Are Grads Ready For College? NYS Grades Somers High School

Only 60% of Somers High School grads are "college-ready", even though over ninety percent graduate. Those are some of the findings in the June 14 report issued by the NYS Board of Regents.  Somers beats the state-wide average by a huge margin, but its college readiness percent is in the bottom half of public schools in Westchester County.  Seven high schools in Westchester County scored over 80% on the college-readiness standard.  Locally, Carmel High School is at 60%, Fox Lane, 69%, John Jay, 78% and North Salem, 78%. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City said of that city’s rates:  “There is no percent under 100 percent that we are satisfied with.”

According to the Board of Regents, "Students who graduate high school – but do so with a score below 80 on a math Regents exam and below 75 on the English exam – are likely to require remediation in college." 

This standard -- percent of students scoring at least 75 on English and 80 on math Regent exams -- was once referred to as the "college and career ready" graduation rate.  The Board's new terminology -- perhaps designed not to offend school boards but to keep parents and taxpayers in the dark -- is “ELA/Math APM” with APM meaning "aspirational performance measure".  

The Board of Regents press release of June 14 is here.

Data for Westchester County schools is tabulated by LoHud.com here.  State-wide data and by schools is available at the NYSED web site under Graduation Rate Data - June 14, 2011

Read the following news stories: June 14 in the New York Times, College-Readiness Low Among State Graduates, Data Show and June 14 in LoHud.com, N.Y. graduates not ready for college, according to new state standards.

See our earlier posts on this topic, Are Grads Ready For College? Somers High School Report Card - English Regents Exam [March 15, 2011] and Are Grads Ready For College? Somers High School Report Card - Math Regents Exam [March 30, 2011].

LINKS:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/pressRelease/20110614/GradRatesRelease-FINAL.2011.pdf

http://www.lohud.com/assets/htm/BH175618614.HTM

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/pressRelease/20110614/home.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/nyregion/37-of-new-york-graduates-meet-college-readiness-standard.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=sharonotterman&adxnnlx=1308421962-fqboLcW2IT/+7Akbx3nLRw

http://www.LoHud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106150340

http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2011/03/somers-high-school-report-card-english.html

http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-grads-ready-for-college-somers-high.html

SEPTA’s Second Annual Awards Ceremony

The Somers Special Education PTA (“SEPTA”) will hold its Second Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday June 8th at the Somers Intermediate School. SEPTA will honor Patricia Sheehy and Theresa Reda with Awards of Excellence and Merit. In addition,the organizations plans to celebrate the careers of Doris Smith and George Ferrigno with recognition awards . Details are below or email SEPTA at SEPTA@SomersPTACouncil.org. 

Somers Rotary Inspires High School Writers From Inner-City And Suburbia

A book launch party was held last week at Somers High School, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Somers, NY.  The book -- On My Mind 2011 --  brings together the writings of suburban and inner-city high school students.  Somers and Kennedy Catholic High School students participate as well as a Rockland County suburban school.  This year the three inner-city high schools are from the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The student writers celebrated together at the book launch.   
The New York Times raved about the writing and the concept in the project’s first year, saying: 

Still, when a busload of kids and parents from Brooklyn head for the green glades of northern Westchester tonight to celebrate a collection of writing by high school students from Brooklyn and Westchester, they'll also celebrate a great idea that goes far beyond words on a page. And even if their separate planets, 50 miles and many galaxies apart, fully align for only one night, that's one more than most of them would ever have experienced without it.
The collection, ''On My Mind: Student Writings from Somers and Brooklyn, New York,'' bears the unlikely imprint of the Rotary Club of Somers ... . The club wanted to do a project about literacy, and what began as a local effort with Somers High School and John F. Kennedy Catholic High School soon came to include [two schools] in Brooklyn ... .  And before long, a modest idea turned into a handsome book and quite a remarkable effort to bridge the void between poor and rich, urban and suburban, in a way that almost never occurs.
The book is available for purchase by mail for a suggested donation of $11 (postage included) by writing to:
The Somers Rotary Foundation
PO Box 561 
Somers, NY 10589
The web site for the Rotary Club in Somers is here.  See On My Mind 2011 book launch photos.   


