1. education
2. school

www.baldwinschools.org
Fall 2014
It’s Back to the Books in the Baldwin School District!
T
he 2014-15 school year is in full teaching and learning
mode. Thanks to the passage of the school budget in
May, students will have the opportunity to participate in all
high school and middle school sports, Intramural Night and
Sportsnite, the high school and middle school musicals,
fourth grade instrumental music and Suzuki violin, Baldwin High School Saturday Night Alive and Baldwin Middle
School Youth Center, Long Island High School for the Arts,
PTA programs through BOCES Arts in Education, and a
variety of extracurricular activities. In addition, staff levels,
support services for students, and current class sizes have
been maintained.
Baldwin signature programs continue such as the four-year
Career Academies in STEM/Engineering, Medical/Health
Sciences, and Global Business/Law, the senior internship
program, and college-level classes at Baldwin High School
as well as districtwide mentoring and award-winning music, arts and athletics. Be sure to purchase your tickets to
the production of Hello Dolly, running November 20-22 at
Baldwin High School!
New this year are the Go Math K-5 math program to
support the Common Core curriculum as well as a hot
lunch program at all the elementary schools, with free or
reduced-priced lunches for students in need. In the future,
this will help the district obtain more government funding.
New Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shari L. Camhi has
created a vision for the Baldwin School District to recharge
creativity and innovation with an emphasis on positivity.
In an open letter to Baldwin staff, parents and community,
Dr. Camhi states, “I come to you having held numerous
positions in public education and the private sector. It is
through these experiences that I have learned what it takes
to be a good leader: the ability to listen, to collaborate,
to inspire, to articulate a shared vision, and to work as a
team. To that end, I plan to ‘open the tent’ and invite you
in for dialogue and open communication. We will have
many opportunities to converse and for me to hear what
the members of our faculty, staff, students and community
have to say.”
Baldwin High School Senior
Named National Merit Semifinalist
Connor Mack with Principal Susan Knors
Baldwin High School senior Connor Mack has been
named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist as one
of approximately 16,000 students nationwide who are
recognized for their exceptional performance on the
PSAT in 2013 and who will continue in the competition
for academic scholarships later in the school year.
Baldwin High School Students
Named National Achievement
Participant and Semifinalists
Jalyn Simmons, Sarah Paul, Malika Elmenjad, Kaylah
Castillo-Blount, Keenan St. Clair, and Shenyece Ferguson
with Principal Susan Knors
Baldwin High School senior Kaylah Castillo-Blount was
named a National Achievement Outstanding Participant, placing among approximately 3,100 Black American students who took the PSAT in 2013, and although
she will not continue in the scholarship competition, her
name will be referred to U.S. colleges and universities
for her academic promise. Baldwin High School seniors
Jalyn Simmons, Shenyece Ferguson, Keenan St. Clair,
Sarah Paul and Malika Elmenjad have been named National Achievement Semifinalists and are among the approximately 1,600 highest scoring Black American students who took the PSAT in 2013. They will continue in
the competition to become finalists or scholarship winners later in the school year.
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Baldwin High School Seniors Named
National Merit Commended Students
Shenyece Ferguson, Principal Susan Knors, and
Savannah Nester
Baldwin High School seniors Shenyece Ferguson and
Savannah Nester have been named National Merit Commended Students for their high academic performance on
the PSAT in 2013, placing among approximately 34,000
students nationwide. Although they will not continue in the
scholarship competition, they received a Letter of Commendation for their academic promise.
Baldwin High School Students
Receive NYSSMA Accolades
Fine and Performing Arts Secondary Supervisor Deepak Marwah, Sierra Wojczack, Catherine Sweeney, David Zuckerman,
and Principal Susan Knors
Three Baldwin High School students have been acknowledged by the New York State School Music Association
(NYSSMA) for their superior musical talent. Sierra Wojczack received an honorable mention, David Zuckerman
was selected to participate in the Symphony Orchestra at
this year’s NYSSMA All-State Festival in December, and
Catherine Sweeney was chosen as an alternate for the Vocal Ensemble for the All-State Festival. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals last spring.
Baldwin Public Schools
Baldwin High School Students
Receive Scholar-Artist Awards
Fine and Performing Arts Supervisor Deepak Marwah, Ashley Mayers, Chloe Agostino and Principal Susan Knors
Baldwin High School student Ashley Mayers was named
one of 20 Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar Artists for her
participation in the Mixed Chorus at the NYSSMA AllState Festival. She will be featured in an upcoming issue
of Newsday. In addition, Baldwin High School student
Chloe Agostino was selected as one of 20 recipients of
the Long Island Arts Alliance Award of Merit as an alternate for NYSSMA All-State, and she will be featured in a
group photo in an upcoming issue of Newsday.
