam, many are enjoying
some outdoor learning. The Earth Science students spent a
Geology of LI Day at Garvie's Point. Mrs. Keyes' and Dr. Stanick's
research students in grades 7 and 8 showed their "stuff" at our
first Science Expo (Fair.) Due to the wonderful feedback from
both faculty and students, we are hoping to expand upon this
event next year. This same group of students spent a day at the
Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. Several of the
students have been busy erecting and monitoring nest boxes on
our Great Neck Campus. We have attracted chickadees, house
wrens, and tree swallows. Our goal is to attract bluebirds - our
state bird. In Mrs. Keyes's class, in order to recreate natural
crystal formation, students made rock candy. They also made
smores to simulate plate tectonics. Three 8th grade students were
among the winners of special awards given by the Long Island
Science Congress.
All the best,
Gina M. Cartolano, Ed. D.
Assistant Principal
FROM JERRY COZINE, ASST. PRINCIPAL
Less than four weeks of school remaining; it almost seems
impossible. But, here we are! It has been a very exciting and
rewarding year for me, and, after three years, SMS has become a
home to me. I have established strong relationships with many
of your children, and it really has been incredible to watch them
mature into young adults.
Our students have been quite busy over the last ten weeks – both
in and out of the classroom, so I thought I’d give you a brief
overview:
TEAM 7SW – THE SOUTH STARS
The South Stars have been busy this quarter offering interesting
special events, rigorous academic work, as well as final exam and
state assessment preparation.
We have had a wonderful time
working with our truly unique South Stars students and we will be
sad to see them go, yet we are confident that we have prepared
them as best we can to meet the challenges they will face in their
future.
Last quarter, in Mr. Mannix’s social studies class, the South Stars
created video documentaries answering the question: What is the
greatest challenge facing the United States today? The entries
ranged from such topics as terrorism, global warming, healthcare,
drugs and swine flu. All entries were worthy of the History
Channel. On Monday, May 24th, as the clouds broke to a
beautiful seventy degree night, students, parents and teachers
strolled up the red carpet and entered the first annual “A-Kidemy Awards,” an event that would recognize the amazing student
achievement. With student musicians playing Pachelbel’s Canon,
guests arrived in semi-formal attire to a flash of paparazzi taking
their photographs. The guests were escorted to the
courtyard where student servers brought our guests mock
champagne cocktails, hors’ doeuvres and a selection of
desserts. The musicians playing magnificently added the
perfect touch to an exquisite faux “cocktail hour.” At 8 pm,
the ceremony began with ushers escorting the guests to their
seats.
There were a total of six awards presented by the students
and voted upon by a panel of South Star team judges. The
categories ranged from Best Editing and Best Interviews to
Best Documentary. This was truly an event that was run by
our students. From the invitation, the program, musical
selection and direction, food selection, and decorative
choices, the South Stars demonstrated to their community
that they will rise to a challenge!
From the stage to the sea, it has been an exciting couple of
weeks aboard the R/V DALEC, as we learned all about
chick embryology, while patiently waiting the full 21-day
cycle it takes for development from egg to chick. We were
delighted to welcome six healthy, fuzzy, new crew members
aboard who have been chirping their way into the hearts of
all faculty and staff at South Middle. Lots of fun!
We studied the four kingdoms in detail, learning a vertebrate
from an invertebrate as well as a vascular plant from a
nonvascular plant. Also, we have been immersed in a
comprehensive study of the human body systems, and
getting answers to some interesting questions such as why
we cough and hiccup! We will be performing an end of year
lab practical to show we know our lab skills and then the
countdown to summer vacation begins!
Mrs. Hodgson's math classes devoted much of the beginning
of the 4th quarter to preparing for the Math Assessment.
Students worked on previous years' exams and had sample
assessment questions to practice on every day. Everyone is
very glad that the test is OVER! After the assessment,
students continued their study of solid figures. They
investigated properties of polyhedrons and calculated surface
areas and volumes of solids. The Pre-Algebra students next
investigated special right triangles and trigonometry. They
are currently using trig to solve problems involving heights
and distances for given angles. The Math 7 classes have
been working on statistical displays and graphs, and will then
study probability.
