Monday, February 23, 2009

Specialized High School Admission Test Results

Dear Families:

After reviewing our Specialized High Schools Admissions Data, the Holliswood School proudly reports:

- 39% of our 8th graders applied to specialized high schools (excluding LaGuardia HS)
- 33% of the students who applied were offered a seat at a specialized high school (Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, etc.).

We are very excited about these results. We are in the process of reviewing and compiling our other HS admissions data.

Thank you.

Jennifer Ambert, Principal

Please also view the NYCDOE Announcement of February 5, 2009 regarding citywide performance below:

Source: www.nyc.gov/schools
NYCDOE Website

Chancellor Announces Specialized High School Admissions Results
02/05/2009
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that 6,106 students received an offer to attend one of the City’s nine specialized high schools beginning in September 2009. Offers to eight of the schools are based on the results of a competitive admissions exam taken by approximately 29,000 students this year. Last year, 5,991 students received offers, and approximately 28,000 students took the exam.
The specialized high schools that admit students based on the results of the admissions exam are Bronx High School of Science; the Brooklyn Latin School; Brooklyn Technical High School; the High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City College; the High School of American Studies at Lehman College; Queens High School for the Sciences at York College; Staten Island Technical High School; and Stuyvesant High School. Admission to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is based on an audition and a review of academic records.
“Students who earned admission to one of our specialized high schools today should be proud of their remarkable accomplishment,” Chancellor Klein said. “I congratulate every student who received an offer and all the students who took on the challenge of applying.”
This year, 5,404 students received an offer to a specialized school based on their exam scores, compared to 5,391 students last year. A total of 2,306 students received an offer to their top-ranked specialized school, compared to 2,286 students last year. Students applying to LaGuardia may receive an offer to more than one program at the school, as well as an offer to one of the other specialized high schools. In all, 1,041 students received 1,167 offers to the programs at LaGuardia this year, compared to 936 students who received 1,035 offers last year.
Students began receiving notification of their offers today. The deadline to accept an offer is February 26. Students who do not accept their offer by February 26 will forfeit their place and be entered into the main round of the high school admissions process. Students who do not receive an offer are automatically entered into the main round. Results of the main round will be announced in late March.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Fifth Grade Parent/Faculty Roundtable Session

Dear Fifth Grade Families:

Please join us on Tuesday, February 10 at 5:45 PM in the library for an intimate roundtable discussion about middle school.

Speakers include myself, Mr. Klocek, Mrs. Corley, Mr. Feigelson, Ms. Peters, and MS parents and students.

Refreshments will be served.

We hope you will be able to join us.

Many thanks.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Eighth Grade Trips and Activities

Dear Eighth Grade Parents:

In case you missed Mrs. Corley's Parent Workshop on 8th Grade Trips/Activities (held last Thursday night), the information is below:

2009 8th Grade Events

Senior Trip: Club Getaway
Kent, Connecticut (Approximately 90 Minutes from NYC)
www.clubgetaway.com
Overnight Trip: Wednesday, June 10 through Thursday, June 11
Cost is $145.00 per student including transportation and meals
Ø Deposit of $50.00 is due February 24, 2009
Ø Second Payment of $50.00 is due March 17, 2009
Ø Final Payment of $45.00 is due April 7, 2009

8th Graduation Ceremony is Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Senior Package required for all Graduates: Cost per student - $32.00.
Ø Payment of $32.00 due by May 5, 2009

Senior Dance: The INN at New Hyde Park
214 Jericho Tpke. New Hyde Park, NY 11040
www.innatnhp.com
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2009 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Cost is $42.00 per student. Families MUST provide transportation to and from the dance.
Ø Payment of $42.00 due by June 9, 2009

*Checks for above should be made out to PS/IS 178Q*
Total Expense…………………………… 219.00

OPTIONAL - Senior Ring
Cost: $45.00 Sterling silver ring - $75.00 Sterling silver ring with 16k gold overlay
To see more information about graduation items visit REED at www.reedring.com
All checks for rings should be made out to Reed Ring Corp.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Data Inquiry Team Update

Dear Holliswood School Community:

In November, our Data Inquiry Team discussed the work that we are researching to strengthen vocabulary, which included citing the work of Robert Marzano and Isabelle Beck. In December, I wrote a letter to all the families and our school community about the type of work we are conducting. In that letter, I introduced the members of our first inquiry team, Ms. Abramowitz Imperatore, Ms. Ganeles, Ms. Kienle, Mr. Klocek and I. I also outlined the structure of the work.

