Friday, January 20, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 3
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Syosset Chinese group shines bright with Lunar New Year BY RIKKI N. MASSAND On Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Syosset High School’s auditorium, a grand Chinese (Lunar) New Year Celebration will be held, featuring 19 performances including a traditional Lion Dance, songs, poetry, drama, instrumental sets and individual acts by students and adults. The special event will recognize contributions of sponsors and the Syosset School Board and administration, as well as highlight the talents of Syosset community members. Two high school seniors will emcee the afternoon. The 2016 Lunar New Year’s program held last February was so popular, “we had to find the biggest venue possible!” according to Wanda Lee Struhl, a founding member of the Chinese American Association of Syosset (CAAS). The event in 2016 at the Syosset Public Library showed the volunteer-run, nonprofit organization that more of an event auditorium was needed. Tickets for 2016 at SPL sold out in three hours with just
The Lion Dance over 150 seats, and for 2017 with over four times that amount of seating the tickets lasted all of two and a half days. Over 700 people are expected to attend as seats had all been booked by Sunday, January 15. Tickets for the February 4 event were distributed at Sitan Tai Chi
( also the main CAAS office), Beijing House and Golden Temple restaurants in Syosset (both on Jericho Turnpike) and the iSchool of Music and Art on Cold Spring Road. CAAS was born just in 2015, and it will begin this New Year on both East-
ern and Western calendars with vigor to impact the greater community, our local schools and families of all backgrounds. What was a vision two years ago built a reputation for assisting the community in late 2015, as that October CAAS hosted a Syosset library event for families, “How to Qualify for College Financial Aid, Even if You Think You Make Too Much Money?” While advocacy for education continues, it enters a new chapter this year. There’s great momentum building as Syosset, from its schools down to neighborhoods, homeowners and prospective residents explore cultural identity on several levels and the Chinese concept of guanxi (interpreted as a network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another). CAAS stands to become a pillar of the Syosset community in the next decade, as its ambitions reflect not only the evolving demographics here since the 2010 U.S. Census but how achievements, See page 15
Syosset Council of PTAs hosts cultural unity discussion
The Cultural Unity Committee of the Syosset Council of PTAs hosted its 2nd Annual Round Table on Tuesday, December 6th. This event was attended by approximately 65 people comprising of school administration, teachers and parents from the community. This forum has been designed to engage families from culturally diversified backgrounds and new families to the district so they are able to integrate in our community and schools. After an overview of the initiatives the district is creating to provide translations services to individuals requiring assistance, given by Ms. Peggy Grosso, Coordinator of Education Services, the Cultural Unity
committee members concentrated on topics relating to their specific building. Each school held its own round table to discuss relevant topics such as the lunch program, extra-curricular activities, extra help and more. We would like to thank all of the participants, including district administration, principals, ENL teachers, high school students, and members of our community for supporting our event. We hope to bring more programs to the community to assist such families. If you would like more information about the Buddy Program, please reach out to the PTA at your school.
Groups discussed their school programs.
Garden Festival draws thousands PAGE 3 Chanukah happening at synagogue PAGE 10