Mr. Zweig utilized technology to help his Algebra class study
for the math assessment using the online review resource of
studyIsland.com. Each student had the opportunity to
complete this work at his or her leisure at home or in school.
Recently, Mr. Zweig’s classes completed a unit on special
right triangles and Trigonometry and now are working on
rational expressions. Next, the class will start intensive
reviews for the Regents exams.
Page 3 ofPage
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Newsletter
SouthSMS
Middle
School Newsletter
June, 2010
March, 2007
7th Grade Highlights from Jerry Cozine, Assistant Principal
In English, Miss Kostopoulos’ classes went on “Mission:
Dystopia” with their student teacher Miss Blache where they
examined life in the future through their science fiction novels.
In addition, students prepared for the NYS English Language
Arts exam, otherwise known as the ELA, which they took in
late April. Afterwards, students were introduced to the
wonderful world of poetry and even had the opportunity to
participate in the annual “Poem in Your Pocket Day” on April
29. The students selected a poem during National Poetry
Month and then carried it with them to share with their
classmates. It was really an incredible day!
On May 15 students were treated to an extra special event
when author, Todd Strasser, came to visit South Middle
School. Todd Strasser is the author of The Wave. It is based on
a true incident that occurred in a high school history class in
Palo Alto, California, in 1969 exploring peer pressure and a
group think mentality. Mr. Strasser presented to the seventh
graders in the choral room where he explained his process of
writing. Next, the author had them participate in a writing
workshop to create a story of their own. The students laughed
and enjoyed his visit. Many of the students purchased his
novels and had him autograph them.
Currently the South Stars are in the midst of creating their
fourth quarter portfolio assignment which is a collection of
their best work that they would like to showcase from English
class.
TEAM 7S – THE SOARING EAGLES
Mrs. Giani’s students met Todd Strasser, author of The Wave.
During English class time, students listened to a riveting
presentation about Todd’s growth and experiences as a writer.
An interactive segment followed during which students were
engaged in the thought process of writing a story. Now the
classes are in the midst of an empathetic study of characters
with mental and physical disabilities. Students read The
Lemonade Club, by Patricia Polacco, an inspirational picture
book in which a teacher and one of her students are both
battling cancer at the same time. The students are also reading
Petey, a novel in which the main character has cerebral palsy.
The year will wind down with the compilation of the Final
Portfolio and a short biography study and presentation of a
famous person.
Ms. Caplain’s science classes have finished studying evolution
and learned how living things are classified. They were on the
microscopes once again examining protozoa. Chicken eggs
were incubated for three weeks and students observed six out
of twelve of them hatch successfully. They were cute and
fluffy. It was interesting to learn about the developmental
stages of the chicken inside the egg. Next they learned about
how living things are organized, and now they are doing body
systems. Many students have come during extra help to
practice on the microscopes in preparation for the lab practical.
(continued)
During the beginning of the
quarter, Mr. Powder’s 7th
grade math class was preparing for the State Assessment test.
At the conclusion of the test, they began to look forward and
started to learn about radicals. Students learned how to
reduce them and perform the four operations with them.
4th
During the fourth marking period, the 7th grade social studies
classes have continued to expand their knowledge of United
States history. They analyzed and discussed the Civil War Era,
Industrialization and Expansion on the Frontier. Additionally,
they have complemented the curricular objectives by
incorporating current events. In a time where communication
is so vital to society, they have drawn connections on the
various information outlets between their studies and the
present day. Encouraging continued awareness of domestic,
national and international events has not only allowed the
students to immerse themselves in the globalized society they
live in today, but attain a greater comprehension of the events
they have studied in class.
TEAM 7SM – THE ROYAL REBELS
The Royal Rebels team cannot believe that the end of the year
has come. We have realized that this means our 7th graders are,
in a few weeks, 8th graders! Mrs. Doyle, Mrs. Whidden, Mr.
D’Angelo and Mrs. Ganz have been working hard in
preparing their students for the end of the year finals and
projects.