Many Thanks to...
State Senator Dean Skelos for securing $50,000 in Bullet Aid for the Baldwin School District to use during the
2014-15 school year.
Nassau County Legislator Laura Curran for securing
a $50,000 county grant to help repair and improve the
playing surfaces of the district baseball fields.
Tom Brady and Friends of Baldwin Schools for coordinating the school supply drive for families in need at the
August board meeting.
The Baldwin Teacher Association for their generous
donation to the school supply drive as well as for succefully applying for 200 free books for the Baldwin elementary schools through the First Books Reading Program.
Chang Choi, owner of the Associated Supermarket,
and Baldwin Boars Head Distributor Paul Coletti for
holding fundraisers supplemented with their monetary
donations in order to fund two student scholarships as
well as the new sign in front of Baldwin High School.
Army Sergeant Jeffrey Houck, who has worked parttime in the Baldwin School District, for presenting an
American flag flown in honor of the Baldwin School District at the headquarters of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Camp Buehring in Kuwait on August 7.
Staff and Student Kudos
Joanna Blangiardo, Plaza School teacher, was accepted into the Greentree Foundation Teachers’ Ecology
Workshop in Manhasset this summer, where she was
among 20 teachers in a hands-on learning experience
and field study aligned with the New York State science
curriculum.
Gladys Llanes-DeFilippis, Baldwin High School foreign
language teacher, was selected to participate in the College Board’s annual AP Reading in Spanish Language
and Culture in which she assisted in the evaluation and
scoring of AP exams. This was an honor as AP Readers
represent many of the world’s leading academic institutions.
Baldwin High School students Julia Alt, Daija Spencer
and Bryanna Vanenburg were selected to attend the
Molloy College Boot Camp this summer where they competed in teams in various entrepreneurial contests. Daija
Spencer received The Most Impressive Student Award
and a $2,000 scholarship.
Baldwin High School senior Jason Reid, editor of The
Golden Wave student newspaper, was accepted and participated in the Robert Greene Summer Institute for High
School Journalists at SUNY Stony Brook, in which he was
an integral part of the Greene Team that learned journalistic writing techniques, visited Newsday offices, and covered a Long Island Ducks game.
Twelve Baldwin High School varsity athletes representing
various teams and several Baldwin coaches attended the
Hofstra University Sportsmanship Summit this summer
hosted by the Nassau County Athletic Association. The
Baldwin students were Jade Aponte, Kelsey Cohen,
Nick DeLuca, Shane Gatling, Katie Hess, Taylor Howard, Lauren Johnson, Bridget Jules, Tiara Place, Morgan Rachlin, Marissa Rhoden, and Jared Warner. The
students and coaches listened to motivational speaker
and former NFL player, college coach and author Bill Curry talk about perseverence, leadership and compassion.
Baldwin High School has won “Gold Partnership Status”
for active involvement in the Junior Achievement programs, the highest status a high school can achieve. Every year, Baldwin High School students in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club receive training
from Junior Achievement and then visit Meadow School to
teach the younger students about community building and
financial literacy in the High School Heroes program. Junior Achievement also coordinates a shadow day at the
JFK Airport branch of Fed Ex, the National Grid Pipeline
Internship, and National Grid Shadow Day for Baldwin
High School students.
Baldwin Public Schools
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Meet Baldwin Schools’ New Staff
Wendy Chan
BHS, Chemistry
B.S., Stony Brook University
M.S., Touro College
“If something isn’t the best it can
be, what can you do to improve
it?”
Ms. Chan previously taught in the
Smithtown Central School District
and was an America Reads/America Counts tutor. She was attracted
to Baldwin for its diversity and
community involvement and will be incorporating a variety of
chemistry labs into her classes this year. In her spare time, she
enjoys ballroom dancing, cooking and kayaking.
Laura Geddes
Lenox, School Psychologist
B.A., Hofstra University
M.S., St. John’s University
“Educators have the power to forever change a child’s life.”
Ms. Geddes was a school psychologist at Lawrence Middle School
and Martin De Porres School. She
says she is proud to be in Baldwin
with its excellent academic programs. She plans to use her previous experiences to promote and support student achievement
and well being. Her interests include running, Zumba, cooking
and reading.
Erin Fay
BHS, Special Education
B.S., Molloy College
“Teaching goes beyond the classroom, it’s about positively impacting the lives of students.”
