JAE students continue to work to embrace healthy lifestyles, and six of them took the challenge to be top fundraisers in the school’s annual Kids Heart Challenge, coordinated by physical education teacher Ms. Maria Amoscato. The mission of the event is to raise funds to support the American Heart Association. Students raised $7,000 with the generosity of the staff, families and greater Rocky Point community members. In the two decades of the event, Rocky Point has raised close to $200,000. The students with the highest fundraising totals were fifth graders Leigha Blandi, Amiyah James, Jake Manno and Casey Stengel and third graders Hadley Schaentzler and Chase Stengel. They were presented with certificates at the May 17 Board of Education meeting. Great job to all of our students and staff for your efforts!

Date Added: 5/19/2022

FJC second graders took part in a virtual reality experience and got to meet some interesting animals in their own habitats. Teacher Julianne Warren worked with teacher technology integration specialist Tikera Witter to create the interdisciplinary experience. The activity was used as a bridge for students to choose their own animal to research in their next writing project, a research report. The experience allowed them to investigate animals that they might not have otherwise chosen for the research project.

Students were encouraged to explore animals and their habitats that were unfamiliar to them that they might not have heard of before. During exploration students were able to identify animal habitats and make connections to what they have been reading in class. Students learned about zebras, walruses, marmots, wolves, manatees, giraffes, penguins, orangutans, elephants, dolphins, ferrets and more!

“When the students eventually chose their animals, many chose an animal from the experience and explained that they either looked interesting or they didn’t know much about them and wanted to know more,” Ms. Warren said. “Many of them said that they felt like they were really there!”

Date Added: 5/19/2022

The Rocky Point Union Free School District Board of Education granted tenure to eight staff members during the May 17 Board of Education meeting. Assistant Superintendent Susann Crossan, Assistant Superintendent for Business Christopher Van Cott, Executive Director for Pupil Personnel Services Kristen White, Principal of the Rocky Point Middle School James Moeller, Assistant Principal of the Rocky Point Middle School Dawn Meyers, social worker Tesia Brooks, school psychologist Diana Konsky and social worker Toni Mangogna were named by Board President Susan Sullivan to the applause of Board members, family members, colleagues and community members.

Date Added: 5/19/2022

Proposition 1 - Budget
- 1,017 Yes
- 322 No

Proposition 2 - Capital Reserve
- 1,063 Yes
- 267 No

Board Candidates
Susan Sullivan – 595 - 3yr term
Erin Walsh – 515 - 1yr term
Nick Contes - 514
Nicole Kelly - 485
Jason Ford - 221
Susan Wilson - 258

Date Added: 5/17/2022

Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School held its first Spring Concert at the High School auditorium for the first time in over three years on May 12. The FJC 2nd Grade Chorus, under the direction of Ms. Kyra Kenwood, performed a joyful and challenging program of six songs. The theme of the evening was “All Aboard the FJC Express” and included a train theme with a variety of traditional American and Spanish folk songs. The children performed beautifully, and the concert was extremely well-received by the audience.

“It was a wonderful return to the stage for Ms. Kenwood and for the FJC chorus students,” said Mr. Craig Knapp, district K-5 music department chairperson. “I was especially impressed with the tone quality the students produced. WOW!! It is no easy task to cultivate a large group of young students and shape them into singers that come together with a gentle tone, healthy singing and appropriate tone production, but that was accomplished under Ms. Kenwood’s leadership. It was an absolutely fun evening of fun and high-quality music making. Congratulations to Ms. Kenwood and the students. I am very proud of these incredible student-musicians.”

Date Added: 5/16/2022