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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Finding a new way to care
Sad reaction to affirmative action
Who is going to Hall of Fame?
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JULY 13 - 19, 2023
Learning some water safety with Troop 1570 By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com
Brandon Cruz/Herald
For the second year in a row, Uniondale Girl Scout Troop 1570 partnered with Nu-Finmen Swimming to offer a clinic on aquatic safety for youngsters and their parents last Sunday at Kennedy Memorial Park. The lessons for children included treading water, floating, beginning swimming skills and what to do in an emergency like a potential drowning. The lessons for parents focused on pool etiquette and best practices to ensure a safe pool environment throughout the summer. This kind of event, Troop 1570
nu-Finmen swimming coach Jennifer trotman explained pool safety and drowning prevention at Kennedy park on Sunday.
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School board reorganizes, announces new initiatives By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com
The Uniondale School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 6, at which officers were sworn in, and the board received heartening reports from the superintendent and the district facilities director. Mary Bediako and Natalie Longsworth were once again sworn in as board president and vice president, along with Susan Camille Trenkle, district clerk; Clarence Little, treasurer; Paul Meittinis, deputy treasurer; Maribel Hernandez, purchasing agent; Lenore Pringle, deputy
purchasing agent, and Marciel Goldman, Medicaid officer. Incoming 17-year-old Uniondale High School senior Christian Auguste was appointed the 2023-24 student board member. Auguste has a 93.6 grade point average, and will take four Advanced Placement classes next year. “One of the big things I’m hoping to get going is a peer tutoring program,” Auguste said. “I already had it drafted, I pitched it to the principal, we brought it to the board, and now we can look into funding and hopefully get it approved.” The board also honored Marilyn Hangen, a former teacher
O
ur school district never sleeps.
MONiqUe DARRiSAW-AkiL schools superintendent and principal at Smith Street Elementary School who died on June 14. Hangen was known for her dedication, community involvement and volunteerism, as well as having high standards for her students and caring about their well-being. She helped introduce new academic programs to Smith Street, and co-authored its winning 1994
application to the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, which recognizes schools “for their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups,” according to the Blue Ribbon Schools website. Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil’s update outlined upcoming programs and initiatives, and she announced the
kickoff of Uniondale’s Summer Passport to Innovation program. Darrisaw-Akil’s presentation began with statistics on the Class of 2023: 57 percent graduated with a Regents diploma, and 3 7 p e rc e n t we re aw a rd e d Advanced Regents diplomas. Not only will 84 percent of the graduates attend college next year, but 44 percent will do so at four-year Continued on page 14