Ms. Fay has always wanted to be a
classroom teacher, beginning as a
camp supervisor and piano teacher.
She looks forward to impacting her
students and watching them grow.
She notes that Baldwin is a diverse
community with many opportunities for students. Outside of
school, she likes to play sports and cook.
Vanessa Gonzalez
BHS, Guidance Counselor
B.A. and M.S., St. John’s University
“Counseling is a journey, not a
destination.”
Ms. Gonzalez worked as a guidance
counselor in the New York City
schools and East Islip High School
as well as in the Opportunities for
a Better Tomorrow program. She
says Baldwin schools have a good
reputation and friendly staff. She hopes to assist students in
finding scholarship opportunities and to help herself learn and
grow as a counselor. Ms. Gonzalez likes to exercise, travel and
volunteer her time.
Teresa Kuehhas
BMS, Science
B.A., Assumption College
M.A., SUNY Stony Brook
“Work as hard as you want your
students to work.”
Lisa Garraffo
Steele, Resource Room
B.A., and M.A., Adelphi University
“It is essential to make learning
fun, to have students grow and feel
confident in everything they do!”
Ms. Garroffo was previously a
reading/special education teacher in
the Herricks School District and an
elementary teacher in the Half Hollow Hills, Syosset, and New Hyde
Park schools. She considers Baldwin a family-oriented district and aspires to be the best teacher
she can be. Her hobbies include reading, planting and cooking.
She is also an animal lover.
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Ms. Kuehhas taught for six years at
St. Dominic High School in Oyster
Bay. She believes Baldwin School
District places great importance on
academics, and her goal is to instill
a passion for science in students and
become a better teacher. Her hobbies include beach volleyball
and traveling.
Baldwin Public Schools
Meet Baldwin Schools’ New Staff
Donna Levites
BMS, Foreign Language
B.A. and M.S., Molloy College
“Teaching is simultaneously the
most taxing and most rejuvenating
and rewarding profession one can
choose.”
Kimberly Rogers
Meadow, Special Education
M.A., Adelphi University
“The opportunity to contribute to a
child’s love of learning is the most
important opportunity life can give
you.”
Ms. Levites taught foreign language in the Levittown, Elwood
and Carle Place School Districts.
She knew about the Baldwin
School District from her mother,
who was a teacher in Baldwin many years ago. Her goal is to
build FLEX skills and get to know Baldwin. Her hobbies are
tennis, painting, drawing, and reading.
Ms. Rogers was previously a special education teacher at the Hawthorne Country Day School. She
was attracted to Baldwin for its diversity and sense of community and
is eager to collaborate with other teachers to help her students
reach their learning goals. She likes snowboarding, reading,
watching movies, going to the beach, and enjoying time with
friends.
Nicole Nickerson
Plaza, School Psychologist
B.A., St. Joseph’s College
M.S., St. John’s University
“When we work together as a
team, we can help our students
achieve their goals and meet with
success.”
Ms. Nickerson has been a school
psychologist at Hastings Academy
since 2012 and worked at ACE
Preschool in Brooklyn. She admires the programs and services for students and the involvement in the community in Baldwin and hopes to create a sense
of friendship as well as an environment of kindness and respect
among students. She enjoys yoga, reading, and travel.
Meagan Sguigna
Meadow, Special Education
B.A., NYIT
M.A., Queens College
“Strive to be the best teacher you
can be. Stay motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated.”
Ms. Sguigna was a teacher aide at
Meadow School and a substitute
teacher in the Merrick School District. She learned good things about
Baldwin from a close family friend
who worked in the district for many years, and she intends to
make a difference in the lives of her students. Her interests include shopping, coaching soccer, and hanging out with family
and friends.
Kristen Venezia
Meadow/Plaza, ESL
B.S., C.W. Post
M.S., Queens College
“Good things happen to good
people.”
Ashley Reeves
Plaza, Special Education
B.A., University of Miami
M.A., Boston College
“To teach is to inspire!”
Ms. Reeves taught special education in the New York City school
system for the last two years. She
says she has heard wonderful
things about the Baldwin School
District and is excited to help each
of her students reach all of their
educational goals. For recreation, Ms. Reeves is an avid tennis player and skier.
Ms. Venezia has been a part-time
ESL teacher in Baldwin and also
worked in Nassau BOCES, the
Valley Stream School District and
New York City schools. She says
Baldwin is a special place and
hopes all her students love to learn this school year. She likes
spending time with her family and is a member of the McAngels, which raises money for the Ronald McDonald House.
