Renowned composer Carl Strommen visited W.T. Clarke High School on May 12 to watch the Wind Ensemble rehearse one of his pieces, "Riverdance," for their spring concert.

From the incredible Irish dance/music spectacular, “Riverdance” features all of the wonderfully idiomatic Celtic music that has become so popular. Strommen watched as Clarke’s ensemble rehearsed and shared a few tips throughout the morning.

Strommen said he was amazed by their talent and wished them the best of luck in their concert.

Date Added: 5/19/2022

On May 10, third graders at Meadowbrook Elementary School in East Meadow learned all about butterflies and moths through a presentation from Steve Fratello, also known as “The Butterfly Guy.”

Mr. Fratello presented several colorful displays of moths and butterflies from tropical rainforests, as well as those from here on Long Island. He explained the differences and similarities between the two insects, their life cycles, and even shared in a mini-lesson on geography, covering the rainforests of South America, Madagascar and New Guinea.

Date Added: 5/19/2022

East Meadow School District scholars Christopher Loiacono and Musa Sultan were among the 16 exceptional Nassau BOCES students who earned the agency’s prestigious George Farber Outstanding Student Award.

Each scholar was recognized for demonstrating a variety of remarkable attributes including talent, commitment, honesty, diligence, compassion and high moral standards. “These students exemplify the very best of Nassau BOCES,” said Nassau BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Robert Dillon. “Each of them embodies the true spirit of George Farber. They have shown kindness to other students, exhibited an excellent work ethic and demonstrated outstanding commitment. They have eagerly shared their knowledge and made contributions to their communities. Their collective stories are an inspiration to us all.”

During his time at Iris Wolfson High School, Christopher has demonstrated tremendous academic and social growth. He is an exceptionally dedicated student with a high grade point average and nearly perfect attendance. He is taking several classes for combined high school and college credit, with an eye on earning an associate’s degree at Nassau Community College, and eventually obtaining a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. He is currently acquiring valuable experience through his volunteer work at a law firm and his local library.

Christopher is an honest, kind and compassionate person with solid principles and strong moral values. He is an avid reader, an articulate communicator and an admirable person. He is respectful of, and respected by, his teachers and peers alike. He devotes considerable time to charity work, and has made substantial contributions to his church, school and community. He has helped to raise significant funds for breast cancer research and brought in numerous donations through the Heart Gram campaign for the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Musa, of Willet Avenue School, is a hardworking, highly motivated student who takes great pride in his work and thoroughly enjoys coming to school. He has a love for learning and favors hands-on activities, such as cooking lessons and riding bikes in physical therapy. He also loves to read, devouring books and stories, and is always eager for new topics in Scholastic Magazine.

Musa has a talent for singing, dancing and music, and incorporates music into various aspects of the school day. After practicing the guitar with his music teacher, and playing the different instruments in the music room, he returns to his classroom, where he uses music to learn the days of the week, months of the year, the weather and the seasons.

Musa is extremely social and outgoing, making connections with everyone he meets. He loves to greet people in the hallways, always with a friendly smile on his face, and is encouraging to all his classmates. Humble by nature, he shares credit for all his achievements with his teachers, teacher aides and various service providers.

The East Meadow School District congratulates both scholars on earning the George Farber Outstanding Student Award.

Date Added: 5/13/2022

Students from W.T. Clarke High School and East Meadow High School toured different parts of Europe during the spring recess for an authentic and engaging learning experience.

W.T. Clarke High School’s Language students practiced their skills during a trip to Italy and Spain. Students created a once in a lifetime memory through experiences like climbing the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo in Florence, Italy; dancing with each other on the Ponte Vecchio to the music of local musicians; running through the Munich, Germany airport to catch a connection; arriving in Madrid, Spain to find themselves in the middle of the plaza during the solemn Semana Santa processions and visiting the ancient Roman aqueduct in Segovia.

Although a picture is worth a thousand words, ask any of the students what they thought of the trip, and the response would be much more. Maria Miller was the lead adviser, and the chaperones were Theresa Masella, Adnen Ayari and James Parisi.

East Meadow High School’s advanced studies, Business Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Academy of Finance students kicked off their trip with a visit to Pompeii, a vast archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region near the coast of the Bay of Naples. Once a thriving Roman city, Pompeii was buried under meters of ash after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The group then explored the Amalfi coast from Positano to Amalfi ending with a drive up to Ravello along with the beautiful sites of the Amalfi Coast. This one-day tour included a visit to an operational lemon farm to learn how lemons are cultivated. The next morning, they enjoyed a daylong excursion to the island of Ischia where they climbed up to local fortress Castello Aragonese.

Another day, the group boarded a high-speed hydrofoil to cross the Bay of Naples to the island of Capri. From there, they immediately boarded a boat to the Blue Grotto, a spectacular sight where students embarked on row boats, entering a cave where the sunlight created a blue reflection illuminating the cavern. The group later headed up to Anna Capri for lunch and a view of Capri from the top of the island. Returning to Sorrento, students learned how mozzarella was made with a visit to a Sorrento mozzarella farm and in the evening, students learned a southern Italian folk dance called the Tarantella, which students performed in fabulous fashion. Before heading back up to Rome, the group enjoyed a guided tour of the Naples underground, here within the Ancient Greeks built aqueducts beneath the city which were later used in World War II for the protection of the Italian people from air raids.

In Rome, students visited the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and the famous, fashionable street of the Via dei Condotti. A stop at the Trevi Fountain allowed students to toss their coins with the hope to one day return to Rome. They also enjoyed guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Vatican Museum which included a visit to the phenomenal St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Students were able to view some of the most famous works of renowned artist Michelangelo. One evening, students were able to choose a restaurant, one of the favorite trattorias of the Italian people in the Piazza Navona. Their last evening ended with a pizza making event where the students learned how to make brick oven pizza as they were able to compare Roman pizza to the pizza they experienced in Naples, where pizza originated.

Finally, the group said goodbye to Rome and a fantastic week in Italy. “To say this trip was incredible is an understatement,” said Toni McIntosh, the district’s business chairperson. “It was an experience of a lifetime as the students experienced firsthand all the historical sites that they learned about throughout their academic studies.”

Date Added: 5/12/2022