Jennifer Nesfield, Northport’s world language chair has earned the Remunda Cadoux award for leadership in foreign language supervision.
The New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers recognized Nesfield at its 102nd annual conference in Saratoga where she was honored for her devotion to the profession.
Over the past 22 years, Nesfield has conducted numerous professional development workshops for many organizations, including the New York State Association of World Language Administrators, the American Association of Teacher of French and the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Workshop topics range from, culturally responsive classrooms, successful teacher mentor programs, reading strategies for world language classes, cooperative learning, teacher portfolios, Common Core and instructional technology.
The award was named after Remunda Cadoux, chairperson of the foreign language department at Christopher Columbus High School in New York City and a former member of the NYSAFLT Board of Directors. She authored one of the first New York State syllabi for foreign language education and was the first woman to pass the director of Foreign Languages eligibility examination in New York City.
Institute Accepts Half Hollow Hills Students
The Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury recently announced that seven Half Hollow Hills Central School District students have been accepted into their program.
They are among the 85 students selected this year who will pursue the study of mathematics and its applications.
The students from Half Hollow Hills are:
- Samir Batheja, High School East;
- Arav Chand, Candlewood Middle School;
- Viti Chandra, High School West;
- Ellis Eisenberg, High School West;
- Aidan Joseph, West Hollow Middle School;
- Justin Roberts, West Hollow Middle School;
- Mark Shapiro, High School East.
The students competed against approximately 550 of the top-ranked students from school districts across Long Island. Acceptances were based on four criteria: school transcript, teacher recommendation, a brief statement written by the student and a rigorous entrance exam.
“This distinction clearly separates these students as being among the top of the top of all students on Long Island in math. What an accomplishment!” said Ian Dunst, director of mathematics at Half Hollow Hills. “We are extremely proud to have seven of our students accepted into the Institute this year.”
Each student is expected to spend 50 hours in class over the course of 20 Saturday mornings. The curriculum covers mathematical topics from algebra, geometry, discrete math, and number theory, as well as topics not included in the standard courses of study. These topics include problem solving applied to probability, theory of finite differences, science applications and mass point geometry.
Dunst added that, “over the years, many of the Institute graduates have gone on to participate in and win prestigious national and international math, science, and engineering contests and awards.”
Workshops for parents of students in the Institute are presented on a variety of topics; including how to enhance parent/student communications, improve gifted student self-awareness, and how to foster children’s interests in mathematics, science, and technology. Workshop presenters include Dr. Marci Lobel, psychology professor at Stony Brook University and Elizabeth Wissner-Gross, an educational strategist and author.
Photography Students Visit Manhattan
Huntington High School photography students recently traveled into Manhattan for a tour of the Aperture Foundation’s gallery along with stops at several other well-regarded galleries and an opportunity to practice street photography in the Big Apple.
Students enrolled in Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2D Design and Advanced Photography participated in the field trip, which included about 30 teenagers in all and four chaperones, including trip leader Pamela Piffard-Williams, who heads Huntington High School’s photography program.
In the lead-up to the trip, students learned about street photography and what it takes to capture such images.
Besides the Aperture Foundation gallery, the Huntington group visited the Yossi Milo, Clamp Art and Bryce Wolfowitz galleries. “I liked the first exhibit that we went to because of the photographs and videos made by the photographers,” Madelyn Diaz said. “The whole exhibit was inspirational and creative.”
Standing Up to Bullying
Elwood Middle School students learned an important lesson about bullying during an Anti-Defamation League No Place for Hate assembly on Nov. 12.
Led by Tom Murphy, co-founder of Sweethearts and Heroes, students learned about the five “bully buttons:” perspective, hope, sweethearts, jump into action and heroes.
Sweethearts and Heroes is made up of motivational speakers who work to help educate students about the impact bullying has on schools, neighborhoods and individuals.
World Kindness Day at Washington Primary
Students at Washington Drive Primary School learned about ways they can show kindness in many different ways as they watched a video of author and illustrator Diane Alber read her book, “A Little SPOT of Kindness,” aloud.
Afterwards, students share with their classmates how they planned to show kindness throughout the day. Some students said that they would say “hello,” to other students in the hallway, whereas others said that sharing, being polite, helping others and even apologizing are all acts of kindness.
Assistant Principal Kerri Neira was inspired by Ms. Alber’s book and gave each of the students a yellow sticker to wear on the back of their hands that would remind them to be kind.