What's new in East Rockaway schools?

Andres Vanegas did a final check of his children's outfits after they arrived at Centre Avenue Elementary in East Rockaway for their first day of school on Tuesday. Seated from left were Dylan, Chloe, Elias, and Fabian

Mary Malloy/Herald

Lisa Ruiz, Superintendent

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When the doors opened on Tuesday for the first day of school, students in the East Rockaway district had new programs waiting for them — and more are on the way.

Superintendent Lisa Ruiz said that she was very excited about the new school year. A number of new programs will be in place for students at East Rockaway High School, including an SAT prep class for all juniors, an increase in the number of Advanced Placement classes, and new classes in which students can earn college credit. Ruiz said she was especially pleased to offer the SAT prep course, to help parents offset the cost of college preparation.

“SAT prep classes can be very costly, so those without the funds can get shut out,” she said. “Now all the juniors in our high school will be able to prepare for the exam affordably.”

Seniors can now earn college credit in 12 different A.P. classes — or directly from SUNY Farmingdale, in accounting and robotics classes that will be taught at the high school, by East Rockaway teachers. “Our teachers will be certified by Farmingdale and will submit their syllabus to the university,” Ruiz explained. “[Students] will then have to pay a small fee, and will receive college credit following the completion of the course.”

Students in kindergarten through third grade, meanwhile, will see a restructured reading and reading intervention program this fall, with an increase in staff and new teaching methods. Both the Rhame Avenue and Centre Avenue schools will have two full-time reading teachers, and another who will split his or her time between the two schools. (Previously there was just one full-time teacher in each school, and one splitting time.)

Elementary teachers will also be working with an expert in reading intervention, and students’ response to that intervention. “We will be monitoring progress very closely,” Ruiz said. “That’s going to be a key. We’ll be able to use our data to identify and analyze weaknesses, and [see] what’s working, and what isn’t working, for our struggling learners.”

The district plans to assemble a steering committee, made up of teachers, parents, administrators and board members, who will plan the future of the district’s schools. The committee will use online surveys and focus groups to find out what the community wants to see, and will then devise a five-year plan to help the district plan both its budget and its development.

“We’re really very excited for this endeavor,” said Ruiz. “It’s going to end up being a huge undertaking.” The committee should be ready to present its goals to the community in midwinter.