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Bellmore Herald 03-16-2023

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HERALD A ’60s theme at Chabad for Purim

Rhoads responds to state budget

What to know about PSEG work

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VOL. 26 NO. 12

$1.00 $1.00

MARCH 16 - 22, 2023

Sophomores are ‘Medical Marvels’ Northwell-sponsored program gives students a taste of research By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

In John F. Kennedy High School’s Advanced Science Research program, accolades and recognition for students’ hard work typically come during their senior year. But for a team of five sophomores, the honors started early: On March 3, they placed first in the Medical Marvels competition — a collaborative science program sponsored by Northwell Health that encourages ninth- and 10th-grade students to think outside the box,

and come up with smart solutions to common problems. ASR teacher Barbi Frank told the Herald last week that this was the first time Kennedy students had taken part in the competition. When she learned about it in early December, she messaged the program’s sophomores, asking if anyone wanted to form a team. Ellie Gelman, Jack Levitt, Mark Prainito, Jayden Simon and Mason Tso, all 15, quickly volunteered. The team was tasked with a “prompt,” provided by Northwell, that they knew before

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JAyDEN SiMON, JACk Levitt, Ellie Gelman, Mark Prainito and Mason Tso placed first in Northwell Health’s Medical Marvels competition.

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Follow the yellow brick road to the Brookside School Elementary schools unite for theater production, the first in person since start of pandemic

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By JORDAN VALLONE

taught sixth grade, and Appel was a vocal music instructor. Though they are now both retired, they continue to lead the program, out of their love for working with the kids and helping stories come to life on stage. The story of how the theater program began is a funny one, they said. “We had an interesting beginning,” Kelley recalled. “Both Gail and I started teaching in the North Merrick School District, in September of 1998 — hired at the same time. At the orientation, they had told me about this new music teacher coming in, so

our 25th year.” Students from the district’s three schools — Old Mill Road, Harold D. Lafayette and Camp Avenue — share the efforts to put on the production. Only sixth-graders take part in the program, with auditions for the show having taken place in December. The cast and crew of more than 100 students then work together after school, rehearsing at the Brookside building, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s administrative headquarters. “We’ re really for tunate

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jvallone@liherald.com

For three years, the coronavirus pandemic has prevented the North Merrick School District theater program from putting on a full production. But on March 17 and 18, Bellmore-Merrick residents will have the opportunity to take a stroll down the yellow brick road — and escape to another world — by viewing the district’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Two former teachers, Joyce Kelley and Gail Appel, oversee the theater program. Kelley

JOyCE kELLEy Director

I spotted her, eyed her, and deliberately sat next to her.” They then established a bond as teachers, and Kelley, who enjoyed working in theater, wanted to pair up with a music teacher to run a program. “She hasn’t divorced me yet,” Kelley said, laughing. “This is

because we’re the only district around that has that,” Kelley said. “It’s, of course, about kids learning theatrical arts and respecting one another. But what happens is all three schools start to inter mingle — and they become friends.” Appel added that the students are scheduled to attend the Central District’s Merrick Avenue Middle School together next school year, and they will already know many of their classmates. Since they live in North Merrick, they’re also zoned for Calhoun High School, Continued on page 2


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