In Math, Mrs. Doyle has been preparing all her students for
the Math Assessments. They have been reviewing material
from the beginning of the year. In her Algebra class, Mrs.
Doyle and her students have been working very hard getting
ready for the upcoming Regents exam. Her Pre-Algebra and
Math 7 classes have been working on the “Year-in-Review.”
They are reviewing material they covered from the beginning
of the year.
Mrs. Whidden in the Science department had a very exciting
quarter. The students had the privilege of watching and
hatching eggs. It took 21 days of incubation before the cute,
fuzzy chicks were hatched. Students were able to track the
chicks’ development before they hatched and continued to
watch them grow for two weeks. Mrs. Whidden’s students
have also been working hard studying the human body system.
They studied the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
Students have been preparing for the end of the year final.
The lab practical tests hands on lab skills, which is the first
part of their final. The second part of the final will be given in
June.
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Newsletter
Newsletter
March,
2007
June,March,
2010 2007
7th Grade Highlights from Mr. Jerry Cozine, Assistant Principal
(continued)
Mrs. Ganz’s English classes have been eagerly awaiting a visit
from author Todd Strasser ever since they read one of his
books, The Wave. Mr. Strasser shared with students “tips and
tricks” of what makes a great writer and spoke to students
about the writing process. Students, along with Todd
Strasser, were able to write a story. What a great way for
students to see how an author writes!
Mrs. Ganz’s classes have been working diligently on their
final portfolio. The students’ portfolio is a culmination of all
the work they have created throughout the year.
Mr. D'Angelo's class went back in time and "visited" Ford's
Theater on April 14, 1865. This began a unit on the
Reconstruction of the U.S. after the Civil War. We were able
to compare reconstruction after the war to the current
situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti. We have been
using clips from the miniseries "Into the West" and "Bury My
Heart at Wounded Knee" to learn about our current unit, the
Settlement of the West. Next week they will begin to review
for the social studies final, which will be held on Tuesday,
June 15.
Regarding classroom procedure, Mr. D’Angelo’s homework
is now being posted online through Google Documents.
Links to each night’s homework are being posted on Mr.
D'Angelo's website. All answers are being submitted via the
Internet. This eliminates forgetting homework at home,
leaving it in your locker, etc. The results so far have been
very positive.
Health
Grade 7 health students had the unique opportunity to video
chat with a South Middle alumna who is currently working to
prevent the spread of AIDS in South Africa. Roz Davoodnia
(South High Class of 1996) works for the Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation and talked with students about
how she decided upon her chosen career and the educational
background necessary to work in public health. Ms.
Davoodnia described her daily duties in South Africa as well
as the system of healthcare used to treat and prevent AIDS.
She answered questions regarding her position at the
Elizabeth Glaser Foundation as well as the AIDS disease.
South Middle students learned about an interesting new
career path from someone who had quite literally walked in
their shoes. The Skype (video chat) session was arranged by
Peter Suchmann with assistance from Michelle Phillips.
Photography and Art
Seventh and Eighth grade Students from Ms. Elzer's and Mr.
Mead's digital photography classes joined with the Art
Department to display work for the South Middle Spring Art
Show. The photos were displayed in the main lobby during the
spring music concerts this May.
In closing, if you have any questions regarding the seventh grade
program, please do not hesitate to contact me at 441-4600 or
email me at gcozine@greatneck.k12.ny.us.
Be well,
Jerry Cozine
Technology
The Technology Department is busy preparing for the last few
weeks of school. The curriculum runs strong right through the
last day. Grade 6 classes are finishing up their invention reports,
learning about simple machines and applying that knowledge
building structures with Lego kits. Grade 7 classes are
constructing their egg crash cars - being sure that every step has
been taken to meet the challenges of distance and safety testing.
Grade 8 classes are split within their curriculum. Half of the
current students are completing Scantek modules and entering
their exploration of orthographic projection drawings. The other
half is busy completing nightlights and exploring magnetic
levitation vehicles. In all, it has been a busy quarter and a
wonderful year in the Technology Department. We would like to
thank Mr. Michael Maguire for his service and leadership to our
department and wish him well in his retirement.
