Connetquot Teachers Association
Hosts Third Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony
for Essay Contest Winners
Loretta Powell, President of
the Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA), hosted
an awards ceremony at the organization’s
headquarters on May 7th to honor six Connetquot
High School seniors. Ms. Powell, Ms. Nancy Dunlop
(CTA Coordinator of Community Advocacy) and Ms.
Beth Albert presented certificates and $500 scholarships
to each of the six students for their winning
essays.
For the third year, all Connetquot
High School seniors were eligible to submit a
250 word essay on the topic The Teacher Who
Made A Difference In My Life. Close to 100
essays were submitted, read and graded without
the student’s name written on that essay.
Each essay was assigned a number and when the
winning essays were selected the names would be
revealed.
The following student essay winners
were selected, and invited to attend the award
ceremony along with their family and the teachers
who were the focus of those essays. Matthew Marion
wrote his essay about teacher Brad Drinkwater.
Stephenie Guercio believes Debbie Molinari made
a difference in her life. Caissa Kunins wrote
about Mauricio Arias, while Briana Young singled
out Justin Drzal. Jane Farino credits Janice Fischer
for being such a positive influence.
Connetquot Teachers Association Supports Connetquot
Cobras Baseball Program
Coach Patrick Brennan of the
Connetquot Cobras baseball team recently contacted
Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA) President
Loretta Powell with an update on his team's current
record. Brennan was proud to be able to report
that his team of 7th, 8th and 9th grade student
athletes is 8-0, undefeated, and sitting atop
the standings. The Cobras are a travel team of
community youngsters and the CTA helps to financially
support them.
CTA
and District Personnel Coordinate Daffodil Days
Fundraising Efforts
Raise Most
Money of all Suffolk County School Districts
Connetquot High School teacher
Nancy Dunlop has announced another successful
conclusion to the Daffodil Days fundraising effort.
According to Mrs. Dunlop the District raised $3500.00
for the American Cancer Society through the Daffodil
Days promotion. This effort represents the largest
monies raised by any district in Suffolk County.
In addition to the generous sales of daffodils,
Mrs. Dunlop was please to add that 16 community
members also purchased 'Gifts of Hope.' These
$25.00 donations afforded for the delivery of
flowers and teddy bears directly to cancer patients
in area hospitals
Connetquot Teachers Association Warm Hearts - Warm Hands
Connetquot Teachers Association
(CTA) President Ms. Loretta Powell today announced
the successful conclusion to the 2008 effort to
collect gloves, hats and scarves for the Children’s
Center at the Cohalan Courthouse. “Again,
motivated by the wonderful organization and dedication
of Kristine Abbinanti the CTA was able to deliver
over 500 hats, mittens, scarves and socks today.”
Abbinanti is a 5th grade teacher at the Cherokee
Street School, and the catalyst for this worthwhile
event.
Connetquot Teachers Host Volleyball Fundraiser
to Support Breast Cancer Awareness
On October 15, 2008 Justin Hertz,
Connetquot’s Girls’ Volleyball Coach,
and Physical Education teacher at Ronkonkoma Middle
School, had his team take to the court against
rival West Islip High School as part of the ‘Dig
Pink’ fundraiser in support of Breast Cancer
Awareness. Justin’s team was up to the challenge,
and raised $2,500 while defeating the visitors
in the first three matches.
Connetquot Educators
Honored by State Senator Caesar Trunzo
Connetquot Teachers Association
(CTA) President Ms. Loretta Powell was recently
notified that three members of the association
had been singled out by Senator Caesar Trunzo
(R-Brentwood) as outstanding teachers. As part
of the National Teacher Day celebration Trunzo
awarded Certificates of Appreciation to Ms. Jane
Murphy (Edith L. Slocum School), Ms. Carol Pustay
(Idle Hour School) and Mrs. Agnes Gaeta (District
Mentor - Connetquot HS).
Mr. Charles Trupia to be Honored by University
at Albany
Charlie Trupia has been teaching
Social Studies in the Connetquot School District
for 23 years, and the impact he’s had on
his students has always been apparent. Outside
the classroom his work with students in the Habitat
for Humanity Club has helped generate thousands
of dollars in donations for that organization.
This year alone, along with co-advisor Jason Willans,
Trupia has helped donate $18,000 to Habitat for
Humanity of Suffolk County. Recently Trupia was
contacted by the Director of the Honors College
at the University at Albany.
Connetquot
Teachers Association Congratulates Spanish Language
Teacher Cheryl Sosa
Connetquot Teachers Association
President Ms. Loretta Powell was recently notified
that Spanish language teacher Ms. Cheryl Sosa
had been honored on March 28th by the Spanish
Embassy. At a special ceremony in NYC, sponsored
by the Ministry Education of the Spanish Embassy,
Ms. Sosa was awarded an academic scholarship to
study at a Spanish University during the month
of July. This financial award will pay the cost
of tuition, room and board during her time in
Spain.
Association Recognized for Commitment
to Health and Safety for Students and Staff
The efforts of the Connetquot
Teachers Association in addressing health and
safety issues in the district were covered in
the New York Committee on Safety and Health's
publication.
Connetquot Teachers Association Hosts Scholarship
Awards Ceremony for Essay Contest Winner
Loretta Powell, President of the
Connetquot Teachers Association (CTA), hosted an
awards ceremony at the organization's headquarters
on May 6th to honor six Connetquot HS seniors. Ms.
