John F. Kennedy High School is holding its first Health and Career Fair on March 18 from 6-8 p.m., in conjunction with North Shore-LIJ and the school’s alumni association. More than 50 presenters are expected to attend, including representatives from various local doctors’ offices, Long Island Crisis Center, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Community Wellness Center and Beyond Fitness, among many others. Many of the medical professionals attending are Kennedy alumni looking to strengthen their connection with the school community through their continued support and participation. Additionally, healthcare professionals, administrators and representatives from North Shore LIJ will be in attendance. This event is open to the local community and admission is free.

Exhibitions will be interactive, with representatives talking to visitors and giving brief presentations based on their specialty knowledge. Members of the Bellmore EMS will be giving blood pressure screenings, EKGs and CPR demonstrations. Fitness clubs will be doing various cardio activities. The Muscle Maker Grill and Madison Smoothies will be providing food samples, in addition to the school’s own gourmet food class’ healthy creations.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., students and their families are encouraged to participate in a medical scrabble tournament fundraiser. Students donate $5 to play the game, which functions as a regular scrabble game, with medical words earning bonus points. Student judges, donning lab coats and stethoscopes, will be supervising the tournament. The winners of the tournament will get a $25 gift certificate to Dave and Busters and a medical scrabble board.

Kennedy offers various electives in anatomy, physiology and Advanced Placement biology, among others, which are growing at a rapid pace. The fair will also provide students with the opportunity to explore various medical professions while building community partnerships.

A number of business scrabble board sponsorships are available for a minimum of $40 each. Raffles will also be available, with all proceeds benefitting Cohen’s Children’s Hospital. For additional information about the event and/or to register to play in the scrabble fundraiser, contact Barbi Frank or Robert Soel at 516-992-1400 or email bfrank@bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us or rsoel@bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us.

   

GEA- Statewide from Cap Region BOCES on Vimeo.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This letter is being written to remind you that your child will soon be taking the New York State Assessment Exams in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.  The 7th and 8th grade ELA State Assessments will be administered Tuesday, April 1 – Thursday, April 3, 2014.  Make-ups will be administered Friday, April 4 – Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

The 7th and 8th grade Mathematics Assessments will be administered Wednesday, April 30 – Friday, May 2, 2014.  Make-ups will be administered Monday, May 5 – Wednesday, May 7, 2014.  As explained previously, this does not include 8th grade students who are enrolled in Algebra.  Both ELA and Math exams will be administered during periods 1 – 4.

The 8th grade New York State Science Performance Assessment will be administered in the latter part of May, and the written portion on Monday, June 2, 2014.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the test administrations, please feel free to contact your child’s guidance counselor or building Assistant Principal.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our schools.

Sincerely,
 
Caryn Blum
Assistant Superintendent
for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

High Stakes Testing Resolution, passed December 4, 2013

 

WHEREAS, the goal of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is to provide our students with instructional initiatives that enable them to become independent, life-long learners within a nurturing atmosphere that promotes core values such as dedication, respect, integrity, dignity, teamwork and trust, and where all students are encouraged to explore, question, problem-solve and process information using higher level thinking skills; and

 

WHEREAS, our nation’s and New York State’s future well-being relies on a high-quality public education system that prepares all students for college, careers, citizenship and life-long learning and strengthens the nation’s social and economic well-being; and

 

WHEREAS, the over reliance on high stakes standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in United States public schools by hampering educators’ efforts to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote the innovation, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and deep-subject matter knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy; and

 

WHEREAS, the current high stakes testing is widely recognized as an unreliable measure of both student learning and educator effectiveness and it has negative effects for students from all backgrounds, and especially for low-income students, English Language Learners and those with disabilities; and

 

WHEREAS, federal and state funding sources do not adequately address the significant costs associated with the implementation of the new Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), Common Core Learning Standards and the technological needs required to build capacity for the future advent of computer-based statewide high stakes testing; and

 

WHEREAS, the assessment of student learning is an integral part of the educational experience and should be consistent with standards set for student learning.  Testing of any kind should not dominate instructional time nor narrow the focus of student learning;

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District calls on Governor Cuomo, Commissioner King, the State legislature and the Board of Regents to re-examine public school accountability systems in the state, including APPR, to involve all stakeholders in the development of a research-based, age appropriate system which is based on multiple forms of assessment, does not require extensive standardized testing, more accurately reflects the broad range of student learning, is implemented on a well thought out timeline and is used to support students and improve schools; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District calls on the President of the United States of America and the United States Congress to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“No Child Left Behind”), reduce the testing mandates, not mandate any fixed role for the use of student test scores in evaluating educators and promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability.