Plainedge in the News
June 2010
New Beginnings for the Class of 2010
The air was filled with a vast array of emotions as the graduates in the Plainedge High School Class of 2010 entered the Hofstra University Arena to take the first step in the next chapter of their lives. As the Concert Band performed “Pomp and Circumstance,” the 257-member class marched past proud parents, friends, administrators, and the Board of Education to take their prominent seats.
After being led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Senior Class president Jaime Duncan, Plainedge High School Principal Robert Amster took to the stage to offer a greeting. “You have surpassed the classes before you…..you are our future and I’m confident that you are prepared to make the most of the challenges that lie ahead and, in time, make the world a better place,” Mr. Amster noted.
Valedictorian Cliff LaFemina, Salutatorian Dylan Levings, National Honor Society President Kaitlin Prisco-Buxbaum, and Jamie Duncan also addressed their fellow peers, bestowing some last words of advice. “After today, the next part of our lives will begin somewhere else; I encourage you to make the most of the future and to hold onto the memories you made in high school,” stated Dylan. “This is the start of the rest of our lives...always remember that when you have passion, anything can happen,” added Cliff.
Additionally, during the ceremony Board of Education President Patricia Zinke and Superintendent of Schools Christine P’Simer shared the hopes and dreams they have for the students’ future, and members of the mixed choir, jazz choir, and concert band performed.
Following the presentation of diplomas by Ms. P’Simer and Ms. Zinke, the students’ graduation caps flew high into the air and the newly named graduates walked into the hot summer air feeling prepared for life’s next journey.
A Celebration of Achievement
As a fitting conclusion to their journey in the Plainedge School District, Plainedge High School’s Class of 2010 gathered together to celebrate their achievements during the school’s 28th Annual Scholastic Awards Dinner.
“Tonight’s awards program is a culmination of 12 years of hard work and recognizes our students for their accomplishments thus far,” stated Director of Guidance Verdel Jones. “Plainedge is a close-knit community and it is nice to celebrate our students’ accomplishments together as a school community.”
After enjoying a delicious dinner in the school’s gymnasium, the students and their invited guests proceeded into the auditorium for the awards section of the evening. Through the generosity of local community residents, businesses, organizations, and institutions of higher education, in addition to the academic department awards and recognitions from the Board of Education, many members of the Class of 2010 were recognized with monetary scholarships and commemorative plaques.
“You should all be very proud of the success you represent here tonight,” stated Principal Robert Amster. “To our award recipients – your success took determination, hard work, and effort. Now it is time to continue the hard work you’ve done in Plainedge,” added Superintendent of Schools Christine P’Simer.
The Plainedge School District would like to thank the community for the continued support and generosity that made the evening possible.
Understanding the Science Behind Car Crashes
At the beginning of what experts call the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Driving,” physics students from Phil Orlando’s class at Plainedge High School participated in an educational, simulated automobile accident in the school’s parking lot. The program, which was coordinated by the Allstate Foundation and the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, highlighted the importance of teen driver safety and enabled the students to get a jump-start on using the groundbreaking CRASH! The Science of Collisions program.
With the help of Mr. Orlando and program designer and Forensic Physics professor John Kwasnoski, the students gathered data from the simulated crash and employed the program to analysis the critical forensic data. The students measured the skid marks left by the car’s tires, and using mathematical formulas worked to project how fast the car was traveling.
Plainedge High School applied for and received the CRASH! program this spring. The program will be fully implemented in Plainedge High School’s physics and forensics classes next year. Mr. Kwasnoski is one of the country’s leading experts on motor vehicle crash reconstruction.
Photo Caption: Several Plainedge High School students are pictured here with John Kwasnoski, working to collect forensic data during a simulated car crash that took place on the grounds of the school.
John H. West Students Meet Marine Pen Pal
Not long after arriving safely back home from defending our country, Staff Sergeant Andrew Exposito visited the students in Jenny Seaman’s fifth-grade class at John H. West Elementary School to thank them for the care package they had sent the Marine Staff Sergeant earlier in the school year.
“Around Veterans Day we created a book of letters for Staff Sergeant Exposito…the students wrote messages of hope, gratitude, and appreciation for his service,” stated Ms. Seaman. “They were extremely excited to learn that he had arrived back home and would be visiting our class to speak about his experiences. This is a day that my students will not soon forget.”
During the visit, Staff Sergeant Exposito spoke with the students about serving overseas, how long he has worked in the military, what types of jobs he has had while in the Marines, and the different medals he has earned.
“I was so happy to have received the book as it came close to the holiday season,” stated Staff Sergeant Exposito. “The mail system overseas is extremely unpredictable, but the timing of the delivery was perfect. It really meant a lot to me that these students spent the time to create something for me…it was so unexpected.”
Photo Caption: The fifth-grade students in Jenny Seaman’s class at John H. West Elementary School in the Plainedge School District were excited to meet Staff Sergeant Andrew Exposito after his return from serving in Afghanistan.
Plainedge Student Receives Girl Scout Gold Award
Plainedge High School junior Ariel Sacks recently received her Girl Scouts Gold Award from the Plainedge Association of Girl Scouts at the organization's 2010 Recognition Ceremony. Legislator Peter Schmitt & Town Councilman Joseph Pinto each honored Ariel with Citations for having earned the award. For her Gold Award Project, Ariel established the Red Cross Youth Disaster Services Team (YDST), a volunteer group that works in assistance with the adult Red Cross Disaster Action Team. Just recently the YDST was put to the test when the Nassau County Red Cross Chapter and the Amateur Radio Disaster Services conducted an emergency drill. The youth volunteers Ariel trained and organized were an essential part of making that drill a success. They took care of the technical aspects of setting up an Emergency Operations Ctr, keeping the information that was coming in from all different areas up to date on the computer, and ensuring that everyone involved was given up to the minute information.