ESL
This year the ESL classes had the opportunity to experience
some favorite American pastimes. The students went ice-skating
at Parkwood Ice Skating Rink back in February. For many of the
students, it was their first time ice-skating. They had a blast and
were treated to informal lessons from some of the skate school
instructors. In March, ESL students went bowling. Again, it was
a first for many of them. Students showed great improvement
from their first game to their last and many decided they would
love to go again sometime with their families. The final trip this
year was to play miniature golf at Eisenhower Park. Only 4 of
the 17 students attending the trip had ever been mini golfing
before. They had a perfect day for it and shared lots of laughs.
This has been an amazing experience for students who often
don’t get the chance to participate in these types of activities.
Page 8 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
6th Grade Highlights
Language Arts/Author Visit
Todd Strasser’s visit with the sixth grade was a huge success!
The students were able to continue the writing workshop
process with an authentic lesson on the use of descriptive
language in their writing. Ask your child to show you what he
or she wrote during this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Strasser focused on the idea of show, not tell.
Classic novels are all the rage this spring! All sixth graders are
being exposed to a classic novel, and learning to appreciate
the timeless lesson each novel has to offer. We offer many
thanks to the librarians for their help and expertise.
As we begin to reflect upon our learning from this year, each
student will be required to complete the portfolio assignment.
This project asks students to compile their work from this
year, and to examine their growth as readers and writers.
Please ask your child to share his or her hard work with you,
as this portfolio should showcase examples of the effort put
forth this year.
Science
The 6th grade scientists are examining what makes up the
world around us. We are learning about the chemistry of
matter. We now can navigate our way around the Periodic
Table of the Elements, and can even draw a picture of an
atom! We are investigating how atoms interact to form
compounds and the differences between compounds and
mixtures. In the last weeks of the school year, we will learn
more about chemical reactions and the wonderful world of
chemistry.
Math
With the math assessment behind us, we are gearing up for a
strong ending to the sixth grade curriculum. The regular
classes have already completed a unit on probability,
including permutations and combinations. The concept of
probability was explored with hands-on experiments
involving coins, dice, and cards. Since sixth graders are not
allowed in a casino, a field trip to Connecticut or New Jersey
was not “in the cards.” We then began work on rational and
irrational numbers, square roots, and the Pythagorean
Theorem. Problem solving that applies Pythagoras’ theory
will be explored.
The EP classes are working on statistics, learning to organize
dates in line plots, stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots,
frequency tables, and graphs. Interactive websites such as
Create A Graph are used to generate representations of data
in various forms, such as pie graphs, double and triple line
graphs. Students are encouraged to be creative and explore
how data can be represented in meaningful ways in various
modes. EP classes will end with a unit on probability.
Social Studies
He lived over three thousand years ago and died at the age of
nineteen, without any particularly notable accomplishments.
Yet few historic figures are as well known as Tutankhamen,
the Boy King of Egypt. Our sixth grade students recently
visited the King Tut exhibit in Times Square, and saw
firsthand the wealth of treasures found in his tomb, including
board games intended to keep him amused in the afterlife.
This eye-opening exhibit not only gives students a chance to
see the artifacts of a great civilization, but also instructs our
young learners on the process by which historians learn about
the past. Over three millennia after his death, we are still
learning more about the life and death of King Tut through
DNA testing and other modern methods of examining the
past. The trip served as an exciting culmination to our study of
the wonders of ancient Egypt.
We continued our study of ancient civilizations into the fourth
quarter with an exploration of the fascinating culture of
ancient China. Students learned how China’s natural barriers
of deserts and mountains, cutting it off from other early
civilizations, helped shape its culture and history. They studied
the many remarkable achievements and inventions of the
Chinese, including paper, the magnetic compass, and
gunpowder. Students were surprised to learn that pasta was
first made in China, well before Marco Polo brought it to Italy.
They investigated such wonders as the Great Wall, the only
man-made structure which can be seen from the moon, and
the terracotta warriors, consisting of over eight thousand lifesize clay soldiers guarding the tomb of the ancient Chinese
emperor Shi Huangdi. And, of course, they learned about
Confucius and his great influence on Chinese life and culture.
Our sixth grade history unit continued with a study of Native
Americans, particularly the Iroquois tribes of New York State,
exploring their customs, social and political structure, and their
creation myth. Additionally, each of our three teams is
studying, during the flex period, one of the three great early
American civilizations: the Incas, the Mayas, and the Aztecs. A
day will be devoted to sharing information among the three
teams. Finally, we introduce the Age of Exploration, as
European explorers came to the New World and paved the
way for the birth of a new nation.
Page 9 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
SMS Happenings
Library
There was a fight to the finish in the library; a brawl among
the books. “The Battle of the Books” (affectionately known
as BOB) was held on May 12th and May 14th and, though
thankfully no actual blood was shed, South Middle students
proved that they are willing and able to devour books.
Over 100 students in grades 6, 7 and 8 participated in teams of
up to four students. Over the course of about three months,
students read 12 books from a list designated for the “Battle.”
Competitions were held during lunch periods to determine a
winning team from each grade level. Teams were asked
questions about the stories, settings and characters and had to
respond with the title and author of the correct book. Finally,
the winners from each grade level competed to be the school
champion in a tough after-school contest. The final battle was
a nail-biter but ultimately, the 7th grade team of Christine An,
Rachel An and Rena Slavin reigned victorious. Mrs.
Graybosch and Mrs. Phillips plan to make BOB an annual
tradition at South Middle.
Health Sun Safety
The sun is wonderful; it provides light, warmth, beautiful
vegetable gardens and SKIN DAMAGE. Too much sun
exposure has been linked to skin cancer. Our 8th grade health
classes are studying the importance of sun safety. Here are
some helpful tips for fun in the sun:
Use Sun Block (SPF 15 or higher) everyday
Use Sun Block on a cloudy day too
(UVA rays pass through the clouds)
 Put the Sun Block on 15 minutes before you
go outside
Avoid the direct sun from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Protect you face and wear a hat
Protect your eyes and wear sunglasses
NEVER use a tanning bed
Schedule a full body check with a
dermatologist
Our 8th grade students had the chance to meet with Mr.
Gleason, a melanoma survivor. He shared his expertise with
sun safety. Mr. Gleason brought a derma-scan machine. This
device enabled the students to view their skin and any sun
damage that is not seen by the naked eye.
Community Action Committee
Due to the faltering economy, charitable contributions are
down. This has not been the case for the CAC who has
donated more than $5,000 to organizations such as St. Mary’s
Hospital, Toys of Hope, Cancer Center for Kids, Canine
Companions for Independence, Make a Wish, Cerebral Palsy,
Ronald McDonald and a variety of other worthy causes. This
money has been raised through bake sales and the selling of
snacks after school. The Community Action Committee will
end the year by assisting at the Parkville Picnic on Thursday,
June 24. In addition to running games for the students, the
CAC members do face and hand painting, apply tattoos, and
help the children create works of art with Spin Art. Our end
of the year celebration will be held on June 11th, where the
members are rewarded for all their hard work throughout the
year.
In April, SMS welcomed Marion Blumenthal Lazan,
internationally renowned author of Four Perfect Pebbles
Page 10 of 12
SMS Newsletter
MagLev
On March 24th the Maglev Club at South Middle School,
headed by Mr. Frangella, travelled to Brookhaven National
Labs to compete in their annual Maglev Contest. This year’s
contest was the most competitive in the history of the event
with almost three hundred students representing schools
throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students compete
in several different categories, including wind power, self
propelled, electrified track, gravity and appearance. In this
year’s contest, sixth grade club member Danny Kiernan,
came in 1st place in the wind power event. Jae An became the
first student to win trophies in back to back years. Jae came
in 2nd place this year, in the self –propelled event. Right
behind Jae in 3rd place, was seventh grader Jacob Rigos
Jamie Wolf was a leader in the gravity competition. Kaytan
Ma, Cole Ramano, Elliot Hsu, Jason Park, Emmanuel Rivera
and Everett White all finished a tenth of a second behind the
leaders in the wind power event. Mr. Frangella is extremely
pleased with our showing at this year’s competition. He is
looking forward to next year with so many 6th and 7th grade
students coming back, especially with Danny Kiernan, Jacob
Rigos and Cole Romano, who have a chance to be multi-year
winners.
Shared Decision
The South Middle School Shared Decision Making
Committee successfully achieved many of its goals in the
2009-2010 school year. We were lucky to have a cohesive
unit of students, teachers, parents and administrators who
came together to form four separate subcommittees, working
independently toward the completion of tangible goals. The
group was led by parent co-chairs Carrie Fichtel and Marci
Ferber and Teacher co-chairs, Brian Mannix and Bernice
Corona.
The Shared Digital Citizenship Subcommittee examined the
existing board Internet policy and researched how the
message of the policy was distributed via our school. The
committee recommended that students and parents sign an
agreement showing that they have read and understood their
obligations with regard to our school district's acceptable use
policy. In addition, the subcommittee recommended the
June, 2010
institution of an innovative pilot program utilizing cutting edge
technology in the classroom. This pilot program, called The
Connected Classroom, will be implemented on one 7th grade
social studies and science team next year, where the students
will have access in one classroom to one-to-one laptops and in
the other one-to-one mobile/smart phone devices. The same
curriculum will be delivered, but through a differentiated,
interdisciplinary and technologically infused approach to
learning.
The Stress Subcommittee piloted a CDC Stress-o-meter survey
in the 8th grade health classes. This activity was fun and
beneficial for assessing stressors. In addition to the survey
that was posted online, an Internet link was added for an article
that assists parents with understanding their child’s stress level.
This article includes tips for parents, especially the over-use of
technology and time management for young people. An
unexpected offspring from the stress sub-committee has been
the news segment “Chillin’ with Mrs. DiPalo”. A weekly news
broadcast which features stress reduction tips, organizational
and study skills strategies. In addition to these items, the
subcommittee is piloting a “pow wow” meeting for students to
work with teachers on providing improved two-way
communication between the students and the teachers. They
have also recommended the creation of a welcome video for
students new to the Great Neck District.
The Acceptance subcommittee explored issues of acceptance
regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students
(LGBT). There is no doubt that this topic affects a percentage
of our students, and therefore, it was deemed important to find
ways to make these students feel safe and comfortable. Along
with the Professional Development Group, SDM supports the
formation of a new organization, “The Gay/Straight Alliance”
for next year.
Finally, the Sustainability Subcommittee worked on a wide
range of issues regarding the health of our children and the
development of a healthy earth. These issues included: recipe
contests for school lunches, movement toward a paperless
school, development of a school vegetable garden, reduction
germ transference through a Purell bacterial machine, and
institution of a water filtration system as well as continued
progress with our school’s recycling efforts.
Page 11 of 12
SMS Newsletter
June, 2010
Message from the President
Congratulations to the Class of 2010! Wishing you the best of
everything at South High School!
I wish you a relaxing, rejuvenating, enjoyable summer!
PTA President’s Message
Dear SMS Families:
It’s hard to believe we are counting down the last days of
June as another school year comes to an end. My year as
PTA President of SMS has been both exciting and
rewarding.
Once again, the generosity of the PTA was on display as we
held our annual Staff Recognition Luncheon on June 4th.
Because of your generous contributions we were able to
provide a beautiful and delicious lunch to our teachers and
staff members in a delightfully transformed teachers’
cafeteria! Thank you to Tracy Berlinsky, and the staff
luncheon committee for all you did to make it a success!!
At our June 10th PTA Breakfast Meeting, we heard final
committee as well as year-end reports from the school’s
administration. We also welcomed new members to our
PTA Executive Board for the 2010-11 school year at an
installation ceremony. Thanks to Ann Lesser for chairing
this year’s nominating committee and presenting such a
committed slate of officers.