Read the New York Times story, Our Towns; Worlds Apart, But Bound In Softcover.  A blog post by Barbara Nackman about the 2011 project and book launch party is at LoHud.com at Somers Rotary publishes student writings.


LINKS:
http://somersrotary.club.officelive.com/default.aspx
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E7D71F3EF932A05756C0A9609C8B63
http://northernwestchester.lohudblogs.com/2011/06/01/somers-rotary-publishes-student-writings/

Isaac Shelby: Somers High School Valedictorian

For Somers High School valedictorian Isaac Shelby Valedictorian: "It's not about me." His speech is not yet ready but he wants it to be about the "250 of us who have gone through 12 years of school together. We've all had unique experiences. I want to take some of those and share them," according the story in the Daily Somers.  The article has this as its lead paragraphs:

Somers High School Valedictorian Isaac Shelby loves learning -- both as a verb and a noun. 

Isaac described his father as a computer geek and his mother as a professional tutor. "They taught me that learning is fun," he said. Between the influence of his parents and the great teachers he encountered at Somers High, he has come to treasure both the experience of learning and the information he accumulates along the way.  

Read the entire June 1 story by Katherine Pacchiana in the Daily Somers digital newspaper, Somers Valedictorian: "It's not about me."

LINKS:
http://www.thedailysomers.com/schools/somers-valedictorian-its-not-about-me

Photo Op: SEF Hall Of Fame Inductees

The Somers Education Foundation (SEF)  inducted three persons into its Hall of Fame at its 11th Annual Gala Dinner, Dance & Auction on May 21.

 L-R Honorary Chair Lee Goldberg with Hall of Fame Inductees Susan Kolar, Marie Ciota and Vinny Liscio at the Somers Education Foundation 11th Annual Gala Dinner, Dance & Auction on May 21, 2011

See related post, Three To Be Inducted Into SEF Hall Of Fame On Saturday.  More photos at the web site of SEF.



LINKS:
http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-to-be-inducted-into-sef-hall-of.html
http://www.sefny.org/sefs-11th-annual-gala-dinner-dance-auction-photos-—-may-21-2011/

Three To Be Inducted Into SEF Hall Of Fame On Saturday

The Somers Education Foundation (SEF) will induct three persons into its Hall of Fame at its 11th Annual Gala Dinner, Dance & Auction on May 21.  This year’s inductees are Marie Ciota, Susan Kolar, and Vinny Liscio.  The Hall of Fame honors teachers, administrators and community members who have made significant contributions over many years to supporting the Somers Central School District.

Profiles of the honorees from the SEF press release:  

Marie Ciota has been teaching in Somers since 1982, both at Primrose Elementary School and more recently Somers Intermediate School. She has had an enormous impact on hundreds of students. She was part of the group that helped coordinate and pave the way for full day kindergarten to become a reality in Somers. While teaching, she researched the life of Somers resident Caroline Wright Reis because she wanted her kindergarten students to know  more about her. This research became her first published book, A Girl to Remember. Ciota also became interested in the “Habits of Mind” after the Primrose Leadership Team (of which she was a member) went to a workshop. Further research resulted in Ciota’s second book, The Mindful Garden, a book of poems for elementary aged children to help teach the Habits of Mind. She resides in Somers and has four grown children.

Susan Kolar, currently Chief Financial Officer of the Food Network and Cooking Channel in New York City, has been a Somers resident since 1994 and has three grown children. She became Treasurer of the Somers Education Foundation in 2002 and held the position for seven years. During that time, under her leadership, SEF saw a major increase in revenue,  projects and  grant activities. She was previously a volunteer in Somers High School to help enable teacher –parent communication. She was also a parent member of the Somers High School Special Education Committee. Prior to the Food Network, she was the Chief Administrative Officer of Sesame Workshop, a non-profit organization whose mission is to use educational media to help children reach their highest potential.