Baldwin Public Schools
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New Board of Education Trustee and President
New Superintendent of Schools
Karyn Reid has been voted in as a new board trustee and
the board president. She is the mother of two children: a
son who recently graduated from Baldwin High School
and a daughter who attends Plaza School. Ms. Reid has
been active in the Baldwin Council of PTAs, Baldwin 4
Children, Baldwin Civic Association and the Baldwin High
School and Plaza School PTAs. She was a founder of the
Friends of Baldwin Schools whose primary purpose is to
advocate for state funding for the school district. Ms. Reid
has been a teacher since 1993 and is currently substituting in the Uniondale School District. She holds a B.A.
from Governors State University in Illinois. Says Ms.
Reid, “I feel that Baldwin School District is on an upswing,
and I look forward to working with our new superintendent, the members of the Board, and the Baldwin community to keep moving us forward in a positive direction.”
New Brookside School Principal
Dr. Shari L. Camhi has been appointed Superintendent of
Schools. She holds an Ed. D. in Organizations and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, in
addition to a P.D. in School Administration and Supervision from Long Island University, an M.S. in Special Education from Adelphi University, and a B.S. in Special Education and Psychology from Brooklyn College. She was
previously the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Instruction and Instructional Personnel in the Lindenhurst
School District, Assistant Superintendent in the Glen
Cove School District, and Assistant Superintendent for
Secondary Instruction in the Mineola School District. Dr.
Camhi was instrumental in winning the Sylvia Charp
Award for district innovation in technology for the Glen
Cove School District, and she has also received the
Friend of Education Award from the Stony Brook Chapter
of Phi Delta Kappa International and Administrator of the
Year Award from the Nassau BOCES Library System.
Jennifer Bumford has been appointed as Principal of
Brookside School. Ms. Bumford received her Advanced
Professional Certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Brooklyn College, an M.S. in Elementary
Education from Queens College, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Boston University. She was previously Principal at California Avenue Elementary School
in the Uniondale School District, Assistant Principal at
the Walnut Street and Northern Parkway Elementary
Schools in Uniondale, and an Assistant Principal and elementary teacher in the New York City schools. Says Ms.
Bumford, “”Baldwin is my home district and I love the
strong sense of community here. I look forward to getting
to know all my staff, students and families at Brookside.”
Staff Cha-Cha-Changes
Please stop by to welcome staff members who have
moved into different positions this year.
Michelle Gallo is Interim Assistant Superintendent for
Human Resources and Ed Murphy is the leave replacement Director of Pupil Services at the District Office.
Paul Stellino joins Baldwin as Interim Secondary Coordinator for Special Education at Baldwin Middle School.
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Craig Tupot and Jason White are now Deans at Baldwin High School while four continuing faculty members
have become Secondary Supervisors, splitting time between Baldwin High School and Baldwin Middle School .
They are: George Drakatos (Mathematics), Melisa Enriquez (Foreign Language/ESL), Susan Ferrigno (Science), and Jacqueline Guidice (Social Studies). (See
new supervisors, next page.)
Baldwin Public Schools
New Supervisor for Fine and
Performing Arts
New Supervisor for English
Language Arts
Deepak Marwah has been appointed Secondary Supervisor for Fine and Performing Arts. He has a B.A. in Music
Education from Queens College, M.M. in Music Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and
advanced certification from The College of St. Rose. He
was previously Assistant Administrator of Music at Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art in New York
City. Says Mr. Marwah, “My goal is to maintain the high
standards of the programs in Baldwin while enriching the
learning experiences of our students.”
Gayle Reed has been appointed Secondary Supervisor
for English Language Arts. She has a B.S. in Education
from St. Bonaventure University, M.S. from New York Institute of Technology, and advanced certification from The
College of St. Rose. Ms. Reed has taught in the Farmingdale School District, Albermarle County Schools in Virginia, and the Bethlehem School District in Delmar, New
York. Says Ms. Reed,”There is such a warm community
in Baldwin that works together for the growth and success
of the children.”
Michael Levine was appointed Dean in Baldwin Middle
School late last school year. He has a B.A. from Hofstra
University and M.A. degrees from Hofstra University and
Touro College. Mr. Levine previously was a teacher in the
Freeport, Jericho and Bay Shore School Districts. Says
Mr. Levine, “I look forward to continuing to support the
district administrators, teachers, parents, and community
members while developing middle school practices.”
Board of Education Priorities 2014-15
In addition to looking at the larger picture of the district’s needs, the Baldwin Board of Education attends to a
specific set of goals - or priorities - each and every year.