Powell, and Ms. Nancy Dunlop (CTA Coordinator of
Community Advocacy), presented certificates and
$500 scholarships to each of the six students for
their winning essays.
Connetquot Teachers Association Recognized
in the Fight Against Cancer
Mrs. Anne K. Thorsen, Senior Director
of Income Development for the American Cancer Society,
visited with the Executive Board of the Connetquot
Teachers Association (CTA) on April 8th. Thorsen
stopped by the Ronkonkoma office of the CTA to present
a plaque, and express her gratitude, to the members
of the organization for this year's effort to fight
cancer. The CTA effort raised $4,000 this year as
part of the ACS annual Daffodil Days program.
Connetquot Teachers Spearhead The Fight
Against Cancer
For the past several years Connetquot
Teachers have joined forces and collected money
for cancer research by selling daffodils. Again
this year, an effort spearheaded by Connetquot Teachers
Association Coordinator of Community Advocacy, Nancy
Dunlop brought together teachers, secretaries, AP's,
Food Service Workers, Central Office personnel and
retirees to raise more than $4,000 for the American
Cancer Society (ACS).
Connetquot Teachers Association Shares Championship
Connetquot Teachers Association
(CTA) President Loretta Powell was recently presented
with a championship trophy from the Connetquot Youth
Association team the CTA sponsored last year. In
accepting the trophy, Ms. Powell thanked, and congratulated,
the coaches and players for their effort. Ms. Powell
went on to say that the " ... CTA commitment
to support community organizations such as the Connetquot
Youth Association is firm, and continues. We encourage
other individuals, businesses and organizations
in this community to make a commitment to the youth
of Ronkonkoma, Bohemia and Oakdale".
Connetquot teachers fed more than
600 poor and homeless adults and children at 'Every
Child's Dream' Holiday Celebration held at St. Lawrence
the Martyr auditorium on December 19th.
Connetquot Teachers Collect and Donate More
than 1000 Mittens and Hats to Needy Children
Loretta Powell, President of the
Connetquot Teachers Association, today announced
that a program that ran for only one week (December
3-7) was totally embraced by the community and teaching
staff.
Teachers Walk to Raise Money for Breast
Cancer Research
Teachers and their families walked
at Jones Beach on October 21st in the Strides
Against Breast Cancer Walk. The CTA participants
raised thousands of dollars for the cause as a result
of their efforts.
Connetquot
Teachers Association's First Annual Awards Ceremony
Establishing a new tradition, the
Connetquot Teachers Association held its own awards
ceremony to acknowledge six students who submitted
winning essays.
Elementary
Computer Survey Indicates Many
Computer Problems and and an Adverse Impact of
the Elimination of Elementary Computer Positions
The Elementary Computer
Survey was developed with the goal of understanding,
in greater detail, the impact on student education
from the many simultaneous changes in software,
hardware and the network at the same time that
the elementary computer positions were eliminated.
A total of 149 elementary teachers answered the
survey, representing approximately 44% of the
elementary teachers.
The results indicate there are many problems with
the computer software and hardware that are adversely
impacting the education of students. The survey
also indicated that the elimination of the elementary
computer teachers has had an adverse impact on
the teachers' ability to integrate technology
and curriculum in their classrooms, which is not
being addressed through the newly implemented
Ambassador Program. Finally, many teachers indicated
that they thought the many changes to the computer
hardware, software and network at the same time
that computer teacher positions were eliminated
were poorly planned and that insufficient thought
was given to the impact on the education of students.
Connetquot Teachers Association
Supports Every Child's Dream Holiday Celebration
(click play button to
view video of celebration)
...we will do so much more with
help from organizations like yours. I hope every
time people see your video, they will remember
fondly this very special night and the warmth
they brought to so many... its not yet the end.
- Kenneth Mangan
Coordinator, Every Child's Dream Holiday Celebration
Ronkonkoma,
NY - Connetquot Teachers Association
(CTA) President, Loretta Powell, proudly announced
that the district’s teachers played a vital
role in the third annual ‘Every Child’s
Dream’ Holiday Celebration on December 12th.
“Twenty-five current, or retired, Connetquot
teachers and friends helped distribute coats,
blankets, scarves and gloves, as well as serving
dinner to almost 600 guests,” said Powell.
Over the course of the last 15
months, the Association has on at least three occasions,
notified the District of serious issues at the Connetquot
High School. Our concern was due to continuing toxic
waste back ups into the classrooms overflowing from
the chemical waste tank. Our concerns center around
the improper handling, analysis and disposal of
such waste.
The District has maintained on
their website and through direct communication with
the Association that they have addressed our concerns
on many occasions. Furthermore, they denied that
back ups into classrooms took place (see photographs
below). They assured the Association and the community
that the classrooms were free of any contamination.
Due to the ongoing health and safety
problems at OBMS, health and safety training was
provided by NYCOSH and the Association to more than
60 teachers at OBMS.
Report on the Health and Safety of the District
School Buildings
The Connetquot Teachers Association
brought the New York Committee on Safety and Health
(NYCOSH) to inspect buildings in the District. This
resulted in a report that indicated many health
and safety problems that can affect the health and
safety of students and staff.
New York State Education law requires
that all District's form a Health and Safety Committee.
The Connetquot Teachers Associations brought the
District's lack of compliance with this law in October,
2006. The District held its first Health and Safety
Committee meeting in January, 2007.