Vinny Liscio is a 31-year resident of Somers, where he raised his three grown daughters. He is a past president and 21- year member of the Somers Lions Club  He is most proud of his efforts to help bring the residents of Somers and many social, community and philanthropic organizations and town officials together to make the annual Independence Day Celebration and Lynn Adams Memorial 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk a reality. Liscio is also an avid cyclist and participated in the 150-mile Journey for the Heart Tour for Friends of Karen, which raised over $180,000 for the organization’s outreach programs.  His passion for community service and creating a better world for his grandchildren and beyond have brought him to his current project, ConsciousWine, an organic/biodynamic wine education and information website, due to launch this spring.

Tickets to the Gala Dinner Dance & Auction are $100 per person and are available  by registering at www.sefny.org/gala/ or by emailing sarenameyer@sefny.org.  The Gala’s honorary chairman is Somers resident Lee Goldberg, the meteorologist at WABC-TV, Channel 7 in New York City.

SEF is a not for profit, tax exempt organization founded in 1994, comprised of parents, school representatives and community members. SEF supports the Somers Central School District by raising funds for specific student and teacher-initiated projects that enrich the education experience and are not funded by the district budget or other school groups.

LINKS:

http://www.sefny.org/three-honorees-chosen-for-somers-education-foundation-hall-of-fame/

Kennedy Catholic and Somers High Receive 11 Nomination For Theater Awards

Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, NY is nominated for seven High School Theater Awards for its spring 2011 production of On the Town, while Somers High School garners four nominations for the Drowsy Chaperone.  The Helen Hayes Youth Theatre makes the nominations for the “Metro” awards.  The Awards Ceremony is June 6, 2011, at the Paramount Center for the Arts, Peekskill NY.  Last year Kennedy Catholic won two Metro awards.  
Here are the categories in which each school is nominated:

Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town – Kim Galaraga (Hildy Esterhazy)

Outstanding Duet
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town “Come Up to My Place”
Kim Galaraga (Hildy) and Anthony Ruperto (Chip)
Somers H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone “Cold Feets”
Tom Oliverio (Robert) and Ricky Hvisch (George)

Outstanding Stage Crew
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town

Outstanding Dance Performance
Kennedy Catholic H.S.- On the Town- Jena Lynn DiFrisco (Ivy Smith)
Somers H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone -  Emma Klipstein (Kitty)

Outstanding Orchestra
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town

Outstanding Instrumentalist
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town - RJ Aprile (Timpani)

Outstanding Stage Crew
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – On the Town

Outstanding Lighting Achievement
Somers H.S.- The Drowsy Chaperone - Bob Geronimo, Dominick Belmont

Outstanding Choreography
Somers H.S. – The Drowsy Chaperone - Linda Duci

Technical Merit Award (Teacher Nominated)
Kennedy Catholic H.S. – Christina Oros (Choreographer/Assistant Director)


Created in 1998, the High School Theater Awards shine a spotlight on the exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses and devoted creative teams who take to the stage every spring in local high schools. High Schools in Rockland and Westchester Counties in New York and Bergen County in New Jersey are invited to participate in this competition.
Throughout the spring musical season, judges evaluate participating shows. In June, all of the participating schools are celebrated in an awards ceremony modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards. Broadway stars hand out the awards, top nominated schools and actors perform live, and the theater students in our region receive support and recognition.


For more information see the High School Theater Awards web site.  A full list of the 2011 nominees is here.



LINKS:
http://www.hstheaterawards.com/index.html
http://www.hstheaterawards.com/docs/2011_noms.pdf

School Budget Passes; Board Incumbents Ousted

Voters in the Somers Central School District in Somers, NY approved the school budget yesterday by a vote of 1474 to 1134, LoHud.com reports. Harvey Kriedberg and Linda Graffitti won seats on the Board of Education ousting long-time incumbents Cheryl Smith and Board President Lucia Vece.


LoHud.com election results are here.  The vote tally for Board candidates is on the Facebook page of the Somers Record.

Budget And Contested School Board Seats Before Voters In North Salem

Residents of Somers, NY who live in the North Salem School District will see their tax rate go up by 5.5% if voters approve the over $38 million budget on May 17.  Three persons are running for two school board seats.  The budget amount increases by 1.92% but the tax increase is to offset a drop in the use of savings and revenues, according to the story in LoHud.com. Eleven jobs are eliminated. Assistant superintendents and principals will get 2 percent raises but have agreed to donate that back to the district.


Read the May 7, 2011 LoHud.com story, North Salem school budget cuts nearly a dozen jobs.
Read the May 15, 2011 LoHud.com story, 3 examine school budget, seek 2 seats in North Salem.


LINKS:
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110507/NEWS01/105070333
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110515/NEWS01/105150369/3-examine-school-budget-seek-2-seats-North-Salem

Somers Education Foundation - 11th Annual Gala Dinner, Dance & Auction

Students From China Looking At Kennedy Catholic

Burke Catholic School in Goshen, NY may enroll 30 students from China this year to offset declining enrollments and funding cuts from the Archdiocese.  Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, NY is giving strong consideration to the idea as well, according to a May 12 story in the Times Herald-Record based in Middletown, NY.  The story says:

The interest by Chinese students in private U.S. schools complements a trend in China, where strong economic growth allows more families to spare their children from the country's fiercely competitive education system. High school students in particular must work morning to night to get into a miniscule number of seats in top universities.

"What's being told to me is that the education in China is very rigorous and taxing on the young," said Mark Vaillancourt, president and principal of John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.

Follow this link to the story, Chinese students seek out local Catholic schools.

LINKS:

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110512/NEWS/105120332/-1/SITEMAP

Oakley To Deliver Commencement Address

Laura Oakley

Laura Oakley of Somers, NY is not only graduating from college, she is also delivering the commencement address.  At Salisbury University in Maryland, a graduating student is selected to deliver that speech.  This year, that honor belongs to Oakley,who will speak at the commencement for business and teaching graduates of Salisbury University on May 19.

She said her professors’ passion for learning was infectious. Now “I don’t just want to be a good teacher; I want to be a revolutionary teacher.” Like her mentors, she wants a career filled with passion, says the May 4 press release.

Read the complete press release, May 19 Graduating Class to Be SU's Largest Yet.

LINKS:

http://www.salisbury.edu/newsevents/fullstoryview.asp?id=4584

SHS And Borders Are Having A Book Fair

Review Of The Somers School Budget: The Good And The Bad

The Somers Central School District proposed budget for 2011-12 is over $80 million, an increase of 1.92% from last year's budget, with a estimated property tax rate increase of 5.6%. With an anticipated enrollment next year of 3482 students, Somers spends $23,098 per student.   Here is our brief analysis of the budget, in time for the candidates debate on May 9 and public hearing on the budget on May 10.  Vote on May 17. 

A web link to the Proposed Budget is here and under Links in the right hand column of this blog.   The Board of Education has also issued a Budget Issue of the Trunkline newsletter as well as 2011/12 Proposed Budget Facts. 

The Good

• Within $150,000 of the contingency budget* permitted under NYS law. [See page 6 of Proposed Budget.] 
• Using reserves of $2 million to reduce tax rate increase. 
• The District spends less per student ($23,098) than the average district in both Westchester ($25,131) and Putnam ($23,658) Counties, according to the 2011-12 School Budget Spotlight report by the Empire Center.

The Bad 

• For taxpayers: Projected property tax rate increase of 5.62%, to $141.54 per $1000.  Last year the increase was nearly 3%. [See page 1 of Proposed Budget.]
• For parents/students: Reduction in staff but enrollment continues to increase, impacting class size and programing. This year’s proposed budget eliminates 15 positions.  Last year saw the elimination of 12 positions. [See page 7 of Proposed Budget.]
• For budget hawks: Teachers receiving salary increases of 4.9% to 6.8%**.  The average teacher salary for regular students is over $97,000 per year*** plus benefits. This is more than the salary of the Somers Town Supervisor in 2010, according to the SeeThroughNY web site. 