These priorities are shared with the staff and community so they are aware of the board’s focus and can take part
in addressing these issues.
The board priorities for 2014-15 are:
1. Support the new superintendent in her transition into the Baldwin school community.
2. Continue to align development to the Common Core with the goal of improving achievement while addressing
differences in achievement between different demographic groups.
3. Focus on expanding the use of technology to improve communication inside and outside the school community, and on technology as an instructional tool to enhance educational outcomes.
4. Continue to focus on increasing the number of students earning Regents Diplomas with Advanced Designation
and with Advanced Designation with Honor.
Baldwin Public Schools
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CAR-RT SORT
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Baldwin School District
Baldwin, NY 11510
Permit No. 109
960 Hastings Street
Baldwin, NY 11510-4758
www.baldwinschools.org
516-377-9200
Board of Education
Karyn Reid, President
Mary Jo O’Hagan, Vice President
Eric Harrison
Joel Press
Deborah Rebore
Current Resident
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Shari L. Camhi
Cristina Schmohl, Newsletter Editor
Upcoming Dates
November
December
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
26-28 Saturday Night Alive, HS, 7pm
PTSA Meeting, HS, 7:30pm
Parents as Research Partners, Baldwin Library, 7pm
SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR STUDENTS
Parent/Teacher Conferences, HS, 6:45-9:15pm
PTA Meetings: Brookside, Meadow, Plaza, 7pm
End of First Marking Period, HS & MS
Intramural Night, HS, 7:50pm
HS Winter Sports and Wrestling Tryouts
Parents as Research Partners, Baldwin Library, 7pm
SCHOOLS CLOSED - Veterans Day
Board of Education Meeting, Steele, 8pm
Fitness Jamboree (4-5), HS, 3:30pm
Districtwide Parent Workshop: Math Strategies (3-5), Steele, 7pm
Saturday Night Alive, HS, 7pm
Science Symposium, MS, 7pm
PTA Meeting, MS, 7:30pm
PTA Council, DO, 7:30pm
Musical Production: Hello Dolly, HS, 4pm
PTA Meetings, Lenox and Steele, 7pm
Report Cards, HS&MS
Musical Production: Hello Dolly, HS, 7:30pm
Musical Production: Hello Dolly, HS, 2 & 7:30pm
SCHOOLS CLOSED*
*NOTE that WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, schools are also closed
for the Thanksgiving Recess so there are no BHS Parent/Teacher
Conferences on 11/25
2
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
17
18
20
24-31
Parent/Teacher Conferences, MS, 1-3pm & 6:30-9pm
Report Cards (K-5)
Parent/Teacher Conferences (K-5), 6-9pm
Report Cards (K-5)
Parent/Teacher Conferences (K-5), 8:30am-3pm
SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
Saturday Night Alive, HS, 7pm
Grade 6 Concert, MS, 7:30pm
High School Information Night (8), HS, 7pm
Holiday Concert: Lenox (K-3), 9am; Lenox (4-5), 1pm
Board of Education Meeting, Lenox, 8pm
Holiday Concert, Brookside (K-5), 9:30am
Holiday Concert, Plaza (3-5), 9:15am; (K-2), 1pm
Grade 7 Concert, MS, 7:30pm
Progress Reports, HS&MS
Saturday Night Alive, HS, 7pm
Grade 8 Concert, MS, 7:30pm
Holiday Winter Concert I, HS, 7:30pm*
Holiday Winter Concert II, HS, 7:30pm
Holiday Concert, Meadow (3-5), 9am; (K-2), 1:30pm
Saturday Night Alive, HS, 7pm
Hoilday Recess - SCHOOLS CLOSED
* NOTE Change of date for HOLIDAY I CONCERT to 12/17
January
1-2
Hoilday Recess - SCHOOLS CLOSED
College Visits and On-Site Acceptances at Baldwin High School
Over 65 colleges are visiting Baldwin High School this
fall through December. The list of schools is posted on
Naviance and in the Guidance Office. All seniors are
encouraged to take advantage of meeting with the college
representatives to obtain information from colleges of
interest, and juniors are also welcomed to attend but
should speak first with their guidance counselors. Students
sign up through their Naviance account and print out a
confirmation to use as a pass to attend.
In addition, there are five On-Site Visits in November
and December at which students meet one-on-one with
college representatives in order to apply to that school.
Application fees are usually waived and students receive
determinations of college entry at the end of the interview.
Students must see their guidance counselors to make an
appointment. And, continue to check the guidance web
page on the district website for updates on additional
opportunities.