On another front, our successful fundraising partnerships
with Modell’s, Barnes & Noble, and selected Great Neck
restaurants as well as our May 7th flower sale have enabled us
to contribute to programs that benefit all of our children.
Character education assemblies, author visits, and contest
prizes are some of the ways our school has benefited from
your generous support. The executive board is discussing an
additional contribution to the school and while we have not
made a decision to date, it is certain that many students will
benefit from this initiative, too.
Lastly, I wish to give my heartfelt thanks to those board
members who are “graduating” SMS along with their 8th
graders! Lori Giovanniello, Carrie Fichtel, Ina Kupferberg
and Ann Lesser have generously volunteered their time and
efforts over the years to enhance the educational experience
for our middle school students. On behalf of the entire PTA
thank you for your dedicated service. Since I am also leaving
SMS this year I wish to thank all our parents, students,
faculty and staff. We are a very special “family” whose goal
is to support students as they develop intellectually,
physically, socially, emotionally and ethically. I feel very
fortunate to have been a part of this school these last three
years.
Sincerely,
Julie Aronowitz
PTA President
SMS PTA Executive Board 2010-11
President
Executive Vice President
VP’s Communication
VP Membership
VP Fundraising
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Programming Coordinator
UPTC Delegates
SDM Committee Chair
SEPTA Delegate
Judy Liman
Ellen Schulman
Michael Cuttino
Tracy Berlinsky
Amy Smith
Robert Aizer
Debbie Volk
Jane Tucker
Jill Madenberg
Louise Hochberg
Janine Phillips
Tammy Blancher,
Deidre Greben
Rachel Hershenhorn,
Reggie Mazurkiewicz
Po Shum
Carol Valic
In our continuing efforts to "Go Green" we are planning on
making the SMS newsletter available on our website. If you
would prefer to read the online version, you may opt out
of receiving future newsletters by mail. Please contact us at
gnsmsptamail@gmail.com and provide us with your name,
your child(ren)’s name and instructions to be taken off the
school newsletter mailing list.
Great Neck South Middle School PTA
349 Lakeville Road
Great Neck, New York 11020
Planet
Great
Neck
JUNE 2010, SUMMER EDITION
GROW A GREEN LAWN NATURALLY
by Dahlia Klein, PTA parent of 8th grader
For many homeowners, a beautiful lawn is important—it enhances the property, increases the value of a home by as much as 10%, and even
improves quality of life. However, most beautiful lawns today do not come about naturally, but rather through harmful pesticides together with
overwatering and noisy gas powered lawn mowers. There is an alternative to these carbon polluting ways, and a much cheaper alternative to
growing a greener lawn, that can be fun for the whole family.
 Irrigation: Collectively we use about 7 billion gallons of water every day on irrigation. That is a third of our home domestic use. Up to half of
it is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or overwatering.
 Organic Gardening: Some ways to reduce evaporation are to cut grass 3-4 inches long, leave grass clippings after mowing, and water early in
the morning. If you do not do your own gardening, then use an organic gardener that has experience in maintaining a greener lawn naturally. You
can find one at: http://www.ghlp.org/find_land.html
 Use a Rain Barrel: We all know that when it rains, it pours; and with the right rain barrel, all that rainwater can be saved and harvested to
irrigate for free, reducing your water bill during the summer months. By collecting rain water and storing it a rain barrel, you’ll have water for
future use, whether it’s for watering the garden or just keeping it handy for emergency situations. Purchase a rain barrel at:
http://www.composters.com/rain-barrels.php
 Fertilizer: Collectively Americans spend more than $38 billion dollars each year on chemical pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and
fungicides—to keep their lawns looking great, but they are toxic to our environment.
 Compost: Compost has been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers. The other
important benefit to composting is it reduces the trash in our landfills. Instead of throwing out your kitchen food scraps, you can put it into the
composter along with eggshells, coffee grounds and tea leaves, grass clippings, and fallen leaves. Keep the composter in your backyard for year
round use and within no time, you will have your very own compost to sprinkle on your shrubs and grass for a greener lawn. The Town of North
Hempstead is offering a composter for $50 which includes a lesson on how to compost as well. Call 311 for details.