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Syosset High School tries out flexible classroom furniture
COOL COOKIES
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
“Serious concerns have been raised regarding the potential misappropriation of Hurricane Sandy relief funds,” said Senator Brooks in the statement. “The Supervisor has a responsibility to address these concerns and explain exactly what happened.” Saladino, who owns a home in Massapequa, said he is still
Nearly a year ago at the Syosset Central School District Board of Education meeting on January 22, 2018, during public comments, Woodbury resident Tara Ginsburg inquired about the possibility of the district purchasing flexible/adjustable furniture for classroom use by students. Her inquiry turned into a reality this fall, as the December 17, 2018 Board meeting featured a presentation on a pilot program initiated at Syosset High School with a mobile-furniture equipped classroom and interactive technology space providing students with a fresh, flexible physical environment. On December 17, faculty explained for the Board of Education, “our learning environments should reflect the diversity of the real world.” At the conclusion of the presentation, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers expressed how and why the pilot model is a step to even better ‘career readiness’ for students in the school district. The non-traditional, student-centered pilot classroom was outlined as a “a Starbucks mixed with a classroom, design studio and a makerspace.” or simply a flexible space housing a variety of interactive technology. It was also described as a comparable setup as what’s seen in the library classroom/commons at SHS, but with teachers having new ways to instruct students as they collaborate and better arrangements for group work. Syosset High’s experiment evolved out of recognizing students’ needs, potential and benefits when they are given a sense of ownership and choices when and where they sit for their own education. Teachers stated that by taking ownership, Syosset High students are able to deepen their knowledge and transform how they learn. On December 17, the school board heard from Syosset High School teachers Lynn Ortlieb and Sarah Wasser as they’ve initiated the use of the pilot classroom. “As you walk into the room, it has en engaging feel. But what is truly inspiring is that it allows all of our students to feel empowered enough to guide their own learning. One special education teacher commented that for at least one of her students, the mobile/flexible classroom was a game-changer as the flexible seating and the ability to move and sit closer to the front of the room as needed removes some of the restrictions that a traditional classroom setting presents. It is a transformative physical environment reflective of the evolu-
See page 14
See page 14
Jericho Syosset Girl Scouts spent an evening together learning about cookie sales, how to make safe choices while selling, and how to host a successful booth sale. See page 8.
Lawsuit filed against supervisor for payments BY GARY SIMEONE In September, 2018, the Housing Trust Fund Corp., a state agency, filed a lawsuit against current Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. The lawsuit was filed in regards to undisclosed homeowner’s insurance payments stemming from Superstorm Sandy damage.
The agency sued the supervisor for allegedly accepting a $15,803 grant from NY Rising Housing Recovery funds in 2015, for which he was deemed ineligible. State Senator John Brooks, who represents Nassau County’s 8th District, said in a statement that the supervisor must address these serious allegations.
Free video games at Syosset Library Syosset Rotary inducts new member
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