______________ VALLEY STREAM _____________
HERALD Paying respects to BoCES head
Crystal Dunn leaves World Cup
Tackling l.I. economic issues
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Vol. 34 No. 33
AUGUST 10 - 16, 2023
$1.00
Meet the mind behind parks’ unique boards son to the park and his iPad died. A year earlier, he had been diagnosed with apraxia of If you and your child have speech, a rare disorder caused made a recent visit to the Kay by brain damage that makes it Everson playground in Arthur difficult for the brain to process J. Hendrickson Park, you may t h e m e s s a g e s b e i n g s e n t have spotted a bright, colorful through it. Someone with board hiding in plain sight. It’s apraxia of speech typically a communication board, and it knows what he or she wants to say but has trouble features roughly 70 illustrations paired forming the words. with common-use, “Ap r a x i a i s a color-coded words very difficult diagor messages, rangnosis to receive,” ing from familiar Herrera said, addplayground social ing that the disorsituations to basic der is under-diagfeelings and wants. nosed. The board, Because her which was erected son’s speech patearlier this year by terns were differthe village of Valent every day, they ley Stream, is a tool MElISSA HErrErA relied on his iPad, meant to ease play- resident which helped him ground interaction to communicate his for children with needs and wants. communication delays and When the device died, however, speech disorders. The board Herrera assessed her surroundallows them to share their emo- ings, and concluded that withtional needs and preferences, out a public communication work through social situations board, she could not help her with others, and gain the self- son meet those needs. confidence to share their expe“It occur red to me that riences. maybe I should start the conThe idea for the board came versation to change that,” she to resident Melissa Herrera said. when she took her 6-year-old
By CArolINE KElly
Intern
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Courtesy Valley Stream Central High School District
Newly named Valley Stream South High School Principal Matthew Swinson brings two decades of educational experience to his new position.
South High welcomes new principal, Matthew Swinson By JUAN lASSo jlasso@liherald.com
Matthew Swinson has been named principal of Valley Stream South High School for the upcoming school year, succeeding Maureen Henry who announced her retirement after a 16-year run. Never as a young man did Swinson foresee a career path for himself in education. He said his commitment to education began as a “blissful accident.” Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maine, he had initially set out to make a name for himself in the financial sector. But during a visit to his alma mater at Bay Shore High School during his
college break, Swinson said his former high school teachers told him they knew he had the makings of a great educator. “When I told them my college major, my teachers said, ‘That’s wonderful, but have you considered impacting the lives of kids?’” Swinson recalled. He was open to the idea, his foray into education coming in the form of substitute teaching for his hometown high school, which he sporadically took on throughout his extended breaks from college. After graduation and two “unfulfilling” years in the world of sales, he decided to pivot his career ambition to the classroom. He first taught English Language Arts, CoNtiNued oN Page 12
t occurred to me that maybe I should start the conversation to change that.
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