Schools

New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School Board Recognized for Work

Students present thank you gifts in honor of school board recognition week 2012.

It took a month, but members of the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Board of Education finally received the recognition they deserved.

A ceremony for the annual school boards appreciation week, honoring the volunteers on the board of education was postponed for a month in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, “but the fervor and the passion of our presenters is still there,” superintendent Robert Katulak said during the November 26 meeting at the Manor Oaks School, “and they’ve worked hard.”

Students from each of the four component schools recognized the members of the board of education for their service to the community.

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Hillside Grade School students gave “thank you’s,” naming the new pieces of technology as well as faculty and staff as things that they appreciated, presenting the board with a poster illustrating the items and fruits of the board’s labors. Superintendent Katulak said that the poster would be hung in the board of education conference room.

“We are here tonight to thank you for all the hard work and dedication for making the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District a wonderful place,” members of the Manor Oaks Student Council said, presenting their version of “The Important Book,” listing what the students found most important about what the board of education does, including “listen to the needs of the student, staff and community” and “they continuously improve and evaluate current programs, technology and faculty.”

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Students from the New Hyde Park Road School presented a musical rhyme: “I want to let the board know right from my heart, how much I am thankful from the very start,” one girl said. “You have given the education we need, by working with teachers to help us succeed.”

One of the classes collected $320 for turkeys and 600 lbs. of food for Island Harvest, making a turkey cutout and writing to the board what they were thankful for on the feathers. “This year our students have experienced first-hand what a true tragedy can be,” reading teacher Mindy Simon said, filling in for sixth grade teacher Jennifer Naughton. “Sandy has given them up close, real experience that has a direct impact on every one of their lives.”

Two students from the Garden City Park School presented a “Passport of Life,” saying that “as we grow and move onto new milestones in our educational careers, we must appreciate all of those who help us in our journey today and in our future.”

Pam Naso, president of the inter-school council and Manor Oaks PTA President Lisa Ugolini gave the board chocolates

“You guys volunteer your time just as we volunteer our time,” Naso said, “and we know what it’s like in more other ways than one.”

Hillside Grade School Principal Karen Olynk, also the vice-president of the Youth Administrators Association, bestowed copies of “Core 6 essential strategies for achieving Excellence with the Common Core” to board members. The book includes research-based, classroom-proven strategies which can be used across all grade levels and subjects.

“The administrators want to thank you for all that you do in the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District,” Olynk said, “and we hope that you find these books interesting and helpful as we work together to ensure that every student in our school district is on track for college and career readiness.”

Katulak presented his own thank you gift in a small bag and certificate of recognition which read:

The certificate of recognition is awarded to each board member in recognition and in appreciation for your outstanding service on behalf of our school community as a board member of the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District during the 2012-13 school year. Presented on this 26th day of November, 2012.


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