The team is currently in the middle of the second phase of Data Inquiry. We are currently working with students in small groups to evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies to teach vocabulary. The vocabulary sub-skills we are focusing on include context clues, synonyms and antonyms, as well as usage of Tier 2 words (which was last year's focus). We will launch the best practices from our team's work during Phase III in the Spring.

In November, we launched our "Word of the Week" initiative school-wide to increase students' utilization of Tier 2 words. As you may be aware, if students can articulate the word of the week in its appropriate context, students can earn a 'positive paw' for his/her classroom. Every week, during morning announcements, a new word is introduced. Since November, the students have been increasing their repertoire of new Tier 2 words and we are ecstatic to see the students heighten their awareness of elevating their oral language abilities.

Please encourage your child/student to continuously speak in complete sentences and substitute Tier I words (such as 'nice') to a more sophisticated Tier 2 word, such as 'lovely' or 'wonderful.'

In January, we launched a second Inquiry Team, which includes Ms. Puglisi (reading specialist) and Ms. Kucharski (literacy coach). We are currently reviewing data to identify our focus skill.

Over the next few weeks, we will continue to keep you posted on the work of the Inquiry Teams. As you know, fostering a professional learning community is embedded in our goal of strengthening the learning environment.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you.

Monday, February 2, 2009

School-wide Events

Dear Families and Staff Members:

We would like to thank you for all of your hard work preparing for the Chinese New Year Celebration on January 30th.

Throughout the day, students enjoyed learning all about China from the projects displayed by the third graders, as well as the artifacts arranged by the PTA. Students also commented on the activities that were available to them, such as badminton, practice with chopsticks, and tasting the delicious food. Events such as, the Chinese New Year celebration, strengthen the home-school connection, which is one of our school-wide goals this year. On January 20th, Assemblyman Weprin swore in our newest Student Council. Afterwards, Mr. Weprin gave an inspirational speech, discussing perseverance and determination. Later that day, our auditorium was filled with our entire student population to witness the live broadcast of President Obama's Inauguration. It was a historic moment and our students were truly grateful to experience the event. Following the Inauguration, I led a discussion about President Obama's speech and students had opportunities to provide their insights about our nation's future. Teachers continued discussions in their classrooms and many students wrote letters to congratulate the president. It was a remarkable day.

Please read the article in the Queens Courier about our Swearing-In Ceremony: http://queenscourier.com/articles/2009/02/03/news/regional/northeast/news04.txt

Thank you for your continued support.

About Parent Coordinator Phyllis Corley

My name is Phyllis Louise Lattimer-Corley. I am married and have one son.

I was the educational director of a day care center in Nassau County for sixteen years prior to the birth of my son. I planned to be a stay-at- home mom for five years until my son went to kindergarten. Well, that didn’t happen! I got involved in his elementary school, PS 178, first as a class parent, then in the library, and later became PTA president for three years.

When my son moved on to middle school at MS 74, I again took on the role of PTA president for two years. Gee, I guess I wasn’t really staying at home. My son, James is now a freshman at Binghamton University. I am fortunate to be writing this blog, as I enter my sixth year as parent coordinator of my son’s wonderful alma mater.

Welcome to our school family. I am looking forward to an exciting school year. There are so many fantastic activities that have been planned for both you and your child. I encourage all parents to be partners in your child’s school.
Ø Attend Parent Teacher Conferences
Ø Go to PTA Meetings
Ø Participate in Parent Workshops
Ø Volunteer to help at school events.

I am here to assist you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or just stop by for a cup of coffee.

Phyllis Corley,
Parent Coordinator

Corley's Corner

Corley's Corner
Parents and Staff turn out for Corley's Ladies' Night at Strike Long Island (November 2008)

Mrs. Corley gets ready to read at the Barnes and Noble Fundraiser Event

Parents and Staff participate in Corley's Cupcake Creations Parent Workshop


Our Student Council Gives Back!

Our Student Council Gives Back!
2009 Student Council President Chrysalis Terrado and her cabinet pose in front of dozens of toys donated by Holliswood families for our annual toy drive (December 2008)

Upcoming School Closings and Half Days


To view the official NYC Dept. of Education 2013-2014 School Calendar, visit


http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D45BBFC5-BB4E-4C6B-ACE7-F7E15D8AA1BE/0/20132014SchoolYearCalendar.pdf

It is also anticipated that we will add half days for professional development for our faculty during the 2013-2014 school year (subject to UFT and PTA approval). An announcement will be made.



In the event of an emergency closing or delayed opening due to weather, please call 311 or watch your local news channels. When NYC public schools are closed, our school will be closed.















Monthly Events

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