Notes

* Contingency budget: If the school budget is defeated on May 17, one option available to the Board of Education is to adopt a contingency budget, without need for voter approval. Under New York State law, a contingency budget caps spending at a level based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), subject to certain rules under state law. 

**  Based on 12 test scenarios across various pay-grades under Supplement A and Supplement B of the Contract between the Faculty Association and the Board of Education 2010-2013 at the Faculty Association's web site.  There are 19 different pay grades based on education. Each year, a teacher's salary increases by a step, within a pay-grade.  For 2011/12, each step increases by 1.75%.  For example, a teacher with a Masters Degree at step 3 received a salary of $65882 in 2010/11.  At step 4 in 2011/12, the salary is $70388, an increase of 6.8%.  
*** The average salary was derived from page 15 of the Proposed Budget.  Total salary (Line 100 = $24,118,466) is divided by the number of teachers, aides & assistants, and monitors(213.7 + 23.1 + 11.61=248.41). If you assume all monitors are paid less than the lowest paid teacher ($50,000), then the average salary of teachers and aides is nearly $100,000 per year.   

LINKS:

http://www.somersschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1492346/File/Proposed%202011-12%20Annual%20School%20Budget.pdf?sessionid=a42f22fe7d02cac8242b900f45e13ea9

http://www.somersschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1492346/File/Announcements/WEB%20Somers%20Budget%202011.pdf

http://www.somersschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1492346/File/Budget%20Facts%202011-2012(3).pdf?sessionid=dfcab77dcebc808b19f0f9b23eeb8d9b

http://www.empirecenter.org/Documents/PDF/EmpireSchoolReport2011-12%20main.pdf

http://www.seethroughny.net/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Board of Education Candidates Debate On May 9

The four candidates running for two seats on the Board of Education will debate the issues on Monday May 9 at the Somers Middle School Library in Somers, NY at 7:30 PM.  The announcement from the PTA web site is below:

Somers Board of Education
Candidates' Debate
Monday, May 9, 2011   SMS Library, 7:30 pm

All are invite to attend.

Four candidates are running
for two available seats on the Board:

• Linda Graffitti

• Harvey Kriedberg

• Lucia (Missy) Vece

• Cheryl Smith

Brought to You by
Your Somers PTA Council &
The League of Women Voters

LINKS:

http://www.somersptacouncil.org/COUNCIL/HOME.htm

Public Hearing On School Budget Is May 10 At SMS; Election For Two Board Seats and Budget Approval Is May 17

The school budget makes up over 70% of your property tax bill, so it pays to be informed and to vote.  A public hearing on the Somers Central School District budget is scheduled for May 10 at 7 PM  at the Somers Middle School Cafeteria.  A vote on the budget is May 17th.  A link to the proposed budget is listed on the right column of this blog under "Links".  See the Budget and Budget Facts at the school district's web site.  


In addition, two Board of Education seats are up for election, including that of the current School Board President. Running for the seats on the Board of Education are:  Linda Graffitti, Harvey Kriedberg, Cheryl Smith (incumbent) and Lucia Vece (incumbent). Profiles of the candidates are in April 28 issue of the weekly newspaper the Somers Record, although not available online.


Register to vote by May 12.   


Not all of Somers, NY is in the Somers Central School District.  A small part of the town is within the North Salem School District. About 168 children from Somers attend North Salem public schools. The total enrollment of the Somers Central School District is nearly 3500.


More information about the budget vote and board election, including an Absentee Ballot application, is at the District Announcements page of the Somers Central School District  web page.



