Gearing up for a new school year in Oceanside and Island Park

It’s the time of year that nearly every child hates — back to school season. And though kids may be dreading shopping for supplies, schools are already geared for the new year, and have made a few changes to things.

The auditorium in Island Park’s Lincoln Orens Middle School is undergoing upgrades. Students and faculty can look forward to not only a new ceiling when the school year starts, but a new air conditioning system as well.

“So that will be welcome, not only for all of the parents who are involved in school events, but it will definitely be welcome by community organizations that use our facility,” said Island Park Superintendent Dr. Rosmarie Bovino. “I’m really hoping that’s going to be all in place for Sept. 1. It’s all on schedule.”

The district is also in the process of replacing the generator at Lincoln Orens. During the blackout following the severe storm in March, the school’s generator caught fire and needed to be replaced. According to Bovino, the new generator should be ready to go by the middle of September.

Island Park is also continuing with its five-year technology plan and has installed Smart Boards in nearly every classroom in the two schools. “Our teachers are amazing,” said Bovino. “We have a number of teachers who have actually earned certification through the Smart Technologies Company. They’re really true professionals in terms of their use of the Smart Boards. And it keeps the kids engaged. They really love it.”

And the Island Park School District has some new programs this year, as well. The district is expanding its Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) program to include grades four through eight, and has added another teacher to do so. The district is also starting a new anti-bullying initiative, as well as teaching kids about the safe use of cell phones and the internet. “We’ve ramped up our education with respect to internet use, cyber bullying and inappropriate use of cell phones (for example, sexting, although we don’t use that word with the kids),” said Bovino.

Changes are just as abundant in Oceanside. The district completed an asphalt project at School 3 this summer, repairing the heavily damaged and pitted parking lot of the elementary school.