New beginnings in the Central School District

Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District students got off to a fresh start last week as they entered buildings that were updated and upgraded over the summer, thanks to a $49.89 million bond that voters passed in December 2013.

Revamp work was carried out at each of the district’s five schools –– Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools, and Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools –– as well as at the Meadowbrook Alternative Program.

“The kids are in, they’re healthy, happy, safe, and most importantly they’re learning,” said Jon Simpkins, the Central District’s director of operations and facilities.

At Calhoun High School, revamp of the science labs includes flat-panel screens for interactive lessons. “The new technology turns this unit into a college-level lab,” science teacher Kim Lascarides said.

At Grand Avenue Middle School, a new roof, central heat and air, and bathrooms were installed, and the guidance suite was redone. “We worked tirelessly as a district to get things spiffed up for the start of the school year,” Grand Avenue Principal Carlo Conte said.

Additionally, the district added an English as a New Language (formerly English as a Second Language) program at Grand Avenue Middle School. Bellmore ENL students were previously transferred to Merrick Avenue.

Students can also now elect Mandarin Chinese as a world language course, in addition to Spanish, French and Italian. Seventeen students are enrolled in Mandarian at Grand Avenue, while 19 signed up for the language at Merrick Avenue Middle School.

“This year the Mandarin students will begin to develop their communicative skills and learn about many aspects of Chinese culture,” World Languages Chairwoman Renee Fallon said.

Merrick Avenue saw a parking lot refacing, the addition of 35 flat-panel screens, and music room and library renovations, which were completed by district maintenance staff. Bathroom and heating and cooling work is now under way there.

At Kennedy High School, freshmen were off to a philanthropic start, as class of 2020 adviser Lisa Scherer initiated the first community-service project for the year: collecting school supplies for a school in Louisiana devastated by recent flooding. The districtwide CHAMP (Culinary and Hospitality Applied Management Program), housed at Kennedy, has a newly installed commercial kitchen, as well as new science labs.

At Mepham High School, students enrolled in the districtwide Broadcast Communications Program were able to get up close with state-of-the-art studio equipment. “Throughout the year, students will be utilizing field bags and then the Mac labs to edit and complete video projects,” Vice Principal Marie Netto explained.

Other Mepham projects include updated science labs and new bathrooms.

At the Meadowbrook Alternative Program, housed in the central administration building, students will learn in a newly added science lab, and soon there will be a Mac lab, created by district maintenance staff.