LINKS:
http://www.somersschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1492346/File/Budget%20Facts%202011-2012(3).pdf?sessionid=099c9dacc4466fa062f881fdadd1f8fb
http://somersschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1492346/File/Proposed%202011-12%20Annual%20School%20Budget.pdf?sessionid=099c9dacc4466fa062f881fdadd1f8fb
http://somersschools.org/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=099c9dacc4466fa062f881fdadd1f8fb

Photo Op: Frank Harris, Food Director

Before he retired in 2006, Frank Harris, now 88 and a resident of Somers, NY, was the director of the food services program for Norwalk public school system for 39 years.  His service is profiled in Saturday's edition of the Norwalk Hour. Along with groundbreaking innovations, the story also notes his efforts to feed all kids in school:
He is best known, however -- among local officials, industry professionals and legislators -- as the foremost proponent of universal school meals. Even in his retirement, Harris travels to Washington, D.C., every year to lobby for the cause. "My argument has always been, 'Kids have to go to school. Let's feed them," he said. "If a student is well-fed, there are fewer drop-outs, less crime, less drugs. It is less expensive in the long run. This is the future of our country."  For those efforts, Harris has received a handful of awards. 

Read the complete story by Danielle Capalboin posted on April 23, 2011 in the Hour [registration required but free], Former director recalls food services.          . 

LINKS:
http://storage.thehour.com/photos/large/31354.jpg?width=450&height=450
http://www.thehour.com/story/503431

Army Honors Middle School Student Eric Fiocco For Living History

Screenshot of Melissa Elian Video

Every school day, twelve-year old Eric Fiocco of Somers, NY arrives early, dons Revolutionary War garb and raises the flag at Somers Middle School.  For his dedication and inspiring participation in the school’s Living History Color Guard, Fiocco received a special commendation at a recent school assembly from Army Lt. Colonel Philip J. Ryan, who has served about a dozen tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Ryan spoke at the assembly, praising the Living History Program. 


According to a recent LoHud.com story, the  Somers' Middle School Living History Program has about 60 students participants and is led by teacher William Wienecke. At the assembly, students wearing Civil War and Revolutionary War uniforms marched and the Star Fife and Drum Corp, led by music teacher Steve Chetcuti, performed.  "It is impressive what (these) students have done to honor our history and our flag," the soldier told the assembly of middle schoolers according to the news report.    The Living History Program presented a quilt to Ryan, who plans to display it at his battalion’s operations center in Afghanistan.

 Presentation of Quilt to Lt. Col Ryan.
Screenshot of Melissa Elian Video

See a wonderful three-minute video of assembly highlights by Melissa Elian of LoHud.com, Soldier salutes a school's patriotism. 


Read the complete April 7 LoHud.com story  by Barbara Livingston Nackman,  Somers students dedicated to history welcome decorated soldier. 

LINKS:
http://www.lohud.com/videonetwork/871081278001/Soldier-salutes-a-school-s-patriotism
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110407/NEWS02/104070311/Somers-students-dedicated-history-welcome-decorated-soldier

Somers Girls Use Facebook To Claim Prom Dresses

High school girls from Somers, NY are on the cutting edge of the use of social media, according to an Associated Press story reported in such varied media online outlets as the Washington Post, Forbes, and the San Jose Mercury News.   To avoid wearing the same dress on prom night, girls use Facebook to call dibs on their prom dresses.  The practice is not just in Somers but our Town and Ashley McGowan are the lead example in the story:

To ensure their uniqueness - after they've shopped in faraway malls and tapped into store registries - girls are using social media to claim dibs on their dresses.  A photo of Ashley McGowan's floor-length black gown is on the prom Facebook page for her school in suburban Somers, N.Y. She's relieved that only one other classmate has posted a black frock.  "There's an unwritten rule: the moment you buy it, you post it so it's `your dress,'" explains McGowan.


Read the Forbes story, Got prom dibs? Girls use Facebook to claim dress. 


LINKS:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/14/lifestyle-us-fea-fashion-prom-dress-dibs_8408839.html

Photo Op: SHS Cast Photo - The Drowsy Chaperone

Cast photo of Somers High School Students From Production Of The Drowsy Chaperone In March 2011

Photo courtesy of 4 Son's Photography & Digital Imaging.  See 60 more photos from the production at the 4 Son's Photography web site.

LINKS:

http://www.4sonsphotography.com