By Jason Scheer
Vincent Romano, district chairperson for Social Studies, served as the principal for the High School's summer session. Romano said that the program was a great success.
Of the 191 students enrolled, 89 percent passed their summer school program. Furthermore, all five seniors in summer school were able to graduate and 60 percent of the students taking the New York State Regents exam in August passed.
The summer school program had an unprecedented 40 students from other districts. The presence of these students allowed for more money in tuition to come into the district and afforded Malverne the opportunity to offer more classes.
Romano attributed the performance to the teachers who were able to intimate the importance of attendance and were vigilant in enforcing the policies. The teachers, Romano said, were enthusiastic and positive throughout the summer, an attitude that transferred to the students.
In addition, He reminded the audience that students spent many of the school days in 90-degree heat.
In conclusion, Romano said, "I think the results speak for themselves."
As for the summer program at the Howard T. Herber Middle School, the results were equally as encouraging.
Former middle school principal and recent retiree Theodore Kiamos served as the principal for the summer school program.
"Summer school went extremely well," he said.
The summer of 2005 marked the fifth year of the summer program at the middle school. Students as young as Pre-K age attended the school. Kiamos explained that students were placed into the program as a result of test performance, a pre-k screening, classroom performance and teacher recommendations.
In total, 207 students were enrolled.
"I think what we did this year is we added a little more of the ELA and math program," Kiamos said. He said that the parent and student reactions were positive.
Summer rec a roaring success
This past summer, Malverne hosted its first ever summer recreation program.
In total, 123 students in grades K-4 attended the program at Davison Avenue School. The six-week program afforded participants the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts, music, gym time and computer instruction.
Kindergartners also learned the ins-and-outs of putting together their own sandwiches and putting cereal in a bowl as part of a cooking program which, according to Director Natasha Green, "they absolutely loved."
The students were under the watch of seven teachers, six junior counselors and a nurse. They were invited to take part in weekly trips to places such as the Atlantis Marine World, Riverhead and the New York Hall of Science in Flushing.
Their favorite trip, however, was to the Long Island Children's Museum, Garden City.
"Everything in there is touchable and the kids loved that," Green said.
Green encouraged parents to contact Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and encourage him to continue to fund the program.
He can be reached at (516) 766-8383 or skelos@senate.state.ny.us.
"Just tell him how much your kids enjoyed the program and that you would like to see it back next summer," she said.
